immortals handbook

[Upper_Krust]

Hi Impeesa mate!

Question: What support is there in the system for a being who goes from mortal to immortal (and continues to gain power) by drawing directly on cosmic energy as an overdeity does (without having worshippers)?

Well don't be misleaded into thinking 'cosmic energy' just appears out of thin air; or indeed that overdeities specifically 'draw' cosmic energy. Such energy must already exist somewhere before it can be 'drawn'.

You don't get something from nothing.

Most overdeities are unconcerned with worship for a number of reasons; firstly most predated mortal races and by extension worship; secondly the amount of worshippers you would need to become an overgod (depending on your definition of an overgod) is billions going on to trillions so its all much of a muchness; thirdly they probably already had a substantial reserve of cosmic energy so gaining worshippers (which is not a rapid process) is not really on their agendas.

I thought of this specifically while trying to come up with a suitable analogue for the Planeswalkers in Magic: The Gathering, but it could cover a variety of other things as well (abominations who grow closer to their divine origins, things like that).

Divinity; whether from worshippers or not; is all measured in the same way.

So to answer your question my system supports all takes on divinity.

 

[Anabstercorian]

UK, are there multiple legitimate ways to 'build' a deity? I.E., a melee deity, a magic deity, a swift deity - Or do all deities sort of blur together in terms of combat tactics at higher levels?

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hi Anabstercorian mate!

UK, are there multiple legitimate ways to 'build' a deity? I.E., a melee deity, a magic deity, a swift deity - Or do all deities sort of blur together in terms of combat tactics at higher levels?

Very interesting question.

Analogous to super-hero gaming; which is something I touch upon in the Adventure/Campaigns section (deities in Modern settings; Sci-fi settings; Horror settings; Period settings etc.).

On the surface of course; Portfolios govern this sort of dynamic, but I must admit I am curious to see where I could push the boundaries of this idea.

There are indeed many parallels between deities and super-heroes; eccentuated by my own assimilation of The Mighty Thor over the years.

Does anyone else here read that comic? If not, why not - its a comic about gods among men; the closest thing out there to Immortals Handbook: the Comic.

Perhaps toying further with the Iconics would be fun in achieving certain results?

 

[Anabstercorian]

Okay, so, let's say this: If Hennet, Krusk, Lidda, and Jozan began advancing past Epic in to the scale of Divinity, what sort of portfolios would you hook them with, and what sort of people do you think would worship them?

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hi Anabstercorian mate!

Okay, so, let's say this: If Hennet, Krusk, Lidda, and Jozan began advancing past Epic in to the scale of Divinity, what sort of portfolios would you hook them with, and what sort of people do you think would worship them?

Difficult question to answer because it really is individual choice in many questions. I mean its not just a question of alignment or class stereotypes even; there are so many options to explore.

I mean Krusk could take the Strength portfolio (rather obvious) or the Fire Portfolio (he wields a flaming axe in his epic portrait), or take the Object portfolio and choose "Axe", or take the Death portfolio (maybe hes a headhunter) or the Race portfolio and take "Half-Orc" ~ is there a specific god of half-orcs I wonder?

The above only scratches the surface of the choices and combinations possible.

So really it could be anything, which is why I advocate playing characters as mortals before they become immortals - its gives you a better focus of how people see the character and how the character sees himself (or herself). Which is why I suggest the DM picks one portfolio (in essense how he thinks the character is perceived by the public) and the player picks the other (how they want to be perceived).

 

[CRGreathouse]

I yet live!

OK, I've finally read all of this thread, and finished up the CR threads. My mind is filled with many Krust-isms and much information about the IH (most of which is probably too dated to have much meaning, admittedly).

I've had my share of good-natured arguments with U_K about CRs, but I stopped when I saw that his level of development was too far along to admit any radical changes to the fundamental system. (The system has certainly improved since I last discussed it, though U_K's hubris about the perfection of his system has also increased. )

However, after reading this thread, I've been reminded of how applicable your system is to my world. While I don't intend to run an Immortal-level campaign (as you call them), I do want to flesh out my pantheon more -- and my deities can be killed, by each other or by powerful mortals.

