what makes you choose your deity

[vorpan]

Just wondering, once you've picked a cleric, what makes you choose your deity? Is it just the powers/domains? Got really curious.... because the differente deities, IMO have very differente role playing styles, even the ones with the same alignment. By the way, anyone know a deity that can give you proficiency with a bastard sword?

 

[BiggusGeekus]

Pretty much the RP considerations. Clerics are a strong enough class that the possible bonuses doesn't bother me.

And I wouldn't worry so much about diety in regards to your weapon. Just take a level of fighter.

 

[Celebrim]

I look for two things in a deity:

1) Access to interesting domains so that I can create a mechanically interesting character.
2) Has a philosophy and portfolio that seems interesting enoguh that I can imagine someone actually wanting to worship (or at least propituate) that deity.

Without two, I find it impossible to RP a cleric. I take my RL religion quite seriously. Even if the game religion is 'just a game' it needs to have a somewhat compelling philosophy. I would assume that my character, a cleric, takes his deity at least as seriously as I do mine. I need to be able to imagine why my character follows this deity, and why he feels the need to encourage others to follow this deity. Otherwise, the cleric ends up as a hit point bank and the RP is very trite.

The domains are a meta-gaming consideration, but if you can't do anything interesting, it's often hard to contribute in an interesting way to RP no matter how interesting your character is.

 

[wolff96]

For me, it depends on the game.

If it's a hack-and-slash type game, then I go for a deity with (what I consider to be) powerful domains.

If it's a deep RP game, I go with a deity whose portfolios and ideals I find interesting -- I had a blast with a Monk/Cleric of Ilmater, not one of the more common deities chosen, that I've seen.

If I'm the DM, then I tend to go for clerics of unusual religions: A Chaotic Neutral Cleric of Umberlee, for example.

 

[Desdichado]

What Celebrim said! Playing clerics can be a very bland experience, IMO, so if you can't get interested in the character concept and his/her religion, then I absolutely can't even play one.

Oh, and yeah, I like to take one level of fighter with my clerics as well. Sucks to not have the weapon proficiencies, I think. Especially where the "cleric" class is really an extremely martial priest.

 

[Olidammara]

My parents' influence probably made the biggest impression on my choice of deity. When you're exposed to southern Baptist church services for several years at a time, you tend to float in that direction even after you grow into adulthood.

 

[Taloras]

My rogue only has one level of cleric...so it didnt matter too much, except that i had already chosen Olidammara for him (god of wine, women, and song). And the luck domain really helps.

 

[Nightfall]

Well depends on the character I'm creating. A Charduni dwarf, I'd probably give Domination and War/Strength. Mainly since Charduni are know for their domintive natures as well as being able to raise Chardun-Slain.

Corean, Fire and Protection, but that's only for clerics.

Vangal: War and Strength, since I enjoy seeing a barbarian/cleric go completely nuts and chop through anything. Though I might pick up Destruction so that I can get Vangal's Dogs of War as well as Vangal's Wrath.

RP ideas are certainly plentiful, I just figure I choose the god I feel closest to enjoying.

 

[vorpan]

That's good! most didn't focus on the powers, and none focused only in the powers. This is very differente from th WOTC boards i used to go to. My thing is, I have a paladin and will probably multi-class to cleric. If I multi-class again to fighter than the xp penalty will be too much to bear, specially because my paladin already is an aasimar and has ecl adjustments. So, I thought I would pick the war domain. Anyway, my deiy will pobably be Tyr, although I like many differente deities. I'm trying to download the faiths and pantheons so i can get a better look on different deities...

 

[Nightfall]

Why don't you just BUY the books. Most of us do.