Improving the odds for your deity - aka Earthly Power
Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 7:57 am
Since it seems to derail the morality and philosophy discussion, I opened this new thread.
I think the first question should be, are there effects of the earthly power of a deity for others than for the members of the clerical guilds or not.
If there are, actions of "normal" follower should have significant effects. If not, they should contribute, but only to a minor degree, as it should be the clergy that should care for it. Also, if "sacrifices" of followers contribute, I think there should be some balance as to the possibility for a layman to contribute. As it is now, layman followers of Taniel just have to burn candles, easy enough, provided they can afford them, and money for candles ain't really a problem. If I take Asral layman followers on the other side, they need to sacrifice heads or skulls of vanquished (humanoid) enemies. And to boot that, enemies worthy of sacrifice. That means, after a certain time, you need the heads and skulls of ogres, giants or troll to impress Asral and gain favour as a follower by sacrifice. That in itself wouldn't be the problem, it is rather the fact that e.g. Fernao cannot pick up the head or skull of an ogre or giants, simply because they are too heavy... so, unless one is a superstrong tshahark it becomes virtually impossible to sacrifice.
Attending sermons should in my eyes also improve earthly power, after all, the word of your god is actively spread, and you apparently are interested in soaking it up. And its a thing all priests can do for their followers.
I think the first question should be, are there effects of the earthly power of a deity for others than for the members of the clerical guilds or not.
If there are, actions of "normal" follower should have significant effects. If not, they should contribute, but only to a minor degree, as it should be the clergy that should care for it. Also, if "sacrifices" of followers contribute, I think there should be some balance as to the possibility for a layman to contribute. As it is now, layman followers of Taniel just have to burn candles, easy enough, provided they can afford them, and money for candles ain't really a problem. If I take Asral layman followers on the other side, they need to sacrifice heads or skulls of vanquished (humanoid) enemies. And to boot that, enemies worthy of sacrifice. That means, after a certain time, you need the heads and skulls of ogres, giants or troll to impress Asral and gain favour as a follower by sacrifice. That in itself wouldn't be the problem, it is rather the fact that e.g. Fernao cannot pick up the head or skull of an ogre or giants, simply because they are too heavy... so, unless one is a superstrong tshahark it becomes virtually impossible to sacrifice.
Attending sermons should in my eyes also improve earthly power, after all, the word of your god is actively spread, and you apparently are interested in soaking it up. And its a thing all priests can do for their followers.