Pimping your Holy Symbol

[Joker]

Thanks for ideas, I'll run 'em by my dm.

 

[frankthedm]

In my own game, Deities with the trickery domain allow their cleric to use double sided holy symbols. The false side of the symbol has to a parody recognizable by a Knowledge: Religion check. DC 20 [Normal], 22[masterwork].{+2 for your own faith, +2 more if you are a cleric].

Unless one is holding the symbol, one has use the lower of their spot or knowledge: religion modifiers to notice the parody.

 

[Lonely Tylenol]

Get two-way gloves with your holy symbol stitched on the inside (facing your palms), and the symbol of the deity you are using as a cover stitched on the outside (on the back of your hands).

No need for the second symbol, if you're not posing as a cleric of another deity. Arrange it so that when your hands are at your sides, the pentacle is right-side-up so they just look like a star design. But when you raise your hand with your fingers pointed up, suddenly you've got an inverted pentacle to gesture with.

This is also true if you are posing as another cleric. If anyone notices the pentacles on your palms, just hold out your hand like you were going to accept something from them and say, "what, you mean my stars? Those are for good luck."

 

[Li Shenron]

Do you need to show the holy symbol in full display? IIRC you just need to "manipulate" it to cast spells with DF.

So why can't you just keep the REAL symbol hidden in your pocket or under your clothes and touch it, perhaps while a fake symbol of another faith is hanging down your neck?

Or otherwise, just cast spells which don't require a Divine Focus

 

[irdeggman]

Do you need to show the holy symbol in full display? IIRC you just need to "manipulate" it to cast spells with DF.

So why can't you just keep the REAL symbol hidden in your pocket or under your clothes and touch it, perhaps while a fake symbol of another faith is hanging down your neck?

Or otherwise, just cast spells which don't require a Divine Focus

To affect undead you do (turn, rebuke, command).

You must "present" your holy symbol in those cases. I find it hard to interpret that use as anything other than showing it so they (undead) can "see" it.

 

[Li Shenron]

To affect undead you do (turn, rebuke, command).

You must "present" your holy symbol in those cases. I find it hard to interpret that use as anything other than showing it so they (undead) can "see" it.

Yes I think so too. Buy in that case you're going to have a much harder time trying to make believe you Turn/Destroy undead if instead you normally Rebuke/Command them. I think that he simply has to fake the attempt, and make it look like he is simply unlucky never to roll high enough.

 

[Joker]

I have already decided not to turn undead but instead using the attempts to fuel my Eldritch Disciple powers.

 

[Artoomis]

My ruling on Holy Symbols are based upon several things:

1. They are an item to be purchased in the PHB.
2. They are an important balancing factor for the power of clerics.
3. They are a symbol of faith that should be proudly displayed with vert, very few and extraordinary (even for adventureing clerics) exceptions.

With all that in mind, I require:

1. The actual holy symbol must be it's own item and not painted on a shield, tattooed, etc. It can have no other functionality other than as a holy symbol - unless you add magical properties to it.

2. It is, by its very nature, proudly an prominently displayed when used, though it may be tucked inside one's armor or shirt when not in actual use.

3. You cannot disguise it.

You may, of course, carry a spare or two (or more) for contigencies such as someone snatching it form you (using Disarm) or destroying it (using Sunder).

I think it is important to not allow one to do other things (holy symbol on a glove, or a shield, or whatever) as it is an important balancing factor for the high power of the cleric.