whitelaughter

possible, but having rune lords rather than priests means the cult is emphasizing CHA over POW. The Odaylans are hit hard for training. They need to concentrate on STR to make the most of Bear's Strength. They need to concentrate on CHA to become Rune Lords. They need to develop and share a Martial Art to make Claws useful (presumably the reason they haven't yet is because they don't have time). Given they only have 3+2 Rune spells, the obvious move is to make magical bling: put extension into the item, gain a +1 CHA instead of another Rune Point. Since becoming a Rune Master gains a +1 CHA, aim for Master Hunter while under the extended effect of a traded Charisma spell; then only need a CHA 17, as you'll have the needed CHA 18 when the spell wears off. Perhaps though....you can lose/gain CHA by un/successful leadership. Maybe the purpose of the great hunt is to allow hunters to put their CHA on the line? Two potential Master Hunters with CHA 17 are in competition, the winner gains +1 CHA and the title of Master Hunter, the loser loses a point of CHA? Painful, but efficient. After all, it is a year until the next contest, the loser has time to recover the point and try again.

That's right. But the reverse is not true; if you train with your primary hand, you only start at 5%. p225 first bullet point: "Use of the weapon in the off hand must be started at 5%, with the usual addition or subtraction of the Manipulation skills category modifer." the 3rd bullet point confirms what you are saying though.

I read the first page of the book - caught 8 basic errors. There's a reason "to Dan Brown" something has become a verb! SatW summed up the church and witch burning quite nicely:

good catch on the first season of pregnancy. While this would be crippling in a historical society, fantasy follows the modern with only a few children (not having the insanely high infant mortality). So annoying, but not crippling. Inscriptions are enchantments, and the description on page 249 doesn't require you to know the spell to provide POW an enchantment; volunteers can contribute with no limit. (repeated on page 151, but no new info). Even if that was erratted, it would be easily outrun with the Spirit Guardian or Summon Spirit Teacher spell; a single ancestor with the spell can provide knowledge to multiple descendants in turn, and Spell Trading allows those descendants to call said ancestor. Oh, also consider that Enhance INT can be cast twice; once to enhance your INT short term, and then use the extra Free INT to cast a longer duration version. Magic points aren't an issue due to 1) Steal Breath and 2) once you've created Enhance CHA and Enhance POW, your magic skills modifier is also approaching 95%, so criticals are becoming common! Yeah, will still say that when the POW 40 spirits turn up. You just pointed out they can't attack me, remember? (hmm, actually reading the description closely, I see they can, merely cannot infect me). Well if they can, will want to be sitting behind Wards or a Market anyway, and have access to Spirit Block. On top of my now 18+ POW, am moderately confident of victory. A traded Charisma spell, or even Berserk, will dramatically improve my Spirit Combat skill as well. The description of the POW strip specifically says that it is not tainted in anyway. The Detect Chaos skill will confirm that. With XP checks: sort of. While the spear is 'checked out' after one round, you can switch to other weapons for future combats.

p349: This lending of Rune Magic to mortals roughly equals one country giving one country arms and supplies with which to fight a war Now I'll grant that that isn't exactly the same; we didn't keep supplying the Soviets after the fall of Berlin; but the functional goal is the same - give them the power to win as quickly and efficiently as possible.

The difference is handedness is important because you don't get half skill from Off hand weapon One handed, but do the other way. Definitely counting parries. Merging parry/attack massively increases the speed at which you can accumulate experience checks. And since your declaration will be "work my way through my parry options" can certainly use all of them. Had not considered the disease immunity problem, good catch. However, that just means you trade with other people; being able to offer 1D3 POW should ensure some very profitable trades. Yes, Malia will want to kill you. So what? As you've pointed out, you're immune to her diseases. If she throws different diseases at you, you are even better off. 380 POW + 20 POW for Duration, 400 POW. Equivalent of a temple with 400 initiates. Not very big. Especially when you are offering to grant an INT of 95 for a lifetime in return for that 1 POW. Interesting question on Bless Pregnancy. Doesn't alter its use though; simply cast on the woman whose pregnancy is most advanced, work back as practical. These are Earth goddesses. Thieving gets tricky when the item is a small(?) mountain, probably protected by a Condition enchantment. By the time word gets around, it is being protected by warriors with median stats of 21. Giving these as gifts very, very inefficient. A temple thrives on economies of scale; this goes back to bronze age palace economies! Thanks for your thoughts.

