Writing Religion into a Campaign Setting

[Priest_Sidran]

I am looking for how other DM's have handled this for their setting.

I am very hesitant to use the deities from Deities and Demigods, namely because they have to much use, and are not specific to the world that I am going to be running the games in.

Does a name, and domains with a brief description work or do I need to go all the way with their descriptions and stat them out and everything. (A Note Gods do not manifest themselves in the world often, and they rarely influence the gameplay, preferring to let their servents work out their own troubles, and only lending aid in the form of extra luck and somesuch)

Also does anyone have a good resource (or know of one) for 3.5 Lankhmar gods, or for the Pantheon of India. Also anyone with information on Slavic Fairytales, and Gods if they could lead me to some information that would be cool, thanks everyone

 

[llamatron2000]

I don't ever bother actually statting out a deity. A waste of time if your game doesn't have active gods.

 

[GreatLemur]

I am very hesitant to use the deities from Deities and Demigods, namely because they have to much use, and are not specific to the world that I am going to be running the games in.

Oh, hell yes. Unless you're running a game about mythic Greece, there is no reason Zeus should be a part of it.

And I don't see any need at all for gods to have stats in any but the most insanely epic games. Worry more about what the religions of the world are like. And remember, that's actually a lot different from deciding what the gods are like, especially if the gods aren't active. There can be plenty of very different religions worshipping the same gods (under different names or not) in very different ways, religions who worship multiple gods in various combinations (with overlapping pantheons and disagreements about which gods are related to which other gods), and even religions that aren't particularly concerned with gods at all (things like deism, Buddhism, nature worship, and even Scientology).

 

[Vrecknidj]

I agree with those who've said there's no reason to provide stats for deities. Descriptions are plenty.

Dave

 

[Nyaricus]

Hey Priest Sidran

For your games, all you really need is what's in the PHB. Sure you could maybe write a few more paragraphs if you're really into it, but between the clerics table of worshippable gods and the god section in the "Description" Chapter, that's really all you need. Don't bother writing up their stats, since a god would be so ridiculously powerful that he never could be killed.

Anyways, here's a link to a mythology site which has a bunch of info: Encyclopedia Mythica, specifically in the Hindu section. I looked up 'Slavic' in their searcj engine, but that seciont appears to be mixed up in their "Other Religions" section. In any case, here's the link I found.

Hope that helps

cheers,
--N

 

[Rel]

This looks like more of a General topic and it'll probably get more answers there. I'm sliding it over...

 

[Psion]

I am looking for how other DM's have handled this for their setting.

I am very hesitant to use the deities from Deities and Demigods, namely because they have to much use, and are not specific to the world that I am going to be running the games in.

DDG is (IMO rightly) rued for being a deity monster manual. Beyond the deity domains and other minor notes appropriate to followers and a few adventure ideas, it's really not that functional of a deity book.

Does a name, and domains with a brief description work or do I need to go all the way with their descriptions and stat them out and everything. (A Note Gods do not manifest themselves in the world often, and they rarely influence the gameplay, preferring to let their servents work out their own troubles, and only lending aid in the form of extra luck and somesuch)

As others have said, unless you are running an epic godslaying game (which are in the vanishing minority), there is really no reason for full deity stats.

What is important is the conduct, behavior, goals, and philosophy of the faith, which should have a direct and meaningful impact of the behavior of potentially millions of NPCs. Again, DDG is sadly wanting on this score. They did a real good job in the 2e FR deity books to this end. It is sad that this is one area where the game seems to have regressed between editions.

Also does anyone have a good resource (or know of one) for 3.5 Lankhmar gods, or for the Pantheon of India. Also anyone with information on Slavic Fairytales, and Gods if they could lead me to some information that would be cool, thanks everyone

Lankhmar, no.

India: Sort of.

Dog Soul Publishing's Sahasra setting has some religion information. (LINK).

Expeditious retreat also has some products in their World Building Library series covering myths of India, but again, not an enumeration of divinities. (LINK).

Finally, Green Ronin's Mindshadows setting has some pretty good India inspired religion material. It's 3.0, and print only, I'm afraid, but might be your best bet. (LINK)


More generally, if you are looking for a religion sourcebook that puts the detail in the right place, I recommend the Book of the Righteous. It's not an India book but draws from a lot of real worl mythology and has a very vibrant, deep feel and has lots of usefulness as a source for campaign idea. Green Ronin released a 3.5 version of it recently. I highly recommend it. (LINK).

 

[Odhanan]

Names, domains and respective "roles" in the pantheon are things I am looking for when I am considering religions in a campaign setting. I've been generally disappointed with the way D&D handles pantheons. They feel more like bland patchwork of deities put together in a very artificial way ("let's have a god of war here, and a god of love there" ) rather than pieces of a larger tapestry made of thought-out, coherent fantasy mythologies.

The top setting as far as religion is concerned is Glorantha. You can search for information about this world on the web and/or visit Glorantha.com for an introduction to the setting (regardless of system - Glorantha could work well with 3.X).

 

[Ebonyr]

I don't stat out my deities. I mostly go for monotheistic religions vs. pantheon. I think descriptions are the best. IMO, if you stat out a deity (god/goddess) they can be killed. How does that make them a god? I hope I didn't open another can of worms here. :\

 

[Psion]

I think descriptions are the best. IMO, if you stat out a deity (god/goddess) they can be killed. How does that make them a god?

In some myths, gods can and have been killed. If that's not what deities are to you, fine, but let us not pretend that it's the only way to go about things.