Priests of the Empire

If you are reading this post then you spend to much time hanging off this section of the forum, and not enough time on the Gallery section of the forum.

Go here now to get the link to a new article which took me over a year to complete. It's all about using Priests in Mordheim and Marienburg campaigns!

https://boringmordheimforum.forumieren.com/t5268-priests-of-the-empire#75322

Regards,

Werekin

p.s. Don't post any rules Q's on the gallery.

Really I just spend too much time on the entire forum, but perhaps work will pick-up next week.

This is great! However my computer is possessed by Daemons and my printer is in league with dark powers so I cannot see the entire article nor can I print it. Thus I beg enlightenment.

Questions.
Who may hire? Most of the priests may be hired by ANY human warband. Does that include Norse and Marauders? Really? Witch Hunters may hire a priest of Raland? The god of thieves? Really? For that matter Witch Hunters and Sisters are only prohibited from hiring Myrmidia, Taal and Ulric. And Sisters can hire a Sigmarite priest?

A companion question might be which warbands did you consider as included in your rules?

Myrmida and Ulric seem to have lost followers despite both having orders of Templars in most large Empire Cities.

Why won't Kislevites follow a priest of Taal or Ulric for that matter?

How do you hire?

Quote :

As opposed to being treated as faithless Hired Swords, Priests more deservedly occupy the position of a Hero character. Their specialist station should be reflected in the rules of the game because it provides a much more fitting dynamic in campaign adventures! This encourages evocative narrative game play in such a fashion that it becomes a true likeness to countless examples of classic story telling published by the Black Library.

Which heroes can be replaced to hire a priest? ( Again I can't see the whole article on my old computer so I apologize if this is covered.)

How many priests can you hire? Witch Hunters and Sisters can start with 2. Marauders can have a priest and whatever it is they have (shaman?). Stirwood Outlaws can start with 2 Sigmarite Priests.

Will Priests work with Warlocks, Witches and other magic users? I imagine some would and some would not. Does it say? Also it would matter when your campaign was set, since all magic users are outlawed at the time of the Comet.

I started up a very similar "swap - hero" idea for my group's Sylvannia campaign... although, cursory glance says you did it better

Shallya - Super glad you included her... if you didn't come up with rules for her, I would have.

Considering her pacifistic nature, may I suggest a possible add on rule for her?

"Practitioner: At the end of any game in which a Shaylla priestess cured one or more friendly models, she gains +1 Experience. This only gets this experience bonus if she cured an injured model (not a healthy one), and only ONE per game, regardless of the people helped."

As she won't attack enemies, she'll get NO exp. Thus, she should get SOMETHING for doing what she does best. (If my proposed boon is too much, nerf it some- if she heals 2 or more; she only gets the freebie exp on a 4+, etc.)

Which one do you recommend using for a stand-in for a Bretonnian Damsel?

EDIT: A thought hit me for Myrimidia a while back... what if she could learn "Leader Only" skills and pass them on to the leader? She is the goddess of strategy... it makes sense that she can become a "surrogate head" for the Leader, passing on the acad skills she knows to him (cannot stack, of course.)

@Styro - There is a rules/modeling bit at the end of page 1 concerning opportunities for Cleric-Captains, which addresses your EDIT. As for Shallyan Priestesses, if they can survive a battle then they will gain +1 Experience. Nuff said.

@Von Kurst - 20 questions overload!? Get your machines fixed mate and read the document. Then I don't need to re-write the blasted thing again for your personal benefit!

Regards,

Werekin

Hi Stu,

Well I've read through the article and a couple of others have read through your article also. We're very excited as we've been waiting for this for quite some time. As promised in my blog comment we do have a LOT of questions/comments. They are meant to be constructive so please accept my apologies in advance if any of the wording comes across critical. Here they are...

-----------------------------------

Mariner-priest of Manaan
Love him. Love the hints at a nautical exploration chart. Will there be a nautical injury chart also?

Prayers of Manann
Blessed Voyage: when is this prayer attempted?
Curse of the Albatross: within 24" is too far. Should this be within 12"? If the priest was in the centre of a 4' x 4' table then this spell would reach nearly the entire table. Ouch.
Drowned Man's Face: might run into difficulties in action
Waterwalk: too difficult to cast for benefit provided?


