To kill a god...

[RUMBLETiGER]

I rememeber reading up on divine ranks and toying with a concept where, after a lifetime of struggle, PC's finaly attain godhood and become rank 0 deities. Thinking they have finally made it to the top, they are approached by a scribe for "Orientation", being filled in on the general rules of godhood and the expectations of the process they have before them. The PC's find out they've left the top of one livelihood to arrive at the bottom of another, much like when one graduates from being the oldest class running the show in Middle School only to become High School Fresh-meat.

Maintaining domain portfolios, building followers, answering prayers, dealing with inter-deity politics, finding a patron deity to look over you while alienating yourself from other powerful deities, epic battles on planes you never knew existed (like keeping the Far Realm far away), and keeping an eye over your sholder at all times because mortals and other deities want to kill you for your developing power would all be parts of the unfolding campaign, leading the players to realize mortality really wasn't that bad and godhood is not what it's cracked up to be. Progressing in divine ranks as well as epic class levels would be built into the process.

I doubt I'll get around to this campaign so if you find any of this useful, let me know how it goes!

 

[Drobney Falcor]

How about you have the gods permanently killed in a war between men and gods?

Granting my players godhood will still be awarded if they do succeed. Think of this not as a crusade against the gods (though it might be for a player or two) but a shift in power. This will happen again and the experience will surely help the party keep their position.

Progressing in divine ranks as well as epic class levels would be built into the process.

It would be fun to run a few games after (and if) the main questline is completed. I can't attest to how fun it would be for the players, they seem to like criticals over coercion. Maybe they wouldn't stop, consolidate their power, and systematically destroy the rest of the pantheon!

Does anyone know how divine ranks are earned? I think it has something to do with worshipers but that would rule out overdeities-whose divine rank is well beyond the others with no worship at all.

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

Will this be a whole party taking out a single deity?

Does victory over the deity instantly grant godhood?

Are the victor PCs instantly transported to the planar home, or do they still need to linger around during the entire deity eviction duration? Possibly becoming a target of other opportunist mortals?

If a whole party defeats a god, does the entire party gain godhood? Or just the PC with the killing blow? (Or kill-stealing blow as the case may be)

How does an entire party distribute the portfolio of the now-deceased god?

 

[Drobney Falcor]

The entire party will aid in defeating the deity. These are going to epic battles even though the gods are mortal. Instant godhood will most likely not be the case. Only when the time is up and the gods return would the new ones be able to access their divinely power. However it would be neat if they could still have due respect from any who might know that this will person will be a new deity, even before the throne is available to them.

If a whole party defeats a god, does the entire party gain godhood? Or just the PC with the killing blow? (Or kill-stealing blow as the case may be)

How does an entire party distribute the portfolio of the now-deceased god?

Just when i feel it's all coming together a huge flaw makes itself apparent (I'm thankful you brought this up). I guess there will have to be some system implemented to have this. Maybe a vessel is needed to capture the essence of the divine and only with this tool can it be done. I can see this turning out well, those who wield the artifact when ascension is nigh the power will be transferred. Not only will it be difficult to obtain the "soul" of the deity but keep it from any who might be aware of its existence.

What these artifacts are or how they came to be will require some more development on my part. Maybe they're something simple and not an artifact at all. Just an object that, when the character wishes so, will inhale the divinity and become an artifact. The character could even use this to his own advantage, perhaps it grants powers or abilities to the wielder. Or maybe can be "used up" to greatly effect the mortal world while simultaneously releasing any possible ascension. Then of course the problem of how to fill that deity's role in the pantheon.

This is turning into a heavy undertaking more and more. Please keep the suggestions coming, It's nearing a tangible campaign that I'm really anxious to begin dming.

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

It's like once the targeted god is killed the campaign morphs from Time of Troubles into Highlander. Until the clock runs out, the PCs are now "immortal" among a select group of other immortals. Interesting!

 

[RUMBLETiGER]

does the now-mortal, now-been-killed god, become a petitioner with an afterlife in an outer plane like everyone else when they die? Because a former-God-turned-average-joe-afterlife-guy wandering around on one of the outer planes would be a really, really cool NPC.

 

[Drobney Falcor]

does the now-mortal, now-been-killed god, become a petitioner with an afterlife in an outer plane like everyone else when they die? Because a former-God-turned-average-joe-afterlife-guy wandering around on one of the outer planes would be a really, really cool NPC.

Yes, the deities are mortal when they die. The divine power within them is barely accessible to them, which is why they are still considered a god/mortal, if that makes any sense. Though i doubt if Kord, as an example, would return to Ysgard as a petitioner (The bitter feelings and all that).

I've considered giving them a second chance to live a full life as a mortal, according to their race. Gruumsh might not be evil when all his power is stripped from him and he is forced to live a mundane life. That or he will rally the orcs to assault his killer!

 

[xigbar]

Yes, the deities are mortal when they die. The divine power within them is barely accessible to them, which is why they are still considered a god/mortal, if that makes any sense. Though i doubt if Kord, as an example, would return to Ysgard as a petitioner (The bitter feelings and all that).

I've considered giving them a second chance to live a full life as a mortal, according to their race. Gruumsh might not be evil when all his power is stripped from him and he is forced to live a mundane life. That or he will rally the orcs to assault his killer!

It just occurred to me, what if you replace a god who had control over, say, the orcs in this case, but had no interest in the orcs? It might be interesting if a person could only replace a god who he personifies; Such as another Orc barbarian replacing Gruumsh.

 

[Drobney Falcor]

It just occurred to me, what if you replace a god who had control over, say, the orcs in this case, but had no interest in the orcs?

This is why i would probably end up giving the player the access to choose what his portfolio is made of. A balance is nice in the pantheon portfolios but i can't imagine it being too screwed since the campaign will be over.

It might be interesting if a person could only replace a god who he personifies; Such as another Orc barbarian replacing Gruumsh.

Interesting? Yes. Fun? maybe not. I don't want to force my players into a character they feel isn't a 100% creation of their own.

 

[xigbar]

This is why i would probably end up giving the player the access to choose what his portfolio is made of. A balance is nice in the pantheon portfolios but i can't imagine it being too screwed since the campaign will be over.



Interesting? Yes. Fun? maybe not. I don't want to force my players into a character they feel isn't a 100% creation of their own.

Then you could make new gods that fit your PC's portfolios, or use ones that already match them, or explain what happens when a god is replaced by someone who is disinterested in the former gods dominion.