[MUD-Dev] Gods, worshipers and the balance

[Matt Chatterley]

On Sat, 17 Jan 1998, Marian Griffith wrote:
> On Sat 13 Dec, Adam Wiggins wrote:
> 
> An old thread but I liked it :)
> 
> > [Vadim Tkachenko:]
> 
> > > - Universe should preserve the balance (hopefully).
> 
> *shrug* I don't see that as of paramount importance.

Nor do I, but its often a popular theme element - Universal balance,
perhaps tied into karma, and the general theory that the universe likes to
sit around the neutral mark (in various interpretations).
 
> > > - Every time cleric prays to his/her God, they gain some energy which
> > > then can spend somehow.
> > > - From the balance standpoint, their God's energy level should decrease
> > > - which is meaningless from the religious point of view - all the
> > > history shows that the greater the number of some God's worshipers, the
> > > stronger that God
> > > - which means that energy levels of both God and worshiper increase as
> > > they interact
> 
> The simple solution would be to have no change to the priestess when she
> prays to her God.  Her belief is what gives her God power and her prayer
> is a request on Him to use some of that power to aid her.

The way this works for me is slightly different. Gods do exist, but rarely
interfere with mortals (partly because the worlds Creator generally tries
to stop them). Belief serves as a focus for the latent magical abilities
and skills of the priestly types, just like objects and books are foci for
mages.
 
> > Followers can pray for 'mana' of some sort with which they can do
> > whatever.
> 
> I like to think of it as asking for specific favours  the God may or may
> not grant.  If it is out of line with the nature of the God  then likely
> the request is denied.

Yeah. When persons pray for me, I intend to have 'general prayer' (thanks,
and so forth), which are sent in text form to the appropriate wizard to be
considered as plot spawns (eg someone prays for a village to be saved, and
its added as a temporary quest). Also specific prayers eg 'praying for
help' which the God in question may or may not grant.

[Snip - just a few quick comments]

--
Regards,
	-Matt Chatterley
"Every breath you take, every bond you break.. I'll be watching you."
                                                                    -The Police