From: Thom Baguley (T.S.Baguley@open.ac.uk)
Date: Mon 21 Jun 1993 - 21:37:08 EEST
UNALIGNED SORCERERS
I agree with those who have argued that unaligned probably means agnostic (in
the sense of no specific sect/cult) rather than atheistic. Atheistic sorcerers
are going to have a very hard time of it in Glorantha ...
CHAOTIC SORCERERS These are going to be very rare. Chaotic sorcerers are almost certainly of this kind, they are probably sorcerers who have acquired a chaos taint or made a pact with a (chaotic) demon (or more likely both) given the lawful nature of sorcery and the difficulty of learning it. (But don't forget Bagog sorcerers who get to learn it the easy way). I would argue that they would almost all be insane too. But that only makes NPC chaos sorcerers more fun ...
ATHEISTIC SORCERERS Also rare, for obvious reasons. Only one gloranthan culture would actually not mind the presence of atheistic sorcerers ... the Lunar Empire. So why aren't they common in the empire? The simple answer is that no Lunar official would let a potential threat like an atheistic sorcerer grow powerful enough to damage the empire or their own chances of promotion. Sorcerers will find it hard to learn sorcery, even harder to progress in lunar cults (would you let someone that powerful and intelligent into your cult, given that they will probobably end up taking your job?). Sorcerers that do get powerful enough will be receive a visit from lunar official, demon or hero(ine). They won't be killed, but they may well find themselves drafted into the Lunar College of Magic as a field magician (junior class). Spending a few minutes/days/weeks in a personal and literal hell should ensure most people's loyalties.
I don't think there should be any specific rules to stop atheistic sorcerers. I think even a smattering of Gloranthan lore should reveal that being an atheistic sorcerer is difficult. If a pc wants to try it, good luck to them. If they aren't powerful they should manage ok. If they are I don't think they'll survive long (except possibly proving their loyalty to a very powerful protector (i.e. the Empire) and even then it will be difficult).
EXTENSION A change of subject. If any one is worried at extension 28's floating around a couple of easy fixes are possible.
Firstly, I don't know the exact rules on this, but I would play that Shield 4 with extension 16 is dismissed or dispelled as 4 points of divine magic not twenty points. This would make people think twice about using up large ammounts of extension.
Secondly, divine magic should be subject to certain restrictions. I would argue that all (not permanent) active divine magic is dispelled at the start of the sacred time or on the morning of the high holy day or your cult (or the cult that the spell was traded from). If you want to be really strict it would be dispelled on the seasonal holy day of the cult. This shouldn't hurt players unless they aren't at their worship service.
Both seem reasonable rules to me and within the spirit of the game.
Thom
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