GOD RULES: Player's Guide (5e) Previews/Discussion

Upper_Krust · 2026-03-13T15:49:24+0000

Monochrome Immortal Character Sheet

therealselah · 2026-03-13T22:53:05+0000

G'day U_K!

Overall, the character sheets look great.

Some thoughts - note that where I mention things of interest, I don't expect you to explain these things necessarily!

One, not both. Even if not for space reasons, it makes more sense to have one one version in the book. I don't have a preference either way particularly, although I suppose that if you put in the colour version that people can always choose to print it in monochrome.
Sizing. It's obvious that you've gone for a non-standard sizing for the character sheet, and we lack the context for why you've structured it to be folded the way you have. Perhaps this is partially thematic - each sheet comes to resemble a triptych this way. But I do wonder about how it would play out practically and whether there is any benefit to the structure. (I've now gone and read your update on the kickstarter - triptych it is!)
Quintessence formula. You revealed previously that Vril Energy is weaponized quintessence, or will-fire. I can understand the tie in to calculation for worship points and experience points, but including wealth was unexpected. I look forward to the explanation. The way you have structured it makes it seem like quintessence is a limited resource - burning quintessence may actually require you to reduce your divine status (worship points?), something of your nature (not sure whether burning XP actually can lead to a reduction of character level or not though), and ... wealth. Having burned these things, your quintessence is permanently reduced? Or perhaps the formula gives the calculation of max quintessence, which can be spent and recovers over time. If the mechanic has max and current quintessence, you may want to tweak the structure. (I hate suggesting things that delay completion...)
Purviews and spacing to record them. I went back through my notes, and I'm not aware of you revealing anything about how many purviews a character has access to - and, most importantly for the character sheet, what is the greatest number of purviews a character might have. Looking at Thor, he has two purviews, as does Frieza and Nezha. Circe has only one, but is only DR 1, only partially divine per your comments. If the max is only two purviews, then spacing is probably fine. Just concerned if you ever have to record three or even four purviews.
Proficiency bonus as an expendable resource - or so it seems given your note on legendary resistance. This is interesting but also adds to the bookkeeping, given that proficiency bonus affects skills (and thus passive skills), saves, attacks/spell attacks, and can affect other things (e.g. per day uses of certain abilities). If this works as it seems, legendary resistance is a consequential expense. Thematically that makes sense. We'll see what it's like tracking in combat.
Feats/Epic Boons box - I was initially concerned that this may not easily fit all the feats that a character picks up. However, looking at the fighter and assuming all ability score increases are taken as feats, it works.

Upper_Krust · 2026-03-14T09:14:12+0000

therealselah said:
G'day U_K!

Hey there Selah amigo!

therealselah said:
Overall, the character sheets look great.

Thanks...I actually did another character sheet 18 months ago; but it wasn't great.

therealselah said:
Some thoughts - note that where I mention things of interest, I don't expect you to explain these things necessarily!

That's the job!

therealselah said:
1. One, not both. Even if not for space reasons, it makes more sense to have one one version in the book. I don't have a preference either way particularly, although I suppose that if you put in the colour version that people can always choose to print it in monochrome.

Agreed. That makes sense. Just trying to keep the book to 400 pages and even 2-4 pages makes a difference - the count is that tight.

therealselah said:
Sizing. It's obvious that you've gone for a non-standard sizing for the character sheet, and we lack the context for why you've structured it to be folded the way you have. Perhaps this is partially thematic - each sheet comes to resemble a triptych this way. But I do wonder about how it would play out practically and whether there is any benefit to the structure. (I've now gone and read your update on the kickstarter - triptych it is!)

Its a landscape character sheet rather than portrait format.

The Triptych design, on top of being thematic, is because there was too much information for one side - but not enough for two sides. So the folding flaps kind of keep all the information to one side.

therealselah said:
Quintessence formula. You revealed previously that Vril Energy is weaponized quintessence, or will-fire.

Yes, although it doesn't expend your own Quintessence.

One of the Ultra-energy types (can't remember which off the top of my head) does siphon Quintessence from the target on a 1:1 basis with its damage.

therealselah said:
I can understand the tie in to calculation for worship points and experience points, but including wealth was unexpected. I look forward to the explanation.

A few reasons.

