Religions, clear or shady? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Religions, clear or shady? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Temrek
09-28-07, 09:57 AM By clear I mean they give out definate information abou the divine and afterlives of a fantasy setting. The writers tell you that these gods are worshipped and they exist, and this is what happens when you die and this is how you are judged.

By shady I mean a more real world like approach to religion. Differend cultures have different gods and each culture states that this is what happens when you die and this is how the universe was created, the cultures beliefs may directly contradict the beliefs of other cultures.

Maybe you prefer a mix of both, the desingers state how the universe actually works but gives each culture different views on how they THINK it works?'

What are the advantages and disadvantages for each approach to religion?
Delfedd
09-28-07, 10:29 AM Definately work with both. Have there be no "detect good" spell, simply have every cleric cast "detect evil" based on their deities alignment. Have contradicting religions, but have several very strange similarities. Keep the underworld under wraps for the players. Don't let them meet monsters from beyond until you're ready for the big unveiling.
LordDewtain
09-28-07, 10:56 AM Most of DnD gives religions in the clear cut: "these are the gods, and you go here when you die" manner because its easier. all of the trouble has been taken care of, and everything is known. This means if the players ask the DM: if I die, where would I go, or the DM asks: if the player dies, where would they adventure? -- there is an answer for that. It gives them enough information to create adventures and campaigns for. Even better, is that if they don't want to use it right there, they don't have to worry about making it.

Of course, a 'shady' religion makes for a more lifelike and interesting campaign, but a lot more work.

Its a lot easier to create a dozen gods for one polytheistic religion, and say that different races worship different parts of it then it is to create several religions. but it can be done.
GoriceXII
09-28-07, 02:43 PM I kind of work between them. My pcs have sometimes found that things that seem religiously correct are wrong in the course of an adventure. As said above this is more work but more work can be really rewarding and fun.
atzu_87
09-28-07, 03:45 PM I think you should consider how the deity feels about their existence, tales, dogma, and creation myths being told.

a good deity might want everyone to know
a evil deity might want the rich and powerful to know but not the poor and weak.
a neutral deity might want people to know what's important at this moment.

a deity of wealth might want you to pay for such knowledge.
a deity of bards might want everyone to know whither they care to or not.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Temrek 09-28-07, 09:57 AM	By clear I mean they give out definate information abou the divine and afterlives of a fantasy setting. The writers tell you that these gods are worshipped and they exist, and this is what happens when you die and this is how you are judged. By shady I mean a more real world like approach to religion. Differend cultures have different gods and each culture states that this is what happens when you die and this is how the universe was created, the cultures beliefs may directly contradict the beliefs of other cultures. Maybe you prefer a mix of both, the desingers state how the universe actually works but gives each culture different views on how they THINK it works?' What are the advantages and disadvantages for each approach to religion?
Delfedd 09-28-07, 10:29 AM	Definately work with both. Have there be no "detect good" spell, simply have every cleric cast "detect evil" based on their deities alignment. Have contradicting religions, but have several very strange similarities. Keep the underworld under wraps for the players. Don't let them meet monsters from beyond until you're ready for the big unveiling.
LordDewtain 09-28-07, 10:56 AM	Most of DnD gives religions in the clear cut: "these are the gods, and you go here when you die" manner because its easier. all of the trouble has been taken care of, and everything is known. This means if the players ask the DM: if I die, where would I go, or the DM asks: if the player dies, where would they adventure? -- there is an answer for that. It gives them enough information to create adventures and campaigns for. Even better, is that if they don't want to use it right there, they don't have to worry about making it. Of course, a 'shady' religion makes for a more lifelike and interesting campaign, but a lot more work. Its a lot easier to create a dozen gods for one polytheistic religion, and say that different races worship different parts of it then it is to create several religions. but it can be done.
GoriceXII 09-28-07, 02:43 PM	I kind of work between them. My pcs have sometimes found that things that seem religiously correct are wrong in the course of an adventure. As said above this is more work but more work can be really rewarding and fun.
atzu_87 09-28-07, 03:45 PM	I think you should consider how the deity feels about their existence, tales, dogma, and creation myths being told. a good deity might want everyone to know a evil deity might want the rich and powerful to know but not the poor and weak. a neutral deity might want people to know what's important at this moment. a deity of wealth might want you to pay for such knowledge. a deity of bards might want everyone to know whither they care to or not.