Shattered Kingdoms

I had a barbarian character to learn the basics of the game, then I figured out sorc was basically one of the few classes that would give me the most bang for my buck further down the line. The other choice is priest, but that requires entering a religion which isn't guaranteed. I would really like a heavy armor priest just to have a decent spellcaster on the front line.

Charm person is ridiculously good: a complete game changer. I'm starting to realise the sorceror isn't really one for high damage spells; that's likely a warlock thing.

entering a religion is guaranteed. But you then have to play by the rules of that church.

Yeah, it's a matter of needing someone to invest you that makes me wary. It's a mechanic that would be a lot more fun if there were more people in the game.

Automatically entering a religion would remove some of RP fun from it. Still, I find the seams are showing when somehow one is expected to believe a character is deeply and utterly committed to a life in the priesthood before deciding which god to follow. And that you can bless someone as a pantheist; where does the power come from?

It comes from the collective power of the gods. As a pantheist, you are contributing your faith to the network, so the network will provide for you until you choose a deity. As opposed to being a spirit worshipper and not worshipping the gods at all.

Most ordinary citizens of the world do not ever choose a deity and stay pantheists their whole life, venerating each deity for specific life events. Choosing to dedicate yourself to a god has benefits, but those benefits are outweighed for normal folk by the enemies that you also get.

I wish the staff, collectively, enforced this more than they do.