The OD&D Cleric
Analysis of Level 1 Spells
Analysis of Level 2 Spells
Analysis of Level 3 Spells
Analysis of Level 4 Spells
Analysis of Level 5 Spells
Analysis of Level 6 Spells
Conclusions
From the Players Companion:
Earthquake
This powerful spell causes a section of earth to shake, and opens large cracks in the ground. A 17th level caster can affect an area up to 60’ square, adding 5’ to each dimension with each level of experience thereafter. For example, an 18th level cleric affects an area up to 65’ square; 19thlevel, 70’ square; and so forth.
Within the area of effect, all small dwellings are reduced to rubble, and larger constructions are cracked open. Earthen formations (hills, cliffsides, etc.) form rockslides. Cracks in the earth may open and engulf 1 creature in 6 (determined randomly), crushing them.
This is an extremely powerful spell, though the major effects only occur within a relatively small area the quake can most certainly be felt from a distance even if no damage is caused. In my opinion this represents power over the earth itself is possessed by the Deity. To cause a quake with the magnitude described here the Deity would certainly need to be able to control the tectonic plates and cause them to spontaneously move. Normally an earthquake occurs after pressure has built up between plates over a long period of time, and once that pressure reaches a certain threshold the plates will snap out of place into a new alignment. On a global scale these movements are minuscule, but they appear to be huge earth shattering events to us.
In the real world I might explain an earthquake caused by god to be something that he had planned a long time ago and set the plates in motion in just the right way to have the desired effect later. That is if I was trying to say an earthquake was an act of god. I view this spell as an entirely different case. I see this as the Cleric praying/making supplication to their Deity to cause an earthquake at this moment and location. This necessitates that the Deity can spontaneously cause the tectonic plates to shift and possibly even create new fault lines. That is unless we also give the deity the power to predict every single moment that a cleric might pray for an earthquake, and even then we'd still have to accede that the deity has power over the tectonic plates and also the power of infinite foresight.
Holy Word
This spell affects all creatures, friend or foe, within a circular area of 40’ radius, centered on the caster. When the cleric casts this spell, all creatures of alignments other than the cleric’s are affected as follows:
up to 5th level: Killed
level 6-8: Stunned 2-20 turns
level 9-12: Deafened 1-6 turns
level 13+: Stunned 1-10 rounds
Any victim of 13 levels or more or of the same alignment as the caster, may make a Saving Throw vs. Spells to avoid the effect entirely.
This powerful spell cannot be blocked by stone, nor by any other solid material except lead. (It can be blocked by an antimagic shell.)
This spell seems very vague to me. Looking at the description in other editions it seems that This spell is cast by saying/shouting a single holy word that is meant to banish/kill the unholy. The rewrite done by Alexis is the most clear version I have seen, I would just change his version to say it affects any who are not of the same faith as the cleric, not just those malevolent towards the cleric. So having established how the spell is cast, what does it mean? One interesting thing of note is that this version doesn't banish extra-planar creatures like described in most other versions. Thus it is not a method of banishing the wicked, but punishing them.
This spell is intended to kill any unbeliever nearby, the only survivors being those who are extraordinarily experienced or superhuman in physical properties. Given the intentions of the spell and its effect on the majority of the populace, this is pretty strong evidence that the Deity is not merciful to his enemies. We've already established this in the past analyses, but this spell also implies power over life and death. The Deity and his followers have the power to take away life when necessary. The lack of mercy is of more interest to me; if we are trying to compare the cleric to medieval Christianity, the Deity seems more to fall in line with the 'Old Testament' version of god than the 'New Testament' version. This Deity is a 'jealous god'; any unbeliever may be killed for the simple reason of believing in another god/philosophy.
Raise Dead Fully
This spell is similar to the 5th level raise dead spell, except that it can raise any living creature. Any human or demi-human recipient awakens immediately, with no wounds (full hit points), and is able to fight, use abilities, spells known, etc., without any penalties except those existing at the time of death. For example, a victim cursed or diseased at death would still suffer the affliction when raised fully. If any other living creature (other than a human or demi-human) is the recipient, the guidelines given in the raise dead spell apply (including time limitations, rest needed, etc.).
A 17th level cleric can use this spell on a human or demi-human body that has been dead up to 4 months; for each level of experience above 17th, 4 months are added to this time. Thus, a 19th level cleric could cast raise dead fully on a body that has been dead up to 12 months.
If cast at an Undead creature of 7 Hit Dice or less, the creature is immediately destroyed (no Saving Throw). An Undead creature of 7-12 Hit Dice must make a Saving Throw vs. Spells, with a -4 penalty to the roll, or be destroyed. An Undead of more than 12 Hit Dice takes 6-60 (6d10) points of damage, but may make a Saving Throw vs. Spells to take 1/2 damage.
The reverse of this spell (obliterate) will affect a living creature just as the normal form affects Undead (destroy 7 Hit Dice or less, et al.). If cast at an Undead creature of any type, obliterate has the same effect as a cureall would on a living creature (curing all but 1-6 points of damage, or curing blindness or feeblemind, etc.).
