It's hard to tell without more info on these deities, but Pharasma strikes me as really cool.
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I have to agree with the Baron; we can't really decide who's our favorite deity without knowing more 'bout them. I chose Desna mainly because she looked interesting, has her own special Xena weapon, and... eh heh... I may or may not have been looking at the picture of that Desnian star thrower at the time...
I love shelyn and seranrae and desna....
for some reason all that stars and traveling and travelers and such makes me think of being on a fantasy airship on a starry night O.o
Sarenrae. Because Sun Deities rule! And because she's Neutral Good, which is a cool alignment.
I chose Erastil. Old Deadeye seems so peaceful and relaxing.
Plus... 'Old Deadeye.'
Zon-Kuthon feels your pain.
I do love me a goddess of monsters.
I like Calistria, because, seriously, lust and revenge? It's the dark side of love and all human intimacy betrayed.
Although I like many of them, I'm going to have to say Sarenrae at this point. Here's a few reasons why:
1) Roleplay & Rollplay Potential - She seems to have a strong, proactive priesthood split along two lines: peacemakers and justice-bringers. And you can't quite beat that combination in a heroic sense for building a cleric around. As Kyra's iconic background indicates, you can also go either direction with the worship of Sarenrae, choosing to focus more on the peaceful, diplomatic side of things...or go straight for the crusade to bring justice to all evil in the world.
2) Favored Weapon & Martial Tradition - Her favored weapon is a scimitar and her priesthood practices with it in an almost bushido fashion. So there's a dance-like martial artist's discipline woven into this priesthood that just continues to build upon the "honor" and focus that kind of comes across from Sarenrae. As the sun's rays can be focused to kindle a fire, so too can a priest of Sarenrae focus his own discipline to accomplish great things in the goddess' name.
3) Ideals & Domains - Her portfolio centers on supportive ideals like healing, honesty, redemption, and the shining example personified by the sun. It's just a really nice blend or "perfect storm" that culminates with an interesting collection of domain abilities and spells that a cleric of Sarenrae can build around.
4) Details & Background - She also seems to have a lot more detailing at this point than many of the other deities. Although Mike gave us some very cool background on Shelyn...and we kind of know where Desna is headed in terms of her description...I just think Sarenrae pulls ahead due to the details we've garnered from James' descriptions and Kyra's background.
5) Name & Connotations - Her name rolls off the tongue like a Greek goddess of old. I might put Iomedae in that same category, but I don't know enough about the goddess of valor yet. In addition, Sarenrae's name seems to fit her association with the sun even more strongly than any of the other gods match with their portfolios. For instance, the "rae" syllable in her name conjures up an image of the sun's rays. And, I'm not completely sure why, but the "Saren" part of her name makes me imagine the Sahara Desert or the sun-filled Serengeti savanna in Africa.
6) Look and Feel - The artwork provided for Kyra is so well done and so highly detailed that it gives us the greatest glimpse into what the priesthood of Sarenrae would look like...and, more importantly, they look really good. They come across as well-dressed, seemingly well-prepared, and also with what appears to be a fine sense of tradition which looks like a combination of feudal Japan and medieval Arab garb. If the sun's light lets us view the colors of the world, then the prism of Sarenrae's priesthood certainly looks the part as well.
Just my...umm...one, two...hmmm...six-cents or so,
--Neil
;-)
I need a bit more information on the gods before I can make an informed choice.
I think Mike got a little too excited and posted prematurely. ;-)
I need a bit more information on the gods before I can make an informed choice....I think Mike got a little too excited and posted prematurely. ;-)
For this poll? Or for the post where he put up so much information on Shelyn (which was his contribution to the pantheon)? If it's the latter, I can't fault him for being premature on that. I asked for a sneak-peek for one of my players.
But, if it's the former, I think Mike asked for the poll on favorite deities in an attempt to have his creation win. After all, no other deity has had its preliminary background information shared except for his creation. So maybe he thought he'd walk away with a victory if he asked before the others got the same treatment?
Just kidding, Mike...we still very much appreciate the early sneak-peek on Shelyn. ;-)
--Neil
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But, if it's the former, I think Mike asked for the poll on favorite deities in an attempt to have his creation win. After all, no other deity has had its preliminary background information shared except for his creation. So maybe he thought he'd walk away with a victory if he asked before the others got the same treatment?
