But of course! I posted a small example of what you can do with Holy Symbols, there are many many ways you can turn something as simple as a pendant around the neck of a cleric into something grand or depraved. I never see anybody do anything with their holy symbols as anything but a mere focus for power.
A primitive tribe worshipping a woodland deity may not have access to precious metals, but could instead use blessed ink (with a spell similiar to bless water) to create tattoo's in the flesh of their priests, the more potent the priest becomes, the more detailed the tattoo's get until the priest is one living holy symbol.
Simple little things like this can become great roleplay hooks and focal points for adventures. After all, a cleric in DnD is VERY limited on what spells he/she can cast without their divine focus.
A primitive tribe worshipping a woodland deity may not have access to precious metals, but could instead use blessed ink (with a spell similiar to bless water) to create tattoo's in the flesh of their priests, the more potent the priest becomes, the more detailed the tattoo's get until the priest is one living holy symbol.
Simple little things like this can become great roleplay hooks and focal points for adventures. After all, a cleric in DnD is VERY limited on what spells he/she can cast without their divine focus.