These are videos I found that interest me one way or another. I'll add stuff over time.
CLERICS
General House Rule Ideas...
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Necron 99
- Level 8: Noble
- Posts: 2092
- Joined: December 5th, 2018, 1:43 pm
- Location: Jacksonville, FL
Cool, these should make for some good side noise while working. Will check them out.
“He found himself wondering at times, especially in the autumn, about the wild lands, and strange visions of mountains that he had never seen came into his dreams.” - Fellowship of the Ring, J.R.R. Tolkien
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Captain_Blood
- Level 6: Adventurer
- Posts: 267
- Joined: December 10th, 2018, 10:21 pm
The second video talks about how religions are ordered systems. I always thought Order would be a better antonym for Chaos than lawful on the alignment chart. I don't stress over small things like that so I've never really talked about it, but I think Richard Garriot really got it right in his Ultima 7 Part 2: The Serpent Isle game. It was very much a story of Order versus Chaos and the balancing between them that is required to move a civilization forward.
“May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one.” -Malcom Reynolds
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Necron 99
- Level 8: Noble
- Posts: 2092
- Joined: December 5th, 2018, 1:43 pm
- Location: Jacksonville, FL
I'm so glad the Ultima series was a staple of PC gaming in my youth.Captain_Blood wrote: ↑January 11th, 2025, 11:35 am The second video talks about how religions are ordered systems. I always thought Order would be a better antonym for Chaos than lawful on the alignment chart. I don't stress over small things like that so I've never really talked about it, but I think Richard Garriot really got it right in his Ultima 7 Part 2: The Serpent Isle game. It was very much a story of Order versus Chaos and the balancing between them that is required to move a civilization forward.
“He found himself wondering at times, especially in the autumn, about the wild lands, and strange visions of mountains that he had never seen came into his dreams.” - Fellowship of the Ring, J.R.R. Tolkien
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Ancalagon
- Level 8: Noble
- Posts: 1734
- Joined: December 5th, 2018, 5:42 pm
- Location: Bellevue, NE
An idea I've been rolling around in the noggin for use with C&C...
I like the idea of clerics being rare so no one starts as a CLERIC classed character. At 0-level, the PC who listens to his heart and wants to enter the faith must seek out a Priest of the faith in question and make his case. This will include some tasks / missions / etc. related to the goals of the faith. If the PC performs well, upon attaining XPs sufficient to reach 1st level, he receives his orders and is brought into the faith as a 1st level Priest.
Mechanically, a Priest is different than a cleric in that he has access to only 0-level miracles and may turn undead. The Priest may advance in levels and improve in combat ability and turning undead as normal but will never gain the ability to cast 1st level or higher miracles. Consequently, the Priest's XP table will be easier than the clerics.
If the player wants his 1st level Priest to become a Cleric, he must RP the fervor / zeal of the faith, state what the character is doing to prove himself worthy of elevation in the eyes of the god(dess). Examples are strictly adhering to the tenets / portfolio of the faith, tithing, observing holy days, etc. without exception or failure. When enough XPs are accumulated to reach 2nd level, the character must pass a WIS check. If the character has been doing what is required but not much more then there is no mod. If the character has gone well above and beyond then the DM/CK can grant a bonus to the roll. If the DM/CK has observed any backsliding / failure to adhere to the tenets, etc. then the roll will automatically fail.
If the WIS check succeeds, the god(dess) elevates the Priest into the rare company of Clerics and the character is now a "hammer of the god" or some such depending on the god(dess) in question. The ability to call down miracles (spells) is gained and the standard XP table applies.
If the WIS check fails, the god(dess) declines to accept the petitioner and he/she remains forever after a Priest with 0-level miracles and an easier XP table. The Priest can advance, gain power in the hierarchy of the faith, and serve as he/she feels guided and/or compelled by the hierarchy. This might be a good test of a player's RP and the character's conviction / dedication to the faith.
Clerics will respect the hierarchy and the authority of the Priests. Clerics don't settle down and grow old inside temple walls. They go forth to smash the enemies of the faith! They don't fear death as martyrdom is a sure path to sainthood.
Like I said, just some ideas I'm kicking around....
I like the idea of clerics being rare so no one starts as a CLERIC classed character. At 0-level, the PC who listens to his heart and wants to enter the faith must seek out a Priest of the faith in question and make his case. This will include some tasks / missions / etc. related to the goals of the faith. If the PC performs well, upon attaining XPs sufficient to reach 1st level, he receives his orders and is brought into the faith as a 1st level Priest.
Mechanically, a Priest is different than a cleric in that he has access to only 0-level miracles and may turn undead. The Priest may advance in levels and improve in combat ability and turning undead as normal but will never gain the ability to cast 1st level or higher miracles. Consequently, the Priest's XP table will be easier than the clerics.
If the player wants his 1st level Priest to become a Cleric, he must RP the fervor / zeal of the faith, state what the character is doing to prove himself worthy of elevation in the eyes of the god(dess). Examples are strictly adhering to the tenets / portfolio of the faith, tithing, observing holy days, etc. without exception or failure. When enough XPs are accumulated to reach 2nd level, the character must pass a WIS check. If the character has been doing what is required but not much more then there is no mod. If the character has gone well above and beyond then the DM/CK can grant a bonus to the roll. If the DM/CK has observed any backsliding / failure to adhere to the tenets, etc. then the roll will automatically fail.
If the WIS check succeeds, the god(dess) elevates the Priest into the rare company of Clerics and the character is now a "hammer of the god" or some such depending on the god(dess) in question. The ability to call down miracles (spells) is gained and the standard XP table applies.
If the WIS check fails, the god(dess) declines to accept the petitioner and he/she remains forever after a Priest with 0-level miracles and an easier XP table. The Priest can advance, gain power in the hierarchy of the faith, and serve as he/she feels guided and/or compelled by the hierarchy. This might be a good test of a player's RP and the character's conviction / dedication to the faith.
Clerics will respect the hierarchy and the authority of the Priests. Clerics don't settle down and grow old inside temple walls. They go forth to smash the enemies of the faith! They don't fear death as martyrdom is a sure path to sainthood.
Like I said, just some ideas I'm kicking around....
“Once you give a charlatan power over you, you almost never get it back.” - Carl Sagan
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Necron 99
- Level 8: Noble
- Posts: 2092
- Joined: December 5th, 2018, 1:43 pm
- Location: Jacksonville, FL
Don't forget that a similar sentiment was implied during Basic D&D, with Clerics not gaining any spells until 2nd level. At first level, a Cleric had to prove themselves to their deity before being considered worth to receive spells.
“He found himself wondering at times, especially in the autumn, about the wild lands, and strange visions of mountains that he had never seen came into his dreams.” - Fellowship of the Ring, J.R.R. Tolkien
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Ancalagon
- Level 8: Noble
- Posts: 1734
- Joined: December 5th, 2018, 5:42 pm
- Location: Bellevue, NE
That was part of the motivation behind my C&C version posted above.
“Once you give a charlatan power over you, you almost never get it back.” - Carl Sagan