D&D General What would a deity feel when followers pray to it?

[Baldurs_Underdark]

In the D&D realms, what would a deity feel when its followers pray to it? Can it distinguish individual prayers? Does it gain extra power from each prayer (does prayer act as a fuel to its divine powers)?

I realize that a lot is not described in the books. Just looking to what you think.

Background: I need to understand the difference in how a deity would approach a PC with or without prayers - e.g. through commune, noting that this won't affect the outcome (i.e. game mechanics), only the flavoring. In our campaign, flavoring is quite important though.

 

[Tonguez]

I feel a strange prickling against the back of my neck, then can usually tune in on the right faith stream to pick up the prayer.

 

[Seramus]

Orgasmic Bliss. That's also why they are usually too distracted to reply, or vague when they do.

 

[Zardnaar]

Orgasmic Bliss. That's also why they are usually too distracted to reply, or vague when they do.

I wasn't gonna say it.

Maybe more comparable to a nice massage.

 

[ccs]

Probably annoyed by all the IM/Text alerts going off. Sets things to silent notification.
That's why so few ever get a reply.
Also what makes Clerics important. Their prayers are priority, so aren't silenced.

 

[MarkB]

It's very setting-dependent. Some have the God Needs Prayer Badly trope, others don't.

In some settings / religions, deities may have their angelic followers set up as a secretarial service, fielding 'calls' on their behalf, and only escalating those that require their personal attention.

 

[commandercrud]

Itchy.

 

[Oofta]

Prayers are like raindrops. You might notice the first one or two but after a while it's just raining.

 

[jasper]

In the D&D realms, what would a deity feel when its followers pray to it? Can it distinguish individual prayers? Does it gain extra power from each prayer (does prayer act as a fuel to its divine powers)?

...

It depends on the DM. Do prayers = batteries? So the more worshippers the more powerful gawd? Or gawds don't need worshippers but they are fun to have.
I go with fun to have. Yes it knows who is calling. No prayers are not fuel.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

My take would be god need belief and prayer, ceremonies, rituals, sacrifices and festivals are things that reinforce belief and bond communities of believers together. They are important but indirectly.