Tips on Roleplaying the "Divine Classes"

[Twist of Cain]

Most classes in ADnD don't have much in the way of RP requirements, other than for instance assassins being evil, barbarians not being lawful, and so on. While the divine classes (Paladins, Clerics and Druids) enjoy some powerful benefits, it's often overlooked that in-character they differ from other classes in a big way. These classes draw their powers from a divine source - unlike wizards, who learn to harness the power of magic, the divine classes are granted their abilities by powerful, sentient beings who can and will deny access to their powers.

This means that while OOC we know that you as the player picked the class, the big difference is that in-character it implies that, instead, some God or Power chose to allow your character to further their will! For a character of faith and devotion, this should be a huge responsibility.

Now, every deity has their own agenda. When playing as a paladin, cleric or druid, you should familiarize yourself with your deity's information as much as possible. Would Iaosia really continue to grant your druid power after he spams the endangered mink quest for the 100th time? Would Tharon continue to give your paladin spells if he hides in the back battle after battle and runs away at the first sight of trouble?

Besides individual deities having agendas and dogmas, the divine classes are also typically associated with oaths and duties. Here are some common ones, though this can vary per setting. (Necessary Disclaimer!) Paladins are probably the most involved, so I will start with them.



Paladins

Chivalry

Paladins are typically expected to behave in a certain fashion in society. This doesn't mean they have to be big, soft plushies, but spreading lies and slander, gossipping, getting into tavern brawls should be beneath a paladin. Confrontation is one thing, and is expected! But there are "noble" ways to behave in society, and then there are ways that are unfitting for paladins.

Honor

A paladin should be honest and honorable. Honesty does not mean they need to foolishly divulge their secrets to enemies. Silence is golden! A disguise may be in order if the paladin is trying to pass through a town ruled by evil lords, but using a disguise to put up notices slandering enemies is beneath him.

Honorable behaviour implies a degree of respect for other beings. It means a paladin would be more likely to listen to a defeated enemy's dying wish and fulfill it, and would stop his allies from desecrating their corpse.

Valor

Paladins are expected to be brave defenders of their faith. This does not mean they cannot retreat when the odds are stacked against them. However, being the first to break the front line, resulting in ally's deaths while the paladin lives, would be a disgraceful act for a paladin.

Now, in addition(!) to these expectations, a paladin is also expected to abide by their deity's teachings. While they don't usually go out and preach it (that's the Cleric's job), they're looked up to, to be shining examples of Law and Good and their God's will. Since we're talking about Clerics, though...



Clerics

The cleric's expectations are at once the simplest to describe but also the most consuming: Be a living, breathing force for the will of your god. This varies too much from god to god to describe in detail here, so read up as much as you can about your deity on the site and learn in-game! Besides that, a few basic principles should be clear:

A cleric should spread the word of their god. I doubt there are many gods who would continue to let others wield that much of their power to just use it for personal gain and advancement, without so much as ever saying a word to another soul. I'd love to see a bit more preaching. If nothing else, at least occasionally use your "street cred" to try to gain followers and convert people! If it is role-played well over time, I am sure DMs will take interest, and aid with a deity change now and then.

A cleric should live in accordance with their deity's teachings, and not go against the principles their deity stands for. This doesn't mean clerics won't disagree with each other from time to time, but so long as both are in some way furthering their deity's agenda, it doesn't mean one of them is necessarily wrong.

Last but not least, druids! Depending on setting, they may draw their powers either directly from nature itself, or through a deity of nature. It's never a bad idea to follow the wishes of a druid's deity, but aside from that druids usually also are expected to follow oaths and other behaviour.



Druids

The Balance

Druids believe Good, Evil, Law and Chaos are important parts in the functioning of the world, and all need to be in balance for things to function well. Druids may take action if they feel that one of these is growing strong. For instance, if a lawful government grows powerful and tyranny takes hold, druids may support chaotic groups like bandits or rebels. But if these go too far, and the kingdom is suffering from robbers and murderers, the druids may choose to aid the government again.

Protecting Nature

Druids are charged with protecting nature. How zealous they are will vary from druid to druid, but it is important to point out that carnivores and hunting are part of nature. Killing an animal to eat is natural and fine. Killing a pile of animals just to take their furs is not.

Oaths

This probably varies the most from setting to setting. I'm certain Dasaria has a druid faction, so find out IG! Other than the balance, and protecting nature, here are typical oaths.

