A question about faith-based rp

[Esselwyr]

I would like to piggy back off Mele's post about interacting with hopefuls and others within a particular faith. My character's faith has no player FM. Unless my character lurks in the meet market of Ardeep or become a bar fly in Waterdeep, hardly anyone comes to the (rather hard to get to) temple of her faith. I know of at least 2 hopefuls that I have seen on the who list. One she has met , icly. How can I as a low to mid level character at the initiate level foster outreach to these players? Would I get the staff smack down if I sought out fellow faith hopefuls for rp? My character wanders around alot ( I don't know much of the game areas) so using the amulet to reach out to an unknown hopeful borders or is outright metagaming. I know that details about my character's faith is google-able (is that even a word?). With the lack of a HP or FM , can a player take on this role? Thanks bunches all for the feedback.

[Isolrem]

Hopefuls are given the ability to see other hopefuls of the faith for a reason, I must presume (they are not, AFAIK, able to see any other positions except FM)

I think it would be fine if you RPed as "the priest at the temples told me you were also on the path"

[Tamryn]

If hopefuls can use 'faith list' then the help file needs to be updated. (Posting this here so I remember to do it when I get home.)

[Lirith]

Hopefuls can't see the faith list at all.

Esselwyr, I don't think there is any problem with you seeking out hopefuls to speak to them, even if your character is only at initiate level. Obviously you can't progress them, but you can offer faith RP and advice on joining, and it's always nice for hopefuls to have interaction with others in the faith. This applies even more so if it's a relatively quiet faith. How you go about finding hopefuls can vary by faith, but a good way to do this is to let other people know that you would be happy to speak to anyone wishing to learn, or post a notice so that there is then an IC reason for them to send you a magical post, for example. Contacting by amulet doesn't have to feel like metagaming if there is some sort of IC interaction prior to it in this way.

[Tyeslan]

Hopefuls are given the ability to see other hopefuls of the faith for a reason, I must presume (they are not, AFAIK, able to see any other positions except FM)

I think it would be fine if you RPed as "the priest at the temples told me you were also on the path"

I believe you mean prelates, and higher of a faith are given the ability to do this?

Hopefuls cannot see the faith list, and honestly the faith list shouldn't be used to find out who is a hopeful, or to know who is in the faith. It's a tool for those who are in charge of the faith to use to reach out, and keep track. It's always been something that Inner Circle, and Faith Managers handle, and now prelates have the ability to see a hopeful, and talk with them.

Esselwyr, if you want to reach out, and find those hopefuls, I would say go for it on a level of getting to know someone, not really as a progression in faith as there is someone to handle that. It's always nice to meet others in the faith, and maybe they can share things with you, and you with them. Don't feel like you need to stick to Waterdeep, or hang around in Ardeep. Some of us use those places as an easy way to find other members, but you can always ask the ones you know to meet you at your faiths temple, or try another ground for meeting.

[Harroghty]

I feel that faith members should try to mentor those of lesser status within the faith. They should do this with a grasp of the doctrine and within the direction of their faith manager (if there is one). This kind of role-play is one way that future leaders within the faith (faith manager or otherwise) can be judged for their potential. But certainly do not promise too much; you are just helping, not getting them into the faith necessarily.

There is an onus on the faith manager to be proactive if he has particular directions for faith members about how they interact with other faith members or would-be faith members. In the end though, I believe that even then a player can make a reasoned decision to dissent from their faith manager - so long as they are prepared to face the IC consequences of their actions (which could range from a peeved FM to a peeved deity).

In general, more role-play is a good thing and I feel that some creative use of the semi-OOC faith list ("the priest at the temple mentioned a new hopeful") is, in my opinion, fine.

[Gwain]

I feel that faith members should try to mentor those of lesser status within the faith. They should do this with a grasp of the doctrine and within the direction of their faith manager (if there is one). This kind of role-play is one way that future leaders within the faith (faith manager or otherwise) can be judged for their potential. But certainly do not promise too much; you are just helping, not getting them into the faith necessarily.

There is an onus on the faith manager to be proactive if he has particular directions for faith members about how they interact with other faith members or would-be faith members. In the end though, I believe that even then a player can make a reasoned decision to dissent from their faith manager - so long as they are prepared to face the IC consequences of their actions (which could range from a peeved FM to a peeved deity).

In general, more role-play is a good thing and I feel that some creative use of the semi-OOC faith list ("the priest at the temple mentioned a new hopeful") is, in my opinion, fine.

I agree with this, I see the faith list as semi-OOC and really only consider the positions of faith manager and the inner circle to be conductive of rp because those positions come with coded benefits. Everything else is to me, window dressing. A faithed cleric is a mouth piece of the god they serve, they know the intricacies of the faith or are in the process of unlocking them. Therefore there is no harm in teaching hopefuls and laymen of your faith, as long as it is understood that you lack the power to advance them. Even with that, you can still teach them.

[Isolrem]

I'm sorry, I was mistaken. Hopefuls are utterly incapable of using the faith list. I misread how Esselwyr was able to have information of another being a hopeful in the first place - it was in their title on the who list.

Still, if these things - faith lists and titles both - represent ooc knowledge, and cannot be used to set up and initiate RP, then I fail to see their purpose of existence.

[Kinni]

It's a big game. My understanding has always been that setting up RP OOCly is acceptable and even encouraged. Sending a fellow faithful/hopeful (or even the FM) a message saying: "Hey, care to RP?" or "Where does your character frequent that might be appropriate for us to run into one another?" is a great way to open the door. Their are thousands of rooms and about 12 players on average (depending on time of day), so I think this is a great way to really meet up with characters that can help develop story and RP.