Priest of Morr
How much does a scythe cost? If nothing, then should Priest of Morr cost more than 35gc? What if he loses his equipment (need a cost)?

Prayers of Morr
Glimpse Ahead: is the spell attempted pre-battle?
Sign of the Raven: will friendly models cause critical hits on a 5 and 6? If so then we're wondering if difficulty is a bit too easy.


War-priestesss of Myrmidia
Eagle Friend: is there a cap on the number of eagles that can be taken?
Eagle Friend: can eagles be used as a missile weapon in the same phase as the priestess saying a prayer?
Eagle Friend: if the eagle knocks down a target in close combat then can the priestess take the warrior OOA in the same round of combat?

Prayers of Myrmidia
Vengeful Wrath: how can the priestess cast a prayer and shoot? Is this for eagles (see question above)?


Trister-Priest of Ranald
Skills: does the Trickster Priest of Ranald have skill lists available or does it just come with the skills listed and can only choose prayers when advancing?
Cat Friend: is there a cap on the number of cats that can be taken?

Prayers of Ranald & Handrich
Bargain Hunter: when is this prayer attempted?
Rumour of Bounty, Rumour of Dearth: when is this prayer attempted?
Rumour of Bounty, Rumour of Dearth: does common become rare simply mean that a hero has to go searching for the item but without a rarity roll do common items become rare 3?


Priestess of Shallya
Should the spelling be Shallaya?
Cure Poisons: Poisons in post-battle sequence
Healing Hands: ...recovers [up to ] 2 Wounds. I'd guess this shouldn't go above their starting Wounds.
Healing Hands: Apothecary +2 on Surgery. With Mercy does this make it +3?
Tranquil Aura: does it also affect friendly models? Seems a bit odd if it does.

Prayers of Shallya
Cure Disease: does this include Nurgle's Rot?
Cure Wounds (& Mercy & Healing Hands rules): can this go above their starting Wounds?
Cure Wounds (& Mercy & Healing Hands rules): what occurs when the model is knocked down or stunned?
Golden Tears: technically, you have zero Wounds when KD.
Purify: WAY too powerful when range is 24" for difficulty 9. Should this be 12"? If the priestess was in the centre of a 4' x 4' table then this spell would reach nearly the entire table. When losing D6 Wounds, do you roll on injury if all wounds are lost or is the enemy reduced to 1 Wound?


Wolf-priest of Ulric
Wolf Friend: is there a cap on the number of wolves that can be taken? Do wolves count towards maximum warband size like when wardogs are bought for a hero?


Priest of Taal
No comments.

Prayers of Taal
Blessed Ale: ..will be lose 1 Attack... should be ...will lose 1 Attack (to a minimum of 1)... (at least remove the 'be')?
Earthshudder: why 2 Initiative tests? Shouldn't the terrain be difficult ground afterwards?
Summon Squirrels: are Dodge, Step Aside and Fey Quickness saves allowed?


Wolf-Priest of Ulric
Shame about complete rewrite but hopefully for the better as you mentioned in your blog.

Prayers of Ulric
Ice Storm: If injured by the S5 hit (KD/S), & fails Toughness test, is model taken OOA?
The Snow King's Decree: ...target with 6"... should be ...target within 6"...
The Snow King's Decree: what does it mean, "If the chosen target is a warrior..."?


War-Priests of Solkan
Inquisitor: anti-chaos gods shouldn't be inflicting mutations. This seesm odd to us.
Inquisitor: does he stop using previously known prayers?

Prayers of Verena & Solkan
Shackles of Law: can the model retaliate?


We're looking forward to adding these rules to our campagin!

Thanks,

Ben

Hi Ben.

I see you've had the tooth-comb out... Here are my answers to your Q's:

Mariner-priest of Manaan Manann
Love him. Love the hints at a nautical exploration chart. Will there be a nautical injury chart also?

A: If you can't swim you drown, so nothing planned.

Prayers of Manann
Blessed Voyage: when is this prayer attempted?

A: Same as any other prayer or spell, during the shooting phase. If successfully cast at any point of the battle then it takes effect.

