I played a cleric that pissed off my party immensely. I worshiped a deity comparable to Thor. My goal was martyrdom. I wouldn’t heal anyone who fell in battle, believing that was the only sure path to a afterlife filled with joy. I finally died while holding the line as my party retreated, sadly none of my party members objected because they hated the only healer refusing to heal. But the dm loved it and I received a glorious ROLE PLAY scene and death speech.
@FuriousWojtek
3 жыл бұрын
Dude that's sick and I'm totally stealing that.
@claude-alexandretrudeau1830
2 жыл бұрын
Putting the RP back into RPG. A rare sight these days.
@diomedes1544
Жыл бұрын
😂🤣😂 that’s hilarious
@biffstrong1079
Жыл бұрын
Yes Nothing more annoying than the non-healer cleric in your party The traditional cleric is admittedly a rather dull construct, there like potions or some magical device totally focused on keeping your party alive. I keep playing with the idea of using a non-combatant NPC healer in my group, for that basic function. It's like the doc in the NFL just there to shoot them up with pain killers and steroids and stimulants so they cam go back out there quicker to get killed again. I generally don't find it that rewarding a role so either give the party a device to heal them or an NPC if no one really enjoys doing what is a game mechanic to cut down on down time for the party.
@elgatochurro
4 ай бұрын
It doesn't say you have to heal others, just that you can
@tynytian
2 жыл бұрын
The idea of healing spells not working on people who did evil behind the cleric's back is genius
@DUNGEONCRAFT1
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks!
@Recontramojado
9 ай бұрын
@@DUNGEONCRAFT1 This, all the time!
@ieatvirgins
5 жыл бұрын
"Why would you play X when you could play a Cleric?" - All of my experiences with D&D, sometimes substituted with "Wizard".
@DUNGEONCRAFT1
5 жыл бұрын
A common lament.
@ieatvirgins
5 жыл бұрын
It's not their fault that they're fun to play... it's just that every other class is much less entertaining.
@geordiem4283
5 жыл бұрын
I ran a DCC campaign with 4 clerics level 6 clerics, no other classes. The power was overwhelming
@fleetcenturion
3 жыл бұрын
2:01 - In _Dracula: Prince of Darkness,_ Christopher Lee does nothing but hiss, because he said the script was so bad, he refused to say any of the lines written for him. One more reason why Lee was a fucking legend!
@v0dka885
2 жыл бұрын
When he played the monster he was upset he got no lines and peter Cushing told him “count yourself lucky. trust me i’ve read the script” and that was how the 2 became amazing friends
@fleetcenturion
2 жыл бұрын
@@v0dka885 - LOL! Yes, I heard that one too.
@steelmongoose4956
Жыл бұрын
So, he was really hissing at the scriptwriter? That’s straight awesome.
@chriswaltner7028
7 күн бұрын
The script writer claims Lee is exaggerating and that he wrote no lines for him. I remain unconvinced. Why would any writer with access to talent like Lee choose not to write lines for him? It’s an absurd claim.
@fleetcenturion
6 күн бұрын
@@chriswaltner7028 - Exactly. Sounds like the very thing a crappy writer would say. 😆
@aandredaandred3378
5 жыл бұрын
0:54 Aaaand I just got an idea for an NPC! Meet Urban the Urban Druid - idling about rainy streets in his moldy robe, pockets full of rats and cockroaches; talking to homeless dogs, tending to basement mildew, sickly market square trees and an occasional flower-bed. People may hate him and his lice, but he doesn't mind, he knows his importance. Who else would stand between the good townsfolk and the plague, the drought, the flood?
@DUNGEONCRAFT1
5 жыл бұрын
Urban druid. CLASSIC!
@utopia2112
4 жыл бұрын
Dungeon Craft why not? There are urban gloomstalker rangers! Kind of Rogue’n’th’Hood.
Clerics and paladins both would adhere to the tenets of their faith. Much of the descriptors given for the cleric assume a Christian/LG-CG ethos. A cleric of an evil god would be the first to cut the throat of that 0 level enemy described--but would more likely want make a sacrifice to that Dread Lord. A cleric of Bacchus would be all about the wine and orgies. Clerics are really hard to play. Great material!
@NotSkitzofrenik
3 жыл бұрын
Lmao I’m a cleric
@rogerb181
3 жыл бұрын
Lol been playing one for years... "Another mission?" (Crap... I just wanted to stay in town and enjoy some down time... I hate wearing heavy armor when my brother is a mage and has a mage armor spell. Heavy sigh...
@jeffstormer2547
3 жыл бұрын
@@rogerb181 my go to for years was always a half elf ranger/cleric. Very occasionally a ranger/druid.
@brianevans9719
3 жыл бұрын
I agree that too many look at the cleric with a Christian viewpoint. My first character was a cleric back in '81 with the B/X Moldvay rule set and he was a monster hunter as Dave Arneson envisioned for the class. I think the view of clerics being more like a priest instead of a crusaders or monster hunter came about in 2nd Edition AD&D and that was the beginning of the downfall for the class in D&D, as well as the addition of the Paladin class in AD&D. The cleric is my favorite class to play and none of my clerics were ever the priest type or invested with gaining converts or followers for their deity. The relationship with their Deity was personal and one where the Deity sought out the character to work their will on the material plane, whatever it may be.
@rogerb181
3 жыл бұрын
@@brianevans9719 My preference on a cleric in my own setting is a Lightbringer, one who is empowered to venture out into the world to bring the light of cleansing to dark places. They normally investigate mysterious events, and hunt the undead. They encourage local villagers in the faith, mainly through deeds that show the power of their God. They solve problems through diplomacy, or combat when needed. Zombie problem? Solved. Bandit problem? Gather some adventurers together and go handle that too. Village needs the shrine fixed to his god? He would donate to restore it to honor his god. Spending alot of time presenting sermons and counseling the locals is for a resident priest, not a fully powered adventuring cleric. He seeks out the battles others fear.
@dustanmcarthur6658
5 жыл бұрын
I really like what you're offering on this channel. Everyone has different play styles. Every dungeon master is different. Your insight on the way magic and initiative work in opinion is good stuff. Thanks Professor Dungeon Master:)
@erikmartin4996
5 жыл бұрын
Dustan Mcarthur couldn’t agree more I don’t run things exactly the same as PDM but it’s in the same vein in many ways.
@DUNGEONCRAFT1
5 жыл бұрын
You are welcome and I appreciate the compliment, Dustan! Makes me want to work hard on another video (which is what I should be doing right now!)
@Falconaught
5 жыл бұрын
In under 15 minutes, you've revolutionized the way I think about Clerics. I'm definitely keeping these ideas with me, going forward. I'm IN LOVE with your channel, thank you very much for sharing your wisdom!
@DUNGEONCRAFT1
5 жыл бұрын
Thanks for loving the channel. Great stuff coming up (not this Thursday, though--I can't upload every week).
