Posts
D&D is, normally, set in a myth parallel of medieval times.
Something that medieval times has is the rise of Christianity supplanting, or having supplanted the local polytheism.
Especially with the notes about Clerics mentioning the religious knight model, I wonder if I can get away with just having a single God.
When I remember that the difference between good and evil in AD&D is simply how selfish you are and not whether you're actually a bad person, both an evil and good cleric could be friends and worship at the same altar.
One thing that probably wouldn't happen in a world where God grants such overt power is the schism between Judaism, Christianity and Islam, which are, purportedly, the same deity.
Or would it? God choosing to only speak through His (Her?) priesthood and prophets would lead to human interpretation of Their Word.
On the plus side, a priest that strays too far from The Word will lose their powers.
A monotheistic world, where there is OneBigGuyInCharge, is doable. I did one back in the day, based on the Roman Catholic Church. OBGIC, and saints to handle the specific issues. Like Michael, patron saint of warriors. Sebastian, patron saint of crossbowmen, that type of thing.
ReplyDeleteAnd having OBGIC for the player character world doesn't preclude people/monsters from worshiping other many little guys. Kind of like having a group of people/monsters who worship the dot-Indian mythos. Or ancient 'gods' like in Lovecraft or in Larry Correia's Monster Hunter world.
John Ringo, in his "Princess of Wands" and "Queen of Wands" has people worshiping God, and others worshiping, well, other gods or spirits or whatever.
One of the joys of a monotheist world is the possibility of schisms. Which sets up 'fun' things like the Albigensian Crusade which brought us the wonderful phrase "Kill them all. God will know His own" in reference to what to do with 'good Christians' who wouldn't toss the Cathars out, so, well, kill them all, God will know the 'right' people and the 'wrong' people.
Christopher Stasheff, in two of his series, the Warlock series and the Wizard series, deals specifically with Christianity in a fantasy setting. God, or the angels, or the devil, show up. Prayer is a very powerful tool. Consecrated items like holy bells, holy books and holy candles have power.
OBGIC? I feel like I should already know that one, but can't recall it.
DeleteI've played a game where all the various Gods turned out to be aspects of the same deity. Human God was God, Elf God was God, Orc God was God... But each had a distinct scripture and personality.
Much like my "languages are national" experiment, my fellow players intensely disliked it.
OBGIC refers to 'One Big Guy In Charge.' I was attempting to be 'cute.'
DeleteI was trying to fill in the OB with God in Christ and failing.
DeleteI like the one big guy in charge turn of phrase.