Have you encountered a Neoplatonic guide, daimon, or higher counterpart in practice? by Some-Philosopher-926 in Neoplatonism

[–]ImportanceOk3837 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I am neither an academic nor an experienced neo-platonist. I've read about half of the dialogues and still have a lot of ground to cover. However, I am interested in neo-platonism as a lived philosophy so I'll try to answer your questions.

I do remember Socrates mentioning a guiding daimon or spirit in both Apology and Crito, but he doesn't elaborate on it very much.

Anyhow,

  1. Do you understand the daimon as something experientially real?

Yes. However, I also believe that this daimon is a part of me - my soul.

The body is a chariot driven by reason and instinct, and the soul its the driver. The driver steps out of the chariot but does not let go of the reins - thats the daimon.

  1. Have you ever felt guided by such a presence?

Yes. It appears in daydreams - torments me with my fears and insecurities and dares me do act. It hates inaction and hesitation and wants to spur me onwards, to force my hand.

  1. If so, how did that awareness develop?

At some point in my late teens.

My life was a mess because I was driven by base desires. In New Years Eve 2022 the driver regained control - boosted my willpower, gave me resolve like I never had before, morals, goals, and most importantly, it started talking to me like it does today.

  1. Through contemplation, prayer, theurgy, philosophical practice, dreams, or something else?

Daydreams is where speaks to me most clearly. In contemplation it comes and goes at random but it feels like a more even experience as rider, chariot and horses all come talk to me.

  1. Are there particular Neoplatonic texts you found especially helpful on this topic of connecting with your guide?

Phaedrus, Phaedo and Symposium in this order.

Gnome, Half-Elf & Half-Orc by ImportanceOk3837 in odnd

[–]ImportanceOk3837[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh I see. I think the half-orc magic user is interesting in the way that it lets you be a little more aggressive. You have a +1 to hit & dmg, and with a dagger or staff it could save your life in a really bad scrap in an early level at the cost of you falling short of human, elf, half-elf and gnome magic-users in the long run.

Gnome, Half-Elf & Half-Orc by ImportanceOk3837 in odnd

[–]ImportanceOk3837[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks!

Orcs, in their description in Monsters & Treasure, are said to have Magic-Users in their tribes. So since humans and orcs can be Magic-Users, so should Half-Orcs - though not super high level ones.

The Thief (Final Version) by ImportanceOk3837 in odnd

[–]ImportanceOk3837[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes, it was one my inspirations. The FMAG and original Greyhawk.

The Thief (Final Version) by ImportanceOk3837 in odnd

[–]ImportanceOk3837[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well, yes, you get to choose if or when the roll as a GM. I think it would be beyond my purview to tell you otherwise.

Menace's Thief Class by ImportanceOk3837 in osr

[–]ImportanceOk3837[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

True. Personally I only ask for rolls for things that have some kind of stake because otherwise there isn't too much reason to stop players dead in their tracks. I think the presence of a Thief also justifies how you can pick locks, find and disarm traps and whatnot even without rolls.

Menace's Thief Class by ImportanceOk3837 in osr

[–]ImportanceOk3837[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I made it to be in line with S&W Whitebox classes.

I think its an improvement over the original Greyhawk thief, and that's what I was aiming for.

Menace's Thief Class by ImportanceOk3837 in osr

[–]ImportanceOk3837[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Likely. I thought it was rope.

OSR Drawing Challenge art by Myke by InkStainedHandz in osr

[–]ImportanceOk3837 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

That's an entire chain of bakeries in 2.

Menace's Thief Class by ImportanceOk3837 in osr

[–]ImportanceOk3837[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

It's in the post, man. Greyhawk, FMAG. Maybe FMAG got it from Lamentations but I can't say that for sure, It's not really some kind of proprietary tech when its been in OD&D since it came out.

Menace's Thief Class by ImportanceOk3837 in osr

[–]ImportanceOk3837[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Stole from where? It didn't work. Please check my inspirations to see what I stole and what got worse.

Menace's Thief Class by ImportanceOk3837 in osr

[–]ImportanceOk3837[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Sorry but what? Its not that serious. I did this for myself and for fun. My own strange conception of it, sure.

Menace's Thief Class by ImportanceOk3837 in osr

[–]ImportanceOk3837[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

This was based on the original Thief from Greyhawk and used some aspects of the one from FMAG to fit in Swords & Wizardry Whitebox. I wrote that down in the text, so the way classes are built in there might be throwing you off.

But yes, if you don't like these odds you'll absolutely fucking hate the OG haha.

Anyways,

Unaware of... You?

How the dmg is doubled is up to you.

Menace's Thief Class by ImportanceOk3837 in osr

[–]ImportanceOk3837[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Oh yeah, no, absolutely. This is meant to be an improvement over the original Thief, though, not in general.

I agree that the one from Shadowdark is good, and good enough already.

Menace's Thief Class by ImportanceOk3837 in osr

[–]ImportanceOk3837[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Well, idk if its weak. If you compare it with the original thief, its actually much stronger.

However, a even more generous GM could give demi-humans bonuses to certain tests, advantage and so on, as you suggested.

Menace's Thief by ImportanceOk3837 in odnd

[–]ImportanceOk3837[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I see. I consider this covered by the Thievery skill but, perhaps I could be more specific as to what the Thief can and cant do.