Cleric Adventuring Motivation

[Tonguez]

I take one of 4 routes with Cleric motivation

1. The Rebel - usually the above mentioned 'Crisis of Faith' or alternately a 'Divine Revelation' (ie a Angel has told him to go forth from the Church and seek a new path)

2. The Erudite - the Cleric is primarily a scholar interested in exploring ancient cultures and recovering relics for the glory of the god (Indian Jones Cleric of Pelor?)

3. The Friar - a wandering cleric who just happens to join up with a party for mutual assistance and is dragged into adventure as a result (think Friar Tuck of Robin Hood fame)

4. The Knight-Errant - the Cleric is actually a soldier who has been blessed by the god not a priest trained at arms. This soldier has the same motivations as a Paladin

 

[Maraxle]

Maybe the cleric is sent on a mission to find a long-lost artifact. The church has no idea where this artifact is located, if it still exists. However, early on it was made clear that this particular cleric is chosen or favored by the god. The church has sent the cleric out, with faith the the god will guide him to the artifact. There's no race against time, so he is instructed to follow whatever path appears before him. With utter faith in his god, the cleric sets out, knowing that his god will guide his direction. The first step along this path could be when said cleric ran into this adventuring party. Hopefully the DM will play along and make this meeting seem somehow significant...

 

[Bihor]

Remember, that the cleric is the hand of is god.

 

[Henry]

A cleric does not need to be hidebound to his church - for some reason, we seem to get this notion from the practices of certain Christian Denominations, and from the Islamic world. (Correct me if I am wrong, but I think mullahs also have a scholarly tradition, do they not?)

What about religions with less loosely-structured churches? What about the pagan priests of long ago, who used to live and work alongside those they taught? What about modern-day lay preachers, who have professions besides that of being teachers? Not all priests devote 100% of their time to their God's work, and are supported by their followers. Even the first Century patriarchs of the Christian church had day jobs. Some would be REQUIRED by their god to make their own way in the world, as well as living by example before others.

As Jollyninja said, the cleric who lives by example, and who does good just for its sake, becomes a role model to others. A role model is not one who proseletyzes (sp?) the virutes of their religion 24-7, but one who goes out, makes a difference, and if they are asked, then they teach.

In this instance, as long as nothing about their "day job" prohibits the cleric from carrying out their god's will (A cleric of Tyr being a con-artist, for example), then their church should not have much to say about said cleric's adventuring.

 

[Deedlit]

Either to reaffirm faith by witnessing what the deity favors at it's best(Think Priest Hobb), or maybe the religion is forgotten, and the cleric wants to bringing it back(Think Goldmoon)

 

[Valmur_Dwur]

I think your making your clerics way too important Think of it this way(works for monks too); the church doesn't want you around! After all even the largest churches only have so many resources for themselves. And since they want to convert as many followers as possible they need to use less so more can be sent out into the community. IMHO the ones the church leaves behind are the old, the charismatic, and the low wisdom ones. The old since they are not going to be able to activly search out the doctrines of the church's dogma. The charismatic because of the fine flowery speeches and the posterity the church gets(think hollywood movie premire). And finally the ones who sometimes don't think as they should and do those things that can harm the religous followers of the church. By keeping them at arm's length they minamize the damage and the one's so held are productive in providing the materials sent out into the community thereby making them productive Any other clerics are sent out to establish a foothold in an area that doesn't have a place of worship to that god. In 1e they talked of setting up shrines as a way to get xp. Can do the same here in a way that increases the following of that god escpecially if the shrine is attended to once in a while (probably at least once a month) Here is your hook then the cleric is out going to these established shrines to talk to the layfolk about the mission of the church and any new news or important info. The adventuring cleric is tto set up shrines in areas not covered and report back the location so others can include it in their travels. IMC shrines cost about 200gp to set up. Should be pocket change for a 3rd lvl cleric. Just my idea YMMV

 

[radferth]

A lot depends on how you have churches set up in your world. Many sources (and my own campaign) contend that folks with the Cleric class are only a part of the clergy, with many folks in the church heirarchy made up of other classes like adept, expert, etc. Of course most modules and other detailed write-ups of individual temples show exactly the opposite, with everyone down to the night janitor having some level in cleric. In the former case, clerics are necessarily the ones running the church, so it makes more sense for some to adventure (perhaps they were called by their deities). In either case, one background that works is having the character be and apostate, being a loyal to his or her deity, but having some belief that renders him unfit in the eyes of the church. Such a cleric could have many reasons for adventuring, and the church would probably feel that the adventuring was a win-win proposition. Keeps the cleric out of theological debates, and maybe gets him killed in the line of duty.

 

[Orco42]

My girl friend plays a preistess of Sharess. She adventures to spread the word of her goddess, and start brothe.... er I mean temples.

 

[Wicht]

My own campaign (follow the sig link for the storyhour) is currently focused on a group adventuring basically at the behest of a church. Religion, played right, can be a powerful reason to get out and do... something.

 

[MeepoTheMighty]

My girl friend plays a preistess of Sharess. She adventures to spread the word of her goddess, and start brothe.... er I mean temples.

My friend's girlfriend joined a campaign I was running and after I sat down with her and explained the game for a while, she decided she wanted to be a cleric. After flipping through the FRCS, she decided to be a cleric of Sune...

First game session she played in, she tried seducing some guy...

"What do you mean he resists me? I have an 18 charisma and I'm a GODDESS!"

I don't think she got the whole cleric idea