Core Religions in Actual Play

[Glyfair]

I'm surprised Fharlanghn has so few votes. His clerics are the archetype of the wandering cleric. It's perfect for most adventurers in flavor. He's been one of my favorite gods since the early 80's with The Dragon articles and the Greyhawk campaign setting.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

But why do Fharlanghn's clerics wander? Most deities don't have a problem with their clerics wandering, so there's no incentive to worship Fharlanghn.

 

[CanadienneBacon]

I've seen every deity on that list played in the games I've DMed either at the table or online. As I went down the list in the poll, I was kind of surprised by that, but there you go.

Me personally, I have played PCs who were fairly devout worshippers of: Heironeous, Moradin, Kord, Boccob, Olidammara, and Gruumsh.

Pelor is the one I've seen appear the least at tabletop games. Though, from looking at the poll results thus far, Pelor looks to be in the lead. It's been a little while since we last gamed in Greyhawk, but I sort of remember Kord being the favorite deity to take, especially for a cleric.

 

[Sejs]

But why do Fharlanghn's clerics wander? Most deities don't have a problem with their clerics wandering, so there's no incentive to worship Fharlanghn.

That's it in a nutshell. Most deities don't have a problem with it, but for worshipers of Fharlanghn it's a sacred undertaking. It's not something you might do and that's okay if it's your deal - it's something you DO and it's okay if its something that maybe you don't.

 

[seans23]

If we were counting NPC's, I'd vote for Tharizdun 333 times.
Otherwise, just clerics of Moradin and Fharlanghn.

 

[Glyfair]

But why do Fharlanghn's clerics wander? Most deities don't have a problem with their clerics wandering, so there's no incentive to worship Fharlanghn.

It could be my Glorantha/Runequest background showing, but maybe's that's the problem. Many of these deities should have problem's with their cleric's wandering (at least as much as they do). Moradin comes to mind as one whose cleric's should feel a mythical duty to stay in their home caverns and tend to the faithful, except when invaded.

 

[mhacdebhandia]

I've never played in a campaign that used the core deities.

 

[the shmoopie]

It has been a while since playing a game with these gods in it. But I remember a cleric to Kord or Pelor in most of them. I have played both, as well as worshippers of Wee Jas, Baccob, Moradin, Garl, and Yondalla. However, Pelor is always because of meta-gaming, to get access to the heal domain.

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

I've never played in a campaign with only the Core deities. I have played in Greyhawk with cleric/holy warrior characters of Trithereon (holy liberator), Joramy (female barbarian/cleric), Llerg (male barbarian/cleric), and Pholtus (paladin).

So I guess I'd be a None/Other vote...

 

[NiTessine]

Well, among my Living Greyhawk characters, there's a wizard 6/divine oracle of Boccob 3, and a scout 3/ranger 1 who follows Wee Jas...

The scout is fun to roleplay. Apart from being a fervent believer in a goddess of death, magic, law, and love, he is also a Suel racial supremacist and a former Scarlet Brotherhood soldier. He detests slavery, however, and keeps his prejudices in check, for the most part. Except when dealing with the Bakluni, who are dogs unworthy of breathing the same air as Dar.

There's an amusing anecdote involving Dar, our other local follower of Wee Jas, Tular, and our local cleric of Pelor, Raziel.

There was a module called "Mad God's Key" in a Dungeon a couple of years ago. It is a fine, fine module, and it could be played in Living Greyhawk, with a 1st-level character. Among the possible rewards was a blessing of Wee Jas that, for one month from the date of playing the adventure, would automatically stabilise you if you were to fall below 0 hp.

Well, Raziel played it and gained the blessing. Following that game was a rather intense period of gaming for us, and during that time, Raziel fell unconscious at least once every module, sometimes several times. The blessing must've stopped his bleeding a dozen times or more. Thus, now when Dar, Tular and Raziel find themselves adventuring together, Dar and Tular keep whispering between themselves "Yes, he is blessed by our Stern Mistress." "He is worthy of respect." and casting meaningful glances at the Pelorite. He hates it.