Opinion: Clerical Magic

I’ve long looked at Clerics as the “red-haired step-child” of D&D classes.  The number of times I’ve actually played a Cleric can be counted on one hand after a horrible accident with a band saw.  I think this comes down to two fundamental idiosyncrasies with the class.  Namely:

• Clerics cannot use piercing or slashing weapons.
• Cleric spellcasting is too derivative of the Magic-user’s spellcasting.

The prohibition against piercing or slashing weapons is understandable; while I think that Clerics should only be able to use weapons typical of their deity or faith, freely allowing them use of any and all weapons would largely obsolete the Fighting-man.

I guess that my issue with Clerical magic is that Clerics shouldn’t really be using magic a la Magic-users.  Granted they have a different selection of spells, but other than that there are no real differences between Clerical magic and Magic-user magic.  And that ain’t right; Clerics should not be doing “magic”, they should not be “casting spells”.  Clerics should be invoking and channeling the power of their deity, faith, and beliefs.

According to Clerical magic as written, every morning Clerics must pray or meditate to their diety or faith to get their spells.  Not only is this mechanically no different than Magic-users re-memorizing forgotten spells, it’s also – in my opinion - completely nonsensical.

"Dear Geoff the god of biscuits; it is I, your humble servant Eddie, humbly requesting that you allow your servant to heal light wounds once this day and to protect your followers from evil once this day.  As well.  Because I’m a Cleric and that’s what I do.  Yeah?"

Yes, Eddie is a 3rd level Cleric, heh.

It seems to me that Clerical miracles should be dynamic, based on invoking the power of your diety through your faith on a more… “as needed” basis.  I’m considering doing away with the whole “pray for spells” idiom, allowing a Cleric’s player to choose what miracle the Cleric invokes as it is being invoked.  So, for instance, Eddie the 3rd level Cleric could invoke 2 1st level miracles each day, chosen by the player as the miracle is invoked based on what’s going on in the game.  If the Cleric has been true to his faith, the miracle will be delivered as per the rules as written.  Something like...

DM: *rolls damage* Oooh, Bill the Fighting-man took an arrow to his chest.  He falls to the ground and is gurgling blood.  

Eddie’s player: Eddie can still invoke 1 more 1st level miracle today!  I run over to Bill and invoke a… *checks spell list* Cure Light Wounds!  “In the name of Geoff, the god of biscuits, BE HEALED!” 

DM: Ok, let’s see… *rolls dice for the CLW*… Geoff, the god of biscuits, hears your plea and the arrow pops out of Bill’s chest!  The wound is still open, but it looks more like a small scratch than a puncture.  He climbs back to his feet, ready to fight once again.