@Falconaught
5 жыл бұрын
@@DUNGEONCRAFT1 Quality over quantity, just the way I like it.
@Decado1628
3 жыл бұрын
As a huge fan of miniatures I like that you used them as examples.
@DUNGEONCRAFT1
3 жыл бұрын
You'll love next week's episode: a gallery walk of every mini company I own
@mattsmith3750
3 жыл бұрын
@@DUNGEONCRAFT1 I am really looking forward to seeing that!
@theguy3851
4 жыл бұрын
"Your weapon is stolen by an enemy theif." "I smash his skull in with my tome." "Okay-- wait what?"
@DUNGEONCRAFT1
4 жыл бұрын
When the cleric beats someone to death with his holy book, it's hilarious.
@johnstuartkeller5244
3 жыл бұрын
Activate Tavern Brawler feat!
@theguy3851
3 жыл бұрын
@Bronson Mohamed Why are you here telling us this?
@KamiRecca
3 жыл бұрын
This was the stadard attack for a healer/cleric in a jrpg, cant remember its name.
@knghtbrd
3 жыл бұрын
@@DUNGEONCRAFT1 THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY MEANT BY "BIBLE THUMPING"! 🤣 "The power of $deity compels you! *THWACK!*" 🤣🤣 *ahem* No, no, I'm okay, really. *THWACK!* 🤣 I don't know why that's so funny, but it is…
@trioofone8911
4 жыл бұрын
You always have gameplay ideas that are pragmatic and easy to apply. This is one of the most practicle approaches to clerics i have seen
@tomdulski3729
5 жыл бұрын
I'm happy to see the Vampirella figure finally got some screen time.
@ksmolsen
4 жыл бұрын
I'm playing a life cleric in Curse of Stradh. If the rest of the party doesn't pray with me every morning, they're not getting any of my healing. Popular? No. Am I having fun with it? Yes.
@jeremymullens7167
Жыл бұрын
One of the ‘clues’ someone was a vampire in the old stories is they didn’t go to church.
@SStevenson555
6 ай бұрын
U sound like an expendable player
@AKFechtschule
3 жыл бұрын
You hit it right on the nose. I've also seen that behavior in Star Wars with Jedi called 'Lightsaber syndrome', basically the player wants all the benefits of the class but refuses to accept or roleplay the responsibilities and limitations.
@johnmurphyakins989
5 жыл бұрын
I would love to play a cleric at your table. Clerics are extensions of their god, they are a tool of their god, and this is where they can vary. I have played clerics for 20 years now and my fellow players never know if they are going to love or hate my character. There have been many times fellow players have come into conflict with my characters or looked for other characters to involve because they know my character would cause problems later on. I love the focused intensity of a cleric and they are my favorite class.
@Joshuazx
4 жыл бұрын
I didn't pick up D&D until 5th edition, but what got me into D&D was old school D&D concepts like this. Paladins aren't fighters with holy powers, they're champions of a good and they can't permit evil to go unchallenged. That is a romanticized version of a medieval superhero. That's what I like about Paladins and Clerics.
@kevingooley9628
3 жыл бұрын
For me the best example of what a paladin wants to be is Sturm Brightblade from Dragonlance.
@jeremymullens7167
Жыл бұрын
I’d go with Jamie Lanaster. Not so much who he was as a flawed person but the ideas he wanted to embody. The knights of the round table are also a good example. And the word Paladin itself comes from Charlemagne’s personal knights. They aren’t champions of good they’re champions of the state. The powers are grated by virtue of being in a holy state and serving a holy monarch. It follows the divine right of kings. This kingdom exists because god deems it so and empowers his loyal followers with the power to defeat their enemies. The effect is his appointed knights get holy powers. This is referenced in works talking about Charlemagne’s and King Arthur’s round table. The champions of good are good aligned clerics. They follow their god directly.
@Joshuazx
Жыл бұрын
@@jeremymullens7167 that is actually a very good explanation. That should be in the PHB.
@erikmartin4996
5 жыл бұрын
Another top notch video. This is just a suggestion for all the followers of Professor Dungeon Master. Three days ago I shared a link to DungeonCraft on three different Facebook groups. One a city wide group, one state wide group, and one National group for D&D. Followers st that point were 4517 today it’s 4556. I lay no claim to the 39 followers in three days but it certainly wouldn’t hurt if all 4556 followers of PDM shared a link to his channel in a similar way. Again this is just a suggestion. Me personally I don’t see why PDM doesn’t have 50k followers already. His videos make the most sense of all the D&D channels and I like his style of play. I’d like to see more people have a chance to see what he has to offer. Find a local D&D Facebook group and a state one and a national one. Let’s see if we can’t get PDM up to 10k followers by March 1st.
@DUNGEONCRAFT1
5 жыл бұрын
Thanks, Erik! I am very grateful for your support.
@elrond3737
5 жыл бұрын
hey I found his channel 3-4 days ago and his subscription base jumped from 7200 to 8100. It is one of the better RPG channels
@erikmartin4996
5 жыл бұрын
@elrond3737 yep his subscribers are gonna be rocketing up the next few months. He’s got some of the very best content.
@claude-alexandretrudeau1830
2 жыл бұрын
In 5e, they divorced profession and character classes using the background feature. You may not like it, but I love it. I played a Hexblade Warlock the same way a Cleric would be played as a character in Professor Dungeon Master's mind. And it was all thanks to the Acolyte background. I was there performing the funeral rites of innocent victims to comfort the survivors, as well as that of my slain enemies to honor their bravery in battle. If my enemies showed disrespect, I would use the Accused Specter feature on them as punishment and also to grant one last chance at redemption. I fashioned this character as a devout blessed with the powers (and burdened with the responsibilites) of a Valkyrie. And yes, she was all about getting people to Valhalla or Folkvangr, including the other players. She would give everything to the temple to make it prosper, and the temple would in turn improve her equipment before sending her back to fight evil. I find it strange that the actual Cleric class didn't inspire me this, but the Hexblade Warlock did. And it could be played out thanks to background features.
@munderpool
5 жыл бұрын
That was well thought out! I've never seen anyone really delve into the meaning of the commitment. I've known one player who towed the line in thought and action, and it was a reflection of his personal philosophy, so he was comfortable. A nat 20 for Resurrection is very old school! I also think everything they do should be hands on or fairly adjacent for 'miracles'.
@DUNGEONCRAFT1
5 жыл бұрын
Thanks. That's why this video took so long.
@azmendozafamily
5 жыл бұрын
Great summation of Clerics! I always tried to play my clerics bordering on fire and brimstone. Note, I still play B/X BECMI.
@DUNGEONCRAFT1
5 жыл бұрын
I think they're more interesting that way.
@bhorrthunderhoof4925
4 ай бұрын
Very good thoughts about the Clerics. Thanks for sharing.
@DUNGEONCRAFT1
4 ай бұрын
Glad you like them!
