Re: Make up new Gods, dang it!

From: bryan_thx <bethexton_at_7wW4vCeBjXGoTV4Xv5m6b2oS8Z5ZS1ssytitpo7_1J48wmb6efUQDUFCv-Ogqr4Xcp>
Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2007 13:12:40 -0000

I agree with this, but want to look at it a slightly different way.

An initiate with a 'job' is committed to around 60% of his or her time on average--for more heortlings it will be far more than that at planting and harvesting time, but there are periods with low demands too (I'm not saying that the other 40% is liesure time, but rather taking care of family, politics, practicing skills, as well as some leisure). A devotee is also committed to around 60% of his or her time. If the devotees activities include functions normally performed in the clan, this will be as, or more, productive than the initiate.

What the devotee loses is flexibility. The devotee of Barntar has to carry out his duties. If there has been no rain and the fields are baked dry at plowing time, he still goes and plows them. He'll probably even succeed, but unless someone else can wet the ground it won't do anyone much good. The devotee of Starkval will be training himself, drilling the militia, walking patrol, setting up patrol schedules, looking for for holes in security, and so on, no matter how peaceful things are, or what non-battle dangers threaten the community. The Barntar devotee cannot really pick up a bow and some twine for snares and go into the woods and hope to bring home enough game to feed the family. The Starkval devotee will not be much use when the crops are being eaten by a plague of grasshoppers.

So, having a fair number of devotees is normally fine, even good. Their specialized magic makes them good at what they do, and if the clan needs people doing what it is that they do, the clan comes out ahead. The cost comes when you need flexibility, and you have a lot of your leading figures as devotees, and they just do not have as much flexibility.

By way of reference, I think of "Mad-Eye Moody" from the Harry Potter books as a good devotee equivalent. When there were no dark wizards to fight he was an annoying crackpot who lived on the edge of poverty.  When there were again dark wizards to fight he's suddenly one of the most useful and skilled people available for the job.

Regards;

-Bryan            

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