Re: Improvised Feats

From: Tim Ellis <tim_at_...>
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2001 12:45:37 -0000

wrote:
>
> [Initiates]
> > Orlanth assists them in whatever manner he can at that time, and
> >it's up to the narrator to decide how. And it is always a type of
> >help that is appropriate to the deity. A wind, a squall, an alynx
> >happenign by, a bonus to their sword and spear, whatever.
>
> So the affinities are a still good guide for the narrator as to
> what help you god can give, but the initiate here is just
> saying 'Help!'

Yes. I think they can be marginally selective - "I attack with the aid of my Combat affinity" rather than "I perform my Swordhelp feat and attack". They won't necessarily get the extra goodies a GM might give for a specific feat (although they could be used for desciption -  they attack and reduce the opponent below 0 AP "You feel the God's power surge through you as you overbear your foe, forcing him to the ground"

>

>> An initiate can certainly ask for somethig that is specific 
>>like, "Orlanth, give me a big wind here," or "Orlanth, help me run 
>>across the mud here."
>>But he gets an Improvisational Modifier (and not the wimpy -3, but 
>>at least  -5 and often more) because he is being specific, which is 
>>the same as asking for a Feat.

>
> Is this change implying that an initiate character has no ability
> rating in the affinity? For example Orlanth Adventurous initiates
> now no longer have an ability in affinities of Combat, Movement and
> Magic that they can raise with HP, but an Initiate of Orlanth
> ability (which they could raise with HP up to the 10W2 max).
>

No, I don't think so. Combat isn't a good choice for comparison here since most feats end up as augemntations of one sort or another - but take the Movement Affinity...

"I go chasing after the enemy using my run fast skill, backed up by my movement affinity"
"OK, Boost your Run Fast ...<roll>... Right you set off in hot pursuit, but they beat you to the rope bridge and cut it loose as they cross, leaving you stranded on the banks of the river"

In this situation the Devotee can use a suitable feat (Water Walking, River Leaping, Fly across Water - either from the list, or by improvising a feat at -3). If the initiate wishes to attempt something this specific then his penalty will be greater since he has a less personal connection with the God.

The GM can always choose to give the initiate (or even the normal communal worshiper) the power of a specific feat if it suits their needs at the time, either to provide better description or because they want to guide the story in that direction (so in the above example, allow the character to cross the river instead of just boosting the run fast...