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Pathfinder Player Companion: Faiths & Philosophies (PFRPG)

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Pathfinder Player Companion: Faiths & Philosophies (PFRPG)
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There’s more to faith than simply choosing a god. In the Pathfinder campaign setting, dozens of different religions, traditions, and philosophies war for people’s hearts and minds—sometimes with reasoned arguments, and sometimes with bloodied swords. Whether as a servant of a powerful deity, a devotee of a world-shaping philosophy, or a zealous atheist, it’s time to claim the power of your convictions with this guide to devotion—religious or otherwise.

Beliefs are nothing without champions. With Pathfinder Player Companion: Faiths & Philosophies, characters of every class can make their convictions work for them. Inside this book, you’ll find:

  • Detailed overviews of Golarion’s more esoteric spiritual traditions, from druidism and atheism to juju and pantheism, all with new rules to customize your character’s mechanics, from the arcane healer bard archetype to the juju oracle mystery.
  • New honor point systems for groups like the righteous Knights of Ozem, the mercantile Prophets of Kalistrade, and the terrifying Red Mantis assassins.
  • A new system of meditation feats to help characters of any class unleash their greatest potential in battle.
  • New traits tied to your character’s spiritual and philosophical views.
  • Information on codes of honor, false and deceased gods, monasticism, religious schisms, and philosophies for all manner of irreligious characters!
  • New inquisitions to help purge nonbelievers, druid domains to help you draw power from your totem spirit, feats to help atheists defy the gods, spells and magic items usable by characters of any class and philosophy, and more!

Written by Savannah Broadway, Paris Crenshaw, Neall Raemonn Price, David Ross, Owen K.C. Stephens, and James L. Sutter.
Cover Art by Ben Wootten.

This Pathfinder Player Companion is intended for use with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, but can easily be incorporated into any fantasy world. Each monthly 32-page Pathfinder Player Companion contains several player-focused articles exploring the volume’s theme as well as short articles with innovative new rules for all types of characters, as well as traits to better anchor the player to the campaign.

ISBN-13: 978-1-60125-543-3

Other Resources: This product is also available on the following platforms:

Hero Lab Online
Fantasy Grounds Virtual Tabletop
Archives of Nethys

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Fills a neglected niche

4/5 —

Read my full review at Of Dice and Pen.

I’m really glad that a book like this exists as I often wish Pathfinder Player Companion and Pathfinder Campaign Setting volumes would include just a little bit more of what daily life is like in the world. I do wish Faiths & Philosophies could go into quite a bit more detail, in fact. It offers a tantalizing glimpse at the belief structures of the world, but since a lot of space has to be devoted to new traits, feats, archetypes, and more, it can really do nothing more than brush the surface of these things. Nonetheless, it does provide just enough information to inspire players designing characters and gamemasters designing campaigns. For that, if nothing else, it’s well worth it. And some of those new mechanical options are quite interesting.

Deity: NONE

4/5 —

All right, the old character creation question: which god does the PC worship? Usually, the answer is BOOZE AND SEX, sorry, Cayden Cailean. But sometimes, the answer is ...

... one of the many choices presented in this book. Atheism, theism, pantheism, totemism, philosophy, false gods, schismatic sects ... the list is long, and everything gets a little loving.

The diversity is this book strength, but also a weakness - it's very likely that you'll use just a small part of it. While other Companion books are broadly useful to anybody invested in one particular topic, this one is somewhat all over the place due to its' nature.

All in all, a great thing to have on your bookshelf if you're aware of it's highly situational usefulness.

I'm not sure I get it

2/5 —

As much as it does seem to hit the mark, it likewise seems to not just as often. Perhaps Philosophies of the Unfaithful might have been a more appropriate name, as that's what it mostly seems to hit up on.

I see that Paizo also couldn't resisted focusing on the Bard as one of the big four classes covered, but this time I really just don't get it. Why would they focus on Bards, or Monks for that matter, in a book specifically about religions (and anti-religions) and philosophical/spiritual orders?

