>necromancy is evil in this game Tons of players going: >"Oh man, I really want to play a good necromancer! Don't you see, there shouldn't be anything inherently evil about raising the dead. It's a classic fantasy trope!"
>necromancy is no more evil than any other magic in this game Tons of players going "meh" at necromancy unless they want to do bullshit like abuse skeleton archers in 5e.
Why does "necromancy is evil" bring out the biggest contrarians who suddenly want to play good necromancers, while "necromancy is okay" makes people ambivalent?
People don't like being told, "No," or, "You can't do [thing]"
If I said, "No, you can't skin is baby alive" someone would push back, then start giving me reasons why they not only can, but absolutely should skin that baby.
One trick I use is to tell my players what's ALLOWED, while not mentioning what's NOT allowed. They focus on what I said Is allowed, and don't even think twice about what I didn't tell them.
Isaac Clark
Well I do not play D&D for any system that enforces alignment, and necromancy usually just means being able to talk to the dead. So personally when I do approach the topic of necromancy it comes down to are you using it for good or evil. Same as any other type of magic really a pyrokinetic individual can be a firefighter or he can be a Serial arsonist.
But like all things it depends on the setting in the rules you're willing to bend
Kevin Russell
Because a lot of people want to be special or powerful. The benevolent necromancer in a world where necromancy is repugnant is special, while having your own small unit of archers in situations meant for a group of 4-6 is powerful. If you take these away, then necromancy (or anything else) just becomes another tool in the shed, to be hauled out as appropriate but not anything worth showing off. It's a bit of a shame, since calling on your dead ancestors to give you their wisdom and then giving them material form to fight your enemies is fun independent of it being powerful or special.
Jonathan Turner
Because some people lack the creativity and imagination to play something within given boundaries.
Jayden Butler
Instead of just saying that it's evil, reinforce it. Make it so every time you cast a necromantic spell, you are either eroding existence, or causing untold suffering to those you bring back, have them constantly beg to be put back to rest. Make every undead brought to life, cost the livelihood of someone that is already living. Just in general, no matter the intentions, the act is evil and cursed.
Parker Thomas
I just want to be a spirit detective and shot spirit guns with a spirit fedora and spirit trench coat.
Gavin Kelly
This.
Also, that's a really good idea and I'm totally going to steal it.
