Hi Ed, I was looking at the piety system in the Mythic Odessis of Theros book and I was thinking of implementing something like that into my Realms campaign.
If you don’t know what it is, it gives the players rewards for advancing their deity’s goals. there are 4 (1) Tiers of rewards, ranging from abilities that are, or are similar to 1st level spells, 2-3rd level spells, 3-4th level spells, and an Ability Score improvement at the final tier. You can usually use each ability once or as several times a day depending on the power of the … (2)— Alex McClay (@AlexMcclay2000) July 21, 2021
ability.
Now with the mechanics out of the way, ignoring game mechanics and game editions, would deities grant abilities to their most devout followers (I’m assuming yes), and if so, what type of rewards? Are 3rd level spells too much of a reward? close to the Realms as possible, so that might mean decreasing or increasing the power of the rewards.
Thanks in Advance!
(4)— Alex McClay (@AlexMcclay2000) July 21, 2021
3)
This happens in at least two adventures I designed for TSR to run at GenCons at the time FR debuted as a setting. Third-level spells are fine as rewards, and so are much more powerful spells if they’re one-shots and what the character needs at that moment. 4)
Even sufficiently fervent prayers could receive a response, though bestowals of spells are usually in return for a heroic service.
In short, this has always been in the Realms, for non-clerics. Clergy, often including paladins, don't get this sort of reward as…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) July 21, 2021
5)
…they have their own established (through the church) paths of rewards/ascension in priestly ranks and offices and character class powers.
Deities in the Realms have always been about aims. Because I formalized portfolios for D&D, gamers have concentrated on… 6)
…what god is "responsible" for what field or genre or topic, and has dominion over it, but the game is predicated on free will over destiny (or adventurers aren't heroes, simply pawns following a divine script), so the deities are "overblown-mortals" or…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) July 21, 2021
7)
…”super-mortals” (flawed and fallible), so the best way to roleplay divine influences and interventions is to look at what the deities, AS PEOPLE, are striving for, or want…and what they allow their mortal followers to strive for, and accomplish (not just… 8)
…taboos for the faithful, but secular activities of priesthoods, like investing and sideline industries and politicking). This lets campaign play focus on priesthoods and devout lay worshippers (who receive dream-visions, or orders from priests in temples, …#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) July 21, 2021
9)
…when the lay worshippers show up to pray or give offerings) trying to do specific mundane things in the world, to further what the deity wants to see happen, so instead of passively or reactively “standing for all things to do with cows, or anvils, or sea… 10)
…voyages," a deity is pushing mortals and a webwork of caused or exploited events to achieve certain things, usually in conflict with the interests of other deities…so the Church of Shar or of Ilmater or of Moander is an active, complex force working on…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) July 21, 2021
11)
…many fronts, doing things great and small, in an ongoing, dynamic way.
If that’s your jam, of course.
As D&D was born in time when the real-world beliefs of consumers had to be respected from a distance, gingerly, this was one aspect of the original Realms… 12)
…that got downplayed or omitted.
So it's great to go this route, if a particular gaming group is comfortable doing so. In short, if the piety rules work for you, great! Third level spells grants are by no means too high. :}#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) July 21, 2021
I mean at the moment they need it. Divine aid in the nick of time.
Bestowals are made at divine whim, so there's no "how often" (a lay worshipper who's very active and very useful gets "more often," but it should never become a pipeline of help).#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) July 21, 2021