GOD RULES: Player's Guide (5e) Kickstarter Pre-Launch Page

[Upper_Krust]

I really don't want to seem like I'm doing this to be a contrarian and I know that it might be a bit of a hair-splitting request but on an individual basis, is there any chance of a copy that will have the original vision? It seems like 2) is pretty close but I'd be looking for something that isn't affected by the stretch goal alterations (should they be reached)

As someone who discovered the original books relatively young, the most important part of your projects to me is the intent. I sympathize with how charged the AI issue is, my ultimate desire is to see the book YOU wanted to create with no external conditions because that's what drew me in the first place

Seeing how much the books got bashed in their day for being nonsensical or excessive, the kind of soul put into them became my association with how you operate. I WILL give my financial support towards whatever form the book takes. That's a given.

Thank you for the support my friend. My intent (with the Stretch Goals) is to replace the AI art starting with those illustrations I have put the least amount of time into re-painting. On top of that there are a few illustrations I have spent 20+ hours on and while they are decent - I just didn't get them as good as I'd hoped (There's a Wrath of the Immortals homage Chapter Divider in the book and I must have spent at least 25 hours on this piece and its okay, but I know one of my artists would do a great job on it - because he is amazing with colour). If I hit any Stretch Goals that piece is probably the first I'd get commissioned - I'll sjow both side by side after the Kickstarter is finished.

So circling back, expect only improvements to the book with these Stretch Goals...and thanks again for the support.

 

[Upper_Krust]

Huh?

If UK is able to produce a version that replaces all AI art with human art . . . you'd rather the AI art version instead? With the gaming content being the same?

I will certainly do that if sufficient Stretch Goals are met. But I'm not expecting to make enough to get all of it replaced. Would be nice to hit a bunch of those Stretch Goals though.

 

[Upper_Krust]

No offense intended by speaking about him as if he's not going to see this.

I don't claim to know U_K more than as a simple fan but I've followed this project for a while, as we all have. I'd rather he get the book out in this final stretch, AI or not, than have the timeline further delayed and his budget strained by the push to scrounge up the war chest to get things done legitimately.

Doubling down on this especially since there's a companion piece in the works, and that'll be subject to similar costs no doubt.

Yes, that's the whole point of crowdfunding and it's probably not going to be that hard to get it (assuming everyone pays their way) but that's not always a guarantee and as far as I'm concerned, he's in good standing that this isn't about doing a slop job or being lazy. He's been working on it for a while and time is money. A majority-commissioned project doesn't diminish in value just because some of the parts are sourced differently towards the end.

Again, not speaking for the man but if it doesn't clear in this coming push, it's probably not for another year+

I don't know if we are going to hit any Stretch Goals.
If we do hit any I'll make sure and replace the art I am least happy with - So it will be a win-win.

As to potential delays (end of Kickstarter and getting new art commissioned) let me tell you a weird story...

...About 18 months ago I quit my job to work on these books full time...as fate would have it about 3 days before I was about to finish work my good friend S'mon introduced me to a lovely girl, we hit it off, started dating (which at that time required back and forth flights from both of us: she in London, me in Belfast), eventually she moved in with me and we've been happily living together ever since. But I'm not going to lie, her introduction into my life has slowed progress on these books at least 50%..its basically as if I'd still stayed in my job. Without her this Kickstarter would have been last year, guaranteed...

...However, those extra few months of working and thinking about this project have led to some of the most amazing advancements and innovations in this book - off the top of my head the new Dimensional Forging rules and new Stat-Block innovations were all things that happened in 2025. The book of today is immeasurably better than the book of 3 months ago, let alone the book of a year ago!

Lets say we hit a few of these Stretch Goals and the book gets delayed, 1, 2 or even 3 months. The secondary consequence of that (the Primary one being I might potentially make a profit) is the book is only going to get better (both in terms of art and design and editing).

So don't worry about another few weeks or months of delays (if they happen)...God Rules in mysterious ways.

 

[dave2008]

No offense intended by speaking about him as if he's not going to see this.

I don't claim to know U_K more than as a simple fan but I've followed this project for a while, as we all have. I'd rather he get the book out in this final stretch, AI or not, than have the timeline further delayed and his budget strained by the push to scrounge up the war chest to get things done legitimately.

Doubling down on this especially since there's a companion piece in the works, and that'll be subject to similar costs no doubt.

Yes, that's the whole point of crowdfunding and it's probably not going to be that hard to get it (assuming everyone pays their way) but that's not always a guarantee and as far as I'm concerned, he's in good standing that this isn't about doing a slop job or being lazy. He's been working on it for a while and time is money. A majority-commissioned project doesn't diminish in value just because some of the parts are sourced differently towards the end.

Again, not speaking for the man but if it doesn't clear in this coming push, it's probably not for another year+

That is fine. However, that is a completely different justification than the one you gave in your previous post. I was simply responding to the previous justification, which I believed was based on a false premise.

 

[ArcanistDragonborn]

Hey U_K! I was wondering, what Divine Rank would a fairly-well optimized party have to be in order to face off against a/the Apocalypse Camel and it's passengers?

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hey U_K!

Hey there Arcanist amigo!

I was wondering, what Divine Rank would a fairly-well optimized party have to be in order to face off against a/the Apocalypse Camel and it's passengers?

