The spell Consume Power & Knowledge

[darthauthor]

Rifts Book of Magic
Page 190

The Necromancer's spell Consume Power & Knowledge

If a necromancer uses this to eat the brain of a spell caster like a ley line walker or Paladium Fantasy Wizard or such
Can they temperorially gain the spells the original owner knew?

[GoliathReturns]

Rifts Book of Magic
Page 190

The Necromancer's spell Consume Power & Knowledge

If a necromancer uses this to eat the brain of a spell caster like a ley line walker or Paladium Fantasy Wizard or such
Can they temperorially gain the spells the original owner knew?

It specifically says "skills". You don't get any other knowledge the being had.

-GS
Personally, I prefer liver, with Fava beans and a nice chianti.

[ShadowLogan]

As said the text only allows for "skills" (all at 60%) and not spell knowledge. That might be useful though when doing magic based skills gained from the OCC (ex. PF's Wizard skills pg106-7 maybe the Enchanted Cauldron at a glance, or Recognize Magic or Recognize enchantment) which given are skills and the skills are flat (all at 60%) they might end up being better at it than the original character depending on level/skill-progression & IQ bonus.

That said the only Death-Mage that I know of (off hand) that can absorb spell knowledge is the Soul Harvester OCC (WB12 pg17-20, strictly speaking it's supposed to be an NPC only class), and that requires them to acquire the mage's "soul" (they also get a Xombie in the process IIRC).

Now you could house rule something to allow spells (psi or super powers) to be considered "skills" since the character has to spend time learning to use them efficiently. But that would have to be a house rule and is not an official rule.

[Soldier of Od]

The Consume Power & Knowledge spell won't allow you to use the spell magic of the deceased, but if you're looking for something that will, check out the power circle of Knowledge in Palladium Fantasy, or the Cannibal Mage O.C.C. in Rifter 52.

[Curbludgeon]

The level thirteen Demon Magic spell Heart of Darkness (Dimension Book 12, Dimensional Outbreak, pg 190) steals spells and PPE from a murdered caster.

One might consider dropping the PPE penalty Necromancers have in casting non-Necromancy spells with respect to Soulmancy and Demon Magic. Perhaps just file them under the list of Invocations similarly not subject to an increased casting cost.

[darthauthor]

Curbludgeon,

I like your ideas

I feel that all spells relating to dead things the necromancer ought to be able to cast without penality.
That would include dead flesh and blood.
Maybe spirit stuff too.
The soul mancy stuff would probably overlap.
I guess I just like the idea of them being able to keep souls in a jar.

[drewkitty ~..~]

Rifts Book of Magic
Page 190

The Necromancer's spell Consume Power & Knowledge

If a necromancer uses this to eat the brain of a spell caster like a ley line walker or Paladium Fantasy Wizard or such
Can they temperorially gain the spells the original owner knew?

Haven't been touching this topic with a 10' poll cause necro spells are not my forte (don't want them in my head), and my RBoM was way over in the bookshelf....but I went and got it out for a different topic....so its here...so I'm answering the OP Q.

No, it only gives out skills.

Spells are not skills.

While the spell might give the eater the Prin. Of Magic %. It would only be effective if the eaten's % is higher than the eater's. If it is higher than the eater's, then the eater, to use that higher % effectively, would need to have the spell scrolls lined up for 'spell scroll conversion' for while the higher % lasts.