Changing Deity

[Solaghar]

As someone whose RP has changed somewhat over time, I'm wondering what the consequences of changing a deity are, officially? Obviously it would have to be something you've RPed out over the long-term, with an application and the approval of all the deities involved, but that's not what I'm asking about, as that much is obvious. I've heard from people that when it's been done in the past, that all spells are removed and one's level is set back to 1, to reference the fact that your spells are only given to you through your deity, as well as any of the level-based power that you have. I was just wondering if there was any sort of official policy, if that is how it works, and I thought other people might benefit from knowing what the consequences are so that they can think about it and don't have to ask, a reference if you will in case anyone has the same question in the future.

Thanks in advance for answering!

[Rhiel]

Um, well, I actually addressed that issue a bit in the evil ranger thread, but I guess my little voice may be of some use here, as Rhiel is a walking testament to the changing deity game.

On an official leve, aside from the LARGE amount of dedicated RP (over 2 years, in my case), I'm not sure if there *is* an established "way of doing it." Now, granted, I haven't been back playing but for a week or so (kudos to all the hard working imms and builders out there, BTW), but some things stay fairly consistent.

By this I mean that (in my own humble opinion) such a thing is:

1.) Taken on a case-by-case basis. Personally speaking, I was never reset to level 1, but I *did* have my spellcasting abilities revoked via an in-game, RP-related "punishment." It was so cool. The imms are really dedicated, and will decide what is best ICly to do. It's all about the story, and the code is there to lend viability to the greater story being told.

2.) NEVER undertaken lightly by either the PC or the imms involved. It is a serious change, often with shifting alignments, abilities, and/or other code-based traits that define a character. While the RP is based solely on the player, the code changes and other in-game effects are done by admins.

This requires a great deal of effort on their part, as we all know time is a precious commodity. So you must be willing to have patience. The imms are really flexible though, and will reward good RP. It's a really interactive experience between the player and any admins involved. A rewarding experience, too. The funnest of my times on FK happened when I was RPing a radically shifting theology. lol.

3.) Not without consequences! A dramatic change such as this is no easy undertaking. It will be hard, it will tax your patience, and you WILL want to give up. Bad things ARE going to happen to you. You can't change your worldview without drastic consequences. Cause and effect, right? But, if it's what you REALLY want, if it's REALLY where you want your character's RP to go, then you have to deal. lol. It's totally worth it in the end, IMHO.

Please chide me, admins, if I've misrepresented anything. I'm speaking with the voice of personal experience alone.


Caveat Iocatus: Watch out for god whoring. It never ends well. Take it from an old fool.

[Lathander]

Generally, you swear yourself to a deity, you go back on your sworn devotion, said deity gets ticked off - all IC.

If apps for this are approved we tend to have you remake the character, though not always. Current code allows us to knock skills/spells down to zero but not to "unlearnable." This is important because a particular deity may grant a spell, you switch deities, we reduce that spell to zero..BUT, you could still go out and train it back up. By making the PC restart, we take away the ability to train up skills/spells that you first learned but now should not have access to. Basically, the deity you abandon abandons you and the one you take up with chooses what they will give for your loyalty.

Also remember, once you abandon a deity, the new one you seek might be very untrusting of your loyaltly, with good reason.

Rhiel, when you state that this hasn't happened to you be sure to add the word "yet."

[Rhiel]

Right right. I stand corrected.

[Oghma]

Also, remember that each situation is judged on a case by case basis, be it through application or through role play.

[Mariela]

To be honest, I have always found regardless of what my hairbrained scheme is.....

if you email the IM's, they enjoy reading the proposal for RP and will get back to you. Generally within 24 - 48 hours with at least a, "We got your email.. the debate commences." To date, nothing I have ever provided intention and a great deal of detail I have ever turned in has really been denied.

I take that back. One thing. But I understood that. I really didnt' want to be Orc Main Course.

[Kregor]

Actually, with the way spells are done now, there is no benefit from playing, say, a priest of one faith one day, and becoming a priest of another the next.

As it is now, all clerics get a base set of spells, domain spells are not determined by the guild file, rather the deity file of the character's deity. The main reason for doing this was so the coding team has the option later of changing domain spells in this slot or that for any given deity. So, if you have a cleric of say, Torm, and an imm sets your deity to Cyric (extreme difference, I'm making a point). All your old domain spells for Torm vanish, and are replaced with the domain spells for Cyric.

Now, this does not bypass the IC consequences of ticking off a deity for leaving his fold, but this is totally circumstantial on the way you change. I would imagine, that a character who changed from, say, Torm to Tyr would suffer little consequence, as they are part of a trinitarian faith. A "change to the dark side," or a reverse of such, however, I would see a drastic penalty result. Rhiel, for example, changed from Mystra to a Cyric, a mortal enemy. Same for Caelyvar who left Lathander's faith to (supposedly) follow Mask. That these would result in dire consequence should be expected, as hell hath no fury like a deity scorned for an enemy.

In the end, I would think it to be subject to the collective decision of the imms, for each individual case to consider.