@trynda1701
Жыл бұрын
Interesting take on how the clerics powers work, and how he or she can lose them, both temporarily or permanently. I was going to say that the natural 1 roll to lose connection with ones God or Goddess seemed odd with the second roll of natural 20 being the worst result, until I realised 1-19 was the number of rounds till the bond is reestablished,but a 20 means DAYS of penance, hence the worst possible punishment!
@steelmongoose4956
Жыл бұрын
As I go through your older videos, I am encouraged by how much we agree on so many things. You are trying to change D&D in the same way I’m trying to design a different game. Good points all around.
@DUNGEONCRAFT1
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for your support.
@theophrastusbombastus1359
5 жыл бұрын
I have a soft spot for Clerics (first thing i ever played) and, even though i never played him like how you describe above, i still agree on everything you've stated. If i ever play a Cleric again i'm going to do it properly, and i'll be watching this video again for a refresher course. Another excellent video. Thanks again and keep up the good work.
@Seyryo
3 жыл бұрын
Can't stress enough how much I loved this video. It felt like a remembrance of the good ol'days when I was playing Ad D&D, when magic items were scarce to find around the world or a well earned trophy, a relic entrusted by the Temple, or a fitting reward for a job well done. It felt like Christmas when..."You see a faint pulsating light glow from your trusty old mace, suddenly it erupts into a blinding warm light, you know this feeling, this is the power of your god, the light vanishes, your mace now shining silver, magically blessed." Nowadays you can simply "buy" it because the game has a streamlined character progression and a degree of must have items, all listed in gold, and an easy to craft system in case you don't find them in the shop. In Forgotten Realms Ad D&D setting the cleric was a respected and/or feared character. Why? Because he/she was a herald, a servant, someone with a direct connection to the God. Killing an autorithy religious figure could mean a restless pursuit, a vengeful crusade, or even a personal retribution from the god itself (in the form of an Avatar) against the party. Now they are another "slot" to fit in the group, or another "boss" to defeat, and this is something clearly influenced by the MMORPG mentality, the same occurs with how treasure is handled as well. By no means I am impliying this is wrong or bad, just a share of my own experience and opinion. Cheers from Spain Mr Professor DM and keep up the good work!
@DUNGEONCRAFT1
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the kind words. I was just out for a walk thing about a quasi- sequel where I talk about designing more realistic religions. Cheers and may all your rolls be 20s!
@jonathanlevy3747
Жыл бұрын
@@DUNGEONCRAFT1 Heya, PDM. DId you make that video, on more realistic religions? I've watched maybe a dozen of your videos (subscribed quickly I must say) and am loving it, but I've really loved the ones on Making Magic Dangerous and Making Clerics Balanced/Realistic. (My titles, your content.) If I may, I think your age (same as mine) and education give you the perspective to make D&D more streamlined and realistic, and more balanced, which, unless you want anime D&D for kids bogged down in rules, is more fun. Absolutely great content, ideas, effort, presentation, lengths, ze works, mein doktor. You're a dude. Can I ask, why the Yale hate? Is it Skull & Bones and the a-holes they produce?
@DUNGEONCRAFT1
Жыл бұрын
@@jonathanlevy3747 Lol. I love Yale, but I love busting on them even more.
@RedHand17
7 ай бұрын
I always love how grim dark your World is, The cleric Flagellating himself is spot on, And she’s something you wouldn’t see in high fantasy, But I love it
@jawajunk
5 жыл бұрын
Well said. My enthusiasm for the cleric class has been resurrected!
@DUNGEONCRAFT1
5 жыл бұрын
Amen!
@Fait231
4 жыл бұрын
On the 'not healing one who does not believe in your god', If you are using the d&d pantheon, you need to embrace polytheism. A cleric of Palor and a cleric of Heironeous would be friendly rivals, and would not deny healing to members of each other's faiths. Especially if they are working towards the same goal. This also extends to thieves or a barbarian that worships kord, by all means peddle your faith, and be abnoxious about it if you like, but you also can't let your party fail in a holy crusade
@Recontramojado
9 ай бұрын
I really like playing clerics, precisely because of the Zealot aspect leads to amazing role playing opportunities, hammy acting and great interactions.
@gozer87
5 жыл бұрын
I remember a particularly tense session where my lawful good dwarven cleric had a standoff with the thieves in the party because he wouldn't let them break open a sarcophagus to search for loot, disturbing the rest of a great hero.
@knghtbrd
3 жыл бұрын
The BEST RP for such a cleric would be when they found themselves in positions where they had to choose from among possibilities where none of the options is morally acceptable within their faith. Deciding the correct path would be difficult for such a person. It would require prayer and deliberation. If pressed, they would decide quickly out of necessity, but … it would likely give them lingering doubts about their choice and a need to seek absolution in case they chose improperly. They wouldn't have to be hellfire and brimstone-spewing, but they'd certainly spend their time doing "God's work" (whatever that looks like for their deity). I do like the notion that those who have committed a grave sin and temporarily disposed of their cleric to do it would not be helped by that deity unless they sought repentance and conversion… The danger of having a cleric in the party is that you're all somewhat bound to the cleric's morality.
@sezrekahneldar4058
5 жыл бұрын
Yes! I was looking forward to this and you didn't disappoint. I can see the DCC RPG influences sprinkled in. Thank you!
@sezrekahneldar4058
5 жыл бұрын
On a side note: the "disappearing cleric" should be hearing from their god about looking the other way and should be required to make redeem the transgression to maintain cleric "magic" privileges.
@DUNGEONCRAFT1
5 жыл бұрын
You're welcome. Your comment means a lot to me, because it took an insanely long time to make this particular video.
@ARandomCogboi
3 жыл бұрын
I once played a cleric named Father Glaston Ravenhurst. He was a grave domain cleric, and relentlessly purged undead. He was a fanatic, and wouldn’t think twice about charging the gates of hell for his god. He always accepted surrender, unless the captive was undead, demonic, or otherwise an unholy abomination. Then he purged them and said a prayer for their soul. He would be nonstop quoting the Bible, every session. He was fun.
@Intotheweirdblueyonder
Жыл бұрын
There is some really cool food-for-thought in this video, and it reminds me a fair bit of Logan Knight’s ‘Mystic’ class.
@TrueKoalaKnight
4 жыл бұрын
So your Clerics are more like Paladins. I dig it.
@DUNGEONCRAFT1
4 жыл бұрын
in many ways. I see a paladin as a righteous, pious, moral knight.
@ViccVegaa023
4 жыл бұрын
The Paladin exists because there's not very many literary examples of the Christian Priest-as-Warrior unless you are versed in folklore. But everyone in America knows about the Knights of The Round Table. Arthur, Lancelot and Galahad are Prototypical Paladins, complete with mechanics for redemption thru questing.
