Here is another char from my working table. I hope you like.

Cheers

Hmmm... interesting. But the combination of the double roll and a Fate of 5 makes me a little leery. Maybe a Fate of 3?

Also, just for fun (?), maybe he should be the hermit type, from the way he looks. Perhaps a more remote Starting Space is in order... even in the middle region. How about the Temple instead of the Chapel? Or if not, maybe the Forest or Ruins.

First I wanted to make an Astrologer, but that term was unknown to men at early times. For hundred of years it was normal for a church to have a wise man connected to it. That wise man was often what we today call an astrologer. Also the bible said it was wise men who find Jesus.

I was also thinking about to let him start in the Castle since many Kings used Astrologers.

JC, your idea with a hermit like ability for starting location is very interesting.

Maybe it could sound something like this:

Before the game begin roll a die for your start location .

1-4 Chapel

5-6 Castle

I am not sure if I will put down his fate from 5. I think the roll of two dice when using fate is his only real good ability and since he is of good alignment it will be hard for him to repleanish fate (Unless he becomes evil).

Cheers

Hmm, how about I let him choose wich order he put the cards back when predicting ?

Mr. Brogger said:

First astrologers known in history were in Mesopotamia, 200-400 BCE.

Mr. Brogger said:

That bible was simplified over the course of multiple translations and editions versus the original Aramaic, Greek, and later Classical Latin. The three wise men are general recognized by scholars as members of what some called the Maji/Magi... singular Magus... a priesthood also known to be astrologers. There's a very interesting little known tale of how they informed Herod that they were seeking birthplace of a new "messanger" (messiah) fortold in the stars (not star, singular) and then eventually cheated and deceived Herod once they knew what he was up to in order to keep the child's location a secret.

They were/are followers of the oldest living monotheistic religion on the planet... Zoroastrianism... or the followers of the prophet/messiah/messenger Zoroaster. Zoroaster is credited as the founder of Astrology in the classical world, though likely that was actually someone in Chaldea, or he learned this art from the Chaldean priests in the pre-"maji" period (which is earlier than 400BCE). The proper term for the maji is Medes, the original Persian/Iranian religious caste into which Zoroaster was born. The name of their singular supreme deity is Ahura Mazda (?) and this religion existed before and in the same region as Islam, and later the Medes were persecuted (unto this day) by the Islamic priesthood. Zoroaster was put to death in much the same way as Jesus and for many of the same reasons.

The maji were sometimes widely traveled. They were known throughout the civilized world all the way to the farthest reaches of China. Along with Astrology, they were thereby highly skilled Astronomers. Some were hired for their navigational skills (HHHMMMM... there's a something to consider for a special ability... maybe?).

Mr. Brogger said:

That works too.

Mr. Brogger said:

Better to just pick one... and I sort of like that idea of the Temple now that I know a bit more of where you coming from with this character.

Mr. Brogger said:

Okay.

Mr. Brogger said:

Ummm... maybe... I don't know. That's more changing fate than reading it in the stars.

JCHendee said:

It is consistent with the Oracle from the dungeon deck, however. Probably puts him a bit over the top in terms of power once you factor in his fate ability.

FoldedDice said:

I have thought about it and I agree with you on that.

JCHendee said:

Wow JC and thank you, that was a lot of interesting information. I am munc into astrology but I did not know many parts from what you just wrote - Nice :-) I would realy like to study more on who the maji was. As far I know some of the oldest scripts found about astrology is about 6000 years old, but no one realy know how long time it goes back.

Many cultures have used star reading (astrology). Some of them are Mayans, Chinese and the Sumerians. It is said that the Egypts got their knowlege from the Sumerians.

I have heard that many stories/Myth though different cultures have a lot in common with the story of Jesus - Interesting I think.

Cheers

There are of course 13 constellations within the ecliptic arc:

Aries
Taurus
Gemini
Cancer
Leo
Virgo
Libra
Scorpius
Ophiuchus
Sagittarius
Capricornus
Aquarius
Pisces

The sun passes through each constellation for varying periods, not a 30 degree arc using the tropical astrology method!

Astronomy rules, not astrology nonsense!

Ell.

talismanamsilat said:

Yeaa, there have been a lot of disscusions about the "new" zodiac sign, but only about 1% of Astrologers works with it. Other astrologers do not support this as a new zodiac sign. If it is the case anyway all the signs have to be rewritten for the personality descriptions. And as far as I know it is not yet official but the medias like to make a lot out of it to bring chaos and speculations.

Well its official in astronomical circles, as the sun does indeed lie behind Ophiuchus every year.

Ell.

talismanamsilat said:

Expert astrologers debunk the latest astrological rumor:

www.dailyhoroscope.com

Cheers

Lets not forget that the Celts had a 13 "month" year based a lunar rather than solar cycle, and 13 signs in their little known, little used system overrun by the Roman calendar. And the Mayan calendar goes back so far in time that we're not sure how long they had their form of "astrology". So who knows what's what in the end if we step beyond Western standards. But back to the Wise Man now.

I still think it might be fun to give him some form of navigational edge on top of the prophetic card check... leaning him just a little between astrology and astronomy. I'm just not sure how that would work. Perhaps he could miss a turn to stop short on a space within the range of his movement roll? Just a notion, as he's pretty good as is.

And it wouldn't even hurt to call him an Astronomer or Astrologer. Astromancer is a another little know synonym, though it implies a slightly different approach (less mathematical and more oracle related). Or even just Stargazer (yes, it's an actual little known term that crosses the boundery between astronomy and astrology and other neighboring pursuits). Just more notions.

Okay, Mr. B., what's your final judgment now that the mice have be running around all over the place?

well, here is a renamed version of the Wise Man now called Asrologist.

The movement ability is answer on JC's suggestion for a "navigation move".

Fate, Start location and alignment is also changed. I do like this improvement.

Thank you for your interest on this character JC.

Excellent! And love the new picture. Time for people to put it into play.

Nice Mr B. i like it. Would have been nice if she started with a spell, but that´s just me

Regards.

If I may, perhaps some text edits are needed...

====

You may navigate by the stars and subtract 1 from your movement rolls to a minimum result of 1.

At the beginning of your turn before movement, you may predict the future. Look at the top 5 cards on the Adventure deck and return them in their original order to the top of the deck. If you do so, then your turn immediately ends.

When you discard a fate to re-roll a die, you may roll two dice and choose which result to use.