This is a site for discussing roleplaying games. Have fun doing so, but there is one major rule: do not discuss political issues that aren't directly and uniquely related to the subject of the thread and about gaming. While this site is dedicated to free speech, the following will not be tolerated: devolving a thread into unrelated political discussion, sockpuppeting (using multiple and/or bogus accounts), disrupting topics without contributing to them, and posting images that could get someone fired in the workplace (an external link is OK, but clearly mark it as Not Safe For Work, or NSFW). If you receive a warning, please take it seriously and either move on to another topic or steer the discussion back to its original RPG-related theme.

A modest anti-prestige-class proposal: make everyone a cleric

Started by riprock, October 09, 2008, 11:24:34 PM

Previous topic - Next topic
Print
Go Down Pages1 2
User actions

riprock

October 09, 2008, 11:24:34 PM
I glanced at the Pathfinder alpha and noted that wizards had school powers just like clerics had domain powers.

I had a marvelous idea.  

Get rid of all the classes except cleric.

Everyone can wear armor.  If you want to find traps, worship a god of trapfinding.

Everyone gets domain powers.  Everyone has a god -- at least one.  It's not possible to be without at least one god -- because gods will adopt mortals, even if the mortals don't want to be adopted.

There are no prestige classes.  There is only one class- cleric.  To customize characters, give them interesting gods, domain access appropriate to their gods, and make their relationships with their churches and gods reflect the personalities of everyone involved.

This idea seemed really original to me for about two seconds, then I realized I had reinvented the superhero genre -- again -- but in a fantasy context.

Still, I'm going to run it if I can get players for it.  I won't use Pathfinder, of course -- d6 or GURPS will work.  All the players need is a handout with the list of domains from which they can choose, and some pre-generated gods in case they don't want to make up their own gods.
"By their way of thinking, gold and experience goes[sic] much further when divided by one. Such shortsighted individuals are quick to stab their fellow players in the back if they think it puts them ahead. They see the game solely as a contest between themselves and their fellow players.  How sad.  Clearly the game is a contest between the players and the GM.  Any contest against your fellow party members is secondary." Hackmaster Player\'s Handbook

Narf the Mouse

#1
October 10, 2008, 12:04:19 AM
...Be prepared for a parody campaign. Cause man, if I couldn't do anything without asking a god for help, the both of us would be getting terribly annoyed.
The main problem with government is the difficulty of pressing charges against its directors.

Given a choice of two out of three M&Ms, the human brain subconsciously tries to justify the two M&Ms chosen as being superior to the M&M not chosen.

Age of Fable

#2
October 10, 2008, 01:25:27 PM Last Edit: October 10, 2008, 02:29:25 PM by Age of Fable
Maybe you could make the campaign Ancient-Greek flavoured (or some other situation where the gods are constantly directly involved in what everyone does).

XP could come from sacrifices, which could justify how treasure / killing things makes you more powerful.

EDIT: different gods could demand different types of offerings.
free resources:
Teleleli The people, places, gods and monsters of the great city of Teleleli and the islands around.
Age of Fable \'Online gamebook\', in the style of Fighting Fantasy, Lone Wolf and Fabled Lands.
Tables for Fables Random charts for any fantasy RPG rules.
Fantasy Adventure Ideas Generator
Cyberpunk/fantasy/pulp/space opera/superhero/western Plot Generator.
Cute Board Heroes Paper \'miniatures\'.
Map Generator
Dungeon generator for Basic D&D or Tunnels & Trolls.

Idinsinuation

#3
October 10, 2008, 01:26:58 PM
I said the same thing when I read the 4th edition players handbook.

If you create a good pantheon of gods I would totally get behind a game like this!  Cleric has always been the best DnD class anyway.
"A thousand fathers killed, a thousand virgin daughters spread, with swords still wet, with swords still wet, with the blood of their dead." - Protest the Hero

Engine

#4
October 10, 2008, 01:30:42 PM
I had a great idea once: do away with classes, and simply let people learn what it makes sense for them to be able to learn. Then I realized I already played that game, and that D&D players actually really like classes, and I shouldn't fuck with them, because they get very upset when I talk about classless games.
When you\'re a bankrupt ideology pursuing a bankrupt strategy, the only move you\'ve got is the dick one.

