Upper Krust, where are you? [Immortal's Handbook]

[Upper_Krust]

Hi Impeesa mate!

Refresh my memory... what happens to a god who loses all of their worshippers save for a few hundred devotees?

Well it sort of depends on the balance between worship and siphoned energy.

But unless the deity encounters a worship points vacuum (siphoned energy takes WP total to negatives) I would allow the deity to sustain itself at Quasi-deity status.

With the impending release of d20 Modern

I am looking forward to this book myself.

(and with any luck, the IH ),

I have suddenly become taken with the idea of a campaign in which the players are old gods (Norse, Greek, etc.) in a modern day setting. Something like this comic, except that this party of gods would primarily be concerned with fending off boredom, other less scrupulous gods who have also survived this long, and the curious eyes of certain mortals (they're still gods, but far from invincible).

Maybe I'm just crazy.

Sounds interesting.

A little bit like Highlander.

We had a similar adventure on Earth 2020 (the Cyberpunk world). The main thing to remember is to make technological weapons a credible threat to deities.

Looking at CoC d20 the damages for the weapons there are a little weak against deities. So it will be interesting to see how d20 Modern handles things.

 

[Upper_Krust]

Re: Addendum

Hi Buddha mate!

So this supercedes the information that you gave me previously? That information having been the following:

+6 Divine Bonus to Ability Scores
+5 Inherent Bonus to Ability Scores (check against existing inherent bonuses)
+21 floating ability score points (assign as desired)
+1 point / Divine Rank (assign as desired; in this you get 0 extra points)

At the moment I am tinkering around with a number of ideas so I will likely have multiple methods in the book.

The Divine Array is: 40*, 28, 25, 24, 24, 24.

*WotCs Rich Redman posted that the first attribute should be 35. Which means they are handing out +1 ability score bonus per 4 Outsider HD in that book, and you're not meant to gain ability score bonuses for Hit Dice as far as I know!?

The problem with the divine array is manifold:

- It doesn't explain what happens to beings who already have superior scores (eg. Great Wyrm Dragon). These beings should not be punished for divinity. Nor should they be limited to certain scores to let weaker beings 'catch up'.

- It also doesn't allow for divine fallibilities; beings like Bahgtru; Hercules and Thor should not have Einstein level intellect.

- It does'nt allow you to mold the abilities to your requirements.

The best method is:

+63 Divine Bonus (TOTAL) as you see fit.
+5 Inherant Bonus to EACH ability score.
+1 Divine Bonus (TOTAL) per Divine Rank.
+1 Bonus per 4 Class Levels.

However, its actually beneficial to 'shore up' your weaknesses, or at the very least keep them comparative.

Also its going to be quicker and easier for DMs if its +10 Divine Bonus to EACH ability score.

If we examine Bahamuts strength hes actually relatively weak. He has Str 53, but he gains +32 Str for his Colossal Size. So hes only Str 21 really. Similarly, Dex 18 and Con 23. So already he has 3 scores under the minimum of the Divine Array.

 

[Buddha the DM]

I see. WotC should've noted the benefits for Divine Ascension in D&Dg if only in a sidebar.

 

[Anubis]

WHOA WHOA WHOA!

Dammit, right when I finally had my Xun Huo finish, you change the rules on me. So it's +10 instead of +6? I guess that's okay, although it just makes me even more powerful.

Anyway, what is this crap about Divine Array and 35 and whatever? When my character ascended, I just kept her with the stats she already had, and then added the bonuses you had spoken about. Did I do it wrong?

What's up with all that? It's confusing . . .

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hi Buddha mate!

I see. WotC should've noted the benefits for Divine Ascension in D&Dg if only in a sidebar.

I agree - I should have all their mistakes/omissions addended in the IH.

 

[Anubis]

Xun Huo

Here she is, my goddess, Xun Huo!



