Divine Ascension & the ELH

[Buddha the DM]

Ok. Does any on have any suggestions for Divine Ascension requirements using only the following books:

Player’s Handbook
Dungeon Master’s Guide
Monster Manual
Deities & Demigods
Epic Level Handbook


I personally think that the Epic Feat of Epic Leadership should be among the requirements.

 

[ichabod]

My Way

Ascension is rather important to the world I am designing, so I came up with the following system for doing it. Note that some of the things I put in here, I put in because of the way the backstory in my world works. Specifically, the tasks that have to be complete before achieving a new divine "status."

My system is also slightly different than the main book, but that's mainly because WotC has published some conflicting stuff on the details of being a god.

To become a god, you have to bathe in the First River (which is really hard to do, but I won't get into details). That makes you a demigod, gives you divine rank 1, and one outsider hit die. You also get +10 to all stats, and 12 ability raises of your choice. I have every divine rank give one outsider hit die, one ability boost, and +1 natural armor.

At this point any worshippers you have start to give you divine experience points. Divine experience points let you raise your divine rank in the same way experience points let your raise your level. I haven't done details on how worshipper days translate into experience, because I don't need that for a while.

Each time your divine "status" (demigod, lesser god, intermediate god, greater god) would go up, you have to complete a certain task to actually advance in rank. To become a lesser god, you have to meditate/spar/hide/whatever in a particular hard to find place on the Ethereal plane. Becoming an intermediate god requires getting five other gods to assist you in a ritual rebirth. Becoming a greater god requires getting another god (at least intermediate) to give you a divine rank.

Becoming a demigod give you 5 ability raises and +3 natural armor. Becoming a lesser god gives you 10 ability raises and +5 natural armor. Becoming a greater god gives you +5 natural armor and 15 ability raises.

Part of the reason I did it this way was to increase the disparity between gods of different rank. I also have no requirements besides certain actions because I like the idea of a really weak god (like the god of beggars WotC did up).

In addition to the above, I am putting a cap on levels. I'm leaning towards 40 right now. I think if you let the epic levels go to far, it becomes meaningless to become a god.

 

[Blacksad]

You wants to make godhood something that can obtained through personal achievement?

First, be advised that I've just used my thrall ability on you so that you'll buy the Immortal Handbook.

Second, take your character, and when he would have the Xp to rise his level, give him the bonus listed on page 26 of Deities&Demigods, following this advancement:

Level 1 armor class
Level 2 +2 to all stats
Level 3 speed increase
Level 4 +2 to all stats
Level 5 Immunities
Level 6 +2 to all stats
Level 7 Damage Reduction
Level 8 Max hit points and everything missing for a DR 0 deity

When your character will have achieved the 8 levels, consider him like a character of a +8 ECL race.

Also, unless you really think that a level 30 character can kill 20 level 20 characters with ease, use the Uper_Krust Immortal Handbook preview of the Immortal Handbook in Asgard6. It's a patch for the Xp system.

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hi Buddha mate!

Ok. Does any on have any suggestions for Divine Ascension requirements using only the following books:

Player’s Handbook
Dungeon Master’s Guide
Monster Manual
Deities & Demigods
Epic Level Handbook

I personally think that the Epic Feat of Epic Leadership should be among the requirements.

There is a thread on the WotC boards started by Rich Redman (co-author of D&Dg) you might find useful (?):

http://boards.wizards.com/rpg/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=222;t=000115

 

[Upper_Krust]

Re: My Way

Hi Ichabod!

Ascension is rather important to the world I am designing, so I came up with the following system for doing it. Note that some of the things I put in here, I put in because of the way the backstory in my world works. Specifically, the tasks that have to be complete before achieving a new divine "status."

My system is also slightly different than the main book, but that's mainly because WotC has published some conflicting stuff on the details of being a god.

To become a god, you have to bathe in the First River (which is really hard to do, but I won't get into details). That makes you a demigod, gives you divine rank 1, and one outsider hit die. You also get +10 to all stats, and 12 ability raises of your choice. I have every divine rank give one outsider hit die, one ability boost, and +1 natural armor.

At this point any worshippers you have start to give you divine experience points. Divine experience points let you raise your divine rank in the same way experience points let your raise your level. I haven't done details on how worshipper days translate into experience, because I don't need that for a while.

Each time your divine "status" (demigod, lesser god, intermediate god, greater god) would go up, you have to complete a certain task to actually advance in rank. To become a lesser god, you have to meditate/spar/hide/whatever in a particular hard to find place on the Ethereal plane. Becoming an intermediate god requires getting five other gods to assist you in a ritual rebirth. Becoming a greater god requires getting another god (at least intermediate) to give you a divine rank.

Becoming a demigod give you 5 ability raises and +3 natural armor. Becoming a lesser god gives you 10 ability raises and +5 natural armor. Becoming a greater god gives you +5 natural armor and 15 ability raises.

Part of the reason I did it this way was to increase the disparity between gods of different rank. I also have no requirements besides certain actions because I like the idea of a really weak god (like the god of beggars WotC did up).

I enjoyed reading your ideas although as you mentioned its more campaign specific than generic! Good luck with that!

In addition to the above, I am putting a cap on levels. I'm leaning towards 40 right now. I think if you let the epic levels go to far, it becomes meaningless to become a god.

This isn't an idea I would advocate. Though all power is relative, there is more to being a god than simply a boost in power!

 

[Buddha the DM]

Re: Re: Divine Ascension & the ELH

Hi Buddha mate!

There is a thread on the WotC boards started by Rich Redman (co-author of D&Dg) you might find useful (?):

http://boards.wizards.com/rpg/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=222;t=000115

I'll look at it.

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hello Blacksad mate!

You wants to make godhood something that can obtained through personal achievement?

First, be advised that I've just used my thrall ability on you so that you'll buy the Immortal Handbook.

I appreciate the love guys!

Second, take your character, and when he would have the Xp to rise his level, give him the bonus listed on page 26 of Deities&Demigods, following this advancement:

Level 1 armor class
Level 2 +2 to all stats
Level 3 speed increase
Level 4 +2 to all stats
Level 5 Immunities
Level 6 +2 to all stats
Level 7 Damage Reduction
Level 8 Max hit points and everything missing for a DR 0 deity

When your character will have achieved the 8 levels, consider him like a character of a +8 ECL race.

...and make sure the above abilities are comparable to a Solar - upon which the Hero-deity 'template' is based.

Also, unless you really think that a level 30 character can kill 20 level 20 characters with ease, use the Upper_Krust Immortal Handbook preview of the Immortal Handbook in Asgard6. It's a patch for the Xp system.

Cheers mate!

So far only positive response for the article. Glad people are finding it useful!

 

[Buddha the DM]

UK: We're all looking forward to your book.

 

[Buddha the DM]

*ba-da-bump*