@darkjack164
3 ай бұрын
Remember. The wise words of the paladin from journey quest. "killing equals honour..." "oh im far to brave to spare the women and children"
@kaylaa2204
10 ай бұрын
That’s actually really good for the modern game I think where how many spells the caster has aren’t nearly as limited as it started off. And spells can’t interrupted if they aren’t concentration either It definitely balances the caster if they can’t know for a fact that something they do will succeed
@JorisVDC
4 жыл бұрын
I really like your style, it's much more like hardcore mode. No meta gaming, no backsies, death is death and real consequences occur. Today there is little to nothing left of this in 5e. It reminds me of Baldor Gate II were I went on a mission to revenge the paladins family. Only to find out that he was expelled from his order. Which was funny because I needed him around for turning undead so I kept him on the team. Yet from time to time he would go bananas and start attacking the party who were responsible for him getting expelled. That's why I kept charm person in my prepared spell list to calm the poor soul down and keep him in line. Looking back, I was a cruel part leader. 'So I shattered your dreams? Sucks to be you, I am still not done with you. Obey, slave!'
@DUNGEONCRAFT1
4 жыл бұрын
Hardcore mode is a good way you describe it.
@fightingleaf
4 жыл бұрын
All this really just makes me wanna play a Cleric now, just so I can say "I can do it right!"
@alanschaub147
5 жыл бұрын
The Gray Mouser’s partner, Fafhrd, became a cleric for a short time in one of their adventure. That book series had a major influence on the design of D&D. I suspect this is where both the Cleric class and the idea of multiclassing originated. In a similar manner, Michael Moorcock’s chaos versus law ethos in his Elric series was where D&D alignments originated.
@DUNGEONCRAFT1
5 жыл бұрын
I forgot about Fafhrd's stint as a cleric. Which story was that?
@alanschaub147
5 жыл бұрын
Dungeon Craft I think it was "Lean Times in Lankhmar".
@miniaturemoviestudios8779
5 жыл бұрын
Starting a new game (campaign) after 30 plus years of not playing great vidz keep up the great work.... playing 3.5 rules.
@DUNGEONCRAFT1
5 жыл бұрын
3.5 was great. Thanks for your viewership!
@miniaturemoviestudios8779
5 жыл бұрын
@@DUNGEONCRAFT1 your welcome!! I will be making a stop motion movie based on D&D soon. After I finish my 2nd episode of Star we SMUGGLERS TALE.
@jaredlasseter7364
4 жыл бұрын
Thank You. My biggest problem is new players only have video games as a reference about Clerics (same happens with Paladins but with different abilities & weapons) & thinking their only limitations is having a blunt force weapon. It's been like pulling eye teeth getting them realize both class are not amoral superheroes, that pretend to be stupid when the other PC's are about to do something morally questionable in the game. And go wonder off for 5 minutes. Glad to see I'm not the only one who has this problem in their group. Thanks for the great video I will be sharing it with my 2 Cleric players
@TheClassicalSauce
4 жыл бұрын
You make me want to play a cleric. Your clerics are like paladins. How do you differentiate between the two, besides game mechanics? I really love your approach to DnD. Maybe you could do a giant episode covering each class and the rules you use for them. Can Wizards wear armor? Use swords? Can clerics use blades? What makes a fighter special and distinct from other classes?
@DUNGEONCRAFT1
4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching. No need to wait for a future episode. Re: wizards: No. Yes. No. More HP & higher AC.
@jeremymullens7167
Жыл бұрын
I think Clerics are a little too close to Paladins. In 1e Adnd Paladins didn’t get spells till name or close to it. That means practically the end of the game. Paladins are knights in shining armor the epitomizes that romantic idea. They’re knights of the round table, Charlemagne’s Paladins, The Kings guard of Westeros. A Barbarian society on the fringes of the world can have clerics but they won’t have Paladins. The Cleric order supplies their own system and operate in many areas. A Paladin requires a certain level of organization in the civilization they exist in. Paladins also require the monarch they follow to be lawful good. A Paladin is more beholden to ideas of valor and justice and honor. If the people perceive the knight as not elite they are in danger of losing enough face to lose their position as elite knight of the kingdom. A cleric by contrast answers directly to their god. The only reputation they care about is with their diety. They will show valor and justice if their god is good but are less concerned about keeping face or politics in general. I would point you to many stories in the Bible where a prophet suffers. A cleric may not always have status in a society even if they have high status in their church. A Paladin always has status within the civilization they’re a part of. The rural counterpart to the Paladins is the Ranger. I think he reason they’re locked good is because being evil already gave benefits and there is a general encouragement to be good. I think neutral players were doing better in gygax’s games because they could play with the good team and evil team. That let them Adventure more. Evil characters had the benefit of being evil and able to abuse those under them raise zombies and just be bad. In comparison good aligned characters were weak. I also think it counteracts the multi classed demi humans.
@tomyoung9834
5 жыл бұрын
Love it! Especially the grimdarkness of it!
@rufuslynks8175
Жыл бұрын
Outstanding! We speak of religious zealotry without recognition of the who the Zealots were, your descriptions in the video described the sentiment of zealotry without throwing that word around. I think this sort of role play makes the game memorable and avoids formulaic search, attack, destroy, level-up style gaming. It adds human-ness to the tabletop session. And it's fun afterward to be "in-game" angry at your best friends while joking around the table and appreciating their gaming skills.
@EMerdelac
5 жыл бұрын
I love these ideas! Too often I see clerics and paladins played like regular characters. Even saw one at an event who kept loudly proclaiming he was an atheist and his powers came from within. Dumb that the DM didn't step in and smite him or something. The cleric or the paladin is SUPPOSED to be the stick in the mud to the murder hobos in the group. Otherwise, play a fighter or a magic user.
@DUNGEONCRAFT1
5 жыл бұрын
I approve this post. There is no such thing as an atheist cleric.
@adambirkholtz4453
4 жыл бұрын
@@DUNGEONCRAFT1 They could simply see Gods as high-level magic users. It's hard to argue against that if their (clearly a God like all the rest) "God" argues the same about itself and all the other Gods.
@sherizaahd
Жыл бұрын
that's brutal. Reminds me of when I played a 2e Paladin. He was rock dumb and just never noticed or understood all of the shenanigans that the other party members were up to.
@sebastiancollins01
3 жыл бұрын
So for the last 2 years I have played a level 13 Abjurer in 5e named Geome Samson Due. He is a bumpkin hedge Wizard who is also a devout believer of Saint Cuthburt from Greyhawk. The Saint is a God of Commonsense and Zeal. His domain is knowledge and I it think would attract a lot of mages and the like. Unless pushed to action my Wizard will never strike an enemy dead. He is quite clearly not a cleric though. He's not ordained but he prostlasyzes for the church, converts new members and openly damns sinners. He's becoming increasingly fanatical as an outsider (probably an angel) has been whispering in his ear otherworldly secrets that make the core notes of his new wizard spells. It's great. I think I will multuclass him into a cleric for the remainder of the game. It makes a lot of sense narratively.
