Discipline Priests

[CappnRob]

Discipline is not its own school of magic, it's just a means of utilizing it. As others have said, it's about willpower, determination, and mental focus. You can attribute this to inner strength, but my own priest, Aryeon, is disc IC and attributes his capabilities to unwavering dedication to the Light.

[Grakor456]

Well, I see it completely different from these two. How I see it, Holy and Shadow Priests reach to different powers, like Na'aru/Void Gods, to get their powers, whereas Discipline Priests are the one reaching itno themselves. See, Disc Priests are Monks, and so I'd imagine that they'd spend their lives cultivating mental strength and faith, while Holy spends their life to whatever deity, and Shadow does their own thing.

There is no hard lore on how priests do their thing, but from what we can gather from clues in-game and the lore bits we do have, I'm inclined to believe that all priests draw their power from within, and their faith is just a means of focusing their force of will. It makes sense...for example, if Discipline was the sole talent tree that relied on inner focus and will, why is it that shadow magic has a ton of mind-affecting spells? Also, judging from the fact that Belves still had priests even after the whole Sunwell issue, but before the Naaru getting kidnapped, it would seem that the powers that priests use aren't drawn from an outside source, at least not in the way that paladin powers are.

Priests end up being the "psionicists" of WoW.

[Zarquon]

And in that same note, we can have Human Priests and Paladins that do not care about the Holy Light, drawing power through their faith from within, and worshipping other things as the focus for their faith?

[CappnRob]

Well, I see it completely different from these two. How I see it, Holy and Shadow Priests reach to different powers, like Na'aru/Void Gods, to get their powers, whereas Discipline Priests are the one reaching itno themselves. See, Disc Priests are Monks, and so I'd imagine that they'd spend their lives cultivating mental strength and faith, while Holy spends their life to whatever deity, and Shadow does their own thing.

There is no hard lore on how priests do their thing, but from what we can gather from clues in-game and the lore bits we do have, I'm inclined to believe that all priests draw their power from within, and their faith is just a means of focusing their force of will. It makes sense...for example, if Discipline was the sole talent tree that relied on inner focus and will, why is it that shadow magic has a ton of mind-affecting spells? Also, judging from the fact that Belves still had priests even after the whole Sunwell issue, but before the Naaru getting kidnapped, it would seem that the powers that priests use aren't drawn from an outside source, at least not in the way that paladin powers are.

Priests end up being the "psionicists" of WoW.

Some priests still held faith to the Light after the Sunwell but THAT'S OFF TOPIC.

[Loxmardin]

If they don't act in accordance with their faith, they "lose their power". At least for Paladins. And since many Paladins on Azeroth are connected to the Silver Hand or at least have been at some point in time (not counting the Draenei since they were Paladins way before they arrived, or Blood Elves since they don't have the same rules due to their Sunwell), they have some form of connection to the "Light" as theory and the Church of the Light as an organization. And, through that, connection with their scriptures, rules and principles.

Though, I'm a firm believer in that the Church itself isn't the key to the power that their Priests or Paladins have. They just provide principles that their followers can use for themselves. (Nigh on brainwashing, mind.) So, you just have to be passionate enough in your belief and that you're doing it for a just and "good" cause to project your will upon reality in the form of flashy sparkles.

... That's just me, though. And Grakor, from what I understand.

EDIT: As for the Blood Elves still being priests after the Sunwell... Well, before or after M'uru?

[Zarquon]

Why am I starting to get the idea, especially compounded with the fact that Priests of the Old God are fine, that Priests can pretty much worship anything and gain power?

Like, Priests of Sargares and the Burning Legion,

Like, Priests of the Aspects,

Like, Priests of Heidi the Mechanical Cat! :3

[Loxmardin]

... I'd want to see a really good and well thought-out profile to pass any of those! They were very, very unlikely!

Aside from dragon-worship, as I understand. I think the Night Elves had something like dragon cults. Not sure though. ... Don't quote me on that, since I'm just blurting out from the back of my mind since two sentences back.

[Grakor456]

Why am I starting to get the idea, especially compounded with the fact that Priests of the Old God are fine, that Priests can pretty much worship anything and gain power?

Like, Priests of Sargares and the Burning Legion,

Like, Priests of the Aspects,

Like, Priests of Heidi the Mechanical Cat! :3

The d20 toyed with the ideas of the first two, making them legitimate faiths.

I also made a joke a while back that a priest could worship the mold that grows on stale bread, and so long as the priest legitly believed that said mold held the answers to life etc., then he could get power from that faith. ...make of that what you will, I suppose.

[Zarquon]

This. . .

. . .has been an enlightening thread, to say the least. *Plots* *Schemes*

[LostStranger]

Honestly?

I'd be interested in seeing priests that aren't at all religious, merely brilliant of will and trained to harness that will as magic.

...As a rather abrupt aside, have any of you ever noticed how the symbol for the Church of the Holy Light resembles a lantern?

Spoiler:

[CappnRob]

Pure willpower priest sounds interesting. I've toyed with the idea before myself in the past, but never rolled a character for it.

[c0rzilla]

Honestly?

I'd be interested in seeing priests that aren't at all religious, merely brilliant of will and trained to harness that will as magic.

...As a rather abrupt aside, have any of you ever noticed how the symbol for the Church of the Holy Light resembles a lantern?

Spoiler:

And this exactly what I go for when RPing Annabelle.

"In brightest day, in blackest night,

No evil shall escape my sight.

Let those who worship evil's might

Beware my power--Holy Light's...Light!"

...Doesn't quite work. Can I still make Light objects?

[Binkleheimer]

Honestly?

I'd be interested in seeing priests that aren't at all religious, merely brilliant of will and trained to harness that will as magic.

Red: Think on that for a moment. By default, that character would no longer be a priest as they get their divine power from faith. It's be impossible otherwise.

Blue: We call them wizards.

[c0rzilla]

Faith in themselves and their beliefs, Binkle. A higher power is not needed, temples and churches are not needed. Think of Taoism, or other such Eastern philosophies and you have something close or similar.

[Binkleheimer]

Faith in themselves and their beliefs, Binkle. A higher power is not needed, temples and churches are not needed. Think of Taoism, or other such Eastern philosophies and you have something close or similar.

We're talking Fantasy priests here.
Which means, for them to use their spells, they need a divine power.

The Eastern Philosophies are still considered religions in the end run though. Especially Taoism which has its own set of priests and a set system of beliefs that focus on one's relationship to Nature and maintaining a balance. (It's also not in WoW! None of the Eastern Religions are!)
I've also yet to see believing in one's self giving the power to mend wounds and cast light.

There is a reason why priest spells are classified as Divine and must keep up with the tenets of their faith, or else.