Necromancy?

[Theodric]

It could be easily justified as there being a necessity to understand and counter necromancy as a growing threat. Much like how it works in other MMO's such as World of Warcraft when it comes to its versions of darker arts. It wouldn't the first forbidden power that the player character makes use of during the course of their adventure and with the likes of Y'shtola having used forbidden spells in order to cheat death not only for herself but for the sake of her allies as well then the lines between what is acceptable and what isn't become quite blurred.

It'd make for some interesting story elements if handled well and further broaden the game's appeal in the process. Especially when the game starts to move away from Hydaelyn and the limitations the Blessing of Light/Echo bring with them!

[Lauront]

Especially when the game starts to move away from Hydaelyn and the limitations the Blessing of Light/Echo bring with them!

Indeed, it'll unleash their creative powers!

[Deusteele]

It could be easily justified as there being a necessity to understand and counter necromancy as a growing threat. Much like how it works in other MMO's such as World of Warcraft when it comes to its versions of darker arts. It wouldn't the first forbidden power that the player character makes use of during the course of their adventure and with the likes of Y'shtola having used forbidden spells in order to cheat death not only for herself but for the sake of her allies as well then the lines between what is acceptable and what isn't become quite blurred.

A few points to make about your assumptions here. First of all Necromancy and Summoning Voidsent aren't secret arts that are unknown to all but the most learned of scholars. They are an established school of thought within Eorzea. There was an entire nation state based around summoning and controlling voidsent, Mhachi. You can play through the Void Ark series of raids to see how that ended for them. If there ever was a "growing threat" about necromancy, we could turn to the Thaumaturge Guild or the circle of Black Mages that all keep records about voidsent.

As for the usage of forbidden power, there a great many reasons that certain magics are treated as forbidden. Just because we can excuse one usage of such power during a personal emergency doesn't make sense to treat all others powers carte blanche. Flow was forbidden due the danger it places upon the caster and subjects of the spell. Given that it cost Y'shtola her sight and Thancred's ability to use aether, shows why they treat it with such care. The other side are magics that just can't be used for anything other malicious purpose. Necromancy can only be done be weakening the barrier between the Void and a shard, then desecrating a corpse. Even then, voidsent are not completely mindless beings that can be control wholly. They do have desire of their own and work towards those ends despite the wishes of the summoner. Again see Void Ark raid series.

The only time was have seen necromanctic magic not as a tool of pain and death was the beginning of Hildebrand in ARR. The canon of such events are in doubt.

[Wyssahtyn]

The only time was have seen necromanctic magic not as a tool of pain and death was the beginning of Hildebrand in ARR.

Hildibrand wasn't dead, he was comatose, thought to be dead, and buried, after which he dug his way out of his grave and, since he was surrounded by zombies, assumed he was a zombie himself due to amnesia.

[Lersayil]

Hildibrand wasn't dead, he was comatose, thought to be dead, and buried, after which he dug his way out of his grave and, since he was surrounded by zombies, assumed he was a zombie himself due to amnesia.

I think he meant the Dapper Zombies themselves.

Anyways, I do agree that it's just an issue of framing. They can make up a dozen of reasons we can use necromancy for some reason (it seems likely we'll be interacting with the 13th shard in the near future), or create an art that is functionally necromancy, but justified differently by lore. It's not necromancy! Its placing small mindless aetherial constructs into bodies?

Still, I find it unlikely. The usage of corpses just seems ghastly for the WoLs tone. Not to mention that China might find the theme unsavory. Something with ghosts might work I guess?

[Theodric]

Necromancy can only be done be weakening the barrier between the Void and a shard, then desecrating a corpse.

The Warrior of Light has canonically desecrated souls, though - if we take the ARR relic weapon quests at face value when sent off to go and slay sentient creatures - including humanoids - in order to infuse their aether into a weapon. Necromancy has a worse reputation, though the BLU quests have Voidsent held in Ul'dah despite the risks so they can be fought in an arena for entertainment so the lessons surrounding Mhach and the dangers involved do not appear to have been taken on board.

[Lauront]

On the court mage...

Was he summoning them or simply turning them into demons? I think it was the latter (incidentally it is also linked to the soul expert from the MSQ, Beq Luqq, whom the court mage had deceived into helping him.) However, the caster dps quests also cover the area, where some the First's magi were experimenting with portals to other worlds, and succeeded with the Void.

In any case, I think there is little limiting the addition of the job but SE's own creativity, which I am sure can accommodate it... depending on how the story progresses, there may be avenues that make it even easier.

[Lauront]

You can't even eat mochi without it talking back to you these days...

I think he meant the Dapper Zombies themselves.

Anyways, I do agree that it's just an issue of framing. They can make up a dozen of reasons we can use necromancy for some reason (it seems likely we'll be interacting with the 13th shard in the near future), or create an art that is functionally necromancy, but justified differently by lore. It's not necromancy! Its placing small mindless aetherial constructs into bodies?

Still, I find it unlikely. The usage of corpses just seems ghastly for the WoLs tone. Not to mention that China might find the theme unsavory. Something with ghosts might work I guess?

They had cut a Japanese shaman type job from SB, so that may give some inspiration for a ghost theme if they were to take it in the onmyoji direction.

[Lersayil]

You can't even eat mochi without it talking back to you these days...



They had cut a Japanese shaman type job from SB, so that may give some inspiration for a ghost theme if they were to take it in the onmyoji direction.

If we go with the actual manipulation of the souls of the dead, they would probably want to go in a direction where the lore and aesthetics are handeled very... reverently? Not sure it would be what the necromancy people are looking for.

Or now that I think about it, there is a job mechanically close to what a necromancer would be: puppeteer. Tonally and lore-wise completely different, but a lot more family friendly. Which SE might care about I guess.

[Lauront]

Yup, with the onmyoji it would end up sacrificing the edgelord elements people like myself want out of a necromancer, but it's the one viable route I could see for manipulation or at least interaction with the souls of the dead. I personally don't care for the WoL aspect of the protagonist and would sooner see it ditched to do away with these sort of concerns, but I appreciate that it's an impediment to them as things stand.

At least onmyoji would hold some interest to me, whereas with Puppeteer, I just wouldn't find the sort of flavour it brings to my liking conceptually, even if it played much as a Necromancer would mechanically.