True neutral cleric with CN deity spell access

[Paehrin]

Hi everyone. I recently faced a problem when creating my new dwarf cleric. I want him as a worshiper of Gorum (a Chaotic Neutral deity), but as a true neutral character. I found an old thread about spell access for true neutral cleric with a true neutral that say they have access to both Good and Evil, Lawfull and Chaotic spells... But what about a true neutral cleric with a CN deity ? Will he have the same access to spells, or only Good, Evil and Chaotic ?

And since I'm here... is channeling negative energy might tend to show me as a more evil character ? I wanted my priest to be a battle priest, so channelling negative energy would be a more practical choice for him, but it seems kinda evil :s

[Beopere]

From a fluff point of few negative energy is definitely more threatening, and easier to perceive as evil, but is definitely does MEAN you're evil.

Also:

PFSRD wrote:

A cleric can't cast spells of an alignment opposed to her own or her deity's (if she has one). Spells associated with particular alignments are indicated by the chaotic, evil, good, and lawful descriptors in their spell descriptions.

So if your deity is CN, you cannot cast spells with the lawful descriptor, such as Order's Wrath. Makes sense since the origin of the spell is chaotic.

[Ross Byers]

And inversely, a CN cleric of a True Neutral deity still cannot use [Lawful] spells: The deity is willing to grant it, but the cleric does not have faith in the Lawful ideal necessary to cast the spell.

[Paehrin]

Thank you guys for the very quick answer ! Thanks for the clarification Beopere, I'll think about what energy I'll channel, it's a pretty hard choice to make... :)

[Bizbag]

Paehrin wrote:

Hi everyone. I recently faced a problem when creating my new dwarf cleric. I want him as a worshiper of Gorum (a Chaotic Neutral deity), but as a true neutral character. I found an old thread about spell access for true neutral cleric with a true neutral that say they have access to both Good and Evil, Lawfull and Chaotic spells... But what about a true neutral cleric with a CN deity ? Will he have the same access to spells, or only Good, Evil and Chaotic ?

And since I'm here... is channeling negative energy might tend to show me as a more evil character ? I wanted my priest to be a battle priest, so channelling negative energy would be a more practical choice for him, but it seems kinda evil :s

You are not automatically an evil person because you channel negative energy, but in Pathfinder, channeling negative energy is an Evil act, so technically, yes, you may be seen as a more evil character. It has something to do with how the energy tends to corrupt your personality (like the Dark Side of the Force). You may wish to introduce some sort of balancing character trait that counterbalances his channeling.

[minoritarian]

Is channelling negative energy an evil act?

Enervation and Waves of Fatigue etc. want a word with you then.

[Bizbag]

minoritarian wrote:

Is channelling negative energy an evil act?

Enervation and Waves of Fatigue etc. want a word with you then.

Neither of those things "channel" negative energy. Cure Light Wounds isn't a Good act, either.

Actually, now that I look at it, I was pulling this argument from memory, and it is in the 3.5 rules, but not Pathfinder. Still, my google-fu shows that a lot of people discuss channeling as if it were still true; plus there's the implication from the fact that you automatically channel positive if your god is Good and vice-versa. I'll put up a new thread.

[Claxon]

Bizbag wrote:

You are not automatically an evil person because you channel negative energy, but in Pathfinder, channeling negative energy is an Evil act, so technically, yes, you may be seen as a more evil character.

Not that you're wrong, but do you have a source for this. I don't recall seeing this before. It makes sense, I'm just at a loss to think of where this has been established.

[Bizbag]

Claxon wrote:

Bizbag wrote:

You are not automatically an evil person because you channel negative energy, but in Pathfinder, channeling negative energy is an Evil act, so technically, yes, you may be seen as a more evil character.

Not that you're wrong, but do you have a source for this. I don't recall seeing this before. It makes sense, I'm just at a loss to think of where this has been established.

I started a new thread, because it was the case in 3.5 under the Turn or Rebuke Undead rules, but that text no longer exists in PRG. It's still tied to your/your deity's alignment, though, hence the new thread.

[Beopere]

I totally missed a not there, my bad! Somewhat critical as well.

Channeling negative does NOT mean you're evil. But people might perceive you as evil (not necessarily!).

[scary harpy]

I thought only N deities had N clerics.

I thought CN deities could only have CG, CN & CE clerics.

Did I misread something?

[Ross Byers]

True Neutral deities can have NG, LN, N, CN, or NE clerics.

CN deities can have CG, N, CN, or CE clerics.

Rules is 'one step' on either axis.

[Claxon]

scary harpy wrote:

I thought only N deities had N clerics.

I thought CN deities could only have CG, CN & CE clerics.

Did I misread something?

Yes, a cleric need only be within one step of his deity's alignment. A CN god can have CN, CE, CG, NN clerics.

[Majuba]

Under 3.5, only TN deities could have TN clerics. Not true under Pathfinder. I think the idea was that clerics have to stand for something.

[minoritarian]

Majuba I don't see that restriction on the SRD. I sold my players handbook for 3.5 a long while back but could you quote me the relevant bits please? I don't think we ever played like that and would be interested if we were house ruling!

[Theconiel]

You could take the Versatile Channeler feat at 3rd level, and be able to channel both negative and positive energy.