Campaign: Wussiest Gods Ever

[tbug]

I'm starting a campaign in a couple weeks with the backstory that a party of first-level characters has suddenly become divine. In game terms, they each have Divine Rank 1. This mostly makes them either unbeatable or complete push-overs, depending on the encounters. I'm working on finding a middle ground that will be fun, but it's a challenge.

One thing I need to figure out is where angels come from in the D&D mythology. They're not dead people--those are penitents. I suppose that they might come about the traditional way, with mommy angels and daddy angels, but that's not the vibe I get. Is this explained anywhere? Can gods somehow MAKE angels?

Aside from the stuff in the Divine section of the 3.5 SRD, is there anything else the rules say that gods can do that should be making me worried?

 

[javcs]

Yes, you should be worried. Although possessed of a great deal of power, they'll be very easy to kill, since they're 1st level chars.

If I were in that campaign, my first Divine Salient ability of choice is Alter Reality ... replicate anything upto a 9th level spell can do.

If you're going to be in his campaign, do not read this.

Spoiler

The broken part of Alter Reality is using it to replicate Miracle and asking for whatever you want from your deity (yourself). Miracle is not, as written, limited by the granting deity's power, only whether or not it wants to grant it if it's beyond the normal usage. And, since you're the one requesting the miracle from yourself, presumably you would want to grant said miracle, so you can use Alter Reality to do anything, including epic spells, gaining divine ranks, etc. depending on how strictly you read the interaction between Alter Reality, Miracle, and Deities casting Miracle.

 

[Wolfwood2]

Yes, you should be worried. Although possessed of a great deal of power, they'll be very easy to kill, since they're 1st level chars.

If I were in that campaign, my first Divine Salient ability of choice is Alter Reality ... replicate anything upto a 9th level spell can do.

I doubt any first level character is going to be able to meet the Prerequisite: Charisma 29.

Most of the really cool salient abilties have tough prerequisties.

 

[The Blow Leprechaun]

Hand of Death should kill just about anything they meet... Gift of Life for one of them should keep them going pretty much forever.

 

[tbug]

Hand of Death should kill just about anything they meet... Gift of Life for one of them should keep them going pretty much forever.

I'm a lot more concerned about domain spells than about Hand of Death. HoD is negated by a Fort save DC (20 + cha mod + divine rank), which is going to work out to 22 or 23. A lot of CR 10ish creatures will have a decent chance of making that save, and if there are several of them then HoD is still only capable of taking out one per round.

On the other hand, the rogue with both the Luck and Trickery domains can use Miracle and Time Stop at will, which (at this level) feels a lot stronger to me than Hand of Death.

Gift of Life, on the other hand, means I can make the odd mistake in estimating appropriate challenge levels and not ruin the campaign in the process.

 

[tbug]

Most of the really cool salient abilties have tough prerequisties.

Agreed. I've got some fun story stuff happening, but I also want to let people play with their new toys occasionally.

Any thoughts on where I can find out where D&D angels come from?

 

[The Blow Leprechaun]

Well, angels are a race, so I imagine they involve more along the lines of Daddy Angel + Mommy Angel + Jim Beam than Deity + Clay + Life-giving Powers.

 

[sukael]

I'd recommend using Upper_Krust's Ascension ruleset, rather than the SRD divinity rules. It has a tiered system that gets rid of problems like a lesser deity being able to use Alter Reality all the time just because he has a high charisma.

http://www.immortalshandbook.com/

 

[tbug]

Well, angels are a race, so I imagine they involve more along the lines of Daddy Angel + Mommy Angel + Jim Beam than Deity + Clay + Life-giving Powers.

Okay, I can live with that. Thanks!

 

[tbug]

I'd recommend using Upper_Krust's Ascension ruleset, rather than the SRD divinity rules. It has a tiered system that gets rid of problems like a lesser deity being able to use Alter Reality all the time just because he has a high charisma.

http://www.immortalshandbook.com/

I'll check it out. Thanks!

I don't think it's going to be an issue, though. Charisma 29 is way out of reach for these first-level characters. One of them has Alter Size, which will be interesting but not game-breaking (I hope).