Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Kether 05-29-06, 11:51 PM	Hi all Sorry for what I assume to be a very basic domain question. I played Second Edition for many years and barely touched on Third before taking a hiatus. I am now restarting my gaming career as an elven cleric in Ebberon. Worshipping the Undying Council I have the choice between the following three domains: Good, Protection, and Undying. If I choose Good and Protection, does that just mean I get the bonuses as described (including bonus spells)? Can I still cast spells from Undying if I do not choose it as a domain (without the bonuses)? Can I cast spells from other domains, for example War or Knowledge? I just need some clarification. I do not have a 3.5 handbook and I have found the material I do have to be fairly vague. Many thanks for your assistance.
Thomas_Covenant 05-30-06, 12:05 AM	The SRD (System Reference Document) is your friend, and free. Deity, Domains, and Domain Spells: A cleric’s deity influences his alignment, what magic he can perform, his values, and how others see him. A cleric chooses two domains from among those belonging to his deity. A cleric can select an alignment domain (Chaos, Evil, Good, or Law) only if his alignment matches that domain. If a cleric is not devoted to a particular deity, he still selects two domains to represent his spiritual inclinations and abilities. The restriction on alignment domains still applies. Each domain gives the cleric access to a domain spell at each spell level he can cast, from 1st on up, as well as a granted power. The cleric gets the granted powers of both the domains selected. With access to two domain spells at a given spell level, a cleric prepares one or the other each day in his domain spell slot. If a domain spell is not on the cleric spell list, a cleric can prepare it only in his domain spell slot.To your specific questions.... If Good and Protection are chosen, both bonus powers, and the spells of both domains can only be memorized in your domain slots, not as cleric spells. (Unless they are cleric spells anyway, some are) Any domain you did not choose you may not cast from. At all. Prismatic Sphere is a Protection Domain spell. If you choose Good and Undying as domains, you may not memorize or cast it. You may also not use it from a scroll or staff, it is not considered a spell on your list at all. Look through the SRD, very handy if you don't have access/can't afford the books.
kelvinaw273 05-30-06, 01:48 AM	When you select domains, you gain the abilities of both selected domains. You get one spell from one OR the other domain per level you can cast per day, selected with your normal spell selections. Ie, treat the two domains as a mini-spell list of their own, from which to select your domain spells. If you don't select a domain, then those spells are not usable UNLESS THEY ARE IN THE STANDARD SPELL LIST for your class. Then you can select them as a normal spell out of your non-domain spells per day, and cast normally. At least that is how I understand the PHB descriptions. You do not get any bonuses or penalties from domains you have not selected.
Kether 05-31-06, 11:14 AM	If you don't select a domain, then those spells are not usable UNLESS THEY ARE IN THE STANDARD SPELL LIST for your class. Thank you. That is what was really confusing me. I was looking for all spells to fall into a domain and was overlooking the standard spell list. Additional Question: In the spell compendium there is an updated list of cleric spells set up in same way as the standard spell list in the player's handbook. Am I to assume that these spells are now all standard thanks to expansions?