D&D 5E Death domain clerics CAN be LN. DMG suggests LN and Death Domain for Raven Queen

[Mephista]

Yeah, but wouldn't it make a far more interesting story to have a classical lawful good who somehow falls and sees his powers from the oath of devotion warped into that of the oathbreaker?

That depends. Oathbreaker is more than just a fallen paladin; its someone that turns their back on their oath to serve a vice-driven agenda of some kind. Its appropriate for someone that's so driven by thoughts of revenge that they'd lose their faith and turn their back on everything they once stood for in order to achieve their vengence. Or consumed by another desire (killing a man to take his wife is a historical classic, as is a paladin noble consumed by greed). People are driven to such deeds by greed (for money or power over others), love / lust (yes, you can become an Oathbreaker for the sake of cherished family), or anger. You need these kinds of driving motivations to become an Oathbreaker.

It makes no sense for someone who just slips up and makes mistakes to develop a power called Aura of Hate. Dreadful Aspect channels negative emotions in a burst of magical menance. This kind of thing isn't appropriate for people who aren't consumed by more selfish emotions. Someone that breaks a classic Oath of Devotion because they grew tired of fighting and gave up challenging evil is hardly appropriate for the Oathbreaker subclass.

 

[cbwjm]

That depends. Oathbreaker is more than just a fallen paladin; its someone that turns their back on their oath to serve a vice-driven agenda of some kind. Its appropriate for someone that's so driven by thoughts of revenge that they'd lose their faith and turn their back on everything they once stood for in order to achieve their vengence. Or consumed by another desire (killing a man to take his wife is a historical classic, as is a paladin noble consumed by greed). People are driven to such deeds by greed (for money or power over others), love / lust (yes, you can become an Oathbreaker for the sake of cherished family), or anger. You need these kinds of driving motivations to become an Oathbreaker.

It makes no sense for someone who just slips up and makes mistakes to develop a power called Aura of Hate. Dreadful Aspect channels negative emotions in a burst of magical menance. This kind of thing isn't appropriate for people who aren't consumed by more selfish emotions. Someone that breaks a classic Oath of Devotion because they grew tired of fighting and gave up challenging evil is hardly appropriate for the Oathbreaker subclass.

Maybe not in your game. I still think it would make for interesting story telling. The good paladin trying to restore the power of the light that once shone within him. Will he succeed or will he be consumed by the fall.

 

[Jester David]

I believe this is why they were considering making a Grave domain. Because the Death domain borders on evil, but not all gods of death and dying are capital-e Evil.

 

[Coroc]

Actually death domain (for a cleric of the underworld pantheon not for an evil cult or so) might as well be the truest of true neutral. Death is the big equalizer in the end.

 

[Mephista]

Maybe not in your game. I still think it would make for interesting story telling. The good paladin trying to restore the power of the light that once shone within him. Will he succeed or will he be consumed by the fall.

That's not really a compelling story for any game, either for a PC or NPC. Paladin powers are activated. Someone struggling to go back to the light... just won't use them because they're not appropriate. Its just not something that happens. Even auras can be willingly suppressed.

 

[cbwjm]

That's not really a compelling story for any game, either for a PC or NPC. Paladin powers are activated. Someone struggling to go back to the light... just won't use them because they're not appropriate. Its just not something that happens. Even auras can be willingly suppressed.

Well that's your opinion and, respectfully, I disagree.

 

[Mistwell]

People get the idea that they are for evil only because the DMG says they are for evil, "The Death Domain is an additional option for evil clerics.."

A Death Domain cleric would never be a worshiper of Kelemvor, he and his followers are vehemently opposed to undead yet one of the Death Domain spells is animate dead.

It doesn't say it's only for evil, it says it's another option for evil. Much like if it said the Magic domain is an additional option for evil clerics, that wouldn't make the Magic domain only for evil clerics.

 

[cbwjm]

I think the death domain cleric of Kelemvor would be a good time to look at the domain spells and then consider if you want to make any changes. For instance, perhaps replace animate dead with spirit guardians. They may not raise the dead but maybe they will from time to time call upon the spirits of the Fugue plane to defend them in times of need.

 

[OniDaimyo]

Those people are right... for their table.

At your table, you can use the material however you want. That's what having it in the DMG means

Actually they are wrong. Raven Queen is neutral and her clerics can be Death Domain. Same with Wee Jas and some other gods. And that is in the DMG too. So officially RAW? They are wrong.

 

[Ganymede81]

The Death Cleric is the subclass for a cleric focusing on murder, disease, pain and destruction. ...But if you're playing a subclass that's filled with killing magic and necrotic energy, that should be acknowledged as part of the character.

Be careful with this. The vast majority of the abilities of all PC classes are focused on being able to more efficiently murder something.