At 05:36 PM 01/05/2001 +0000, Bryan Thexton wrote:
>Hmmm, reading through the various responses, I can't help but
>thinking that:
>
>a) Most heroes are unapt to put a lot of effort into boosting these
>skills, unless they are looking at becoming priests (or are planning
>on becoming a devotee and wanting to learn the secret).
>b) The sort of person who has these at levels noticeably higher than
>their affinities may also be inclined towards having one of
>the "brown nose" or "supercilious" traits at a high level.
You may be right, but here are some other uses for these abilities:
Worship X may be used for (but not limited to):
- With an improv penalty (probably a high one like -10), a relationship
with any other worshippers of the same pantheon (you know what they see as
virtues and correct actions). This can take the place of several "to Clan"
and "to some other group" relationships.
- Divine aid from any deities in the pantheon. I think this is a huge benefit.
- Filling in for a worshipper of any pantheon god in a pinch for a ritual
(huge improv penalty).
Initiate of X may be used for (but not limited to):
- How well your deity reacts to you when you meet him on the Other Side
(should be big for heroquesters). Since, "Devotee of X" is the standard
ability I suggest using for this, I think that "Initiate of X" should be
used with an improv penalty (I suggest -5).
- With an improv penalty, emulating any of the aspects of your deity,
including his virtues. It may be better to actually have ratings in Brave
and Generous if you worship Orlanth, but surely having a high "Initiate of
Orlanth X" means that you emulate his virtues. This is backed up in the
rules by the fact that a devotee of the same deity may use his "Devotee of
X" in a challenge against incarnation (NB p. 51) and in the description of
piety (RiG p. 178).
- How well you take the part of your god in rituals (RiG p. 178).
Mythology of X is how you cross over to the Other Side and knowledge of
what you perform in the rituals; the piety relationship is how well you
perform in the rituals. I think that any potential theistic heroquester is
going to want to have a high Mythology of X and a high piety rating.
Thanks,
Andy