Atonement

Talamar · Post by **Talamar** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 2:49 pm

I was talking with my brother last night, and we thought this would be a really really wicked spell to add for priests and would encourage roleplay a lot.

I would think it would be a granted spell only to those high in favor, or perhaps only the leading priests of an order, but there's a lot of cool RP that could come out of the use of it.

If you fall out of favor of your god, and you can't think of any way to get it back, then you bite the bullet, go to the High Priest and tell them, "I screwed up, and I'd like to atone." They cast the spell, talk to their Diety, and the God tells them, "Alright...if he's serious about fixing this, have him do this and this for me, and bring you the proof. Then I'll at least think about him every once in a while again."

It would also open the door for those Paladins whom have done wrong, perhaps they made a mistake of somekind. Not sure if I'm quite ready to believe that Paladins are human, but hey, let's go with the theory *grin*

A paladin falls out of favor, goes to the high priest, "I'd like to atone." Wham, he gets a Holy Quest, to regain the favor of his god, and be his instrument once more.

Mechanics wise, I suppose another way to do it, is that the Priest gives a quest. If the person fulfills it, the priest casts Atonement on them, and it brings their favor from the negatives, back to neutral or even, so they can try and gain favor again.

Just some thoughts on a spell I have had to use in D&D Waaayyy too often.

Algon · Post by **Algon** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 3:09 pm

It sounds very interesting. But It would have to be something that is kept an eye on by the IMMs, I could see a vey big abuse issue with this. People could start doing whatever they wished and then later be like I need to be attoned and just have to do a quest and they are all cleared. So perhaps this could be something that could only be done once?

Algon · Post by **Algon** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 3:21 pm

On second the said person could just pray to their God and recieve the same thing through a high priest. I just see a very big possibility for abuse with this. Perhaps not with the priest but with the fact that people could ask all the time for attonment and that could be very annoying for the Priest. Just my two coppers worth.

Talamar · Post by **Talamar** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 3:46 pm

You have a really good point, but I thought of a way to get around that.

Say someone screws up, goes to the high priest of their faith, and atones. Now obviously if you want to regain the favor of your god, you go to your gods high priest to atone.

So, if you just decide to keep screwing up, and just atoning, eventually your High Priest is going to notice the same face coming to atone. Now, he would be totally within his rites to listen to how you fell from grace so to speak, and if it's either very stupid, very against the gods tenets, or it just happens far too much. Then the High priest should just say something to the effect of. "Even my prayers can find no way for you to atone for your mistakes, you must prove yourself worthy, and then maybe, far in the future, you may come to me for atonement, and once more feel the radiance of my God's favor."

Or something to that effect. I'm sure you get the idea. Since it would be a High Priest type spell, then those characters players would be able to keep a pretty good eye on who's using it for Rp, and to actually play out redemption, or for those who just want an excuse to do a ton of unfavorable things, and get back favor points.

Sindava · Post by **Sindava** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 4:24 pm

Whilst this is a very proactive suggestion, I am slightly at a loss as to how it would improve the currently available routes within the game.

Gods are not oblivious to the actions of their followers, High Priests likewise. I dont believe that there is a need for a specific spell to promote the roleplays you are suggesting, characters merely need to approach their High Priests or pray to their deities.

Further, in many situations the 'fall from grace' that you speak of may have been a significant one and only an application and approval from the Imms will be sufficient for the player to return to the fold.

I would much rather see players analysing their own behaviours within their chosen faith and acting on their own initiative when it comes to penance or atonement.

Raise money for your church ; donate items of power ; write stories, songs and educational books promoting your faith ; if you are a cleric preach the tenets of your faith ; smote and emote your devotions ; attend your faiths churches or shrines and encourage others to come with you.

There is really no need for a coded approach to what should often be a personal and subtle roleplay.

Rhianon · Post by **Rhianon** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 5:12 pm

I like the idea myself, would give another reason to approach the HP of their faith other than just to get resurrected or raised, and I think would create a connection between the HP and the wrong doer, since they would both have a vested interest in keeping the player on the straight and narrow. If there was abuse the HP could always pray to the god and cause the character to have more problems than before. Just my opinion.

Dalvyn · Post by **Dalvyn** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 5:42 pm

A similar idea is currently discussed for small wrong-doers (and not only those), that would consist in allowing the high priest(ess) to "bless" (that is, increase a fellow follower's favour), with some restriction. This could be used to reward roleplay that fits in with the faith and/or as the result of an "atonement" (most likely after an atonement quest given by the high priest(ess)).

On the other hand, more serious cases (fallen paladins, BIG mistake with respect to a faith ethos, ...) should still require imm intervention.

Tretch · Post by **Tretch** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 5:59 pm

As an add on to this. From what I gather from the new kismet system, you can reward good rp by giving kismet while it does decrease your own. I think that HPs should be able to give things like this without penalty. I also think an HP should be able to give favor and possibly even some other things to pcs. They have proven that they are a true asset to the mud and know how to conduct themselves well and within the wishes of imms. So, more responsibilities for them I think is a good thing. Glory and EXP may be going to far, but as was said....anything to make priests more important than raises, etc would be great to see. This would only effect HPs of course. I just think if we gave them extra benefits then you would see them almost being reborn with their characters as so much more would be possible for them. Then you wouldnt see many priests put in many, many hours.....earn HP, but then burn out on it. It is a shame to see and I would like to keep it from happening as much as possible.

Tretch