How about discarding the RW terms of species and cultures and using a Gloranthan one of mythical groups?
Initiation reinforces the characteristics of the main group or places you in an
acceptable other group. So a Rathori will normally follow the known path towards
integrating their souls. However if they choose to initiate, and are accepted,
into Orlanth/Ernalda they become part of that mythical group. They lose the
ability to integrate souls and gain the ability to emulate their chosen
god(dess).
/// Why should it be so ? In Wenelia, we still use our totems' magics while
worshipping great Heler and his Brothers. We still can feel our animal blood
flowing in our veins, our animal heart thumping, our animal spirits roaring in
our minds.
Our wenelian characters do mix a lot of magics : animism of hsunchen animal,
some theism (such as Heler) and even malkioni sorcery spells. I can perfectly
picture one awakening his/her full animal self and becoming a raccoon physically
and mentally, while still able to use (perhaps only in human form) other magics.
The cost in HP means they won't get high skill levels easily. It does prevent
much of "overkill characters" problem.
My objection to this is the same as introducing capitalism or communism into
Glorantha - it's anachronistic and may well be incompatable with the mythic
basis of Glorantha. Nor am I particularly keen on making a good/evil split
between the players and antagonists. But that's just a personal view.
/// I agree with you on that. The most interesting scenarios are IMHO the ones
where there are no clear good/bad guys. There's only guys, and PCs have to
choose a side. If I handle this well, they will torment themselves before
picking a side, imagining anything that can go wrong - thus giving plently of
game ideas to feed them later !
Of course, once in a while a REALLY bad opponent is good, it allows them to
unwind : chaotics come to mind. We also have a Dr.Doom-type NPC which they love
to hate. He's very unsavory.
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