From: benyob@vccnorthe.its.rpi.edu (Brett R. Benyo)
Subject: Re: Clerics:  Deities Granting Spells
Organization: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
Date: Mon, 7 Sep 1992 19:03:13 GMT

In article <Bu7299.Cyq@mentor.cc.purdue.edu> rworkman@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Ryan Workman) writes:
>In article <1992Sep6.231117.15425@husc3.harvard.edu> alvalent@husc9.harvard.edu (Alvin Valentine) writes:
>
>  [ stuff deleted about 2nd ed. PHB rules for priests ]
>
>>CPH's "this should never be allowed" rules in tons of places.  I like the
>>Complete Priest's Handbook method for a few reasons:
>>
>>	1)  Given a quick glance, 9 people out of 10 will choose a PHB
>>		Cleric in 2nd ed. to any specialty priest with limited 
>>		spheres unless the special powers of the latter were excedingly
>>		attractive.  This is bogus.  Again water people should
>>		breathe water, not cast Fire Storm.
>
>I have to agree with you here.  I have always limited the type of spells a PC
>Cleric could pick from.

   In all of the campaigns that I have played in, not a single player ever
 chose to play a generic cleric over a specialty priest.  First of all
 the concept of a generic cleric makes no sense at all.  Any PC with the
 desire to do even the tiniest amount of roleplaying will choose a single god
 for his character to follow. My DM's (and myself included when I DM) grant
 a good amount of spheres to specialty priests, and good special powers.
 For example, my favorite character ever was Sir Brega Trollsbane (nicknamed
 Sir Can of Ale), a dwarf fighter/cleric of Tempos (God of War).  My spheres
 were (Major) All, Combat, Protection, Divination, Elenemtal, War, Weather,
 Healing, and Necromancy.  Minor - Plant, Astral (My DM wanted a good
 laugh. Astral has no spells below lvl 3!)  The only sphere that may seem 
 wierd for a cleric of War is Healing as a major, but we decided that all
 priests should have healing as a major sphere. My special abilities : 


 Level 1 : Able to bless one weapon one time EVER.  This blessed weapon
           is permanently +1/+1.  Can detect the magical abilities of
           any weapon of the same type as my chosen weapon. 
 

 Level 5 : Beserker Rage.  Affects one PC/level. Used once per day.
           Grants +2 to hit. +2 Damage
           and +2 to saves for 10 rounds. Those affected can not run away from
           combat. If the foes are vanquished before the 10 rounds are up,
           the PC's attack each-other.  (Needless to say this ability was used
           in desparate situations or in a huge fight. It may sound powerful,
           but after the DM attacked us with a wandering monster when we were
           fighting each-other, I used the ability with much more caution) 

 Level 9 : Specalize in a weapon as fighter of same level.

 Level 13 : Death Rage.  Gives PC bonuses to hit and damage equal to Storm
            Giant strength. These bonuses are in addition to normal strength
            bonuses. PC unaffected by fear or paralyzation. After the fight,
            the PC is dead. (but ressurectable...).  I used this ability twice.

 
>
>>	2)  Certain of the books are clearly laid out such that more powerful
>>		gods grant SCADS more power than lesser gods.  Zeus may
>>		give his priests Lightning Bolt 1/day plus major access
>>		to everything.  Mediocre Demigod may give 1 major and 2 minors.
>>		Makes good sense, but doesn't balance well with the XP side.
>>		Imagine telling someone he had to earn 500K XPs for next
>>		level to get one more 3rd level spell, while the Zeus 
>>		worshipper over there gets +1 7th level spell, +1 6th, +3 5th..
>>		Not quite fair, is it?

Simple proble. Make most of the gods equal in power. 

>>	3)  Given 2), people may not pick the "deity for them," but the one
>>		with the better "gas mileage" as it were.  Who'd wanna be told
>>		that you are always gonna have 20 spells to pick from, when
>>		the Mystra worshipper 'cross the street has 200.  Yeah, it
>>		happens some with the CPH too, but nothing like it happens in
>>		the "free form" religion handbooks.

Same answer as above. The way we handled this, is we would have the PC priest
choose his diety's type first. Such as God of Healing, God of War, etc. Then
the DM would make up the special abilities.

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No one expects the Spanish Inquisition...

Brett Benyo   E-Mail benyob@rpi.rpi.edu

Of course I have common sense. I just choose to ignore it...
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