Priests

[Axehilt]

Seems like a fitting ability for "Priests" in a game like this is being able to influence another player's Beliefs one step towards your own. This would cost you LPs (the LP cost would start high and rise dramatically for each additional time it was used on the same target in the same day.)

The LP cost would be increased dramatically (+100%?) against targets who aren't asking the priest for the belief change (ie "unwilling" targets.)

If the ability was implemented this way it seems like it would be an exclusive sort of deal - either (a) an expensive skill which locks you out of certain other skill choices while you have it, or (b) an exclusive title (again, where you can either be the priest or chieftan or whatever, but you can't be all of them at once.) This is partially my themepark MMO "players should fulfill unique roles" design sense shining through. Otherwise it seems like everyone's going to be the same at "endgame", with every player being a priest (which doesn't make a ton of sense.)

If belief benefits are balanced good enough, this will create a variety of priest characters whom a variety of other characters would seek out. One player creates a Barbaric priest (cultist), and another a Civilized priest (clergyman), and different players would seek each one out, from wanting to pursue those beliefs.

The downside being that with the current implementation of beliefs, you reach a point where you no longer want to make changes. So either (a) game mechanics would need to fuel a need for this service (by gradually nudging you back towards the center of beliefs, perhaps?) or (b) priests would be able to increase the advantage of your beliefs temporarily. And either way, you would also probably want (c) priests being capable of "blessing" areas of land which provides a Quality Rating buff to any actions performed in that area. Maybe this blessing comes in the form of a priest-crafted item (anointed holy water?) that the non-priest carries to the place he wants to improve.