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Cleric switching Deities

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
morvik
Mar 18, 2008 14:22:03 Ok so in my campaign I'm running in, it's my first time running a cleric cause I was the only one willing enough to heal. Since we didn't have a real meat shield just a bunch of damage I also decided to get the best AC possible out of the group. Another thing, because my original plan was to make a cleric mainly using cold attacks and healing so I chose the deity Telchur.

Well here lies the problem, I've decided I no longer want this deity and want to get a different one (pref Pelor cause i need better healing for our group) and also because the mythos is just really hard for me to personally do. The DM keeps trying to not let me change and says that my deity will be hurt that I've forsakened him and the new one will feel like second best effectively not letting me put anymore levels in cleric and losing all my spells and I would also have to attone to go back to cleric.

I need to know if theres anyway that you can switch to a new deity

Currently I'm just a level 4 Cleric CG aligned.
#2
dravda
Mar 18, 2008 19:40:42 As a DM, I'd let you change, but it would involve an Atonement, as well as an arduous and unprofitable quest. Then, you could probably become a cleric of the new deity at your previous level.

But if your DM has already given you a decision, you shouldn't try to subvert that (unless, of course, someone finds a rule that specifically says that you can switch deities.)

-Count Dravda
#3
kuros81
Mar 18, 2008 19:46:25
As a DM, I'd let you change, but it would involve an Atonement, as well as an arduous and unprofitable quest. Then, you could probably become a cleric of the new deity at your previous level.

But if your DM has already given you a decision, you shouldn't try to subvert that (unless, of course, someone finds a rule that specifically says that you can switch deities.)

-Count Dravda

I pretty much agree. As a DM, I'd let you change, but you'd have to show interest and sacrifice.

That arduous and unprofitable quest? You'd be doing that without access to your diety's spells.

Try to stick it out with this diety, and if its too hard, kindly plead with your DM.
#4
braithwaite
Mar 19, 2008 11:29:47
Well here lies the problem, I've decided I no longer want this deity and want to get a different one (pref Pelor cause i need better healing for our group) and also because the mythos is just really hard for me to personally do. The DM keeps trying to not let me change and says that my deity will be hurt that I've forsakened him and the new one will feel like second best effectively not letting me put anymore levels in cleric and losing all my spells and I would also have to attone to go back to cleric.

I need to know if theres anyway that you can switch to a new deity

I would focus on the Roleplay aspect. Your DM is right to be suspicious, it makes very little sense for someone who had devoted his adult life to a particular god to suddenly switch to a different one for a minor benefit (In this case, for better healing) . What reason would Pelor have not to think that 6 months later you won't decide that what you REALLY wanted was a little bit of luck and the ability to escape grapples and change to Olidammara or Farlanghn. Try to figure out how to make the story play better in character and I wouldn't be surprised if he might not be more reasonable.
#5
kursk
Mar 19, 2008 11:42:57
I need to know if theres anyway that you can switch to a new deity

Currently I'm just a level 4 Cleric CG aligned.

It's up to the DM and how he has structured Gods, etc in his campaign. If you're looking for a rule that says it overrides a DMs decision, you won't find it.
#6
radijs
Mar 19, 2008 11:46:54 I have to agree with Braithwaite. Its not an easy decision to switch religions. And where I your DM I'd want a better reason then "This gives me some extra healing!".
How many people do you see switching from being a priest or vicar or anything from faith X to switch to christianity because you get wine and flatbread every now and then?
#7
wheldrake
Mar 19, 2008 12:05:41 The easiest solution would be for the cleric from god A to retire, while you create a new character who is (and always has been) a cleric to god B.

Being a cleric involves such levels of devotion that changing patron deities isn't going to be an easy thing.

If the cleric has been tempted away from the worship of god A by evil god C, I could see him gaining instant access to the powers (and spells) granted by that evil god C.

If god A and god B were closely-associated gods within a given pantheon, I could understand changing patron deity without too much trouble - a quest, sincere atonement, etc.

In most other cases, it just isn't going to happen... not without some life-changing event coming along to motivate the change.

It sounds like the OP really wants to correct a flaw in his original character design. Again, best way for that is simply to roll up a new character. If for some reason that's not feasable (you'd lose your gear and gold and the DM might not want to allow you to retain your level) then hey, just stick it out with the god of healing and cold. Or whatever.

Cheers, --- Wheldrake
#8
salla
Mar 19, 2008 12:08:32 PHB2 has a method of conversion listed in with the retraining rules.
#9
Rakor
Mar 19, 2008 12:42:16 I'm a bit surprised by the responses. I'd just let you. There might be a ritual or something and I'd prefer to try and work it into the story but in general if you're character isn't working out how you want I'm happy to let you change it.
#10
kursk
Mar 19, 2008 12:51:31
I'm a bit surprised by the responses. I'd just let you. There might be a ritual or something and I'd prefer to try and work it into the story but in general if you're character isn't working out how you want I'm happy to let you change it.

