Anti-Templars *SOME SPOILERS* Re: [HoE] [HOE] Templar Ideals

["Steve Crow" <crow_steve@hotmail.com>]

>Steve lso makes another excellent point. An Anti-templar who resists the
>temptation to use the "bad" powers is really the most played kind of 
>templar
>and the temptation to use the "bad" powers still exists so you have still
>can introduce some heavy drama into the story.
>

My problem with this is that Pinnacle's source material seems to suggest 
that _all_ Anti-Templars go bad.  There is no suggestion of any "pure" NPCs 
existing, and even the attitude towards PC ones are that "Hey, eventually 
you're going to give in to corruption and become a NPC."  In other words, 
after making them kinda appealing, the Temp Sourcebook says, "But...they're 
evil, so you'd better not play them."

To me, it seems that if a player takes an Anti-Templar, they get all the 
benefits of being a pre-Temp Sourcebook Templar (i.e., everything but Martyr 
Blessings), _and_ get Greater Rewards easier (for killing Templars).  The 
downside (sort of) of this is that they're hunted by Templars, of which 
relatively few have Martyr powers anyway.

Of course, Templars get an automatic "hunted" now anyway by Anti-Templars 
(for the Greater Rewards), so the trade-off here seems equitable.

I guess I'm not seeing the downside of being an Anti-Templar.  But the 
Templar Sourcebook kinda paints them as a generally "you're on the path of 
evil" kind of thing.  From a Marshal's group mechanics kind of viewpoint, 
they actually seem _easier_ to run than regular Templars.  And just as 
desirable from a PC standpoint.

Plus, as the NPC Anti-Templar noted to my party (well, to the exhausted 
Doomsayer he rescued when the Templar wasn't looking), they wouldn't have to 
turn to the Black Hats on occasion, and wouldn't have to draw upon the power 
of the Reckoners (not that this Anti-Templar had done either), if the "True" 
Templars hadn't sworn an Oath of Blood to kill them in the first place.  
Talk about your self-fulfilling prophecy...

The Anti-Templar did note to the Doomsayer they'd probably end up on the 
same side anyway.  He protects any non-evil Chosen, while the Templars only 
protect "worthy" non-Evil ones.  Which Templar group's willingness to 
protect mutants is closer to the Schismatic's...?

Like I noted earlier, I'm really kinda tempted to take the whole 
Anti-Templar thing in a different direction than what Pinnacle seems to be 
going with.  Pinnacle actually seems to paint the Anti-Templars as the "good 
guys."  The only reasons they aren't are the Pinnacle- and narrative-stated 
seemingly tacked-on reasons that A) they're always "bad," and B) they work 
with the Black Hats.

Yeah, their leader is an Abomination.  On the other hand, it looks like 
Simon is heading that route anyway...







*MORE SPOILER STUFF***








...what with his little "guest" and all.  One kinda wonders if a 
demon-possessed Simon might join forces with Silas and Samuel 
(Throckmorton).  Where will the "true" Templars be then?  Seems to me the 
Anti-Templars might still turn out to be the true "heroes" of the Wasted 
West.

---

Steve Crow

"Worm Can Opener Extraordinare"

Check out my website at:  http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Stargate/4991/


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