Clerics Power Source

[Byronic]

Now, I'm assuming that in DnD 3.x and previous editions Clerics got their powers from their deity, except if they got it from a "cause", some other Divine power source or something else. Also if you behaved too poorly your powers might be stripped away from you (usually by your deity)

However in 4.0 this is different. The Cleric does not get her powers directly from her deity, rather she gets them when she is ordained (usually by an experienced Cleric using a ritual). She can also never lose them, even if she flagrantly abused them. That means that if an unaligned Cleric of Pelor decided that Evil people have more fun and decides to burn down a few orphanages he will not and cannot be stripped by his powers (by the rules in the PHB). Of course he'll have a lot of very pissed off worshippers of Pelor after him but Pelor himself doesn't do anything.

What does everyone think of this? I know it's likely for "balance" and perhaps 4E design philosophy so I'm looking more for "fluff" related opinions then mechanical (although both are welcome).

And most of the above also counts for Paladins as well.

 

[Rechan]

You are correct that alignment has nothing to do with the mechanics. You the DM are welcome to anchor some to them, or give mechanical reprecussions for in-game alignment-breaking behaviors.

Of course he'll have a lot of very pissed off worshippers of Pelor after him but Pelor himself doesn't do anything.

Says who?

Pelor might send some angels to have a "talk" with this priest.

And really, if a Pelor priest decides to go rogue, burn down a church, and he's still getting Divine Mojo, he 1) isn't a priest of Pelor in my book, and 2) his power might be coming from somewhere else. Asmodeus might be granting his prayers since Asmodeus likes this guy's style.

 

[Mort_Q]

I would make the priest an Ur-Priest.... he is stealing his powers from Pelor by subverting the rites he learned. He can still do anything a true priest of Pelor can do by faking his devotion.

You could add some other simple flavor mechanics to that.

 

[JohnBiles]

Given that you must choose a diety compatible with your alignment, I don't find it unreasonable to say that if you change to an incompatible alignment, your powers stop working until you can get ordained by a church compatible with your new alignment.

Also, in previous editions, 1st and second level spells were powered by your own faith, not the diety.

 

[hong]

Or... your powers keep working, but unbeknownst to you, someone else is now powering you.

 

[Nifft]

Or... your powers keep working, but unbeknownst to you, someone else is now powering you.

I like this.

Morpheus: "Do you think that's Evil you're smiting?"

Cheers, -- N

 

[Cadfan]

What does everyone think of this? I know it's likely for "balance" and perhaps 4E design philosophy so I'm looking more for "fluff" related opinions then mechanical (although both are welcome).

I think its just to stop DMs from using revocation of a player's powers as a sort of moral censor. If a DM has a campaign in which a bunch of previous heroic characters have randomly decided to start burning down orphanages, his problem isn't game mechanics, its the real world question of why his players have decided to do this. It needs to be addressed in real life.

 

[Eldorian]

Or... your powers keep working, but unbeknownst to you, someone else is now powering you.

I once ran a game with an atheist wizard/cleric whose powers were granted by an evil god. The character himself was convinced there were no deities. The evil god was pretty sure the character might convince some good people to stop believing in good deities, while his cults would never listen.

 

[Byronic]

So I guess that for most people Clerics are going to be powered by something other then just a rite?

Well, it's nice to agree to agree for once.