There is a vast array of deities available in society play. With ones like Rovagog and Groetus open is there any reason why the Great Old Ones and Outer Gods are not open? Is there a balance issue or perhaps some Golarion backstory that makes them not desirable in society?
I have this concept for a lore oracle who desires forbiden lore. Could be nice for a dark tapestry oracle as well.
From a fluff perspective I could see these being a lot less (at least directly) antagonistic than say a cleric of Rovagog. Especially if Kyra is in the party.
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I bet it's both a license issue, flavour issue and an in-world issue.
The legal status of a lot of the mythos stuff is in flux. Paizo credited Chaosium when they put out their Old Cults article in Wake of the Watcher, afterall. I don't know the particulars, but reckon that much of it isn't public domain.
Then there's a flavour thing: They've been hesitant with this kind of genre mixing before. For a whole lot of people, mythos goes down about as well as, say, robots or samurai and it's a common complaint.
In-world it's a mixed bag: On one hand there's several callously or cosmically evil entities and worshippers already present but on the other they are all homegrown, local evils with whose cultists you could have a reasonable conversation and even meet in broad daylight. E.g gnolls are legal in many ports and they worship both Lamashtu and Rovagug, Nidal exists, The Black Mask is still in business, Nocticula sponsors not just assassins but artists too, etc.
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Not all of the Outer Gods are evil...
If a worshiper of Rovagug, Zon-Kuthon, or Urgathoa (not to mention several minor deities of rather evil bent) can be played in PFS-- I do not see why Yog-Sothoth and Azathoth (both Chaotic Neutral, and possible for sane people to follow) are prohibited. Especially when Shub-Niggurath is allowed for PFS characters.... Oh wait, sorry, that's Lamashtu....
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Someone say Cthulu?
Cthulhu Fthagn --
What a wonderful phrase!
Cthulhu Fthagn --
Say it and you're crazed!
It means "Cthulhu,
Rising out of the haze!"
It's a prophecy,
We'll all soon see
Cthulhu Fthagn.
Ahhh, yes! Cthulhu Fthagn. It's our motto, our slogan, our credo!
Oh, I hate that!
What?
Han Solo clearly shot first!
Not "Greedo", "credo"!
When he was a Outer God --
When I was a Outer God!
Easy on the reverb, sport.
He found that his form lacked a certain appeal,
All his glistening pseudopods made blood congeal.
I'm a sensitive soul!
At the end of the day,
It hurt that my friends' flesh all melted away.
Oh the shame!
Oh, the terrible shame!
What a disgrace!
Falling from grace!
Till I decided to blame --
Whose fault was it?
The whole human race!
Yeah! What the heck where they doing hanging around with an acidic mass of flesh-devouring polyps, anyway?
Hey! Can I help it if I'm an "ick" magnet?
Cthulhu Fthagn!
Now we're in for strange days!
It screws up your noggin --
Turns planets into buffets!
And Great Cthulhu
Spares whoever obeys!
So get off of me,
You monstrosity!
Cthulhu Fthagn!
Cthulhu Fthagn!
Cthulhu Fthagn!
Cthulhu Fthagn!
-- Wait wait WAIT! If we keep doing this, he's gonna show up!
... COOL!
It means Cthulhu,
Rising out of the haze!"
It's insanity,
For humanity --
Cthulhu Fthagn!
I say Cthulhu!
And I say Fthagn!
If I said Ithaqua,
We'd need a toboggan!
Cthulhu Fthagn!
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From a fluff perspective I could see these being a lot less (at least directly) antagonistic than say a cleric of Rovagog. Especially if Kyra is in the party.
Not all of the Outer Gods are evil...
If a worshiper of Rovagug, Zon-Kuthon, or Urgathoa (not to mention several minor deities of rather evil bent) can be played in PFS-- I do not see why Yog-Sothoth and Azathoth (both Chaotic Neutral, and possible for sane people to follow) are prohibited. Especially when Shub-Niggurath is allowed for PFS characters.... Oh wait, sorry, that's Lamashtu....
I believe all of these should be illegal deity choices for PFS PCs too.
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From a fluff perspective I could see these being a lot less (at least directly) antagonistic than say a cleric of Rovagog. Especially if Kyra is in the party.I believe all of these should be illegal deity choices for PFS PCs too.Not all of the Outer Gods are evil...
If a worshiper of Rovagug, Zon-Kuthon, or Urgathoa (not to mention several minor deities of rather evil bent) can be played in PFS-- I do not see why Yog-Sothoth and Azathoth (both Chaotic Neutral, and possible for sane people to follow) are prohibited. Especially when Shub-Niggurath is allowed for PFS characters.... Oh wait, sorry, that's Lamashtu....
What about Naderi, Zyphus, Asmodeus or Norgorber? Evil elemental lords? Demonic patrons? Where do we draw the line?
I think I disagree, overall(Rovagug just doesn't make sense in this type of campaign), we'd lose more than we gain by such a ban. All of these deities either have neutral aspects to them or are worshipped by certain factions or ethnicities(Urgathoa in Geb, for instance). There's a wealth of roleplaying to be had by trying to fit such a strange choice into the Pathfinder mold. Paladins side by side with Kabirites, empyreal cultists of forgiveness prattling about dogma with Naderi's chosen, etc. I think it's a great sort of flavour and lends this fantasy campaign a unique twist.
My search-fu is weak, but I remember someone in campaign leadership commenting on this earlier this year.
The comment was, basically, that certain deities are outlawed because the antagonist NPC frequently venerates a deity. It's easier to say Lissala, NG, et al, are not available choices for PFS PCs, freeing them up for enemy-NPCs. Furthermore, when there's some Evil Cleric of Lamashtu or whatever, it's harder for a PC cleric of Lamashtu to see that enemy as evil or acting against the tenants of the patron deity. Also, this very situation (allowing PCs to venerate Lamashtu, Rovagug, et cetera) toes a PVP line and can undermine the success conditions of certain scenarios.
Spent the better part of an hour searching for the post, couldn't find it.
edit: bad spelling
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My search-fu is weak, but I remember someone in campaign leadership commenting on this earlier this year.
The comment was, basically, that certain deities are outlawed because the antagonist NPC frequently venerates a deity. It's easier to say Lissala, NG, et al, are not available choices for PFS PCs, freeing them up for enemy-NPCs. Furthermore, when there's some Evil Cleric of Lamashtu or whatever, it's harder for a PC cleric of Lamashtu to see that enemy as evil or acting against the tenants of the patron deity. Also, this very situation (allowing PCs to venerate Lamashtu, Rovagug, et cetera) toes a PVP line and can undermine the success conditions of certain scenarios.
Spent the better part of an hour searching for the post, couldn't find it.
edit: bad spelling
Well, its not like internecine warfare is completely unknown.
"Hey, aren't you both in the church of Zyphus?
"Yes!
"So.. how come you just put your pick through his head?
"OH! He's Reformed church of Zyphus. Ecclesiastical positions are completely out of whack with the true teachings of zyphus. Damned heretics...
