Call Upon the Authority of Your Allies
(O)D&D’s Cleric makes sense for (O)D&D, but it makes increasingly less sense outside of the euromedieval milieu. What if you’ve got a much more immanent and plural divine in your game world than in the euromedieval model and what if there really isn’t much of a good/evil, law/chaos thing in your campaign?
Wandering Shinto-Doctor Class
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Special Abilities:
- Can “cast” Cleric spells as per Cleric.
- At level two, choose or seek out a supernatural ally (think: patron).
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Authority (replaces Turning):
- Roll d20 + number of spells available yet to cast today – 4
- Call on the authority of your allies and attempt to argue/plead/reason with one or more outsider/abdead/demon/oni/yokai as if you and it were on the same level. Discourse occurs in the pre-language spoken by all such creatures and is not properly telepathic or audible. Discourse is with the leader or leaders of the group (combine HD if more than one). If the roll results in a number equal to or greater than the total HD of the opposing side, they will “settle down,” depart, or simply sit down, frustrated. Bonus points for making an argument the GM considers would be persuasive to the opposing side. Takes a d3+1 rounds to complete conversation. No limit on uses. Lesser beings will likely follow the lead of their more powerful cohort, but not always. Can always be used to communicate with these kinds of creatures, if not sway them….
— Shinto-Doctor-Mushi-Shi Clerics for OD&D and B/X – games with others
