Conan RPG in 1e AD&D terms...

[rabindranath72]

Ok, so game-wise, let's say that I use the cleric as a scholar with a demonic pact, since the closest thing in AD&D to an entity which teaches spells is the cleric. So, my statement was hyperbolic if seen with regards to all kinds of magic. But I was speaking about clerical magic, since as I said above I have a well-determined role in mind for clerical characters.

As it turns out, even in the Conan d20 game priests of Mitra do not have access to sorcery. And the other more or less benign gods can readily be handled by using magic-users and illusionists.

Regarding the rule of Obsession, it is true that it is not mandatory, but it is listed in the Sorcery chapter nonetheless, since it affects scholars in one way or another.

Cheers,
Antonio

 

[kintire]

As it turns out, even in the Conan d20 game priests of Mitra do not have access to sorcery. And the other more or less benign gods can readily be handled by using magic-users and illusionists.

Priests of Mitra do, however, have access to sorcery in the Hour of the Dragon...

I suppose you can do it like this, though given the preponderence of enhancement and healing spells in the cleric list, I'd be inclined to have clerics as the more benign ones and magic users as the evil.

 

[rabindranath72]

As it turns out, even in the Conan d20 game priests of Mitra do not have access to sorcery. And the other more or less benign gods can readily be handled by using magic-users and illusionists.

Priests of Mitra do, however, have access to sorcery in the Hour of the Dragon...

I suppose you can do it like this, though given the preponderence of enhancement and healing spells in the cleric list, I'd be inclined to have clerics as the more benign ones and magic users as the evil.

Well, yes, I suppose a priest of Mitra could always learn spells; it is just that they are not "supported" by their temples; I guess this view "fits" the idea of a faith-based religion quite well.

Regarding healing spells and clerics...well, this is also one other reason for making them (almost) exclusively evil. IMO magical healing as a resource should be quite rare. And getting magical healing for oneself may be one of the moving reasons to enter an evil religion...a strong temptation indeed!

 

[kintire]

Well, yes, I suppose a priest of Mitra could always learn spells; it is just that they are not "supported" by their temples;

"When the magic of the Mitran priests failed against the magic of Xaltotun's acolyte, Altaro, they remembered the ancient legend of the Heart,

Regarding healing spells and clerics...well, this is also one other reason for making them (almost) exclusively evil. IMO magical healing as a resource should be quite rare

I certainly agree about healing spells being rare (though you may want to speed up natural healing). Definitly keep resurrections though... with certain changes to the precise effects (/cue evil laughter)

 

[Krushnak]

why even bother with cleric class at all? just do them all as magic users and like in conan d20 have them specify what background they have and have that determine what spells they get.

as for healing vampiric touch is the only healing spell i would keep. it's really the only healing spell that is kinda in keeping with the world.

 

[rabindranath72]

why even bother with cleric class at all? just do them all as magic users and like in conan d20 have them specify what background they have and have that determine what spells they get.

as for healing vampiric touch is the only healing spell i would keep. it's really the only healing spell that is kinda in keeping with the world.

Clerics are the sorcerer who entered into demonic pacts, that's why I keep them.

Regarding healing, I speeded up the natural healing (as per the CB1 module rules: 1HP per day regardless of rest, plus half the constitution score if they rest). I keep resurrection, but per AD&D1e rules (as with all spells of greater than 2nd level), it is granted only when/if the god/demon sees fit. And surely the god/demon wants something back... :twisted:
This is another reason why I think that the cleric class is nice for evil NPCs, since the granting of spells above 2nd level is at the complete whim of the god/demon granting them.

 

[kintire]

You seem to have much more respect for the flavour text than I do. I view the classes as a selection of mechanics. I think the wizard's spells are a better fit for an evil type than the clerics', and I have no cumpunction about declaring that the wizard's the one with the demonic pact, and the clerics' learning from books!