In our world, faith is a tricky thing. Modern society prioritizes the knowable and the tangible. This can make religious faith difficult to explain. For many, concrete proof of the divine is not only elusive, but impossible; those who seek it must infer its presence through signs and symbols. Faith thus requires a certain measure of trust, be it in scholarship, the leadership of others, or even oneself.

The multiverse of Dungeons and Dragons doesn’t have this problem. The gods of the multiverse are demonstrably real. As players, we know that there is an entire pantheon of deities that can, and often do, directly intercede in the lives of mortals. As dungeon masters, we can set adventures or entire campaigns in the Outer Planes, the homes of the gods themselves. We can even play as paladins or clerics who have personal connections with their deities.

At the same time, there are not many incentives for players to engage with the pantheon unless they’re playing a class that requires it. There are no mechanical reasons for a character to be a lay member of a religious group. Unless they are a member of a holy order, most players will only visit a temple or a church if they need healing or resurrection. Groups that don’t have a cleric or a paladin can essentially ignore the pantheon of your setting.

Thus, I’ve created a system of divine blessings as a way to further incentivize player engagement with religion in-game. Any player, regardless of class, can visit a shrine or temple dedicated to one of the gods and spend time either participating in a religious ritual or sitting in quiet prayer and contemplation. When they are finished, they are imbued with a certain divine spark for much of the rest of the day.

You can restrict these blessings to individuals who already worship the god in question, be it as clergy or a layperson, or you can allow anyone to beseech the gods for assistance regardless of faith. That choice is up to you as the dungeon master. In either case, players can only be blessed by one deity at a time.

You can create blessings as varied as the gods themselves, and draw from any pantheon to do so. I’ve chosen five gods from the Faerunian pantheon as demonstrative examples.

Kelemvor – God and Judge of the Dead

Kelemvor is the God and Judge of the Dead. Interestingly, his followers believe that death is further sanctified by the preservation of life. Thus, in addition to performing burial rites, they can also be found combatting outbreaks of disease or hunting down the undead. Lay worshippers of Kelemvor include gravediggers, morticians, and certain healers.

The blessing of Kelemvor protects a player from premature death. Until their next short or long rest, the player makes all death saving throws with advantage the next time they fall unconscious. After receiving this blessing, the player cannot be blessed again for a week.

Gond – God of Craft

Gond, the Lord of All Smiths, is revered by artificers, engineers, and craftsmen of all stripes. His followers prioritize technological development over artistic endeavor or practical necessity, which can cause friction in their communities. Thus, it is common to find lay worshippers of Gond who make a living as itinerant tinkerers.

The blessing of Gond imbues a player with technological inspiration. Until their next short or long rest, the blessed is considered trained with all crafting tools, and makes all crafting checks with advantage. After receiving this blessing, the player cannot be blessed again for a week.

Oghma – God of Knowledge

Worshippers of Oghma revere knowledge in all its forms. They traffic in the exchange of information and ideas; there is no greater sinner than one who does not share his knowledge with others. Lay followers of Oghma include arcanists, scholars, scribes, and inventors. Because they are natural storytellers, he is also revered by many bards.

The blessing of Oghma allows the receiver to seek out truth and pierce falsehoods. Until their next short or long rest, the blessed can remember, with perfect accuracy, any information read in a book or heard in a conversation, and make all Insight checks with advantage. After receiving this blessing, the player cannot be blessed again for a week.

Selune – Goddess of the Moon

The followers of Selune are as varied as the phases of the Moon itself. Her worshippers include sailors and navigators who find their way by the night sky, as well as fortune-tellers and astrologers who believe in the Moon’s power over fate. She is known as a protector and nurturer, a bulwark against the forces of darkness and despair.

The blessing of Selune gives guidance to those who walk in the night. Until their next short or long rest, when under moonlight, the blessed makes all Nature, Perception, and Survival checks with advantage. After receiving this blessing, the player cannot be blessed again for a week.

Sune – Goddess of Beauty

Sunites worship inner and outer beauty in all its varied forms. Visual artists such as painters and sculptors often follow her, as do many wealthy hedonists possessed of a certain vanity. Her most devoted followers see a connection between love and beauty, and seek to foster love in those around them.

The blessing of Sune makes a player more alluring to those around them. Until their next short or long rest, the blessed is makes Persuasion and Deception checks with advantage. Additionally, if an individual finds them attractive, the players makes all Charisma-based checks directed at that person with advantage. After receiving this blessing, the player cannot be blessed again for a week.

My hope is that your players will use these benefits as an invitation to engage more meaningfully with the pantheon of the multiverse instead of just using shrines for quickie blessings. It may also force them to think more critically about their character’s wants, needs, and priorities. In doing so, they will grow, both as a character and a player.

All it takes is a little leap of faith.

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Looking for other ways to incentivize player interaction with your setting? Check out:

Enchanted liquors that make an evening at a bar much more enjoyable for both you and your players.

Magic mushrooms and other potion ingredients.

Venomous snakes to ambush your players with.