Editing Cleric Domain (section)

==AD&D==
The foundations of the Cleric Domain were laid in two AD&D mechanics; Spheres and Specialty Priests. Specialty Priests were a form of priestly [[kits]] that were used to represent specialized followers of specific gods. This gave the priest different mechanical edges and disadvantages, depending on what kit was chosen.

''Spheres'' were direct priestly correlations to the wizardly schools of magic; they represented divine portfolios, areas of influence that a god would have dominion over, and so they had magical spells based on that portfolio. Depending on what god you worshipped, your cleric had either Major access to certain spheres (get all spells as you level up), Minor access (only get spells of level 1-3) or no access, meaning you get no spells. The Spheres determine the kind of spells you can cast - Sun spells, Nature spells, War spells, etc. The original sixteen Spheres are:

* '''All''', basic spells that all Clerics get.
* '''Animal''', which has to do with animals.
* '''Astral''', which allows you to use the [[Astral Plane]] for travel and communication.
* '''Charm''', which lets you make friends and influence people.
* '''Combat''', which lets you break faces left and right.
* '''Creation''', which lets you create things ''ex nihilo''.
* '''Divination''', which lets you detect things, communicate with them and see at great distances.
* '''Elemental''', which lets you [[Avatar: The Last Airbender|control the elements]].
* '''Guardian''', which lets you create barriers and zones of protection.
* '''Healing''', which makes you the [[party]]'s [[healslut]].
* '''Necromantic''', which lets you smell the funk of fourty thousand years and raise and destroy the dead.
* '''Plant''', which lets you control nature itself.
* '''Protection''', which exists because sometimes it's better to prevent damage than heal it.
* '''Summoning''', because sometimes you want [[CoDzilla|a spell more powerful than an entire class]].
* '''Sun''', for those times you want to [[Meme|praise the sun]].
* '''Weather''', because everybody wants a sunny day now and then.

The Tome of Magic later introduced eight additional Spheres:

* '''Chaos''', for those who want the power of [[CHAOS]].
* '''Law''', for those who want to control others.
* '''Numbers''', because some gods are HUGE NERDS.
* '''Thought''', for mastery of the self.
* '''Time''', allow you to manipulate how time affects things and people.
* '''Travelers''', which lets you travel distances at a fast pace.
* '''War''', the larger brother of the Combat Sphere.
* '''Wards''', to protect areas and items from harm.

Of the base sixteen Clerics gain Major access to all Spheres except Animal, Elemental and Plant, and Minor access to Elemental. Speciality priests gain access to a limited set of Spheres, to offset the other abilities they get later down the line. Druids meanwhile gain Major access to the Spheres of All, Animal, Elemental, Healing, Plant and Weather.