I got thinking recently. I meant to ask this at Gen Con but I thought it was too loaded of a question for such. 1) Did the Transformed Church survive the Spellplague and or the Sundering? 2) Were Wizards the only accepted arcane spellcasting in the Church or were Sorcerers and/or Warlocks accepted into it? 3) Would the Divine Wizard (and or Divine Sorcerer) substitution features from Complete Champion work well for those arcanists within the Transformed Church?
Mod edit: The title is a fixed length... Changed "concerning" to "about" so that the subject would no longer be referring to the deity known as "Ban"
There were three branches of Banes church before ToT: Orthodox banites - cleric ruled church with base in Vast, Sembia and Mulmaster where was their center Transformed banites - Zhentarim connected branch ruled by wizards from Zhentil Keep True banites - southern branch around Mourktar and Thay, considered themselves separate in leadership
After ToT and return of the Bane there was a big reconsiliation between Cyricist and returned Bane worshipers. Fzoul was made chosen of Bane and Transformed banites become new orthodox and basicaly wiped out old orthodox church (killing their leader High Imperceptor, claiming Mulmaster). True banites remained separate but only due to long distance and more pressing needs in Moonsea area. So to answer your question - yes they survived and more. They become the centeral authority of Bane worship. I would presume that all arcane casters would be accepted but not based on their class but on their merit for the church of Bane. Divine substitution would indeed work well.
Any idea which Banite "faction" would typically be encountered in 5th Edition Sword Coast areas?
I'm sure they have small enclaves somewhere in the Sword Coast or Western Heartlands. Just not sure how to go about running them. Would they be allied to the (west coast) Zhents? Would the west coast Banites be mostly led by clergy, warrior-priests, or power-hungry mages?
Any idea which Banite "faction" would typically be encountered in 5th Edition Sword Coast areas?
I'm sure they have small enclaves somewhere in the Sword Coast or Western Heartlands. Just not sure how to go about running them. Would they be allied to the (west coast) Zhents? Would the west coast Banites be mostly led by clergy, warrior-priests, or power-hungry mages?
I'd say that they would be a mix. One cell swings one way, one swings another... Etc. Basically, pick what works for you and run with it.