Chapter 1 - Class - Character Kits - Priest Kits
Scholar Priest
Note: This kit is taken from the Complete Priest's Handbook.
This character is a researcher. He's most at home when he's poring over
books, scrolls, papyri, clay tablets and other old writings. He's not forbidden from
fighting, but is more likely to try to straighten out a bad situation with reason, personal
charisma, or even trickery than with a weapon. His life is dedicated to the assimilation of
knowledge (and, usually, the transmission of that knowledge to new generations).
A scholar priest must have an Intelligence ability score of 13 or better.
This kit cannot be abandoned. A scholar can break off correspondence with other
scholars, can choose not to teach, can decide not to do any studying or writing for as long
as he likes, but he can always re-enter the academic world.
Barred: Priests of the following gods, forces and philosophies cannot take this kit:
Competition, Fertility, Life-Death-Rebirth Cycle, Strength, and War.
Priests of the following types are most appropriate for this kit: Arts, Crafts, Culture,
Divinity of Mankind, Literature/Poetry, Music/Dance, and Wisdom.
Role: In the campaign, this priest is motivated by his desire for knowledge. He'll often
be tempted by adventures where he's likely to be able to learn something. If an
adventuring party is going to a ruin where a famous library once stood, he'll eagerly join
on the faint hope that some scrap of that library still survives. He'll be part of expeditions
to visit famous sites or ancient beings who might tell him stories of the past or solve old
mysteries. He might be part of an adventure just so that he can chronicle it and preserve
its events in history.
Secondary Skills: The Scholar Priest must take Scribe as his secondary skill.
Weapon Proficiencies: Required: None. Recommended: Any appropriate to the
priest's actual priest-class. Note: See "Special Benefits," below.
Nonweapon Proficiencies: Bonus Proficiency: Reading/Writing. Recommended:
(General) Artistic Ability, Etiquette, Heraldry, Languages (Modern), (Priest) Ancient
History, Astrology, Languages (Ancient), Local History.
Equipment: The scholar-priest must always have writing material, quill and ink with
him. If ever he loses them, he must regain or replace them as soon as possible, and in the meantime will be recording his experiences in any fashion he can find. Other than that,
this kit makes no demands on the way he spends his money.
Special Benefits: The Scholar Priest can "spend" any of his Weapon Proficiency slots
on Nonweapon Proficiencies instead. He doesn't have to; he can adhere to the normal
pattern of proficiency choice that is appropriate to his priest-class. But if he wishes he
may turn Weapon Proficiency slots into Nonweapon slots and thereby become a very
skilled character. Also, the Scholar receives a +3 reaction bonus from other scholars,
admirers of scholastic concerns, writers, journalists, and people who imagine that they
are scholars. Because of this, when the party thinks it is in a situation when no one is
willing to help, it may turn out that the mousy clerk, antagonistic king or homely witch
they met is an admirer of or even correspondent with the Scholar Priest and will help
them.
Special Hindrances: Many scholars are egotistical, and debates between scholars can
become very heated and personal. Whenever the DM rolls a reaction check from another
scholar, he should first roll 1d6. On a 1, the player-character scholar gets a -6 reaction
adjustment instead of a +3, because at some time in the past (or even the present) he
argued or disagreed with this scholar's pet opinion and offended him completely.
Wealth Options: The Scholar Priest gets the standard 3d6x10 gp starting gold.
Races: No special limitations.
