Were there clerics in Lord of the Rings?

[Gentlegamer]

In my opinion, both Gandalf the White and Elrond could be considered clerics, within the context of Middle-earth.

 

[Gentlegamer]

So, what's that little flashy business that Gandalf does in the RotK film to drive off the ring wraiths? Don't recall it being in the book. Seems a lot like turning undead.

He also holds back the Balrog and stops the Witch-king from entering Minas Tirith in the book . . .

 

[S'mon]

Although, according to S'mon, getting rid of clerics totally unbalances the campaign. (see my thread on removing divine magic from the game). So, it's a wonder the fellowship survived at all!

:\ Maybe, just maybe, Tolkien wasn't playing D&D?

Edit: Since I've run several D&D games with no Clerics allowed, this is kind of a travesty of my position, BTW. All I said was that the game was balanced with the assumption that spells on the Cleric list were available.... *sigh*

 

[Desdichado]

Although I'd disagree with it, I can at least see how you can go the other way and interpret a few cleric levels out of some of the characters, but I certainly can't see a cleric archetype clearly in the Lord of the Rings that was subsequently borrowed by D&D. I think Gary Gygax has said that the cleric was largely based on Bishop Odo, the brother of William the Conqueror, with a lot of other tales and even folklore of saints miracles and the like tacked on to give a sort of Medieval catholic crusading priest melange.

 

[der_kluge]

:\ Maybe, just maybe, Tolkien wasn't playing D&D?

Edit: Since I've run several D&D games with no Clerics allowed, this is kind of a travesty of my position, BTW. All I said was that the game was balanced with the assumption that spells on the Cleric list were available.... *sigh*

Oh, I'm just giving you a hard time.

 

[der_kluge]

I'd argue for Gandalf being more of a Druid. He summons the horse, the eagles, the owl. He definitely has a close tie with nature. The trees all like him, and respect him.

But yes, if nature is the god of Middle Earth, then I could see him being a cleric as well.

But the elves' magic is quite different from that of Gandalf.

So then the question becomes, what would you consider the elves to be?

 

[diaglo]

So then the question becomes, what would you consider the elves to be?

Neutral in OD&D.

they are called faeries too.

 

[Garnfellow]

Gandalf was an 8th level cleric.

 

[Gentlegamer]

So then the question becomes, what would you consider the elves to be?

The elves would all be much more powerful, in racial terms, than D&D elves. Several of the Elf Lords would be Paladins (Glorfindel and Gil-galad).

 

[Temprus]

Although, according to S'mon, getting rid of clerics totally unbalances the campaign. (see my thread on removing divine magic from the game). So, it's a wonder the fellowship survived at all!

Um, it didn't. If only the dwarf's player had played a cleric like he was told to, the Fellowship might have stayed together for at least 2 of the books.