tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290828421410624791.post942531270892804846..comments2024-03-14T10:32:29.233-05:00Comments on Blood of Prokopius: Saintly Saturday: The Archangel MichaelFrDavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00459281821319914530noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290828421410624791.post-7639136804400914432012-06-06T13:49:42.292-05:002012-06-06T13:49:42.292-05:00Don't get me wrong I've played my share of...Don't get me wrong I've played my share of war games on PC, but I believe there is a point were you over do it. Please don't let it become an obsession that takes away from you doing actual spiritual warfare by attending Church, reading Scripture, reading about the Saints, and ect.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290828421410624791.post-11210802093419640082012-03-13T17:08:13.196-05:002012-03-13T17:08:13.196-05:00Fr.Dave,
Thanks for your prompt reply. I love ...Fr.Dave,<br /> Thanks for your prompt reply. I love these discussions. I have never heard the interpretation you give above. I believe (I can't remember) my theory came from the Targums use of the word memra (Word) in instances like these led to my conclusions. Thanks for your comments. I really enjoy your blog.Doomsdavehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00235585177028383618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290828421410624791.post-15756716813467885522012-03-13T00:46:42.579-05:002012-03-13T00:46:42.579-05:00Great question! In the LXX, which is the version o...Great question! In the LXX, which is the version of the OT the Fathers most often used, the Greek word you understand as worship literally means “to throw oneself down.” Though sometimes associated with worship, when it is used on its own, it connotes respect (and possibly fear) but not worship.<br /><br />The command to remove the sandals is an invitation to compare this encounter with the encounter Moses had at the burning bush where God revealed His name. The reason the Fathers understand this to be Michael is tied to his name. When asked as the question, “Who is like unto God?” the appearance of Michael as <i>a man</i> reveals that God intends to become a man — this is a prophecy of the incarnation of Christ.FrDavehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00459281821319914530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290828421410624791.post-57042793809262752852012-03-12T23:46:18.488-05:002012-03-12T23:46:18.488-05:00Fr. Dave,
Great post. One question, I have alw...Fr. Dave,<br /> Great post. One question, I have always assumed that the Commander of God's army in Joshua 5 is the physicalized manifestation of God himself and not Michael. When Joshua falls to the ground in worship, the Commander accepts the worship, whereas with other angelic visitations (Samson's parents, John's revelations) when men are tempted to worship angels they are always roundly chastised not to do so. This contrasts with the Commander's acceptance of the worship offered, and the further command that Joshua should remove his shoes because he was standing on "holy ground" cf. Exodus 3:5 when God reveals himself to Moses in the burning bush. Interested to hear your take. <br />By the way, I usually allow clerics to carry swords at lower damage than fighters.Doomsdavehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00235585177028383618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290828421410624791.post-58811736000837596972012-03-11T19:02:46.258-05:002012-03-11T19:02:46.258-05:00Class based damage is the method that I like too, ...Class based damage is the method that I like too, though I use 2DTH (roll two dice, take the highest) for two-handed weapons and dual wielding rather than bumping the die up. I also allow anyone to wear any armor, but track encumbrance strictly and give magic-users a chance of spell failure and thieves a chance of skill failure on a d6 when wearing armor.<br /><br /><a href="http://untimately.blogspot.com/2011/12/damage-by-hit-die.html" rel="nofollow">http://untimately.blogspot.com/2011/12/damage-by-hit-die.html</a><br /><br /><a href="http://untimately.blogspot.com/2012/02/against-armor-restrictions.html" rel="nofollow">http://untimately.blogspot.com/2012/02/against-armor-restrictions.html</a><br /><br />You could also still restrict magic weapon <i>bonuses</i> to fighters, which I was considering.Necropraxishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12716340801054739658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290828421410624791.post-22037766657890868842012-03-11T18:54:55.051-05:002012-03-11T18:54:55.051-05:00Speaking of house rules, the limitations on weapon...Speaking of house rules, the limitations on weapons by class is one of those things that always bugged me for various reasons. While reading the the B/X Companion recently, I ran across the idea of mostly disconnecting damage from weapons and tying it to class, instead. So, Fighters do a d8 damage (d10 if the weapon is 2H), Clerics do d6(d8), &c. [Page C24]<br /><br />While I'm sure this wasn't the first time the idea had been proposed, it was new to me and seems an elegant way to address my objections. (While, I admit, it does also take away the Fighter's exclusive purview over the best magical weapons.)Anthonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01254215329246851683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290828421410624791.post-187991878042337312012-03-11T18:36:23.240-05:002012-03-11T18:36:23.240-05:00It is more of a game mechanic thing than a themati...It is more of a game mechanic thing than a thematic thing. All the best magic weapons in OD&D are swords. By limiting weapons used by MUs and Clerics allows these magic weapons to belong solely to the Fighting-Man. The Cleric and MU get spells, the Fighting-Man gets swords.<br /><br />This, of course, falls apart in later editions, but the no-swords-for-clerics is a remnant that stuck until around 2e.<br /><br />The beautiful thing about the game, regardless of which edition you play, is that if you don't like a particular element, house rule it...FrDavehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00459281821319914530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290828421410624791.post-54199910369671121322012-03-11T16:57:03.978-05:002012-03-11T16:57:03.978-05:00havent read the scipture many times,
I am confuse...havent read the scipture many times, <br />I am confused why the old school DnD cleric can not use a sword . . . <br /><br />Luke 22:36<br />He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one."<br /><br />and many other references to the<br />Christian welding the sword . ..Clovis Cithoghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18208194219083373456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290828421410624791.post-8869659670125183442012-03-11T11:25:54.205-05:002012-03-11T11:25:54.205-05:00Thanks for the clarification. It's a beautiful...Thanks for the clarification. It's a beautiful statue.Necropraxishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12716340801054739658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290828421410624791.post-16687663176747115442012-03-11T06:43:10.650-05:002012-03-11T06:43:10.650-05:00For some strange reason, this image is mislabeled....For some strange reason, this image is mislabeled. It is from the Lechitic Gate in Kiev, Ukrain. Sorry about the confusion.FrDavehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00459281821319914530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290828421410624791.post-42947112233732908892012-03-11T06:39:44.831-05:002012-03-11T06:39:44.831-05:00It was my pleasure. Your request made me realize t...It was my pleasure. Your request made me realize that I had been neglecting Michael in more ways than one, so it spurred me to reaquaint myself. Thus, I was inspired to write this post. Therefore I really should be thanking you.FrDavehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00459281821319914530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290828421410624791.post-8842976895166347262012-03-11T00:30:25.258-06:002012-03-11T00:30:25.258-06:00By any chance, do you have identifying info about ...By any chance, do you have identifying info about that second image? I did some preliminary searches on St. Michael Moscow based on the file name, but didn't come up with anything. It's very impressive.Necropraxishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12716340801054739658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290828421410624791.post-54111337894636079992012-03-10T10:01:45.981-06:002012-03-10T10:01:45.981-06:00Gosh. Thank you very much Father. To be honest, I ...Gosh. Thank you very much Father. To be honest, I really wasn't expecting such a prompt response!<br /><br />Your articles on Saints never fail to interest me.Conrad Kinchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15683395740934527502noreply@blogger.com