04-16-2015, 11:37 AM | #1 |
Join Date: Dec 2013
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Alternative Clerical Magic
I'm currently evaluating alternatives to the Basic Set's Clerical Magic rules. By way of background, I'm adapting GURPS to a low fantasy world I'm creating. I want to avoid the traditional "Cleric" trope of D&D and its clones. Conceptually, I want priestly-types to have some divinely granted abilities but I want to avoid
"cure light wound" spells and the like. In this world, the gods are aloof and not very active. I'd like divine magic to be more subtle. My thought was to designate certain advantages to be selected only by clerics/ priest and forego spells. I'm not sure if anyone has used this or if it works. I've picked up Divine Powers and giving that a read through. Any suggestions would be appreciated. |
04-16-2015, 11:41 AM | #2 |
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Ellicott City, MD
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Re: Alternative Clerical Magic
Ritual Path Magic may not be a bad way to go, if you want to avoid magic being overly flashy. Slower casting times, even for Adepts, and the lack of spells being pre-determined by an author 20 years ago is not a bad thing. Just limit clerics of certain deities to certain Paths, and you're set.
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04-16-2015, 11:46 AM | #3 |
Join Date: Feb 2009
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Re: Alternative Clerical Magic
I really like using Divine RPM with a few changes
Specifically, use Theology as the base skill and require Clerical Investment Also allow appropriate higher purposes like 'Cleric of Apollo' If you are feeling REALLY into doing a ton of brute work you can tweak the greater/lesser splits for clerics vs mages or even by deity! |
04-16-2015, 11:50 AM | #4 |
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Chicago
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Re: Alternative Clerical Magic
Have you looked at GURPS Powers: Divine Favor? That may be just what you're looking for.
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04-16-2015, 11:56 AM | #5 |
Join Date: Dec 2007
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Re: Alternative Clerical Magic
Divine Powers is not of course subtle. If you want subtle, go with True Faith and Serendipity (maybe Oracle) and leave it at that.
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04-16-2015, 03:10 PM | #6 | |
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Renton, WA
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Re: Alternative Clerical Magic
Quote:
I think if you keep things limited to lower point cost prayers, and maybe even skip learned prayers, it would fine. You have to take more time to pray, and the abilities don't get out of hand. They remind me more of traditional rituals that clerics would perform. |
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04-17-2015, 12:24 PM | #7 |
Join Date: Dec 2013
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Re: Alternative Clerical Magic
Thanks everyone for the advice.
I pulled out the Basic Set and I was reading up on the Pact Limitation, which might work well with what I'm trying to accomplish. |
04-17-2015, 01:27 PM | #8 | |
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Portland, Oregon
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Re: Alternative Clerical Magic
Quote:
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04-21-2015, 12:54 PM | #9 |
Join Date: Dec 2013
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Re: Alternative Clerical Magic
I'm trying to avoid avoid traditional "sphere" for each god and I'm trying to develop religions around different concepts. Right now I have faiths resembling: 1) gnostic religion with a new god correcting an artificer-god's flawed creation; 2) traditional polytheism focused on worship of dragons as manifestations of cosmic forces (similar to certain asian religions); 3) a creator deity with elements of ancestor worship and reincarnation of ascended heros within families; and 4) celestial gods who forsook the world and whose priests are advanced astronomers who try to predict their return.
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04-21-2015, 10:32 PM | #10 |
Join Date: Jul 2005
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Re: Alternative Clerical Magic
The simplest is for the cleric to take their god as a patron and then call it good.
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Tags |
cleric, divine powers, magic |
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