Astrologian And/Or Tarot Card Roleplay

[Nako Vesh]

I suppose it could be interpreted as personal style, but I'm sort of wary about copying a real life card system into Eorzea, especially when they're providing an Eorzean system for us. Of course, this is granted they provide us deeper meanings for each card (though different styles of fortune telling may have different interpretations of the cards, which is coooool). But then again, I'm an advocate for 'RP how you wish,' so you do you!

 

I'm honestly a little dubious that a robust reading system consisting of six cards will be provided, especially since the astrologian's exact skills fall more under 'attuning oneself to the stars to change fate (via healing/buffs/damage)'. Of course, we won't know until we do the job quests! That being said, I like the vast array in Tarot but I don't intend to actually call it that ICly. The card names fit easily into the setting as well! I understand the concern and I'll be working to meld them convincingly into the world. Given the significant European influences in Eorzea, I think it'd fit in excellently, along with any other fortune telling styles people care to use.

 

That said, I'm very curious to see if the job quests address the cards' in any detail.

 

That's true, six cards does narrow things significantly, perhaps in a hindering way. I can't wait for the job quests either. I sort of hope each one focuses on one card so we can have a large amount of information on each one!

[Remnance]

I didn't know there was at least one other using a real Tarot deck.

 

Got your pm and wanted to lend a hand.  I worked with Felix to create a list of ffxiv theme for the major arcana and the court cards.  Also a new naming convention for the suits themselves.

 

I know he isn't able to do much with it now and originally we just kept are list offline to keep it from being abused.  Might be reconsidering that though in true I have had talks with another about Clouse Icly teaching people the ways of the lore we created.

 

I used the Mystic Dreamers Tarot Deck right now and usually won't go past a 3 card drawing for past, present, and future.  This is because typing a reading takes a while.  Average 10-15 minutes for each card for good showing.  

 

This is page has one of my first readings since I started it back up in game.  http://ffxiv-roleplayers.com/showthread.php?tid=10939&pid=166024#pid166024

 

Each card, to me, hints at a story or message to be told.  I tend to explain each card and describe it a little.  Then finding the thread that binds them all together.  I tend to try to add in some aetheric elements to mix.

 

If you or your friend wants.  I can give a reading and you can see how I do it in person.  Today I'm locked out of my account due to forgetting an old e-mails address password and suspicious bs activity for the 30th time in the last two months.

[Cliodhna Eoghan]

well before i further derail this (in a mod thread to boot... :blush: ) amazing job, you've had me thinking it was two people up till this point! :lol:

 

I am banning you so hard after I finish posting this!!11!1

nuuuu!!!! D: let me back in, i'll be good!!!

 

also would love to get another reading by remnance as well as anyone else that's up for it. >u< they're so fun

[Imo]

Screw tarot, my Astrologian will be based on Triple Triad. It's time to d-d-d-duel!

[Dogberry]

I should also add that Iskierka has offered rune readings, casting bones, and one occasion reading entrails, but nobody has taken her up up on the offer.

 

Tarot is just popular, I guess.

[Cliodhna Eoghan]

I should also add that Iskierka has offered rune readings, casting bones, and one occasion reading entrails, but nobody has taken her up up on the offer.

 

Tarot is just popular, I guess.

 

runes? *perks up* i'm up for that and i know eric would want to as well.

[Avalt Laguz]

While I'd love to go down the card reader, fortune telling route. I'm probably going to stick to star readings by use of the Star Globe. :3

[ShoggMommy]

I used to do tarot readings myself, though my cards are packed away since I moved. I'd have to agree with a lot of the sentiments here and suggestions, ideas, etc as they are very good. I personally enjoyed using the cards when I used them. I think, if you're willing to try it, go for it!

[Steel Wolf]

I used to read both Tarot and runes myself, so incorporating that into the game is most definitely welcome.

 

I do wonder exactly how much parallel there is to the Eorzean divination deck and a traditional Tarot. I suppose that since there's a level of astrology that the decks are reasonably similar.

 

Anyway, not rolling an Astrologian, but just wanted to offer my personal support and <3 to the idea.

[Dogberry]

I should also add that Iskierka has offered rune readings, casting bones, and one occasion reading entrails, but nobody has taken her up up on the offer.

 

Tarot is just popular, I guess.

 

runes? *perks up* i'm up for that and i know eric would want to as well.

 

I'm actually WAY more adept at reading runes than tarot cards. I spent some time with some Asatru peeps who taught me. I need a guide for tarot, but I do not need one with runes.

 

And still, nobody interested in haruspex. Pity.

[allgivenover]

Haruspicy is just too weird for the modern mind to fixate on?

 

Sheep liver divination!? What savagery!

[Dogberry]

Haruspicy is just too weird for the modern mind to fixate on?

