Umberlant Question

[Maetha]

I'm not sure if this is the best forum to ask- but I figure it'd make for the most sensible one.

I have some interest in playing an Umberlee cleric, and I was wondering how prolific the Faith is right now- as I admit my other characters are very solitary and- thus- not very fun to try and keep playing. So I don't want to make a brand new character only to end up stuck in a kind of rut regarding the lack of "allies" and available adventuring partners.

I understand that faiths grow and dwindle in popularity- so I figured I'd ask and see what the forecast on the oceans were!

[Yemin]

Speaking from a single player's perspective, I've recently changed time zones but I still see that the most populous fury faith is still Malar. I personally don't see many Talosan's umberlants, and such around very often excluding their FMs.

Other lowly repped faiths I think are:
Talona, Yondalla though this waxes and wanes as individual players rekindle then lose interest in their alts.

Though, if your just looking for allies, most if not all faiths in game can find allies fairly well. I've not played a fury faith but I believe Zhentil, more than waterdeep would be a place to find allies for them

[Alitar]

Hard for a goodie to stay friends with someone named "Schteve the Drownederer". Umberlee is a Faith that goods are at best wary of, even if they're quiet and nice. Neutrals are usually very welcominf of them, as are evils... But any faith that practices human sacrifice is liable to receive wariness from goodly folk.

[Benorf]

I think it's important to note that for all racial gods (yondalla, gond, corellon), they have an active FM and are very passionate about the races they represent. As a result, if you make a hopeful of that faith, you can guarantee they are going to make an effort to be online when you are.

And, speaking from the point of view of someone who just started interacting with the FM of Umberlee specifically, you *will* find allies. I think it's worth playing the character. It's rare to make a character and hate everything about them.

*edit*
Also, I've noticed that a new member in a relatively inactive faith always revitalizes it, bringing out old characters, and thus with them new enemies/allies

[Maetha]

Well, part of my issue is I'm just not that big a fan of Faerun's pantheon (Many of them feel out and out cardboard to me, which of course is probably part of my bias with being someone who's never played a Forgotten Realms game.) Umberlee, Red Knight, Waukeen, Tiamat, Auril- it kind of speaks as to my love of Evil characters that most of my FR favorite deities are- well- evil women funnily enough. Of course, Red Knight and Waukeen just ghost in because they are the most well designed goddesses to me.

[Harroghty]

The older books (Faiths & Avatars, Powers and Pantheons, and Demihuman Deities) may be of help for you. They provide far more depth than the overly commercial newer books.

[Maetha]

You already recommended it to me- and I still stand by what I say.

[Yemin]

Some of the elven pantheon have human or otherwise worshippers and there are a f-ton of them so this might be an interesting route for you. Otherwise the only deity that technically isn't in in any pantheon but still active is Tharizdun I believe.

You could also try applying to worship a demon lord, Orcus, demigorgan marim prim, the last sounding pretty girly to fit with your pattern if you ask me. And then there's Asmodeus of course, or any rulers of the nine hells, some of which have their own cults.

[Larethiel]

Some of the elven pantheon have human or otherwise worshippers and there are a f-ton of them so this might be an interesting route for you.

Humans following an elven god is something very rare and would most likely require an application and some serious roleplay, although Corellon does accept them. Halfelven worshippers of the Seldarine are another thing. Feeling drawn more to their elven heritage, those are known to exist and welcome in the respective faiths but still a minority.

As for the topic, I do not believe that the pitfalls and negative sides of a faith should keep someone from still pursueing said faith, there is always more to a faith than just the mere presence of fellow faithful (albeit fellow faithful are nice to have) and people to hang out with. There are quite some active evil PCs/faiths around and many neutral PCs and faiths that will group/ally with a follower of Umberlee. Even goodly inclined people will, if they do not happen to know a PC's true alignment or faith. However, one cannot have everything. Choosing one faith will of course exclude other options and friendly interactions since Umberlee's faith, as Alitar has already pointed out, is not known for its niceness.

And to be honest, if you are not a fan of Faerun's pantheon, then little what will be said here will convince you that it is not as bad and can be quite appealing

[Yemin]

Just a follow up question for my own knowledge. I thought Solonor thelandira had a fair number of human followers and rangers at some point because he had an aspect of slow progression and integrating civilisation from wilderness or something

[Tyeslan]

Some of the elven pantheon have human or otherwise worshippers and there are a f-ton of them so this might be an interesting route for you.

Humans following an elven god is something very rare and would most likely require an application and some serious roleplay, although Corellon does accept them. Halfelven worshippers of the Seldarine are another thing. Feeling drawn more to their elven heritage, those are known to exist and welcome in the respective faiths but still a minority.

As for the topic, I do not believe that the pitfalls and negative sides of a faith should keep someone from still pursueing said faith, there is always more to a faith than just the mere presence of fellow faithful (albeit fellow faithful are nice to have) and people to hang out with. There are quite some active evil PCs/faiths around and many neutral PCs and faiths that will group/ally with a follower of Umberlee. Even goodly inclined people will, if they do not happen to know a PC's true alignment or faith. However, one cannot have everything. Choosing one faith will of course exclude other options and friendly interactions since Umberlee's faith, as Alitar has already pointed out, is not known for its niceness.

And to be honest, if you are not a fan of Faerun's pantheon, then little what will be said here will convince you that it is not as bad and can be quite appealing

I put my agreement in with these opinions.

Human followers in the Seldarine are so very rare, and far between. I would not suggest looking for a way out here based on dislike of Faerun's pantheon. If you can't find something you like in any of the gods, your best way is to play something like a wizard, rogue, or warrior, and create your own RP without the need of a deity.

[Yemin]

Just found the link that made me think otherwise. Was an interesting read but yeah, wrong setting:

http://www.canonfire.com/wiki/index.php ... Thelandira

[Gwain]

The mulhorandi pantheon is easy to follow.

[Maetha]

SNIP
If you can't find something you like in any of the gods, your best way is to play something like a wizard, rogue, or warrior, and create your own RP without the need of a deity.

I'd actually thought of putting in a Event post to see if I could bring more people into the Evil fold using my own LE to fund the event- sort of a "Call to arms" in order to restore my own interest in the game- since I admit my RP went extremely stale when I finally progressed to the point where I lost a lot of freedom by alignment.

The original point I still sit by a bit- I like Umberlee and it'd be fun to play a Cleric of her's regardless (because who doesn't want to be a follower of the nasty word Queen?) I'll probably consider it a bit more later.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions and thoughts, I appreciate y'all taking the time to post!

[Hrosskell]

As someone who usually plays the game for stretches of years at a time, I've found that changing perspective is often the best way to re-involve yourself in RP or reignite the spark. Don't let the guidelines constrain you as much--what may seem dogmatic in the end is interpretation and the "generic" of the Gods is tailored for this.

Immersing yourself in the really thick details that FR has to offer (regional practices and identities, especially in the area of worship and alignment) can be very interesting. Finding new ways to play this out and express it is key and religion can take center stage or play a backdrop to the independent and more personal motivations of a character. Otherwise, write that in-depth backstory of your character--his/her secrets, prides, and habits--and people will, most times, pick up on them. In the end, FK is a game where you get what you put in; the more enthusiastic you are about your smotes, your story, or your adventures, the more readily people will respond and accompany you in making them.

Edited to add: I didn't realize how late I was on this. Hope you've found something entertaining! lol