Re: [HoE] Two Arcane Backgrounds

[Rich <toadpooka@usa.net>]

The reason I see for not allowing multiple Arcane Backgrounds in HoE is that most of the Arcane
Backgrounds are reliant on a single skill or trait.  In Deadlands, you have to invest a whole bunch
of points into becoming an arcane character that you probably don't have enough to do both.  Anyone
with City o' Gloom who's tried to make a reliable Metal Mage character that wasn't a VoWW can vouch
for that.  So basically, the attitude is: "Go ahead, be a huckster/martial artist/mad scientist. 
Got any points left to buy real skills?  Didn't think so."

In HoE, we've got Sykers, who only need Blastin,' Doomsayers who only need their Faith, and Witches
who need witchcraft.  Junkers have to spend a lot of points on their basic abilities, like most
Weird West Arcane Backgrounds.  Templars have a hefty "price tag" on them, and their code would
probably keep them from doing much else.

Basically, if HoE allowed multiple Arcane Backgrounds, it would be much easier to munchkinize a
Demigod than it would be in Deadlands.  I know that there are some exceptions to the 1 Arcane rule
in Children o' the Atom, but I'm not sure about Brainburners.  In CotA, they pretty much said you
could play a Junker-Doomsayer, but it wouldn't be a good idea, from a rules perspective.

Pat Gamblin wrote:
> 
> In HOE a character cannot have more than one arcane background, but in
> Deadlands you still can. I think it was Shane who said they have no plans

-- 
And so ends the case I call "The Case Of The Guy Who Was So Stressed-Out About His Lost Keys That He
Eventually Had A Heart Attack, And It Turned Out They Were In The Sofa The Whole Time.

Richard A. Ranallo,
The Man They Couldn't Hang