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Message: <blockquote data-quote="PsyzhranV2" data-source="post: 8254251" data-attributes="member: 7015332">I have no idea how much support for the below idea there is in canon D&D, but for my own fantasy writing and worldbuilding, my personal definition on what separates a "god" from a non-divine but still powerful immortal is as follows:A god embodies an aspect of nature and/or an abstract principle, to the point that they are indistinguishable from the concept they represent. Or to approach the idea from the other direction, a god is an aspect of nature or abstract idea given sentience. To speak a god's name is to invoke their domain in the same breath. Likewise, to discuss and study any idea or aspect of nature is to study the god associated with it as well.Using the Dawn War pantheon as an example (not canon, just a convenient example for this exercise), Avandra wouldn't be merely an immortal who can manipulate luck and change, she would be the very concepts of luck and change themselves given mind and form. Similarly, Corellon is beauty, Erathis is law, Kord is the storm, Melora is the sea, etc. Lesser beings may very well have physical or magical powers that can rival or even exceed the gods in certain respects, but they stand below the gods because their intrinsic existences don't have this kind of metaphysical import.</blockquote>