Just kidding, Mike...we still very much appreciate the early sneak-peek on Shelyn. ;-)
;P
In hindsight, which is 20/20, I think you're right about this poll being too early.
But it should be interesting to see which deity people want to know more about. :)
But, if it's the former, I think Mike asked for the poll on favorite deities in an attempt to have his creation win. After all, no other deity has had its preliminary background information shared except for his creation. So maybe he thought he'd walk away with a victory if he asked before the others got the same treatment?
Just kidding, Mike...we still very much appreciate the early sneak-peek on Shelyn. ;-)
;P
In hindsight, which is 20/20, I think you're right about this poll being too early.
But it should be interesting to see which deity people want to know more about. :)
Agreed I am eager to learn about Irori, Powers dealing with knowledge and the like always interest me . . . I love me some Oghma. I like the take that he is also styled like a monk or at least that is what I have garnered so far.
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But, if it's the former, I think Mike asked for the poll on favorite deities in an attempt to have his creation win. After all, no other deity has had its preliminary background information shared except for his creation. So maybe he thought he'd walk away with a victory if he asked before the others got the same treatment?
Just kidding, Mike...we still very much appreciate the early sneak-peek on Shelyn. ;-)
;P
In hindsight, which is 20/20, I think you're right about this poll being too early.
But it should be interesting to see which deity people want to know more about. :)
If that was the point, Mike, then why not have the poll be, "Which deity would you like to know more about?"
I've changed the poll question.
Well, in that case, I'd have to change my vote to say Desna. Why? Because James already indicated she's got a fairly prominent role in RotR...and that she would be his choice for playing a cleric in the campaign. So, even though she's got her little star-knife...and we know her domains...and we've even got a little piece of artwork with the leaping, star-throwing priestess...I still don't feel like I know Desna that well yet.
So...changing from Sarenrae to Desna for me. Sorry, Mike. No extra vote for Shelyn. ;-)
--Neil
With the new poll focus, I'd like to see more about Zon-Kuthon. He was touched on a bit in Mike's Shelyn post, and the name is just cool. :)
And Phil L. you shouldn't say Mike posts early. His girlfriend might read it and then what would she think of him? Poor Mike. ;)
Other than just providing us the names of the dieties in question, where are we to find the basic descriptions (other than the books as I have not received mine as of yet)?
But I do agree with NSpicer on how the presentation of dieties should be approached, at least as a basic outline (looks pretty good and readable).
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Other than just providing us the names of the dieties in question, where are we to find the basic descriptions (other than the books as I have not received mine as of yet)?
But I do agree with NSpicer on how the presentation of dieties should be approached, at least as a basic outline (looks pretty good and readable).
The best place at this time to find out more about these deities is probably to sift through our blog. There's been a couple of threads on the boards here that talk quite a bit about some of them too. The Player's Guide to Rise of the Runelords will have some more info, and then each of the Pathfinders and GameMastery modules will add more.
Pathfinder #2, for example, has a "Core Beliefs" style article about Desna.
Where was the info on the deities anyways? I just voted for Irori cuz I like that name. ;)
And then I saw Asmodeus and I was like crap! Crap! Vote for that! But it was too late.
Abadar, because LN is how I roll.
Although I'm also curious about Irori... he has an interesting mix of domains.
No other Gorum fans? Pah.
What about Droskar? Why ain't he on the list? Isn't he like, the only god that's been showcased thus far in a released Pathfinder product?
Or am I just tripping here?
What about Droskar? Why ain't he on the list? Isn't he like, the only god that's been showcased thus far in a released Pathfinder product?
Or am I just tripping here?
Someone correct me if I am in error . . .Droskar is a smaller deity not one of the widely venerated ones. His followers are more cultists than clergy . . . .all that and he may have fallen out of favor, methinks.
Other than just providing us the names of the dieties in question, where are we to find the basic descriptions (other than the books as I have not received mine as of yet)?
But I do agree with NSpicer on how the presentation of dieties should be approached, at least as a basic outline (looks pretty good and readable).The best place at this time to find out more about these deities is probably to sift through our blog. There's been a couple of threads on the boards here that talk quite a bit about some of them too. The Player's Guide to Rise of the Runelords will have some more info, and then each of the Pathfinders and GameMastery modules will add more.
