Abstract Principle Clerics and Prestige Classes [Archive] - Wizards Community

Abstract Principle Clerics and Prestige Classes [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Tugmug
12-14-06, 12:45 AM I have a kind of odd question and one i think has been hit upon in the Complete Divine on page 7 What do you serve: it touches on the strict Serving of a deity: you pick from his/her domains Serving of a Pantheon: you pick 2 domains from among all the Deities in the group Serving an Abstract Principle: you choose 2 domains you like and Last but not least Serving Nature:
Now here is my questions with the assumption you meet all the requirements of the Prestige class you wish to take. IE...Alignment, feats, skill levels ect. but what if you have;
1) Taken a Pantheon to serve are you able to pick a prestige that belongs to any of the deities in the group that you have a domain in common even if it says must have one Deity in particular as your patron deity.
Example: if i take standard D&D Pantheon from the Deities and Demigods on pg 58 and i take a domain from Bahamut who is LG the domain Air and i take a the War domain from Heironeous. both LG deities would i be able to take the Prestige class Shining Blade of Heironeous or the Prestige class that is deicated to Bahamut even though i do not whorship the deity exclusively.

2) Taken abstract Principle you pick 2 domains you like if you are of the same alighnment of a deity that has that domain and there is a prestige class to the deity and you meet all requirements of the class are you able to take it even though you do not whorship the deity exclusively.
Example: if you took moon as a domain you do not whorship a deity but Selune has a prestige class dealing with lycanthropy. You meet the requirements and your alighnment is the same but you do not whorship Selune exclusively. Would that class be open to the cleric.

Well that is my questions if you can help me thanks alot i would like to see an official answer if possible if this is the forum for that. Thanks again.
Chimaera2000
12-14-06, 07:35 PM Have you checked the FAQ on the Wizards of the Coast website? If you're looking for an "official answer," you might find it there. I have a feeling this question isn't asked too often, though....

More than likely you'll just have to talk to the DM about it. If a given prestige class only requires specific domains, then you'll obviously have no trouble getting in. However, it would seem very odd for a Radiant Servant of Pelor to not serve Pelor.
Mitchell
12-14-06, 11:16 PM I agree.
You got to pick any two domains that you wanted with no restrictions, so why should you also get to pick any diety specific PrCs?
You didn't like them well enough to pick them before, you have to live with the consequences.
Domain PrCs? Sure. Diety specific PrCs? Not in my game (then again, I require divine casters to have a patron diety).
Tugmug
12-15-06, 01:18 AM That is basicaly what i was thinking. You have the flexiblity to pick your domains and basicaly be your own church with no restictions. In my game i do not force the players to take a character the way i want after all they have to play it. And my DM style seems to work i have had the same 8 people for the last 14 years 8). It was mainly a food for thought question that i have not seen asked as of yet. But my bunch is a crafty lot that you have to keep in line at times. Thanks for the imput.
JulesCARV
12-15-06, 03:46 AM I'd say that you don't really get to take deity specific prestige classes without worshipping the deity unless the deity can't reasonably be worshipped in your campaign. For example, I think that it's reasonable to let an NG sun/healing cleric of the Sovereign Host to become a Radiant Servant of Pelor The Sovereign Host, because worshipping Pelor in Eberron is just kind of silly, even if there's no rule against it. Or, a Temple Raider of Olidammara can be a Temple Raider of the Traveller, etc.

Abstract ideal clerics entering deity specific prestige classes might be permitted if the requisite domains just aren't accessible through normal gods and pantheons in that setting.

Of course, if you have a really cool DM, s/he might design you a prestige class to go along with your abstract ideal cleric, so instead of just being a Cleric of Benthamite Act-Utilitarianism, you can be a Cleric/Hedonic Champion, or whatever.

Heh. It would be kinda cool if Wizards published a few sample "Abstract Ideal Cleric" prestige classes.
Neutronium_Dragon
12-15-06, 04:02 AM You'd do better to look for PrCs that aren't deity-specific, or at the very least to adapt the deity-specific ones to a non-deity-specific form. Obviously, if the PrC belongs to another setting and that god doesn't exist in the setting you're using, you're going to need to translate it to the most appropriate god in your setting, and this might also merit some tinkering with the specifics of the abilities.

