The (new) Immortals Handbook Thread

[Zoatebix]

What you don't give extensions before the deadline has been reached. Now he can relax knowing that the deadline is lifted.

Hmmm... In that case:
I know for a fact that Anabstercorian was kidding. Yeah, totally kidding. No wait, his, uh, little brother - yeah! - got onto his account, read a bunch of this thread for context, and made that post.

 

[CRGreathouse]

As Upper_Krust mentioned, I've sent him the edited copy of the Bestiary (pt. I). Since I'm sure we'll see it pretty soon (we're really only waiting for the art), I thought I'd go back to one of my favorite pastimes for this thread: seeking random tidbits of information on Apotheosis!

I seem to remember U_K mentioning a Cosmic Ability that made all the deity's damage permamant damage (like the ELH winterwight). Is that still the case, or has this ability been dropped (or changed in status)? How powerful is this for PCs? It seems it would be good mostly for NPCs.

Do you intend to release a list of the Cosmic Abilities (or the epic feats, or the other abilities)? Maybe just a partial list (like of the Divine Abilities) would be appropriate?

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hey there!

As Upper_Krust mentioned, I've sent him the edited copy of the Bestiary (pt. I). Since I'm sure we'll see it pretty soon (we're really only waiting for the art), I thought I'd go back to one of my favorite pastimes for this thread: seeking random tidbits of information on Apotheosis!

I seem to remember U_K mentioning a Cosmic Ability that made all the deity's damage permamant damage (like the ELH winterwight). Is that still the case, or has this ability been dropped (or changed in status)? How powerful is this for PCs? It seems it would be good mostly for NPCs.

There is a cosmic ability that lets you deal permanent damage within that specific attack - eg. You could gain a Ray attack which dealt permanent damage.

Also all ray attacks and breath weapons (etc.) stack under my rules (up to your Hit Dice anyway), so you could have say, Divine Blast and Abiding Blast and the two would stack.

There is a trancendental ability that makes all your attacks deal permanent damage.

Do you intend to release a list of the Cosmic Abilities (or the epic feats, or the other abilities)? Maybe just a partial list (like of the Divine Abilities) would be appropriate?

I'll think about it - I have the Divine and Cosmic abilities all decided but only about 2/3rds of the Transcendental and Omnific abilities (I have full lists of them, but there are at least a third of each I am not satisfied with).

I don't really like giving too much away. There are a score or so monster abilities in the Bestiary that are derived from the list(s).

I will of course reveal more of Apotheosis as the release draws closer - including a preview of portfolios as well as abilities. Its about 50% written and that portion of the work is only slightly bigger than the Bestiary preview (It'll be in around 128 pages). That includes 13 examples, one sample NPC deity of each divine status, from Disciple - High Lord. If I remember right, each sample is from a different pantheon, and all the alignments are covered...just to give a good spread.

 

[CRGreathouse]

There is a cosmic ability that lets you deal permanent damage within that specific attack - eg. You could gain a Ray attack which dealt permanent damage.

Also all ray attacks and breath weapons (etc.) stack under my rules (up to your Hit Dice anyway), so you could have say, Divine Blast and Abiding Blast and the two would stack.

From the last thread:

Sorry about the delay, I tried posting the list earlier but the boards were just incredibly slow.

Here is the list of the first 32 (of 128) Divine Abilities

Abatement
Abiding [Effect]
Abnormal[...]
Divine Architect
Divine Champion
Divine Immensity[...]

I see Abiding Blast, but no Divine Blast -- it's not under either Divine Blast or Divine [Effect].

1. Is Abiding [Effect] related to this cosmic ability, or has it been promoted to a cosmic ability?
2. What's Divine Blast?
3. What's the name of the trancendental ability?

 

[Baronovan]

Pardon me, U_K, but how can an ability that deals "permanent" damage possibly be balanced against other aspects of a creature's design? Is this more akin to vile damage, in that it can cured under very specific circumstances? Or is it more like the Shape of Fire power? If it's the latter, I don't know if I'd ever want to fight one unless I felt it had less than a 10% chance to hit my character(s), let alone ever be satisified with whatever material rewards such a fight might grant... unless I get my HP back afterwards.

 

[CRGreathouse]

Pardon me, U_K, but how can an ability that deals "permanent" damage possibly be balanced against other aspects of a creature's design? Is this more akin to vile damage, in that it can cured under very specific circumstances? Or is it more like the Shape of Fire power? If it's the latter, I don't know if I'd ever want to fight one unless I felt it had less than a 10% chance to hit my character(s), let alone ever be satisified with whatever material rewards such a fight might grant... unless I get my HP back afterwards.

He's said it's like shape of fire (or at least lavawight, which is the same as I recall).

 

[Anabstercorian]

Ooh, shapes of fire and lavawights are horrible, horrible creatures. There must be SOME way to heal that damage...

 

[Upper_Krust]

From the last thread:

I see Abiding Blast, but no Divine Blast -- it's not under either Divine Blast or Divine [Effect].

1. Is Abiding [Effect] related to this cosmic ability, or has it been promoted to a cosmic ability?

Tricky answer. As you know I favour using different dice size for different effects. So energy is d6, Aligned power is d8, bane d12 etc.

Well Abiding is technically 1/2 a point instead of a dice...as a divine ability...or d4 as a cosmic ability. So I am not sure which is best.

2. What's Divine Blast?

Similar sort of thing to Abiding Effect above. Technically divine energy should be d3s, but I may have made it d12s and stuck it in the cosmic abilities.

3. What's the name of the trancendental ability?

I was calling it Oblivion, but I'll probably change that.

 

[CRGreathouse]

Thanks for the complete answers. I had no idea I was asking so many questions all at once.

I was calling it Oblivion, but I'll probably change that.

I like that name!

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hey Baranovan mate!

Pardon me, U_K, but how can an ability that deals "permanent" damage possibly be balanced against other aspects of a creature's design? Is this more akin to vile damage, in that it can cured under very specific circumstances? Or is it more like the Shape of Fire power? If it's the latter, I don't know if I'd ever want to fight one unless I felt it had less than a 10% chance to hit my character(s), let alone ever be satisified with whatever material rewards such a fight might grant... unless I get my HP back afterwards.

Without risk there is no reward. I'd just like to think I am putting the fear back into epic play where resurrection is so common place that death is but an inconvenience. I should ask S'mon to write a simony column on death at high level - he has rewritten the various 'resurrection' spells for his campaign for a much more lethal campaign. Greater the risks, greater the reward.

That said I have a DMs optional idea for the possible recovery of such damage in the Bestiary.