Typical of many of the Player's Guides, it tends me leave me feeling "that's it?", wishing that certain areas where expanded more, particularly beyond the already published material or flavor, but just not going far enough into the subject. Less Player's Guide material and more almost a brief summary of multiple topics. F&P goes along the same route, retreading Razmiran and Rahadoum without going too much further into other "atheists". I kind of felt the Feats in the particular section are pretty heavy handed. Not entirely sure it's a good idea to undermine some classes main features so strongly. SR 11+ Level for 2 Feats, even if only against Divine and most Outsiders is kind of ridiculous, A feat that can make a Cleric or Paladin doubt themselves and maybe force them to actively Save from even spells they cast on themselves, likewise not cool. Back to Evil getting the good toys.

We have a PFS legal Juju thing, but it's pretty watered down, kind of a Oracle flavored to be a druid/shaman, or a Voodoo analogue.

I'm curious about the point or intent of the centerfold portion. It seems to me an attempt to mock some real world sorts of things, except well in game, it's pretty much entirely correct. Bubblers and Liespinners (Razmiran, most non-divine healing and "cures", and similar things are generally very evil, or at best neutral). There's exceptions, but they generally ARE uncommon exceptions. Atheists and Deniers pretty much are ignorant and blind, but also notably intentionally "bad guys" in the setting (Rahadoum and Razmiran obviously, but the Whispering Way and the River Kingdoms as well).

Spells and Items, in my opinion where kind of "meh". I wished for some more info on Pantheonism, especially the much needed mechanics for it for non-Oracles divine characters, as well as a look at some new, not rehashed Faiths and Philosophies, and religious schisms.

Good but not wonderful

4/5 —

Faiths and Pantheons does a good job of accomplishing what it set out to do. It is a good mix of fluff and crunch. Most of the material is new and it makes a great deal of sense to reprint the bits that I've seen before.

The book is primarily aimed at enriching the backgrounds of those characters for whom religion or philosophy is a major focus (including those characters who dislike or despise the Gods). The book will be useful if you have a particular concept in mind and want to know where you might come from. It is useful if you want to know how the rest of the world tends to view your character. It is useful in giving mechanical suggestions on how to build a character.

Mechanically, the book has lots of new material and some reprinted material (lots of traits I`ve seen before). The material is usually very flavorful and is the usual mix of mechanically weak and mechanically sound options. None are overpowered which I personally think to be a VERY good thing.

Mechanically, my favourite by far is the Juju Oracle Mystery. While similar to the older one it has been altered somewhat in a good way. This one is even legal in PFS. I`m definitely going to be creating one of these for my next character

But there are a lot of other options that I`d at least consider using, especially with a new character. And some of the background fluff will be applied to existing characters to make them a little richer and a little better tied to the world.

I`d like to give this 3.5 stars. The Juju Oracle causes me to raise that to 4 stars.

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Shisumo wrote:

I have to say, I have been waiting for the Animal Ally feat for a very long time. I don't care if it takes three feats, being able to give any class a mount with an effective druid level equal to your character level opens up so many character ideas... my future sohei, roughriders and mounted furies all thank you!

The heck? Three feats? That sounds to be a rather steep price to pay for an animal companion mount.

Liberty's Edge

2 Feats get you the Animal Companion at level minus 2 I believe. Add Boon Companion to get it equal to your HD.
zergtitan wrote:
Cheapy wrote:

Nuking the ability.

And interesting... lately the devout of Aroden have been receiving a few spells here or there...

ARODEN!!!!!!!

HOW????????

*Reads the answers others have given*

Heck, and here I would have gone with Sifkesh being up to her old tricks again.

And dumb question but does the book go into any detail on Razmir's followers?
graywulfe wrote:
2 Feats get you the Animal Companion at level minus 2 I believe. Add Boon Companion to get it equal to your HD.

Ah, thank you for explaining that.

Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Rulebook Subscriber
Eric Hinkle wrote:
And dumb question but does the book go into any detail on Razmir's followers?