One of the strangest things I've ever read was in the Summa Theologica, where Aquinus is arguing against the Aristotelians who think they've got an invincible argument against Christianity: the Garden of Eden is supposed to be perfect, but has a woman in it. Why was this considered an invincible argument? Because there can only be one Platonic Form for humans. This was considered self-evidently male. Women, therefore, were a flawed an broken form of men. Therefore, there couldn't be a woman in the Garden of Eden without it being imperfect. This is the sort of stuff that a millennia later, the church was still having to argue against! So by all means pin the blame on Rome. And remember that the pagan world was no better. There's a reason that women have traditionally liked Christianity...

I'd suggest splicing Pendragon with the Dynasties book from Traveller - Pendragon handles the characters, Dynasties gives you the overview and is designed for a similar setting.

All true, but a sword is *only* useful for combat. Hammers, axes, knives and mauls are all tools. Spears and bows are hunting implements. "sword white, not sword grey" still covers this of course.

Page 149a: if an adventurer no longer has part of a limb, they lose 1 hit point in that location.

The myth/practicality divide is a false dilemma, given the gods are supposed to be making their cults as strong as possible. So the 'crunch' factor should be considered ingame. And Odayla wouldn't see any benefit. His Bear's Strength spell is increasing your Manipulation modifier, and your damage bonus: which applies to thrown weapons. It's simply more efficient to encourage cultists to use Bear's Strength for both hit and damage than to waste power developing/copying a new spell. Mind you, he should be encouraging the use of the atlatl!

Final thoughts - the only cult available to the sylvan elves is that of Orome. Given the Sylvan elves think they're tough but get slaughtered in open battle (think the first battle in the first age, and the black gate during the 2nd age) the Arrow Trance spell would be highly appropriate. During the battle of five armies, every elven spear and arrow tip glittered from the presence of the orcs, so Orome should probably provide the Enchant(orc detecting metal) spell. Yes, Thranduil will have access to Sindaran magics, and can trade for others, but the entire army is equipped, meaning it is common. Also, it would be perfect for Orome the Hunter - enchant arrow tips, and fire the arrows in a pattern to surround you - wherever the arrow flares, you know there's an orc within 100 metres. The Druedain and the trolls could share rock magic - probably a Earth based sorcery. There is simply nothing available to breed a stone based life form from. I'd suggest an enchantment that can either summon a dumb evil spirit (creating a troll) or summon the creating Druedain (explaining why they take the damage taken by the statue). Mechanically, a Druedain's statue can be reflected by the Gnome to Gargoyle spell on a small Gnome. Conditions would allow for the summoning of the Druedains 'soul' but allow the Druedain to continue functioning, and with no knowledge of what happens with the statue (for the duration of the spell, he'd count as a soulless being). Sauron could have modified the spell to create the Watchers. Radagast is a master of both form and hue, so would have most illusions. The creepy explanation for shapeshifters is that he grants Transform Self and shapeshifters are descended from two species. Certainly Sauron, master of werewolves, could have had halfwolf descendants. The Nine seem to leave magic around. The barrow wights are the obvious example; another is Frodo nearly ending up as a wraithly slave. Enchant(minor metals) should allow smiths a lot of leeway. Minor magical items, of no combat significance (although creative use should be encouraged of course) should be easily made by either dwarven or Noldorin smiths. Voice control of opening and closing seems to be a major theme, from the Old Took's cuff links through to the Doors of Moria. [edit] The Noldor(specifically, Fingon) invoke Manwe for archery! His cult should grant Speedart and/or Sureshot.

