How to properly roleplay a cleric of Bane?

Gnihar · Post by **Gnihar** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 10:39 am

Thanks for all the info. Now I am sure I am playing true to how it should be played. Just because I am lawful doesn't mean I am obligated to always tell the truth ( nor is the truth actually the truth for everyone, we all believe in our individual truths ), and just because I am evil doesn't mean I can not directly help people to achieve my goals.
I understand that a LE would keep her oath but she is free to interprete the oath as it suits her needs

Just like the old saying goes :"be careful what you wish"...

Please do keep on posting as I find the posts valuable for my RP.

fluffmonster · Post by **fluffmonster** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 2:27 pm

I don't think Lawful is "always tell the truth" as much as "always keep your word". What baneite would be worth his salt if he didn't carry out his threats? I think mostly though that the 'lawful' come from the fact baneites find value in hierarchies because its a clear demonstration of your power (that there's people under you in particular).

Burnside7676 · Post by **Burnside7676** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 4:05 am

Reading 1984 paints a pretty vivid picture of what the world would be like if Bane succeeded in killing every other deity and taking over Faerun. Assuming, of course, that there was no magic and things jumped forward several hundred years.

Would a cleric who tries to take a position of power to further Bane's will in a hostile area by spreading terror and hatred but leaves Bane out of it stay in Bane's good graces? If the cleric is, say, trying to get onto a ruling council somewhere with the intent of dismantling the democratic process, having the other council members assassinated and appointing fellow Banites to their positions, and erecting a massive temple of Bane in the center of the city still be a 'good' cleric of Bane if he makes people fear a nearby nation/tribe of orcs/hidden cabal of Cyrists rather than Bane? He will eventually, yes, but would advancing himself with the intent of advancing Bane once he reaches milestone 'x' still keep him in the clear?

Joos · Post by **Joos** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 4:08 am

I think Saddam Hussein is a good example of a modern day Banite.

Drankathar · Post by **Drankathar** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 2:17 am

Personaly I dont see a baneite lying ever. Since Cyric is Banes biggest threat/rival a cleric of bane that lies is one that is giveing cyric power. However thats not to say a cleric of bane cant bend the truth or omit stuff that he knows.

As to the whole fear thing its almost impossiable to get a PC to fear another PC, from personal experence my pc thought and still thinks that Bodi ((lvl what.. 11 cleric? of bane)) is a joke regardless of weather or not he was good at what he did ever since their first encounter thats just how hes felt about him.

Keith Mac · Post by **Keith Mac** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 3:05 pm

As to the whole fear thing its almost impossiable to get a PC to fear another PC, from personal experence my pc thought and still thinks that Bodi ((lvl what.. 11 cleric? of bane)) is a joke regardless of weather or not he was good at what he did ever since their first encounter thats just how hes felt about him.

LvL 10 when retired

Hard not to take that personally but I'll put my best foot forward and tell ya that either you were not RP-ing Samir properly or I wasn't RP-ing Bodi properly...shame on me if it was the latter. My entire purpose behind him was to try and give other players some fun interaction whether it was to plot against, fear his presence or vie for attention.

One thing I found interesting and difficult to deal with regarding Bodi:

CvC and/or Misc. NPC confrontations: I felt sometimes as a player that other players were looking for Bodi to just hall off and start a "fight" because of a few sour words or just for the sake of "pleasing the Dark Lord". What people didn't realize is that not all evil folk are looking to just murder anyone who makes an attempt to stand in their path, and especially a Banite looking to gain favor and followers for the grander picture. Especially one who doesn't even realize that he is evil. Especially if you are not playing a "sneaky evil", sneaks are the easiest PC's to play. There is a huge difference between holding your toungue/morningstar/prayer and cowering. One thing that made Bodi fun to play was that I was never worried to loose him....so I rp-d every situation not caring if someone else would strike first and trying to come up with alternative's to simply attacking those he didn't like.

Drankathar · Post by **Drankathar** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 2:19 am

well first time i met him he showed sam a symbol of bane in a cyric dominated area. From then on sam always thought of him as either missing a few peices of his puzzle or to stupid to care. First impressions count and as far as that one went.. wasent the best

fade · Post by **fade** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 3:27 am

He never showed one around me.

DarkHin · Post by **DarkHin** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 6:11 am

This thread has alot of good advice on playing any character who adherers to banite dogma. I plan on playing a NEish banite sorc on the ALFA2 moonsea server and this thread has givin me alot of good ideas on how he would present himself and gain favor with bane.

Thangorn · Post by **Thangorn** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 11:22 am

Bane doesnt do strife anymore folks. I really wish I had bookmarked that thread in candlekeep and the pages on WotC that mention the errata in some of the books. I'll try and dig it up. Strife is Cyric's domain.

Bane is tyranny, hatred and fear.

Some ideas of how I believe Banites can be played convincingly-:
* Manipulate through fear those you cannot yet control. The best types of fears to work with are people's fears of their own inadequacies, these fears can be used to manipulate others into serving you, strong leader that you are.
* Dominate through fear those you can easily control
* Allow no failure to go unpunished in those you control
* Choose your battles based on what your ultimate goals are, every tyrant has to have vision. Dominate one sphere of influence after another, but dont overreach for that is the mark of the undisciplined tyrant who will inevitably fail. Dont underreach as this will prove you a coward and not fit to be a disciple of Bane.
* Priests (and strong followers of a particular god) dont need to prosetylise all the time. Banites can be very matter-of-fact and open about their worship while not displaying the expected tendencies of a power-junky and a control freak (even though under the surface they all are without exception)
(eg. even though I know I am supposed to hate Bane, but that X seems like a stand-up feller, not at all what I expected. By the way he's asked me to come down and meet some friends of his, I think I'll go and see what he has to say).
When it comes down to who they really are, their true colours will emerge eventually but they'll never lie about their faith, it shows weakness.
* Banites will show respect for those more powerful than themselves as great leaders must also know how and when to follow. Bane is more powerful than anybody and must be obeyed first and foremost.

You need to go listen to Tool's - Opiate to get yourself pumped up to be a real Banite

*croons* "Deaf and blind and dumb and born to follow, what you need is someone strong to guide you, like mee!"