D&D 5E 5e - domains and specialty priests

[FormerlyHemlock]

I've always loved the specialty priest concept from 2e, particularly its restrictions and customization that allowed a priest to feel more connected to their dogma. I see alot of potential in the domain system to recreate that feel, though I'm feeling a bit limited by the borader choices. For those familiar with alot of 5e playing/dming under their belt, do you think domains, as constituted, if created for each god in a pantheon could recreate the specialty priest experience?

No. 2nd edition priestly spheres are far more powerful as a customization tool than 5E domains. Two spells per level does not compare to a whole sphere's worth of access to Mathematics, or Mind, or Creation, or War, or whatever. 5E priests are pretty samey compared to 2nd edition specialty priests, and I don't think you can get around that fact without radically revamping the rules for clerics and basically re-inventing priestly spheres.

I'd consider actually doing so, except that I hate clerics, so am just as glad to have them absent from the game in favor of druids, bards, and wizards.

 

[Irennan]

I think that deity-specific domains are the way to go for recreating speciality priests. A speciality priest kit basically consists of some themed (or unique) spells that fit the flavor of the deity, and of a number of special iconic skills, which is what a domain provides. I've seen some people trying to recreate that through feats, but a single one is too little to recreate all the features IMO, and doesn't provide the variety of spells that most speciality priests bring.

Perhaps a PrC could work (in 3e some speciality priests were made into PrCs), but I personally no longer think that it is necessary. A domain worked rather well for me, when I tried to recreate the Sword Dancer of Eilistraee in 5e--if you want to check it, I've uploaded it (completely free) on the DMGuild.

 

[Curmudjinn]

I want to see write-up for all of the specialty priests from 2nd edition's Faiths & Pantheon's for the Forgotten Realms. I absolutely loved flipping through the deities just to see their priests.