Andor
First Post
By that logic every second level character is actually a dozen orcs, 5 goblins, 2 kobolds and an annoying shopkeeper.
How do you become a god?
- Thread starter Jack99
- Start date
By that logic every second level character is actually a dozen orcs, 5 goblins, 2 kobolds and an annoying shopkeeper.
Jack99
Adventurer
Ah yeah, I remember seeing it mentioned in one of the gazetteers. Thanks for reminding me of that.
Asmor
First Post
Remember, kids. When you kill something, you're killing everything that thing's ever killed too.
So wear protection.
Relique du Madde
Adventurer
Actually, that's only if eat their flesh (preferably the heart) right after you killed them.
Viktyr Gehrig
First Post
Really depends on the setting, and what "god" means in that setting.
Most of the time, I favor the idea that the only real proof of the gods is the Clerics themselves, with the existence of godless Clerics (however rare) being seen more as an aberration than a compelling counter-argument. That's how I'm handling it with the Spelljammer game I'm planning on running soon, mostly so I can avoid the multiple cosmologies and stranded Clerics issues. Mortals can become phenomenally powerful, they can even become immortal, but they cannot become gods.
A "Cleric" might even be someone who has merely learned to wield magic in a particular kind of way-- though this is doubtless highly unappreciated by the Clerics of established religions.
On the other hand, in a Planescape game, where the gods are incontrovertibly real-- if not necessarily worthy of worship-- becoming a god is a process of convincing enough people and enough powerful people to believe that you are a god. Most difficult, of course, is convincing yourself.
Other games would have different ideas. Haven't played enough Mystara myself to understand the process of attaining godhood, but I very much like the idea of a setting where the underlying metaobjective is to attain godhood. I will have to do more reading on this matter.
Most of the time, I favor the idea that the only real proof of the gods is the Clerics themselves, with the existence of godless Clerics (however rare) being seen more as an aberration than a compelling counter-argument. That's how I'm handling it with the Spelljammer game I'm planning on running soon, mostly so I can avoid the multiple cosmologies and stranded Clerics issues. Mortals can become phenomenally powerful, they can even become immortal, but they cannot become gods.
A "Cleric" might even be someone who has merely learned to wield magic in a particular kind of way-- though this is doubtless highly unappreciated by the Clerics of established religions.
On the other hand, in a Planescape game, where the gods are incontrovertibly real-- if not necessarily worthy of worship-- becoming a god is a process of convincing enough people and enough powerful people to believe that you are a god. Most difficult, of course, is convincing yourself.
Other games would have different ideas. Haven't played enough Mystara myself to understand the process of attaining godhood, but I very much like the idea of a setting where the underlying metaobjective is to attain godhood. I will have to do more reading on this matter.
Imaro
Legend
Personally I like an approach that mixes a little Unknown Armies and Earthdawn.
To become a god in the game a player first has to decide what he wants to become the god of...then they have to come up with a view of what that thing or ideal is to them (sort of a guiding philosophy or code). The PC must then strive to emulate that code and act as the idealized version of the god he wants to become. The PC also must build and spread tales or legends about himself (I mean what god doesn't have stories and myths associated with him) which stress and emphasize the philosophy he has chosen. Finally he must defeat other beings who are striving to accomplish dominion over the same ideals and/or the current god over his chosen area.
As a simple example Lykus could decide he wishes to become the god of Death. After deciding this he must then create a guiding philosophy such as...
Death is...
Impartial and unemotional concerning all living things
Abhors the mockery that are called undead
Never willingly releases those it has claimed
The final rest for the weary
Fickle in who it chooses...
Next Lykus must strive to emulate this code in all things he does, perhaps he always allows strangers one night of rest in his camp under his protection... or maybe it reaches 100 nights as he strives to become a more & more idealized version of this god of Death. Perhaps he cannot be moved by passion or emotion in his decisions, but instead relies on chance and randomness now. He also slowly develops a hatred of undead that grows and grows until it is an obsession... and he will never use resurrection magic.
Lykus must also grow his legend. Perhaps it starts of as legends of a mortal hero with personality quirks but slowly grows into the realm of myth...
Some claim there is a being who, if one knows of the proper pacts, is bound to provide safety to weary travelers for one night... it is said this shadowy being hunts the living dead and all those who desecrate the dead... perhaps he can be summoned if one knows the proper ways... or maybe one can only hope his travels will lead him to them in their time of need. Though it is rumored this being also stalks and kills those who have cheated death through magic even more ruthlessly than even the undead abominations.
The final step is that Lykus would have to defeat any others who have chosen to pursue the same path (hopefully building the defeat of these "impostors" into his legend as well) and/or the being who currently resides over the ideal of death.
So yeah, it's not impossible but it ain't easy either.