If you're actually going for a pantheistic approach (as was part of your suggestion) then it's better to have, adapt, or create a pantheistic prestige class. There's one for the Triad (Tyr, Torm, and Ilmater) in the Forgotten Realms, which gives abilities themed to all three deities. The Eberron setting has some of pantheist prestige classes (for the Sovereign Host and Dark Six, respectively). I could pretty easily see the Sovereign Speaker being used with a similar collection of gods in another setting. (Seldarine Speaker, Speaker of Elysium, etc.)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Tugmug 12-14-06, 12:45 AM	I have a kind of odd question and one i think has been hit upon in the Complete Divine on page 7 What do you serve: it touches on the strict Serving of a deity: you pick from his/her domains Serving of a Pantheon: you pick 2 domains from among all the Deities in the group Serving an Abstract Principle: you choose 2 domains you like and Last but not least Serving Nature: Now here is my questions with the assumption you meet all the requirements of the Prestige class you wish to take. IE...Alignment, feats, skill levels ect. but what if you have; 1) Taken a Pantheon to serve are you able to pick a prestige that belongs to any of the deities in the group that you have a domain in common even if it says must have one Deity in particular as your patron deity. Example: if i take standard D&D Pantheon from the Deities and Demigods on pg 58 and i take a domain from Bahamut who is LG the domain Air and i take a the War domain from Heironeous. both LG deities would i be able to take the Prestige class Shining Blade of Heironeous or the Prestige class that is deicated to Bahamut even though i do not whorship the deity exclusively. 2) Taken abstract Principle you pick 2 domains you like if you are of the same alighnment of a deity that has that domain and there is a prestige class to the deity and you meet all requirements of the class are you able to take it even though you do not whorship the deity exclusively. Example: if you took moon as a domain you do not whorship a deity but Selune has a prestige class dealing with lycanthropy. You meet the requirements and your alighnment is the same but you do not whorship Selune exclusively. Would that class be open to the cleric. Well that is my questions if you can help me thanks alot i would like to see an official answer if possible if this is the forum for that. Thanks again.
Chimaera2000 12-14-06, 07:35 PM	Have you checked the FAQ on the Wizards of the Coast website? If you're looking for an "official answer," you might find it there. I have a feeling this question isn't asked too often, though.... More than likely you'll just have to talk to the DM about it. If a given prestige class only requires specific domains, then you'll obviously have no trouble getting in. However, it would seem very odd for a Radiant Servant of Pelor to not serve Pelor.
Mitchell 12-14-06, 11:16 PM	I agree. You got to pick any two domains that you wanted with no restrictions, so why should you also get to pick any diety specific PrCs? You didn't like them well enough to pick them before, you have to live with the consequences. Domain PrCs? Sure. Diety specific PrCs? Not in my game (then again, I require divine casters to have a patron diety).
Tugmug 12-15-06, 01:18 AM	That is basicaly what i was thinking. You have the flexiblity to pick your domains and basicaly be your own church with no restictions. In my game i do not force the players to take a character the way i want after all they have to play it. And my DM style seems to work i have had the same 8 people for the last 14 years 8). It was mainly a food for thought question that i have not seen asked as of yet. But my bunch is a crafty lot that you have to keep in line at times. Thanks for the imput.
JulesCARV 12-15-06, 03:46 AM	I'd say that you don't really get to take deity specific prestige classes without worshipping the deity unless the deity can't reasonably be worshipped in your campaign. For example, I think that it's reasonable to let an NG sun/healing cleric of the Sovereign Host to become a Radiant Servant of Pelor The Sovereign Host, because worshipping Pelor in Eberron is just kind of silly, even if there's no rule against it. Or, a Temple Raider of Olidammara can be a Temple Raider of the Traveller, etc. Abstract ideal clerics entering deity specific prestige classes might be permitted if the requisite domains just aren't accessible through normal gods and pantheons in that setting. Of course, if you have a really cool DM, s/he might design you a prestige class to go along with your abstract ideal cleric, so instead of just being a Cleric of Benthamite Act-Utilitarianism, you can be a Cleric/Hedonic Champion, or whatever. Heh. It would be kinda cool if Wizards published a few sample "Abstract Ideal Cleric" prestige classes.
Neutronium_Dragon 12-15-06, 04:02 AM	You'd do better to look for PrCs that aren't deity-specific, or at the very least to adapt the deity-specific ones to a non-deity-specific form. Obviously, if the PrC belongs to another setting and that god doesn't exist in the setting you're using, you're going to need to translate it to the most appropriate god in your setting, and this might also merit some tinkering with the specifics of the abilities. If you're actually going for a pantheistic approach (as was part of your suggestion) then it's better to have, adapt, or create a pantheistic prestige class. There's one for the Triad (Tyr, Torm, and Ilmater) in the Forgotten Realms, which gives abilities themed to all three deities. The Eberron setting has some of pantheist prestige classes (for the Sovereign Host and Dark Six, respectively). I could pretty easily see the Sovereign Speaker being used with a similar collection of gods in another setting. (Seldarine Speaker, Speaker of Elysium, etc.)