Firstly I think Wealth (10% of it) should grant a form of XP (at all levels) - makes delving for treasure more important.
Secondly, as with Worshippers/Worship Points, this is another resource the Games Master can target to weaken/threaten the immortal.
Thirdly immortals have the option to Vault their wealth or carry it with them (so another risk-reward setup). Note that if an immortal's physical form is slain ALL non-attuned items in your possession are dropped with the body. So if they are in a tough encounter and get killed they can automatically flee in Mythic Form back to their Divine Realm and be safe BUT lose all non-attuned items or stay and fight in Mythic Form - risking permanent (Astral) death.

Note that many deities have their Realms and Lairs set up to block Teleport and Plane Shift. But the transformation to Mythic Form bypasses that. So you cannot just stay in Mythic Form for one turn and plane shift away with all your wealth.

If instead you Vault your wealth then thieves can always attempt to steal it. This sets up interesting adventures where you can Weaken a deity without having to fight them head on.

So for instance (my version of) Orcus is likely too powerful for Epic Tier characters or even Divine Rank 1 Hero-deities to physically take on. But perhaps they might do a raid on one of his Treasure Vaults instead; gaining 1-2 million gold in the process, lowering Orcus quintessence slightly.

therealselah said:
The way you have structured it makes it seem like quintessence is a limited resource - burning quintessence may actually require you to reduce your divine status (worship points?), something of your nature (not sure whether burning XP actually can lead to a reduction of character level or not though), and ... wealth. Having burned these things, your quintessence is permanently reduced? Or perhaps the formula gives the calculation of max quintessence, which can be spent and recovers over time. If the mechanic has max and current quintessence, you may want to tweak the structure. (I hate suggesting things that delay completion...)

In most cases 'burning' Quintessence (for Acts of Creation: Servants, Artifacts etc.) is burning XP.

Worship Points let you burn 10% of their total every month (for free Acts of Creation) without reducing the amount.

But XP, WP & GP (Gold) each have their own strengths and drawbacks - no need to explain those now.

therealselah said:
Purviews and spacing to record them. I went back through my notes, and I'm not aware of you revealing anything about how many purviews a character has access to - and, most importantly for the character sheet, what is the greatest number of purviews a character might have. Looking at Thor, he has two purviews, as does Frieza and Nezha. Circe has only one, but is only DR 1, only partially divine per your comments. If the max is only two purviews, then spacing is probably fine. Just concerned if you ever have to record three or even four purviews.

You gain potential new Purviews (you do not need to take them) at ranks: 1, 2, 4, 8 & 16 - which is also when you gain Divine Boons.

The character sheet should be okay for 2-3 Purviews.

I'm assuming most play will be Ranks 0-6 ish. If you need more space you would either have to use the space marked for the portrait on the back or print a second sheet.

therealselah said:
Proficiency bonus as an expendable resource - or so it seems given your note on legendary resistance. This is interesting but also adds to the bookkeeping, given that proficiency bonus affects skills (and thus passive skills), saves, attacks/spell attacks, and can affect other things (e.g. per day uses of certain abilities). If this works as it seems, legendary resistance is a consequential expense. Thematically that makes sense. We'll see what it's like tracking in combat.

Its a temporary thing. Rather than revise each skill, just apply a modifier based on lost Proficiency.- maybe I should have the distinction of:

Max. Proficiency Bonus & Legendary Resistance vs. Current Prof. Bonus & Leg. Resist. Another factor called Negative events can temporarily reduce Proficiency Bonus (An Avatar gets killed, Major Artifact stolen, etc.)

I think tying Proficiency Bonus to Legendary Resistance gives the necessary consequence for using it.

therealselah said:
Feats/Epic Boons box - I was initially concerned that this may not easily fit all the feats that a character picks up. However, looking at the fighter and assuming all ability score increases are taken as feats, it works.

I have made a revision to Epic Boons so the XP cost doubles each time (and does not count towards your Divinity) - effectively you 'expend' XP to take Epic Boons.

So I am not expecting characters to have more than 5 Feats/Epic Boons total - I mean they can, but a 4th Epic Boon basically costs a similar amount of XP as becoming a Hero-deity and is much weaker, so its not beneficial to go that route.

This is largely about keeping the book-keeping to a minimum. Plus one or two of the Epic Boons are unbalanced in my opinion - which is fine if that's your capstone power, but once you can ascend, I can see a few potential issues. So making the cost double each time keeps the numbers small but avoids any necessary nerfing.