When a DM is deciding which gods will be commonly worshiped in his or her campaign,
he must be aware of the fact that not all gods are equally powerful,
and that this affects their ability to grant spells to their clerics.
As is explained in the DUNGEON MASTER'S GUIDE, <>
1st and 2nd level spells are gained only through the cleric's knowledge and faith.
All other spells are gained through prayer.
Third, fourth, and fifth level spells are granted by the supernatural servants or minions of the cleric's deity.
These servants range up to demigod level.
Clerics whose patrons are demigods (and no lesser or greater gods) will receive their 3rd through 5th level spells directly from their deity.
A demigod cannot grant spells above 5th level; so a cleric of a demigod could never receive 6th or 7th level spells.

Sixth and seventh level spells spells are grantead to clerics directly from their deities.
Only the greater gods may grant 7th level spells.

In each mythos included here,
the deities have been divided into demi-gods, lesser gods and greater gods.
The DM may carefully consider altering these designations if they do not suit his or her campaign or concept of the deity.

Deities of all types,
from the highest to the lowest,
expect a great deal of work from their clerics in return for the power to perform miracles.
Clerics are expected to behave in a manner exemplary of the teachings of their faith.
Even common everyday concerns must be viewed in the light of their beliefs.
Clerics must stand out from the common fold as role models of correct behavior,
exhibiting greater wisdom and thoughtfulness,
and out out the precepts of their religions and alignments.

The DM must also make sure that the cleric is aware of his or her place in the community and the church hierarchy.
Cleric "adventurers",
which includes nearly all AD&D PC clerics,
are often greatly respected and admired (or feared) by the populace.
However,
due to their somewhat unorthodox behavior,
they rarely have any important place in their religion's hierarchy.
They are required to maintain appearances and perform the proper rituals essential to their faith and alignment,
regardless of their special mission in life.

A cleric,
no matter where he or she is,
acts as an agent and representative of his or her deity.
The cleric should miss no opportunity to explain and show to others,
through both word and deed,
the truth and rightness of his or her religion.
When clerics rise to high level,
they are often expected to be judges,
interpreters and arbitrators of the congregation's needs.

One of the more dangerous functions of any cleric is that of pawn of the god he or she serves.
Clerics are sometimes required to block the plans of the servants of other deities,
and they may even be sacrificed for the ultimate goals of the god they serve.

In addition to the above,
there are other requirements which a cleric must fulfill if he or she is to remain in good standing with the patron god.
Depending upon the religion (and the DM's decision),
certain rituals and services must be performed,
sometimes at precise and regular intervals.
The cleric should also freely undertake the performance of exceptional duties in the form of quests,
heroism,
and even (if necessary) voluntary martyrdom.

One important and sometimes expensive duty of a cleric is the creation of places of worship for his or her deity.
This could mean the building of simple roadside shrines at low level,
while at a high level a cleric might finance the construction of an entire temple.
These structures or areas must be put in places of relative security,
for the desecration of a temple is a terrible blow to a religion's honor.

There may come a time in the campaign when a cleric may fall away from the path of the deity he or she serves and need to be corrected or punished in some way.
Clerics using only first and second level spells usually need fear little direct retribution from their deity;
the god expects higher level mortal servants to be aware of transgressions and to take the proper action.

In the case of higher level clerics,
if the offense is minor,
he or she will often receive a warning of some kind,
typically an unmistakable omen of some sort.
These are usually sent by one of the deity's servants.
If a cleric once again commits a minor transgression or dereliction of duty,
the servants of the deity (and the DM) may require that he or she appease them by engaging in one or more of several types of penances.
If the questionable act was unknowing or unwilling,
simple receipt of an atonement spell may be sufficient.
If it was not,
several days of fasting,
prayer and meditation and/or minor sacrifices may be necessary.
In certain religions,
this may include some kind of scourging or physical punishment.

Greater and repeated transgressions require greater expiation to atone for them.
The erring cleric may have to make a major sacrifice,
probably including money and magic items,
and he or she may even be given a minor quest of some sort.
Some religions even require public degradation and humiliation for the cleric as recompense for his or her sins.
Until the atonement period has been completed,
use of certain spells or spell levels may be denied the cleric.

Grave transgressions require grim punishments.
A cleric who commits a grievous sin against his or her god may have to sacrifice all of his or her possessions and then go on a major quest in order to restore good standing.
During this period use of many or even all spells may be denied the errant cleric.
Commission of irredeemable sins or terrible heresies,
of course,
will result in immediate and total excommunication of the cleric:
that person may never again use clerical spells in the name of that deity or hope for aid or safety from his followers.
The worst of these acts may also invoke divine wrath upon the head of the offending one.
Divine vengeance upon one who has betrayed his god can take many forms,
each one worse than the previous.

