I'm trying to make a cleric and I understand from my fellow players that a deity's listed domains are only suggestions? And that a cleric can select domains that are not on a deity's domain list?
For example, I can pick Mystra (Life, Knowledge and Arcane) and select the Light or Tempest domains instead?
"If your character worships a deity, those deities listed in the Deities of the Forgotten Realms and Nonhuman Deities tables in the PHB or any deity listed in the resources listed in Step 1& 2, above are available. While paladins don’t have to worship a deity, clerics do. If your deity doesn’t include suggested domains in the resource in which it is found, only the Life domain is available."
It doesn't seem to explicitly restrict domains unless there are no suggested domains, but it certainly implies that there is such a restriction.
From what I can tell, earlier versions of the players guide said, "If you’re a cleric, you can choose one of the deity’s suggested domains or the Life domain." So maybe this change was intentional.
As a practical matter, because it's a gray area I would err on the side of caution and choose from the suggested domains. Also as a practical matter, few DMs would bother to check, but if they do they might disallow your character (at least I think that's what they do, it's never happened to me).
I was just reading through the AL FAQ and found this quote,
"A character that has one or more levels in the cleric class must select a deity to worship. Based on that choice, the character must choose either a domain associated with their chosen deity (as presented on the deities list) or the Life domain. Those deities found in a sidebar that doesn’t also contain suggested domains are limited to the Life domain."
I don't know why that information isn't in the player's guide, but there it is. No gray area. You must choose from the deity's domains.
I was just reading through the AL FAQ and found this quote,
"A character that has one or more levels in the cleric class must select a deity to worship. Based on that choice, the character must choose either a domain associated with their chosen deity (as presented on the deities list) or the Life domain. Those deities found in a sidebar that doesn’t also contain suggested domains are limited to the Life domain."
I don't know why that information isn't in the player's guide, but there it is. No gray area. You must choose from the deity's domains.
I found the section you mentioned. However it appears to be version 3.0 of the AL FAQ.
The latest version of the AL FAQ, ver 7.1, does not mention anything about Cleric needing to follow a deity domains. (There is noting on deity, domains or cleric, etc in ver 7.1)
Given that the domain to deity to domain section is removed in the latest version of the guide and FAQ, I can only assume the removal was intended by wotc.
I found the section you mentioned. However it appears to be version 3.0 of the AL FAQ.
The latest version of the AL FAQ, ver 7.1, does not mention anything about Cleric needing to follow a deity domains. (There is noting on deity, domains or cleric, etc in ver 7.1)
Given that the domain to deity to domain section is removed in the latest version of the guide and FAQ, I can only assume the removal was intended by wotc.
It's also in the v6.1 FAQ, but you're right it's not in the v7.1. I guess that means that we're back to square one. This seems like a good question to tweet out to Chris Lindsay to see if this is an oversight or intended.
I don't think the only assumption you can make is that the removal was intended by WoTC. My inkling is that it is an oversight as they were moving information to the player's guide from the FAQ. I think this mostly because it doesn't make much sense to limit the domains of deities without suggested domains and not limit the domains of deities that do have suggested domains.
I still think it's a gray area and that you should tread cautiously.
Coming from 3.5 era CRPGs and Pathfinder, I always work with the fact that deities give out only certain domains.
When I was told by my fellow AL players that deities are not tied to domains, I was very confused and somewhat sceptical.
I am totally new to AL and 5ed and don't know where is the best place to find answers to these questions. Pathfinder has an official message-board at paizo.com, but... D&D seems all over the place, I just don't know which one is official.
That is why I seek out for answers in this forum. It looked the most "official".
If you or anyone can help resolve or direct me to the proper place to ask questions, it would really be great.
For a question like this, I think the best thing you could do is try the contact us page on the official adventurers league website. D&D beyond is the official toolset (or something like that), but there are no official forums. If you don't get a response in some reasonable amount of time via the website, you really could try tweeting to the devs. The amount of responses to rules questions compiled on Sage Advice makes me think that they're actually somewhat responsive.
For a question like this, I think the best thing you could do is try the contact us page on the official adventurers league website. D&D beyond is the official toolset (or something like that), but there are no official forums. If you don't get a response in some reasonable amount of time via the website, you really could try tweeting to the devs. The amount of responses to rules questions compiled on Sage Advice makes me think that they're actually somewhat responsive.
