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Originally Posted by Shaira
The distinction you make is quite correct, IMHO - Status measures a *social* construct, Allegiance measures a moral or supernatural one. But actually, how (and indeed if) to use Allegiance is what I'm brainstorming - and frankly having trouble with - at the moment. I'm very wary making the Divine Powers of a deity contingent upon a priest's Allegiance score - particularly as Allegiance as it stands is basically an optional rule. Currently I'm sticking with the BRP rules as written, and if I do utilise Allegiance it'll be for those additional PP / skill points / etc that the optional rules describe. What I *don't* want right now is to put an optional rule in such a central place.
Having said that, the scope for using Allegiance in this way is quite promising. For starters, you could say that only characters with 20+ allegiance to a deity can get divine powers from that deity - effectively defining an entry level for a priest, and stopping anyone else from rocking up to a Temple, paying their dues, and getting heaps of divine benefits. But it's this very bluntness and absolute-ness that makes me nervous of using Allegiance too widely.
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Funnily enough, exactly my thought (related to a setting using magic based on the RQIII magic systems) was to have a Character's Allegiance score (if Allied to that allegiance - i.e. 20 or more greater than all other allegiances AND the character has committed to the allegiance) as the source of the Characters ability to use "Divine Blessings" ( RQIII style Spirit Magic), whilst "Divine Miracles" (RQIII style Divine magic) would come from sacrificing POW as in RQIII. IN the specific setting everyone would still have limted access to "Hedge Magic" (RQIII Spirit Magic) but only Divine Priests and Hedge Wizards would have significant Spirit magic spells.
What I like about using Allegiance in this way is that as a system it is a character choice driven mechanism for power that rewards "right action" (doing things that promote the character's allied Allegiance). Likewise, if a characters actions favour a different allegiance (or are detrimental to their allied allegiance) the
player can see the effect and the risk, but is left free to role play the implications /consequences in their characters behaviour. So there is a justifiable moral framework associated with particular Allegiances but one that
players are free to role play with, rtaher than being straight jacketed by.
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I think it'd also be profitable to see Allegiance in terms of a skill - or indeed a Passion - and perhaps use it to augment other skills at appropriate junctures. "May Thor protect me!" kind of thing.
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That's definitely what I had in mind when I mentioned
Pendragon - and extra short term "boost" from invoking your Allegiance, with greater benefits for Allied Allegiances.
Cheers,
Nick Middleton