While making a viking campaign, in an attempt to make gods things not just for paladins (maybe) and clerics, I’m thinking of giving people who follow a god and actively worship them special powers. Things like a 1d8 lightning or thunder smite once per rest to characters who worship Thor, or a small bonus to passive perception to characters who worship Heimdall. Naturally, paladins and clerics will also gain these benefits. I want there to be multiple "levels" of powers and you advance to the next stage when you do a great deed in your deity's name! These levels will probably have character level prerequisites.
An example of a power for those who worship Hodr, the blind god of winter and darkness: As an action you create a shroud of ice cold and darkness. Each creature in a 5-foot-radius sphere centred on you must make a Constitution saving throw. A target takes 1d6 cold damage on a failed save. The next attack made against you before the end of your next turn has disadvantage. You can't use this ability again until you finish a long rest. The damage increases by 1d6 when you reach 5th level (2d6), 11th level (3d6), and 17th level (4d6).
Sounds tricky to do but not impossible, I'd model them on the Devil Cults/Demonic Boons from Mordenkainens Tome of Foes:
Goals: What the faithful hope to achieve.
Typical Cultist/Worshiper: Typical NPC/classes/Backgrounds found following the religion
Signature Spells: What spells are most common for spell casters at Cantrip/Level 1/Level 2/Level 3 or even if spell casters are unknown in that religion.
Bit of Burb about the cult/worship: How they conduct themselves, dress and any minor observances, such as praying at dawn etc, they must adhere to.
Granted Boon/Power: A once per long rest ability, maybe granting a suitable spell or class ability such as the level 1 powers of a storm sorcerer once per long rest for a follower of Thor, just having a read through the Demonic Boons I could see Frz-Urb'Luu's boon of Liars Eye being a good one for Loki. You should probably balance these boons/powers out with a clause where the worshiper has to maintain a certain level of "piety" and have the boon/power stripped if they fail to maintain this.
I have been thinking about having to thank the god afterwards and maybe having to burn some food at the next rest in order to get the power back, or making a religion or wisdom check at the end of a rest. Which might be at disadvantage if when the follower activated the power it didn't go as planned? Like you didn't kill the creature you smited, or something. "You are not worthy of my power!" seems very fitting in this setting. Then I might be able to adjust the DC based on how powerful the ability is.
While making a viking campaign, in an attempt to make gods things not just for paladins (maybe) and clerics, I’m thinking of giving people who follow a god and actively worship them special powers. Things like a 1d8 lightning or thunder smite once per rest to characters who worship Thor, or a small bonus to passive perception to characters who worship Heimdall. Naturally, paladins and clerics will also gain these benefits. I want there to be multiple "levels" of powers and you advance to the next stage when you do a great deed in your deity's name! These levels will probably have character level prerequisites.
An example of a power for those who worship Hodr, the blind god of winter and darkness:
As an action you create a shroud of ice cold and darkness. Each creature in a 5-foot-radius sphere centred on you must make a Constitution saving throw. A target takes 1d6 cold damage on a failed save. The next attack made against you before the end of your next turn has disadvantage. You can't use this ability again until you finish a long rest.
The damage increases by 1d6 when you reach 5th level (2d6), 11th level (3d6), and 17th level (4d6).
What do you think about god powers?
Sounds tricky to do but not impossible, I'd model them on the Devil Cults/Demonic Boons from Mordenkainens Tome of Foes:
Goals: What the faithful hope to achieve.
Typical Cultist/Worshiper: Typical NPC/classes/Backgrounds found following the religion
Signature Spells: What spells are most common for spell casters at Cantrip/Level 1/Level 2/Level 3 or even if spell casters are unknown in that religion.
Bit of Burb about the cult/worship: How they conduct themselves, dress and any minor observances, such as praying at dawn etc, they must adhere to.
Granted Boon/Power: A once per long rest ability, maybe granting a suitable spell or class ability such as the level 1 powers of a storm sorcerer once per long rest for a follower of Thor, just having a read through the Demonic Boons I could see Frz-Urb'Luu's boon of Liars Eye being a good one for Loki. You should probably balance these boons/powers out with a clause where the worshiper has to maintain a certain level of "piety" and have the boon/power stripped if they fail to maintain this.
The demonic boons helped! Thank you.
I have been thinking about having to thank the god afterwards and maybe having to burn some food at the next rest in order to get the power back, or making a religion or wisdom check at the end of a rest. Which might be at disadvantage if when the follower activated the power it didn't go as planned? Like you didn't kill the creature you smited, or something. "You are not worthy of my power!" seems very fitting in this setting. Then I might be able to adjust the DC based on how powerful the ability is.