To become a god in the game a player first has to decide what he wants to become the god of...then they have to come up with a view of what that thing or ideal is to them (sort of a guiding philosophy or code). The PC must then strive to emulate that code and act as the idealized version of the god he wants to become. The PC also must build and spread tales or legends about himself (I mean what god doesn't have stories and myths associated with him) which stress and emphasize the philosophy he has chosen. Finally he must defeat other beings who are striving to accomplish dominion over the same ideals and/or the current god over his chosen area.
As a simple example Lykus could decide he wishes to become the god of Death. After deciding this he must then create a guiding philosophy such as...
Death is...
Impartial and unemotional concerning all living things
Abhors the mockery that are called undead
Never willingly releases those it has claimed
The final rest for the weary
Fickle in who it chooses...
Next Lykus must strive to emulate this code in all things he does, perhaps he always allows strangers one night of rest in his camp under his protection... or maybe it reaches 100 nights as he strives to become a more & more idealized version of this god of Death. Perhaps he cannot be moved by passion or emotion in his decisions, but instead relies on chance and randomness now. He also slowly develops a hatred of undead that grows and grows until it is an obsession... and he will never use resurrection magic.
Lykus must also grow his legend. Perhaps it starts of as legends of a mortal hero with personality quirks but slowly grows into the realm of myth...
Some claim there is a being who, if one knows of the proper pacts, is bound to provide safety to weary travelers for one night... it is said this shadowy being hunts the living dead and all those who desecrate the dead... perhaps he can be summoned if one knows the proper ways... or maybe one can only hope his travels will lead him to them in their time of need. Though it is rumored this being also stalks and kills those who have cheated death through magic even more ruthlessly than even the undead abominations.
The final step is that Lykus would have to defeat any others who have chosen to pursue the same path (hopefully building the defeat of these "impostors" into his legend as well) and/or the being who currently resides over the ideal of death.
So yeah, it's not impossible but it ain't easy either.
darjr
I crit!
I'm A Banana
Potassium-Rich
Andor said:
That's pretty true, though. You are what you eat, you can't separate the materials from the production -- everything that PC's have is fueled by death, death makes them who they are. Heroes are created out of death, and it is only through death that they become these heroes.
It's like when you tell a hamburger "I'm going to make you into eyeballs!" You know it becomes a part of you. That orc is going to become part of my new sword, part of my Avenger multiclass feat, part of my next attack bonus increase. Their death fuels my advancement engine.
It's practically economic!
I'm A Banana
Potassium-Rich
Andor said:
That's pretty true, though. You are what you eat, you can't separate the materials from the production -- everything that PC's have is fueled by death, death makes them who they are. Heroes are created out of death, and it is only through death that they become these heroes.
It's like when you tell a hamburger "I'm going to make you into eyeballs!" You know it becomes a part of you. That orc is going to become part of my new sword, part of my Avenger multiclass feat, part of my next attack bonus increase. Their death fuels my advancement engine.
It's practically economic!
Upper_Krust
Legend
Howdy Betote! 
May even be simpler than that (in 4th Edition)...reach 31st-level.
With 31st-40th-level being a Legendary Tier (for Demigods*) and 41st-50th being an Immortal Tier (for Gods).
*The Demigod Epic Destiny simply puts you on the path to becoming one, not necessarily letting you become one.
The bigger question might therefore become, how do you reach 31st-level.
The answer depends upon how difficult the DM wants to make becoming a god within his/her campaign world.
1) The easiest option is to give the PCs immortality from outside sources such as artifacts, pacts with beings of power etc.
2) Another easy option being to simply continue EXP progression.
3) You could also have PCs jump through certain hoops in the guise of trials, tests and quests.
4) You could deny PCs EXP from defeating non-immortals. Thus you would have to kill gods and take their 'power'...their 'stuff' would be optional.
5) Tie immortality directly to worship and have PCs cultivate their own religion. This requires a good bit of involvement, and if I may blow my own trumpet for a moment, the only sourcebook to ever get this right is my own Immortals Handbook: Ascension.
Betote said:
May even be simpler than that (in 4th Edition)...reach 31st-level.
With 31st-40th-level being a Legendary Tier (for Demigods*) and 41st-50th being an Immortal Tier (for Gods).
*The Demigod Epic Destiny simply puts you on the path to becoming one, not necessarily letting you become one.
The bigger question might therefore become, how do you reach 31st-level.
The answer depends upon how difficult the DM wants to make becoming a god within his/her campaign world.
1) The easiest option is to give the PCs immortality from outside sources such as artifacts, pacts with beings of power etc.
2) Another easy option being to simply continue EXP progression.
3) You could also have PCs jump through certain hoops in the guise of trials, tests and quests.
4) You could deny PCs EXP from defeating non-immortals. Thus you would have to kill gods and take their 'power'...their 'stuff' would be optional.
5) Tie immortality directly to worship and have PCs cultivate their own religion. This requires a good bit of involvement, and if I may blow my own trumpet for a moment, the only sourcebook to ever get this right is my own Immortals Handbook: Ascension.
Similar Threads
