Question about deities...

[Babuguuscooties]

Since the server is set about 5 years before the Time of Troubles does that affect how gods are worshipped? I mean, do non-clerics/paladins still have patron deities they singularly kind of focus on, or is it more like a personal form of religion where you give thanks to various Gods for various occasions?

[Tsidkenu]

FR setting is primarily polytheist. Common folk will make offerings to the gods they want to 'appease' for a certain task: Chauntea for harvest, Lathander for childbirth, Tymora for good luck, Beshaba to repel bad luck, Tempus/Helm when conscripted into military service, Umberlee/Talos/Valkur for sailors, etc etc.

However, I believe the gods are not technically reliant on their worshippers in the same manner they are post-ToT when Ao decrees that if a deity loses all their worshippers, they cease from existence (as happened to Kiaransalee when the drow archmage Q'arlynd Melarn used a High Magic ritual to erase the memory of Kiaransalee from the mind of every being ever).

Clerics/druids/favoured souls/paladins/blackguards must have a single patron deity from which they receive their spells. Whether they are aware of the true source is irrelevant, as in the case of worshippers of Ilbrandul post-ToT because he was slain by Shar and his porfolio of Caverns fell under her governance. Clerics of Ilbrrandul from that point on received their spells from Shar despite the fact they they would be completely unaware of it.

Divine classes are not strictly prohibited from praying/offering to other deities (polytheism again, excepting perhaps gods of conflicting portfolios eg. Ilmater & Loviatar) but they will receive no magic from patrons other than their primary.

[Babuguuscooties]

Okay, thanks guys. I thought that was how it worked, but wasn't entirely sure if it was different in pre T.o.T or post T.o.T.

My half-elf wizard pays homage to tons of deities on occasion, but primarily follows Mystra. He even pays homage to the Seldarine.

[Calantyr]

Okay, thanks guys. I thought that was how it worked, but wasn't entirely sure if it was different in pre T.o.T or post T.o.T.

My half-elf wizard pays homage to tons of deities on occasion, but primarily follows Mystra. He even pays homage to the Seldarine.

Most religions are also quite syncretic, and gods are known by various names by various cultures. Not only may your character pray to a load of different gods when the need arises (while having a central 'patron'), they may be named completely different to what they are commonly listed as. The rites and traditions may also differ!

Great fun if you are a foreigner to the Sword Coast! Heresy for everyone!