Curse of the Albatross: within 24" is too far. Should this be within 12"? If the priest was in the centre of a 4' x 4' table then this spell would reach nearly the entire table. Ouch.

A: The range and cost are what they would be. It's translated from RPG. Pretty good if you can pull off a 10 huh!

Drowned Man's Face: might run into difficulties in action
Waterwalk: too difficult to cast for benefit provided?

A: Waterwalking is no easy task. The benefit is measured by your gaming table. Imagine you have 6x4' of water with two or more ships floating on it. All of a sudden it becomes extremely useful to walk on water.

Priest of Morr
How much does a scythe cost? If nothing, then should Priest of Morr cost more than 35gc? What if he loses his equipment (need a cost)?

A: Scythes have no published cost. Morrian scythes are holy implements, hence not for sale. However, anything is potentially available in Marienburg! In Marienburg, any unlisted item is treated as Rare 15. Might mean you need to go see a good merchant if you lose it!

Prayers of Morr
Glimpse Ahead: is the spell attempted pre-battle?

A: No. All prayers (like spells) are attempted in the shooting phase.

Sign of the Raven: will friendly models cause critical hits on a 5 and 6? If so then we're wondering if difficulty is a bit too easy.

A: No. Only an unmodified 6 will cause a critical hit if I'm not mistaken.

War-priestesss of Myrmidia
Eagle Friend: is there a cap on the number of eagles that can be taken?

A: This mark can be received multiple times.

Eagle Friend: can eagles be used as a missile weapon in the same phase as the priestess saying a prayer?

A: I believe the rules of the game allow for spells to be cast in a close combat, and by a wizard who also shoots a missile weapon in the shooting phase. Prayers can be chanted at the same time as despatching a bird of prey.

Eagle Friend: if the eagle knocks down a target in close combat then can the priestess take the warrior OOA in the same round of combat?

A: This presumably depends on the surrounding combat state. ie, Any unengaged models.

Prayers of Myrmidia
Vengeful Wrath: how can the priestess cast a prayer and shoot? Is this for eagles (see question above)?

A: I think the warrior-priestess would be muttering a missive to Myrmidia at the same time as letting a shot off! There is no rule disallowing this. Women are particularly good at doing two things at once, or so they boast.

Trister-Priest of Ranald
Skills: does the Trickster Priest of Ranald have skill lists available or does it just come with the skills listed and can only choose prayers when advancing?

A: You had me worried for a moment! The document states: "Priests of Ranald may choose skills from the Academic and Speed skills lists, or they may randomly determine a new prayer from the Prayers of Ranald list. In addition, Ranaldan Priests can receive a Mark of Ranald instead of choosing a new skill if a double was rolled on the advance roll."

Cat Friend: is there a cap on the number of cats that can be taken?

A: No. The priest can gain this mark multiple times.

Prayers of Ranald & Handrich
Bargain Hunter: when is this prayer attempted?

A: Shooting phase!

Rumour of Bounty, Rumour of Dearth: when is this prayer attempted?

A: Shooting phase!

Rumour of Bounty, Rumour of Dearth: does common become rare simply mean that a hero has to go searching for the item but without a rarity roll do common items become rare 3?

A: Superb spot! This has always been down as Rare 10.

Priestess of Shallya
Should the spelling be Shallaya?

A: Nope. From what I can tell the spelling of Shallya is never correct in the Mordheim rulebook.

Cure Poisons: Poisons in post-battle sequence

A: Yes, like is says. This ability works at the beginning of post battle sequence.

Healing Hands: ...recovers [up to ] 2 Wounds. I'd guess this shouldn't go above their starting Wounds.

A: Agreed, starting Wounds not to be exceeded by effects like this.

Healing Hands: Apothecary +2 on Surgery. With Mercy does this make it +3?

A: No. These don't stack. It's +1 or +2.

Tranquil Aura: does it also affect friendly models? Seems a bit odd if it does.

A: Yes, it is odd. Peace man!

Prayers of Shallya
Cure Disease: does this include Nurgle's Rot?

A: Yes, these splendid women can sometime cure you from Neiglish Rot.

Cure Wounds (& Mercy & Healing Hands rules): can this go above their starting Wounds?

A: No.

