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<blockquote data-quote="Allegro" data-source="post: 5159720" data-attributes="member: 38814">Perhaps you could explain clerics with a gambling analogy.&nbsp; Slot machines are more addictive because they have a variable payout.&nbsp; If a slot machine paid out 90 silver on every gold who would play them?&nbsp; The slot machine is addicting because people remember the big score rather than the slow constant drain.&nbsp; If every prayer was answered you'd only get one prayer for each problem.&nbsp; Now, if it requires a variable amount of prayer before a miracle that nets the deity more prayers for the same number of miracles.&nbsp; Consider instead of directly answering each miracle directly, a deity deputize some agents (clerics) to distribute the miracles.&nbsp; Think of the word-of-mouth buzz that would be generated by knowing 2 counties over the abbot is curing the faithful.&nbsp; For minor injuries a peasant would not bother traveling, but would be comforted without the deity performing any direct service to the peasant knowing healing was available 2 counties over.&nbsp; The deity gets a free ride in many cases this way.&nbsp; Alternatively alchemy takes the place of divine healing.&nbsp; Each player can pick up the alchemy skill if they want to be a mini-cleric.&nbsp; Refer to the gods in games as &quot;Absent Gods&quot; to explain the lack of deities.&nbsp; True miracles like reattaching limbs or raising the dead would likely be out of reach.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Allegro, post: 5159720, member: 38814"] Perhaps you could explain clerics with a gambling analogy. Slot machines are more addictive because they have a variable payout. If a slot machine paid out 90 silver on every gold who would play them? The slot machine is addicting because people remember the big score rather than the slow constant drain. If every prayer was answered you'd only get one prayer for each problem. Now, if it requires a variable amount of prayer before a miracle that nets the deity more prayers for the same number of miracles. Consider instead of directly answering each miracle directly, a deity deputize some agents (clerics) to distribute the miracles. Think of the word-of-mouth buzz that would be generated by knowing 2 counties over the abbot is curing the faithful. For minor injuries a peasant would not bother traveling, but would be comforted without the deity performing any direct service to the peasant knowing healing was available 2 counties over. The deity gets a free ride in many cases this way. Alternatively alchemy takes the place of divine healing. Each player can pick up the alchemy skill if they want to be a mini-cleric. Refer to the gods in games as "Absent Gods" to explain the lack of deities. True miracles like reattaching limbs or raising the dead would likely be out of reach. [/QUOTE]

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