Churches/Faiths information sources - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Churches/Faiths information sources

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
--99
Jan 08, 2009 17:37:36 Hello all,

I'm looking for sources of information regarding any and all churches and faiths in Faerun, particularly things like holy and/or unholy days, feasts, rituals, initiation methods, the hierarchy of the church, the dogma and commandments sent down by the god the faith follows, etc. 1st-4th edition are all fine. Thanks in advance.
#2
Tyranthraxus
Jan 08, 2009 18:30:32 Id look at past Editions myself. In a few conversations Ive had with others, Ive been talking about why faiths wouldnt be that dramatically different after 100 years, with of course the obvious exceptions. Eric Boyd to me IS The Guru when it comes to Gods. From 2e to 3e onwards, Ive found his insights into pantheons to be very interesting and meaningful.

So you want to look at
Deities and Demigods
Faths and Pantheons.

Im including 'Human' Deities in the deities most likely to change category. We all know about the rebirth of Bane, imprisonment of Cyric, Absorbtion of Mask etc. Holy Days can increase to reflect such events but the core dates.. ie the date of a Gods Ascension some special date etc generally remain constant.
#3
old_sage
Jan 08, 2009 19:56:34 You'll want the "Big Deity Three" books -- Faiths & Avatars, Power & Pantheons, and Demihuman Deities. They're essential reading for all the prevalent lore on the gods of Realmspace. Later edition sources, like Faiths & Pantheons and the Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide simply update these details and their [then] current status in the Realms.

Additionally, I like to add two other sources to the "Big Deity Three" -- namely, On Hallowed Ground [which, while primarily a PLANESCAPE resource, offers some info on the activities of Realms deities in other regions of the multiverse] and Monster Mythology, which features entries on various non-human and monstrous deities active across many of the TSR worlds... like the Realms.
#4
lord_karsus
Jan 08, 2009 21:40:11 -Faiths & Avatars, Power & Pantheons, and Demihuman Deities have the exact information that you are looking for. F&A has the more "major" Faerûnian deities, P&P has the more "minor" Faerûnian deities, and DD has the same information for non-Humans.

Additionally, I like to add two other sources to the "Big Deity Three" -- namely, On Hallowed Ground [which, while primarily a PLANESCAPE resource, offers some info on the activities of Realms deities in other regions of the multiverse] and Monster Mythology, which features entries on various non-human and monstrous deities active across many of the TSR worlds... like the Realms.

-For the information that the OP is looking for, I am going to have to disagree. While both have a lot of information on various deities, neither one really goes into much detail about how their worshipers act.
#5
old_sage
Jan 08, 2009 22:33:24 Not necessarily.

The information presented on the deities can provide imaginative DMs with possibilities for creating their own interpretations on the conduct of those faiths detailed.
#6
lord_karsus
Jan 08, 2009 23:31:46 -Right, sure, but the OP is asking where to find that stuff that already exists. With that stuff, there isn't too much in those books. That's not to take anything away from them, though. On Hallowed Ground is probably one of my favorites, and probably one of the best D&D products ever published. The Inner Planes, also. Planescape sure did have so many gems.
#7
old_sage
Jan 09, 2009 0:54:29 Aye.

And because there isn't too much of that information, I'm suggesting that the OP also takes the time to read the details for those deities in the two other tomes and works out some particulars for him/herself. It can be quite a rewarding experience.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 --99 Jan 08, 2009 17:37:36	Hello all, I'm looking for sources of information regarding any and all churches and faiths in Faerun, particularly things like holy and/or unholy days, feasts, rituals, initiation methods, the hierarchy of the church, the dogma and commandments sent down by the god the faith follows, etc. 1st-4th edition are all fine. Thanks in advance.
#2 Tyranthraxus Jan 08, 2009 18:30:32	Id look at past Editions myself. In a few conversations Ive had with others, Ive been talking about why faiths wouldnt be that dramatically different after 100 years, with of course the obvious exceptions. Eric Boyd to me IS The Guru when it comes to Gods. From 2e to 3e onwards, Ive found his insights into pantheons to be very interesting and meaningful. So you want to look at Deities and Demigods Faths and Pantheons. Im including 'Human' Deities in the deities most likely to change category. We all know about the rebirth of Bane, imprisonment of Cyric, Absorbtion of Mask etc. Holy Days can increase to reflect such events but the core dates.. ie the date of a Gods Ascension some special date etc generally remain constant.
#3 old_sage Jan 08, 2009 19:56:34	You'll want the "Big Deity Three" books -- Faiths & Avatars, Power & Pantheons, and Demihuman Deities. They're essential reading for all the prevalent lore on the gods of Realmspace. Later edition sources, like Faiths & Pantheons and the Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide simply update these details and their [then] current status in the Realms. Additionally, I like to add two other sources to the "Big Deity Three" -- namely, On Hallowed Ground [which, while primarily a PLANESCAPE resource, offers some info on the activities of Realms deities in other regions of the multiverse] and Monster Mythology, which features entries on various non-human and monstrous deities active across many of the TSR worlds... like the Realms.
#4 lord_karsus Jan 08, 2009 21:40:11	-Faiths & Avatars, Power & Pantheons, and Demihuman Deities have the exact information that you are looking for. F&A has the more "major" Faerûnian deities, P&P has the more "minor" Faerûnian deities, and DD has the same information for non-Humans. Additionally, I like to add two other sources to the "Big Deity Three" -- namely, On Hallowed Ground [which, while primarily a PLANESCAPE resource, offers some info on the activities of Realms deities in other regions of the multiverse] and Monster Mythology, which features entries on various non-human and monstrous deities active across many of the TSR worlds... like the Realms. -For the information that the OP is looking for, I am going to have to disagree. While both have a lot of information on various deities, neither one really goes into much detail about how their worshipers act.
#5 old_sage Jan 08, 2009 22:33:24	Not necessarily. The information presented on the deities can provide imaginative DMs with possibilities for creating their own interpretations on the conduct of those faiths detailed.
#6 lord_karsus Jan 08, 2009 23:31:46	-Right, sure, but the OP is asking where to find that stuff that already exists. With that stuff, there isn't too much in those books. That's not to take anything away from them, though. On Hallowed Ground is probably one of my favorites, and probably one of the best D&D products ever published. The Inner Planes, also. Planescape sure did have so many gems.
#7 old_sage Jan 09, 2009 0:54:29	Aye. And because there isn't too much of that information, I'm suggesting that the OP also takes the time to read the details for those deities in the two other tomes and works out some particulars for him/herself. It can be quite a rewarding experience.