LibraryOgre
2020-12-02, 11:21 AM
So, I talked on another message board about how Warlocks (in 5e D&D) would work well as the priests of minor deities, and decided to take a crack at it for Hackmaster.
Evangelist
The evangelist serves a not-quite deity; some creature with vast power, but not quite enough to reach the status of one of the greater deities of Tellene. Some of these quasi-deities may be demons, others angels or ancient spirits that have passed from mere myth to veneration. Some of these powers are servants of the gods themselves; saints on the verge of apotheosis. As mere quasi-deities, these beings lack the ability to empower a cleric in the traditional sense. Known collectively as Patrons, they maintain enough power to grant some few individuals semi-clerical powers. These dem-clerics are known as Evangelists, though others may call them witches or warlocks, especially if they are evil or chaotic in nature.
The ultimate goal of an Evangelist is to increase the worship of their Patron. Some use persuasion, but many perform great deeds in Their name, showing what their Patron is capable of achieving. The power of an Evangelist is limited compared to that of a cleric, but the relative weakness of their Patron, and the current fluidity of their Patron’s dogma, gives them comparatively more freedom. Powerful Evangelists can help shape the resulting church for decades, if not centuries, to come.
Evangelist Magic
At each level, the Evangelist chooses a single spell, clerical or mage, of any level up to their own, The level of a cleric spell is considered to be the first level it is available to any clerical class. Mage spells are always considered two levels higher (so a 1st level Evangelist may select any 1st level cleric spell, or any Apprentice-level Mage spell), even if they are available to a priest class (for example, the Cathedral of Light has the 5th level Mage spell “Entrancing Lightshow” available at 5th level; an Evangelist could not select this spell until 7th level). The Evangelist also gains bonus spells known based on their Wisdom. At 13 Wisdom, they gain one additional 1st level spell. Each additional point of Wisdom provides a bonus spell to one additional spell level; so a 14 Wisdom provides a bonus 2nd level spell (when the Evangelist reaches 2nd level, naturally), a 15 Wisdom a bonus 3rd level spell, on up to a 20 Wisdom providing a bonus 8th level spell. The Evangelist may choose to access these bonus spells earlier (a 20 Wisdom Evangelist might choose to have 9 spells known at level level 1), but once chosen, spells may not be changed; they will lose access to those higher level bonus spells. The patron (as played by the GM) may veto any choice the character may make, though the choice should fall to the Evangelist, rather than be dictated by the Game Master.
Evangelists do gain a few, necessary, bonus spells. At 1st level, they have Ceremony: Consecrate Divine Icon, which they may cast without a Divine Icon, if necessary (though this inflicts a 1 point wound). At fifth level, they gain Ceremony: Anoint, and at tenth level, they gain Ceremony: Investiture, allowing them to create additional Evangelists from Anointed followers. Evangelists may not select these spells any earlier.
Evangelists do not prepare spells as traditional clerics, nor utilize spell points like a mage. Rather, they accumulate “Favor Tokens” from their Patron, which are used to create magical effects. Each day, the Evangelist acquires one Favor Token, which may be saved from day to day, to a maximum of one per level, plus a number of additional tokens equal to the Starting Honor Modifier based on Charisma (with a minimum of one per level; an Evangelist with a low charisma will never have fewer maximum Favor tokens than their level). So, an Evangelist with a 14 Charisma will have a maximum of 3 Favor Tokens at level 1, and 6 Favor Tokens at level 4.
When an Evangelist wishes to cast a spell, of any level, they must expend a single Favor Token. The spell is cast as any cleric spell would be. Mage spells cast in this manner are always cast at their base level of ability; they cannot be enhanced with spell points, even if the Evangelist has a store of them.
Clearly, this leads to Evangelists having immense abilities; a 20th level Evangelist may be able to cast twenty or more twentieth level spells in a day. However, the next day, they would be limited to a single spell, as they regain only a single Favor Token each day. Likewise, they have few spells to choose from; while a Cleric might prepare healing spells one day and information spells the next, and have a number of healing spells of several levels, an Evangelist who chooses many healing spells will have few other abilities.