Pathfinder #2, for example, has a "Core Beliefs" style article about Desna.
Woah, hang on. People who only get Pathfinder and not the modules aren't going to miss out on important setting information, are we? Because that's not just a deal-breaker - it smashes the deal to dust, urinates on it, and makes an obscene sculpture with the resulting paste.
To clarify, I'm fine with the modules providing appropriate background information that isn't transcribed word for word into the latest Pathfinder. However, if the answer to "I'd like enough information about Norgorber to play a cleric." is "Get Module FU: Search for the Exclusive Secrets of Norgorbitus.", I'm going to be upset.
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Woah, hang on. People who only get Pathfinder and not the modules aren't going to miss out on important setting information, are we? Because that's not just a deal-breaker - it smashes the deal to dust, urinates on it, and makes an obscene sculpture with the resulting paste.
To clarify, I'm fine with the modules providing appropriate background information that isn't transcribed word for word into the latest Pathfinder. However, if the answer to "I'd like enough information about Norgorber to play a cleric." is "Get Module FU: Search for the Exclusive Secrets of Norgorbitus.", I'm going to be upset.
You won't need any of the modules to play a Pathfinder campaign, nor will you need any Pathfinders to play any of the modules. BUT. Both Pathfinder and the modules are set in the same world, and use the same proper nouns as a result. There will be information presented in the modules that expands upon non-adventure elements in Pathfinder.
For something like deities, you'll be seeing bits of flavor popping in here and there; for example, check out Wednesday's blog post; one of the locations excerpted from W1: Conquest of Bloodsworn Vale has information about a shrine to Erastil, the god of hunting and agriculture.
None of that information is required to play a cleric of Erastil. It might help, sure, but it's not required. At the same point, there are bits and pieces of Erastil information in Pathfinder now and then.
There's no way we can ignore world details in one half of the line, in other words. And eventually, I'm sure we'll have some sort of collection of deity information out there. At the very least, by Pathfinder #60, we'll have Core Beliefs style writeups for our core 20 deities. And also eventually, we'll have things like the Pathfinder Chronicles Gazetteer and the like which will compile and expand upon information like this.
In any case, for readers who want to know everything about a deity or a location, then yes, they'll have to keep abreast of several products, ESPECIALLY at this early stage where our focus is on adventures.
If you're looking for background info and tips on how to play a cleric of a particular deity, though, you can always post here. If I've got the information, I'm always willing to share it (note that while a few of our deities are still little more than placeholder names, at least half of them are from my 25 or so year old campaign setting and have a LOT of background material waiting to see print).
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Someone correct me if I am in error . . .Droskar is a smaller deity not one of the widely venerated ones. His followers are more cultists than clergy . . . .all that and he may have fallen out of favor, methinks.
That's right. The list only reflects the core pantheon of deities, as it were. Just as other campaign settings have a core set of widely venerated deities and dozens of lesser ones, so too does ours. :)
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Someone correct me if I am in error . . .Droskar is a smaller deity not one of the widely venerated ones. His followers are more cultists than clergy . . . .all that and he may have fallen out of favor, methinks.That's right. The list only reflects the core pantheon of deities, as it were. Just as other campaign settings have a core set of widely venerated deities and dozens of lesser ones, so too does ours. :)
And false gods and weird cults....c'mon people, let's not forget about the false gods and weird cults. :D
Where are these domains: Rune, Charm, Madness, Glory?
They are SRD. Check out the divine rules/feats section they are listed.
Someone correct me if I am in error . . .Droskar is a smaller deity not one of the widely venerated ones. His followers are more cultists than clergy . . . .all that and he may have fallen out of favor, methinks.What about Droskar? Why ain't he on the list? Isn't he like, the only god that's been showcased thus far in a released Pathfinder product?
Or am I just tripping here?
You're right. But despite his "lesser" deity status he still seemed pretty cool to me. All Stalinist and unyielding and stuff. I can imagine him sitting on a throne of his workers bones looking all emotionless, while his demented followers work themselves to death all around him. Now that's an evil god I can get behind... he seems very focused on his schtick. You gotta respect that.
I voted for Asmodeus. What can I say? Devils are to me what demons are to James Jacobs...
I agree 100%. Devils Rule.