Cure Wounds (& Mercy & Healing Hands rules): what occurs when the model is knocked down or stunned?

A: Nothing special happens. Patients are easier to treat when they are laying down!

Golden Tears: technically, you have zero Wounds when KD.

A: Not when a Priestess of Shallya blesses you with the Golden Tears you don't.

Purify: WAY too powerful when range is 24" for difficulty 9. Should this be 12"? If the priestess was in the centre of a 4' x 4' table then this spell would reach nearly the entire table. When losing D6 Wounds, do you roll on injury if all wounds are lost or is the enemy reduced to 1 Wound?

A: When a model is reduced to zero Wounds then an injury roll is always required. All casting costs were translated from Warhammer Roleplay using clever formula. Range of 12" would suit all heretics nicely as they would sooner be withing charging range. That is not the intention. The Mercy Goddess does not tolerate the followers of Nurgle!

Wolf-priest of Ulric
Wolf Friend: is there a cap on the number of wolves that can be taken? Do wolves count towards maximum warband size like when wardogs are bought for a hero?

A: The mark can be taken multiple times. The game rules would indicate that War Dogs and other non-ridden animals count towards the total number of models in a warband.

Priest of Taal
No comments.

Prayers of Taal
Blessed Ale: ..will be lose 1 Attack... should be ...will lose 1 Attack (to a minimum of 1)... (at least remove the 'be')?
Earthshudder: why 2 Initiative tests? Shouldn't the terrain be difficult ground afterwards?
Summon Squirrels: are Dodge, Step Aside and Fey Quickness saves allowed?

A: Blast! I did spot-check making corrections to the originally published article. Thought I'd corrected them all. I did not write the prayers of Taal, so it's best if you refer any Q's to a MOD concerning the Priest of Taal that don't involve the marks.

Wolf-Priest of Ulric
Shame about complete rewrite but hopefully for the better as you mentioned in your blog.

A: Indeed. The original was a load of old cobblers though I'm afraid.

Prayers of Ulric
Ice Storm: If injured by the S5 hit (KD/S), & fails Toughness test, is model taken OOA?

A: If only knocked down by the Strength 5 hit, then a failed Toughness test leaves the target stunned.

The Snow King's Decree: ...target with 6"... should be ...target within 6"...

A: Yes, updated to "within". Thanks chief.

The Snow King's Decree: what does it mean, "If the chosen target is a warrior..."?

A: I have observed there are 3 general descriptions used for miniatures in Mordheim. 1. Animals 2. Warriors 3. Models. The terms 'models' appears to signify any warriors, animals or vehicles represented on the tabletop. Everything I write will always be worded as such to help clarify. Heroes, Henchmen, Hired Swords, Dramatis Personae, Retainers (ie, Merchant's Bodyguard) and NPC/Allies (ie, non-player campaign character miniatures) all count as warriors.

War-Priests of Solkan
Inquisitor: anti-chaos gods shouldn't be inflicting mutations. This seesm odd to us.

A: No, you are misinterpreting the flavour. Inquisitors will always sniff out a heretic. The way it works is that when an Inquisitor points the finger of justice, the victim of his wrath is found wanting! The war-priest does not inflict any mutations. Rather he 'detects' the mutation which the warrior in question was concealing from his friends all along, and exposes the heretic!

Inquisitor: does he stop using previously known prayers?

A: No. Inquisitors continue use prayers.

Prayers of Verena & Solkan
Shackles of Law: can the model retaliate?

A: No. The model defends itself but cannot attack back.

Regards,

Werekin

Thanks for your answers.

Still amazed by 24" radius for Purify. However we'll play and see how it goes. We did tone down two of the Nurgle spells so we may need to restore to previous strength to counter the priestess.

Cheers,

Ben

I know it came from the Norse Warband, but I never understood the "+2 Strength in boats" rule... so if he's attacked in a boat, he's S5?

Scythe: It's the same as a halberd. Acts the same in every way, with no bonus. Why would it not be a common weapon, 10gc?

StyrofoamKing wrote:

I know it came from the Norse Warband, but I never understood the "+2 Strength in boats" rule... so if he's attacked in a boat, he's S5?

