Funny you should say that, as I decided to take Clerics and Paladins off the list right at the last moment.
I would have left them on. The only reason I didn't is because Clerics and Paladins weren't really a thing in Norse mythology - unlike newer religions (like Christianity), there wasn't really any 'religious zeal' in Anglo Saxon Paganism, and no desire to covert others to their faith. Indeed, it wasn't even really a 'faith' as such- this being a newer term that was in no ancient belief systems- more than a way of living. Also, the spheres of the divine and the mortal realms weren't separated, but coexisted together - the Gods weren't separated from everyday life, but often strode among mortals. This meant that no Clerics were needed to act as conveyors of the Gods' wishes, because the Gods themselves would interact with mortals. This is a more ancient mindset of the world. So you see why Clerics and Paladins just didn't seem to fit.
On the other hand, Odin (or Woden) was the master Poet, and 'sacrificed himself to himself' by hanging himself from the World Tree for nine days in order to seek out the Runes. So Bards and Wizards really work well - the Bard, obviously, for the understanding that words hold the power to shape reality, and the Wizard for the endless pursuit for wisdom, no matter what the sacrifice (obviously, there is also a link to Arcane Casting, with Odin being a powerful mage).
Funny you should say that, as I decided to take Clerics and Paladins off the list right at the last moment.
I would have left them on. The only reason I didn't is because Clerics and Paladins weren't really a thing in Norse mythology.
You are thinking too literal. I'm not a expert on Norse culture, but they didn't have any religious leaders that invoked the name of any gods during battle? Or that painted the mark of their god on their shield or armor?
Any religion in which a god grants boons or favors during battle has the equivalent of a fantasy cleric or paladin. In forgotten realms, the only reason goblins don't have clerics is because their god does not grant powers.
You are thinking too literal. I'm not a expert on Norse culture, but they didn't have any religious leaders that invoked the name of any gods during battle? Or that painted the mark of their god on their shield or armor?
Again, yes but no. Yes, because warriors would have called upon the Æsir during battle, and even held tokens of their favourite god for luck. But as for religious leaders, there wasn't really such a thing. Each person had their own personal connection to the gods. It was more of a relationship than a worship.
To reinforce this idea, I stated in my earlier message that 'faith' was a newer term, with the idea of 'belief' introduced only in newer mindsets of the world. Asking a Viking wether he believed in his gods was like asking anyone today wether they believed in Sunday lunch. Yet Sunday lunch is just something you do, a routine. This was the same for the Anglo Saxons - the gods, elves, dwarves, giants....they were just there, a part of your everyday life that was just as real as the ground you walked on. This is what I meant when I said ' the spheres of the divine and the mortal realms weren't separated, but coexisted together'. And it was always true because, even if Odin wasn't the one-eyed wanderer who travelled Midgard that you pictured him as, he was a metaphor for a certain aspect of your life and being.
Anyway, I know this is (overly) long and complicated, but this is why, at the last minute, I couldn't add Cleric and Paladin to the list. Hope you can forgive me for it :P
Nice, I checked it out. Very powerful. Why isn't it available for clerics or paladins?
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Spells, Monsters, Subclasses, Races, Arcknight Class, Occultist Class, World, Enigmatic Esoterica forms
Funny you should say that, as I decided to take Clerics and Paladins off the list right at the last moment.
I would have left them on. The only reason I didn't is because Clerics and Paladins weren't really a thing in Norse mythology - unlike newer religions (like Christianity), there wasn't really any 'religious zeal' in Anglo Saxon Paganism, and no desire to covert others to their faith. Indeed, it wasn't even really a 'faith' as such- this being a newer term that was in no ancient belief systems- more than a way of living. Also, the spheres of the divine and the mortal realms weren't separated, but coexisted together - the Gods weren't separated from everyday life, but often strode among mortals. This meant that no Clerics were needed to act as conveyors of the Gods' wishes, because the Gods themselves would interact with mortals. This is a more ancient mindset of the world. So you see why Clerics and Paladins just didn't seem to fit.
On the other hand, Odin (or Woden) was the master Poet, and 'sacrificed himself to himself' by hanging himself from the World Tree for nine days in order to seek out the Runes. So Bards and Wizards really work well - the Bard, obviously, for the understanding that words hold the power to shape reality, and the Wizard for the endless pursuit for wisdom, no matter what the sacrifice (obviously, there is also a link to Arcane Casting, with Odin being a powerful mage).
Hi there! I'm a Christian musician based in Canada :)
You are thinking too literal. I'm not a expert on Norse culture, but they didn't have any religious leaders that invoked the name of any gods during battle? Or that painted the mark of their god on their shield or armor?
Any religion in which a god grants boons or favors during battle has the equivalent of a fantasy cleric or paladin. In forgotten realms, the only reason goblins don't have clerics is because their god does not grant powers.
Again, yes but no. Yes, because warriors would have called upon the Æsir during battle, and even held tokens of their favourite god for luck. But as for religious leaders, there wasn't really such a thing. Each person had their own personal connection to the gods. It was more of a relationship than a worship.
To reinforce this idea, I stated in my earlier message that 'faith' was a newer term, with the idea of 'belief' introduced only in newer mindsets of the world. Asking a Viking wether he believed in his gods was like asking anyone today wether they believed in Sunday lunch. Yet Sunday lunch is just something you do, a routine. This was the same for the Anglo Saxons - the gods, elves, dwarves, giants....they were just there, a part of your everyday life that was just as real as the ground you walked on. This is what I meant when I said ' the spheres of the divine and the mortal realms weren't separated, but coexisted together'. And it was always true because, even if Odin wasn't the one-eyed wanderer who travelled Midgard that you pictured him as, he was a metaphor for a certain aspect of your life and being.
Anyway, I know this is (overly) long and complicated, but this is why, at the last minute, I couldn't add Cleric and Paladin to the list. Hope you can forgive me for it :P
Hi there! I'm a Christian musician based in Canada :)
I've always wanted to create a magic item that is like a string of magical grenades (yes, I know....necklace of fireballs. Not quite the same thing)!
Hi there! I'm a Christian musician based in Canada :)
Spitballing magicpunk ideas:
A magic gig economy. Competing, heavily branded networks of magic users for hire, with logos and everything.
Sprite messenger services ditto.
Clerical orders acting like HMOs
Big box magic store chains.
Phantasmal advertising everywhere...
In most cases a duality of two big entities dominate a market niche like Coke/Pepsi, Uber/Lyft, etc. These may or may not be thinly hidden trusts.
A growing counterculture to all the commercialization. Lobbying by traditional guilds.
lol love this:)
Hi there! I'm a Christian musician based in Canada :)
Wow, that’s simultaneously awesome and way too much reality for my D&D. Lol
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