Well the Camel is Challenge Rating 40 (my CR 40 that is), so in a straight fight its a Hard Encounter for 6 Lesser Deities...although I'd say 4 for a really well optimized party. There are a bunch of monsters in its vicinity: Giga Fleas, etc. But most would be considered distractions for Lesser Deities.

Inside the Camel things get a bit trickier, but it's still probably easier than taking on the Camel itself. I think if a party of Hero/Quasi-deities can sneak in they might be able to take out one of the Archdevils steering the Camel and maybe Plane Shift it somewhere random.

A party of Quasi/Demideities might be able to kill it from within if they can fight past the cell-spawn and other things guarding its body, mind and soul.

So different rank immortals can interact with it on different levels.

 

[dave2008]

Hey there Arcanist amigo!



Well the Camel is Challenge Rating 40 (my CR 40 that is), so in a straight fight its a Hard Encounter for 6 Lesser Deities...

Is that divine rank 3 or 4?

 

[Upper_Krust]

Is that divine rank 3 or 4?

Epic Tier
Divine Rank 0 = Epic Tier Character
Divine Rank 1 = Hero-deity*
Divine Rank 2 = Quasi-deity*
*Divine Ranks 1 & 2 are considered Godlings, not full immortals

Immortal Tier
Divine Rank 3 = Demi-deity
Divine Rank 4 = Lesser deity
Divine Rank 5 = Intermediate deity
Divine Rank 6 = Greater deity

Empyreal Tier (basically Great Old Ones)
Divine Rank 7 = Elder One
Divine Rank 8 = Old One
Divine Rank 9 = Ancient One
Divine Rank 10 = First One

etc.

 

[dave2008]

Epic Tier
Divine Rank 0 = Epic Tier Character
Divine Rank 1 = Hero-deity*
Divine Rank 2 = Quasi-deity*
*Divine Ranks 1 & 2 are considered Godlings, not full immortals

Immortal Tier
Divine Rank 3 = Demi-deity
Divine Rank 4 = Lesser deity
Divine Rank 5 = Intermediate deity
Divine Rank 6 = Greater deity

Empyreal Tier (basically Great Old Ones)
Divine Rank 7 = Elder One
Divine Rank 8 = Old One
Divine Rank 9 = Ancient One
Divine Rank 10 = First One

etc.

Ok, so I was close! I couldn't remember if you had intermediate deities or not.

Mine is similar. I also have 10, but it starts with immortals (and I start with the old BECMI ranks). Interesting, the highest known ranking in my setting corelates to your top ranking. Hopefully hat should make it easy to map my setting on to your system.

Exalted Rank 1 = Initiate = Demi-deity
Exalted Rank 2 = Temporal = Lesser deity
Exalted Rank 3 = Celestial = Intermediate deity
Exalted Rank 4 = Empyreal = Greater deity
Exalted Rank 5 = Eternal = Elder deity
Exalted Rank 6 = Hierarch = Over deity (highest divine rank known)
Exalted Rank 7 = Demiurge = no equivalent divine rank
Exalted Rank 8 = Aeon = no equivalent divine rank (highest known exalted rank)
Exalted Rank 9 = Superlunary = no equivalent divine rank (this rank is theoretical no entity has reached it)
Exalted Rank 10 = Paramount = no equivalent divine rank (this rank is theoretical no entity has reached it)

 

[Upper_Krust]

Ok, so I was close! I couldn't remember if you had intermediate deities or not.

Even 1E technically had Intermediate Deities - they were just called Greater Deities who were not the Pantheon Heads.

Mine is similar. I also have 10,

I have 30* Divine Ranks, I just didn't list them all.

30 Divine Ranks sort of paralleled the 30 Challenge Ratings of the Core Rules.

*42 if we count my Hypothetical Deities.

but it starts with immortals (and I start with the old BECMI ranks). Interesting, the highest known ranking in my setting corelates to your top ranking. Hopefully hat should make it easy to map my setting on to your system.

My first 6 parallel the BECMI set, though I prefer the Hero/Quasi-deity nomenclature of AD&D. That's what D&D has largely used used since the 80's with the BECMI approach the anomaly - albeit meaning the same thing.

Exalted Rank 1 = Initiate = Demi-deity
Exalted Rank 2 = Temporal = Lesser deity
Exalted Rank 3 = Celestial = Intermediate deity
Exalted Rank 4 = Empyreal = Greater deity
Exalted Rank 5 = Eternal = Elder deity
Exalted Rank 6 = Hierarch = Over deity (highest divine rank known)
Exalted Rank 7 = Demiurge = no equivalent divine rank
Exalted Rank 8 = Aeon = no equivalent divine rank (highest known exalted rank)
Exalted Rank 9 = Superlunary = no equivalent divine rank (this rank is theoretical no entity has reached it)
Exalted Rank 10 = Paramount = no equivalent divine rank (this rank is theoretical no entity has reached it)

Notably after Greater Deity I have six extra tiers (each broken down into 4 ranks). Maybe the easiest parallel to yours is mapping your final six ranks onto my six higher tiers - rather than going one-for-one on individual ranks.

Though the reason we need those individual ranks is to promote interaction between characters/monsters - if you go up a full tier (4 ranks) its 'arguably' too big a difficulty spike. Not unbeatable, but highly improbable the PCs would defeat something +16 CR higher than them individually.