I am not sure of the rules Werekin is quoting. Perhaps some of his own?
However, back in the day before Empire in Flames published semi-official rules for boats, there were several TC scenarios that included rules for using small boats. In at least one of those rules the speed of the boat was dictated by the Strength of the rowers in some fashion. I'll look it up one of these days if it matters. The Lustrian Norse got "+2 strength when trying to row a boat." TC #13.

That is all I can remember now and I am weary.

All right then. I have read the complete document twice. Lovely, simply lovely. However, many of my previous questions remain.

Only one priest may be hired.
Got that, but what does that mean for warbands that already have access to a priestly type, such as Sisters of Sigmar? May a Sisters warband hire a Priest of Sigmar? Or may a Stirwood Outlaw warband hire the vastly superior priest from the article and abandon their poor excuse for a spiritual shepherd?

May Witch Hunters hire a priest of Raland?

How DO you hire a priest?

I see costs and hiring restrictions based on warbands, but I have not found the mechanic for recruiting the priest in the document. Please enlighten me.

Will priests work with warbands that have access to spell casters or Hired Swords like Warlocks or Witches?

That's all for tonight, thanks for the rules!

@Styro - Again, rules for Scythes and Seafaring are not by my hand. Check with a MOD!

Here is my tuppence worth anyway...

The Seafaring ability only applies to characteristic based tests for rowing, not fighting! Rules for boats are found in 'Empire in Flames' as I'm sure you're aware.

Scythes appear to function in the same way as Halberds with the additional caveat that they have the 'Difficult To Use' rule, like a Morning Star. Fundamentally this makes no odds for the priest, not from what I can tell! However, I have left it in its original form for two reasons;
1. Posterity!
2. 'Haunted Mien' allows the Priest of Morr to ignore his strictures! As you can see this would allow for various different equipment switchs using the Priests Equipment lists on page 2. All this extra detail is simply designed to accommodate the savvy modelers out there who like to customise their characters in 3D.

@Von Kurst - The mechanic, as you call it, is dead simple. The hiring rules for priests are at the top of page 2. Additional hiring guidelines for each type of priest can be found in the respective 'May Be Hired' section.

I would have excluded warbands of the Sigmarite faith except that there are precedents to be found in various stories where a non-Sigmarite priest works with the holy warriors of a rival faith. I've made it so there are certain blocks. ie, Ulrican & Sigmarites oppose each other, followers of Chaos cannot hire priests etc.

You cannot have two priests, so a warband with a priest in their normal selection of starting Heroes would have to choose between the old priest or the new priest.

As far as Hired Swords are concerned, if they are normally hired by your warband, and they are not Undead, followers of Chaos etc. then it shouldn't be a problem.

Regards,

Werekin

werekin wrote:

@Styro - Again, rules for Scythes and Seafaring are not by my hand. Check with a MOD!

Here is my tuppence worth anyway...

The Seafaring ability only applies to characteristic based tests for rowing, not fighting! Rules for boats are found in 'Empire in Flames' as I'm sure you're aware.

Our consternation and confusion might stem from the absence of any such test in EiF rules or indeed in any others of the current post EiF nautical rules for Warhammer or Warhammer Historical or Mordheim. It is well documented that I play a pretty fair number of naval theme games per year with lots of systems so I was curious as to the function of the rule. The Norse warband was written and published long before the EiF rules. The Norse rule refers to an obscure scenario that used rowboats to cross the Stir. Perhaps the scenario's author was also involved in the Lustrian rules?

Since ours is a neglected games system tiding up the older rules fall to those such as yourself. You have taken it upon yourself to fix issues with the Priest of Ulric so it is not a long stretch to imagine that you might do the same elsewhere.

Thanks for the rules.

I like them very much.

Are these priest hired instead of a champion or youngblood choice, or are they hired additionaly?

This would mean i can start with six heroes with many human warbands.

Kind of strong isn't it?

I will discuss the rules with my gaming group to. Hope they also like to include them.

I have a nice model for a priest of Verena. I love the owl idea also very much on this one.

A priest of Morr I also have. Not painted though.

A scythe is for me a working tool of a farmer so it shold be common for 10 gc in my opinion.

Thanks again for your great effort.

