My players were a bit diapointed with the priests limitations in that we didn't think there was sufficient rules for motivating other players I partially came up with an idea but we started to play other campaigns before it came into use and I never really finished it. But with Blood of Martyrs on the way it I thought I'd put up what we had.

Using a Holy Tome

A preist using one of these Holy Codecies requires High Gothic at a trained level, although he does he will have to translate if the hearers do not understand High Gothic and this is more difficult.

To use the priest must have it read and use a full action to read the book, they must make a +20 command test but the holder may continue to read and apply the bonuses indeffinately. If the user is translating the tome from High Gothic then test is Challenging (+0) but they may add their High Gothic skill rating.

On a successfull test a number of people up to the Fellowship bonus (which may be increased by some talents) of the reading preist are inspired for a number of turns equal to their own WP bonus after the reader has stopped reading. Typical the range that a hearer can listen is dependant on the conditions, normally about 20m in light gunfire but a loud hailer, a good vox or improved hearing will add to this.

Saint Drussus' Enlighting of Iocanthus
Rare

• Hearers may add the degrees of success on the command roll X10 (up to +30) for resisting fear

In addition using or mearly carrying the book means that the priest and their group may benfit from a +10 bonus to interaction tests with the Eclesiarchy

The Death of Saint Ollanius Pius
Rare

• Hearers may add the degrees of success on the command roll X10 (up to +30) to WP for resisting pinning and may re-roll to remove pinning immediately if they were already pinned.

In addition using or mearly carrying the book means that the priest and their group may benfit from a +10 bonus to interaction tests with the Imperial Guard

Book of St. Lucius
Very Rare

• Hearers may add the degrees of success on the command roll X10 (up to +30) to any WP roll to resist fear and pinning.

Obtaining Holy Tomes

While a first edition would be far too treasured to be allowed out of the Holy Libraries that contain them copies are made in the solemnest of rituals by skilled copyists. It is one of these copies that be obtained with an Influence or resource roll at the availability listed above. For lowely acolytes without such resources one might be obtained (if it is located) after great works for the Ecclesiarchy or the head of the local Eccleciarchy may allow the acolyte to make a copy themselves. This permission is relatively easy to obtain but the copying itself is arduous.

Making a copy of the Holy Codecies is weeks of work for the best copyist (and they would have to be at least +10 themselves) then, under supervision of the Libraries master, they would begin writing in a hand bound book of the finest materials, inlaid with precious metals and illuminated with gold leaf and anointed inks. All the time most of the Cathedrals priests would be called in to sing in chorus and incense would be burned. All the time the book would be viewed from behind a protective glass screen where a Bishop or even higher ranked priests would turn the pages.

Hi Face-Eater,

nice concept. I was looking for way on how to give faith a mechanic meaning myself. This could be one way. Anyway, I would rather wait another month before I would but this into use. After all, "Blood of.." is around the corner and one never knows what "home brew faith" might do to the balance

I have been using the existing game mechanics to do something like this for Clerics/Sororitas, minus the actual books as "buffing gear".

In effect a character who decides to begin shouting/broadcasting suitably appropriate prayers and sermons while in harm's way are essentially using the "assist others" action. The character must have Scholastic Lore (Imperial Creed) trained (representing rote memorization of suitable prayers) or a suitably inspiring text to read from. On the round they begin the character uses a full round action to begin their bolstering prayer and then tests Scholastic Lore (Imperial Creed) based off FEL instead of INT and applying the effects of any appropriate talents. Success allows the character to grant a +10 bonus to resist Fear and mind-effecting Telepathy powers to a number of characters equal to their FEL bonus. Master Orator multiplies the number of affected characters as normal. The bonus continues to apply so long as the character continues with their audible prayers (spending a half action to do so on their turn, representing the concentration required to recite the prayers with due accuracy and respect). Failure by three or more degrees would instead inflict a -10 penalty due to the distracting nature of such inapropriate and impious prayer on the hearts of the faithful.

On a case-by-case basis I would allow any suitably skilled and faithful character to do this, not just actual clergy, keeping in mind that a suitably attired and well known Ecclesiarchy member is likely to have better situational modifiers for the skill test.

Thanks Zilla,

I've allowed them stuff like this before but It became notoriously variable. I swear I used a different skill each time. Part of the problem was that that Imperial Creed uses Int and our Priest (well one of them) is a Fellowship powerhouse so I thought he should be able to use it (but for most of that time he didn't have command. Guess I should have been more flexible. Still I, like the idea of a fairly significant bonus for having a lugging around a huge holy tome like so many of the models do.

Hi Gregorius,

I've got to admit, there is certain train thought going through my head that one way or another this may well be redunant when Blood of Martyrs comes out so might as well put it up now.