After reading the Flavour vs. Mechanics forum, I was reminded of a few ideas I've been considering. For the sake of not deviating too much from that thread's purpose, however, I'm posting these in a new topic based on some possible class additions/ rewrites for revised BRCS and/or variant proposals. For now, though, this is just brainstorming.

8. Paladins and priests.
I also like the idea of paladins for all religions. As for priests/clerics, I'd have to say that the 2E rules for these speciality priest were unbalanced, but I did like the differences between the religions. I'm proposing changing the domains for the clerics to make them more unique (and to restrict certain news spells that I'm working on just to clerics of a certain faith). Another option is to have a different list of class skills for different faiths, or something like that. The Atlas will also feature some prestige classes for specific religions, but not one for each...
[Raesene Andu]

Looking at the 3.5 Mystic Theurge prestige class, I can't help but notice how perfectly it fits as a prestige class for servants of Ruornil. I think it would be great to make this an exclusive option for Priests of Ruornil - OK, possibly priests of Avani too, although I think the Loremaster far more fitting for them.

Dwarves can’t be wizards. In 2nd ed this is not setting material since this was the standard rule and dwarves were not allowed to be wizards at all. I have never seen a TSR 2nd ed setting that allowed them to be wizards.
[irdeggman]

I've been chewing on this idea of a new class or prestige class for dwarven arcane spellcasters: the Runemaster. I tried to work out a set of stats for a prestige class, but so far have been unhappy with the results. But I still like the concept (and maybe some of you can help out with some ideas for ways to make this mechanically viable if it's found to be a good idea).

Here's the concept: since dwarves are so grounded in the material world, and tied to their earthen nature, it makes sense that arcane magic would be somewhat foreign to them. On the other hand, mebhaighal IS earthpower in its purest form, so it doesn't quite make sense that they would be alienated from such a constant companion. That's where the runemaster comes in (and the more I think about it, the more I think it would be better to make a new variant of the sorcerer or wizard rather than a prestige class).

The Runemaster uses symbolism as an exclusive focus for his magic. Dwarven runes, when worked by a runemaster, can focus arcane energies and bind them into objects. The simplest form of this is expressed in single-icon runestones, each containing a single spell that must be activated/triggered in some way. As the runemaster progresses in his craft, he learns to bind them into metals (such as weapons and armor) as well, and to inscribe combinations of several runes for more potent effects. It is important to note, however, that runes must always be inscribed in solid, earth-based substances: stone, metal, and dwarven flesh(&#33 all being suitable recipients for runic magic. Heh, heh, yeah, I love the idea of runemasters learning to inscribe runic tatoos, but only dwarves (OK, constructs, stone giants, and any earth elemental natives would also qualify) having the necessary stone-like constitution to accept the magic. This could probably work in a similar fashion to Vos war tattoos.

Runemasters would necessarily be craftsmen as well, and the idea was that they represent the arcane articifers of the dwarven race. The class would focus on their specialized advantages in this area, while limiting their flexibility compared to other wizards and sorcerers. Honestly, this was meant to be more of an NPC class, as runemasters would rarely (if ever) be adventurers. However, the role they play in dwarven history and present society would be extremely important, hence the necessity for fleshing out their capabilities.

I know that in many ways this idea resembles prestige classes, but in this case there are 2 BR-specific problems with that:
1. It allows general dwarven mages to be a viable reality, which really cuts into the general concept of dwarves distrusting mages, or simply not understanding them at all.
2. Prestige classes encourage higher-level characters, which also conflicts with the lower level setting of Cerilia.

Thus I'm proposing that Runemasters would be the only arcane spellcasters of the dwarven race, maintaining their distinction as great articifers of stone and metal wonders while limiting an explosion of dwarven mages in Cerilia.

-Osprey