SerialMoM wrote:

Are these priest hired instead of a champion or youngblood choice, or are they hired additionaly?

This would mean i can start with six heroes with many human warbands.

Kind of strong isn't it?

I reckon this is what VK was asking also about how priests are hired. I believe that a priest would fill any hero slot that is not the leader.

Quote :

A scythe is for me a working tool of a farmer so it shold be common for 10 gc in my opinion.

Thanks again for your great effort.

I agree with SK and SerialMoM. I know that your rules for the priest of morr come from an existing article but that doesn't mean you can't add a cost and rarity to your article for completeness. Referring us to a mod is nearly pointless these days as I haven't seen Da Bank around for months. As VK said... this is an aging game system that is receiving not much love. This is a chance for you to clean up elements from existing rules (not core mechanics but ambiguities) that are directly related to your articles. Who cares if it adds an extra page (although I understand it is more work for you). We'd all thank you for it.

We all like your rules and our feedback and questions are because we respect you and want your work to be the best that it can be. Hopefully you'll respect us for commenting and be patient if we don't explain things well.

To me, if it walks like a halberd, swims like a halberd, quacks like a halberd, it's a halberd. Or a duck, they are very similar.

I don't think anyone will think less of you for making an executive decision on a document you're writing / compiling.

Scythes are nothing more than ceremonial weapons. As such it's not really necessary to put them 'on sale'. Priests of Morrian just have one! That's all there is to it.

As for the matter of Rowing Boats, due note has been taken of your comments Von Kurst. When braving rivers and canals it's worth bearing in mind one or two pitfalls, and I think characteristic tests are relevant enough to require some clarification since they were only skimmed over in the EiF campaign.

Concerning hiring priests, Rational has the right of it and I appreciate your supportive commentary sir.

An earlier interpretation of hiring was to drop a regular starting Hero for a priest. I don't like this version of events because it doesn't encourage folk well enough to find the faith!

Seeing as various competitive warbands already have the choice of 6 solid Heroes, it was my intention to offer priests as an additional Hero. They can't replace the leader (unless he dies) and if your warband has a starting line-up of 6 guys already then yeh you have to then make a choice between ditching one of your least appealing Heroes and the good Father/Brother/Sister.

werekin wrote:

Seeing as various competitive warbands already have the choice of 6 solid Heroes, it was my intention to offer priests as an additional Hero. They can't replace the leader (unless he dies) and if your warband has a starting line-up of 6 guys already then yeh you have to then make a choice between ditching one of your least appealing Heroes and the good Father/Brother/Sister.

Um, most warbands have 5. Of the official warbands, only the skaven have 6. That's ONE. As for experimental bands, the number of them that start with six can probably be counted on one hand.

You're the one writing the rules, of course, but for my group, I'd propose the house rule of switching in a hero. The idea of starting with six sounds waaaaay too strong to me.

If everyone starts with six it is balanced anyway.

Only the witch hunters are real losers, because they only can exchange their priest.

The bad boys warbands are also on the downside if i think longer about it.

Yeah trade another hero choice for the priest and it should be fine.

What about priest of the dwarven gods? Or elves?

Hmm...

Official-smishal guys. Skaven war-leaders don't deserve to have all the fun. Everyone without a whiskers and a tail ought to be happy to see warbands starting with 6 Heroes... just so long as they are not Dwarfs, Elves or Ogres.

While it's true that Witch Hunters get the short straw (again!) there are some notes I'm collating to give them much more of an incentive in urban campaign play.

I ought to mention that in the Warhammer background the Witch Hunters are required to procure a license before they can go about their business in Marienburg!

Looks like an anti-Skaven plot to me. And pro-elf. Not surprising considering the source.

Boats. Considering the complete absence of any Strength based characteristic tests in any current rules for I use for boats, I for one will not clammer for them to be added. Please don't.

Rather than having to write a new set of rules you could just have the priest buff a boat's speed by +1.

Witch Hunters & Sisters: Here's something to help a little; what if Warrior Priests and Sister Superiors can learn the Marks of Sigmar?

Official-Smishal: I cite the "official" warbands, 'cause they (in my opinion) are the litmus test of what is fair. If it gives a huge bonus to a select group without any drawback, you make things unfair for a lot of people. For example:

6th hero Priest is a huge bonus to: Mercs, Kislev, Pirates, Tileans (maybe Cathayans & Norse?)

