Religion

Religion is the intricate manifestation of reverence and ceremonial practices directed toward either a single deity or a pantheon of gods, where individuals and communities commit themselves to fulfilling the desires and mandates of these supreme entities. Because the gods are real, religion in the game setting cannot be a matter of either faith or belief. Instead, "religion" hinges on the readiness of independent, conscious persons to sacrifice their needs, wants, and indeed their very lives, for the sake of more powerful beings. Every thinking being is faced with this stark choice: dedication to a religious cause or self-determination.

Religion in the game world serves as a foundation for culture, social values and the moral compass of different societies and races. The game classes cleric and paladin are greatly influenced by the presence and respect for religion, as these characters must choose a religion for themselves. In their case, it can be stated plainly that they have chosen the "cause."

For others, it's impossible to entirely discount the presence of gods and demi-gods. These beings have such power that even the unwilling can easily be drawn into their manipulations and interventions in world affairs. In addition, temples, shrines and holy sites abound. These locations often serve as centers of community life, hubs of information and sources of magical or divine power, as well as a means by which adventures may restore the lives or vitality of their fellows. Religion is an integral part of the setting; it offers opportunities for adventures and sets boundaries that even the most resistant of players must often observe.

Power

The ability of divine beings to perform magnificent feats of power and influence derives from worship, with respect to both the number of adherents they have and the power of their commitment. As a god's importance throughout the Prime Material grows, channelled through ritual, totemism and the activity of priests, the greater becomes that god's power to intervene in human affairs. It's forever in the god's interest to establish their grip upon a host of believers — as the more intense and fervent becomes each followers faith, and as the number of followers increases, so too does the power of the god increase.

Within the Planescape Universe, the many jealous gods that exist are forever competing and vying to increase their power through actively participating in, influencing or guiding Earthly affairs, to suit themselves and gain power. The more powerful gods resist attempts by lesser gods. Some gods join together in pantheons, which are then worshipped by polytheistic followers, as a way of sharing power. Demi-gods are forever seeking to increase their power so as to become gods; and many gods, whose powers are waning, find themselves wasting away into oblivion.

On Earth, the most powerful god is that who sits at the head of the Judeo-Christian and Islamic religions — who, nevertheless, has failed to unite the believers of these faiths. The most powerful polytheistic group are the Hindus. Gods who once held enormous power, such as the Sumerian or Norse pantheons, have dwindled away. And everywhere there are hundreds of furtive, less-than-powerful gods who barely have more powers than common devils, demons or angels ... yet who have believers, and work towards gathering more.