It does! There is a section called Fallen & False Dieties, which has a fair amount of info regarding Razmir & his followers. It also includes one of the two Archetypes in this book, Arcane Healer, a new Bard Archetype. You get a reduced Channel Positive Energy, for Healing only at the expense of Versatile Performance & later you may use rounds of Bardic Performance for more healing in place of Loremaster.

Is it too much to hope for any paladin related stuff.
Silver Crusade
1 person marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber
Irnk, Dead-Eye's Prodigal wrote:
Eric Hinkle wrote:
And dumb question but does the book go into any detail on Razmir's followers?
It does! There is a section called Fallen & False Dieties, which has a fair amount of info regarding Razmir & his followers. It also includes one of the two Archetypes in this book, Arcane Healer, a new Bard Archetype. You get a reduced Channel Positive Energy, for Healing only at the expense of Versatile Performance & later you may use rounds of Bardic Performance for more healing in place of Loremaster.

I smell a one-star review from Beckett for that alone ;-)

Shadow Lodge

Why?
Shadow Lodge

Oh, another Bard archtype. Maybe, but I wasn't really planning on picking up the book, honestly. Just no interest. :)
Silver Crusade
Eric Hinkle wrote:
The heck? Three feats? That sounds to be a rather steep price to pay for an animal companion mount.

My response to this is only somewhat related, but a similar investment is often necessary to pick up a Familiar if your character isn't an Arcane Sorcerer or a Wizard, insofar as I understand. Skill Focus in a relevant Knowledge skill, Eldritch Heritage Arcane Bloodline, then (if desired) Improved Familiar.

Three feats, or two plus an optional one, seems to be fairly common for this sort of thing?
Scarab Sages

^
Yep, for six feats you can have an animal companion and familiar who are both equal to your level.

Though the JuJu Oracle was defiantly worth a read.

so exactly how was the JuJu oracle nuked?

Spirit Vessels is no longer a revelation. I don't think there were any mentions of Juju Zombies in their revelations anymore, and there were a bunch of new ones. They seem to be focusing on another aspect that Juju Zombies now.
Silver Crusade
MMCJawa wrote:
so exactly how was the JuJu oracle nuked?

The new one is PFS legal. Who cares if it was nerfed a little? :-).

Its cool and flavorful and not underpowered. Not really overpowered either which is good.
Silver Crusade

Random info fishing attempt: Anything a religiously devout Celestial Sorcerer (follows Sarenrae, though likes most of the other *G align deities too) might benefit from in this book, be it fluff or crunch?
1 person marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Mmm...probably not. It does talk a bit about the militaristic Cult of the Dawnflower, that militant faction of Saranrae's church which exerts a lot of power in Qadira, but I think that's about it that might be of interest...well, one of the traits might be appropriate, but that's likely about it.

Overall:

Spoiler:
16 new traits (Abject Belief, Born Free, Bound by Honor, Crisis of Faith, Devout Visionary, Divine Denier, Monastic, Nature Worshiper, Priest-Blessed, Proxy of Many, Religious Reformer, Self-Actualization, Totemist, Traditionalist, Wendifa Apprentice, Zealot's Bearing) on the front and back inside covers.

Two pages discussing belief in general, then going briefly into various modes of belief as divided by communal, ecclesiastical, individualistic, and shamanistic.

Two pages on atheism, what it consists of on Golarion (usually that the gods are not worthy of the authority and reverence that people bestow upon them rather than them not existing), some discussion of the Laws of Man in Rahadoum, as well as other atheists, six feats specifically for atheists (Atheist Abjurations, Divine Defiance, Divine Denouncer, Focused Disbelief, Iconoclast, Seeds of Doubt).

Two pages on Codes of Honor as presented in Ultimate Campaign, describing the codes of honor of the Ichimeiyo, Knights of Ozem, Prophecies of Kalistrade, and the Red Mantis Assassins, and specific tables for honor point adjustments for each group's codes of honor.

Two pages on Druidism, dwelling on the Green Faith and druids who are unaffiliated with it, also presenting the Green Faith Initiate druid archetype, and five feats for worshipers of nature (Animal Ally, Druidic Decoder, Friend to Animals, Nature Soul, Weather Eye).

