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Lord Karsus
Great Reader
USA
3745 Posts |
 Posted - 09 Jun 2012 : 03:09:25
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| -A counterpoint to worshipers shaping the deities they worship also would be all those deities who existed (so the closest 'facts' we can rely on) before mortal beings. Shar, for example, predates her worshipers in Realmspace. She had a clear enough agenda (stop Selūne and return everything she was aware of back to the primordial nothingness that birthed the two) before people began worshiping her, so at the very least, this goal that the deity itself possesses is independent from the collective wants and desires of those that worship her. |
(A Tri-Partite Arcanist Who Has Forgotten More Than Most Will Ever Know)
Elves of Faerūn
Vol I- The Elves of Faerūn
Vol. III- Spells of the Elves
Vol. VI- Mechanical Compendium |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 09 Jun 2012 : 05:27:25
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My only problem with FR gods is that they're too 'involved' in the affairs of mortals, sometimes even making direct, personal interventions. Deities are supposed to be a 'mystery.' |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36844 Posts |
Posted - 09 Jun 2012 : 16:25:32
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quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
My only problem with FR gods is that they're too 'involved' in the affairs of mortals, sometimes even making direct, personal interventions. Deities are supposed to be a 'mystery.'
Why? Even in real-world mythology, deities frequently make direct, personal interventions. Heck, Zeus was rather personal with half the women in Europe, it seems. |
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Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen!  |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jun 2012 : 01:59:37
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
My only problem with FR gods is that they're too 'involved' in the affairs of mortals, sometimes even making direct, personal interventions. Deities are supposed to be a 'mystery.'
Why? Even in real-world mythology, deities frequently make direct, personal interventions. Heck, Zeus was rather personal with half the women in Europe, it seems.
Greek gods are not gods for me. They're more like empowered mortals, or avatars. For me, a god that can be killed by a mortal with his bare hands is no god.
In other words, I am no fan of gods and prefer my world not to be infested with them. Period. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31798 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jun 2012 : 02:31:58
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quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
My only problem with FR gods is that they're too 'involved' in the affairs of mortals, sometimes even making direct, personal interventions. Deities are supposed to be a 'mystery.'
Why? Even in real-world mythology, deities frequently make direct, personal interventions. Heck, Zeus was rather personal with half the women in Europe, it seems.
Greek gods are not gods for me. They're more like empowered mortals, or avatars. For me, a god that can be killed by a mortal with his bare hands is no god.
I wouldn't base your conception of the Realms gods on what you read in such trilogies like the "Avatar" books. Instead, Faiths & Avatars provides a more accurate conception of how the deities really interact with the mortal sphere. |
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Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jun 2012 : 02:44:06
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It's not just the Avatar books. It's all the novels where gods appear or meddle directly to further their agenda. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Dalor Darden
Great Reader
USA
4211 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jun 2012 : 02:49:15
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quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
It's not just the Avatar books. It's all the novels where gods appear or meddle directly to further their agenda.
I would prefer for the gods to have a less hands on approach myself.
It is hard for Player Characters to relate to a campaign where the very gods they are opposing (usually by whacking their priests and such) can just get snuffed by the Avatar of a god!
While there has been a great deal of literature through the ages that involved gods to a certain degree (or lack of intervention); it seems to be that in the Forgotten Realms, several books have been written in which Gods almost have a direct role in the book.
I don't think this is a mistake honestly...but it can give a false impression to people considering playing in the world.
To me, Gods should be distant in a Role-Playing game...but in novels I don't see a harm. |
The Old Grey Box and AD&D for me! |
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"Mobthink" impact on deities, is it a good thing?