THE CULTS OF OSSE AND UINEN Two spirit cults for Tolkien's Middle Earth Although mechanically two separate cults, these functional as a single cult inworld. Osse is the Maia of coastal waters, storms, and ships. While the Falathrim may invoke their friend during a calm, they fear his frenzy, and more greatly respect his wife Uinen, who calms the seas. Skills and common rune spells are identical for the two cults. Cult skills: Boat, Craft(shipwright), Homeland Lore(coastal waters), Shiphandling, Swim Common Rune Spells: Divination, Extension 1, Breathe Air/Water Cultists may influence the seas by a successful Worship roll to either Maia; the Worship skill roll augments any Boat or Shiphandling roll for either, and also augments Swim for Uinen and Battle for Osse. This replaces normal Divine Intervention rolls. Fumbles mean a gale or being becalmed as appropriate. Cirdan is head of both cults, and while he possessed the Ring of Fire, could grant the Lightning spell. Osse grants the special rune spells of Bless Ship, Cloud Call, Rain and Wind Warp Uinen grants the special rune spells of Bless Pearl Bed, Cloud Clear, and Mist Cloud Bless Pearl Bed 1 Point Ritual, instant, stackable This variant of Bless Crops benefits pearl divers and Jewelers. Bless Ship 1 Point Ritual, instant, stackable Mechanically identical to Bless Crops, this spell is cast on a ship and benefits all whose livelihood depends on that ship. Cirdan has used the Ring of Fire to craft a powerful artifact to cast this at insanely high levels on ships in his fleet. Beneficiaries regard a special success on income as slightly disappointing! Ulmo grants the Special Rune Spell of: Straight Path 1 Point Ritual, nonstackable Cast on a ship, this spell lasts as long as the ship is heading towards the Undying Lands, and allows the ship to sail to Valinor. Being forced off course by weather or accident does not disrupt the spell, but a deliberate decision to turn aside causes the ship to plunge like a rock back into the mortal realm.

Eh, no. They calculated the date of Christmas from the Gospels; the conception of John the Baptist was in September(known from the dates his father's family served in the Temple) add six months to the conception of Jesus, add 9 months to His birth, and it is now late December. These claims are easily made, but rarely survive even a casual investigation. We don't even know the birth date for Mithras, merely that it was in summer (and full grown, and from the side of a mountain).

Is Voriof written up anywhere? My motivation for asking is purely that I'd like a character who responds to every crisis by crying out "holy sheep!"

[EDIT] Reading the 2nd Book of Lost Tales, I note that Melian's powers are based on her serving the Vala Lorien, so this really should be the cult of Lorien, and available to Light Elves]. THE CULT OF MELIAN Spirit cult for Tolkien's Middle Earth Based on the romance between Elu Thingol and Melian, this cult grants beauty and charms enemies to sleep. Following Thingol's death, Luthien maintained the cult until her own death; her son Dior Eluchil was able to continue it with the power of the Silmaril. Since his death, the cult has lost the ability to grant new Rune Magic; although cult members can still gain Charisma through worship of the Silmaril/Evening Star. It is not known how Arwen gained access to Extended Glamour! Elrond is the titular head of the cult during the WotR, although Galadriel joined the cult during the 1st Age, and Thranduil is a powerful member, having enchanted an entire river in his realm. Cult Spirit Magic: Unusually, this cult can grant spirit magic: Glamour and Sleep. Common Rune Magic: Divination, Extension 2 Special Rune Magic: Charisma, Extended Glamour, Extended Sleep. Extended Glamour This spell can be cast in the same round as Glamour, and increases the duration to 1 hour. Extension can also be cast at the same time, increasing duration further (1: a week, 2: a Season). Extended Sleep This spell can be cast in the same round as Sleep, and increases the duration to 1 hour. Extension can also be cast at the same time, increasing duration further (1: a week, 2: a Season). However, the subject awakens immediately if in any danger. This includes indirect dangers (such as Thorin's company considering leaving Bombur behind). This spell is stackable, each level causing sleep to affect an additional individual and granting +10% to the POW roll to overcome the target(s). [EDIT] Cult Skills are Alchemy, Plant Lore, Treat Poison, Treat Wound Communications skills are normally superb, due to high CHA, but for the same reason don't need to be taught.

on a similar subject, how do augments interact with the minimum 5% chance? Suppose you are so outclassed that your base chance of success is -10%, giving you the 5% minimum. Will a successful augment of 20% increase the chance to 25%, or does it run off the base, and so you now have a 10% chance? A combination of ritual practice and augment could hit 90%+, so against a powerful opponent this is a huge difference!

Yes, but also remind them that this lets them choose a new gift. If the character can boost a weapon, but doesn't have an iron weapon, it makes sense to boost a non-cult weapon so that you can upgrade to iron later in your career.

THE SKIN CHANGERS OF ULMO Rune cult for Tolkien's Middle Earth Other than Sauron's werewolves, all embodied shapeshifters are from this Cult. Ulmo himself grants the Transform Self spell; each form has a different spirit cult that grants the other 3 spells. Membership of the Swanmay cult is limited to female descendants of Elwing, so most members are Dunedain. The cult exists secretly with the ranks of the Black Numenorians. Common Rune Magic is Extension IV; Special Rune Magic is River Eyes (granted as a Rune spell lasting 12 hours) and Swan's Wings. Elwing is the first of the Swanmays; she was granted Glamour by the Melian cult, but it is now gained from the associated cult of the Silmaril (only worshiped through this or other cults). the Swan's Wings spell: Swan's Wings – Touch, Temporal, Nonstackable. The caster grows a pair of Swan's Wings, and their SIZ changes to be one third of their STR (round down). This normally reduces SIZ, but can increase it, particularly if STR enhancing magics have been used. The caster can fly at a speed of 8. Glamour, Rivereyes and Swan's Wings must be stacked together with Transform Self to become a swan. The Beornings are functionally the same as the Odayla cult, with the Carrock being their holiest site.

