Deities and shrines

[Quist Redfeather]

I am a fairly new player to ALFA but I am familiar with a number of the forgotten realms deities.

I am impressed that so many are available at character creation. However, I had a number of questions regarding deities and how they are treated in the game.

Firstly, I was wondering if there were plans in the works to add Uthgar to the list. I understand that the totems are the focus of worship by the tribes, but I believe they serve as conduits of sorts. Will a player soon be given the option to choose Uthgar or one of the totems as a deity?

My second question regards deities and alignments. It seems that one's choice of deity at character creation is limited by alignment. This causes difficulty if and when one wants to play a character who chooses to worship a deity of an opposing alignment. For example, would the current system prohibit an evil character from being a devotee of Ilmater, even if he was a criminal seeking to repent his lifetime of sin? Does this same limitation apply to racial deities? Can, for example, a human ranger raised by elves choose to worship a member of the Seldarine? Do different rules apply to divine casters? Is this an issue to be determined by the DMs on a player-to-player basis?

Finally, I would like to know if all deities are given a shrine in the game world. I have seen a shrine to the Seldarine, Mielikki (sic?), Silvanus, etc. but is there such a shrine for every god?

Thanks for your time.

Q

[Vendrin]

I am a fairly new player to ALFA but I am familiar with a number of the forgotten realms deities.

Welcome, good luck with your second character.

Firstly, I was wondering if there were plans in the works to add Uthgar to the list. I understand that the totems are the focus of worship by the tribes, but I believe they serve as conduits of sorts. Will a player soon be given the option to choose Uthgar or one of the totems as a deity?

If for some reason Uthgar isn't, then yes I believe the tech team can get that in, once they have a moment to do so.

My second question regards deities and alignments. It seems that one's choice of deity at character creation is limited by alignment. This causes difficulty if and when one wants to play a character who chooses to worship a deity of an opposing alignment. For example, would the current system prohibit an evil character from being a devotee of Ilmater, even if he was a criminal seeking to repent his lifetime of sin?

As long as he wasn't a divine spell casting class such as a cleric, favored soul, druid or ranger, then there would be no prohibition.

Does this same limitation apply to racial deities? Can, for example, a human ranger raised by elves choose to worship a member of the Seldarine?

Not at character creation, however just ask a dm, and I'm sure they wouldn't have an issue setting you to the god of your choice.

Do different rules apply to divine casters?

Yes. They must abide by the one step rule(except for rare circumstances), which states that if a god is LN, then his clerics can only be LG, LN, LE or N, all one step away from LN. A true neutral god can have a cleric of any alignment. ((Two Oghman clerics walk into a bar, one is LG, the other is CE, hilarity ensues.))

Finally, I would like to know if all deities are given a shrine in the game world. I have seen a shrine to the Seldarine, Mielikki (sic?), Silvanus, etc. but is there such a shrine for every god?

No. Shrines and Temples are relegated to their canon locations and those built by players or dms.

[Audark]

I have tested this out and Uthgar already exists in ALFA, easily chosen as long as you are the correct class.

I believe the trouble comes from your character being ranger at first level if I am not mistaken, not all deities are available to rangers and druids and it would seem uthgar is not available for such.

Vendrin has covered most information well. All I can add is that once you know the shrines and temples in play in a given region it may (or not) encourage you to roll a character next time that can take advantage of being a part of a recognized faith in the region. As Vendrin said, not all are built, not all are worshipped to the same degree from region to region. Some grant special stores or static quests to their faithful that add some colour to your character, but that is of course up to you to determine how important that is.

[Rotku]

Of course, it's always possible for your character to try and get a shrine/temple constructed in game.