cleric switching god

[MoonZar]

BTW thanks you for insulting my opinion

Any time. Just keep up your overly hostile attitude towards players.

So you'll insult me everytime you don't agree with my opinion ? Just because i proposed a punishment for the cleric, i deserve some kind of insult because you don't agree ? My idea are not ridiculous, this simply a different view of the situation.

I don't think i'm hostile to the players i just have a different opinion about what is to be a priest and what this mean to quit. But i don't think you want to know more about my explanation.

I got you point, next time maybe i should just shut up and i won't be insulted. I was just trying to help with new idea.

Thanks you for your kind attitude,

 

[Hypersmurf]

Okay, kids, let's knock it off with the personal comments.

-Hyp.
(Moderator)

 

[Kae'Yoss]

So you'll insult me

As you so eloquently put it:

Don't say thing i didn't

I did not insult you...

everytime you don't agree with my opinion ?

...I ridiculed your methods for giving players a really hard time.

Just because i proposed a punishment for the cleric, i deserve some kind of insult because you don't agree ?

You did not "just" propose a punishment. You proposed to totally screw over the cleric.

My idea are not ridiculous, this simply a different view of the situation.

Let me see: You said he should lose a level and be totally unable to get any additional experience points, just becaused he turned his back on his god after he felt the god did the same to him. And then you said the clergy should hunt him down for that. All that bearing in mind that we're talking about a neutral good Deity known for his benevolence.

I don't think i'm hostile to the players i just have a different opinion about what is to be a priest and what this mean to quit. But i don't think you want to know more about my explanation.

No really, do explain. I'm curious what you'd call "hostile" if not that. Let me guess: A hostile and vengeful deity (let's say, Cyric), would capture the renegade cleric and then force him to watch as he slowly tortures his family to death, followed by all his friends, then acquaintances, and everyone who has ever seen him or spoken to him, and then do the same about those who have ever seen or spoken to any of his family members or close friends. All in a horrible manner. Then, he would torture said cleric to death, resurrect him, and start over. Several times per day. For the rest of eternity and beyond.

I got you point, next time maybe i should just shut up and i won't be insulted. I was just trying to help with new idea.

If all your ideas are along these lines (capital punishment for trivial transgressions), I'd be glad if you did exactly that.

 

[smootrk]

My particular house rule when it comes to Clerics switching Deities:

1. the cleric loses all previous divine poweres immediately
2. the cleric keeps physical stats ( BAB, Saves, etc.) but becomes effectively a first level cleric of the new deity with regard to divine granted abilities (spells, special abilities, etc.).
3. as the newly ordained cleric gains additional levels, his physical stats (BAB, Saves, etc.) go up as normal for a cleric, but his effective divine abilities go up as if he has gained 2 levels until his effective level equals his actual clerical level.

Reasoning for this method: Turning his back on his current Deity should have severe consequences (loss of divine granted abilities). But, as the Cleric does have previous experience with clerical functions, prayers, and methods of ministering to the faithful, so it is easier for him/her to catch up in his advancement.

As to role-play aspects of revenge and retribution, that would depend on the Deity choices themselves, and would be hard to pre-judge what ramifications would come about.

It seems a relatively fair way to deal with turning your back on a deity and espousing the ideals of another.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Jeez, Kae'Yoss - who whizzed in your Cheerios this morning?

 

[IcyCool]

As you so eloquently put it:

Wow Hyp, I think you just got completely ignored.

 

[MoonZar]

Okay, kids, let's knock it off with the personal comments.

-Hyp.
(Moderator)

Hello,

I apologize if i offended the peace of the forum, i was just trying to give my opinion on the question of this topic. I truly didn't intend to provoque this kind of chaos.

