Major or Minor. Please explain why.
Mine? I really like Ragathiel, a Lawful Good Empyreal Lord who is the embodiment of revenge. He creates a good Role-Playing opportunity to make a Lawful Good Paladin or Cleric who is more concerned with vengeance and duty than honor or just being good in general. Plus, his favored weapon is a Bastard Sword, which is just awesome.
Also, an unrelated question: Is there a deity that gives proficiency with the Elven Curved Blade?
I don't concern myself much with gods, but I'd probably say Calistria. Hard to top holy prostitutes who use whips.
I don't concern myself much with gods, but I'd probably say Calistria. Hard to top holy prostitutes who use whips.
Ditto actually, I'm not a big fan of the gods nor of my selection in PF, but if I had to take my pick of a non evil one I'd probably take Calistria for a few dozen reasons. CN god of vengeance and passion isn't a bad gig. Not perfect but it beats some of the other choices.
Shouldn't this go in the PF setting forum?
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Cayden Cailean. A god of heroism and drunken revelry whose backstory involved becoming a god in a drunken wager? I've always found him exceptionally funny. Desna is a close second though. Interesting take...a "beyond the stars" deity with a good alignment is a rarity.
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My absolute favorite would have to be one of the lesser gods, either Brigh (clockwork goddess of robots!) or Sivanah (goddess who, just for kicks, is helping Razmir pretend to be a god!).
As for the 'big 20,' it's so hard to pick just one! A good half of the 'big 20' gods are super versatile, so much so that you can make multiple different types of cleric or follower of them, with significant and flavorful differences. (Others seemed that way, but quickly got pigeonholed into 'you can't do that' or 'you're doing it wrong' corners, making them less generally useful, and limiting their appeal to a smaller subset.)
If I had to pick one of the 'greater gods,' it would be Nethys. Interesting domain potential (a LN or NG Knowledge/Protection cleric could be quite different in theme than a CN or NE Destruction/Magic cleric), and five different directions you can go for alignment.
I'm really impressed with how the setting has made some traditionally 'dull' godly niches into interesting figures. Abadar, for instance, is much more interesting to me than Waukeen, from the Realms, or Hedrada of the Scarred Lands setting (or more obscure trade / commerce gods, like Zilchus, from Greyhawk). Some extreme alignment gods in particular, both goodly and evil, in earlier settings occasionally came across as two-dimensional caricatures, with only 'one right way' to characterize them, but in Golarion, there's some real story potential going on with the good gods (not so much with the evil gods, who seem less morally complex and versatile and more 'bwa-ha-ha, I shall tie maidens to train tracks because... EVIL!'), and even conflict within the faiths, which fits with the post-3.X notion that a cleric can be within one alignment step of his god, allowing for three to five distinct ethical / moral schisms within each church, that wasn't as strongly integrated into the 'fluff' of fantasy pantheons that were designed before that mechanical option became available (or ended up being outliers, like the faith of Wee Jas, which was LN and / or LE).
Cayden Calien, the most epic example of "what the hell did I DO last night?!" ever.
Personally my favorite is Sarenrae. I have a thing the whole sun/holy light schtick that she does. I also love that she's the goddess of redemption, and I find clerics/paladins of Sarenrae to be the best, because they're willing to work with evil if need be to get the job done, and just maybe by their shining (pun intended) example they'll mend the evil ways of their companions.
I also like Sheyln / Zon-Kurthon. What a tragic and yet amazing story!
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Cayden Cailean. A god of heroism and drunken revelry whose backstory involved becoming a god in a drunken wager? I've always found him exceptionally funny.
He definitely has the best back story ever.
Desna is a close second though. Interesting take...a "beyond the stars" deity with a good alignment is a rarity.
I've always thought of her as the goddess of hippies. All that travel, stars, luck, and dreams stuff. She could be driving around in a VW minibus telling people to follow their dreams.
Zon-Kuthon. Because I really like the spiked chain, and his related prestige class has really neat flavour.
Milani is one of the favourites I have. Lissala is another one.
Wait, haven't we already had a thread like this before?
Shelyn. Her paladin code is awesome, and her relationship with Zou-Kuthon gives so much RP opportunity. The glaive is also a cool weapon. I love everything about her.
Honorable mentions: Desna for the explorer angle, Erastil for doing LG the right way, and Calistria for a great mix of ideas (lust and revenge in the same goddess? Yes, please!).
I tend to play CG characters and as a general rule I stamp Desna on them, even if just for lip service due to all the traveling adventurers happen to do.
I have two "religious folk" at the moment, so I've been delving a little more into it for them. I really did Gorum. God of war and battle- very nice for a 2h weapon fighter Inquisitor. (or cleric, if mr oracle dies. )
Sarenrae is working out nicely for a Life oracle as well though I've not had as much chance to delve into this character, due to the infrequency of the play dates.
-S
Jubilex. He's a big blob that doesn't even know he has followers and the embodiment of laziness.
Though if demon lords don't count as deities, I'd have to say the first god that really struck me in the setting was Urgathoa. I like the identifying markers and the whole consumption aspect though the undead aspect doesn't really do much for me.
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Cayden Cailean. Someone once described him as a less-broody Malcolm Reynolds. Once I read that, it all made sense. Also, his priests wear brown robes and tunics. Can you say browncoats?
Irori is pretty cool. Stereotypical Monk guy, doesn't really care what his followers do as long as they follow the path of self perfection.
Achaekek is neat. Don't really get a cooler title than "Assassin of the gods". Something about his single-minded efficiency I find very well suited for Lawful Evil characters in general. My last Monk was a worshiper of both him AND Irori and I was amazed at how little conflict there was between the two ideologies. They just meshed together very well.
