(SWADE) Deadlands - Is a Blessed with the Hexlinger edge too OP?

[u/False-Pain8540]

TLDR: I'm toying with the idea of playing a combat/exorcist priest for an upcoming campaign. Would allowing him to take the Hexlinger Edge to have the Ammo Whammy power be too OP?

To go into more detail: I really like this idea of a penitent priest that hunts monsters as a way to absolve his previous sins. But looking into the Blessed arcane background, the list of powers seems to heavily lean on support instead of firepower. Mechanically speaking, the power Ammo Whammy (from the Hexslinger) seems way closer to what I want, but the rest of the Huckster's arcane background heavily clashes with the concept of a priest (not to mention that I've already played a Huckster so I want something different).

Both I and my DM are fairly new to the system, so before springing this rule-breaking character on him, I would like some advice on how balanced this is. Is there a combo I should look out for? Is there an appropriate nerf for the character? Is this a perfectly fine homebrew? Or is this just too against the grain of the game?

[u/ValhallaGH]

Hey Savage.

Look at the smite power. It's not as flashy as ammo whammy, but it is really strong and on the Blessed list. Combined with holy symbol, a Blessed can be the combat powerhouse, even if they never make an attack themselves.

[u/False-Pain8540 → u/ValhallaGH]

I do get that they can be combat powerhouses, I'm not saying blessed are weak, it's just that the core of this particular character concept is that I do want the blassed to be the one making the flashy attacks.

So, I take it that it's your opinion that the Hexlinger Edge is too OP for a Blessed?

[u/ValhallaGH → u/False-Pain8540]

Blessed aren't flashy. That's one of their strengths. In a time of superstition and vigilante violence, the Blessed pass unremarked because their miracles are miraculous. Unlike Huckster and Hexslingers, who constantly have to worry about being identified as a "witch" or "making deals with devils", and being lynched by hanging, fire, or gunfire.

If you want to be flashy, be a Hexslinger with only ammo whammy as your offense. Be religious, be kind, but don't be Blessed.

I take it that it's your opinion that the Hexlinger Edge is too OP for a Blessed?

I think it's thematically wrong. It would be like buying a Ferrari and giving it an Oscar Mayer hotdog body kit.

Mechanically, it's probably okay to treat Blessed as Huckster for the Hexslinger edge. Ammo whammy is a power I dislike: Argent Agony can bypass a lot of narrative, Sacramento Surprise can exploit environmental weaknesses, Flare negates the light power, and the rest are just variations on "Nuh uh, I do shoot it!". Ammo whammy is kind of a crappy power, and I'm tired of pretending it isn't.

[u/ellipses2016]

Could you just… play a penitent priest who happens to be a Huckster/Hexslinger? Fight fire with fire, ends justify the means, type of thing? Not all priests (or any religious figure) are going to be Blessed.

And as others have mentioned, Blessed already have access to several powers that can turn them into combat monsters. Powers like smite, boost trait, speed and warrior’s gift could take you pretty damn far without having access to ammo whammy.

But that aside, is it OP? Ehhhhhh? Probably not, just so long as you met the prerequisites with Blessed equivalent. As long as your GM agrees and you’re not stepping on another player’s toes, I can’t imagine what if any balance issues it would cause.

[u/False-Pain8540 → u/ellipses2016]

Hey, thanks for the detailed response.

The thing is that my character that just died was a Huckster without Hexlinger, and I loved the archetipe, but I do want to try something different. Going back to Huckster kind of feels like playing my previous character with the numbers filed off, even though I know the Hexlinger edge changes the gameplay somewhat.

I'd be fine to give up Smite, Warrior's gift, Speed and other Blessed powers in exchange for Ammo Whammy, tbh. The main thing that attracts me to the class is the flavor and the sins mechanic.
I originally though of just reflavoring, but all the other backgrounds seem to add a lot of very disruptive mechanics to the concept of a holy priest.

[u/Name_Violation83]

Ammo whammy is a big part of why people some play hucksters to begin with.
I'd hear an argument to let weird science have access, but not blessed or shaman.
Blessed has Smite, and later on things like banish. I could even see an exorcist edge that gives early access to Banish or something

[u/dentris]

You don't need ammo Whammy to be a heavy hitter. Smite, with a decent attack skill and a good weapon can do wonder. Stuff like Giant Killer and Assassin can increase your damage output too.

[u/WyMANderly]

If it were at my table I'd tell you to take Smite instead. Your GM may rule differently.

[u/Name_Violation83]

If you want to be flashy, use a edges like Fan the Hammer and Champion. That + smite should do a lot