Clerics, Paladins and All Things Divine

[CJ Solo]

My friends and I started talking about PFO while sitting at Denny's and we realized in the High Fantasy MMO's that we've played in, even DDO when we played, clerics and paladins don't have to choose a deity. I don't even remember doing this in Neverwinter Nights.

With PFO, will there be deity and domain selections?

I'd like to put my vote in for 'yes'. It would be cool if you got some sort of boon and/or unique spell selections based on your choices be you a cleric/paladin of Sarenrae or a cleric/paladin of Asmodeus.

[Elth]

I think this would be a great idea as long as there is an option for "Other".

[CJ Solo]

Well yes, cleric of a cause.

[Micco]

Um...you know that the gods in Golarion are undisputedly 'real', right?

I never have understood how 'causes' manage to dispense divine power, but whatever I guess.

Yes, I really hope they fully utilize the pantheon of Golarion in the skill tree for divinely-powered abilities. I'd limit 'causes' to the official ones, as I don't want to see Paladin's of Better Mead in the game...unless they worship Cayden, that is!

[Banesama]

I've always explained 'causes' as a DM as ones personal believe in a Philosophy so strong that it becomes a core part of their personal life.

A 'faith' so strong that it manifest in divine powers. Perhaps by the 'mana' that flows through the world or a deity that comes close to the philosophy sending some divine power toward the person.

[Drakhan Valane]

Also Pathfinder has Oracles that also do not draw their divine power from deities.

[Rafkin]

I don't see them doing clerics without domains and you kinda need deities to determine which domains you can access so I would expect to see at least a number of the "good" deities at launch.

[Drakhan Valane]

Remember that "classes" are not things you set when you start a character; they are things you earn. With that in mind, they may have a completely different way to determine domains. Maybe they are tied to holy symbols?

[Rafkin]

Could be but I think they need some mechanic to keep you from using multiple holy symbols so choosing a deity is probably early in character development. Unless they make holy symbols work like spell books which I think is a horrible idea.

[GozerTC]

Maybe you have to sign up at a holy site and start worshiping before you can even go down the path of a Cleric or Paladin? I.e. you can't even get to level 1 Cleric until you've gotten the Merit Badge "Joined [Insert Religion]."

[Dario]

I just hope you can defect to another faith (with some temporary penalty to your divine abilities). The Fall from Grace/Redemption of Darkness is a staple.

[Nihimon]

Very good question. If you have the ability, I would recommend making a video asking that question for Video Q&A! Submit your questions!.

If you don't perhaps someone who does might ask it for you.

[Elth]

When I said "other" I wasn't disputing the Golarion Deities. I just prefer to have more options for clerics and paladins than just the Deities. "Other" represents a more mysterious cosmic unknown that grants power, it could be one of Golarions deities meddling outside his influence or it could be some dark forgotten entity reminiscent of the Elder Elementals or Lovecraftian eldritch/cosmic horror.

[CJ Solo]

Nihimon wrote:

Very good question. If you have the ability, I would recommend making a video asking that question for Video Q&A! Submit your questions!.

If you don't perhaps someone who does might ask it for you.

I hadn't even thought about that. I'll have to look into doing that once I'm out of the whirlwind that is moving to another city.

Thanks for mentioning it.

----

On the matter of clerics of a cause; I don't really see it far fetched for Pathfinder. Afterall, look at those on the present pantheon who are mortals risen to gods. They had to have strong enough faith in something that they were able to rise to that level, and get a portfolio of domains of their very own.

Paladins not having a diety well... eh.. at that point wouldn't you be pretty similar to an Inquisitor? But I suppose they could have a knightly type or Bushido type of code that they believe in so deeply and are so devoted to, it could happen.

Lastly, good point about Oracles.

[Harrison]

Pathfinder Online is set in Golarion (duh) and last I checked, there was some unwritten rule that all Clerics and Paladins of Golarion were only able to get their divine power from deities and no other source.

[Darsch]

Harrison wrote:

Pathfinder Online is set in Golarion (duh) and last I checked, there was some unwritten rule that all Clerics and Paladins of Golarion were only able to get their divine power from deities and no other source.

Clerics and paladins in pathfinder do not have to fopllow a specific diety per the rule book they can follow a specific set of ideals like justice or healing. I.E. the cleric domains.

[teribithia9]

It's only the Pathfinder Society organized play rules that require you to have a patron deity if you're a cleric or paladin. The core rules allow you to be a paladin or cleric of a cause or an ideal.

[Luxor]

My cleric worships the phoenix.

[Banesama]

Once played a cleric that suffered from NPD (Narcissistic Personality Disorder) and worshipped himself. He also referred to himself in third-person. Was fun, but somewhat difficult to play.

[Nihimon]

Banesama wrote:

... worshipped himself. He also referred to himself in third-person.

I'm a word-nerd, and this really appeals to me, on many levels :)