It's up to the DM. Some DMs have worlds where gods are real and notice their cleric's actions. Some don't.

An example house rule: Divine spell casters require a Deity; the Deity IS active in regulating how the
powers & spells it grants are used, usually manifested by circumscribing powers
if the caster strays from proper usage & behavior.
#11
williamtanner
Mar 19, 2008 14:59:23 What God would want you?

When things get tight you'll just hop to the next deity that strikes your fancy.

To answer the question of how you switch deities .. you can't if your DM says you cannot. He has already ruled on it (and I agree), and if he's spineless and waffles on the decision, soon he'll have an endless stream of "buyer's remorse" requests to change things.

If I were in your situation and wanted to play a cleric of Pelor instead of Telchur, I'd retire the first character and roll a new one. However, the only true god is Kord.

Kord be praised. Amen.

(Edit: i.e. I agree with Braithwaite and Wheldrake.)
#12
dunsel
Mar 20, 2008 15:26:46
The easiest solution would be for the cleric from god A to retire, while you create a new character who is (and always has been) a cleric to god B.

Being a cleric involves such levels of devotion that changing patron deities isn't going to be an easy thing.

If the cleric has been tempted away from the worship of god A by evil god C, I could see him gaining instant access to the powers (and spells) granted by that evil god C.

If god A and god B were closely-associated gods within a given pantheon, I could understand changing patron deity without too much trouble - a quest, sincere atonement, etc.

In most other cases, it just isn't going to happen... not without some life-changing event coming along to motivate the change.

It sounds like the OP really wants to correct a flaw in his original character design. Again, best way for that is simply to roll up a new character. If for some reason that's not feasable (you'd lose your gear and gold and the DM might not want to allow you to retain your level) then hey, just stick it out with the god of healing and cold. Or whatever.

Cheers, --- Wheldrake

Exactamundo Wheldrake!

