Cleric Domains?

Kaiser_Kris · Post by **Kaiser_Kris** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 6:14 am

Firstly, hello everyone! I've been lurking for a bit, but this is my first post.

I've been working on a potential campaign world for Castles and Crusades for some time now, and one thing I was interested in monkeying about with was clerical domains, to make the clerics of different religions at least a little distinctive from each other.

I suppose a decent start might simple be to port the 3.5 domains, which probably wouldn't be too hard with some alterations. Has anyone done this for a campaign before that could perhaps give me a few pointers about doing this. I'm not that experienced with system conversion yet, so any help would be appreciated!

Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 6:28 am

I have seen the 3E domains used almost btb and they seemed to work well enough. I think Lord Seurek is the one I am remembering.

Another version to look at is CSPerkins AD&D 3E. Hopefully someone can come along and give you his website link, I lost mine when my comp crashed a few weeks ago.
_________________
The Ruby Lord, Earl of the Society

Next Con I am attending: http://www.neoncon.com/

My House Rules: http://www.freeyabb.com/phpbb/viewtopic ... llordgames

Kaiser_Kris · Post by **Kaiser_Kris** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 6:34 am

Thanks. Looking at them right now, they don't look too bad.

I guess the other issue, potentially, is possibly with balance with clerics. I really do want that bit of diversity, though. This is a world with multiple pantheons and gods that compete with each other. Their abilities should reflect that somewhat, though the core cleric abilities should be essentially similar.

gideon_thorne · Post by **gideon_thorne** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 6:39 am

Kaiser_Kris wrote:
Thanks. Looking at them right now, they don't look too bad.

I guess the other issue, potentially, is possibly with balance with clerics. I really do want that bit of diversity, though. This is a world with multiple pantheons and gods that compete with each other. Their abilities should reflect that somewhat, though the core cleric abilities should be essentially similar.

Actually, if your looking for clerics to have different sorts of granted abilities depending on what deity they follow, you might check out the Gods and Monsters book just put out for C&C.

A cleric being a worshipper of a given deity gets certain bennies.
_________________
"We'll go out through the kitchen!" Tanis Half-Elven

Peter Bradley

Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 7:08 am

gideon_thorne wrote:
Actually, if your looking for clerics to have different sorts of granted abilities depending on what deity they follow, you might check out the Gods and Monsters book just put out for C&C.

A cleric being a worshipper of a given deity gets certain bennies.

True, very toned down in comparison, but definitely does the job of differentiating between the clerics, and in some cases the worshippers period.

So if your going for differentiation, and don't want to go beyond just domain powers, such as bonus spells each level, OF Gods and Monsters is an excellent way to go. I love the deity write ups and a number of the items even made me chuckle with evil humor.
_________________
The Ruby Lord, Earl of the Society

Next Con I am attending: http://www.neoncon.com/

My House Rules: http://www.freeyabb.com/phpbb/viewtopic ... llordgames

Kaiser_Kris · Post by **Kaiser_Kris** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 7:25 am

Treebore wrote:
True, very toned down in comparison, but definitely does the job of differentiating between the clerics, and in some cases the worshippers period.

So if your going for differentiation, and don't want to go beyond just domain powers, such as bonus spells each level, OF Gods and Monsters is an excellent way to go. I love the deity write ups and a number of the items even made me chuckle with evil humor.

Cool! Yeah, I should definitely look into getting that.

Relaxo · Post by **Relaxo** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 10:11 am

I don't have much to add re: clerics, but wanted to say HELLO and welcome to the boards! It's a lot of fun to get involved, and I'm sure i speak for everyone when I say I'm glad you enjoy C&C and have joined the crusade!

Omote · Post by **Omote** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 1:40 pm

I did a slight conversion of core v3.5 domains to C&C. While I didn't add the spell per level aspect of domains, I did give each selected domains certain powers that fell within the boundries of domains as they are presented in v3.5. There are some alterations and the like.

Though in my crazy version of C&C games, Domains are tied into feat selections. In this link scroll down till you see the domains listed in the green background section:
http://omote076.googlepages.com/CCFeats.pdf

And welcome to the Crusade! All the best.

~O
_________________
> Omote's Advanced C&C stuff <
Duke Omote Landwehr, Holy Order of the FPQ ~ Prince of the Castles & Crusades Society

Lord Dynel · Post by **Lord Dynel** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 6:39 pm

Treebore wrote:
True, very toned down in comparison, but definitely does the job of differentiating between the clerics, and in some cases the worshippers period.