@AlVainactual
3 жыл бұрын
A good representation of a Cleric that comes to mind is in Matt Colville's Chain of Acheron campaign, where the player had his Cleric step down from the mercenary company's leadership because he couldn't trust himself to make the morally difficult decisions due to his religion. So he abdicated... to a Tiefling Hellknight... Yeah it was a whack ass campaign. I loved it!
@legendnetwork9153
4 жыл бұрын
Clerics are also rare in my game. The main religions have been pushed far to the south of the world and a last bastion city in the wilds of the north through the rise of science and arcane magic. This means that clerics are rare depending on where you are in the world and can be distrusted as they try to preach in the wizard rich central continents
@jeffreyrunokivi132
Жыл бұрын
Absolutely...as a long time player of clerics I agree wholeheartedly with your assessment here. I know I've bedeviled many fellow players with my character's scrupulous behaviour many times!
@Horse2021
5 жыл бұрын
Might I suggest taking a look at the article from The Dragon #51, "Thou Shalt Play This Way - Ten Commandment for Paladins" by Robert J. Bezold. The short version is this - 1. Thou Shalt Accept The Counsels Of Thy Mentor And Obey All His Commandments. 2. Thou Shalt Defend Thy Mentor. 3. Thou Shalt Respect All Weaknesses And Constitute Thyself The Defender Of Them. 4. Thou Shalt Be Faithful To The Mentor Who Reared Thee. 5. Thou Shalt Not Recoil Before Thine Enemy. 6. Thou Shalt Make War Against Evil Without Cessation And Without Mercy. 7. Thou Shalt Perform Scrupulously Thy Duties To Thy Mentor. 8. Thou Shalt Never Lie, And Shalt Remain Faithful To Thy Pledged Word. 9. Thou Shalt Give Largely Of Thy Wealth. 10. Thou Shalt Be Everywhere And Always The Champion Of The Right And The Good Against Injustice And Evil. While this was written with the paladin character in mind and has greater depth for each of the commandments under each entry beyond what I posted here, I feel that it is also a very good fit with how you view the clergy as a whole since the paladin is simply step beyond the dedicated holy warrior monk.
@johnr7279
5 жыл бұрын
Awesome! Please keep making these videos! Because I am probably of the same generation as you, I love the historical aspect that many of your videos have. Super work and fun to listen to!
@DUNGEONCRAFT1
5 жыл бұрын
Thank you. I try my best to teach the historical context. I wish I had had it when I was young.
@DjigitDaniel
5 жыл бұрын
Brilliant as always, professor. I've been away from the gaming table for a while and, as such, neglected keeping up with your content. It's good to hear your ideas again.
@blinddog4288
4 жыл бұрын
Great ideas!
@DUNGEONCRAFT1
4 жыл бұрын
Thanks, Brian!
@tonymuto7829
4 ай бұрын
Implementing this for sure!
@jubes1300
5 жыл бұрын
Can't wait for the vid on Druids (They're literally my favourite class!)
@DUNGEONCRAFT1
5 жыл бұрын
LOL--literally. I had druids in here but it got too long. This vid was so frustrating, by the end I was like--screw the druids! So it will be a while, honestly. I need to rest up a while and do some easier videos. I'll try to get to it by the summer, though.
@kristianhaller6655
5 жыл бұрын
Long videos are fine, let’s see it!
@davidrose7938
3 жыл бұрын
Druids: kzitem.info/news/bejne/zqmtu3qsinxnfag
@himesjb
3 жыл бұрын
This view of clerics makes more sense to me -- prayers for miracles that are granted or denied by the deity -- makes more sense as a distinctive class than simply a "holy" version of a wizard with church "spells." Pros & cons to each character class is what makes for a good mix within the PC party, so that no one is a 1-man wrecking crew or jack of all trades. Archetypes are easier to role play. And I like how you define in these videos how each PC's limitations are what make them interesting instead of omnipotent. I like the consequences you give for dishonoring the Order of faith. It fills out the medieval setting.
@NoActuallyGo-KCUF-Yourself
2 жыл бұрын
Divine casters in my games always run the risk of not being granted spells or having other powers taken away if their gods aren't satisfied with their holy duties. Spells can be denied during prayer or when attempting to cast, but the player is always given a solid reason that corresponds with their faith's tenets.
@brandiegieler147
2 жыл бұрын
I played a soft spoken half-blue dragon cleric of Pelor in 3E. He preached his faith every where he went healing all in need. So he converted an entire tribe of kobolds and a gnoll along with several rural villages and a whole city. But this was because his faith and kindness and charity were so infectious.
@MarshmallowMadnesss
4 жыл бұрын
I don't have enough thumbs to give. I do love the rule that all magic requires a d20 and this helped me out for that specific issue as well as other wise thoughts on clerics in general.
@kasa6038
Жыл бұрын
I use some similar ideas. I have several deities in my world; I try to balance the types of clerics with what armor and spell choices they have. The spells are assigned by me, trying to be consistent with the God's realm of influence. I have always wanted someone to play a cleric from the god of death, but no one has yet. The alignment of my player's current cleric and god that he serves is chaotic good. The god is whimsical and capricious so sometimes the spells backfire or even flip (like a cure wounds becomes create wounds). Using these options makes clerics fun (IMO) but not any better than the other classes.
@andrewshewan4551
5 жыл бұрын
I love this stuff, and I know a lot of people who really like class descriptions and ideas about how that class may perceive the world and others. I'd heartily recommend making more of these!
@SanJacintoArtGuild
9 ай бұрын
Another awesome video, thanks!
@Shanachie-69
2 жыл бұрын
The severed connection effect might work well with Paladins, too. I think of Gawaine during the Grail Quest, so eager to start out that he can't be bothered to hit the confessional first. As a result, he botches pretty much everything he does, even to the point of accidentally killing his own friends. It'd be a shame for something like that to happen to an adventuring party.😈
@maxwellvindman7212
3 жыл бұрын
3:20 because the war cleric extra attack is tied to a very limited resource
@jamiecampbell3436
3 жыл бұрын
I’m running a game tomorrow with a Cleric. He’s a Scottish Rastafarian from the Isle of Mon. I like these rules.
@JoshuaMeehan
5 жыл бұрын
I have definitely seen the war cleric a lot in games. And it outshines the martial builds even with min/maxing. Do you run paladins similarly? Do you even include paladins in your games? The setting is so dark fantasy is imagine paladins, like clerics, are quite rare.
@chrisessick7192
3 жыл бұрын
War cleric only shines until 5th level and only then if you are not giving the players multiple multiround combats. He also loses access to the awesome spiritual weapon spell, since his BA is used hitting things himself. After 5th level your warcleric should stop hitting things and start slinging spells because he isn't as good at it as a fighter or barbarian.