[Rhangalas]

I think faith titles are supposed to be OOC, but I always thought the information in your PCs title was IG information/rumors and are allowed to be used ICly.

Other than that, I find the religious aspect of the game borders on the fanatical sometimes, but I just play religion how my PC views it, and since I am allowed to do that without any dissent, I have no problem with zealots and radicals.

It would be nice to see less "god-color" clothing schemes though (for laymen, clergy should still wear vestments). Just saying...

[Esselwyr]

Thank you every one for your replies and feedback. I'm trying to negotiate this faith dynamic without overstepping boundaries. I am especially taking what staff are saying to heart. Given that, I have a few questions:

1. As an initiate of a faith without a FM, there is heavy reliance on staff to push the process along to develop a aspiring character into a hopeful. Can I send mail to staff regarding this? Can my character do this in character with prayer? What is the best way to avoid being smote/smited (sp?) by my character's god (aka peeved staff)?

2. My character's bff right right now is the Magical Post lady...she's making ALOT of money off her as letters are being sent out (Gond folks...hurry up and make the printing press...thank you). Since this is in game and in character, is this an appropriate way to contact players the virtual priest has told my character is a faithful for faith based rp?

3. A slight bump in the road that I am coming up against is that almost every faithful is many levels above my own so I can't really propose any team up adventures. I'm not complaining as I am owning my advancement rate or lack thereof. Without stepping on any toes, can I coordinate impromptu rp? Obviously, she can't do any rituals but Corellon is kinda hippie/dandelion-eating/tree-hugger-ish but say doing something like "let's sing and dance in the moonlight tonight" or "listen to the<insert forest/elf-friend> speak" for example? The players I ran into was agreeable to this. Does this run into the issue risking a godly (staff) smack-down?

[Tyeslan]

Thank you every one for your replies and feedback. I'm trying to negotiate this faith dynamic without overstepping boundaries. I am especially taking what staff are saying to heart. Given that, I have a few questions:

1. As an initiate of a faith without a FM, there is heavy reliance on staff to push the process along to develop a aspiring character into a hopeful. Can I send mail to staff regarding this? Can my character do this in character with prayer? What is the best way to avoid being smote/smited (sp?) by my character's god (aka peeved staff)?

2. My character's bff right right now is the Magical Post lady...she's making ALOT of money off her as letters are being sent out (Gond folks...hurry up and make the printing press...thank you). Since this is in game and in character, is this an appropriate way to contact players the virtual priest has told my character is a faithful for faith based rp?

3. A slight bump in the road that I am coming up against is that almost every faithful is many levels above my own so I can't really propose any team up adventures. I'm not complaining as I am owning my advancement rate or lack thereof. Without stepping on any toes, can I coordinate impromptu rp? Obviously, she can't do any rituals but Corellon is kinda hippie/dandelion-eating/tree-hugger-ish but say doing something like "let's sing and dance in the moonlight tonight" or "listen to the<insert forest/elf-friend> speak" for example? The players I ran into was agreeable to this. Does this run into the issue risking a godly (staff) smack-down?

Okay I'll try to answer as best I can from FM point of view, and player council member, and the staff can join in when they have time, and add anything else.

I've always been told when answering questions on Ask that you shouldn't pray to the gods for anything in question based on faith. There is someone handling it, and will be watching, and attending when they can, or feel that the person is ready for a quest, it will come along. In the mean time, patience is a virtue, and just continue to get hours, and do what you feel you need to do to join that faith.

As for sending letters to anyone to meet them, that's perfectly fine. Contacting over amulet, or sending a letter to set up a time for meeting works out well. I've done that before, and I have known others to use this route as the easiest way to meet someone ICly.

If you have an RP idea, or you feel the want to toss something together to meet, and greet, or turn it into a dinner, or song, and dance type of deal, feel free to do it. RP is encouraged. Just refrain from leading it towards faithing type of stuff, if that makes sense? Also, if you have ideas you want to run, and feel you could incorporate others in the game, you can always apply to get on the Story Council, and start RPs in your free time. Just another idea!! I hope I have given you some insight, and the staff has more to add to this.

[Harroghty]

Prayer is best used when you have mentored a candidate for the faith and believe them ready to advance. So less to make the staff aware of a candidate, but instead to say, "I have worked at length with so-and-so and I believe that they are prepared for your attention."

[Esselwyr]

Thanks guys for the feedback. I'm trying the approach suggested and of course More questions came up. Is there an appropriate class for mentoring/ offering wisdom thereof? A few players have given me in game feedback as well. Can we give oocly links to canon based websites like so Sayeth Ed on Candlekeep forums to faithful to keep as a dogma/racial outlook reference? This is after lengthy rp of course. I am trying to gather as much lore for a solid knowledge base to work off of.

[Rhangalas]

Is there an appropriate class for mentoring/offering wisdom thereof?

For a sage-style PC, I would go with wizard, cleric, or bard. That is just me though, I don't know of any other rules related to teaching other than the requirements outlined in the help files. I suggest these classes because you will need to allocate a good amount of attribute points into Intelligence (wizard), Wisdom (cleric), and Charisma (bard) in order to effectively teach anything. While you could do it with other classes, I've found it's best to go with a concept that plays off of stats your class already uses.

[Harroghty]

I don't see a problem with suggesting resources to other players. You might start a thread in the World forum?

[Esselwyr]

Thankd again