Two pages on fallen and false deities, going into Aroden, the cults of the failed (those countless people who failed the Test of the Starstone), and Razmir, then the Arcane Healer bard archetype.

Two pages on Juju, discussing it, listing the common Wendo, and listing the new Juju oracle mystery, which moves away from the undead focus of the previous ones.

Strangely, a double-page propaganda spread as if created by a fanatical Iomedean dedicated to telling you why everyone else sucks.

Two pages on Monasticism, going into martial monasteries, religious monasteries, and sangpotshi, a philosophy of reincarnation, as well as nine meditation feats (Bend with the Wind, Body Control, Body Mastery, Combat Meditation, Meditation Master, Meditative Concentration, Perfect Awareness, Perfect Center, Slow Time).

Two pages on pantheist, talking about aligned pantheons, cultural pantheons, and racial pantheons, as well as the Pantheistic Blessing feat for worshipers of a specific pantheon, which gives you a single 1st level spell-like ability usable 1/day suitable to a specific pantheon, then lists the pantheons (archdevils, ascended, demon lords, dwarven, eldest, elven, empyreal lords, order of the god claw, sandpoint, taldan, vudrani) and which spell-like ability they grant people with the Pantheistic Blessing feat.

Two pages on religious orders and schisms, going into how the Church of Norgorber is divided into four different orders based on his four aspects, the Cult of the Dawnflower, and the Pharasmin Pentinence, then three new Inqiusitions for inquisitors (Excommunication, Redemption, Reformation).

Two pages on Totemism, particularly focusing on how it's practiced in the Mwangi and among the Shoanti, and then four new Druid Domains are listed (Badlands, Crocodile, Panther, and Vulture).

Two pages on other philosophies, such as common rule, demigod worship, diabolism, tamashigo, and the whispering way.

Six spells, Blood Song (bard 4), Hallucinogenic Smoke (cleric 4, witch 4), Jungle Mind (druid 5, oracle 5, ranger 4), Lay of the Land (cleric 2, bard 2, druid 2, ranger 2, witch 2), Source Severance (cleric 6, druid 6, witch 6), Tectonic Communication (druid 7).

Eleven new magic items (Gloves of Personal Purity, Hand Wraps of Blinding Ki, Kalistocrat's Coin, Leshy Mulch Manual, Pantheistic Clasp, Prophetic Paraphernalia, Propitious Metumbe, Shield of Countless Causes, Tome of Heretical Revelation, Vest of Shed Servitude, Warden's Cudgel).

And that's pretty much it.
Silver Crusade

Thank you, Luthorne! That's a very helpful summary of the contents. You've listed enough things in there, with enough detail, that I feel much safer about this purchase (you ended up stumbling across some other things I'm interested in, it turns out). I'll add it to my cart and pick it up very soon.
Scarab Sages

Juju Zombies still exist in the book. I do recommend reading the "Ensnare the Soul" revelation for the Juju mystery even if it doesn't actually make zombies.
Sovereign Court RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8

I now have this idea for a PFS Inquisitor of Saranae, who supports the Taldor faction to better dull the pro-war Saranae worshipers.

Edit: Shame Inquisitors can't take Druid Domains. You could so make t'Challa now.

As excited as I've been about this book, I wanted to fish for some details before I buy it today.

Is there anything in here regarding Pharasma, Urgathoa, or the Whispering Way?

If not, I think I'm going to subscribe to the adventure paths today instead and get this next week C:
Scarab Sages

Mostly just fluff for Whispering Way, it does talk a small bit about what archetypes, prestige classes, and feats go well with the Whispering Way.
Shadow Lodge
Matthew Morris wrote:
Edit: Shame Inquisitors can't take Druid Domains. You could so make t'Challa now.

Why can't they? Or is it the ones in this book specifically.

Just a quick question -- I've read that the book covers pantheism. Does it have anything to say specifically of use to oracles, who were once described as being somewhat pantheistic? I.e., like a Battle Oracle who honors and venerates all the gods with War as an area of interest?
Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Rulebook Subscriber

Specifically to Oracles, no. However, everything in there is useful for Oracles. It's just useful for others as well.

