Reading error. Was looking at talents line instead of skills.

Can't male Ss'ressen do Divine casting via Templar or other "back" channel? They are just forbidden from being Arcane or Divine Archetype but I don't remember seeing anything barring them from using divine magic.

While it may be technically possible a male casting divine spells would certainly gain the ire of the Ss'ressen matriarchy. I'm no one official but I suspect they would hunt that character down and "disappear" him. Can't have the guys playing in our sandbox now can we?

...uh no. I admit I am sometimes wrong about these things but as I understand it the male Templars/Holy Champions are usually male and can potentially be taught at least some divine spell casting. Politically they are subservient to the female Initiates/Annointed Priests. And of course they (males) can't take the divine (or arcane) archetypes.

I don't know Eric, I always got the impression the matriarchy stacked the deck (egg chamber and all that) to make sure only females could ever be casters. But since there's a back door way for males to get arcane maybe they can get divine as well. But again I'm not Henry so I can't categorically say one way or the other. Just my read on the subject.

Ok, I'll also include the standard disclaimer of no one official. The purpose behind game mechanics is to as best as possible explain the world as it's envisioned. In practice it also defines as well as explains, but I feel the core purpose takes priority.

It is my belief that male ss'ressen templars, initiates, etc. cannot become spell casters with the couple already defined exceptions. Male eggs are not matured enough to be able to handle it. It is a physical limitation. The physical limitation doesn't change because of training. If that were the case then all spell casting limitations are strictly a social construct. Henry's made clear that's not the case.

So the natural counter is "what about the exceptions?"

The primary exception is Primal. The description of Primal though is it is done through pacts with "lesser beings" in this case Jerral Sag. The dragon is somewhere between a valinor and a god in power. Given that it's been established that he can provide this power, probably closer to Kassagore than your average valinor. Presumably making the pact with Jerral Sag makes the changes necessary to channel Primal power. The question of Divine power at that point is moot.

The other exception is the brood of Ven val'Sosi. They were infused by the power of a valinor and only have access to psionics. If you look at the story Henry wrote dealing with them, most don't survive.

This doesn't prevent there being Templars & Holy Champions. While the mechanics open the door to divine spell casting, it does not grant or provide it.

With a sweep of his hat,

Paul

If true, I know there are a number of characters that violate this (including Ss'kethis). There is nothing anywhere in the rulebook or errata barring male Ss'ressen from taking DSC that I can find (just from being Arcane or Divine archetype).

My understanding was always the same as Eric's - male Templars can take DSC but they are subservient to the female Priestesses.

I've seen Ss'kethis in action...there's no way my characters are going to tell him he can't cast divine spells...

As I said, I'm no one official. It's something that probably makes sense to add to the Campaign Guide when they release an updated version, permitting rebuilds as appropriate.

With a sweep of his hat,

Paul

It was mentioned by Henry in another discussion thread over a year ago. That errata has never made it into the official documents (like a lot of other things).