Wearing metal armor or using non-druid metal weapons is forbidden.

Druids swear an oath to respect the druidic Circles. (They can still be loners, if they wish. If they disagree with the Great Druid's edicts, they are allowed to challenge him or her for leadership. The Great Druid is elected by the various Druidic Circles.)

Permanent residence in an "unnatural" place is against their oaths. This would include inns, cities, castles, temples, etc.

Druids are not allowed to speak secrets of their Druidic Circle to outsiders.

Druids must also heed any bans by their Druidic Circles that they are aware of.

Hope this helps with some RP ideas! Enjoy playing your divine classes. Don't get smitten with spell failure by a furious god.

[Peregrinus]

To expand on this, when playing a divine class, pay attention to the deity you serve and the ideals of that deity. Paladins especially can fall into the trap of all being alike, but different gods have different foci. A Paladin of Girru will likely be more of the Crusader to seek out and destroy evil with a vengeance, while a Paladin of Enki will likely be there to protect the weak and helpless. These small shifts in focus can have a profound impact on roleplaying the character and even lead two paladins into conflict. For instance, some of these ideological differences have led to two of the bigger name paladins in the game, Dame Amelia Almaran of the Argentum Vigilo and Kadmiel Greywolf of the Daybreak Alliance, into lining up on sides that oppose one another in certain areas, while both being forces for good.

At the end of the day the focus of a divine class should be their DEITY. Despite how the mechanics of the game work, divine casters serve at the behest of their deity and for the deity's goals and purpose, not for their own.

[Mensha Khaine]

Also remember alignment of your character vs the dieties alignment.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alignment_ ... _&_Dragons)

[Twist of Cain]

At the end of the day the focus of a divine class should be their DEITY. Despite how the mechanics of the game work, divine casters serve at the behest of their deity and for the deity's goals and purpose, not for their own.

Yes, it's all about the deity, and the deity's goals should take precedence over the character's goals or be represented by them. The other stuff is important too, just slightly less so.

[Roser]

ToC this is very very helpful. Thanks a bunch. Also anyone who contributed thank you as well.

[meschiari]

Clerics[/size]

The cleric's expectations are at once the simplest to describe but also the most consuming: Be a living, breathing force for the will of your god. This varies too much from god to god to describe in detail here, so read up as much as you can about your deity on the site and learn in-game! Besides that, a few basic principles should be clear:

A cleric should spread the word of their god. I doubt there are many gods who would continue to let others wield that much of their power to just use it for personal gain and advancement, without so much as ever saying a word to another soul. I'd love to see a bit more preaching. If nothing else, at least occasionally use your "street cred" to try to gain followers and convert people! If it is role-played well over time, I am sure DMs will take interest, and aid with a deity change now and then.

A cleric should live in accordance with their deity's teachings, and not go against the principles their deity stands for. This doesn't mean clerics won't disagree with each other from time to time, but so long as both are in some way furthering their deity's agenda, it doesn't mean one of them is necessarily wrong.

I liked your post but you just forgot that Das is a polytheistic society so it is common Pantheon Clerics. Priests that worship many gods could be creative and without restrictions characters. It demands more creativite, but also could bem re fun too.

[Mon-da-oth]

I liked your post but you just forgot that Das is a polytheistic society so it is common Pantheon Clerics. Priests that worship many gods could be creative and without restrictions characters. It demands more creativite, but also could bem re fun too.

[/quote]

The problem with playing characters based in a polytheistic world is that most of us have never been exposed to such a pantheon and find it difficult to interact with others and to keep in mind the relationships that the other gods would have with each other. We are so use to our monotheistic worship where our G-d can and does do everything we tend force this ideal onto which ever god we pick for our characters and relegate the others gods to lesser statures.

[Alterity]

Mon has a good point, that does prove to be the typical hardest point about the polytheistic society. Even though I play a Lochwarian, whom is the king of the gods (And thus could be more compared to a monotheistic god powerwise), a devout still must remember to pay heed and worship to other gods. Sure, Lochwarians enjoy the bonus of going to Peralia's realm at death (Supposedly), but annoying Peralia while living won't help them exist happily there, annoying Tharon may get them there more quickly from battle etc. Really, annoying any god or goddess (Even Rel/Tyrak/Ch'tia) is a quick way to make your life miserable, except Culnul or Peralia, whom typically will make your afterlife miserable, but can still kill you if they want. When Methos wins a battle, he praises Tharon, when Marrent died, he prayed to Peralia to let him into her realm, when he drinks from a stream he prays to Enki, and when he voyages to Morell he prays to Rhumath for a safe voyage on the seas, and of course he is always praising and praying to Lochwar at the same time. He may only be an exemplar, but most characters would praise or pray to a god or goddess to keep them safe, whether a priest or not.

