This thread is for all miscellaneous queries. Please use it only for this purpose.

Under your interpretation of the rules, can non-priests use theurgy?  Specifically, could a devout orthodox Li Halan learn theurgic rites?  If so, could they learn orthodox rites at normal cost, or would they have to pay the extra point for learning the rite of another sect?

Anyone can learn theurgy, priest or not. It's simply more rare for non-priests to develop it, due to not being taught the rites of the Church (and due to the Church inducting anyone known to possess theurgy as a matter of course). Even many devout priests aren't blessed with theurgic powers, it is a personal gift rather than a methodology which can be easily taught. As for points and costs, we will be using a much looser character creation system than the corebook's, with the Character History method as a general guide. For now, just focus on your character concept and we will later assign stats to support that concept, rather than generate the character from the stats.

Thanks!  Understood about the points.  Mostly just wanted to make sure the character idea was one that could actually be realized in the game.

Just out of interest in your game world;

How "common" are occult powers such as Theurgy and Psychic powers ?
As above, but with regards Cybernetics

I've known games where the PCs routinely encounter such when travelling the Dark, but a planet bound game is something I'm not so used too.  : D

It varies among different sections of the populace. For humans, the vast majority of serfs do not possess occult powers (perhaps a fraction of a percent). Most freemen outside of the Church also possess no powers (a little less than 1% or so). Church members have a somewhat higher frequency of theurgy due to their ritualistic practices (maybe on the order of 5% or so), and in some cases higher instances of psi as well (i.e. Penitents). For the noble caste, frequency of psi varies depending on family heritage, as detailed by FS canon for each sub-family of a given House. Theurgy is about as rare for nobles as it is for freemen.

So, someone kicks off Laying on of Hands, don't act like it's a "Ah, seen that before, nifty innit?" response.

Cool. Dirty Psychics ... burn 'em all!


Must remember, not of the Temple Avesti .... Brother Battle ... they're the nicer ones ... *lol*

So ... when we starting ?  : D

Keen to get this Symbiot posterier kicking posse into action!

I expect by the end of this week I'll begin the game, assuming things go as planned. In the meantime (and whenever waiting on others' posts), each of you are encouraged to write character-authored journals or (in cases of illiterate characters) narratives of memories/flashbacks of past experiences. This is not required at all but may prove to be a fun means of fleshing out your characters' past trials and adventures, for those players who feel creative (think of the various clips of flavor text scattered throughout the FS books, for example). It also tends to help build a deeper rapport between players and their characters, as well as between the GM and those characters. Additionally, players who do this on a semi-regular basis may find their characters progressing more easily. ;)

Apologies to everyone for the delay in starting the game. I have been waiting to get ahold of War in the Heavens: Lifeweb and Lord Erbian's Stellar Bestiary for some necessary info. I had expected the books to arrive no later than Saturday, but they still haven't reached me. It shouldn't be much longer though. Thanks for your patience.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:58, Tue 22 Jan 2008.

GM - Any more news on the start of the game ?

I received one of the books I needed, now I'm waiting for the more crucial of the two - War in the Heavens: Lifeweb. As soon as that arrives, I'll skim through it for the info I need and then start you guys off. Meanwhile, feel free to write-up in-character narratives of your tours of duty if you'd like. :)

Read it yet Mr.GM? We need Symbiot slaughtering mayhem!

Lol, calm down. Last thing a GM needs is being pestered by his players.

*chuckles* That's alright, it shows me you're excited and that's a good thing. I have read through the sections I needed to. Now it's just a matter of getting the time I need to write up the first post.

The Brother Battle won't calm down until every Symbiot lays slaughtered!

No probs, just wondered!

I thought this was an important question, so I'm answering it here.



That's correct. The present Regency currency is the "sun" - a coin imprinted with a ten-pointed star on the front (the same symbol seen below the rising phoenix icon of Alexius' later Imperium, with a tenth point replacing the phoenix), and Vladimir I's face on the back. One sun is roughly equal to one firebird; suns can be substituted for firebirds in the sourcebooks' various references to costs and wages. The ten-pointed star represents the ancient Ten Royal Houses which once governed the Imperium following the fall of the 2nd Republic (there are now only five major houses, but the ten-pointed star remains in tribute to the original Ten). In turn, ten "rays" make up one sun. Two rays make up one "flare". Five rays make up one "flame".