Also, I don't think anyone can NOT like Cayden Cailean. Coolest god in most mythologies I've read.
His backstory is like the Hangover if the Hangover was actually interesting and had a genuinely funny/WTF ending.
Zon-Kuthon. Because I really like the spiked chain, and his related prestige class has really neat flavour.
You mean the Pain Taster? I LOVE the Pain Taster.
Never have figured out how any PC is supposed to even begin to qualify for it, which makes me sad.
apsu because it's pathfinders bahamut. i love dragon gods and i like paladins so apsu it is.
Cayden &
Calistria &
Besmara &
Kurgess
Got to join the OP here in praising Ragathiel. He's fairly cliche, I admit - but that doesn't detract from it being a fun concept.
Oh, and since no one appears to be giving it (them?) any love, Gozreh: Impartial and dualistic. As a deity for nature goes, one that has the stormier, nastier side as an element feels a breath of fresh air to settings (may be suffering selection bias here) where nature deities are pure-goody two-shoes.
Cayden definitely.
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Pharasma - What can I say, I like it when the deity of death is depicted as a force of nature rather than as evil. I also like the fact that the undead are considered anathema.
Nethys - I find the ideas of a bi-polar god of magic both intriguing and terrifying.
Cayden &
Calistria &
Besmara &
Kurgess
Did you just name four favorites? Is that how it works? Then I want to add Jezelda to my favorites. Werewolf queen, its always werewolf queen.
Anyone who isn't Aroden.
1. Dead dieties just suck.
2. I'm tired of all the folks that think they're doing something unique by wanting to be a "Cleric of Aroden". Newsflash... there's an idiotic Taldan who's got you all beat.
I feel like there's a story behind that... Gotta be careful, negative karma in that kinda' thing. Worshipping a dead deity can be kinda' cool to some people, no need to dis it.
Pharasma...it's nice to see a neutral goddess of death and fate, and I like the vibe I get that even the other gods are a bit afraid of her.
Irori is pretty cool. Stereotypical Monk guy, doesn't really care what his followers do as long as they follow the path of self perfection.
Achaekek is neat. Don't really get a cooler title than "Assassin of the gods". Something about his single-minded efficiency I find very well suited for Lawful Evil characters in general. My last Monk was a worshiper of both him AND Irori and I was amazed at how little conflict there was between the two ideologies. They just meshed together very well.
Also, I don't think anyone can NOT like Cayden Cailean. Coolest god in most mythologies I've read.
His backstory is like the Hangover if the Hangover was actually interesting and had a genuinely funny/WTF ending.
Zon-Kuthon. Because I really like the spiked chain, and his related prestige class has really neat flavour.You mean the Pain Taster? I LOVE the Pain Taster.
Never have figured out how any PC is supposed to even begin to qualify for it, which makes me sad.
Actually I was referring to: http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/prestige-classes/other-paizo/s-z/umbral-cou rt-agent since I think worshipping Zon-Kuthon was a prerequisite in the Paths of Prestige book
Sarenrae is cool but most other mayor deities seem rather bland or even dislikable as erastil.
I think Lymnieris has some points going for her but I have not enough infos. Perhaps the angel's book will have more.
Nethys conceptually, Cayden mechanically.
Nethys is an ideal deity for someone who doesn't want cumbersome moral guidelines on how to use his divine power. As far as I can tell, he's the best option for playing a non-evil necromancer cleric. Healing? Curses? Celestial and Fiendish summons? Sure. Go for it. I also love role playing an "everything is better with magic" ideology. In a world full of magic, wouldn't it make sense for anyone who could use magic to use it as much as possible?
Cayden has great domains and subdomains, and his clerics can use Create Water to create beer and wine! Great for a variety of builds.
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james jacobs.
Desna is my favorite Golarion deity, hands down. I love that she's a good-aligned goodess of travel, dreams, and luck, but is also one of the oldest of the gods, and has a hinted-at dark side. (And possible ties to the Dark Tapestry.)
Other favorites are Sarenrae, Zon-Kuthon (I've always been a Hellraiser fan and love his connection to the cenobites...oops I mean kytons), and the Pathfinder interpretation of Asmodeus.
Zon-Kuthon. God that took part in Event Horizon plot? Yup... Ok, now I try to envision him being played by Sam Neil...
Followed by Cayden Cailean and Desna (foreign elder space butterfly deity? yes please... Oh, wait, she isn't mind-bending alien monstrosity? That's something new).
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Sarenrae is cool but most other mayor deities seem rather bland or even dislikable as erastil.
I think Lymnieris has some points going for her but I have not enough infos. Perhaps the angel's book will have more.
Lymnieris is actually a "he."
I find Pharasma fascinating (largely for reasons that have already been stated). Her psychopomps are simply awesome.
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1. Milani
2. Arshea
3. Sarenrae
Mystra... o wait...
I like Desna from a powergaming standpoint. Good domains, and by far the easiest god not to have to sweat a power yoink. Just wander around and do what D&D characters do.
Cayden Cailean is loads of fun. The idea of 'waking up a god' after undertaking the Starstone test is a hoot. Of course, I also like the whole rebel with whatever cause he feels is right vibe.
I'm increasingly impressed by Shelyn. Her own backstory with her brother is great, yes, but more than that, she is made of surprisingly stern stuff. She took an object from Cthulu's closet, one that could be a great danger to her let alone the world, and has been cleaning it off till it SHINES. Those that think her frivolous are missing an amazing character.
Sarenrae is just amazing. I like the message she promotes, and the various ways each nation seems to go with her means there's little shortage of variety.
My favorite has got to be Gorum.
For Minor dieties i like brigh and wish there was more information on her. for the main gods thogh i like Urgathoa's consumption theme.