Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Saragon42 04-16-08, 02:41 PM	Our ongoing Birthright game (yes, Birthright -- updated to 3.5 with a lot of house rules, but that wonderful setting nonetheless) has recently had a couple of changes and questions about which domains actually apply to different deities. Long story short, I've been tasked by our DM with reworking the domain list for all the deities (and other forces that grant spells) in Cerilia. The problem is this: We'd like to use the expanded list of domains gathered together in the Spell Compendium, but the pantheon of powers is very limited in the Birthright setting. There's nine human deities that are good or neutral, and two evil human deities; there's also a number of non-human deities, some of whom are only demigods. Is there a limit to the number of domains a particular deity can have? And if we want to break that rule, what are some suggested numbers for domains for demigods and lesser, intermediate and greater deities?
RAGNAROKISCOMING2007 04-16-08, 03:35 PM	All deities have 3 three domains to start out with. They can gain extra domains through the Domain Salient divine ability. If you want to break the rule then I suggest the following: demigods: 3 lesser:4 intermediate:5 greater:6 This method also frees up space so that you could give them more important salient divine abilities.
MadPrak_Mark2 04-16-08, 11:23 PM	SDAs only matter if the gods are actually going to act in some way other than granting spells. I say just asign the appropriate domains to the appropriate gods and call it a day.
Eldritch_Lord 04-17-08, 12:17 AM	SDAs only matter if the gods are actually going to act in some way other than granting spells. I say just asign the appropriate domains to the appropriate gods and call it a day. Given that it's a Birthright game, where the players are descended from gods and the machinations thereof are a major part of the game, I'd say there's a good chance a god or two dozen shows up at some point. Granted, this may not be until late in the game, but it is something to consider when statting them eventually.
MadPrak_Mark2 04-17-08, 01:26 AM	How often do the gods actually intervene in a way that makes stats or mechanics meaningful?
Eldritch_Lord 04-17-08, 02:12 AM	How often do the gods actually intervene in a way that makes stats or mechanics meaningful? Not sure; I've never played a Birthright game. From what I've seen, though, the setting does have fairly active gods and divine intervention is a big thing at higher levels. Now, some of that might have been lost in the translation to 3e where deity power is better-defined, but stats are still probably going to be important.
Naderion 04-17-08, 07:25 AM	I think with less domains for a cleric to pic from, and each domain made available by only very few deities, the domains start to really be meaningful. So the clerics of one deity will have a significantly differently spell selection than clerics of other deities.
Saragon42 04-17-08, 07:51 AM	The Birthright gods are a bit more involved than, say, Eberron's gods, but not by much -- if they interact with mortals at all, it's through visions, conveniently found artifacts known to belong to the god, and the very occasional proxy. So I don't think that SDAs are too much of a concern; our group might come into conflict with the Cold Rider, but he's a proto-deity / demigod, not a full deity yet. Next question -- and this is probably just asking for everyone's opinion -- but should all the gods who aren't true neutral have their alignments' domains? Certainly a greater deity like Haelyn (LG) with 6 (or more) domains could spare room for Good and Law, but some of the awnsheghn which can grant spells and lesser deities would be more flavorful with different domains. For example, Kriesha (LE), a lesser deity, seems to need the Evil, Law, Cold, Hatred, Retribution, and Suffering domains -- but Law isn't as much of her character as the last three domains I just listed. I know it's ultimately a flavor decision for each deity, but I'm curious as to what others might think on it. Thanks for the help.
Eldritch_Lord 04-17-08, 07:02 PM	The Birthright gods are a bit more involved than, say, Eberron's gods, but not by much -- if they interact with mortals at all, it's through visions, conveniently found artifacts known to belong to the god, and the very occasional proxy. So I don't think that SDAs are too much of a concern; our group might come into conflict with the Cold Rider, but he's a proto-deity / demigod, not a full deity yet. Hmm...looks like my friend who ran a Birthright game back in the '90s put his own spin on things. Thanks for the info. Next question -- and this is probably just asking for everyone's opinion -- but should all the gods who aren't true neutral have their alignments' domains? Certainly a greater deity like Haelyn (LG) with 6 (or more) domains could spare room for Good and Law, but some of the awnsheghn which can grant spells and lesser deities would be more flavorful with different domains. For example, Kriesha (LE), a lesser deity, seems to need the Evil, Law, Cold, Hatred, Retribution, and Suffering domains -- but Law isn't as much of her character as the last three domains I just listed. I know it's ultimately a flavor decision for each deity, but I'm curious as to what others might think on it. Thanks for the help. Well, it's pretty much automatic for a deity to get alignment domains; off the top of my head, I can't think of any non-TN deities who don't have (an) alignment domain(s). But by all means, feel free to go without--just say something like you don't get to be an exemplar of your alignment until Lesser Deity status, and so demigods don't get them.
MadPrak_Mark2 04-17-08, 10:02 PM	I'm pretty sure there are some non-TN gods without alignment domains, I would say some gods care about alignments and have the appropriate domains, and some gods don't, and so focus on domains they do care about.
Eldritch_Lord 04-17-08, 11:21 PM	I'm pretty sure there are some non-TN gods without alignment domains, I would say some gods care about alignments and have the appropriate domains, and some gods don't, and so focus on domains they do care about. That's why I qualified it by saying there were none I knew without alignment domains; I'm sure there are some out there, but the PHB deities and 99% of the D&DG deities have alignment domains. Again, I'm not saying its good or bad to have them or not have them, just that it's SOP to have them.
Saragon42 04-18-08, 07:39 AM	Thanks to all of you for your advice! I think I've got the pantheon pretty well figured out (it's sblocked below for those interested.) Now I just gotta get this past the DM. ;) Human Deities Avani (LN, Greater) Knowledge, Law, Magic, Rune, Spell, Sun Belenik (CE, Intermediate) Chaos, Destruction, Evil, Strength, Wrath Cuiraécen (CG, Lesser) Courage, Glory, Storm, War Eloéle (CN, Lesser) Chaos, Darkness, Illusion, Trickery Erik (N, Greater) Air, Animal, Balance, Earth, Plant, Windstorm Haelyn (LG, Greater) Good, Healing, Law, Protection, Community, Nobility Kriesha (LE, Lesser) Cold, Evil, Hatred, Law, Suffering Laerme (CG, Lesser) Good, Charm, Creation, Fire, Lust Nesirie (NG, Intermediate) Good, Healing, Protection, Ocean, Water Ruornil (N, Lesser) Magic, Moon, Mysticism, Spell Sera (CN, Intermediate) Chaos, Luck, Trade, Travel, Wealth Other Powers The Cold Rider (NE, Demi) Death, Evil, Darkness Kartathok (LE, Greater) Destruction, Envy, Evil, Gluttony, Law, Strength Moradin (LG, Greater) Cavern, Earth, Good, Law, Metal, Wealth Torazan (LE, Demi) Earth, Evil, Law, Orc*, War *All spells/domain powers apply to orogs rather than orcs Awnsheghn - At least one awnshegh is described as capable of granting spells to followers; the Gorgon isn't, but if the Serpent can, he probably can too. The Serpent (LE) Evil, Scalykind, Sloth The Gorgon (LE) Destruction, Evil, Tyranny, War Elven and Halfling acolytes, should they exist, would have the Elf and Halfling domains, respectively. Torazan, Kriesha and Laerme are the only ones that break the 3-4-5-6 'rule', but their portfolios are quite large for their lesser or demigod status, and really -- the God of Goblins needs extra domains. ;)