D&D 5E Everybody's got to have a Patron deity. Where did it come from?

[The Crimson Binome]

There is literally nothing in the 5E books to support the OP's persecution complex, and talking about a field that was on another edition's character sheet (and also fully optional, mind you) is just bizarre.

When talking about the origin of a concept, it necessitates referring to outside sources. The OP wasn't asking where the concept derived from within 5E, because most of the ideas in 5E did not originate with it.

 

[Arilyn]

That may be, but as you stated, Golarion isn't open. And are they the complete ruleset? Because as long as what you're publishing is generic, FR, or Ravenloft, you have access to the entire ruleset for DMsGuild.

All these games are completely open and you can publish your work wherever you want. All rules are available. Paizo has all their hardcover books on line for free as system reference documents, except as I mentioned Golarion.

 

[Ilbranteloth]

That's the point. What sheet are you looking at?

Patron Diety isn't on any official 5E character sheets.

Why are you bringing it up?

There is literally nothing in the 5E books to support the OP's persecution complex, and talking about a field that was on another edition's character sheet (and also fully optional, mind you) is just bizarre.

Because the original question was about when D&D started recommending or requiring a patron saint for every class. This really has nothing to do with 5e (other than the tangents...).

 

[Emerikol]

In some editions, there's a spot for it on your character sheet. If you weren't supposed to fill in something, then it wouldn't be there.

I don't agree that a character sheet spot indicates it's required. It's an option you can choose but not that it's required.

 

[schnee]

Because the original question was about when D&D started recommending or requiring a patron saint for every class. This really has nothing to do with 5e (other than the tangents...).

Yeah, I'm being rhetorical.

Just because there was a space on the sheet - because it was a useful thing to include for some classes - in absolutely no way implies that everyone should have one or the game demands it in any way.

The AD&D character sheets had a space for 'Helmet'. Does that imply that every class is presumed to have one?

(Rhetorical answer: Nope.)

At the risk of getting political, if this was about anything other than 'Diety' there would be no problem. But, having grown up in an extremely religious place, I've seen this line of argument before - and it's the old 'D&D is Satanic' thing in another guise.

When someone is sensitive, confused, or vulnerable about their own faith, this game can be incredibly triggering. I've seen it myself, in a friend who was a fundamentalist Christian who was young and conflicted for various reasons.

I came across a bit crass before, but really feel bad for the OP, because the idea that this game would be oppressive means there's a lot more going on there that should be answered somewhere outside the game. I don't think this thread will really answer what he/she needs. I do wish them well, but this whole thing isn't really productive.

 

[Chaosmancer]

One thing I feel necessary to point out.

The OP is [MENTION=6689464]MoonSong[/MENTION] and I do not know if she has any strong feelings about the way the Divine is presented in DnD

She did however see the discussion with [MENTION=58172]Yaarel[/MENTION] which prompted her to create this thread and ask where the origin of this idea came from within DnD.


I get the feeling a lot of people are confusing the two and think Yaarel created this thread, he did not.

 

[MoonSong]

Yeah, I'm being rhetorical.

Just because there was a space on the sheet - because it was a useful thing to include for some classes - in absolutely no way implies that everyone should have one or the game demands it in any way.

The AD&D character sheets had a space for 'Helmet'. Does that imply that every class is presumed to have one?

(Rhetorical answer: Nope.)

At the risk of getting political, if this was about anything other than 'Diety' there would be no problem. But, having grown up in an extremely religious place, I've seen this line of argument before - and it's the old 'D&D is Satanic' thing in another guise.

When someone is sensitive, confused, or vulnerable about their own faith, this game can be incredibly triggering. I've seen it myself, in a friend who was a fundamentalist Christian who was young and conflicted for various reasons.

I came across a bit crass before, but really feel bad for the OP, because the idea that this game would be oppressive means there's a lot more going on there that should be answered somewhere outside the game. I don't think this thread will really answer what he/she needs. I do wish them well, but this whole thing isn't really productive.

mmm. I'm the OP, I know I'm a nitpicky drama queen and all, but note that this time it isn't me. I don't have a problem with polytheism in game, actually the opposite, it's a game, it's trivial, I wouldn't insert something I consider important in a game. My problem is the way the Realms handle it, but I can live with it. I'll just write "Wall fodder" on every present and future PC ñ_ñ.

 

[KahlessNestor]

I'm actually kind of annoyed there ISN'T a space on the 5e character sheet. I like all my characters to have a faith (how devout varies). But unless I play a cleric, I often forget now.

Sent from my SM-G900P using EN World mobile app

 

[Yaarel]

Really, any cultural, philosophical, spiritual, or religious ideal belongs with the Background, as part of the Ideal, along with the Quirk, Bond, and Flaw.

Possibly, the Background section could add a ‘World View’ space to specifically call attention to a cultural or religious view.

 

[LordEntrails]

.... My problem is the way the Realms handle it, but I can live with it...

This, the mythos behind deities, is one of the reasons I don't care much for the Realms. I get it, that in order to proceed to a meaningful (?) afterlife you have to be faithful to some god. And if you are not, then you are Faithless and get "stuck" in Kelemvor's realm.

(And of course, according to at least some of the fiction, you can't be resurrected until your spirit reaches the afterlife domain of your god, which takes an unspecified amount of time. Which of course is just one more "thing" that doesn't fit the RAW.)

But honestly, I don't care what happens to my character after they are dead. Unless of course they are going to come back as a ghost or be resurrected.

So, even though one of my groups is run in the the Realms (LMoP, PotA), we don't use Realms lore or any more of the Realms than the maps and the names of the gods.