[Rq-rules] House Rule Query

[devinc at aol.com]

It hardly punishes the character. It simply translates that POW into something more usable...a divine magic spell. Does that lower things such as Luck roll and Magic Points? Yes. But no one is forcing the Initiate or priest to sacrifice the POW. He does it because he perceives a benefit. Otherwise, simply using the rationale that the god will give whatever it can to whomever does his will would mean that gods should provide or arrange for spirit or cult magic free of charge and without limit as well.

The whole theme of RQ is the interrelation between men and gods and the give and take thereof.

Devin


-----Original Message-----
From: Guy Hoyle <ghoyle1 at sbcglobal.net>
To: 'Discussion of RuneQuest rules.' <rq-rules at crashbox.com>
Sent: Sun, 10 Feb 2008 3:55 pm
Subject: RE: [Rq-rules] House Rule Query



I understand this rationale, but what confuses me is that reducing POW actually punishes the character who tries to use Divine Magic or Divine Intervention.? As his power goes down, his Luck roll and his Magic Points and his Spirit Magic roll go down (even for cult spirit magic).? He's not as much in touch with his gods anymore, which seems contrary to me. If the character is using the god's magic to do the god's work in the world, shouldn't he be more in touch with the god, not less?

?

The only workaround that I've thought of (and I haven't tried playing this) is to keep a tally of the points sacrificed on DI and Divine magic, and use that to supplement your Luck and Spirit Magic (maybe Sacrifice Points/x). This would probably have some kind of horrible, unforseen effect on game balance, though.

?

?




-----Original Message-----
From: rq-rules-bounces at crashbox.com [mailto:rq-rules-bounces at crashbox.com] On Behalf Of steve at limitedchaos.com
Sent: Sunday, February 10, 2008 5:04 PM
To: Discussion of RuneQuest rules.
Subject: RE: [Rq-rules] House Rule Query



Tom said "I have always thought that this (sacrifice of valued beast/object) happened PLUS the POW!"


Exactly correct.

?

Getting Divine Magic is a big deal. The gods want their pound of flesh, and for them Flesh = POW. Of course the applicant is sacrificing cattle (or flowers or heads of ones enemies or sea bass - whatever) and going through a major ceremony. That's all assumed (and probably should have been emphasized in one of the various god books or other) in the sacrifice of POW. You don't just march into a temple, write a check for 2 pts of POW, and walk out with Shield 2.

?

Sure, you can have a system where you trade oxen for Divine Magic, but that isn't RuneQuest. You can change the POW costs, make spells more or less frequently re-usable, make them more or less available to different grades of worshippers, more or less powerful, but the exchange of POW for divine intervention in the form of spells, as well as regular DI, is central to the dynamic of the game. If this seems to make Spirit Magic and Sorcery more attractive than Divine Magic, then there is probably something wrong with Spirit Magic and Sorcery in your game.

?

Just the viewpoint of one of the creators. :)

?




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