Narf the Mouse

#5
October 10, 2008, 01:45:34 PM
Silly person, I'm a D&D player, writing a classless game.
The main problem with government is the difficulty of pressing charges against its directors.

Given a choice of two out of three M&Ms, the human brain subconsciously tries to justify the two M&Ms chosen as being superior to the M&M not chosen.

Spinachcat

#6
October 10, 2008, 02:08:00 PM
Check out a game called free Greak Ork Gods - it's a humorous one-shot RPG where you play Orcs who are hated by their gods, but no orc can achieve anything without their gods.  Its fantasy Paranoia in its gameplay.  

RuneQuest had the everybody's a cleric thing and that had no classes and works great.   In RQ, you joined a few cults or you were toast in longer campaigns because Battle Magic / Spirit Magic was cheap but weak.

Drohem

#7
October 10, 2008, 02:13:12 PM
Do you have link to download Greak Ork Gods?  I tried a search but could only find forum references to the game.  Yes, my Google-fu sucks.  Thanks!

Narf the Mouse

#8
October 10, 2008, 02:22:15 PM
That's because it's Great Ork Gods.

Sounds kinda bleak and pointless to me, unless you play it purely for doomed laughs.
The main problem with government is the difficulty of pressing charges against its directors.

Given a choice of two out of three M&Ms, the human brain subconsciously tries to justify the two M&Ms chosen as being superior to the M&M not chosen.

Drohem

#9
October 10, 2008, 02:25:50 PM
Quote from: Narf the Mouse;255451That's because it's Great Ork Gods.

Sounds kinda bleak and pointless to me, unless you play it purely for doomed laughs.

LOL, thanks for the link.

Idinsinuation

#10
October 10, 2008, 02:31:23 PM
Quote from: Engine;255425I had a great idea once: do away with classes, and simply let people learn what it makes sense for them to be able to learn. Then I realized I already played that game, and that D&D players actually really like classes, and I shouldn't fuck with them, because they get very upset when I talk about classless games.

I like both.  WFRP made me love "classes" again.

Quote from: Narf the Mouse;255451That's because it's Great Ork Gods.

Sounds kinda bleak and pointless to me, unless you play it purely for doomed laughs.
Throw in a case of beer and I am sold!
"A thousand fathers killed, a thousand virgin daughters spread, with swords still wet, with swords still wet, with the blood of their dead." - Protest the Hero

Narf the Mouse

#11
October 10, 2008, 02:46:15 PM
If I decided to GM it, you'd have to bring your beer - I don't drink alcohol. Just don't go getting piss-drunk and I'd call it even.
The main problem with government is the difficulty of pressing charges against its directors.

Given a choice of two out of three M&Ms, the human brain subconsciously tries to justify the two M&Ms chosen as being superior to the M&M not chosen.

jeff37923

#12
October 10, 2008, 02:58:02 PM
Quote from: Age of Fable;255421EDIT: different gods could demand different types of offerings.

You all need to read about the god Cayden Cailean (God of Freedom, Wine, and Bravery) in the Pathfinder setting and seriously consider being a party of his clerics.
"Meh."

Idinsinuation

#13
October 10, 2008, 03:03:48 PM
Quote from: Narf the Mouse;255466If I decided to GM it, you'd have to bring your beer - I don't drink alcohol. Just don't go getting piss-drunk and I'd call it even.

Well yeah naturally, and if you don't drink I probably would avoid the beer.  I have too many friends who are perfectly fine being the one drunk at the game table, no thanks. The game does sound like a good one to go with drinking though.
"A thousand fathers killed, a thousand virgin daughters spread, with swords still wet, with swords still wet, with the blood of their dead." - Protest the Hero

Narf the Mouse

#14
October 10, 2008, 03:21:16 PM
"Hey angry god dude! Bet you can't hit a drunken goblin with a lightning bolt!

What do you mean you can? There's one right there and you already missed!

Hah! Good one! That'll show 'em!"

Ork Shaman. Hence the highly-educated language.
The main problem with government is the difficulty of pressing charges against its directors.

Given a choice of two out of three M&Ms, the human brain subconsciously tries to justify the two M&Ms chosen as being superior to the M&M not chosen.
Print
Go Up Pages1 2
User actions