Player character immortals

[Bloodstone de Troll]

Hello all

I am planning on running a campaign where the PC's will be playing 0 level quasi-deities. The characters will be beginning at character level 4 from which they will create their legends, and thus their portfolios.

In the setting (one in which the players ran mortal characters before) there are no known immortals of divine rank higher than 5, who are always ascended mortals (except for the elves, but thats another story). Though quasi diety status can be born into a character if he is a rightful heir of a immortals status.

Stealing status from another immortal can be done through "defeating" a higher status immortal in some way relating to its portfolio, such as in combat, riddles, or some other fashion. Accomplishing this grants the winner one of the losers Divine Rank levels, Killing an immortal grants the winner all of the victims ranks above his own.

These beings arent considered gods by the people, more like ideal leaders and defenders (and adversaries) of the lands. They did not create the world (though some of them may say that they did), they are just as petty decietful ang greedy as anybody else - sometimes more so, and they can die. Clerics are more like a kind of mage who studies the abstract concepts thet an immortal represents that a worshipper.


System stuff: I was thinking of having those awesome powers of even 0-level immortals progress with character levels. DR will start at 5/+1 at 1st level, increasing by 5 for every 3 levels, and gaining an increase in the /+ by 1 for every 6 levels, SR will be 12 + character level (max 32) Fire Resistance is equal to the characters level (Max 20).
Starting at 4th level, the fledgling immortal will gain one Immunity grouping (as in Transmutation etc), or can choose a Special Quality (such as Fast Healing, or Fire Subtype).

What do you all think? Should I just start them all off with the full immortal DR, ER etc? I could handle it either way, I just think that characters should be suitable afraid of death - of course there are still many ways to make them suffer immortal or not.

I spread the powers out to make them have to work their way up ala hercules or perseus. The Dieties and Demigods book seems to assume that all such creatures are at least 20th level, but what about the guys on the way up?

Please let me know what you think.

Thanks,

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hello all

Hi there!

I am planning on running a campaign where the PC's will be playing 0 level quasi-deities.

Sounds like fun. We run an immortal campaign ourselves.

The characters will be beginning at character level 4 from which they will create their legends, and thus their portfolios.

Okay. I estimate that the quasi-deity template should be considered +14 ECL. However I am not sure if you are going to use the Ability Score Increases or not?

Deities should gain a +5 Inherant Bonus to EACH ability score then a +60 Divine Bonus TOTAL to be assigned as the character wishes (typically +10 per ability score)

In the setting (one in which the players ran mortal characters before) there are no known immortals of divine rank higher than 5, who are always ascended mortals (except for the elves, but thats another story). Though quasi diety status can be born into a character if he is a rightful heir of a immortals status.

Sounds straightforward enough. Though I wouldn't worry about limiting the power of deities at this stage.

Stealing status from another immortal can be done through "defeating" a higher status immortal in some way relating to its portfolio, such as in combat, riddles, or some other fashion. Accomplishing this grants the winner one of the losers Divine Rank levels, Killing an immortal grants the winner all of the victims ranks above his own.

We have a few rules akin to this ourselves.

These beings arent considered gods by the people, more like ideal leaders and defenders (and adversaries) of the lands.

Like Saints then.

They did not create the world (though some of them may say that they did), they are just as petty decietful ang greedy as anybody else - sometimes more so, and they can die. Clerics are more like a kind of mage who studies the abstract concepts thet an immortal represents that a worshipper.

Okay. The Clerics derive power from the force/philosophy the deity represents rather than from the deity itself.

System stuff: I was thinking of having those awesome powers of even 0-level immortals progress with character levels. DR will start at 5/+1 at 1st level, increasing by 5 for every 3 levels, and gaining an increase in the /+ by 1 for every 6 levels, SR will be 12 + character level (max 32) Fire Resistance is equal to the characters level (Max 20).
Starting at 4th level, the fledgling immortal will gain one Immunity grouping (as in Transmutation etc), or can choose a Special Quality (such as Fast Healing, or Fire Subtype).

So you are turning the quasi-deity 'template' into a kind of Prestige Class. I don't see why it couldn't work.

What do you all think?

Well I see no reason why it couldn't work. However if you were asking what I would do then I would suggest roleplaying normally to at least 20th-level then giving the PCs the option of gaining divinity through various quests and achievements.

Simply handing out divinity essentially cheapens it. Make the players work for it - then when they finally attain it they will appreciate it all the more.

ie. Who better deserves to have a million dollars, someone who has worked hard for it, or someone who wins/is given it.

Additionally I think perhaps starting such characters at 4th-level could be self-defeating.

Something you could think about (at low level) is making them the 'Chosen of' (Disciples) of the other deities?

Should I just start them all off with the full immortal DR, ER etc? I could handle it either way, I just think that characters should be suitable afraid of death - of course there are still many ways to make them suffer immortal or not.

There are indeed many ways to make immortals afraid. I anticipate such a campaign would likely find the Epic Level Handbook very useful.

I spread the powers out to make them have to work their way up ala hercules or perseus.

Aside from Hercules incredible strength (and constitution) I doubt either had significant divine power before assuming the mantle of godhood (after death in these cases).

The Dieties and Demigods book seems to assume that all such creatures are at least 20th level, but what about the guys on the way up?

Generally speaking I would suggest waiting until characters are 20th+ level before allowing them access to divinity.

Please let me know what you think.

Thanks,

No problem mate.

You might find some information here useful:

http://enworld.cyberstreet.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18636

 

[Tonguez]

IMC I use the Hawaiian concept of Kupua - that is Heroes with supernatural Mana and thus abilities. These Heroes are generally leaders and champions of their communities and 'closer' to the gods than others.

For the mechanics I apply the Half-Celestial, Half-Fiend or Half-Elemental templates AND give them a bonus feat every 2 levels which can be used to 'buy' spell-like abilities (cost 1 feat per spell level) and other Special Qualities like Stat increases, DR and SR etc.

I figured this (quite arbitarily btw) as a ECL+3 template

 

[Upper_Krust]

One interesting element that you could retain is the Highlander concept of 'the Quickening'.

Say that a gods power has been splintered between a group of mortals and that they each vie to gain all the power. You could start with 100 characters (each with 1% of the deities power) then add abilities to characters who increase their percentage.

Also you could say that the entire old pantheon of gods has been split and that the same contest is taking place in areas all over the world.

You would have endless possibilities by having members of one contest battle those of another, in essence giving birth to a new pantheon.

Those who reach 100% become gods. But their portfolios are dependant on whom they defeated. Did they battle somone with the magic gods splintered portfolio, or the god of deaths etc.

Also no doubt one greedy deity will want more than simply godhood, they may wish to claim more than 100% power.