Round Robin Method of Godly Ascension: Would it work?

[a-d]

Could a group whose objective is to find a way for everyone alive to become immortal, have learned that demigod/desses are immortal, and have discovered that it takes only a few hundred people believing you to be a god/dess to achieve this state use a round robin (Revolving turn-based method.) to make each of them an immortal demigod/dess?
Expanding outward afterwards to everyone else on the planet?

My current character's back story has them as part of a group who are trying to discover how to make everyone become immortal.

They already know about the Lich method and actually have at least one Lich who's working with them to improve that method. (I heard that Liches eventually go insane and that as well as making the end result of such a method be aesthetically pleasing (Not corpse-like.) is what they're aiming for.) But they are also looking for other methods.

I'd had my character not care for the god/desses and that they'd research those who'd ascended to godhood from mortal status as a reminder that it's possible this is what all god/desses started as.

Later, I the player heard that if you get 100 people to believe you're a god/dess that you become a demigod/dess type being and are effectively immortal.

While I'm trying to keep my characters and my own knowledge separate, it is possible that their research into the godhood of past ascended god/desses would eventually cause them to realized that it doesn't take too high a number of believers to become one. (If what I heard was true.)

And if that's the case then despite their dislike of god/desses and that the organization main focus is on finding ways to make people immortal without having to change what they are, that they'll inform them about the possibility that if they go round robin through their group they might all be able to become demigod/desses to achieve immortality.

Using a number of magic items to increase they're bluff, diplomacy, and charisma scores along with a speech which goes around the lines of "We've all heard that there are god/desses around today who used to be mortal. But further research has revealed that anyone can become a god/dess. That we all have the necessary spark of the divine required to do so. Or at the very least can acquire it." (Needs better speech.)

I suppose the questions come down to:
1: Does becoming a demigod/dess only require that you have a 100 people who believe you're a god/dess?

2: Can a group go round robin, one at a time to become god/desses?

3: Can a demigod/dess be one of those believers?

4: If this method would work, how likely is it that the other god/desses would try to destroy a group attempting such a thing?

 

[Nebten]

All of this sound like house rules. If you are the character, so you need to discuss these questions with your DM. There are no hard and fast rules for becoming a god, just suggestions on how it could work in game.

As for question #4, you bet. In typical D&D games (varies by DM/setting) other gods don't like the rise of an upstart. That goes double for a god who wishes to represent the same set of ideals they already uphold.

 

[jefgorbach]

even if the @min(100 followers) is accurate for your campaign, I would suspect its 100 MORTAL followers making the proposed round-robin ineffective unless each new deity supplied a replacement mortal for the next round of Ascension.

 

[Celebrim]

Could a group whose objective is to find a way for everyone alive to become immortal, have learned that demigod/desses are immortal, and have discovered that it takes only a few hundred people believing you to be a god/dess to achieve this state use a round robin (Revolving turn-based method.) to make each of them an immortal demigod/dess? Expanding outward afterwards to everyone else on the planet?

To me that sounds like a very very effectual counter argument to the notion that deities are the product of mortal belief. I would say to this question that you've just provided strong evidence that no number of people believing you are immortal can make you so.

Later, I the player heard that if you get 100 people to believe you're a god/dess that you become a demigod/dess type being and are effectively immortal.

Did a prankster diety tell the player that?

1: Does becoming a demigod/dess only require that you have a 100 people who believe you're a god/dess?

Under no version of D&D that I'm aware of is this true. I believe the player in question has read the 1st edition Deities and Demigods handbook where it talks about becoming immortal and one of the requirements is 'a couple of hundred worshippers that are already convinced you are a deity'.

However, that's just one of the requirements. Among the others:

a) Attribute scores equivalent to a diety.
b) At least twice the level of the usual maximum attainment of character level of the campaign world. For example, if 15th level is generally recognized as 'high level', then you'd need to be 30th. Or if 20th level is generally recognized as 'high level', then you'd need to be 40th.
c) Sponcership by an existing diety in whose service you spend a couple of centuries before obtaining the status of a demigod.

From this list, it is not at all clear that merely having a few hundred worshipers is the most necessary and essential feature of obtaining godhood. Collectively, the requirements can be read as, "You are almost a god anyway so its not a particularly great step for you to become a full fledged one.", but the critical notion of sponcership by an existing diety must be addressed as well as the fact that that 'no great step' might well take several centuries.

3: Can a demigod/dess be one of those believers?

It is never to my knowlege addressed, but it appears that at least one deity has to be among 'the believers', that is, believe you are worthy to be a god. Even then, its not clear that even the deity can instantly uplift you by belief or power if you do not already have significant native power.

4: If this method would work, how likely is it that the other god/desses would try to destroy a group attempting such a thing?

If this method would work, being as simple as it is, it would have worked centuries before and everyone would have long since become immortal deities. Since it hasn't happened before, it is sufficient evidence that either it doesn't work or that its 100% certain that existing dieties destroy any group attempting such a thing.

 

[kitcik]

If this method would work, being as simple as it is, it would have worked centuries before and everyone would have long since become immortal deities. Since it hasn't happened before, it is sufficient evidence that either it doesn't work or that its 100% certain that existing dieties destroy any group attempting such a thing.

I can't give you XP, but this says it all.

 

[Tovec]

Original Poster: I'm not positive but I think you meant quasi deities. They are the actual lowest form of deity that I am aware of according to the 3.0 Deities and Demigods.

Quasi deities are generally granted power from stronger gods for heroic deeds and crap. So maybe I was wrong and you truly meant Demigods.

Now, about demigods, according to the 3.0 Deities and Demigods: "A Demigod has anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand DEVOTED human worshipers..."
Emphasis mine on the word devoted.

This would mean, at least logically to me, that they can't go round robin.

Also, I'm not positive as there are so very few hard rules about ascending to godhood (for good reason) but I believe that if they received their power this way and then lost their followers that they would be reduced to a state they wouldn't very much enjoy. A feeling I would like to think is akin to running on low batteries, indefinitely.

A good DM would say the worshipers can't be mere followers and have to be utterly devoted to the cause and belief that you are a god and the greatest (or worst) thing in the world.
That same DM may then state that if you are able to gain truly divinity this way and then they all STOP feeling this way and feel that way about another that you would Crash and become nothing. A shell of what you were.

I have had a few gods rise in my various games and read of a few from mythology (that weren't born godlings) and it seems that almost universally the "mortal" which became a god would have to die to achieve it. Just saying.