Faithing at lower faith levels

[Gwain]

I'd like to suggest that player character at a faith level as low as acolyte or prelate be given the ability to faith hopefuls of faiths. Prelate level may be better because as trusted members of the faith they should be able to give relevant faith quests and judge hopefuls based on their rp and the ethos of the faith they seek to join.

EDIT: In some cases even an acolyte would be suitable in my own opinion.

[Hrosskell]

Personally I'd like to see faiths a bit more democratic. Let people vote on advancement/initiation; make it a certain % of active players voting yes to send the nominees forward, and all that jazz. Might not be canon, but it'd be more effective I wager.

To be more detailed:
Initiates and up induct.
Acolytes and up advance.
Prelates and ICs can advance peers.
All initiations/advancements require a vote.
Passing votes require a majority of ACTIVE faith members.

This adds player-base policing and could be handled like <faithvote player y/n>. It might make for some interesting IC politics with the larger faiths, too.

[Harroghty]

The trouble is that faiths are already more ruled by popularity than dogma.

[Hrosskell]

Maybe I'm a little bit chagrined from the real world, but isn't that the case on Earth as well as Faerun? :B It takes the charismatic to lead, even if he/she leads his/her faith away from the Will. Interpretations and assumptions are already a thing in FR and FK--no two people, nations, sects, etc.--view their Gods alike, and heretic cells are common.

OH! AND WE COULD HAVE RECKONINGS.

[Gwain]

The trouble is that faiths are already more ruled by popularity than dogma.

My goal was mostly to help out the players with characters hoping to join faiths that are not actively recruiting or lack the resources to do so.

[Harroghty]

I just don't see many languish awaiting membership in a faith. (Assuming that they are at least level 10.)

[Gwain]

Fair enough, its more a suggestion for development as demand increases. It might be something to look into eventually.

[Mele]

Inner circle and fm can both do it - if someone were right for it and willing they could simply strive for the two ranks already capable IMO. :)

[Anguin]

Inner circle and fm can both do it

According to the tutorial Sandrew gives, the inner circle can quest a hopeful, but only a FM can faith them.

[Xryon]

Unless it's a newish thing, I was never able to faith as inner circle.

[Tamryn]

What does this mean for faiths without an active faith manager?

(According to the help files, a large number of deities don't have one, including Cyric, Sune, Tyr, Mask, Beshaba, Lathander, Ilmater, ... but I don't know if the help is just out of date there, or the FM is deliberately not listed, at least for evil faiths.)

[Harroghty]

An immortal will follow up with those hopefuls. It may be either the immortal in question, one who manages that faith, or the faith administrator. It is the rare hopeful (with more than 100 hours and at least level 10) who waits a long time to be seen.

I should add, however, that Inner Circle members of the faith have a responsibility to groom hopefuls and quest them. They should tend to the hopeful (but not promise them too much!).

[Lylena]

[quote="Harroghty"It is the rare hopeful (with more than 100 hours and at least level 10) who waits a long time to be seen.[/quote]

What does this mean for faiths without an active faith manager?

(According to the help files, a large number of deities don't have one, including Cyric, Sune, Tyr, Mask, Beshaba, Lathander, Ilmater, ... but I don't know if the help is just out of date there, or the FM is deliberately not listed, at least for evil faiths.)

All that being said, I've always been under the impression that people will need to -play- their hopeful characters and demonstrate on a consistent basis their ability to adhere to the tenants of the faith. Sitting at hopeful and not doing anything but going out and leveling your character is not very likely to get you faithed (quickly). You'll have to RP it, live and breathe it for the (typically short) time that you are on your character. It may, realistically, take two RL weeks (and perhaps even more) if you're only able to play for 3 hours a day. And if during that three hours a day, you're grinding, it's not likely you'll be able to demonstrate your ability to follow the faith. You'll want to RP yo butt off.*

*The written above is opinion only and may be corrected by anyone at any time.

[Kinni]

I have a few opinions on this topic:

1. I'd love to see more faith managers being put into play, personally.
2. Faith is a huge part of RP, but also a huge part of many characters abilities - clerics, that is. I think priority for faithing clerics needs to be put into place.
3. Perhaps some of the more rare faiths might be coded, such as it is with the Drow and Lloth. But, that only as a last resort.

If possible (that is if there are active players willing to play the role) a faith should not go without a faith manager. While the questing can be handled by an imm quickly enough, it is nice to have the more consistent RP that comes with building up ones faith and presence therein between level 1-10.

Just my opinions though.

[Harroghty]

Likewise though, we would like to see more players who take an active role in their faith and demonstrate what we what out of a faith manager. e.g. a player who runs faith events, who observes faith practices, observes faith ceremonies, etc.

[Kinni]

Likewise though, we would like to see more players who take an active role in their faith and demonstrate what we what out of a faith manager. e.g. a player who runs faith events, who observes faith practices, observes faith ceremonies, etc.

I think part of the trouble here, is that we have a wave of new players who don't recognize what needs to be done to take on this role or what their authority is within the faith. I'll go ahead and use myself as an example. Kinni is part of a very secretive faith and goes out of her way to find people interested. She reveals only snippets of information about the faith, gives instructions on how best to follow it, but does so only after requesting tasks that are faith-appropriate from followers.

Do regular faith members have the authority to throw events? And, with more secretive faiths it may not be appropriate to openly do so.

[Harroghty]

Sure regular members have authority to run events. What is appropriate will vary between faiths and between administrations (your FM may have been very directive about what was expected or allowed), but -in general- running an event does not require that one is the FM.

[Dranso]

For Mearki it was always a little difficult. I wanted to put in the hours with new recruits but I never wanted to step on any toes. Now that there really aren't any toes to step on, as far as FMs go, I've been helping out and teaching a younger gnome then I just sent a prayer to Garl, "Yo big guy, whats happenin'? I got this guy over here who is probably ready for a quest, man. Watcha think?" I'm paraphrasing a little bit but it seems like a good option for faiths that don't currently have a FM.

[Esselwyr]

Hello! I'm a new player and alot of these suggestions have special meaning for me. Anyone who has rp'd with my character kind of has a feeling of my character's theme. I was a bit surprised to learn that her chosen faith had no leader or staff assigned to it. I must say that almost did turn me towards a faith that did. There's alot of info out there (TSR and the abomination known as Wizards of the Coast) regarding my character's race and faith and I try to follow that template. As a spanking new player with alot of out of game knowledge but little in game knowledge, it's hard for me to demonstrate her chosen hopeful faith without grinding (caravans cost alot/mobs have this nasty tendency to lop off arms/etc).

In this case, what is a fledgling player to do except keep on the grin and rp with others

[Tyeslan]

There is always someone handling a faith. Whether it is to apply for a faith, or find in game means. You as a new player, with a decided faith, will want to get on a faith list, and when you have the allotted amount of time, and levels on her, you will be taken care of and faithed. If you have any questions about it, you can always use ask, or ask here how to get on a faith list!