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Though the patron deity of the prestige class is listed as "The Adama," the truth of the matter is that the Adama is not a deity in and of itself. It is simply a way of life, a set of principles by which to live. Thus, you really have two choices. Most often, clerics of the faith will still venerate a specific deity (almost always one of the five main "aspects" with an appropriate alignment--LG or LN, as stated in the Requirements section of the entry) in addition to his belief in the tenets of the Adama. Alternatively, the cleric can be treated as a cleric with no patron deity (as described in the Player's Handbook).

This second option flies in the face of what's stated in the FRCS, I realize, and very few characters will start out that way (since most folks will want the added benefits of a selected patron deity when creating their cleric characters), but it would be, IMO, the truest or purest form of belief in the Adama.

Does that help?

Thomas M Reid

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Originally posted by The Sage

Here's what Thomas M Reid had to say about this aspect of the Hand of the Adama class -

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Though the patron deity of the prestige class is listed as "The Adama," the truth of the matter is that the Adama is not a deity in and of itself. It is simply a way of life, a set of principles by which to live. Thus, you really have two choices. Most often, clerics of the faith will still venerate a specific deity (almost always one of the five main "aspects" with an appropriate alignment--LG or LN, as stated in the Requirements section of the entry) in addition to his belief in the tenets of the Adama. Alternatively, the cleric can be treated as a cleric with no patron deity (as described in the Player's Handbook).

This second option flies in the face of what's stated in the FRCS, I realize, and very few characters will start out that way (since most folks will want the added benefits of a selected patron deity when creating their cleric characters), but it would be, IMO, the truest or purest form of belief in the Adama.

Does that help?

Thomas M Reid

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Originally posted by Forge

Actually, this directly contradicts what is presented in FRCS. I recall (Page 93 methinks) where it specifically states that no cleric in the realms can derive their spells/abilities from a concept as the dieties are given direct hand in the lands. *Shrug*

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Originally posted by Thomas M. Reid

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Originally posted by Forge

Actually, this directly contradicts what is presented in FRCS. I recall (Page 93 methinks) where it specifically states that no cleric in the realms can derive their spells/abilities from a concept as the dieties are given direct hand in the lands. *Shrug*

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Hence the part of my comments that states: "This second option flies in the face of what's stated in the FRCS, I realize . . ." I pitched it purely as an optional possibility for DMs to consider; it's more of a roleplaying issue than a mechanics issue. The concept of the Adama was brought forward from the 2E product and doesn't fit in with the 3E mechanics very well, but I wanted to stay true to the cultural flavor of the region and left it largely intact for that reason. Most people will still pick a patron deity that also happens to be part of the Adama and leave it at that.

Thomas

Thomas

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Originally posted by Thomas M. Reid

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Originally posted by Forge

Actually, this directly contradicts what is presented in FRCS. I recall (Page 93 methinks) where it specifically states that no cleric in the realms can derive their spells/abilities from a concept as the dieties are given direct hand in the lands. *Shrug*

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Hence the part of my comments that states: "This second option flies in the face of what's stated in the FRCS, I realize . . ." I pitched it purely as an optional possibility for DMs to consider; it's more of a roleplaying issue than a mechanics issue. The concept of the Adama was brought forward from the 2E product and doesn't fit in with the 3E mechanics very well, but I wanted to stay true to the cultural flavor of the region and left it largely intact for that reason. Most people will still pick a patron deity that also happens to be part of the Adama and leave it at that.

Thomas

Thomas

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So, are certain deities part of the Adama? Or could any lawful good/neutral deity be considered part of it?

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Originally posted by Wooly Rupert

An option that occurs to me: handle the Adama like the elven tripartite deity Angharradh. The Adama could be a singular deity combining aspects of Gond, Oghma, Selūne, Torm, and Waukeen, even though those deities also exist as discrete entities.

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