Shattered Kingdoms

I think almost anyone who has played a hellion, paladin or priest has experienced the roadblock where you hit initiate and simply can't level effectively any more. Getting to initiate takes a very small amount of time, and even characters who know exactly what religion they want and who have a very active HF are generally kept from grinding through their depressing lowbie levels because of this restriction, if only for a small amount of time.

Mind you though, not everyone has very active HF's in the religion they want, or even know which religion they want. I've seen people who have been kept at a ridiculously low level for upwards of a week because of this.

Perhaps, to be a bit friendlier to those of us trying to level such a character, we should move the spell roadblock to Apprentice or Journeyman?

Status quo is perfectly fine. I remember a GM pantheist hellion who did quite well. Can't remember his name, but he was a well-known harlie. I have leveled a very-weak priest to expert before getting into a religion before. I don't see an issue with a paladin moving forward using skills alone.

Seram

The only change I have ever wanted seen for this is for priest to get second attack sooner. I had a mid-master paladin without ever having invested spells. I had a priest make it to a level before expert before I was finally invested by an immortal because the HF was never around and someone intervened on my behalf, otherwise, he would have been mentor at least. Hellions get a lot more offensive based skills that don't rely on investment, so I can only assume that they are easier to level than a non-invested paladin who is a lot more reliant on spells.

Seram was a fine example of a hellion that didnt join a religion. I think he RPd a hellion of Sadr or something and even had a handmade symbol made for him.
He maximised the hellions physical skills, and did very very well.

Although hellions are probably the only religion only class that can be used effectively without a religion.


But I think having to join religion by initiate is fine. It forces the character to RP and get into a faith before you level. When you really don't need any spells over initiate to level anyway until around vet/expert

And had Velshar for most of his life, lets not pretend that didn't make a difference:P

Benny didn't have spells for a good 10 weeks, and he did fine :O

Any one of those classes can GM without being in a religion, some may take longer than others, but it can be done. Both Paladins and Hellions can be done without religion easily, Priests not so much, but if Jada can get to high mentor without being in a religion on a priest, I'm sure anyone can!(zing)!

It's true though. But, it's a slow process. I wouldn't be against giving priests spells up to j-man, just so they have one leveling spell. It's not that big of a deal though.

Uklamen(i think was his name) gm'd before he picked Alshain as his religion. But I think he was in the fist, so I guess that's not so special after all.

I think priests should go up to jman without a flock.

This gives more time for awesome faith rping, the chance to go through tests quests etc without being f'ed up by the leveling inability.


On the other hand however, after being blemished you should lose the same spells you lose now.

The theory is that the gods are nice with you and give you powers until you devote yourself to one specific god, and once you do, they remove this 'beginner's favor' thing and just watch you walk your path.