Question about Magic Holy Symbols

[Vanuslux]

This came up at my last session and while I've already made a ruling on it for the purposes of that situation, I'm curious how other people handle this since the PHB doesn't give a clear answer that I can find.

The question is when it comes to magic holy symbols, can it only be used in the service of the original deity it was dedicated to, or can it be rededicated to another deity?

 

[Yaezakura]

Unfortunately, there is no game rule that states as such.

Considering their nature, though, I think I'd have to rule that Holy Symbols of one deity will not function for Clerics/Paladins of another. But perhaps you could devise a way for a Holy Symbol to be converted--a Religion-based ritual that ends with the targeted Holy Symbol being purified and magically changing shape to match your own deity, but retaining all its powers.

 

[Mort_Q]

You can reconsecrate it to your deity.

 

[Skizac]

PHB page 56:

To grant its benefit to a divine character, a holy symbol
must represent the character’s patron deity or one of a
group of deities the character serves.

 

[thegrizz]

I actually had this same question come up and I ruled that a holy symbol dedicated to another god would not work for a number of reasons. First each holy symbol is a unique connection between the worshiper and their god. When this connection is severed by either death or theft than it makes little sense for the item to continue to function. However it would really suck to find a +5 holy symbol of face smashing and not be able to use it. So I do allow the item to be disenchanted and then remade into a new item.

The second problem that holy symbols present is that often they are made in the symbol of a specific diety, why would I as cleric wish to carry a symbol for a different diety anyway?

My take anyway.

 

[Arbitrary]

The DMG points out clearly that you are not supposed to include items that no one can use. As soon as you are getting away from the way you are assumed to award treasure it has unintended consequences. This is one of them. It isn't a huge deal really, but if you use a rules as written argument for why they cannot use an implement you've screwed up as you aren't using loot as written.

I thought really hard about it but I couldn't find a reason to punish Clerics and Paladins. Giving them the extra hurdle of having to either make their own implements or somehow find the correct ones didn't accomplish anything. They have no more character power than Wizards and Warlocks or classes that just care about magic weapons.

For the most part a generic, out of the PHB symbol, will mold itself to the spiritual inclination of the user. There will be exceptions of course but for now a focus is a focus is a focus.

 

[lukelightning]

I see all the deities as belonging to one overall pantheon, so perhaps there are generic holy symbols used by all the deities?

And perhaps the deities view holy symbols as a sort of "capture the flag" sort of thing. Bahamut <i>wants</i> you to take Bane's holy symbol and use it for good.

The ritual idea is the best though. 10 minutes, reconsecrate it, tah dah!

 

[deleteme123456]

I created a ritual for this purpose since I read a few threads suggesting the need for one, and wrote it up. Now if only I could find it. Apparently I can't find my own posts without being a paid user... the basic idea was a level 1 ritual that cost the normal amount to copy into your book but was free after that, or you could take it to a temple of your deity (or one of a compatible alignment: good/LG at either, evil/CE at either) and get it done for cheap, with the price going up the further away in alignment your deity or you was from the temple being used (for unaligned deities).

 

[MarkB]

If you want to make holy symbols as universal as weapons or other implements, here's a suggestion: Have the 'magic' part of the symbol be an inset piece, such as a gem. It contains the power, but is not fundamentally a part of the symbol, and is not dedicated to any particular deity. If you prize the gem loose from one holy symbol, and set it into place upon another, it confers its power onto the new symbol.

 

[Duelpersonality]

I'd just use the Enchant Magic Item ritual in the same manner as the armor resizing use to rededicate a holy symbol and change it's shape. It is essentially the same thing mechanically: taking a magic item and making it useful for a different character than it was originally intended for.