Societal Domains (d20)
February 5th, 2008 | by Dan Zappone |Presented here are two new domains for clerics in the d0 system. These domains add the ideas of city and state deities and flesh them out with domain powers and spells. City and state deities were historically common and are often missing from d20 campaign settings.
Civic Domain (in the portfolio of city gods)
(rescued from Spells and Stuff by Cognizant Chance)
In many cities there is at least cursory worship of a local deity. A founding parent either once human, semi- or wholly divine is most common. These god’s attributes can vary a good deal but usually combine combat abilities with great skill at an industry locally important. Gilgamesh, Ptah, and the worship of Roman emperors all might share this spell domain.
The dungeon master should select skills and weapons that are related to the city the god represents. For example a city such as Babylon would likely have the skill profession (bricklayer) and Athena’s temple use the spear.
Granted Power: This domain gives the feat skill focus (craft) or the feat skill focus (profession) at first level and again at fifth level. At third level the cleric receives the feat weapon focus in what ever weapon is common to warriors of the area or the favored weapon of the religion.
Where there are two spells listed for a level the dungeon master should select the spell most appropriate for the particular deity.
1st: Divine Favor
2nd: Make Whole
3rd: Stone Shape or Shatter
4th: Wall of Stone or Minor Creation
5th: Commune
6th: Hero’s Feast or Move Earth
7th: Power Word Stun or Statue
8th: Earthquake
9th: Summon Monster VIII
State Domain (in the portfolio of national deities)
Nations and states often have a particular deity that is revered at the national patron. The god may be the founder of the state who is divine or semi-divine in origin or an existing deity whose actions directly influenced the creation of the state. There is much variance between different state gods’ focus with some focusing more on combat for warlike nations and others on diplomacy or mercantilism. In practice the state churches often promote a mix of combat abilities directly related to the nature of the state and skills that are important to the maintenance of the state. Some deities who share this domain include Romulus, Odin, and the worship of Pharaoh as a god.
The dungeon master should select skills and weapons relevant to the state the god represents or to the god directly. For example an empire such as Rome would likely have the skill profession (orator) or the Han dynasty the skill profession (bureaucrat) or Odin’s temple the weapon focus (spear.)
Granted Power: At first level the cleric gains one of the following feats: skill focus (diplomacy), skill focus (gather information), or skill focus (profession). At third level the cleric receives the feat weapon focus in what ever weapon is favored by the religion. At fifth level the clerics gains an additional feat from the same list as those for first level.
Where two spells are listed for a single level the dungeon master should select the spell most appropriate for the particular deity.
1st: Sanctuary
2nd: Enthrall
3rd: Create Food and Water
4th: Divination or Divine Power
5th: Commune
6th: Geas/Quest
7th: Control Weather or Resurrection
8th: Anti-Magic Field
9th: Miracle
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