The specific Pantheons listed (and what types they are considered) are: ARCHDEVILS (ALIGNED, RACIAL, AND CULTURAL), ASCENDED PANTHEON (CULTURAL), DEMON LORDS (ALIGNED, CULTURAL, AND RACIAL), DWARVEN PANTHEON (RACIAL), ELDEST (CULTURAL AND RACIAL), ELVEN PANTHEON (RACIAL), EMPYREAL LORDS (ALIGNED AND CULTURAL), ORDER OF THE GOD CLAW PANTHEON (ALIGNED), SANDPOINT PANTHEON (CULTURAL), TALDAN PANTHEON (CULTURAL) and the VUDRANI PANTHEON (CULTURAL).
Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Tirisfal wrote:

As excited as I've been about this book, I wanted to fish for some details before I buy it today.

Is there anything in here regarding Pharasma, Urgathoa, or the Whispering Way?

If not, I think I'm going to subscribe to the adventure paths today instead and get this next week C:

As was said, there's a little bit on the Whispering Way, and a similar bit on the Pharasmin Pentinence (a Pharasma-worshiping order that believes suffering in life leads to greater rewards in the afterlife and that pleasure is a distraction). Beyond that, not really.

Erik Hinkle wrote:
Just a quick question -- I've read that the book covers pantheism. Does it have anything to say specifically of use to oracles, who were once described as being somewhat pantheistic? I.e., like a Battle Oracle who honors and venerates all the gods with War as an area of interest?

Mmm, it more discusses pantheons in general, going into ones based around alignment, ones specific to certain cultures, ones specific to certain races, which are likely to appeal to what groups or individuals, etc. It may well be food for thought, and it notes it's compatible with notions of druidism, juju, and totemism, so you might get some more out of that as well, but oracles aren't really singled out in the pantheon section.

Sovereign Court RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
"Devil's Advocate" wrote:
Matthew Morris wrote:
Edit: Shame Inquisitors can't take Druid Domains. You could so make t'Challa now.
Why can't they? Or is it the ones in this book specifically.

I was thinking they were limited to the Cleric domains. An inquisitor who could worship the 'Panther spirit' in Juju and get the pather domain would be kind of awesome.

Shadow Lodge
Matthew Morris wrote:
"Devil's Advocate" wrote:
Matthew Morris wrote:
Edit: Shame Inquisitors can't take Druid Domains. You could so make t'Challa now.
Why can't they? Or is it the ones in this book specifically.
I was thinking they were limited to the Cleric domains. An inquisitor who could worship the 'Panther spirit' in Juju and get the pather domain would be kind of awesome.

My understanding is that anyone that can take Domains normally can pick other Domains/Subdomains if they are appropriate to the characters Faith or Deity. SKR said that back when Subdomains first came out, so Clerics may taie Druid Domains, Inquisitors can take Subdomain options, and everything of that nature if they would normally be allowed (not race or alignment specific for example).

I was going to ask if one could take the Boon Companion feat along with the new Animal Ally feat/chain. Thanks for clearing that up.

Whoever wrote the Iomedaen religious propaganda pamphlet is my hero.
Developer
1 person marked this as a favorite.
ThatEvilGuy wrote:
Whoever wrote the Iomedaen religious propaganda pamphlet is my hero.

I believe you have the ever-talented and hilarious James Sutter to thank for that gem. :]

Senior Editor/Fiction Editor
4 people marked this as a favorite.
Patrick Renie wrote:
ThatEvilGuy wrote:
Whoever wrote the Iomedaen religious propaganda pamphlet is my hero.
I believe you have the ever-talented and hilarious James Sutter to thank for that gem. :]

That was one of the most fun things I've written recently! Wes, Patrick, and I all got excited about doing what's essentially a Golarion version of a Chick Tract, and I'm really glad they let me write it. :D

Senior Editor/Fiction Editor
9 people marked this as a favorite.

Also, I love how you can always recognize a Paizo staffer on these boards by whoever has the most ridiculous avatar...
Paizo Employee Developer
6 people marked this as a favorite.