AULE/MAHAL Rune cult for Tolkien's Middle Earth Any Dwarf or Noldor can join this cult so long as they have a Craft at 50% or higher, but it is difficult for the two races to worship together; all must spend the same number of magic points if both races are present. The common Rune spells of the cult are: Analyse Magic, Lock, Passage, Magic Point Enchantment, Matrix Creation, Safe and Spirit Armor. His Special Cult Magic is the Enchant spell. By the time of the War of the Ring, the dwarves have lost access to Enchant(Iron) spell, Enchant (Mithril) and the ability to make the Lock spell permanent. However they still Enchant most other metals, and stone as well. The Noldor developed Enchant (Glass) and Enchant (Crystal): Dwarves may learn either if Noldor take part in the Worship ceremony. Possibly the Elven smiths of Rivendell could teach the dwarves to Enchant(iron) again, as well. Rune Masters may also learn Slash, and any True(Weapon) spell. Weapons are frequently forged with Matrix Creation and these spells. Aule provides Analyse Magic to all Vala cults.

Quite possibly...the hobbits are referred as being more closely related to men than to dwarves, implying being mostly human with a splash of petty-dwarf. So no reason why not. [other than the idea of a girlfriend with hairy feet, which is a pretty solid turn off]

The elves are specifically referred to as different races. Faramir would have found out the hard way that he and she were different races, when she died of old age [the genealogies have Faramir outliving Eomer by 20 years despite Eomer living to 93!] Aragorn lived to be 210, not something that normal men can do. Of course Bree contains humans who are human. That's to be expected. But it is emphasized that the two races live in harmony."The Big Folk and the Little Folk (as they called one another) were on friendly terms, minding their own affairs in their own ways, but both rightly considering themselves as necessary parts of the Bree-folk. Nowhere else in the world was this peculiar (but excellent) arrangement to be found." Yes, the friendship of Legolas and Gimli was born in fire. That makes it more special, not less.

TOM BOMBADIL (Forn, Orald, Iarwin Ben-adar) Spirit cult for Tolkien's Middle Earth “He is his own master...and now he has withdrawn within into a little land, within bounds he has set, though none can see them” Tom Bombadil's power is near absolute within his realm, and he cannot be drawn out of it. However, he will not enter another's home unless invited (allowing the barrow wights to survive, so long as they remain in their barrows). Those that dwell within Bombadil's desmense can join this cult, if their Homeland lore is 50% or higher. The tithe to Bombadil is consumed during celebrations when he visits his followers. At the time of the War of the Ring, Farmer Maggot leads the cult. Most members of the cult are not aware of their membership, as 'worship' is knowing how to entertain Bombadil as a guest. Special Cult Magic Bombadil provides the following standard Rune magic spells: Divination, Extension*, Sanctuary and Spirit Block. His spells can only be Extended while within your own home or lands, but the Extension will last until you leave, or the next Sacred Time. His special Rune magics are Fearless, Create Market and Command (any creature native to Bombadil's lands). However none of his spells can be cast outside his lands.

Good catches on time and extension! Magic points do not increase casting chance, but they do increase worship chance, improving the Augmenting skill. So 480% Worship(Waha) pretty easy. Given that a critical on the spell casting roll saves you six power points, the ideal is dropping some 1800 magic points into the Worship ritual to get a 95% chance of a 50% augment. This would be quite doable with Steal Breath, the tribes though would want to work out how to use all of their magic point storage crystals; maybe an area enchantment that accesses all crystals within it. Why can a Shaman not be a Khan? Rune Lords can certainly become priests, and the Shamans are the priests of the cult.

...and since Waha is the god who grants Alter Body.... ...and since a Rune Lord with STR and SIZ 21 is now within the attribute minimums for a giant.... whether he could Divine Intervention to change his species to Giant, growing a point of SIZ every year? [Flees to the safety of the Egregious munchkinnery thread]