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Post by 828stingstingneo on Feb 19, 2010 10:29:49 GMT -5
I remember getting killed in a cave somewhere and some of the other party members going to get help and bringing back a RCMH member that wouldnt raise anyone without first checking for holy symbols and that really sucked as a low level character. This raised many questions for me. If I'd been in that situation I'd have been out of luck, not because my characters have symbols that would concern the average RCMH member but because few, if any, of my characters own holy symbols at all. How IC is it for everyone in the FR world to have one? Should every cleric have one? Should every divine caster have one? Should anyone with a patron deity have one (everyone who isn't faithless or false)? Would only certain deities really care? Are there holy symbols available for every patron our characters have to choose from? For example, I think the player who used to play Nasha the priestess of Silvanus said she had to get a holy symbol of Silvanus from a DM, so what if your deity doesn't even have one available in game? I've also heard OOCly of some players that have multiple symbols of multiple deities. It would certainly be helpful if you wanted to gain someone's trust by showing a certain symbol, but is this an IC action that the gods are likely to do something about? Is a god likely to be offended if a patron of another deity carries his symbol? Would he be offended if his own carried a symbol of another deity? In the Player's Handbook, druids can use holly as their holy symbol, if I recall correctly. Is this practiced in the Forgotten Realms world, though? Any role play advice or source concerning holy symbols in Forgotten Realms is welcome on this thread. |
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Post by The Supreme Watcher on Feb 19, 2010 12:02:23 GMT -5
As far as I remember, to use Turn Undead, a cleric or paladin has to present their symbol. I don't think -everyone- needs one, and I would make a funny face at any non-devotee who carries one.
Every deity has a symbol. You can find it in the Faiths and Pantheons book, or the FRCS. F&P probably has more illustrations (I can't remember), but the FRCS has a brief description.
Having multiple symbols isn't -that- strange, since Toril is a polytheistic world.
I don't know a thing about druids, so I can't give input there. Hahah.
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Post by Munroe on Feb 19, 2010 12:37:23 GMT -5
Every cleric should have a holy symbol. Some clerics of evil faiths are very good at disguising their holy symbols so they don't have the appearance of having a holy symbol.
Checking for a holy symbol isn't so much a search to see if someone has a holy symbol of an allied god, but making sure they don't have one of an enemy god.
There are been a few occasions when my cleric has considered not raising someone without a holy symbol search, but she also thinks finding one is inconclusive evidence since it's very easy for someone to carry more than one, so she usually goes by what she knows of someone, and if she knows nothing she'll ask someone else to vouch for the corpse before casting Raise Dead.
As a scribing cleric, she also has the moral dilemma of determining who she's willing to sell scrolls to.
Edit: AS a polytheistic realm, it's not unheard of for characters to have multiple holy symbols and pray to multiple gods, or at least give lip service. In the descriptive text (Examine) of Kam Malagan, it indicated that he wore a dozen assorted holy symbols on chains around his neck.
Having a holy symbol is not required except for clerics though, as far as I've ever read. I would say it would probably make sense for paladins to have one as well.
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Post by soulfien on Feb 19, 2010 17:28:00 GMT -5
what's the Lore check for knowing a holy symbol? For instance, how many people would know what a sprig of mistletoe would mean? Would you even associate it with a holy symbol?
Do holy symbols have etched on them "Holy Symbol of Shar"?
What if they simply found a small black disc made of polished obsidian?
I think we're assuming a lot when checking for holy symbols.
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Post by soulfien on Feb 19, 2010 17:54:17 GMT -5
Also, how comprehensive will a search of the dead person be? First you'd have to consider the holy symbol before you'd know where to look for it.
For instance, a character may place a holy symbol of Waukeen or Tymora in his coin purse. They both look very similar and could easily blend in with other coins.
Or an oak leaf could be embroidered into a cloak or brooch. Or a red flame could be artfully embriodered into the robes in a way that it blends in with the design. A black onyx disk with a narrow band of amethyst or turquoise border could be found in a gem pouch.
Some holy symbols are easy to find and are displayed proudly. Some are similar to that of multiple Gods like a unicorn's head. Some are very subtle and could be anywhere or signify anything.