If you cannot roll up a new cleric, try to change this one. If I were DM I would dock you a level, make you quest (as above), and tithe all of your existing money to your old church. You may keep any magic items but your money is gone. It might take a few levels to catch up with the rest of the group but dieties are a selfish lot and easy to anger.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 morvik Mar 18, 2008 14:22:03	Ok so in my campaign I'm running in, it's my first time running a cleric cause I was the only one willing enough to heal. Since we didn't have a real meat shield just a bunch of damage I also decided to get the best AC possible out of the group. Another thing, because my original plan was to make a cleric mainly using cold attacks and healing so I chose the deity Telchur. Well here lies the problem, I've decided I no longer want this deity and want to get a different one (pref Pelor cause i need better healing for our group) and also because the mythos is just really hard for me to personally do. The DM keeps trying to not let me change and says that my deity will be hurt that I've forsakened him and the new one will feel like second best effectively not letting me put anymore levels in cleric and losing all my spells and I would also have to attone to go back to cleric. I need to know if theres anyway that you can switch to a new deity Currently I'm just a level 4 Cleric CG aligned.
#2 dravda Mar 18, 2008 19:40:42	As a DM, I'd let you change, but it would involve an Atonement, as well as an arduous and unprofitable quest. Then, you could probably become a cleric of the new deity at your previous level. But if your DM has already given you a decision, you shouldn't try to subvert that (unless, of course, someone finds a rule that specifically says that you can switch deities.) -Count Dravda
#3 kuros81 Mar 18, 2008 19:46:25	As a DM, I'd let you change, but it would involve an Atonement, as well as an arduous and unprofitable quest. Then, you could probably become a cleric of the new deity at your previous level. But if your DM has already given you a decision, you shouldn't try to subvert that (unless, of course, someone finds a rule that specifically says that you can switch deities.) -Count Dravda I pretty much agree. As a DM, I'd let you change, but you'd have to show interest and sacrifice. That arduous and unprofitable quest? You'd be doing that without access to your diety's spells. Try to stick it out with this diety, and if its too hard, kindly plead with your DM.
#4 braithwaite Mar 19, 2008 11:29:47	Well here lies the problem, I've decided I no longer want this deity and want to get a different one (pref Pelor cause i need better healing for our group) and also because the mythos is just really hard for me to personally do. The DM keeps trying to not let me change and says that my deity will be hurt that I've forsakened him and the new one will feel like second best effectively not letting me put anymore levels in cleric and losing all my spells and I would also have to attone to go back to cleric. I need to know if theres anyway that you can switch to a new deity I would focus on the Roleplay aspect. Your DM is right to be suspicious, it makes very little sense for someone who had devoted his adult life to a particular god to suddenly switch to a different one for a minor benefit (In this case, for better healing) . What reason would Pelor have not to think that 6 months later you won't decide that what you REALLY wanted was a little bit of luck and the ability to escape grapples and change to Olidammara or Farlanghn. Try to figure out how to make the story play better in character and I wouldn't be surprised if he might not be more reasonable.
#5 kursk Mar 19, 2008 11:42:57	I need to know if theres anyway that you can switch to a new deity Currently I'm just a level 4 Cleric CG aligned. It's up to the DM and how he has structured Gods, etc in his campaign. If you're looking for a rule that says it overrides a DMs decision, you won't find it.
#6 radijs Mar 19, 2008 11:46:54	I have to agree with Braithwaite. Its not an easy decision to switch religions. And where I your DM I'd want a better reason then "This gives me some extra healing!". How many people do you see switching from being a priest or vicar or anything from faith X to switch to christianity because you get wine and flatbread every now and then?
#7 wheldrake Mar 19, 2008 12:05:41	The easiest solution would be for the cleric from god A to retire, while you create a new character who is (and always has been) a cleric to god B. Being a cleric involves such levels of devotion that changing patron deities isn't going to be an easy thing. If the cleric has been tempted away from the worship of god A by evil god C, I could see him gaining instant access to the powers (and spells) granted by that evil god C. If god A and god B were closely-associated gods within a given pantheon, I could understand changing patron deity without too much trouble - a quest, sincere atonement, etc. In most other cases, it just isn't going to happen... not without some life-changing event coming along to motivate the change. It sounds like the OP really wants to correct a flaw in his original character design. Again, best way for that is simply to roll up a new character. If for some reason that's not feasable (you'd lose your gear and gold and the DM might not want to allow you to retain your level) then hey, just stick it out with the god of healing and cold. Or whatever. Cheers, --- Wheldrake
#8 salla Mar 19, 2008 12:08:32	PHB2 has a method of conversion listed in with the retraining rules.
#9 Rakor Mar 19, 2008 12:42:16	I'm a bit surprised by the responses. I'd just let you. There might be a ritual or something and I'd prefer to try and work it into the story but in general if you're character isn't working out how you want I'm happy to let you change it.
#10 kursk Mar 19, 2008 12:51:31	I'm a bit surprised by the responses. I'd just let you. There might be a ritual or something and I'd prefer to try and work it into the story but in general if you're character isn't working out how you want I'm happy to let you change it. It's up to the DM. Some DMs have worlds where gods are real and notice their cleric's actions. Some don't. An example house rule: Divine spell casters require a Deity; the Deity IS active in regulating how the powers & spells it grants are used, usually manifested by circumscribing powers if the caster strays from proper usage & behavior.
#11 williamtanner Mar 19, 2008 14:59:23	What God would want you? When things get tight you'll just hop to the next deity that strikes your fancy. To answer the question of how you switch deities .. you can't if your DM says you cannot. He has already ruled on it (and I agree), and if he's spineless and waffles on the decision, soon he'll have an endless stream of "buyer's remorse" requests to change things. If I were in your situation and wanted to play a cleric of Pelor instead of Telchur, I'd retire the first character and roll a new one. However, the only true god is Kord. Kord be praised. Amen. (Edit: i.e. I agree with Braithwaite and Wheldrake.)
#12 dunsel Mar 20, 2008 15:26:46	The easiest solution would be for the cleric from god A to retire, while you create a new character who is (and always has been) a cleric to god B. Being a cleric involves such levels of devotion that changing patron deities isn't going to be an easy thing. If the cleric has been tempted away from the worship of god A by evil god C, I could see him gaining instant access to the powers (and spells) granted by that evil god C. If god A and god B were closely-associated gods within a given pantheon, I could understand changing patron deity without too much trouble - a quest, sincere atonement, etc. In most other cases, it just isn't going to happen... not without some life-changing event coming along to motivate the change. It sounds like the OP really wants to correct a flaw in his original character design. Again, best way for that is simply to roll up a new character. If for some reason that's not feasable (you'd lose your gear and gold and the DM might not want to allow you to retain your level) then hey, just stick it out with the god of healing and cold. Or whatever. Cheers, --- Wheldrake Exactamundo Wheldrake! If you cannot roll up a new cleric, try to change this one. If I were DM I would dock you a level, make you quest (as above), and tithe all of your existing money to your old church. You may keep any magic items but your money is gone. It might take a few levels to catch up with the rest of the group but dieties are a selfish lot and easy to anger.