Bundle and Save! Polytheism in TTRPGs

Clerics, paladins, priests, and various TTRPG classes and character types emphasize their religious affiliations. One element that could add depth to a world with multiple gods or belief systems, catering to players seeking to enrich their religious character concepts, is the notion of a character who worships multiple gods—embracing polytheism. This concept can unfold in several ways, and I'll delve into some possibilities below:

1. Certain pantheons possess a hierarchy or relationship that allows simultaneous worship or sequential devotion. This may involve a divine family structure or different facets of the same god. Delve into real polytheistic religions or interpretations for more specific inspiration.
   

2. A group of gods might collaborate due to a shared goal or common enemy, serving as personifications of complementary ideas or entities. For example, gods of the sea, agriculture, and the hunt may be worshiped together, or their believers may share a narrative forming a cohesive "religion of food." You grasp the concept.
   

3. Gods can be likened to royalty, executive officers, or champions. In this scenario, the specific deity holding a title may change, but their domain, such as thunder, the depths, or celestial judgment, remains constant. Consider a cleric drawing power and devotion from a lineage of deities who take turns as the "CEO of Heaven" or the "Heavyweight Champion of all Mankind."

Considering the many pantheons that one can choose from, just straight up steal and use the stories already existing. It’d be so easy with all the media about Greek Mythology out to just literally use their stories and worship multiple gods. Pray to Apollo and Artemis for being bros (gender neutral) with bows (both the hair accessory and weapon). Pray to Sally Jackson as the goddess of single mothers cause she and Percy go hard. Hell, use comic books and pray to the Avengers or a pantheon of Spider-men. Whatever. There could be a god of push, one of pull, and one of legs for a bodybuilding holy man.

The point is, I think incorporating in canon stories, texts, and gospels can help make a bland religious element of just a magic vending machine into a social phenomenon for your players to talk about and play with! Stories mean different interpretations, which means easy points of interaction amongst your players, especially if the religious organizations of your world and tied up in political things. You can make this as simple or complex as you want, but having something you are basing your beliefs on as a religious character gives a way into your more RP and story opportunities for everyone else at the table with you. 

Religious beliefs can serve as incredible sources of inspiration, housing some of humanity's most diverse forms of thought. When crafting a religious character, it's beneficial to draw from actual religious beliefs to flesh out your character's convictions and explore their significance in the world they inhabit. Polytheism is one aspect of religious life I think religious characters would do well in exploring in TTRPGs.