Basically, how would you handle it? I had a low level paladin ask if he could meditate and basically commune with his god, and to say the least I was blind-sided by that. I hadn't even thought of a low level paladin speaking with his god, surely he shouldn't be able to just meditate for a moment and talk to a supremely powerful being as a weak paladin, thats a big deal. So what do you guys suggest for a situation like that? I've thought of something like the paladin being bathed in a warming light or something nice like that but i'm really not sure how to handle it. Any advice? Maybe just a commune with an angel but how would a conversation like that go?
Luckily there's a spell for exactly what you're asking about.
It's not a paladin spell though. In general I'd suggest just using different divination spells like augury flavoured as contacting your deity/agents of your deity.
Another option if that doesn't satisfy you is to use the Occult Ritual rules in Occult Adventures to create rituals that duplicate the effects of such spells. You don't even have to be a caster to perform them.
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Most of the gods of Golarion provide signs of their favor/disfavor rather than directly talking to people. I think the examples for each god are in Inner Sea Gods.
If the god needs to tell its worshipers something more complicated, dreams are always a good option, as is sending out a minor outsider as a messenger.
For a player that wants guidance on tap, there's actually a interesting paladin archetype in the Familiar Folio (of all places) that grants you a divine emissary as a familiar to help keep you on track. Which is pretty cool.
Cheers!
Landon
It seems that just about every time I answer a message on these boards, I wind up invoking Jim Butcher's Dresden Files . . . .
I think that it should be handled a bit like Michael Carpenter's character in those stories -- that subtle "thrum" of faith's power, and a renewed attitude toward what lies ahead. And all because one believer said a prayer -- that simple.
Now, it may be that your player is looking for something a bit more interactive. And that's where it gets a bit hinky. I believe that it's better to ensure that your characters are as special in the world as they are in the game, if you take my meaning. A paladin of Sarenrae *should* have access to his/her deity, and such communion should be emphasized -- somehow. At lower levels, it could just be something as simple as a quiet inner voice saying "Doctrinal point 1. Doctrinal point 2. Doctrinal point 3. Customary farewell blessing.". Then work up to interactions where you have displays of "This is my beloved warrior, in whom I am well pleased."
The . . . providential manifestation of a deity's favor or disfavor is an excellent tool to use for this, too. Paladin prays, appropriate omen is noticed/manifested upon opened eyes. Something like that.
Conversation with deities and their heralds at a low level should be avoided. Conversation is merited when said believer is embroiled in events that can shatter worlds or churches, and is a proven paragon of the faith. Gotta work up to those kinds of things, though.
If you want to look at some extant source material, you can look at the New Testament narrative, and quickly realize that even though the accounts there are all about the beginnings of a new faith shown forth with powerful signs and wonders, God Himself didn't do a lot of talking directly to Peter, Paul, etc. Just one example.
For a believer, there's a big difference between knowing that "God" is with you versus having a chit-chat with said "God".