Very much the same implications as the standard Raise Dead spell. Here are implications of power over life and death, the disassociation of the spirit from the body becoming greater after longer periods of time, and the focus of this Deity on human life above all others.
Restore
This spell will restore one full level of energy (experience) to any victim who has lost a level because of Energy Drain, whether by Undead or some other attack form. It will not restore more than one level, nor will it add a level if none have been lost. Furthermore, the casting of this spell causes the cleric to lose 1 level of experience, as if struck by a wight; however, this effect is not permanent, and the cleric may rest for 2-20 days to regain the loss.
The reverse of this spell (life drain) will drain one level of experience from the victim touched, just as if touched by a wight or wraith. The casting of this spell does not cause any loss to the cleric, nor does it require any rest, but it is a Chaotic act, avoided by Lawful clerics.
I don't have much to say here. This is a simple case of the cleric giving a portion of their 'life force' to heal another's. I guess we could say that sacrifice and helping those in need is implied here, but I see this as more a counteraction to the effects of evil/the undead than a general principle of sacrifice.
From the Master Players Book:
Survival
This spell protects the recipient from adverse conditions of all types, including normal heat or cold, lack of air, and so forth. While the spell is in effect, the caster needs no air, food, water, or sleep. The spell does not protect against magical damage of any type, breath weapons, or blows from creatures. It does protect against all damage caused by natural conditions on other planes of existence. Examples: A cleric might use this spell in a desert or blizzard, preventing any damage from the natural conditions; underground or underwater, enabling survival without air; or in space, to magically survive in vacuum.
This just reinforces the idea that the Deity has power over life and death. it doesn't seem like this spell creates biological changes that allow a person to grow gills and breathe underwater, or adapt in other ways to harsh environments; they just get to ignore the consequences normally inherent in venturing into those harsh environments. It also doesn't seem like there is a bubble surrounding the character with ideal conditions keeping the dangerous conditions at bay. Because a Cleric/the Deity wills it the recipient of this spell doesn't die when they should. Also the fact that this spell protects against the effects of being on another plane of existence tells me that the Deity has power over more than just the material plane.
Travel
This spell allows the cleric to move quickly and freely, even between the planes of existence. The caster (only) may fly in the same manner as given by the magic-user spell, with a movement rate of 360 feet (1 20 feet).
The cleric can also enter a nearby plane of existence, simply by concentrating for one round. A maximum of one plane per turn may be entered. If desired, the cleric may bring one other creature for each five levels of experience (rounded down; for example, a 29th-level cleric could bring five other creatures on the journey). All others to be affected must be touching or touched by the cleric while the spell is cast and the shift is made. Any unwilling creature may make a Saving Throw vs. Spells to avoid the effect. The cleric must take the others, and cannot send them while remaining behind.
While this spell is in effect, the caster (only) may assume gaseous form by concentrating for one full round. (If interrupted, no change occurs.) Unlike the potion effect, all equipment carried also becomes part of the same gaseous cloud. In this form, the caster may travel at double the normal flying rate: 720 feet per turn (240 feet per round). While gaseous, the cleric cannot use items or cast spells, but also cannot be damaged except by magic (weapons or certain spells). Also, a gaseous being cannot pass through a protection from evil spell effect or an anti-magic shell.
I don't know what to make of this one. The effects are very clear and plain, but the underlying meaning of those effects is a little harder to pin down. If we're looking for some real world inspiration, there is the incident where Jesus is being chased by a crowd of people and is carried away by the holy ghost. Also I'm pretty sure there have been similar stories in other religions. I guess the ability to transform into a gaseous cloud could mean that the Deity has power over matter/the structure of atoms. He can change how matter is structured and connected to benefit his servants. I might also he can suspend the laws of physics when necessary also because of the ability to fly like the wizard spell. Gravity is suspended on a whim. And the power to travel between planes of existence shows the domain of the Deity is not limited to the material plane. I guess I got something out of it, though I'm not entirely sure of the validity of everything I just said.
Wish
A wish spell is usable only by a cleric of 36th- (maximum) level with 18 (or greater) Wisdom.
A wish is the single most powerful spell a cleric can have. It is never found on a scroll, but may be placed elsewhere (in a ring, for example) in rare cases.
Extensive guidelines for wishes are given on page 10, with the magic-user spell description.
(From page 10)
Wording the Wish: The player must say or write the exact wish made by the character. Wording of the wish is very important. The literal meaning will usually occur, whatever the intentions of the player.The DM should try to maintain game balance, being neither too generous nor too stingy in deciding the effects of a wish. Remember that wishes should be able to do quite a bit. Even a badly phrased wish, made with good intentions, may have good results. However, if the wish is greedy, or made with malicious intent, every effort should be made to find differing interpretations. If necessary, the wish can even be disallowed, having no effect. Whenever a wish fails or is misinterpreted, the DM should explain (after the game) the problem or flaw in the phrasing.
Here are some examples of faulty wishes: “I wish that I knew everything about this dungeon” could result in the character knowing all for only a second, and then forgetting it.
