Tolkien v. Howard v. Lovecraft

[InzeladunMaster]

Basically the same way that there are no real gods in Conan the Roleplaying Game. They still have sorcerers and whatnot. Why do they pray? Because they believe there is a benefit. It is background noise for the commoners who will rarely see a superhero or mighty spells - and when they do, they will cower in fear and pray that the gods send them a champion, and when the PCs arrive - Lo! The gods have answered their prayers! There must be gods!

 

[thormagni]

Why would there be religion in a place where sorcerors can cast miraculous spells? Maybe you are envisioning a world without religion?

Although the same question could be asked of our modern world. Why would people continue to pray and believe in gods, when science and technology can provide you with healing and unfathomable destruction and ask for nothing in return? Doesn't make any sense, really.

 

[InzeladunMaster]

Although the same question could be asked of our modern world. Why would people continue to pray and believe in gods, when science and technology can provide you with healing and unfathomable destruction and ask for nothing in return? Doesn't make any sense, really.

I love it when people answer their own questions. Nope, it doesn't make sense - therefore it must be religion!

 

[thormagni]

What a rich vein of history and mythology would be given up if we threw out all the divinely powered characters throughout LEGEND (just edited to change from "mythology", which would be by definition stories about gods!) From the Greeks like Hercules, Achilles, Perseus and Theseus, to Sampson and David and Sir Galahad and Lancelot. Hell, there is the possibility that Neo in the Matrix is divinely blessed. Who am I to make suggestions about a game world I have never played in but that seems an awfully lot like throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

 

[InzeladunMaster]

Oh, the myths and the legends will still be there. Gods do not have to be real to have myths about them, and heroes do not have to have really lived for there to be legends about them. Often legends about a score of heroes who did one fantastic deed each are combined to create one legendary hero who did a score of fantastic deeds!

No richness need be sacrificed in throwing out real gods.

 

[Grimhelm]

And in case these last few comments were in regards to me recommending throwing out all the "real world" gods in Inzeladun, I did not mean throw out Inzeladun gods, just the ones whose names rhyme with Mathena and Cars and Godin!

 

[thormagni]

And in case these last few comments were in regards to me recommending throwing out all the "real world" gods in Inzeladun, I did not mean throw out Inzeladun gods, just the ones whose names rhyme with Mathena and Cars and Godin!

Ummm... You mean I won't be able to worship Godin? Well what kind of fun can you have if the Tazguardian pantheon isn't represented?

 

[thormagni]

Oh, the myths and the legends will still be there. Gods do not have to be real to have myths about them, and heroes do not have to have really lived for there to be legends about them. Often legends about a score of heroes who did one fantastic deed each are combined to create one legendary hero who did a score of fantastic deeds!

Well, I wasn't suggesting just HAVING legends of heroes with divine abilities, I was suggesting BEING a hero with divine abilities. Assuming the players are actually playing heroes, there is a proud tradition of religiously motivated and divinely powered heroes in fantasy literature and mythology. Those archetypes all hinge on the reality of the gods, thus if those gods didn't exist, why would anyone bother trying to play those archetypes?

I guess what bothers me about the whole idea of removing religion and divinely powered characters from a game setting is that on a gut level, I like clerics and the idea of divine magic. Good clerics seflessly healing people, evil clerics bringing down the wrath of evil gods, paladins and anti-paladins of various sorts. And I like the role of clerics in D&D, as support and healing and buffing characters.

Hell, if any of the games I am currently playing in actually HAD religion in them, I would probably be playing a cleric.

 

[InzeladunMaster]

Because having a code of honour does have benefits. Because there can be a way to do that without having the direct influence of a god - perhaps faith, regardless of god, can create its own powers.

 

[thormagni]

I'll make some placards and form a picket line...

"EQUAL TREATMENT FOR HOLY MEN" "DON'T DIS DA PRIEST" "LET THE GODS LIVE" "MAGIC FOR MINISTERS"

Really, I'm sorry to be putting my two cents in here on this issue. I would say I am playing devil's advocate, but I'm really playing DIVINE advocate.