Proficiencies
Evangelists begin with one free weapon proficiency of their choice, and may choose to be proficient in Light Armor. Proficiency in Medium Armor requires only 1 BP, Heavy 2 BP beyond that, and Shields requires 3 BP (so proficiency in all armor and shields will require 6 BP).
Weapon Specialization
Evangelists may become specialized in any weapon for 8 BPs for each initial purchase of attack, speed, defense, and damage. They may choose Weapon Talents related to their one free weapon proficiency at half cost.
Skills
Evangelists begin with a single purchase of Divine Lore, and may purchase additional mastery dice of Divine Lore at half price. They do not gain additional mastery of Divine Lore as they level, nor do they have a bonus to mastery of purchased rolls.
They begin with a single purchase of Oration, Persuasion, and Recruiting; additional purchases of Persuasion and Recruiting are only 2 BP. Purchases of Leadership are only 5 BP each. They also begin with a single purchase of Blacksmithing, Carpentry/Woodworking, or Craft, as necessary to create their Divine Icon. They must begin with at least Average mastery in this skill; if their free purchase is not enough to reach Average mastery, they must purchase additional mastery dice until they do.
Additionally, Evangelists gain one free mastery die in Religion (their own religion), and +5 Mastery at each level. Additional mastery dice in Religion (any) cost only 1 BP, and purchases of their own religion gain +1 per additional religion with which they have Average or better Mastery (so, an Evangelist who has Average Mastery in 6 other religions would gain +6 on Mastery Dice in their own religion whenever they make a purchase). In many ways, Evangelists are writing the dogma of their new religion as they go; knowing the ways of other religions not only makes them more effective in converting those of other faiths, but also helps to define what worship of their deity will look like.
Divine Icons
Like clerics, Evangelists begin with a Divine Icon, but they created this one themselves. As they often lack a formal church to provide additional divine icons at need, they must create their own, or the ones to be given to other adherents of their faith.
Alignment
Evangelists must begin with, and maintain, an alignment within one step of their patron. However, if their alignment does not match their patron, they have a -2 penalty to Honor calculations for “Adherence to Class”, so an otherwise exemplary Evangelist will have only an 8 in their honor calculation, instead of 10, in that category, and thus gain 3, instead of 4 Honor. A fair Evangelist would lose 1 Honor after the calculation, rather gain 1.
Evangelist
The evangelist serves a not-quite deity; some creature with vast power, but not quite enough to reach the status of one of the greater deities of Tellene. Some of these quasi-deities may be demons, others angels or ancient spirits that have passed from mere myth to veneration. Some of these powers are servants of the gods themselves; saints on the verge of apotheosis. As mere quasi-deities, these beings lack the ability to empower a cleric in the traditional sense. Known collectively as Patrons, they maintain enough power to grant some few individuals semi-clerical powers. These dem-clerics are known as Evangelists, though others may call them witches or warlocks, especially if they are evil or chaotic in nature.
The ultimate goal of an Evangelist is to increase the worship of their Patron. Some use persuasion, but many perform great deeds in Their name, showing what their Patron is capable of achieving. The power of an Evangelist is limited compared to that of a cleric, but the relative weakness of their Patron, and the current fluidity of their Patron’s dogma, gives them comparatively more freedom. Powerful Evangelists can help shape the resulting church for decades, if not centuries, to come.
Evangelist Magic
At each level, the Evangelist chooses a single spell, clerical or mage, of any level up to their own, The level of a cleric spell is considered to be the first level it is available to any clerical class. Mage spells are always considered two levels higher (so a 1st level Evangelist may select any 1st level cleric spell, or any Apprentice-level Mage spell), even if they are available to a priest class (for example, the Cathedral of Light has the 5th level Mage spell “Entrancing Lightshow” available at 5th level; an Evangelist could not select this spell until 7th level). The Evangelist also gains bonus spells known based on their Wisdom. At 13 Wisdom, they gain one additional 1st level spell. Each additional point of Wisdom provides a bonus spell to one additional spell level; so a 14 Wisdom provides a bonus 2nd level spell (when the Evangelist reaches 2nd level, naturally), a 15 Wisdom a bonus 3rd level spell, on up to a 20 Wisdom providing a bonus 8th level spell. The Evangelist may choose to access these bonus spells earlier (a 20 Wisdom Evangelist might choose to have 9 spells known at level level 1), but once chosen, spells may not be changed; they will lose access to those higher level bonus spells. The patron (as played by the GM) may veto any choice the character may make, though the choice should fall to the Evangelist, rather than be dictated by the Game Master.
