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<blockquote data-quote="woodelf" data-source="post: 4319156" data-attributes="member: 10201">In tradition, both fictional and historical, the primary strength/power of religious folks is social influence. Even in some fiction where the devoutly religious also have mystical power, their social/political influence is often as or more significant. What Friar Tuck brought to the group was his ability to persuade, and bluff, and so on. Now, in his particular case, he also was pretty good with a staff and a sword, IIRC. But, in the more general case, what the Western monk/priest/etc. archetype brings to the group is the sorts of abilities that D&amp;D4E is mostly giving to 'leader' classes. That's if you don't mind them being a bit more militant than the actual source materials--which, for D&amp;D4E, is probably appropriate. Personally, i'd prefer to have someone whose role when the violence starts is *precisely* to cower in the corner--but who has sufficient other strengths to balance this weakness out. I have no interest in the combats (and don't mind mostly sitting out when they occur)--i like playing skillmonkeys, or information-gatherers, or social/influence characters. But i just don't see D&amp;D4E having any classes that aren't combat-centric. Which is a large part of why i don't see myself ever playing it, beyond a couple sessions to get a feel for it and make sure i'm not misjudging.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="woodelf, post: 4319156, member: 10201"] In tradition, both fictional and historical, the primary strength/power of religious folks is social influence. Even in some fiction where the devoutly religious also have mystical power, their social/political influence is often as or more significant. What Friar Tuck brought to the group was his ability to persuade, and bluff, and so on. Now, in his particular case, he also was pretty good with a staff and a sword, IIRC. But, in the more general case, what the Western monk/priest/etc. archetype brings to the group is the sorts of abilities that D&D4E is mostly giving to 'leader' classes. That's if you don't mind them being a bit more militant than the actual source materials--which, for D&D4E, is probably appropriate. Personally, i'd prefer to have someone whose role when the violence starts is *precisely* to cower in the corner--but who has sufficient other strengths to balance this weakness out. I have no interest in the combats (and don't mind mostly sitting out when they occur)--i like playing skillmonkeys, or information-gatherers, or social/influence characters. But i just don't see D&D4E having any classes that aren't combat-centric. Which is a large part of why i don't see myself ever playing it, beyond a couple sessions to get a feel for it and make sure i'm not misjudging. [/QUOTE]

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