Heroes of Leyreth - Fatih Attribute

[Adam Graham]

Hi all,
I never made it to actually play test the version of faith as I wrote in my previous post as I changed it up before doing so.  I did run with the version I'm posting here though.  Along with this I also have implemented a specialized form of faith use for each character class in order to make it a much more  integral part of game mechanics.   I also inserted "Vices" as was suggested in the other posts.

Here's how it works, and yes its real long.

FAITH<Untapped Faith
When faith is untapped it confers a positive bonus equal to its level to all D100 rolls, and defense ratings.  As faith is tapped this bonus immediately decreases.  This benefit is conferred equally to anyone that has faith levels.

Tapping Faith<Replenishing Tapped Faith<Using the Sinful Nature<Increasing Faith Levels
Faith levels can be increased.  Doing so is much more difficult than replenishing used faith however.  In order to gain a faith level one must go through an entire quest without tapping into their sinful nature.  Additionally, this mission must be one that benefits the Church.  Most any quest a ranking official of the Church sends someone on would be considered as such.

Untapped Faith of One and Zero
When one who is righteous is reduced to an untapped faith level of one they are teetering on the edge of indifference, and if the sinful nature is tapped again they will become of an indifferent piety.  Gaining back faith at this point will require great atonement and reconciliation to God as it is no simple matter to shun God one moment and then beg for His forgiveness the next, especially when one was already sanctified to Him. 
If one who was never righteous is moving from an indifferent piety to a righteous piety gaining a level of faith would be handled normally.
Falling below a zero faith level can happen if one taps into their sinful nature while having a zero faith level.  This will grant a bonus, or penalty, as would normally happen when tapping a tapped faith level but it will also cause the individual to gain a level of iniquity and change them to a corrupt piety.

Corrupt Piety & Iniquity<VICES
Vices are acquired as a result of tapping the faith attribute through the sinful nature.  They are specific to the action that led to their cause and can be very difficult to overcome

Gaining Vices
Every time someone taps faith with their sinful nature a willpower roll of exceptional difficulty must be made in order to resist gaining a vice toward the specific act.  If the roll succeeds all is fine, but should the roll fail the result of the act was so intoxicating to the individual that the next time the same situation which caused them to use their sinful nature arises they must succeed another willpower roll of exceptional difficulty level to not repeat doing so again.  This willpower roll may not be circumvented nor augmented through the tapping of faith in anyway, nor does it receive a bonus from the untapped faith level of the individual. 
For every time the same act is repeated and the sinful nature used to tap faith, whether due to the failure of the willpower roll not to, or the simple desire to do so, the difficulty of the willpower roll to resist acquiring, or succumbing to, the vise cumulatively increases by one.  Once one has succumbed to the same vice three times due to failing their willpower roll it becomes automatic and can no longer be resisted.
   There is no limit to the amount of vices one may have and even one vice can lead to the rapid decline of faith in an individual, especially if it is in an act that is fairly common.

 My biggest problem now is coming up with a way to remove a vice without resorting to some sort of "Self-Help Group" mechanic or "Vice Anonymous" meetings.  Also do I need to clarify the aspects of replenishing faith and gaining new faith levels or does what I have seem sufficient.

Thanx for the help
Adam

[sean2099]

Bing!  Why not require asking God for forgiveness and for help in overcoming their vice.  Perhaps a quest where they have do the opposite of their vice and make amends would work as a mechanic?  I think your statements on replenishment and gaining seem ok but I would give examples of what minor, moderate and severe risk would be?  A list and description of church missions would also help but again, the basic idea sounds alright to me.

Some (minor) suggestions and questions:


Increasing Faith Levels:  I have seen this done in other games but I like the idea of the quest becoming more and more difficult as the rank increase.  Going from a two to a three should be relatively easier than going 9 to 10 for instance.

Untapped Faith:  Cool.  Perhaps inquity could cause negative bonuses to everyone around them and add to attack rolls.  I wouldn't use this all the time but maybe the idea could work for an exceptionally vile villian or possessed person.

Will you have a mechanic for the conversion process? Miracles?

Sean

[Adam Graham]

Talk about not seeing the forest through the trees.  I thought of a hundred ways to remove a vice but actual prayer and quest seemed to elude me, go figure.  Anyways heres what i came up with as well as the amendments for gaining faith levels.

Removing Vices<ATONEMENT
When someone falls from a righteous piety or gains a vice that they want to overcome they must make atonement for the act that plunged them into the state they are in.
Atonement is accomplished by confessing the sin in prayer with a priest who afterwards will send them on a quest for the Church that will deal with their sinful act as directed to them by God.  Quests of atonement are usually done alone though in some instances others may be allowed to assist.  After one completes this quest of atonement the priest will again join them in prayer through which they will be forgiven and have their righteous piety restored to them, or their vice removed, whichever applies. 
   If someone repeatedly fails in their faith for the same act the sincerity of their confession will come into question and God may deny the atoning quest to them thus leaving them in their sinful state until they are truly remorseful. 

Replenishing Tapped Faith<
1.   Escorting non-combatants through semi-dangerous territories.
2.   Information gathering quests for the Church.
3.   Helping an unfortunate with their situation (non-violent).
4.   Defending an innocent (non-violent).


1.   Escorting others through hostile lands.
2.   Giving aid to others that requires extensive travel or expenditure of personal resources.
3.   Defending an innocent from a moderate to difficult encounter (for the character not the innocent).


1.   Defending a town verse a boss level encounter.
2.   Giving up great personal gain (not necessarily money) for the benefit of others.
3.   Redeeming the lost.

Increasing Faith Levels
Faith levels can be increased.  Doing so is much more difficult than replenishing used faith however.  In order to gain a faith level one must go through an entire quest without tapping into their sinful nature.  Additionally, this mission must be one that increases the influence of the Church.
Simple quests given by church leaders do not suffice for the increasing of faith levels.  Quests of this nature should be at least marginally monumental in the grand storyline escalating in both depth and difficulty as the faith levels increase to the point that gaining a faith level of ten becomes an epic undertaking

Again thanx for pointing out the obvious

Untapped Faith:  Cool.  Perhaps iniquity could cause negative bonuses to everyone around them and add to attack rolls.  I wouldn't use this all the time but maybe the idea could work for an exceptionally vile villain or possessed person.

I like the negative bonus to those around them, against those with faith I would just balance the difference for an end modifier of positive or negative.

Will you have a mechanic for the conversion process? Miracles?

Conversion I don't have a mechanic for and I'm not real sure I will as I am trying not to be too religiously minded with the system and will therefore allow the individual gaming groups to decide if this is an avenue they wish to pursue.  In my games I use the process as a plot hook like any other.

Miracles in my system are just that, full on acts of God intervening.  They are unlimited in power and therefore not in the hands of players.  They are great for plot lines though.

Thanx
Adam