D&D 5E Any Advice on A Pantheon

[Zardnaar]

In my old age I am getting lazy when it comes to D&D with a tendency to use prepublshed adventures more. When I get to play the other DM usually lets us worship whatever deity we like form the back of the PHB from whatever Pantheon. If a god is very similar (Pelor/Lathendar) they are rtreated as the same god with a local dialect name.

I'm starting to think about what gods I actually like or want along with some of the 3pp domains I would allow. Some gods I just do not like the name of either because they are hard to pronounce or just sound silly (Wee Jas, Bane etc).

In general with a Pantheon I like having a god for every alignment along with gods for major portfolios- war, sun, moon, magic, seasons etc.

Here is the current list of gods I am using. There will be more+ the archfiends.

Bahumat
Desna
Eldath
Erathis
Mask
Melora
Mielikki
Nethys
Pelor
Raven Queen
Sune
Tiamat
Vanya
Vecna
Zehir

his pantheon is actually all from prepunlished settings. Its a mix of FR, Greyhawk, 4E, Pathfinder deities along with a Mystara immortal (Vanya). I liked the name Desna over Selune so went with that for example.

 

[MonkeezOnFire]

I've always enjoyed reading the history of the pantheon. Stories/myths of things the gods have done that affect the world can make a pantheon feel more active and powerful instead of just a group of faceless beings that sit back and grant spells to clerics while they just sit and watch. Stories about how the gods interacts with mortals will also inform customs and worship practices of the various gods which is a nice way to flesh out culture.

Basically don't just develop your pantheon in a vacuum. Incorporate your pantheon into your setting's history, cultures and even geography.

 

[Storyteller Hero]

Just a reminder that conflict is what makes a story interesting, so no matter what the number of gods or archfiends there are in your campaign, try to consider the opposing objectives pursued by each party and why there is opposition.

For example, a god of nature won't necessarily go out of its way to prevent the destruction of a city by hordes of demons if the demons only pursued something they wanted to steal from said city.

 

[Ed Laprade]

The thing that keeps me from bothering with religions in my games is the almost total lack of what they DO. Their rituals, holy days, etc. And I'm far too lazy to do all that work myself.

 

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[Zardnaar]

Dunno, man. You can have some fun with those.

Priest: "I beseech thee, oh god!"
God: "Yeah, I can help you. Whaddya want, puny mortal?"
Priest: "Oh, great Wee Jas, ca...."
God: "Woah. That's my little brother. I'm not Wee Jas, I'm Big Jas, hass."

Or you can respond to Bane's clerics with Tom Hardy's voice impersonations. Then they'd get, like, every third word. Good times!

I was always partial to the Deities and Demigods pantheons. Finnish are always fun.

Or you can go straight Cthulhu to mess with the PC's heads. "Are you sure you want to ask for assistance from Hastur the Unspeakable?"

I have decided to add in the Greek and Egyptian antheons. I have 1E and 3E Deities and Demigods + the Castles and Crusades Equivalent.

SO I think I will throw in the Roman gods as well as I already have a Rome equivalent.

 

[Mad_Jack]

Hmm, at first glance personally I might add Kord or someone similar to that list... There doesn't seem to be anyone espousing valor, bravery, war, etc., other than in a rather indirect fashion. Of course, someone like that could easily be a minor god or minion of one of the others.
On a wider note, I'm more of a fan of the Raven Queen/Morrigan as a Death god (or death/battle god) than Myrkul, Nerull or the others, unless there's an old-school Greek/Roman Hades-type option.

 

[Zardnaar]

Hmm, at first glance personally I might add Kord or someone similar to that list... There doesn't seem to be anyone espousing valor, bravery, war, etc., other than in a rather indirect fashion. Of course, someone like that could easily be a minor god or minion of one of the others.
On a wider note, I'm more of a fan of the Raven Queen/Morrigan as a Death god (or death/battle god) than Myrkul, Nerull or the others, unless there's an old-school Greek/Roman Hades-type option.

Good point forgot about her. I liked Myrkul over Kelemvor and Nerull.

Options for a war god? Tempus, Garagos someone else.

 

[Bupp]

I always liked Greyhawk's Heironious/Hextor take on war gods.

 

[Zardnaar]

I always liked Greyhawk's Heironious/Hextor take on war gods.

I don't like their names lol. Vanya is kind like Hextor but her priest hood is more LE and her Knights are one of the not nice NPCs.
Some sort of war/strength god would be good as I lack one. I need a more defined Pantheon as its going to become more relevant in my worldbuilding.