Why do clerics prepare spells?

[krunchyfrogg]

KISS: Keep It Simple, Stupid.

Just keep the cleric the way it is, but refuce him to having only Medium (or maybe only Light) Armor proficiency.

 

[reanjr]

The average 7th level cleric, say, has 24 spell slots. That makes for a long, boring, silly-sounding prayer

-Hyp.

Which is why it's done out of game as a set time to pray in the morning.

 

[Klaus]

The average 7th level cleric, say, has 24 spell slots. That makes for a long, boring, silly-sounding prayer

-Hyp.

But no longer than an hour, just like a 1st-level cleric praying for the power to heal scrapes (cure minor wounds), endure scrapes (vigor), make shiny stuff (light), make opponents strike true (bless) and make weapon really, really good (magic weapon, domain spell for War).

Guess high-level clerics learn to pray really, really fast!

 

[Drew]

I can't help but think that at some level you are expecting the rank and file members of the church to look something like Catholic priests, or at least the system of organization of the church to be something like the Catholic priesthood. Why can't armor wearing spell casting clerics be the rank and file members of your average priesthood?

Because generic D&D is based on psuedo-medieval europe, where the Catholic church held sway. Clerics were originally based on a fantasized version of the millitary wing of that church. Its fine, but it doesn't really leave room for a non-millitant, white mage style character.

Isn't that more or less what the priests of the Teutonic gods were like? Ever noticed that like every (good) Norse god is a warrior god with War as part of thier portfolio no matter what else they are into? Hey look, it's Sif the goddess of the Hearth, Family, and War, and Freya the goddess of love, sex, and war.

Not always, but sure, I see what you are saying. I'm not sure that this works for every D&D world, however. It seems to me that any serious D&D designer should include some kind of internal logic for all these martial religious orders roaming around their campaign worlds.

In my opinion, the best treatment of D&D religion ever is Aaron Loeb's 'The Book of the Righteous' (currently on sell from Green Ronin, pick it up if you don't have it). Although it isn't perfect, its still so much more of what a 'Deities and Demigods' book should be like than anything TSR has ever done. I've got quibbles with some of its alignment stuff, and Aaron doesn't really get away from the problem of D&D priesthoods looking like the Catholic church, but he does _explain it_ in a largely coherent way.

Yeah, that's a pretty good book. Not only do I have a copy, but I have a signed copy. Religion design has always been my favorite part of homebrew world creation.