RE:[HoE] Something About a Sword (potential Spoiler seperated from main

[Ralph Dula <rdula@ezonline.com>]

Matt Steflik wrote:

>Yep - Ritter's actions and the faith of the townsfolk in him created a
>"Sanctify" effect.  So what's the big deal?  If you're perceiving this
>as some sort of game mechanics issue, don't.  This is simply an example
>of a WAHOO Marshal effect thrown into a campaign to add a bit of color
>and atmosphere - personally I didn't have a problem with it at all.
>Faith is a hard thing to come by in HoE>>

One of my problems with this is that it opens up a whole new can of worms,
that can cause all sorts of headaches for players and Marshals.  I can see
it now: a cult of personality forms from the ranks of the Combine around
Throckmorton, and from the rabble and thugs that follow him a large group
forms, each of them with faith:Throckmorton.  After a couple of years
Throckmorton is seen as an all-knowing mentor with unbeatable skills, so he
develops the the Insight and Wisdom gifts, along with an increase in his
Strength die type, thanks to the equivalent of the Smite miracle (I
apologize to all reading this who haven't read Fire and Brimstone and are
wondering what all the abilities I've mentioned are).  Preposterous?  Not
at all, as proven by the example we find in Somthing. .  .

And if that argument dosen't grab you, I'll refer to Fire and Brimstone.  

S
P
O
I
L
E
R

S
P
A
C
E

In Fire and Brimstone it's revealed that the source of all miracles' power
comes from the Hunting Grounds,  "the deity simply opens a conduit for the
Blessed to the Hunting Grounds, and then helps the hero channel this energy
for the desired effect" (Page 102). So actually a character has to have
been faithful enough to attract the attention of his deity (Arcane
Background:Blessed) and whenever he attempts to use a miracle he's asking
his supreme being to open a portal to the Hunting Grounds for the energy he
needs for the miracle.  Since none of the residents of Jarret were Blessed,
they could never have gotten a portal opened to the Hunting Grounds to get
the power to sanctify the church.  I admit that the Wasted West has more
ambient mystical energy in it than the Weird West, but considering it took
the aid of a deity to channel the energy constructivly in 1876 I don't
think it would become so much easier now that the Reckoners walk the earth
that a group of people with faith in a single man could achieve the desire
effect.  I have no problem with Marshals tweaking the rules for their
individual campaigns; it's when offical products come out that contradict
rules and books that have come before them that gets me upset.

-Ralph