[HoE] The test of time (some Blessed spoilers)

["Casey McGirt" <cmcgirt@hotmail.com>]

In last weekend's minicon for Deadlands, I had the opportunity to place 
a Blessed in a Hell on Earth adventure (good job with the con, Chuck!).  
The character was created partly on the basis of surviving the adventure 
with less than the normal amount of people (it was set for six people, 
and we only had two until the last minute, when two more joined up).  
This got me thinking about the Blessed in general, and why Templars have 
largely replaced them in the post-Apocalyptic world of Deadlands.

In general, characters in the Weird West are weaker than their Wasted 
West counterparts.  HoE powers are generally reliable, with less risk of 
malfunction or backlash.  Why?  Well, it's rather simple.  The supreme 
being/beings/collective unconscious (pick according to personal 
preference) is restricted by man's free will.  In HoE, that free will is 
threatened by utter extinction, and something has to even the odds.  
Thus, mankind's connection with the Hunting Grounds is stronger - for it 
must be stronger to give mankind a fighting chance against the Reckoners 
revealed.  Maybe that stronger connection is due to some sort of supreme 
being, or just fueled by desperation.  The effects, however, speak for 
themselves.

The flavor of these supernatural powers have changed as well.  In the 
Weird West, threats were subtle, and thus the response to those threats 
wasn't nearly as overt as it is on HoE.  People are fighting fire with 
fire, and HoE is a place where the meek will inherit a grave (and Heroic 
is worth as much as Death Wish...)

Hucksters, Blessed, and the other 'old-fashioned' supernatural have not 
changed with the times.  You have to play with the hand you're dealt.  
Now, it would be interesting to see 'new' Hucksters and Blessed that 
adapt to the changed world.  Perhaps Lay on Hands for a Blessed is now 
identical to that of the Templars.  Maybe Hucksters now draw 5 cards 
automatically, and +1 for every success and raise.  While Shane has said 
that the old character types won't have books devoted to them in Hell on 
Earth, it would be nice to see some material published that update them 
to the new setting.

Of all the Weird West character types, I think the Blessed is the most 
competitive in the new setting.  The main threat of HoE, if GM's play it 
as written, is Guts checks (however, few GM's seem to add the Fear Level 
to the rolls).  Speaking from personal experience, a Blessed with Brave, 
Lion-Hearted, and Piety is a godsend to any group.  And then there is 
their often-overlooked Miracle - Protection.  When you face off against 
a hoard of Walking Dead with 1d4 Spirit, and they can't harm you (even 
with guns) unless they beat your 5d12 Faith check, Templars seem rather 
tame in comparison.  Add in a few miscellaneous Miracles such as 
Consecrate Armament, Expose, and Reassurance, and the Reckoners may be 
amending Stone's hit list.  

Against more mundane challenges, the Blessed are just as effective.  
Murder mystery?  Use Solomon's Advice.  Black Hats causing you trouble?  
Chastise and Mediate can give you some breathing room, while Armor o' 
Righteousness can protect you when everything hits the fan.  As for 
getting these miracles, it's a mere 5 Bounty and a bit of prayer to add 
to their roster.

The Blessed still have their main restriction, though.  Unlike a 
Templar, Blessed are penalized by the game mechanics for straying from 
their strict moral code.  You may be able to hide your indiscretions as 
a Templar, but you can't hide from your patron as a Blessed.  

Final note:  at least until the Templar book comes out, there's 
something a Blessed can do that no one else in HoE can come close to.  
With a 6+ Faith, and a Blessing point...they can raise the dead.  Now, 
-that's- impressive!

-Casey

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