@jamesrizza2640
2 жыл бұрын
I like your view on the cleric. I like the idea of having them to roll for thier spells, it adds more 'reality' that the gods can be fickle or arbitrary at times. I always enjoy your thoughts and ideas.🙏
@paulleard8349
Жыл бұрын
Thought of running a campaign with no gods and use Immortals. A world were most cultures study a form of Taoism. And a culture were shamans/priests do relate with the spirt world, instead of gods. Some of the teaching that immortals left were how to tame spirts and will be using the spirits to help cast some of the cleric spells in prayer that communicates with the local spirts. A roll of a 1 would make the spirts angry, a 2 the spirts are not in what I call adaptable to communicate with the living realm that they are in mostly anyways. A 20 is the spirts are excited to help the clerics spell.
@fum716
5 жыл бұрын
Love this video. Also I’ve been using an initiative system that is based on a Video game, Divinity II: Original Sin, where each character makes an initiative roll at the beginning of the session, and once the order is made and I write it down, when an encounter goes to conflict I take the number of “enemies” and put them evenly between the PC’s turns. It helps because whoever rolled the best, unless ambushed or surprised, will decide what to do while I do a quick little list of the enemy’s order.
@DUNGEONCRAFT1
5 жыл бұрын
Cool! Thanks for sharing!
@user-qg8mo5qc5s
3 ай бұрын
Some of what you say is spot on (well, to me, since White box,) but TBH sometimes you jump the shark. This one of those times.
@DUNGEONCRAFT1
3 ай бұрын
That's okay. We can still be friends.
@MemphiStig
Жыл бұрын
When I started playing in 1e, one of the other characters unintentionally got my elf killed, and in order to have me resurrected, he had to find a temple to a god of the same alignment as my character and make a very healthy donation for the clerics to agree to it.
@emperorpronddaltuma3674
Жыл бұрын
I played a 5e game where the Cleric was beholden to a Goddess of War, The DM dictating the will of the Goddess. That will being the Cleric shall live so others may die in combat. I played a warrior who was tired of war, was reluctant to kill, and sought fortune an adventure to redeem a vampire hooker spy, in the hopes of living with her in peace. Imagine the fun that came from that.
@avalonjustin
Жыл бұрын
Clerics all day baby.☀I like your policy of balancing the Cleric's power by class limitations. A Cleric doesn't actually have all those holy powers themselves, they are petitioning their Deity to use THEIR powers. This means the Cleric must live their lives strictly following the rules their Deity has for their conduct.
@rotschadel3574
5 жыл бұрын
I woud say that the code of religion greatly depends on the church you are part of. There are hard guidelines for the cleric, but they must feel fundamentaly different, depending of the gods they serve. This is importent, because religion is a big part of the world and the cleric must represent that. Mercy is not for evrery god and some might even call it a disgrace aganst the opponent to spare him/her. Same goes for other things.
@DUNGEONCRAFT1
5 жыл бұрын
Good point. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
@rotschadel3574
5 жыл бұрын
Originaly it is a german systhem. So you need to fall back on a translation( witch is good thou)
@rotschadel3574
5 жыл бұрын
@@DUNGEONCRAFT1 sorrx for bad spelling btw 0_o
@DUNGEONCRAFT1
5 жыл бұрын
@@rotschadel3574 I häve to check out "the Black Eye." I've not heard of it.
@rotschadel3574
5 жыл бұрын
@@DUNGEONCRAFT1 i am stupid it is called dark eye ;D A black eye is a punch to the face, right?
@WhatIfBrigade
Жыл бұрын
A Tempest cleric in the desert would probably be regarded as a saint by the local population and be courted by powerful authorities who desire power. It might make for a fun game if the cleric used their power to commission churches, donate to charity and preach to large crowds. I think it could be especially funny if the population placed lots of expectations on the party (everyone expects them to donate money to every poor person they meet, they are constantly being asked to deliver requests or heartfelt but annoying gifts to the cleric, and everyone expects them to be saintly in their behavior as "followers" of the cleric).
@andrewlustfield6079
2 жыл бұрын
Clerics have always been a little problematic as they were first presented and even currently from my perspective, especially in a world where there are multiple gods. I've run monotheistic and polytheistic worlds--in a polytheistic world, one of the worst things that stretches back to early D&D is making that cleric declare his or her patron deity. Priests of antiquity honored and sacrificed to all the gods of their tradition. A priest might serve in the temple of a particular deity, and spend time exploring the mysteries of same said deity--for the sake of argument lets say the Temple of Zeus---but for healing he or she would still approach Apollo, for a good harvest he/she would approach Demeter, and for a successful birth, they would still approach Hera with offerings and sacrifice. Within a Greek Mythology setting, I can easily see turning undead as something a cleric might so this in the name of Hades as the keeper of the Underworld. In most traditions that I'm aware of, the gods of the underworld guarded the souls in their domains quite jealously. It's very possible these would be the powers that a priest call upon so that they might take the dead back to where they rightfully belong. Instead of a holy symbol, the priest or priestess might hold up a coin to place under the undead monster's tongue pr over their eyes for the ferryman. If the turn undead is successful you might even describe that all the characters smell a river, and hear the ferryman's bell ringing, and hear the snarling of a three headed dog near to hand. Between the coin and those sounds of the servants of Hades, the undead flee and if it's a critical success where the undead are destroyed outright--have Cerberus appear to rip them to shreds. So in a D&D Greek religious cosmology---Hades guards the dead, upholding the rightful order of the gods, but the demon prince of the undead, Orcus, is constantly defying Hades and stealing souls from his domain at every turn, so he (Orcus) can send those souls back into the world of the living. Why? He's a demon. Defying the natural order of the gods is what demons do. It's just their jam. The exploring the religious cosmology of any given fantasy game world can really give new life into what it means to running priests, paladins, druids (who weren't just nature focused Celtic priests, but they were also law givers, judges, soothsayers, and authorities on traditions in an oral society.) What happens to souls after death in your D&D world? Do people just become shadows in an ashen world where they almost remember the lives they lived--is the only mortality one can hope for through notions like kleos and time' as in the world of Homer? That's a whole different set of motives for not only priests, but individual characters. Are there such things as saints? Is martyrdom venerated? If so, why? The pre-Christian Norse were not terribly compelled by martyrdom--not when the halls of Valhalla might yet be open to them. Are monastic traditions of different orders of clergy temporary like the Roman Vestal Virgins, or are they life long like in Catholicism? In agrarian civilizations, fertility is the whole ballgame--fertility of the fields, fertility of flocks and herds, fertility of a populace. Why would these athletes of the gods separate themselves from that natural order of things and take vows of chastity instead of setting an example for their flock to follow? I agree that yes, prisoners were taken for ransom, but this extended to Christian on Christian violence--there were different rules when fighting infidel and heathen armies. Do goblins deserve quarter and charity? Or are they a living plague and abominations sent into the world as direct manifestation of the power of their demon gods, Maglubiyet or Gruumsh for the orcs, and should be slaughtered to the last like diseased rats? If giving quarter to humanoids is something the gods decree, what is the benefit to them and the societies that worship them? This is a topic I've given quite a bit of thought to over time
@adamjchafe
5 жыл бұрын
I like Clerics in 5e but also agree with you here, there are some fantastic ideas even for a high fantasy game. For anyone wanting to do a trickster cleric in this method by the way, go read The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch. The priests of the god of thieves in that world fit in very well with the professors ideas here.
