Talk:Prayer/@comment-173.24.217.127-20120812024809/@comment-24180511-20120812071658

To quote the article:

"This is largely because there isn't an agreeable way to translate them into roleplaying combat that isn't, on the whole, overpowered. That is to say, if a character were to call upon the power of a god to stop an enemy from hurting him, it would be an absolute, unpenetrable offense and not fair to the other player."

In other words, asking a god nicely to protect you and them going "yeah sure, you're now immune to damage at your own discression" is unfair. Either the idea of them is ruined(they're too weak, it is a god's power after all) or you're overpowered(you roleplay them at the strength indicated in-game).