Thank you pwhimp! I just sent the question in. With your quote from ver 6.0 FAQ. Hopefully I get an answer soon!
I will post it here, if they do give an answer. Thank you so much!
Keep us posted. I really don't want to worship Kelemvor with the Grave Domain but it sure doesn't seem like I have a choice.
I think there are some other options for grave domain listed in Mordenkainen's and the deity options aren't limited by PHB+1 according to the MToF primer.
Keep us posted. I really don't want to worship Kelemvor with the Grave Domain but it sure doesn't seem like I have a choice.
I think there are some other options for grave domain listed in Mordenkainen's and the deity options aren't limited by PHB+1 according to the MToF primer.
Thanks a ton, this is very helpful as I wasn't keen on Kelemvor but would if I had to. Thanks again!
Deities. You character may worship any deity listed in Deities of the Forgotten Realms and Nonhuman Deities table in the Player’s Handbook or any of the deities mentioned in the resources in Step 1& 2, above. Clerics must worship a specific deity but aren’t limited to the Domains recommended for their deity.
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Hi! I'm a new player to AL.
I'm trying to make a cleric and I understand from my fellow players that a deity's listed domains are only suggestions? And that a cleric can select domains that are not on a deity's domain list?
For example, I can pick Mystra (Life, Knowledge and Arcane) and select the Light or Tempest domains instead?
The quote from the D&D AL Players Guide says,
"If your character worships a deity, those
deities listed in the Deities of the Forgotten Realms and Nonhuman Deities tables in the PHB or any deity listed in the resources listed in Step 1& 2, above are available. While paladins don’t have to worship a deity, clerics do. If your deity doesn’t include suggested domains in the resource in which it is found, only the Life domain is available."
It doesn't seem to explicitly restrict domains unless there are no suggested domains, but it certainly implies that there is such a restriction.
From what I can tell, earlier versions of the players guide said, "If you’re a cleric, you can choose one of the deity’s suggested domains or the Life domain." So maybe this change was intentional.
As a practical matter, because it's a gray area I would err on the side of caution and choose from the suggested domains. Also as a practical matter, few DMs would bother to check, but if they do they might disallow your character (at least I think that's what they do, it's never happened to me).
Ok... I guess I will just pick my deity and a "backup" deity, just incase they change this rule again.
I was just reading through the AL FAQ and found this quote,
"A character that has one or more levels in the cleric class must select a deity to worship. Based on that choice, the character must choose either a domain associated with their chosen deity (as presented on the deities list) or the Life domain. Those deities found in a sidebar that doesn’t also contain suggested domains are limited to the Life domain."
I don't know why that information isn't in the player's guide, but there it is. No gray area. You must choose from the deity's domains.
Right: the only domain that does not require a specific set of deities is Life. Otherwise, your domain must match your deity.
@pwhimp,
Coming from 3.5 era CRPGs and Pathfinder, I always work with the fact that deities give out only certain domains.
When I was told by my fellow AL players that deities are not tied to domains, I was very confused and somewhat sceptical.
I am totally new to AL and 5ed and don't know where is the best place to find answers to these questions. Pathfinder has an official message-board at paizo.com, but... D&D seems all over the place, I just don't know which one is official.
That is why I seek out for answers in this forum. It looked the most "official".
If you or anyone can help resolve or direct me to the proper place to ask questions, it would really be great.
For a question like this, I think the best thing you could do is try the contact us page on the official adventurers league website. D&D beyond is the official toolset (or something like that), but there are no official forums. If you don't get a response in some reasonable amount of time via the website, you really could try tweeting to the devs. The amount of responses to rules questions compiled on Sage Advice makes me think that they're actually somewhat responsive.
Keep us posted. I really don't want to worship Kelemvor with the Grave Domain but it sure doesn't seem like I have a choice.
*avatar by @ZomgDae on Twitter*
*avatar by @ZomgDae on Twitter*
From the 8.2 AL Players Guide:
Deities. You character may worship any deity listed in Deities of the Forgotten Realms and Nonhuman Deities table in the Player’s Handbook or any of the deities mentioned in the resources in Step 1& 2, above. Clerics must worship a specific deity but aren’t limited to the Domains recommended for their deity.