The above, of course,
are rare cases.
A faithful and true cleric does not balk at the tasks necessary for proper worship,
and does not even consider committing actions which oppose those of his or her alignment and religion.
The path of truth for most clerics is narrow but well-marked.

(?)

As is explained in the DUNGEON MASTER'S GUIDE, 1st and 2nd level spells are gained only through the cleric's knowledge and faith. <>
Clerics whose patrons are demigods (and no lesser or greater gods) will receive their 3rd through 5th level spells directly from their deity.
A demigod cannot grant spells above 5th level; so a cleric of a demigod could never receive 6th or 7th level spells.

Only the greater gods may grant 7th level spells.

If the questionable act was unknowing or unwilling, simple receipt of an atonement spell may be sufficient.

DMPrata wrote:
Gary, waaaaaaaaaaaaay back in DRAGON® #71, you introduced Kelanen, the Prince of Swords (designed with François Marcela-Froideval, if I recall correctly) as the prototypical "Hero-Deity" for the WORLD OF GREYHAWK®. He was later reprinted in the '83 boxed set. Now, when compiling Deities & Demigods™, Jim Ward — I believe it was he — established the rule that demigods could grant clerical spells of up to 5th level; lesser gods, up to 6th level; and only greater gods could grant 7th level spells. (I don't know whether or not you approved of such a rule, but I'm operating under the assumption that you did.) If it's not already glaringly obvious, here's my question: Did you intend for the hero-deity Kelanen to have clerics, and be able to grant spells to them? If so, what level of spells would he be able to grant?

(P.S. — I hope to have an order in to the Trolls this weekend for the required "Gygaxian Fantasy Worlds" books. Don't count me out of the YGGSBURGH Expanded Details project just yet!  )

Felicitations!

Well, the rule regarding granting od spells is not one that I approved, and I would not deny any considerable deity the ability to grant spells of any level to one of his clerics within the region of that deity's worship. That's really a call for each DM to make, IMO.

As to Kelanen the Sword Lord, you have it right. In this case, the entity being a demi-deity and a rather specialized one at that, I should suppose that any of his clerics would be sword-slingers and have limited spell capacity beyond those used to honor Kelanen and perform services to him. Perhaps in addition to a specialized spell gained at each level they might be able to employ regular clerical spells of 1st through 3rd level, few, and gain in level happening in stages of around 4 levels, so one 1st level spell beginning at 1st level, four at 4th, and a 2nd level spell gained at 5th, etc.

As the Ip belongs to WotC, I will not attempt to suggest the special spells that such clerics would gain, one per level, but any imaginative DM can surely create them without my assistance, for the nature of the deity directs the sort of cerics he would have servinghim, and thier abilities.

Cheers,
Gary
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by solomanii
And another question that just occured to me quoting you;

"That meant that their cleric would be dedicated to Boccob, and
the fighters and others, wanting the benefits of clerical ministrations
came along for the ride Boccob was never an active deity in play, and none
of the PCs was eager to have Zagyg intervene..."

So did the clerics not help party memebers of different beliefs?

Yes, clerics of deities not honored by someone needing assistance were generally aided, but at the cost of a "donation" to advance the work of the particylar faith of the cleric.

The main fun was having clerics of different dieties argue theology,
and debates between one of St. Cuthbert and another of Pholtus always ended up in a test of which would prevail by a bonk on the head or temporary blinding.
The players had a good sense of humor <paranoid>

Gary
 

Howdy Sluggo,

Sounds that the other PCs are indeed presuming far too much on the kind offices of your cleric. In all, the worker is worthy of his hire, and to continue to do his good work, the cleric should receive both respect and contributions.

He might explain that his ministrations are limited by his capacity to inact spells, and those spells are granted to him by his deity. The latter is quite upset at the disrespect being shown him (or her) by the other PCs who are treating his (or her) clerical servant as their servant. That belittles the deity, and unless attitudes change immediately, generous cointributions to the priest are made in return for his services on behalf of the deity, no more spells will be forthcoming.

If the deity is speaking through the cleric, and it would under such circumstances, how can the others demure? If they do, they should risk rather severe retribution.

FWIW,
Gary
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by RFisher
Is there only one language for each alignment or does each "religion" within an alignment have it's own language?

I always imagined a single alignment language per division, as in the D&D milieuneach alignment is relatively homogenous.
Servants of particular deities will have recognition signals or spoken or signed sort.

Cheerio,
Gary