A mistype. An epic five-minute work day is what I meant. Compressing the entire adventuring day into a single fight, 3-4x deadly, using the epic heroism optional rule. Short rest as a free action, no more than twice per long rest. Long rest takes 5 minutes. It would likely go sideways after level 10. But then 5E generally goes sideways after level 10.
In my game it's possible, but it's not going to be easy or likely, because if it's too easy, there's no real point to being a cleric. I usually make it a percentile roll and you need to roll 00. That can be modified by things such as having done the god/faith an important service, having the acolyte background(and roleplaying it), etc.
Yeah. Going sideways is the problem since my campaigns typically go into the mid teens to 20th level.
Yes, but at least it's a change of pace (if not overused). Plus you can do all sorts of fun stuff with herbs, having to figure out how to actually use the herb etc. And in world of magic, the line between mundane and magic herbs might be pretty blurred, depending on what they can do.
From what I've read about ancient Greek and Roman polytheism, you are right, but one's religious life went far beyond state ritual. I will, however, admit a modern bias in terms approaching fantasy polytheism based on my experiences with modern religions. Of course, we are talking about fantasy worlds and fantasy religions. Further, it is a game and there are mechanics in the game related to the practice of religion. A certain amount of simplification and hand waving is expected.
Yes. Except that the mechanics of divine magic in the game imply a more personal relationship with the god. I don't have an issue with the PC acting outside of a religious organization. I kinda think of most D&D cleric and paladin PCs -- well, really, most PCs of any class in the play I typically encounter--as being iconoclasts. As a DM, I generally let the player decide what their character's relationship with the divine and with religious organizations is and try to work that into the campaign.
Sure, if that is how the player wants to play it. In D&D, however, I typically see a world-building assumption that various ideals are within the domain of one or more gods. Would those gods grant you powers just for their devotion to the ideal and not a particular god--depends on the world building and play preferences of the table.
If it is mechanically backed into the game more players are likely to engage in it. It as a LONG time ago when I played Warhammer Fantasy, but if I remember correctly, the PCs could go pray / donate to a temple and get short term buffs. Can't remember if they were randomized or not, but I definitely remember all the characters stopping by a temple before going into a dangerous area whenever they were able.
Going sideways would be nice, after 15th things just go exponentially gonzo. In my current campaign, I've just leaned into it. High level DnD is just a very different game. And I've come to accept that this is fine. It would be nice if WotC would give DMs more tools and adventures for high-level play. I've gotten much better and running high-level play, but I use a lot of third-party material and it takes more time to prep to make interesting and challenging encounters. I'm enjoying it more this time around, but I still prefer low-level play in 5e.
Yeah. The number of creatures past CR 8 or 9 is just abysmal.
Why is that a problem? With bounded accuracy, monsters don't become olsolete when PCs hit high levels. You can still keep using them!
Because it's boring as hell to fight a bunch of low level monsters at high level. Once in a while it might be fun to fight 300 orcs at 20th level, but most of the time the group will want to face some high CR challenge, of which there are very, very, VERY few choices in 5e.