@DUNGEONCRAFT1
5 жыл бұрын
I LOVE that book. At least the first half.
@theroguegeneralhunter2206
3 жыл бұрын
Another Great Video. I would love to get my hands on some transcripts of your episodes for quick reference when designing my own game worlds/settings . You are one of the only content providers that I find myself constantly taking notes during the lecture.
@jonathanlevy3747
Жыл бұрын
Better yet, watch the video over and over and that'll help his channel. Though, yeh, transcripts would be handy. But, buddy, the man's time is limited. Thank god (gnuck gnuck) we're getting these videos.
@kendo5862
5 жыл бұрын
Love the paintwork! Cleric of tymora and trickery/rogues affords a bit of breadth, interest & fun but is a bit of a random
@psmithcrna
5 жыл бұрын
When I first started watching your videos, I thought you were a kook. I gave them a chance because you looked like an intelligent person and you had some good things to say. The concepts were very foreign to me being a 35 year veteran to the game. Now, I’m really interested in your arguments and find this channel to be pure gold. I am seriously considering changing the whole way I play the game. Thank you for these videos. I am only about 10 into your 70+ videos but plan to watch them all. When I play, Clerics are my most often played class. I tend to play them very lawfully, chaste and readily accept surrender. Thanks again.
@DUNGEONCRAFT1
5 жыл бұрын
My wife thinks I'm a kook! So do my children and students. Glad you enjoy the channel.
@jonathanlevy3747
Жыл бұрын
@ Thumper - I had a similar initial reaction. But so much of what he says makes sense that I am becoming...a devotee. All the geniuses were considered kooks until they were proven to be right. Now they're thinking is canon by the wise.
@GrandSirThebus
3 жыл бұрын
I understand the restrictions for balancing purposes but that stuff is turning towards the whole situation that gave clerics and paladins a bad name in 3.5. Not many people want to play clerics as well due to the stigma of them only being healers so i think that the features are likely over compensating
@zeterzero4356
5 жыл бұрын
I'm a little more lineant on clerics. While there are purely faith based cleric I also allow the idea of a person being taught cleric spells but it has to come from a specific source and is based more on philosophy than intellect. Where for a wizard magic is a science, for clerics it's a philosophy. Wizards are over in the math and science department but clerics are over in the literature and history department. Bards...bards in the cafeteria buying both lunch to pick their brains for what they'll need to know in order to past the next test.
@DUNGEONCRAFT1
5 жыл бұрын
Cool beans! Thanks for sharing!
@elrond3737
5 жыл бұрын
So Good. I am making my wife watch this since she will be playing a cleric next... 6th level after 25 years... wow. I like slow progression myself. It took my kids 4 years to reach 12 level. I take it easy on them. lots of healing potions are found in encounters
@cooperb4449
3 жыл бұрын
I totally enjoyed your video. Most players now play there characters like it's a MMO. It's much more fun to think out of the box and say hmmm what would my toon really do. And stay true to the toon your playing......
@midshipman8654
3 жыл бұрын
friar tuck might be a literary example of a traveling cleric.
@boones999
5 жыл бұрын
That temptation segment though....
@DUNGEONCRAFT1
5 жыл бұрын
What else do clerics think about in their weak moments?
@boones999
5 жыл бұрын
@@DUNGEONCRAFT1 Indeed. I just feel sorry for the clerics. I wouldn't last past lvl. 0 in your game as a cleric (or probably in general).
@anial3736
4 жыл бұрын
"Clerics don't have a literary tradition" Isis, Egyptian Goddess of Wisdom and Magic. Revives her husband from the dead. Her followers; priests and priestesses who were known as healers and were said to have other abilities like dream reading and protection. *shrugs*
@anial3736
4 жыл бұрын
Nathan Morgan and Gandalf is one of the Valár sent by Eru Ilúvatar ; your point?
@anial3736
4 жыл бұрын
Nathan Morgan My bad. ( but Maiar are just lesser Valár anyway.) Because he mentioned Aragorn, Conan and Merlin as examples (1:18 if you want to check) and stated that such a concept has not existed before 1977; but the concept of a holy person with high wisdom who heals and brings the undead to peace has existed. (Not saying these people actually had magic powers but in LITERARY tradition, they did.) I never said that Isis was a DND diety; just that she existed prior to 1977.
@williamtweed6377
5 жыл бұрын
I love the idea of the other player characters deceiving the cleric but the God of the cleric not healing the party there onwards. Awesome idea.
@CryptoJitsu
4 жыл бұрын
Ive FOR REAL seen goblins heads popping off all the time "randomly" ... such a weird phenomena!
@davidgrubbs6362
5 жыл бұрын
I've been trying to think my way through reimagining the cleric class, and this was enormously helpful. I know you haven't much use for skills/proficiencies, but playing up the healing and knowledge skills can help offset the reduction of clerical spells.
@DUNGEONCRAFT1
5 жыл бұрын
I agree. I have surgeons that can heal.
@rayrous8229
9 ай бұрын
Amen brother!
@johnscotto5045
3 жыл бұрын
LOL...oh my gosh, you're "forbidden desires' music had me rolling on the floor.
@AussieGriffin
3 жыл бұрын
Gotta say that the idea of a god that would give you a boring, years-long task and then reward you for quitting it and proving that you aren't a moron is the kind I can get behind as a cleric. A.G.
@jokertim777
5 жыл бұрын
I appreciate the d20 roll for casting spells (many 5e spells are no longer automatic), but I'm not quite sold on the second (severity?) d20 roll. First, one of the tips for faster combats is to roll to hit and damage at the same time. Do you roll 2d20s at the same time for spells? Second, it seems redundant to roll the exact same die that you just rolled for the spell again for severity. Can't you fold in the severity based on the to hit roll? If they beat their minimum, the spell works weakly, if they beat it by 5 or more it's normal, if they beat it by 10 or more it has extra power. I would understand the need for a second roll if you were using percentile dice for lots of potential effects (like Wild Magic Surges in 5e). Perhaps you meant that the second roll is only used for "fumble" severity, so it wouldn't come up often and slow the game down much. Where I think the Clerics of 5e really fall down is not having spell lists be dependent on the deity worshiped. Why would Lathander, Chauntea, and Bane all grant the exact same prayers to their followers? I think the whole idea of Domains was generic customization, but it's a fail in my opinion. If you're not tailoring the hierarchy, religious requirements, and spells by the individual god, it just doesn't seem logical to me. WOTC could have used the deities of the Forgotten Realms for "domains" and DMs could re-skin them for their own campaign settings. I mean, a Sun God is a Sun God no matter if he's called Ra or Helios. Both your Wizard and Cleric spell rules use the same limitation, spells that backfire causing damage/death. This is a Russian Roulette style mechanic. I can see the appeal of a less pass/fail limit like channeling the forces of the universe (whether arcane or divine) saps your energy. This can be fatigue or spell points. Or, I was anticipating you to advocate for having spells cost HP to cast (given your gritty style). If each spell cost 1+level of spell HP to cast, then a wizard with 20 HP can cast a score of cantrips before they pass out... or two ninth level spells (if their level allows). Taking damage from attacks would also reduce HP, so if you're beat up you will pass out from casting a taxing spell. After all, you can't logically say that casting a spell is equivalent to swinging a sword. One breaks the laws of physics, the other is bound by it. One channels massive forces, the other moves a 3 lb. lump of steel. I have yet to see anyone make a rational argument that casting a cantrip like Frost Bolt is equivalent to swinging a sword (at least not one that makes a lick of sense, that is), but that was WOTCs actual justification for why cantrips are now unlimited. I'd love to hear from anyone who has play tested a spells cost HP system and what their impressions were, thanks.