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Post by Rook on Feb 19, 2010 18:00:49 GMT -5
There aren't holy symbols for every faith in FRC. I think most faiths with temples have holy symbols for sale. If you can't find one for you faith please contact a DM and he or she should be able to make one for you (perhaps for a fee).
I would think anyone can carry a holy symbol but it should be required for clerics. Those who aren't dedicated to one faith could carry holy symbols for a multiple of gods. Most people won't carry any holy symbols on them.
Soulfiend raises some good questions. I believe some holy symbols would be obvious but not all. I believe that Shar's holy symbols are intended to not be easily identified as such.
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Post by catmage on Feb 19, 2010 18:56:30 GMT -5
You don't need the holy symbol item as far as I know, but multiple cleric spells require a divine focus that must be brandished while casting spells.
As far as I know, there are no rules against a cleric disguising their holy symbols. I flipped through a source book at a store that mentioned a holy symbol frequently used by Sharrans which was disguised as something innocuous unless magic was employed. I can't imagine why a Sharran, Maskarran, or any other secretive faith wouldn't attempt to hide their holy symbols, even when forced to use them for a spell or class feature.
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Post by The Flying Ve on Feb 19, 2010 20:38:24 GMT -5
When lacking a specific symbol, my clerical/paladin chars use an ornate version of the deity's favoured weapon.
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Post by lakhena on Feb 20, 2010 0:22:17 GMT -5
I tend to play PCs who give lip service to more than one deity, but I think you're supposed to choose one patron to judge you when you die. I think.
At any rate, I don't think it's unusual to carry holy symbols or be without. It depends on how pious a person is. Also, as someone pointed out earlier, holy symbols might not be obvious, as they can be very personal items. Oenemi wears hers openly, but not everyone may recognize its significance. Most probably won't, but if you're listening to her speak, it's obvious who she gives lip service to.
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Post by Generiz on Aug 24, 2010 23:34:09 GMT -5
// I'm bumping this as players should equally know that holy symbols are actually effective in the game, just like tithing is. They are -totally- effective. Once (and, sadly, I can't have anyone confirm this, as I was by myself) I had a character who was doing poorly in Blackjack whip out his holy symbol and pray. Afterwards, he got three blackjacks in a row. THREE. That's divine intervention if I've ever seen it. |
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Post by 828stingstingneo on Aug 25, 2010 6:39:13 GMT -5
Ooh, gotta try blackjack with holy symbols, then! Some holy symbols are easy to find and are displayed proudly. Some are similar to that of multiple Gods like a unicorn's head. Some are very subtle and could be anywhere or signify anything. My husband recently found his copy of the FRCS so I've been looking at holy symbols and realized all of my characters carry holy symbols of Vergadain, the dwarven god of trade and luck! |
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Post by Generiz on Aug 25, 2010 8:12:18 GMT -5
*coughcoughholysymbolofmoradincoughcough*
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Post by soulfien on Aug 25, 2010 13:58:33 GMT -5
really want to be confusing? If you're worshiping a God you do not want anyone else to know about, carry holy symbols of good gods on your person only --- don't bless them.... have them typical mock-ups.
Have them look real, but not magical.
Who's gonna know?
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epicspire
Proven Member
Its not whether you win or lose; it's where you play the game -FRC for life.
Posts: 202
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Post by epicspire on Sept 2, 2010 21:42:51 GMT -5
Ooh, gotta try blackjack with holy symbols, then! Some holy symbols are easy to find and are displayed proudly. Some are similar to that of multiple Gods like a unicorn's head. Some are very subtle and could be anywhere or signify anything. My husband recently found his copy of the FRCS so I've been looking at holy symbols and realized all of my characters carry holy symbols of Vergadain, the dwarven god of trade and luck! My dwarven cleric, Tobur.. worships Vergadain and blesses loot containers with his symbol.. i have nticed (may be coincidence), but everytime i do so,.. i get very good loot drops. it also seems to raise my Appraise checks when doing business with merchants.. |
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Post by Micteu on Sept 3, 2010 18:47:04 GMT -5
My dwarven cleric, Tobur.. worships Vergadain and blesses loot containers with his symbol.. i have nticed (may be coincidence), but everytime i do so,.. i get very good loot drops. it also seems to raise my Appraise checks when doing business with merchants.. Are there holy symbols of almost all gods in-game? Vergadain is one of the more obscure ones, so I'd think others would also have 'em. Do they? |
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