I'm terribly sorry to everybody... :\

 

[Lord Pendragon]

My particular house rule when it comes to Clerics switching Deities:

1. the cleric loses all previous divine poweres immediately
2. the cleric keeps physical stats ( BAB, Saves, etc.) but becomes effectively a first level cleric of the new deity with regard to divine granted abilities (spells, special abilities, etc.).
3. as the newly ordained cleric gains additional levels, his physical stats (BAB, Saves, etc.) go up as normal for a cleric, but his effective divine abilities go up as if he has gained 2 levels until his effective level equals his actual clerical level.

So say I'm a 12th-level cleric, and I figure that a great story arc for my character would be for him to lose faith in his current god, only to find a place in another god's flock. He loses all his spells and domain powers, and is treated as a 1st-level cleric with a 12th-level BAB, then at 13th-level he is treated as a 3rd-level cleric with a 13th-level cleric's BAB, etc. etc.?

I must say, I would never attempt any sort of character story arc in one of your games, then. Such a severe penalty would almost certainly get me killed. And even if it didn't, it'd make me useless to the rest of my party, who'd hardly be glad that I'd chosen to RP at the expense of their health...!

While as a paladin player it's refreshing to see another class being reamed for what should be an entirely RP development, I still can't imagine playing in games with such harsh restrictions for player initiative that can only serve to make the game more interesting for all.

 

[Hypersmurf]

I apologize if i offended the peace of the forum...

You're not the one I'm glaring at right now.

KaeYoss - if you could express your views in a less confrontational fashion, I'd appreciate it.

-Hyp.
(Moderator)

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Jeez, Kae'Yoss - who whizzed in your Cheerios this morning?

The guy who introduced the Spanish Inquisition into D&D.

Wow Hyp, I think you just got completely ignored.

I didn't ignore him, he posted that while I was writing.

And I really hate it when people do the very thing they just accused other people of doing.

1. the cleric loses all previous divine poweres immediately

Which is logical, until he gets a new patron.

2. the cleric keeps physical stats ( BAB, Saves, etc.) but becomes effectively a first level cleric of the new deity with regard to divine granted abilities (spells, special abilities, etc.).
3. as the newly ordained cleric gains additional levels, his physical stats (BAB, Saves, etc.) go up as normal for a cleric, but his effective divine abilities go up as if he has gained 2 levels until his effective level equals his actual clerical level.

Reasoning for this method: Turning his back on his current Deity should have severe consequences (loss of divine granted abilities). But, as the Cleric does have previous experience with clerical functions, prayers, and methods of ministering to the faithful, so it is easier for him/her to catch up in his advancement.

You know, this can practically turn the cleric into a warrior. I think that is too severe, especially if the change was justified. It may take months or even years for the cleric to catch up, if he ever will. Some might relish the challenge of playing a character that is much weaker than the rest of the party, but it's not for everyone (not for me, for example).

My take on divine power: The amount of magical power a deity bestows upon his or her clerics has nothing to do with the power of the deity (or clerics of demigods would have access to lower-level magic only while clerics of panthon chiefs would be the only ones to receive the highest spell levles). In fact, granting spells uses up only a very small amount of the deitie's power (this is stated in Deities and Demigods). Instead, the amount of power depends on the clerics piety and experience, his personal power and ability to channel spells. So the god could grant level 9 magic to a first level priestess, but it would rip her apart.

So once the excleric of god A has found his new god B, and has received his atonement from a member of B's clergy, he'll be at his old power level, for he has the personal power to do so, and the experience to handle it, and his piety has probably been restored (he didn't turn atheist, he just had serious issues with his old deity. It's probable that he doesn't have said issues with his new deity).

This isn't only fairer to the player, it also makes more sense for the deity. He wouldn't want to waste the resource a high-level cleric represents. Actually, we could be talking about a fallen cleric that has been seduced by a dark power, and said dark power will probably have done so because of said clerical power.

As to role-play aspects of revenge and retribution, that would depend on the Deity choices themselves, and would be hard to pre-judge what ramifications would come about.

I agree: It depends on the deities involved, as well as the circumstances of this change of heart.