Most of this is covered in the second-lowest tier of your classification: Immortals. I'd like to figure out if I have anything you'd classify above Immortals in my world, particularly the next two ranks: Sidereals and Eternals. (I don't think I'd have any Supernals.)

For example, there are several examples of gods drawing power from the worship of lesser (not Lesser) gods. There is a definite change in my deities as they increase in rank -- "less and less beings, but more and more principles" as Gez put it.

My question, in short: What, precisely, defines a sidereal? You explain them as immortals are to mortals, sidereals are to immortals... but in what ways? Worship? Understanding? How specialized and how abstract are sidereals (usually)?

I blame my questions on U_K for coming up with an interesting system.

 

[CRGreathouse]

Oh, and while I'm asking questions, how do you classify quasi-deities/hero-deities? Are they the weakest of the immortals (a subset of demideities), the most powerful of the mortals, or somewhere in between?

You listed the types of immortals as demigod, lesser god, intermediate god, and greater god, so I was curious about the implication of omission.

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hiya CRGreathouse mate!

OK, I've finally read all of this thread, and finished up the CR threads.

Kudos for effort.

My mind is filled with many Krust-isms

You gotta love 'em.

and much information about the IH (most of which is probably too dated to have much meaning, admittedly).

Thats probably a given.

I've had my share of good-natured arguments with U_K about CRs,

Absolutely mate, I enjoy the banter.

but I stopped when I saw that his level of development was too far along to admit any radical changes to the fundamental system.

I am always open to integrating superior ideas wherever I find them and giving credit where its due.

(The system has certainly improved since I last discussed it, though U_K's hubris about the perfection of his system has also increased. )

Heh.

I think its the perfect system though the system is perhaps not perfect.

However, after reading this thread, I've been reminded of how applicable your system is to my world.

Glad to be of help.

While I don't intend to run an Immortal-level campaign (as you call them),

Hey, never say never! At any rate wait until you read the book.

I do want to flesh out my pantheon more -- and my deities can be killed, by each other or by powerful mortals.

A laudible stance.

Most of this is covered in the second-lowest tier of your classification: Immortals.

Which is where the bulk of the book

I'd like to figure out if I have anything you'd classify above Immortals in my world, particularly the next two ranks: Sidereals and Eternals.

Almost certainly a Sidereal or two; maybe not an Eternal depending on how you view things.

(I don't think I'd have any Supernals.)

Few will, trust me.

For example, there are several examples of gods drawing power from the worship of lesser (not Lesser) gods. There is a definite change in my deities as they increase in rank -- "less and less beings, but more and more principles" as Gez put it.

Indeed, thats certainly one way to view it; although at a certain point that whole cosmological constant inverts.

The actual point of this inversion has given me pause; whether Eternal or Supernal.

My question, in short: What, precisely, defines a sidereal? You explain them as immortals are to mortals, sidereals are to immortals... but in what ways? Worship? Understanding? How specialized and how abstract are sidereals (usually)?

To me many things define a Sidereal. Ultimately its a measure of power; philosophically its a measure of ideals; quintessentially its a measure of dominion; by association its a measure of age. Any and all of the above.

Perhaps the best explanation of Sidereals is "there can be only one"...of course one 'what' - I'll leave for the book.

I blame my questions on U_K for coming up with an interesting system.

In future I'll know better.

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hello again mate!

Oh, and while I'm asking questions, how do you classify quasi-deities/hero-deities? Are they the weakest of the immortals (a subset of demideities), the most powerful of the mortals, or somewhere in between?

You listed the types of immortals as demigod, lesser god, intermediate god, and greater god, so I was curious about the implication of omission.

I have an additional grouping of four called tentatively Paramortals: specifically: Disciples; Prophets; Hero-deities and Quasi-deities.

 

[Anabstercorian]

What tier would Superman be placed on, in your mind? At least, which tier would he most typically fall in to in terms of raw power, if not Divinity?