| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| cudi |
Posted - 15 Apr 2007 : 07:02:52
I have the feeling that in 3.5 FR this element has been almost completely ignored, nevertheless, I am willing to use clergy titles in my game. I have both Demihuman Deities and Faiths and Avatars, with all titles, but the point is that I'm not quite sure about how to use them: do they depend on the pc/npc's level? Are they bestowen after the accomplishment of certain deeds? Is it a mixure of both?
I'm sure some of you may have useful advise, thanks!! |
| 10 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| WalkerNinja |
Posted - 26 Apr 2007 : 14:48:21
I stand corrected |
| dwarvenranger |
Posted - 26 Apr 2007 : 14:45:53
quote:
Originally posted by WalkerNinja
In creating my own titles, I tend to steer away from Faerunian vocabulary as it is not always appreciated by my players. Rather my titles tend to be more descriptive and imply hierarchy (at least in lawful faiths). Most High Stormlord and all.
You mean to say, "not always appreciated by all my players" |
| WalkerNinja |
Posted - 26 Apr 2007 : 02:45:19
I seem to recall that there are a couple of instances in which some priests have titles that consist of a specialized Faerunian vocabulary (similar to the Cormyrean Lionar which has no real world analog). In creating my own titles, I tend to steer away from Faerunian vocabulary as it is not always appreciated by my players. Rather my titles tend to be more descriptive and imply hierarchy (at least in lawful faiths). Most High Stormlord and all. |
| Asgetrion |
Posted - 25 Apr 2007 : 23:38:06
quote:
Originally posted by Faraer
The titles are based on status in the church; for convenience this is assumed to correlate to character level, but there could certainly be exceptions (the correlation isn't absolute among published NPCs).
Not only the status in the church, but in the society as well. There might be social, political and economical reasons for a "rapid rise" within a church's hierarchy. Usually it is "safe" to correlate titles to character levels, but there are many exceptions to this.
First of all, your social status might grant you a unique or higher title (e.g you are a nobleman or belong to a otherwise influential or wealthy family). Likewise, you (or your family) might sponsor the church with hefty sums of gold. An adventuring priest might both donate some of his wealth to his church and serve his god's cause through heroic deeds and religious quests.
You might also be promoted for your efforts (or non-adventuring, mundane deeds) such as spreading the word of your God or negotiating a deal/agreement that is benefitial for your church with influential NPCs (a local lord, for example).
And, sometimes, your title might be directly relative to your Ego! Seriously, a high priest in a rural region or an area where his church has little power and few priests/shrines/temples might take on a "non-official" (not sanctioned by his church) and unique title (especially if there are no superiors, or higher-level clergy members in the area). For example, a paladin/cleric of Helm in one of our campaigns (based in Waterdeep) decided, after a long series of quests, that his title ('High Watcher') was too common within the church and didn't really describe his heroic deeds anymore. He became 'The Glorious Guardian of the North' or 'Glorious Guardian' (for short) while the other high priests of Helm in the North disapproved quietly, but didn't intervene in this matter. 
This works the other way, too. A humble priest might not accept a "promotion" if he feels he is still unworthy of a higher status, or he might even feel more "comfortable" with this old title (e.g. "I've been a Terrible Sword for so many years and I kind of like it, because it tells people what I really do in my service to Tempus!"). |
| Faraer |
Posted - 15 Apr 2007 : 20:27:25
The titles are based on status in the church; for convenience this is assumed to correlate to character level, but there could certainly be exceptions (the correlation isn't absolute among published NPCs). |
| KnightErrantJR |
Posted - 15 Apr 2007 : 16:04:05
Affiliations from PH2 are a great way to determine what "title" a given member of the clergy might have, and there is also a section in Power of Faerun that deals with churches and their structure and politics. |
| Thauramarth |
Posted - 15 Apr 2007 : 08:47:04
quote:
Originally posted by cudi
I have the feeling that in 3.5 FR this element has been almost completely ignored, nevertheless, I am willing to use clergy titles in my game. I have both Demihuman Deities and Faiths and Avatars, with all titles, but the point is that I'm not quite sure about how to use them: do they depend on the pc/npc's level? Are they bestowen after the accomplishment of certain deeds? Is it a mixure of both?
I'm sure some of you may have useful advise, thanks!!
I don't think there's a specific "canon" answer to this, but my guess would be that it is purely level based (up to a point...). If you look at Bane's entry in Faiths and Avatars, you'll see a succession of titles, starting with "Watchful Brother/Sister", which is bestowed when the priest becomes a "full priest" (I'd say that would be 1st level), and then followed by 11 other titles, up to "Deep Mystery" (the 12th title), where Faiths and Avatars lists that this is the general title for priests of 12th level and above.
As a historical aside (and pure speculation, of course) - my guess would be that Ed Greenwood created these titles back in the days of 1st edition. The 1st Edition Player's Handbook attributed titles to each level (for clerics, but also fighters, thieves, and all other classes), which, for priests were (experience level in brackets): Acolyte (1), Adept (2), Priest (3), Curate (4), Prefect (5), Canon (6), Lama (7), Patriarch (8), and High Priest (9 and higher). I guess that Gary Gygax's objective in creating these titles was to allow the Players to introduce their characters and give an indication of their level of experience without having to resort to gamespeak. Ed Greenwood probably built on this system by creating distinct titles for different priesthoods (which makes a lot of sense, IMHO). |
| Victor_ograygor |
Posted - 15 Apr 2007 : 08:31:50
Some Church titles in the real world
Abbe , Abbess, Abbot, Ananda, Angel, Apostle of Humility, Apostolic Scribe, Arch Deacon, Arch Priest, Archbishop, Arch cardinal, Ascetic Gnostic, Bible Historian, Bishop, Brahman, Brother, Canon, Cantor, Cardinal, Channel, Chaplain, Colonel, Cure', Deacon, Dervish, Directress, Disciple, Druid, Elder, Emissary, Evangelist, Faith Healer, Father, Field Missionary, Flying Missionary, Free Thinker, Friar, Goddess, Guru, Hadji, Healing Minister, High Priest, High Priestess, Imam, Lama, Lay Sister, Magus, Martyr, Messenger, Matriarch, Metropolitan, Minister of Music, Minister of Peace, Missionary, Missionary Doctor , Missionary Healer, Missionary of Music, Missionary Priest, Monk, Monsignor, Most
Reverend, Christian Mother Superior, Mystical Philosopher, Orthodox Monk, Parochial Educator, Pastor General, Pastoral Counselor, Patriarch, Peace Counselor, Preacher, Preceptor, Priest, Priestess, Prophet, Psychic Healer, Rabbi, Rector, Religious Preacher, Revelator, Reverend, Reverend Father, Reverend Mother, Right Reverend, Saintly Healer, Scribe, Seer, Shaman, Sister, Soul Therapist, Spiritual Counselor, Spiritual Healer, Spiritual Warrior, Starets, Swami, Teller, Thanatologist, The Very Esteemed, Universal Rabbi, Universal Philosopher of Absolute Reality, Universal Religious Philosopher, Vicar, Wizard.
In forgotten realms some of the clerics have titles, and the priests are known as.......
Talos : His followers of are known as Talassans
Titles : Stormlords
You just have to check it out in Faiths And Pantheons
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| scererar |
Posted - 15 Apr 2007 : 07:38:03
I used to use a combination of the old D&D boxed set titles, with what is available for the realms.worked out well for me. |
| cudi |
Posted - 15 Apr 2007 : 07:05:49
Ops, I meant "bestowed"... now that I live in Germany I mix up languages :P |
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