| 2 people marked this as FAQ candidate. |
"You can channel positive energy like a cleric"
Clerics need a Holy Symbol to channel.
"The divine focus for a cleric or a paladin is a holy symbol appropriate to the character’s faith"
So, do you need to pick a deity to use this ability? If not, can you use just any old holy symbol?
Oracles specifically ignore any requirement for Divine Focus. Says so right in the Spells description of the class :)
-S
No. It says: " Oracles do not need to provide a divine
focus to cast spells that list divine focus (DF) as part of the
components." Channeling is not a spell, it is a supernatural ability.
No. It says: " Oracles do not need to provide a divine
focus to cast spells that list divine focus (DF) as part of the
components." Channeling is not a spell, it is a supernatural ability.
Like selgard, i think you are over-analyzing. Oracles shouldn't need a holy symbol to channel.
"Shouldn't" and clearly stating that you do are two different things.
Given that the Oracle rules do not include anything about a deity, saying you have to suddenly pick one just for this one ability is being disingenuous. If they wanted you to use it they'd have said so. Instead, they specifically stated that you don't.
If you want to change that and say that they do- then further house-rule how to handle the DF issue.
-S
Actually they do talk about deities. Oracle: "oracles garner strength and power from many sources, namely those patron deities who support their ideals. Instead of worshiping a single source, oracles tend to venerate all of the gods that share their beliefs."
Not so different than clerics that don't worship one deity.
Cleric: "As their powers are inf luenced by their faith, all clerics must focus their worship upon a divine source. While the vast majority of clerics revere a specific deity, a small number dedicate themselves to a divine concept worthy of devotion—such as battle, death, justice, or knowledge—free of a deific abstraction."
I think you would need a house rule to say the opposite. It clearly says channel as a cleric, and the cleric rules says you need a holy symbol.
Not that I am disagreeing; it just looks like the authors didn't notice that one ability of one mystery has a bit of a contradiction. I was hoping there was some way out of this besides calling me disingenuous for asking about it.
Edit: what do clerics that dedicate themselves to a concept do for a holy symbol?
I think they made it clear enough their intent, when they specifically called out that oracles don't need a DF. As you quoted, they also said that Oracles worship entire pantheons rather than any particular god.
If you wanted to ram a DF down their throat- just make them pick one of the alignment appropriate gods that they worship and use their DF.
As for clerics without gods- I have no idea. I would assume that the player and DM would have to get together and pick one. A nature themed one may use Holly berries while one dedicated to war could use a specific weapon type or even a shield or such. The others would vary and could probably be quite imaginative. I am unsure if there is any official "chart" of DF's for godless clerics.
-S
The general Fluff of the class (I know, Fluff doesn't have much to do with rules but...)makes it sound like the Oracle IS the Holy Symbol, they Channel their various Gods' power through their bodies, gaining Blessings as they gain power, but cursed by the fact that their mortal shell is no match for their Gods' powers.
I'd say no Divine Focus is needed, unless Oracles of the Bone revelation also suffer from needing a Holy Symbol.
It'd jsut be easier to view it as simply saying "Oracles don't need a holy symbol for their abilities or spells."