I have no idea what you mean by that.
Shadow Lodge

Man this book is making building my next pfs character tough. Now I have to decide if my Nagaji aspirant will have an anaconda companion or the crocodile domain. Lord this book shouldn't be as interesting as it is becoming.

I once made a race and they held the view on gods and religion "If we are going to be damned, let us be damned for what we really are." Where would that view fall in the spectrum presented in this book.
Dark Archive
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

I have to ask cause I am blanking on it. What spell is that suppose to be a picture of on page 26?
1 person marked this as a favorite.
The NPC wrote:

I once made a race and they held the view on gods and religion "If we are going to be damned, let us be damned for what we really are." Where would that view fall in the spectrum presented in this book.

Since almost anyone of any religious or philosophical persuasion could say something like that, the answer is "almost anywhere". The quoted attitude, of itself, doesn't provide enough information to make any call. If it is meant to be something like "we don't need gods; we'll live or die on our own", that's close to Golarion Atheists, and the Rahadoumi in the world setting.

So I can play a Druid with the Vulture Domain.
A legal Domain in PFS.
A legal means in PFS to cast REINCARNATE?
A legal Domain spelllist that doesn't replace the REINCARNATE Domain spell?
HELL YEAH I would play a Vulture Druid.

(Vulture Domain is on Page 25, according to ADDITIONAL RESOURCES it is legal since it is on that page and nothing is changed about it)
Sovereign Court Contributor
pauljathome wrote:
MMCJawa wrote:
so exactly how was the JuJu oracle nuked?

The new one is PFS legal. Who cares if it was nerfed a little? :-).

Its cool and flavorful and not underpowered. Not really overpowered either which is good.

Awesome. Book ordered. I have been waiting to play a Juju Oracle for a while now.

And Vudra stuff, apparently. 8>
Silver Crusade
Momo Kimura wrote:

So I can play a Druid with the Vulture Domain.

A legal Domain in PFS.
A legal means in PFS to cast REINCARNATE?
A legal Domain spelllist that doesn't replace the REINCARNATE Domain spell?
HELL YEAH I would play a Vulture Druid.

(Vulture Domain is on Page 25, according to ADDITIONAL RESOURCES it is legal since it is on that page and nothing is changed about it)

Umm, no. The spell is illegal for PFS, under all circumstances. The fact that a domain is legal for PFS and grants that spell doesn't override that. This type of thing has come up before. I'm sure there will be an FAQ for it within a month or two, probably replacing that spell with something else for PFS.

Grand Lodge Pathfinder Society Campaign Coordinator

As an FYI, in the next update to Additional Resources, the Vulture domain in Faiths & Philosophies will be changed from Agent of Rebirth to the following:

At 8th level, the druid can cast an extended air walk spell as a spell-like ability once per day.
Shadow Lodge

Hey, I don't know if anyone else has noticed this but has anyone seen how weird the Magus' hand looks in the art on page 3?
James Sutter wrote:
Patrick Renie wrote:
ThatEvilGuy wrote:
Whoever wrote the Iomedaen religious propaganda pamphlet is my hero.
I believe you have the ever-talented and hilarious James Sutter to thank for that gem. :]
That was one of the most fun things I've written recently! Wes, Patrick, and I all got excited about doing what's essentially a Golarion version of a Chick Tract, and I'm really glad they let me write it. :D

Obviously, the propaganda pamphlet does in no way represent or reflect the Church and followers of Iomedae, correct? ;)

Well it probably represents at least one follower of Iomedae.

...Unless it was actually produced by an Asmodean as libelous propaganda...
Evil Midnight Lurker wrote:

Well it probably represents at least one follower of Iomedae.

...Unless it was actually produced by an Asmodean as libelous propaganda...

Or Geryon.

1 person marked this as a favorite.

I was really looking forward to seeing what Paizo did with pantheistic belief systems, but it seems that all they did was to completely redefine the word to remove its actual meaning and make "pantheistic" synonymous with "pantheonic" in Golarion. Was this deliberate, or just a wide-spread error?