No sane Varanite or Dasaria or Anjiran would ever be silly enough to have contempt for a god or goddess, lest they face the diety's wrath. Cuhannans have their own gods with similar reasoning.

[Methos]

How did i end up in an example?
Well I'll add mine and as Alterity said Mon makes the best point.Though I was raised in an european protestant family,and I was gave a very liberal point of view(yeah I'm a godless )I had...erm have a very hard time to understand how should I react to the pantheon in Dasaria.I tried Ct'aia on my duergar but I admit it doesn't goes well,and I have no idea how to make it better.I retried with my halfling and Coloth,now I can't say I got it but even if I was thinking to RP something related directly to Coloth I don't see him as one figure only behind my actions.As Alterity said I found it that praying the right god at the right time of the day actually makes things easier than trying to be stubborn on your patron god.

Hope I added something to the discussion

[ChemicalAgent]

I just wanted to add a little here. Favored Souls are kind of a wrench in the machine because they get power from a deity directly, it's not granted by choice. This text is from the Wiki.

"Because favored souls do not need to pray for their spells, deities don't need to approve or disapprove each and every incantation ... They didn't choose their paths and may not want anything to do with their religion."

I think it opens up new avenues for RP between a character, his/her deity, and the culture of Dasaria. That's one of the main reasons that I rolled a Favored Soul for my latest character, as opposed to most who are looking for a power build. Now, granted, this doesn't give a character free reign as far as what he can do. I think if they stray too far the gods would still cut them off somehow. But the ability to deviate slightly from a god's wishes is a powerful tool.

[Mon-da-oth]

I think if a Favored Soul were to deviate the god in question would step in and correct his favorite to put them back on the path the god wishes them to follow. I could see one being played as kind of hopeless; feeling that his fate isn't his own but one determined for him by the gods.

[Twist of Cain]

Polytheism is often a neglected point of roleplay. It's not uncommon to see characters being played with strong monotheistic tendencies, but I didn't mention it here because I felt that discussion applies more to roleplaying every-day characters rather than the divine classes. I fully agree, commoners should tend to pray to whichever deity is appropriate for the situation. If you're going on a sea voyage, you pray to the god of the seas, etc. That would be a good point for a "Religion and You" sort of post, something that covers religion in the realms in general.

While priests are still polytheistic and surely admit the other gods have their rightful place, my opinion is that they ought to be far more devoted to the god they serve than your average joe on the streets. This is who gives them power, after all. A priest would still not be foolish enough to deny there are other gods, but they would paint the entire cosmos in hues of the god they serve. They'd probably pray to their own deity far more often in cases where there's a bit of doubt which god holds domain over the matter.

I'm not a fan of priests who don't serve a particular deity, and usually prefer rulesets in which a deity (and not falling out of favor with them) is required for clerics to cast spells in my groups.

On a somewhat related note, hi everyone, hope Das2 is doing well.

[Redleafe]

On a somewhat related note, hi everyone, hope Das2 is doing well.

I had wondered where ya went .

Are you not playing currently? To answer your question, Dasaria is doing well.

[Wired]

I'd take the default Favored Soul description with a grain of salt. There's wiggle room for RP but we've been pretty clear that the divine classes serve their gods, the gods do not serve them. What Mon suggested would certainly be one way to go with a favored soul that works in the overall framework.

[ChemicalAgent]

Hmm, that's strange. I had posted a reply to Mon yesterday but it disappeared.

Anyway, I'm not saying that Favored Souls should be running around flaunting their power in opposition to the granting deity. As Wired and a few others have said, Das has a focus on characters serving the gods which is missing in most other PW modules. That, in itself, is a unique RP opportunity that most overlook.

The way that my Favored Soul is currently being played is pretty much exactly what Mon has said. He follows the teachings of his deity, but there are some potentially serious complications which arise from that. He's been laying pretty low for now, but expect to see a lot more of Tanaud in the weeks to come