So if your going for differentiation, and don't want to go beyond just domain powers, such as bonus spells each level, OF Gods and Monsters is an excellent way to go. I love the deity write ups and a number of the items even made me chuckle with evil humor.

This is very nice. I'm glad OG&M will be addressing this. And I'm especially glad it's "toned down" as compared to 3.5 - I personally think (and it's just my opinion) that too much power might unbalance the class.

And welcome to the Crusade, Kris!
_________________
LD's C&C creations - the witch, a half-ogre, skill and 0-level rules

Troll Lord wrote:
Lord D: you understand where I"m coming from.

anonymous · Post by **anonymous** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 9:14 pm

Ah, but why must Clerics be priests...?

Kaiser_Kris · Post by **Kaiser_Kris** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 10:21 pm

Tenser's Floating Disk wrote:
Ah, but why must Clerics be priests...?

That's a very good point. Specifically, of course, they don't need to be. I imagine a lot of Clerics actually have a role much more like a friar anyway. There could also, be Clerics that aren't even officially aligned with a church (although they are rare).

But in the context of this world, *most* Clerics (90-95%) have taken some sort of holy orders from an established Church. Probably two-thirds as priests, semi-attached to a particular area and the rest as charged with doing the will of their diety on a slightly more free-range basis.

Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 11:31 pm

Tenser's Floating Disk wrote:
Ah, but why must Clerics be priests...?

Well if you use "Of Gods and Monsters" you don't have to necessarily be a priest to get boons from your deity. Most don't give them, but some will give "gifts" to devout worshippers too.
_________________
The Ruby Lord, Earl of the Society

Next Con I am attending: http://www.neoncon.com/

My House Rules: http://www.freeyabb.com/phpbb/viewtopic ... llordgames

Lord Dynel · Post by **Lord Dynel** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 11:54 pm

Treebore wrote:
Well if you use "Of Gods and Monsters" you don't have to necessarily be a priest to get boons from your deity. Most don't give them, but some will give "gifts" to devout worshippers too.

Which sounds pretty kick-ass to me.
_________________
LD's C&C creations - the witch, a half-ogre, skill and 0-level rules

Troll Lord wrote:
Lord D: you understand where I"m coming from.

CharlieRock · Post by **CharlieRock** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 12:27 am

Tenser's Floating Disk wrote:
Ah, but why must Clerics be priests...?

Isnt that what "cleric" means?
_________________
The Rock says ...

Know your roll!

Lord Dynel · Post by **Lord Dynel** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 8:04 am

CharlieRock wrote:
Isnt that what "cleric" means?

See, I wasn't going to ask...

_________________
LD's C&C creations - the witch, a half-ogre, skill and 0-level rules

Troll Lord wrote:
Lord D: you understand where I"m coming from.

Kaiser_Kris · Post by **Kaiser_Kris** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 8:21 am

CharlieRock wrote:
Isnt that what "cleric" means?

More or less, yeah. But I don't necessarily think that every 'cleric' in the RPG sense necessarily is a member of an official religious hierarchy. Most, most definitely, are. Partly because chaotic gods would probably have a looser or perhaps no real organization to begin with.

I remember distinctly playing a cleric of a fire religion that he may actually have made up himself, because he was actually kind of insane, who was always trying to get random crowds of people to acknowledge his worship of the great mysterious Lord of Fire. Good times.

csperkins1970 · Post by **csperkins1970** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 11:41 am

Treebore wrote:
Another version to look at is CSPerkins AD&D 3E. Hopefully someone can come along and give you his website link, I lost mine when my comp crashed a few weeks ago.

Speak of the devil and he doth appear!
Here's the link to my C&C page: C&C

The file that has cleric domains is Unearthed Arcana
_________________
http://www.angelfire.com/rpg2/dnd3e/cnc.htm

anonymous · Post by **anonymous** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 2:34 pm

CharlieRock wrote:
Isnt that what "cleric" means?

There's not necessarily a correlation between the name of the character class and the dictionary definition. The word "druid" doesn't mean an amoral eco-warrior, after all. It's become the norm that the characters go to a temple and find therein members of the clergy who always have the Cleric character class. This is unique to Clerics, too - you don't expect that every guard at the castle gate will have levels in Fighter or that when you meet a poacher in the woods, he'll always be a Ranger. If you look on Clerics as a rare breed of miracle workers, who may or may not be ordained clergy (if such exist at all) I think things go easier.