So dieties have portfolios listed of certain "concepts" that are "theirs" such as illusion, tyrany, trickery, etc. Then there are domains (or maybe they're one and the same) with similar if not the same names.

Now in most diety entries I've read, there's usually atleast one "X god stole Y domain from Z god's portfolio" or " A is in competition with B for aspect C" etc.

And then on the diety list on the sidebar (and even in some other source material) we have dieties with duplicate domains (many have evil, or tyrany, etc.)


So the question is, how does Amia treat domains/portfolios, particularily with how they relate to whether X church is against Y church because Y's god stole X's god's domain. Or copied or whathaveyou... Rather confused...

Domains are generalized aspects of power probably created to categorize divine powers on a game/mechanical level and not thought of too much on a fluff level.

Portfolios themselves are the seeds, fonts, bits of paper, what have you, that define a deity's scope. Kelemvor may have access to the Sun domain because his aspects excel at destroying undead and that's how it's represented mechanically, but only Lathander has the little piece of paper signed by AO that says "You are The Sun God."

Domains aren't portfolios. They are related to portfolios, but they aren't unqiue, and are rather a way to classify the sorts of powers that a god can grant to their followers, moreso than a depiction of what a deity is truly a deity of. Otherwise no one would have Tyranny but Bane, no one would have Luck but Tymora and Beshaba, no one would have Sun except Lathander, no one would have Magic except Mystra, Spell for Azuth, etc etc.

_________________
Davion Telemos - Monk of the Four Winds
Korthan Isharnos - Dragon Shaman of Thunder Spirit Zamasham

Also note that this has grown from previous editions where they had dogma's and spheres (which are in my opinion the predecessors of portfolios and domains)



I myself see domains as a sort of pre-arranged set of powers and blessings a deity can ordain to his followers. Noticeable in the cleric powers (such as Healing and the empowered healing spells) and the domain spells they gain. A form of clearances for their followers to tap into certain parts of magic they otherwise would be restricted from (through clerical divine spellcasting).

On a grander scheme as Tormak said the portfolios are the pretty function titles and status the deities vie for. The domains might just be another way to limit the power of every individual deity and its followers as not to upset the power balance between them.

Alright, so survey says:

1) Portfolios and domains both follow cannon (at least for the most part, I imagine there might be an exception here or there for Amia, dependent on certain plot material)

2) Portfolios are the "building blocks" of what a deity is in charge of, what they represent at their essence.

3) Domains are the generalized "schools" of power that a deity is most in tune with, and thereby their followers are permitted to draw from.


Thanks guys! That clears it up nicely.

That's more or less right, yup.

_________________
My Characters:
Yuilith Kethil Menaiivan Garadeth