Evangelists do gain a few, necessary, bonus spells. At 1st level, they have Ceremony: Consecrate Divine Icon, which they may cast without a Divine Icon, if necessary (though this inflicts a 1 point wound). At fifth level, they gain Ceremony: Anoint, and at tenth level, they gain Ceremony: Investiture, allowing them to create additional Evangelists from Anointed followers. Evangelists may not select these spells any earlier.
Evangelists do not prepare spells as traditional clerics, nor utilize spell points like a mage. Rather, they accumulate “Favor Tokens” from their Patron, which are used to create magical effects. Each day, the Evangelist acquires one Favor Token, which may be saved from day to day, to a maximum of one per level, plus a number of additional tokens equal to the Starting Honor Modifier based on Charisma (with a minimum of one per level; an Evangelist with a low charisma will never have fewer maximum Favor tokens than their level). So, an Evangelist with a 14 Charisma will have a maximum of 3 Favor Tokens at level 1, and 6 Favor Tokens at level 4.
When an Evangelist wishes to cast a spell, of any level, they must expend a single Favor Token. The spell is cast as any cleric spell would be. Mage spells cast in this manner are always cast at their base level of ability; they cannot be enhanced with spell points, even if the Evangelist has a store of them.
Clearly, this leads to Evangelists having immense abilities; a 20th level Evangelist may be able to cast twenty or more twentieth level spells in a day. However, the next day, they would be limited to a single spell, as they regain only a single Favor Token each day. Likewise, they have few spells to choose from; while a Cleric might prepare healing spells one day and information spells the next, and have a number of healing spells of several levels, an Evangelist who chooses many healing spells will have few other abilities.
Proficiencies
Evangelists begin with one free weapon proficiency of their choice, and may choose to be proficient in Light Armor. Proficiency in Medium Armor requires only 1 BP, Heavy 2 BP beyond that, and Shields requires 3 BP (so proficiency in all armor and shields will require 6 BP).
Weapon Specialization
Evangelists may become specialized in any weapon for 8 BPs for each initial purchase of attack, speed, defense, and damage. They may choose Weapon Talents related to their one free weapon proficiency at half cost.
Skills
Evangelists begin with a single purchase of Divine Lore, and may purchase additional mastery dice of Divine Lore at half price. They do not gain additional mastery of Divine Lore as they level, nor do they have a bonus to mastery of purchased rolls.
They begin with a single purchase of Oration, Persuasion, and Recruiting; additional purchases of Persuasion and Recruiting are only 2 BP. Purchases of Leadership are only 5 BP each. They also begin with a single purchase of Blacksmithing, Carpentry/Woodworking, or Craft, as necessary to create their Divine Icon. They must begin with at least Average mastery in this skill; if their free purchase is not enough to reach Average mastery, they must purchase additional mastery dice until they do.
Additionally, Evangelists gain one free mastery die in Religion (their own religion), and +5 Mastery at each level. Additional mastery dice in Religion (any) cost only 1 BP, and purchases of their own religion gain +1 per additional religion with which they have Average or better Mastery (so, an Evangelist who has Average Mastery in 6 other religions would gain +6 on Mastery Dice in their own religion whenever they make a purchase). In many ways, Evangelists are writing the dogma of their new religion as they go; knowing the ways of other religions not only makes them more effective in converting those of other faiths, but also helps to define what worship of their deity will look like.
Divine Icons
Like clerics, Evangelists begin with a Divine Icon, but they created this one themselves. As they often lack a formal church to provide additional divine icons at need, they must create their own, or the ones to be given to other adherents of their faith.
Alignment
Evangelists must begin with, and maintain, an alignment within one step of their patron. However, if their alignment does not match their patron, they have a -2 penalty to Honor calculations for “Adherence to Class”, so an otherwise exemplary Evangelist will have only an 8 in their honor calculation, instead of 10, in that category, and thus gain 3, instead of 4 Honor. A fair Evangelist would lose 1 Honor after the calculation, rather gain 1.