Bring gods in the game

[redhound]

From game chat:

> /tell Laanx Hi, Laanx!
> Laanx is not found online.

Current /pray command is a shortcut for /emote pray, but it could be interesting to have separate command to pray gods (or specific god) for miracles or even ask them about something.

"Miracles" should be protective / healing spells, casted on character or group, or offensive spells, casted on enemies.
Spell set could vary by god. Rate of success of appeal & spell power could be determined by character race, faction points, number of previous appeals (in the game day), sacrifices and also (maybe) current location, weather and time of the day.

If god name not specified, any god in the mood could answer to the prayer.
Also, appeling to the more ancient gods (Laanx, Talad) should have lesser rate of success, but greater miracles or revelations.

Any character (even have no magical abilities and choose to be atheist) could use this command.

Gods could be implemented as (invisible) NPCs.

Example command formats:

Pray: /pray [godname]
Ask: /tell [godname] [question]
Sacrifice: /give [godname] [itemname]

[Jilerel]

Not fond of that idea, but making gods players/GMs and not NPCs could sure be a good idea, and was done before.

Edit : GMs can "play" and "played" the gods when it is necessary.

[Geoni]

I actually think that's one way to implement a god in the game world if it's established in the lore that the gods are still taking part in shaping the world as it continues to develop. Although I think sacrifice would make things complicated in the end due to the differences in the gods - some would ask for it and some wouldn't, but might respond to something else than a sacrifice.

[Can-ned Food]

Maybe this would operate almost like the Petition system, but regarding strictly in-character concerns.  Maybe no notification of whether a prayer is being reviewed or has been answered except with observable changes?
Maybe use the Petition system, but with modifications?
The two words (pray, petition) have similar enough meanings, anyway.

[iridia]

The GM's can express the presence of the gods in game in various ways but making an actual appearance as one of the gods should not be expected of the current team.

We haven chosen not to do these appearances as religion is a personal and close to the heart matter and experienced different by everyone. The same is true for your character.
Combined with the epic life changing experience the appearance of a god should to be to a person, the chance that players will be disappointed with the rp is more than likely.

At some events and religious celebrations we may use weather and animated actions to let players know the god is "present". For example at the Snowbud Festival we had snow and a snowbud started growing from the tree in the garden during the openings ceremony by DoX.

These are subtle hints and may be interpreted by every character him/her/kraself.

The prayer by petition seems for similar reasons unrealistic, answers to prayers should be open and allow characters to have a personal interpretation. That would mean you would receive answers that would be general, which in it's turn would defeat the purpose of these petitions and you may as well have automated answers.

[Rigwyn]

With regard to the gaming aspect of Planeshift, there's another game called Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup ( it's like nethack) which gives the character various benefits if they chose to worship a god and to adhere to the limitations and requirements that come with being a follower. These limitations and requirements are different for each one and so two are the benefits. For example, devout followers of Sif Muna will occasionally be gifted with free spell books. If they stop pleasing him, I think they get attacked or something. Likewise if you switch to another god there may be other consequences.

[Can-ned Food]

Xom!

The prayer by petition seems for similar reasons unrealistic, answers to prayers should be open and allow characters to have a personal interpretation. That would mean you would receive answers that would be general, which in it's turn would defeat the purpose of these petitions and you may as well have automated answers.

I was suggesting a system to be used for registering prayers, à la Bruce Almighty, not a system for receiving answers thereof.