There are no rules for religion, nothing to suggest conduct except for some (often) hastily written helpfiles. As far as learning to act how your god wants you to (if he / she doesn't have a good helpfile), you're supposed to depend on immteraction to do that.. Or use your best judgement.

There are plenty of rules for religions. Each Immortal runs theirs the way they like. The helpfiles are intended to be just a taste of what the faith is about. Generally, to learn more you work with the immortal, what is in their shrine, and other followers.

Have you played an empowered character?

Even worse off, the game doesn't do a good job of describing religion. Everyone is told to pick a sphere, but you can pick a sphere and forget it, and the majority of people do.

A spheres isn't a religion. They're akin to birthsigns, and represent a divine influence that should be a cornerstone of your roleplay. It isn't true that the majority of people ignore their sphere- virtually all of your better-roleplayed characters incorporate it into a role. In many cases it's the most emphasized feature of it. I'm not sure how you 'know' this, or if you're just making things up to suit your conclusions.

A sphere is not a religion.. In-fact, the best definition I can get for religion right now (on CF) is: A sphere that has a god with a tattoo.. So all those spheres that cannot yield a tattoo aren't religions? They just seem like templates for combat to me. Sphere fire (I use fire to kill) etc.

Honesty? Love? Wisdom? Peace? Fertility? I use Poetry to kill? How are these templates for combat? While there are spheres that associate themselves heavily with conflict (War, Combat, Rage, etc.), they are not nearly a majority.

Spheres aren't religions. It's a concept your character is drawn heavily to. Religions are belief systems which incorporate facets of one or more spheres. No sphere yields a tattoo- you can get a number of roleplay rewards for playing a sphere well, but not a tattoo. Most religions can yield a tattoo for dedicated followers, but you're being judged on the religion, and not (directly) the sphere.

I suggest that we have some religions, (not) one for every god, certain religions can encompass several gods. These religions would need a code of conduct, and a place of worship, and a mortal hierarchy. They could mesh with cabals fine. It would just be another agenda for players to have.

How would these differ from cabals? Currently, cabals have everything you describe there, although their belief systems are not described as religious in nature. But they each have several patron deities, codes of conduct, mortal hierarchies, their own place, etc. Your suggestion sounds redundant with this.

valguarnera@carrionfields.com