Cleric variants? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Cleric variants? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Lady_Dragon
03-08-07, 02:09 AM I'm working on an Arthurian type campaign in which magic is, if not rare, much more subtle. The sourcebook I'm using gives an alternative to the cleric class, but it's only useful if the PC is Christian. This world also encorporates some Norse and Celtic gods, so this class excludes worshippers of any of the "old" faiths. I was thinking of allowing the cleric class for these, but have them use the priest spell list (same as the cleric really, but without the BOOM spells). Rather than reconstruct the cleric, I'd like to know if there is any more subtle pagan priest-like classes that could substitute the cleric? I know I'm losing their combat abilities, but it doesn't make as much sense for priests to have them.
As an idle side-thought, is there any class that combines bard and cleric abilities?
Thanks.
CowMasterTrojan
03-08-07, 02:14 AM There is a variant from unearthed arcana called the Cloistered Cleric. Basically it means more skill points and bardic knowledge in exchange for a less combat skilled cleric. But other than that, I don't think so.
DrakaraGM
03-08-07, 03:41 AM Although the quantity of magic might end up greater than you would be looking for, you could consider allowing the Norse and Celtic deities to gift their best servants with divine power as Favored Souls.

Favored souls tend to have less heirarchy concerns (church? no thanks, this ancient oak and sheltered glade will do just fine for the worship of Silvanus) and to be more martial characters (slightly) than clerics, they do not turn undead (bah, just strike them with the mighty warhammer as would Thor!), they get some neat powers that could easily be seen as blessings from the pagan gods...

You could have them use whatever spell list you thought appropriate (normally I believe they get the cleric spell list, but if you have a modified spell list for the non-pagan priests you could go with druidic spells or whatever for the pagans. Though actually, it might work even better if the Celtic deities had druids as their divine casters and only the Norse deities had favored souls. (You could call them "chosen heros" or something instead of favored souls if the name doesn't feel right...)

P.S. -- Also, the fact that they must select the spells they know like a sorcerer would make them feel different than the non-pagans -- rather than being able to pray each morning for whatever divine spells they want, as the non-pagans might be able to do, they instead are granted knowledge of specific rituals that let them do certain things, but do them as often as they need (more or less -- lots of spells per day). So for example Thor might well grant his chosen heros knowledge of Magic Weapon and a few other spells -- but don't come complaining to him in the morning if you decide you want a Purify Food and Water!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Lady_Dragon 03-08-07, 02:09 AM	I'm working on an Arthurian type campaign in which magic is, if not rare, much more subtle. The sourcebook I'm using gives an alternative to the cleric class, but it's only useful if the PC is Christian. This world also encorporates some Norse and Celtic gods, so this class excludes worshippers of any of the "old" faiths. I was thinking of allowing the cleric class for these, but have them use the priest spell list (same as the cleric really, but without the BOOM spells). Rather than reconstruct the cleric, I'd like to know if there is any more subtle pagan priest-like classes that could substitute the cleric? I know I'm losing their combat abilities, but it doesn't make as much sense for priests to have them. As an idle side-thought, is there any class that combines bard and cleric abilities? Thanks.
CowMasterTrojan 03-08-07, 02:14 AM	There is a variant from unearthed arcana called the Cloistered Cleric. Basically it means more skill points and bardic knowledge in exchange for a less combat skilled cleric. But other than that, I don't think so.
DrakaraGM 03-08-07, 03:41 AM	Although the quantity of magic might end up greater than you would be looking for, you could consider allowing the Norse and Celtic deities to gift their best servants with divine power as Favored Souls. Favored souls tend to have less heirarchy concerns (church? no thanks, this ancient oak and sheltered glade will do just fine for the worship of Silvanus) and to be more martial characters (slightly) than clerics, they do not turn undead (bah, just strike them with the mighty warhammer as would Thor!), they get some neat powers that could easily be seen as blessings from the pagan gods... You could have them use whatever spell list you thought appropriate (normally I believe they get the cleric spell list, but if you have a modified spell list for the non-pagan priests you could go with druidic spells or whatever for the pagans. Though actually, it might work even better if the Celtic deities had druids as their divine casters and only the Norse deities had favored souls. (You could call them "chosen heros" or something instead of favored souls if the name doesn't feel right...) P.S. -- Also, the fact that they must select the spells they know like a sorcerer would make them feel different than the non-pagans -- rather than being able to pray each morning for whatever divine spells they want, as the non-pagans might be able to do, they instead are granted knowledge of specific rituals that let them do certain things, but do them as often as they need (more or less -- lots of spells per day). So for example Thor might well grant his chosen heros knowledge of Magic Weapon and a few other spells -- but don't come complaining to him in the morning if you decide you want a Purify Food and Water!