Speciality Priests - Additional Rules

by Thomas A. Stobie, SFO

This document expands on specialty priests, which were introduced in the Channeling Companion.

In this article, I introduce initiates, a new profession (the Priest-Mage), and new spheres of influence. I also provide two new spell lists, new talents, and new training options.

This article assumes that the rules presented in my previous two articles are being used: Learning Spells and Learning Skills.

Table of Contents

The actual title used by the religion varies by religion. The exact benefits vary by Sphere of Influence and are given below in the Additions to the Spheres of Influence and the New Spheres of Influence tables.

1. Priest-Mage

   A Priest-Mage is a hybrid spellcaster of Channelling & Essence who delves into the elemental aspects of his deity's sphere of influence in service to his deity. Priest-Mages usually specialize in a single area.

   Template: Channeling/Essence Hybrid Priest
   Prime stats: Empathy, Intuition, & Reason
   Base Lists: By Sphere of Influence (see tables below), usually some combination of Priest and Essense Base Lists
   Special Skills: By Sphere of Influence and Everyman: Meditation, Channeling
   Classification of Skill Learning Abilities: LI>LI2, MA>NW5, OA>OA10, OE>OE11, SA>SA12, SM>SM12, SS>SS12, UR>UR11, WG>WG8, Weapon Category #1 WD>WD14
   Allowable Spheres of Influence: Earth, Fire, Light, Magic, Water, Weather, & Wind

   Profession Bonuses
   Lore - Magical +5 Power Awareness +10 Power Manipulation +10		Power Point Development +10 Spell Group +15

For each sphere of influence, I indicate which spell lists are Base Lists for Priests (expanding on what is found in the Channeling Companion) and which additional spells are available as restricted spells lists. I also indicate which have reduced DP costs for Clerics, Initiates, and (for some spheres) Animists, Astrologers, Channeling Alchemists, Evil Clerics, Healers, Mythics, Paladins, Priest-Mages, Rangers, Summoners, Taoist Monks, and Warlocks associated with the sphere of influence. If a channeling profession is not listed for a sphere of influence but the character is a avid worshipper (GM decision), the GM may want to give that character some (or all) the initiate benefits.

• Discerning Ways - This list augements the caster's ability to perceive the truth.
• Educating Ways - This list augments the caster's ability to teach and learning.

These are listed alphabetically and includes alternative names as well. An "*" marks the primary names of the new spheres. The Priest Spell List Table enumerates the spell lists available by sphere of influence. For each sphere, you can click on the ▽ to see more information about that sphere.

The section augments the information found in the Channeling Companion and introduces new spheres of influence. Information about existing spheres of influence can be found in the Additions to the Spheres of Influence Table and information about the new spheres of influence is in the New Spheres of Influence Table. This includes information about spells, initiates for each sphere, as well as changes to other professions. You can click on the △ symbol to see information about which spell lists are accessible.

Note that I refer to the Skill Learning Ability Classifications I introduced in another document.

The spells by the sphere of Influence (both old and new) are summarized in the Priest Spell List Table.

There are three costs provided for the Initiate Talents. The first is for Channeling spell users (including Channeling hybrids); the second is for non-spell users; and the third is for spell users from other realms.

• Priestly Initiate: This talent indicates that the character has been endowed by his temple or God with limited priestly powers and potentially easier access to certain channelling spell lists. The cost for each sphere is listed above. This talent can be applied to members of the Channeling realm already associated with a deity to reflect a very limited role (not as much as in the Polytheism talent) in another religion. The talent can be purchased many times to indicate multiple affiliations.

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• Polytheism: This talent allows a Channeling spell user to be affliated with multiple deities (with their consent). The character receives the benefits for both (or all) spheres of influence. This talent must be puchased for each deity beyond the first; one deity must be designated as primary.
  • (lesser) [5] - The primary deity and the additional deity share closely related spheres of influence.
  • (minor) [10] - The primary deity and the additional deity share distantly related spheres of influence.
  • (greater) [20] - The primary deity and the additional deity do not share similiar spheres of influence.

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• Initiate Training
  
  General Notes: This training allows a character to gain the talent Initiate. Temples usually require some form of service/payment/commitment(duty) for their efforts and can teach 1 student for every five levels (round down) of the priestly instructer simultaneously.
  
  Additional Benefit: Student gains a rank in the specific religion in which he is becoming an initiate.
  
  Time: 2xN weeks - [3x student's Re Stat bonus + 2x teacher's Re stat bonus]%.
  - Absolute Minimum Time: N weeks.
  
  Experience Point Expenditure: 1000xN EPs.
  
  - Where: N is the talent point cost of the gained talent.
  
  

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• Polytheistic Training
  
  General Notes: This training allows a character to gain the talent Polytheism. The current deity(or deities) must assent prior to the training. Temples usually require some form of service/payment/commitment(duty) for their efforts and can teach 1 student for every five levels (round down) of the priestly instructer simultaneously.
  
  Additional Benefit: Student gains a specialization in the specific religion in which he is becoming an active priest.
  
  Time: 4xN weeks - [3x student's Re Stat bonus + 2x teacher's Re stat bonus]%.
  - Absolute Minimum Time: 2xN weeks.
  
  Experience Point Expenditure: 2000xN EPs.
  
  - Where: N is the talent point cost of the gained talent.
  
  

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This builds upon speciality priests as defined in the Rolemaster Standard System [RMSS] and Rolemaster Fantasy Role Playing [RMFRP]. Copyright 1995-2000 © Iron Crown Enterprises, Inc., Charlottesville, Virginia USA. Rolemaster is a trademark properties of Iron Crown Enterprises, Inc. (ICE). All rights reserved.

A special thanks goes to Peter Mork, author of the Rolemaster supplement School of Hard Knocks, for his comments and suggestions.

© 2003-2004 Thomas A. Stobie, SFO - Permission to use and copy for personal use is granted.

The majority of the contents were published in the June 2004 issue of the online magazine, the Guild Companion.

Last revised 11 June 2004.