New Design: Wizards...

[F4NBOY]

And your DM is going to say "I don't even know what the valid domains ARE, yet alone what they're supposed to do in this edition!"

Then I'll say: "The only possible logical explanation for that is that domains do not exist anymore, they are called cleric powers, and each kind of power is linked to a "divine element" such as good, lawful, healing, sun, death etc. Tell me the portfolio from the gods of your campagin and I'll get the powers that fit that concept."

Trust me, cleric power WILL be in the PHB and not in the DMG

 

[Lonely Tylenol]

And your DM is going to say "I don't even know what the valid domains ARE, yet alone what they're supposed to do in this edition!"

And he'll say, "Well, you'd better read the PHB then, where all the information related to character generation, including the abilities of divine spellcasters, is contained. Actually, if you haven't read that, why are you the DM?"

Aww...he beat me to it...

 

[Rechan]

So?
It's not as though someone could "have at it" to any great effect.

Because many domain selections are limited. "Only x god of the whole pantheon has that domain", limiting very powerful combos.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

Because many domain selections are limited. "Only x god of the whole pantheon has that domain", limiting very powerful combos.

Not by the rules as written, as I pointed out above. "Just choosing any two domains" is a valid choice, it's just been overlooked since... forever.

 

[Rechan]

Not by the rules as written, as I pointed out above. "Just choosing any two domains" is a valid choice, it's just been overlooked since... forever.

And as I said, I would be distrustful of just nabbing two unrelated domains for the potential of grabbing two powerful domains.

I'm aware the option exists, just that I think it can easily be abused.

 

[FireLance]

And as I said, I would be distrustful of just nabbing two unrelated domains for the potential of grabbing two powerful domains.

I'm aware the option exists, just that I think it can easily be abused.

While complete balance is probably impossible to achieve, reducing the differential between the most and least powerful domains will go some way towards limiting the abuse.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

I'm aware the option exists, just that I think it can easily be abused.

Seems a pretty big "abuse" loophole for the designers to have left it in the game, even through the 3.5 revision.

I don't think it's particularly abusable except in comparison to the assumed "default," or unless "choice" instantly equates to "abuse" in the minds of some DMs.

I'm certainly not sure why War and Magic would qualify as "abuse" in the hands of anyone other than an elven cleric of Corellan, for example.

 

[Cadfan]

No. I'm gonna ask my DM: "Hey DM dude, what are the names of the gods from your setting, and what are their domains?"

And I'm going to reply, "Umm, creating a bunch of deities that probably won't ever get used was such a low priority for me that I never got around to it. Why don't you just make one up?"

 

[Lonely Tylenol]

And I'm going to reply, "Umm, creating a bunch of deities that probably won't ever get used was such a low priority for me that I never got around to it. Why don't you just make one up?"

I would hope that my DM had more interest in his own homebrew than this.

 

[Just Another User]

What I'm saying is that it's possible that the precise combinations of effects that make up, say, the Serpent's Eye Tradition may well be simple examples, just like the combination of the Evil, Death, and Strength domains are granted by the great god Boojie.

Yeah, about those "I hope traditions are the equivalent of domains" comments that are running around in this thread, I hope not, because to be blunt, domains as a way to personalize gods and religons sucks.
I hope (but, to be honest, doubt it) that they will come out with something better for 4D!.