if i understand this correctly druid get there spells from *Nature* not the gods. that is what clerics are for ((chauntea malar etc...clerics can be)) druids can follow a gods dogma just fine but he wouldn't get the spells from them right? so if ya don't mind please make that change

I'm not understanding the question here, but perhaps this may help to clarify some confusion for you.

Clerics are devoted to a gods dogma and ideals.

Druids are devoted to nature, though are blessed with spells from a nature diety to help promote the balance and further the goals of nature.

These are two entirely different viewpoints. A cleric of Cheauntea and a druid of the same may have differing views on what is necessary and "right".

and to further clarify, in the Forgotten Realms setting divine magic -must- come from a particular deity. Which means druidic magic -does- come from the Gods and not from nature itself, in much the same way that Clerics in the Forgotten Realms can't just be devoted to a dogmatic ideal but must serve a patron deity.

I'm sure also that I read somewhere that even in the realms you can be a polytheistic , believing in a number of gods and getting powers from them (certain ones from certain gods for example).

A druid would come to mind especially here, they may acknowledge silvanus when they look at a deep forest oak grove, turn around and acknowledge mielikki when they observe some animals, acknowledge malar when they see a wolf hunt and kill a small animal. Then turn to a quiet pool and acknowledge eldath at work.

I could be wrong here or have associated this information with a different setting, please correct me if I'm leading people astray. :)

ummm...

There are gods/goddesses that druids live in service to, no god, no druid-magic love.

but i see what your saying and i have one thing to say: half elven druid/fighter from BG 1&2, follows silvanus :P

Clerics are devoted to a gods dogma and ideals.

Druids are devoted to nature, though are blessed with spells from a nature diety to help promote the balance and further the goals of nature.

The Beggar nailed it.

Still, can someone pls check a sorcebook?

Page 23 Forgotten Realms rulebook states that Like Clerics, Druids of Fareaún receive there spells from a Patron Diety. So no Diety no spells.

I'm not disputing it's the deities who are supplying the magic but does it have to be one though? Cant you as a druid call on various deities to perform your "tricks" as long as they were all nature deities.

You have a patron deity that solely provides said spells.

To add to that, yes, by far the majority of all religious characters on Toril, divine casters or not, are polytheistic. However, it is only the patron deity that grants spells, as 9lives pointed out.

You might be confusing Greyhawk (the standard PHB campaign) with Forgotten Realms (the EfU campaign).

In Greyhawk and the PHB, druids and clerics don't necessarily need a specific patron, they can be committed to and draw their power from a metaphysical ideal (good, nature, balance, etc).

In FRCS, they need a specific patron.

In the forgotten Realms setting there are only two ways to cast spells. Arcane (via manipulation of the weave), and Divine (all power comes through a diety.

Clerics recieve all power directly from the diety for adherance to the dogma and ideals that the diety espouses. In effect, you are a "servant" to that diety and must comply with the wishes, whims, and requests of the diety.

Druids do get spells from a diety, though are "servants" of nature. Druids do not serve a diety, though the patron diety they choose that grants them nature spells certainly may flavor the way they view the balance and the world. This is why two druids with normally diametrically opposed patron dieties may get together and work together to further teh goals of nature, and will still get all the spells they need to do so. Nature and balance are the core dogma here with druids, and the dogma of the patron nature diety provides some "flavor".

Atleast this is how I see it and how I play it.

Beggar has it pretty much exactly. This thread can be considered concluded!