[NOTE: Please forgive me if you've already seen this message on the
angband.oook.cz forum; I'm trying to reach as many knowledgeable *band
players as possible, Many thanks! --ISN]
Now that Norseband's alpha version is out, we're working on replacing
the Valar with more appropriate gods. So far, I've figured out
reasonable rules for two of them:
* Thor (besides being a thunder god) is also a monster-slayer and
a protector of the common man; he's the closest Nordic parallel to
ToME's version of Tulkas. He prefers human followers, but dislikes
giants/trolls/half-trolls. (Warning to newbies: Thor also dislikes
killing non-evil townsfolk!) I see Thor's priests as paladin-like, but
with bonus access to Air and Nature magic--the two schools needed for
the Thunderstorm spell.
* Ullr is a god of archery, hunting, and winter survival; he's got
a vengeful streak but isn't outright evil. He doesn't mind players
killing hostile animals, or using trees to create arrows--but does
mind players damaging trees in other ways (fire and lightning attacks
come to mind). He likes seeing other tree-killing creatures (like red
dragons) destroyed; he especially likes players avenging dead
ancestors (i.e., killing a monster that killed a previous character).
He'd probably also give special bonuses for killing random-quest
monsters--completing a hunt of sorts. I see Ullr's priests as a cross
between Druids and Archers (more warlike than the former, but more
magically skilled than the latter).
Still, I've got nine more Norse deities to go; can any of you suggest
appropriate rules (likes, dislikes, abilities) for their followers?
Here are the others that the game will include:
* Odin (prime creator god--associated with war, poetry and magic,
especially rune magic)
* Tyr (another warrior god, but also associated with justice and
law; he lost one hand while trying to bind the Fenris Wolf)
* Heimdall (watchman of the gods, known for his perceptive powers;
also associated with light and with human social order, so he'd
probably favor human followers)
* Njord (god of seafaring and trade; invoked for fair weather at
sea, father to Freyr/Freyja)
* Freyr (god of fertility, peace, and prosperity; ruler of
elvenkind; also associated with unarmed combat, since he killed a
giant single-handedly that way. I could see Freyr protecting most
breeders, so I'd probably script non-evil ones into being friendly--or
at least neutral--to his followers!)
* Freyja (goddess of love, war, and magic; Freyr's twin sister;
especially connected with mind-control, divination, and shape-****fting
magic)
* Baldr (Odin's favorite son and successor after Ragnarok;
"charisma incarnate", invulnerable to most attacks and friendly with
most creatures)
* Hel (queen of the underworld, goddess of "ordinary" death and
disease; ironically, she'd probably dislike undead appearing anywhere
outside her world, considering them fugitives who needed to be brought
home)
* Loki (god of chaos, deception and thieves--he may be one of the
four end-bosses, but player characters can still wor****p him! Of
course, they'd lose all piety and god-spell access for killing their
own patron... )
Zop and I would appreciate any help you can offer with rules and/or
spell lists for these nine; you'll get credits in the game
documentation, of course!
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