@knghtbrd
3 жыл бұрын
It doesn't sound like cleric prayers cause death-they merely represent the god choosing not to answer prayers until a condition is met, even if that condition is merely the passage of a little time. I like the idea of spells/prayers being draining in this way, but I still think a to-hit roll is warranted. Costing HP doesn't seem right particularly for a cleric, but I don't know how else to represent the cost offhand. What I'm leaning toward is that a natural 1 is effectively the same as a wild magic surge. Random things happen which are not "the spell works", roll to see what. Some of the possible outcomes are disastrous. Some are inconvenient. Some are just unexpected. Some might even be beneficial, but not in the way you expect!
@TheGenericavatar
3 жыл бұрын
Healing Word: "You get a Healing! And You get a Healing! And You get a Healing! Everybody Gets a Healing while I'm out of attack range!"
@MrRourk
5 жыл бұрын
Couple of days ago I ran a Fantasy Trip Game on some D&D Players. The looks on their faces when they realized there was little to no healing in the game. This strange foreign feeling pity came over me. So I showed them how to make ultra tanks. Heavily armoured... Some may say over armoured. They gleefully waddled into battle.
@achimsinn7782
4 жыл бұрын
If I had the time to recreate an entire D&D Class I would do clerics like this: 1 domains - instead of domains the cleric picks a god he warships and depending on the god he gets different powers similar to a domain - so if you decide to warship a god or war you'd be similar to a wardomain cleric, if you warship the god of live you'd be a live domain cleric and so on. This could also work in conjunction with that you said about geography - like if somebody grows up in Sparta there is little to no chance that he would pick the god of healing ad forgiveness over the god of war and strength. 2 spellcasting - I would do a way different system of spellcasting than the one mages use. The idea would be that clerics don't actually cast their spells themselves, but they pray to their god and their god grants their wish and casts the spell through them. This means that instead of spellslots and spelllevels cleric would have a faith skill and cleric spells would have a faith level. That faithskill can be risen by leveling up, but also by acting approbiate to being a cleric of the god you warship. And in turn it could be lowered by not acting approbiate. Every time a cleric casts a spell he has to make a faith check against the faithlevel of the spell, if he makes the check, the spell is being cast (and I would structure cleric spells in a way that there is no additional roll after that - the way I'm imagining this, the god is casting the spell, and I don't think that a god would mess up his spellcasting roll) , if not he fails. I would likeliy also add a temporary meter for how many spells the cleric cast per ling rest and that would raise the difficulty of casting the spells (you can only ask for so many wonders from your god) in order to prevent clerics from trying over and over again. 3. equipment - I would put restrictions in that regard depending on the god they warship. Maybe the god of nature and animals wouldn't be pleased by his priest wearing croco leather armor from the beast he's slain some weaks ago. Maybe the god of war demands wearing armor and a deadly weapon, maybe some other god doesn't allow to wield weapons with an edge, thus limiting you to mazes or warhammers or maybe the god has a specific set of armor / clothing and equipment his warshippers are expected to use (this is one of the parts I really never fleshed out so - yeah) 4 Roleplaying - "my" clerics could still have any alignments, but again that could be restricted by the god they warship. Depending on the god they might have to forfill rituals, keep a protocol, take a vow or live up to a certain standard that is given to them by their god, This should definitly be enforced by the DM and if a cleric doesn't forfill those roleplaying recommendations there could be repercussions like loweing his faith level (thus making it more difficult to cast his spells) the god showing him their displeasure (like nightmares or like his god straight up telling him that he won't accept any prayer from him unless he changes his behavior) or the church (like being demoted in the ranks of the church or losing social status in some way) Sorry for that wall of post - you might know now why I never ultimatly did this reworked cleric - it's just too much to do. But if fleshed out I think my ideas would solve a lot of the issues you have with clerics, so maybe someone could pick up on my ideas.
@kickingbird6114
5 жыл бұрын
I agree with many of your points, however I don't think that ALL clerics won't get married, heal others not of their faith, accept surrender and some of the other beliefs you spoke of. I feel that many of these rules may not follow some of the dieties based on alignment. A cleric of the folower of a CN god of War might have a much looser code of personal ethics but stronger rules about combat and the rules of law for those that might run in fear, fall asleep while on duty, etc. When I play a cleric, I like to write down my clerics '10 commandments' to help me guide my characters ethics, this helps the GM as well to determine if I'm following up to my Gods Ethos. I'd also encourage you consider to modify the clerics D20 roll for spells (prayers) based on how well they follow the rules. If the cleric is following all the Gods rules he/she might get a +2 bonus. If the clerics is also praying regularly ever day/night, fasting regularly, reading his holy script, converting people to his diety, giving regular surmons, etc then perhaps grant another bonus. If you award the players a (+1, 2, 3) die bonus for playing the character according to the Gods Ethos, they are more likely to follow their Gods commandments. (I think) As a religious person myself, who isn't a Cathlic, I feel marriage and family is an essential part of my religion. I feel I could be a cleric or paladin in a fantasy game and still be a family man. The distance would make the marriage harder, however if I feel proselytize is esential to my faith, I make good money and am relativly safe, then I might continue. As a soldier, I'm deployed often for 6-8 months out of every 2 years. Being away from the family is a difficult challenge, however I feel I'm doing my duty to my country, God and show my sons and daughters how a father should provide for his family, serve his God and country. Anyway, I enjoy your videos. Cheers mate.
@DUNGEONCRAFT1
5 жыл бұрын
Thanks for taking the time to reply! I agree clerics might be able to have families. I disagree about the War cleric. A war cleric would follow the the rules of engagement fanatically. That means ALWAYS accepting surrender and treating opponents with the utmost respect. That is the warrior Ethos. Not to mention that ransoming was a common practice in the Middle Ages. Cheers!
@kaylaa2204
10 ай бұрын
In my games I assume that adventurers travel a lot. It comes with the territory. So a player might come from a great distance away and be where the campaign is happening for some reason. But who their character is definitely would impact where they’re likely to be from Unless of course for circumstantial reasons I want them to be restricted to characters from the area
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