I`m always very wary about stepping outside the bounds of what has been set (in my opinion `in stone`) by the Settings Team.
Spells and Items
Using items and spells inventively, however, I am all for. RP using a weaker version of Flame Burst to light a candle or pipe...Freeze to chill a drink...Defensive Wind to blow dust into someone`s face...Electrotouch to electrify some water, etc. Kudos to those who use their imagination.
If someone crafts a makeshift bomb with oil, falka and whatever-else then good for them...just don`t do it all the time. Once off makes it special.
And don`t over do it. You can`t Freeze the Lake of Tears with Blue Way level 5.
As for necromancy, I`d love to see this RP`d more (as I and Rigwyn have talked about in the past). Not only as in raising corpses (raiding the Burial Well, perhaps substituting some organs from monsters to create your golem-esque creation via a well RP`d ritual) but also communicating with the dead (could be done via a RP`d ritual...perhaps with a possession of the deceased, and simple Tells if the target happens to be in the DR at the time).
Origins
A difficult subject. We have so little information about the homeworlds of the races that it`s tempting to make up backgrounds...though it`s far safer to stick with characters who were born in Yliakum, It was (IIRC) several centuries ago that the races came to Yliakum, and none have come in later times (confirmation from Settings on this would be much appreciated). A few traditions might have been kept alive, but there will have been a lot of cultural blending since then (we all speak the common lemur/kran language for one). For those who want to have titles such as royalty and the like, I think it`s alright so long as they realize that the Octarchy is the authority in Yliakum. The character`s subjects might obey the king/queen according to their title, but all fall under the purview of the Octarchy.
Weapons, Armour, Charms
Someday I`d love to see graphical animated effects on weapons...fire enshrouding a Fire Long Sword, etc. In the mean time I see no problem with RPing it. Don`t have a tinder box? Pull out that Fire Dagger and touch it to the kindling.
I guess I prefer to keep things subtle.
In all things I like to keep in mind “If I say I can do it, I can`t complain if others think up something of equal power/magnitude”. Also of course, since it`s not supported by Settings, any player has the write to ignore it completely. That`s very much something to bear in mind.