Specialty: Favored Soul

[pawsplay]

FAVORED SOUL
You were born with sacred gifts, which sometimes inspires envy in those who have to earn threm through faith and hard work.

Bonus Feat: Angelic Heritage
Celebrated: Your Legend rises by 2
Charming: Once per session, you may improve the disposition of one non-adversary NPC by 5
Natural Elegance: Your Appearance bonus increases by 1
Free Hint: Once per session, you may request a free hint from the GM. If he refuses, you gain one Action Die

[paddyfool]

I like it (and I see what you did there with Angelic Heritage).  Only thing I'm not sure about is the flavour text, because your crunch doesn't seem to be about inspiring envy so much as awe.

[Agent 333]

I'd think Blessed would be a better feat for Favored Souls than Angelic Heritage, but I can see where you're coming from...

[Golden Dragon]

I'd play that in a heartbeat. Are you sure it's not overpowered? 

[foproy]

i would say angelic/ devilish heritage. your choice. couldn't favored souls follow any deity?

[pawsplay]

i would say angelic/ devilish heritage. your choice. couldn't favored souls follow any deity?

I thought about making it any "Heritage" feat. Fire Elemental Heritage Favored Soul, anyone? The main reason I didn't was I was playing close to the original... which is why i didn't include Devilish Heritage, as they get a horn attack. But I might generify it before submitting it to the fandb. Thoughts on that?

[pawsplay]

I like it (and I see what you did there with Angelic Heritage).  Only thing I'm not sure about is the flavour text, because your crunch doesn't seem to be about inspiring envy so much as awe.

"You were born with sacred gifts, making you a marvel among believers." Better?

And thanks for liking it. I'm trying to take inspiration from the Crafty guys, who have done some very clever things in adapting different tropes to the MC frame.

[Jake]

I'd play that in a heartbeat. Are you sure it's not overpowered? 

I thought the same thing and added it up, it's dead on balanced.

[Golden Dragon]

I've thought about this some more, and there are so few ways to get "Level 1 only" species feats, that putting one in a specialty seems to be worth more than some other feat. Before, if I wanted a Heritage/Legacy pair at level 1, I needed the sorcerer specialty. (Or if I wanted two Heritage feats.) If one of the feats I want is Angelic Heritage, I now have a second way to do this.

It could be that specialties that grant species feats are underpopulated, but I think it was more of a design choice.

I still like it, but I'm afraid that my strong attraction to it is a sign that it is overpowered.

[/rambling]

[Krensky]

I've thought about this some more, and there are so few ways to get "Level 1 only" species feats, that putting one in a specialty seems to be worth more than some other feat. Before, if I wanted a Heritage/Legacy pair at level 1, I needed the sorcerer specialty. (Or if I wanted two Heritage feats.) If one of the feats I want is Angelic Heritage, I now have a second way to do this.

It could be that specialties that grant species feats are underpopulated, but I think it was more of a design choice.

I still like it, but I'm afraid that my strong attraction to it is a sign that it is overpowered.

[/rambling]

I think it has more to do with it meshing so well with the type of character you like to play.

[Golden Dragon]

I think it has more to do with it meshing so well with the type of character you like to play.

It does mesh well with the kind of characters I'm drawn to. But I've always felt that Origins were a mixed bag. I take options I'm not likely to find useful to get some options I really like. There has always been a trade-off (in my reckoning) for origins. This specialty lacks that "trade-off." That makes me suspicious. That isn't conclusive evidence that the specialty is poorly designed, it just means that I want to have a second look at it.

[pawsplay]

I prefer to think I was very efficient in identifying what fits for the archetype. The overall theme is "influential" but it's not loaded into any one area. The one iffy area is the double load of Appearance although I would hardly ever consider a high Appearance a cause for balance concerns; still, if that part seems objectionable, it could be swapped for +1 Defense.

[Jake]

It really reminds me of Cunning, they both have options that let you do many different things but letting it all gel together.

[Bill Whitmore]

With the exception of the feat, this is exactly what the Blooded talent looked like for my Birthright game.

[pawsplay]

With the exception of the feat, this is exactly what the Blooded talent looked like for my Birthright game.

So, uh, you probably wouldn't use this Specialty in your campaign? A Blooded Favored Soul would be quite something.