Puts the following at a disadvantage: Undead, Skaven, Witch Hunters, Sisters of Sigmar, Dwarves, Elves, Hochland Bandits, Outlaws of Stirland, Horned Hunters, Ostlanders, Halflings, Bretonnians, Arabyan Tomb Raiders, Orcs... lots, really. Also, one really important group: people who just don't want a priest in their warband.

(I left chaos warband out of the disadvantaged group, as the sister article on Mutations gave them a boost)

Thus, very few warbands are given what is (in my opinion), a huge boost, while the others are pretty much snubbed. Likewise, any human player is pretty much FORCED to pick up a priest to stay competitive. NO optional rules should be foisted on people- they should be something FUN to pick up.

If it's SWAPPED in, lets see how many more warbands can join in and still be balanced with the Mercs:

Ostlanders, Witch Hunters, Vampire Hunters, Horned Hunters: Can switch out their existing priest for one of a different flavor. Horned Hunters with a Mort priest aim to preserve the natural order, while Ostlanders with a Ranald priest are nothing but two-bit thieves.

Norse, Breton, Hochland: They can switch out their sixth hero for a priest. Maybe the Brets have a Shallyan priestess, while the Norse take to sea with a manaan worshiper.

Despite my b*&^ing and moaning, I LIKE THESE PRIESTS. I like them so much that I would trade out a youngblood for an awesome flavorful caster in a heartbeat. I think many people will do the same. They are incentive enough, if you ask me- I don't think you need to sugar-coat the deal any further.

I like VK's idea about boat speed. That would then be applicable to any rules used for boats.

I don't like the idea of an automatic sixth hero at all. Sorry if that is blunt. I think SK mentioned much of what I believe also. The priests are good enough that many people (myself included) would quite happily use the priests at the expense of another hero. I like these priests enough that I'm currently wondering whether I should drop one of the heroes from my warband in our current campaign (as you know we are already using the Corrupted Characters and Swords of the Empire articles - I'm a blood pact and a dead leader away from securing a Dwarf Treasure Hunter as the leader of my Gunnery School of Nuln warband and a priest would round out that rag tag bunch quite well ).

I concede the point gentlemen. One in one out system it is then! That was the original premise laid out by Todd Estabrook in Town Cryer #12. The man clearly had the right idea from what everyone is saying and I certainly wouldn't want to be lynched by the rat pack.

Sigmarite Priests from the Witch Hunters warband would naturally be open to receive marks. I haven't made any mention for Sisters of Sigmar but it's well worth FAQ'ing that for the ladies later on.

The heathen Norse can't normally hire priests because they are counted as followers of Chaos. I've neglected to include caveats in the 'May Be Hired' section for the two exceptions allowed; Morr and Manann

Any character rowing a boat against the flow of a current ought to be required to make a Strength test. I don't see that being glossed over in a maritime campaign. A successful characteristic test in this case would allow the boat to move against the flow of a river or canal. Direction of currents can be made obvious at the start of a game using markers.

Awesome. I honestly think that the work will be stronger for it in the long run.

Hmm... now I'm curious if there's to be a part 3, Spellcasters... Colleges of Magic, Ice Mages, Necromancers, Bretonnian Damsels....

Dizzy with the very idea...



Flow against the current: Oh, I missed that part in the rules, but no wonder- when I worked on Sartosa, Master & I decided NOT to use current direction. With the constant flow of waves in and out, trying to work out "currents" would have been a painstaking effort, so we went without.

Sound.

You wanna part III? Don't tempt me with the power of enchantment 'King. Witchcraft aside, I was hoping to be free of the the winds of magic for long enough to pour some creative energy into redefining the 'shopping' phase and all that new maritime gang (warband) orientated stuff!

Rowing boats at sea huh, I guess the trick lies in the old keyword: Seafaring

Sea-bound action would be more ambiguous. Currents can be easily monitored on a river or canal network.

This way or that way = fun.
360 degrees = tiresome administration.

You might even imagine a Strength is always required on choppy waters on an ocean-going romp.