Pantheism (in the real world) is the belief that all of existence comprises an all-encompassing God. It is a key element of many forms of Hinduism.

Polytheism (again, in the real world) is the belief that many different gods exist, often divided into pantheons.

I know that it's just a game, and that lots of words get redefined by the game writers to mean completely different things within the game than they do in the real world, but I'm curious why "pantheism" has been changed this way instead of developed as its own in-game analogue to real-world pantheism.

(I'm not personally a pantheist, but I do have a BA in theology and was kind of looking forward to seeing a gaming version of pantheism.)

I would guess that real-world historical religious concepts just don't apply in a world where "Gods" are just really powerful beings that hand out powers to loyal followers. "Belief" plays a minor role in Golarion Religion, existence of Gods is not controversial or in dispute by anybody, religion is more about allegiance and fealty. Your real-word definition of Pantheism is just provably un-true in Golarion, as Clerics can only receive powers from Deities, not concepts or the universe as a whole, so there just isn't an all-encompassing "God", not in the sense of "God" as that term is used in Golarion. People may have their theories of the world and universe as a whole, but they aren't going to conflate that up with "Gods" because "Gods" are specific, real beings. In other words, when the status of "Gods" differs from real world to Golarion, words based on constructions of "Gods"/theo- will function according to the context of "Gods" relevant for that world, not based on world where "Gods" has a wholly different relevance and context.
Shadow Lodge

However, even Clerics can be followers of multiple gods equally, (they just receive power from one single Patron). This was ruled in regards to the Godclaw and Dwarven Pantheon, which originally, as written did allow Clerics to follow the concept of the Godclaw or the entire Dwarven/still 3.5 Elven Pantheon. Also, one can be a Shoanti tribe Totemist Cleric.

But beyond that, one can be a Paladin/Druid/Inquisitor/Oracle or other divine caster but Cleric pantheonist just fine. Never been a fan of that being the primary flavor distinction between the Oracle and the Cleric, personally, and think it's pretty stupid.
Senior Editor/Fiction Editor
Voltron64 wrote:
James Sutter wrote:
Patrick Renie wrote:
ThatEvilGuy wrote:
Whoever wrote the Iomedaen religious propaganda pamphlet is my hero.
I believe you have the ever-talented and hilarious James Sutter to thank for that gem. :]
That was one of the most fun things I've written recently! Wes, Patrick, and I all got excited about doing what's essentially a Golarion version of a Chick Tract, and I'm really glad they let me write it. :D
Obviously, the propaganda pamphlet does in no way represent or reflect the Church and followers of Iomedae, correct? ;)

I intentionally wrote that screed to be off the deep end, but I suspect that bits of his opinions would ring true with other Iomedaeans, as well as folks of other religions. Mocking those different than you is a fairly universal human trait. :D

Senior Editor/Fiction Editor
3 people marked this as a favorite.
tbug wrote:

I was really looking forward to seeing what Paizo did with pantheistic belief systems, but it seems that all they did was to completely redefine the word to remove its actual meaning and make "pantheistic" synonymous with "pantheonic" in Golarion. Was this deliberate, or just a wide-spread error?

Pantheism (in the real world) is the belief that all of existence comprises an all-encompassing God. It is a key element of many forms of Hinduism.

Polytheism (again, in the real world) is the belief that many different gods exist, often divided into pantheons.

I know that it's just a game, and that lots of words get redefined by the game writers to mean completely different things within the game than they do in the real world, but I'm curious why "pantheism" has been changed this way instead of developed as its own in-game analogue to real-world pantheism.

(I'm not personally a pantheist, but I do have a BA in theology and was kind of looking forward to seeing a gaming version of pantheism.)

While we could spin a beautiful web of metaphysical arguments trying to rationalize... the fact is that this we messed up. Somehow, all of us involved in the product thought that pantheism meant belief in a pantheon (damn you, Greek roots!). After all, if you look up "pantheism" on the internet, you find things like Hinduism, which clearly have many gods...

So yeah--turns out, we're game designers interested in religion, but not experts. Polytheism (or something else entirely) would have been the correct term. Apologies to all the theologists out there!
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