Avatar Questions...

[FleshEatingBlackFlutterby]

1. Can avatars go rogue?
2. Is there an upper limit to how many you can create and/or have active at once?
As it stands, in 3.5, you can create and have as many as you can afford to pay for. That seems like a balancing factor, but what about strategist gods that might stockpile avatars for a future conflict?
3. What kind of control do you have over your avatar?
I currently rule that control to be as absolute as it would be if your avatar were merely an extension of your own self, like your hand or foot, but could you essentially develop alien "hand" syndrome if a part of yourself doesn't get along with another part of yourself (like in Demogorgon's case)?
4. What happens if your avatar gets booted out of your current universe by a Nexus Dragon or similar? Does it become an independant deity, is it still under your control, or is it destroyed?
In my games, I ruled that it is effectively severed and becomes it's own self, free of your control. Kinda like when a worm gets divided and grows into 2 separate worms.
5. What kind of backlash is there on you if your avatar is severed or destroyed?
6. What happens if your avatar becomes more powerful than you? ...or is that simply not possible?

 

[dave2008]

In my game, avatars are independent manifestations of a god's will. The are their own semi-independent "living" creations. They act on their own; however, the god can sense what it sense and know its thoughts. Also, the god can take complete control of the avatar if it wishes. A god can have as many avatars as it can spend time and power to create. Losing an avatar does not affect the god, expect possible loses in prestige, worship, etc. Avatars are mortal and have only a small fraction of a gods true power.

Gods can also divide themselves into Aspects. Aspects are different bodies, but share the same mind and spirit/soul. Aspects are the god in multiple physical forms simultaneously. The god can only create a limited number of aspects and each it must divide its power amongst the various aspects. However, they are much more powerful than avatars.

 

[FleshEatingBlackFlutterby]

In my game, avatars are independent manifestations of a god's will. The are their own semi-independent "living" creations. They act on their own; however, the god can sense what it sense and know its thoughts. Also, the god can take complete control of the avatar if it wishes. A god can have as many avatars as it can spend time and power to create. Losing an avatar does not affect the god, expect possible loses in prestige, worship, etc. Avatars are mortal and have only a small fraction of a gods true power.

Gods can also divide themselves into Aspects. Aspects are different bodies, but share the same mind and spirit/soul. Aspects are the god in multiple physical forms simultaneously. The god can only create a limited number of aspects and each it must divide its power amongst the various aspects. However, they are much more powerful than avatars.

I created an ability some time ago that lets deities have multiple bodies. It functions kinda like multidimensional, but hp, spells, power points, and other expendable resources are shared. ...so its more on par with Time Dilation, which is cosmic. I called it "Abormality [Extra Body]".

 

[dave2008]

I created an ability some time ago that lets deities have multiple bodies. It functions kinda like multidimensional, but hp, spells, power points, and other expendable resources are shared. ...so its more on par with Time Dilation, which is cosmic. I called it "Abormality [Extra Body]".

That sounds pretty similar to how Aspects work in my game.

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hey FEBF amigo!

1. Can avatars go rogue?

Not of their own accord. However, its possible they could be corrupted by some outside Elder Evil, Ancient Curse or similar.

Its also possible if the deity itself was killed and then brought back after a while (see the new book for more details on that) that the connection between the deity and avatar could be weakened sufficiently to the point where it might have some degree of autonomy.

2. Is there an upper limit to how many you can create and/or have active at once?

No, its just based on expending quintessence, that said...

As it stands, in 3.5, you can create and have as many as you can afford to pay for. That seems like a balancing factor, but what about strategist gods that might stockpile avatars for a future conflict?

...the way the Quintessence is structured in 3.5E this is a viable tactic. I have changed things in 5E so this tactic won't work.

Quintessence is no longer x10 per rank but x10 every 4 ranks in 5E.

3. What kind of control do you have over your avatar?

Its basically an extension of you.

I currently rule that control to be as absolute as it would be if your avatar were merely an extension of your own self, like your hand or foot, but could you essentially develop alien "hand" syndrome if a part of yourself doesn't get along with another part of yourself (like in Demogorgon's case)?

Long term exposure to Chaotic Environments like the Abyss might well warp things.

4. What happens if your avatar gets booted out of your current universe by a Nexus Dragon or similar? Does it become an independant deity, is it still under your control, or is it destroyed?

If it has no method of return it may as well become its own NPC.

In my games, I ruled that it is effectively severed and becomes it's own self, free of your control. Kinda like when a worm gets divided and grows into 2 separate worms.

Sounds fair.

5. What kind of backlash is there on you if your avatar is severed or destroyed?

Its considered a Negative Event. In the new 5E rules the simplest implementation of Negative Events is a temporary Proficiency Bonus penalty for a month but have 4 of these running concurrent and you lose a Divine Rank.

6. What happens if your avatar becomes more powerful than you? ...or is that simply not possible?

Any XP gained by the Avatar would likely go to the deity unless their link was broken - as we discussed above.

 

[Beefermatic]

Yeah I always make Avatars a totally separate entity. Aspects I make more like just shreds of the original, capable of becoming a more complete person in their own right unless that aspect is a preexisting person who's been granted a divine spark to work as the parent God's proxy.

They're all imbued with intelligence, their own stat blocks etc, so a thinking being should thusly have a will of their own, even if it's tethered to the parent God.

Avatars though are more like true people. They may have their own childhoods, backgrounds, motivations, dreams goals etc. They also may or may not even be aware of their connection to the parent deity in question.

I base this logic off of Hinduism where various divinities are aspects of other divinities with their own dreams goals purpose etc seemingly entirely separate from their greater self.

 

[Upper_Krust]

There is an element of simplification to it all. Using the Hindu model all the Avatars could be unique creatures, indeed creating the Avatar is creating an immortal being two ranks below the deity themselves. The Avatars do not need to be copies of the god - although that does hasten the creation process (for Player's & GMs )