“I wish for a million gold pieces” can be granted by having them land on the character and then vanish.
“I wish to immediately and permanently possess the gaze power of a basilisk while retaining all of my own abilities and items” is a carefully worded wish that’s out of balance. Characters are already quite powerful. This wish could result in the growth of a basilisk head in addition to the character’s own, or the growth of extra eyes-without eyelids, leaving the character extremely vulnerable to other gaze attacks.
A wish can never be used to gain either XP or levels of experience.
Possible Effects: If a wish is used to harm another creature in any way, the victim may make a Saving Throw vs. Spells. If the save is successful, the victim takes half the ill effects and the other half rebounds on the caster (who may also save to avoid it, but with a -4 penalty to the roll). A carefully worded wish can, however, move (i.e. teleport) another creature if no harm is done in the process, allowing no saving throw. The saving throw applies only to creatures, not their items carried or possessed.
A wish may be used to gain treasure, up to a maximum of 50,000 gp per wish. However, the caster loses 1 XP per gp value of treasure gained, and this loss cannot be magically restored.
A wish can be used, if the DM desires, to gain the use of a magic item for a short time. Generally, any magic item gained is borrowed from somewhere else, not created. Artifacts are beyond the power of wishes. The caster may usually produce any item up to + 5 enchantment. The item will remain for only 1-6 turns.
A wish can be used to temporarily change any one ability score to a minimum of 3 or maximum of 18. This effect lasts for only six turns.
Wishes can also be used to permanently increase ability scores, but the cost is very high. You must use as many wishes as the number of the ability score desired. All the wishes must be cast within a one-week period. You may raise an ability score only one point at a time. To raise your Strength from 15 to 16 takes 16 wishes. To then raise it to 17 will take an additional 17 wishes. Wishes cannot be used to permanently lower ability scores.
A wish cannot raise the maximum level for humans; 36th is absolute, enforced by Immortals. However, one wish can allow a demi-human to gain one additional Hit Die (for a new maximum of 9 for halflings, 11 for elves, and 13 for dwarves). This affects only hit points, and does not change any other scores (such as Hit rolls, elves’ number of spells, etc.).
A wish can change a demi-human to a human, or the reverse. Such a change is permanent, and the recipient does not become magical. Halflings and dwarves become fighters of the same level. Elves become magic-users or fighters (but not both), at the choice of the wisher. Levels of experience can then be gained normally as the human class. A human changes to the same level demihuman, but no higher than the normal racial maximum. If the wish is made by another, the victim may make a Saving Throw vs. Spells with a + 5 bonus to avoid the change. Once a character’s race is changed, two wishes are needed to reverse the effect, and further changes each require double the previous number of wishes used (4, 8, 16, etc.).
A wish can be used to duplicate any magicuser spell effect of 8th level or less, or any cleric spell effect of 6th level or less. This common use of a wish is not subject to the same close scrutiny by the DM, and is likely to succeed with less chance of error than other types.
A wish can sometimes be used to change the results of a past occurrence. This is normally limited to events of the previous day. A lost battle may be won, or the losses may be made far less severe, but impossible odds cannot be overcome completely. A death in melee could be changed to a near-death survival; a permanent loss could be made temporary. The DM may advise players when wishes are near to exceeding the limit of the power.
Important Note: Whenever an effect is described as being unchangeable “even with a wish,” that statement supercedes all others here. However, multiple wishes may succeed (DM’s choice) where one wish would not.
This at first seems to grant unlimited possibilities, however given the list of standard wishes I think this spell can be viewed as a series of separate spells all rolled into one. There is the spell for 50K gold, temporary increase in ability scores, species change, etc. I think what this really tells us about the cleric and his religion is is that the Deity worshiped by the cleric can have any degree of power the DM wishes to give him. Yet the definite powers of the Deity include the granting of the abilities of a magic-user to a cleric, changing the physical attributes of a person either through ability scores or species swap, the creation of items of monetary value, and the instant teleportation of items. I think all of these have been covered by other spells. What is important to remember here is that the presence of this spell specifically tells us that the powers a Deity can grant his servants, and thus he himself possesses, is literally limitless.
Wizardry
By using this spell, the cleric gains the power to use one item normally restricted to magic-users: either a device (such as a wand) or a scroll containing a 1st- or 2nd-level magic-user spell. (Spells of 3rd or higher level cannot be cast, though they may be present on the scroll.) This ability lasts for one turn, or until the scroll or device is used. The cleric magically gains knowledge of the proper use of the item, as if the character were a magicuser. For the duration and effect of the magicuser spell, the level of caster is treated as the minimum necessary for the casting of the spell.
This demonstrates the Deity's power includes the power of the magic-user. Simply the Deity limits the access his followers get to certain kinds of magic. It seems that The Deity limits access to his power as a way of encouraging a specific type of behavior and only entrusts the unfettered use of magic to his most trusted servants(this being a 7th level spell) and even then its use is still very limited. Despite these restrictions, this makes clear that the Deity has access to the same kind of manipulation of reality that magic-users make use of.