 

Sheep liver divination!? What savagery!

 

Look, I won't deny it's gruesome to behold, but think of it as getting your fortune told during a trip to the butcher. Hells, I may even pull out the grinder and make some sausage if you're lucky.

[Martiallais]

I should also add that Iskierka has offered rune readings, casting bones, and one occasion reading entrails, but nobody has taken her up up on the offer.

 

Tarot is just popular, I guess.

 

Rune reading sounds cool as hell, actually. OOC I'd be interested in this for sure, even if Zarek is likely to IC seem skeptical.

[Cliodhna Eoghan]

I should also add that Iskierka has offered rune readings, casting bones, and one occasion reading entrails, but nobody has taken her up up on the offer.

 

Tarot is just popular, I guess.

 

runes? *perks up* i'm up for that and i know eric would want to as well.

 

I'm actually WAY more adept at reading runes than tarot cards. I spent some time with some Asatru peeps who taught me. I need a guide for tarot, but I do not need one with runes.

 

And still, nobody interested in haruspex. Pity.

 

yeah just asked him. erik's interested x3

 

i have a bit of a weak stomach for stuff like that tbh. took a few years before i could even handle raw meat to cook....so yeah, i won't be asking for that

[J'lyneth]

A compromise for someone who wants more cards/meanings to work with but still wants to use the cards provided in game would be to treat the 6 cards provided: Balance, Ewer (a pitcher for water), Bole (tree trunk), Spear, Arrow, and Spire as suits. Could even work with a traditional tarot deck. Ewer =cups, Bole = coins, Spear = Rods/Staves, Arrow = Swords and then split the major arcana between Balance for positive cards and Spire for negative. (Mostly because the Spire card is aesthetically similar to many Tower card designs I've seen and that one usually means ruin and doom. Then treat the ones used in battle as the Aces, the purest representation of the suit.Just a thought, and probably the route I'll take if I opt to play this kind of character.

[Telluride]

For what it's worth, I am a fair hand with in-game tarot reading myself; I made lore-appropriate conversion charts for using it in Rift and Age of Conan.

 

It seems we have enough people to have a fortune telling fair, and take the burden off a few of the readers who are getting mobbed for it.

[Saefinn]

As the theme behind Captain Saefinn Liljasson is that he is "The Scholar Captain", he is very much in tune with the arcane, he is very skilled and increasingly powerful when it comes to magic and his is often a studied mind, despite being a raging alcoholic and times quite reckless, but he isn't stupid, he's just careless.

 

Given I have ICly been negotiating an IC contract between our crew and Ishgardians, we have had some Coerthas contracts, ICly we've recognised that the Ishgardians often face a perilous existence at the hands of dragons and their friends. So our journey North and to the skies is going to prove very beneficial to us. Obviously the prospects of being sky pirates and the fact Scholar is getting a very Steampunk looking attire, this expansion is going to be almost perfect for us.

 

But I figure in his studies, Astrologian will be the next logical step for Saefinn, as a pirate, he will already be familiar with the stars for navigation and of course, what kind of pirate doesn't like to play with cards? Given Astrologian seems to take inspiration from Corsair. I don't know how I will play the card aspect of it, I will see how the lore plays out here, would be interesting to be a gambler of fate as opposed to just a foreseer. Given there will be a level of power associated with the cards as they are the Astrologian's tools, I would hypothesize that this would work. Also, Saefinn would be liable to cheat and play cards to his favour.

 

Given Saefinn can be unpredictable at times (though predictable in some aspects) this would be quite useful.

[Altaeirh Azarael]

I am very excited for this aspect of RP! I've never actually given readings to others before, but it is a long term interest of mine. I have a few books on the subject I'll be picking up closer to release to refresh myself.

 

My only personal caution is to wait until we actually see the cards Astrologians receive? Unless I've missed the lore somewhere, I don't think there is any mention of full tarot decks in the game. (Please feel free to correct! I'd love to read more about the in game lore given on fortunetelling/astros.) I'd imagine that the cards we'll be using will be far more limited than IRL.

 

I know of some others that are just using full decks at the moment, and that's fine too! I guess I just want to see what is available lore-wise, firstly. :3

The Astrologian cards have already been named. :]

 

They are, in no particular order, Balance, Ewer, Bole, Spire, Spear, Arrow.

 

There's a picture somewhere, but... Eh. Too lazy to dig for it.

 

In any case, I wish I could do something like tarot readings, but I can't afford the deck, nor do I have the know-how to do such things. Even so, it'll be a little more difficult to do, I believe, since Astrologian will use the tarot cards -and- star patterns to properly predict fate. Not saying it's out of the realm of doing/possibility, but it's something to consider.

