tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268676238326153679.post3731462924800050619..comments2023-09-28T21:23:35.172-04:00Comments on The Bastard's Blade: Christian Clerics (part 1)Erin Smalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16085303583608172242noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268676238326153679.post-13584065183518579072012-04-30T13:25:08.990-04:002012-04-30T13:25:08.990-04:00How about access to political power and patronage?...<i>How about access to political power and patronage? </i><br /><br />I like this suggestion. Definitely better reaction rolls in certain situations and a patron option, possibly with escalating benefits paid with XP.<br /><br />Another reason I like your approach is because it provides mechanical reinforcement to how Clerics are viewed politically. Your statement about political access turned on a light bulb. <br /><br />Thanks also for the endorsement - this was a hurdle for me, but I really appreciate your advice, and your previous meditations were extremely helpful.Erin Smalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16085303583608172242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268676238326153679.post-56606131653311977672012-04-29T21:34:31.843-04:002012-04-29T21:34:31.843-04:00One question that does come up: given the spell-ca...<i>One question that does come up: given the spell-casting limitations, why would anyone play an Arian Cleric?</i><br /><br />How about access to political power and patronage? Some of the biggest supporters of the Arian heresy were political leaders (particularly Emperors), because the theology better justified their use of power (unity through doing the will of God rather than the Orthodox participation in the being of God).<br /><br />This could take the form of better reaction rolls, a certain amount of political favors that could be spent and/or a political patron that would give the cleric access to resources otherwise unavailable. This patron could grow in power and influence as the cleric advances in level.<br /><br />Christian Orthodoxy has always challenged the political order because it stands in direct opposition to stratification and differentiation (There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. — Gal 3:28). Therefore, the kind of political access available to the Orthodox Cleric would be very limited in comparison.<br /><br />BTW I like this very much, it is both tastefully done and pays homage to historical reality.FrDavehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00459281821319914530noreply@blogger.com