[Verilys]

In any case, I wish I could do something like tarot readings, but I can't afford the deck, nor do I have the know-how to do such things. Even so, it'll be a little more difficult to do, I believe, since Astrologian will use the tarot cards -and- star patterns to properly predict fate. Not saying it's out of the realm of doing/possibility, but it's something to consider.

 

As a note, playing cards are also a great alternative for anyone who might like to get into that aspect of RP, but don't want to drop money on a prop that they might never use again.

 

They're quite different in that they don't have the major arcana and such, but still work really, really well.

[Sailor July]

In real life I use tarot cards, runes and animal message cards on a nearly daily basis, so I'm very familiar with them. I may end up using them, or getting a simple 'for fun' deck of tarot that I use in MMOs, we'll see! 

 

I also have an interest in tea leaf reading, scrying with mirrors, water, and blood, so that can be used in fortune telling along with the rest.

[Dia]

While it's pretty clear that Astrologians are diviners, I'm curious what else their astromancy can do for them. The class description leaves a pretty ambiguous explanation:

 

"Thus was astromancy born -- a new form of magick which grants its users power over fate. Employing a star globe and divining deck in their miraculous deeds, fortune always smiles upon these masters of arcana."

 

 

Their description in its entirety sort of seemed to me as if they could manipulate fate itself. Which, let's be honest, sounds incredibly overpowered. So I'm curious what else you all of the RPC have to say about astromancy itself and its possibilities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(tldr bolded)

[Verilys]

While it's pretty clear that Astrologians are diviners, I'm curious what else their astromancy can do for them. The class description leaves a pretty ambiguous explanation:

 

"Thus was astromancy born -- a new form of magick which grants its users power over fate. Employing a star globe and divining deck in their miraculous deeds, fortune always smiles upon these masters of arcana."

 

 

Their description in its entirety sort of seemed to me as if they could manipulate fate itself. Which, let's be honest, sounds incredibly overpowered. So I'm curious what else you all of the RPC have to say about astromancy itself and its possibilities.

 

That really is an ambiguous statement! And really it depends on the definition of fate and whether or not it can be changed normally. Then there's the decision as to what, exactly, they can change. Personally, I would see the powers of fate-changing as something that can be done indirectly, but not overtly. For example, imagine that fate is a river -- the Astrologian might not be able to change the river's destination, but they can throw rocks into it to alter the various things. Throw enough and maybe they can dam the flow outright.

 

In practical RP, this might be something like... using their powers to cast a protective shield around an ally to deflect a heart-seeking strike. Alternatively, they may be able to silence a mage and thereby potentially alter the outcome of a fight. If you wish to be more literal, you could even treat a spell as a 'luck buff'. Perhaps if you and your friends use /random for fighting, the spell could add 10% to the result. (Though I'd naturally say to make sure you only do this with friends or people who otherwise agree with that system -- I imagine altering rolls liek that unannounced may cause some upset!)

 

It's also probably best to ignore the question: "If someone changes fate, was it fate that their fate be changed?"

[cuideag]

 

And still, nobody interested in haruspex. Pity.

 

*raises a hand*

[Goodfellow]

While it's pretty clear that Astrologians are diviners, I'm curious what else their astromancy can do for them. The class description leaves a pretty ambiguous explanation:

 

"Thus was astromancy born -- a new form of magick which grants its users power over fate. Employing a star globe and divining deck in their miraculous deeds, fortune always smiles upon these masters of arcana."

 

 

Their description in its entirety sort of seemed to me as if they could manipulate fate itself. Which, let's be honest, sounds incredibly overpowered. So I'm curious what else you all of the RPC have to say about astromancy itself and its possibilities.

 

As someone who really doesn't go in for the concept of fate/destiny, but who is really interested and invested in AST, I have a different take on it.

 

And I know they use the word "fate" in the description, but I'd argue that it's something of a misnomer, because "fate" and "fortune" are not the same thing.

 

In Medieval astrology, "Fortune" and the heavens were not necessarily indicators of "fate" or "destiny" as such, they merely exerted an influence.  So, someone born under Saturn could reasonably be expected (so went the theory) to exhibit saturnine qualities (that is to say melancholy, contemplation, etc.).  They would have a natural tendency toward the saturnine.  They were not of necessity permanently or exclusively saturnine.  Someone born under Saturn could absolutely be jovial, it just wasn't assumed to have the same probability.  In the same way, in an opportune time for decision-making under the sign of Jupiter, a ruler could still make a poor, unwise, or ill-advised decision.  Jupiter was propitious, but did not preclude bad decision-making.

 

And that's my take on astrologian right now.  They deal less in fate/destiny and more in fortune; said another way, they influence likelihood, probability, chance, possibility.  They are not altering a deterministic framework, simply modifying an influential flow, so to speak.

[MrPoopyButtHole]

How to RP Astrologian And/Or Tarot Card for dummies.

 

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWyHiV3l3MA