Xun Huo
Goddess of the Arcane, Lady Sorceress, Mana Warlord
Demigod
Symbol: Crossed staves on top of an eye with a katana going through the middle
Home Plane: Prime Plane
Alignment: Neutral
Portfolio: Magic, Knowledge
Worshippers: Wizards, sorcerers, philosophers, sages, politicians, tacticians, artisans
Cleric Alignments: CN, LN, N, NG, NE
Domains: Magic, Knowledge, War
Favored Weapon: Katana

Xun Huo, Goddess of Magic: Female Demigod Wiz40; DvR 2; CR 34; Medium-Size Outsider; HD 40d4+680; hp 840; Init +17; Spd 60 ft.; AC 51 (touch 49, flat-footed 38); Atk +58/+53 melee (1d10+15/19-20/x2 crit, katana) or +70 ranged (1d8+15/19-20/x2 crit, light crossbow); SA Domain powers, salient divine abilities, spell-like abilities; SQ Summon familiar (toad), immunities, DR 37/+4, fire resistance 22, godly realm, teleport without error at will, familiar (felines), divine aura 20 ft. (DC 26); SR 50; AL N; SV Fort +60, Ref +56, Will +60; Str 30, Dex 30 (36), Con 32 (44), Int 37 (49), Wis 32, Cha 26 (38). 5'5", 121 lb., Com 85.

Skills and Feats: Concentration +102, Craft (weaponsmithing +66, Gather Information +27, Knowledge (politics) +64, Knowledge (war) +64, Knowledge (arcana) +104, Spellcraft +104, Knowledge (planes) +57, Iaijutsu Focus +72, Tumble +71, Jump +26, Balance +29, Diplomacy +28; Scribe Scroll, Improved Initiative, Craft Wondrous Item, Craft Magic Arms and Armor, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (katana), Weapon Focus (katana), Empower Spell, Maximize Spell, Quicken Spell, Forge Ring, Energy Substitution (acid), Energy Admixture (acid), Improved Spell Capacity, Spell Mastery, Epic Spellcasting, Craft Epic Magic Arms and Armor, Improved Metamagic, Improved Metamagic, Improved Metamagic, Forge Epic Ring, Magical Artisan (forge epic ring), Efficient Item Creation (forge epic ring), Enhance Spell, Multispell, Intensify Spell.

Salient Divine Abilities: Arcane Mastery, Divine Spellcasting, Divine Blast.

Possessions: Souldrinker Blade {Souldrinker Katana}, Light Crossbow +10 of Acidic Splash, 50 Crossbow Bolts +5, Robe of Protection {Robe of Armor +10, Resistance +5}, Xun Huo's Outfit, Heward's Handy Haverack, Portable Hole, Rod of the Epic Spellcaster, Staff of Rapid Barrage (50), Brooch of Dumb Luck +20 {+20 luck bonus to saves}, Martial Vest +20 {+20 luck bonus to attack}, Headband of Epic Intellect +12, Boots of Swiftness, Bracers of Epic Health +12, Cloak of Epic Charisma +12, Ring of Elemental Immunity (sonic), Spikard {described below}. 328,970 gp, 5 sp. Load: 40 lbs.

Epic Spells: Peripety, Epic Mage Armor, Destroy {descibed below}, Mass Frog, Verdigris, Superb Dispelling, Explodet {descibed below}, Epic Counterspell, Epic Spell Reflection, Hellball, Kinetic Control.

Spell Prepared (4/9/9/9/8/8/8/8/7/7/7/7/5/5/5/5/3/3/3/3): [Base DC 27]; 0--Daze (4); 1--Magic Missile (9); 2--Magic Missile [Empower] (9); 3--Fireball (3), Slow (3), Vampiric Touch (3); 4--Fireball [Maximize] (4), Vampiric Touch [Maximize] (4); 5--Cone of Cold (4), Fireball [Enhance, Maximize] (4); 6--Disintegrate (8); 7--Finger of Death (2), Fireball [Enhance, Energy Admixture (acid), Maximize, Empower] (3), Cone of Cold [Enhance, Maximize] (3); 8--Cone of Cold [Enhance, Energy Admixture (acid), Maximize] (2), Fireball [Enhance, Energy Admixure (acid), Maximize, Empower x2] (3), Horrid Wilting (2); 9--Horrid Wilting [Maximize] (3), Meteor Swarm (4); 10--Horrid Wilting [Enhance, Maximize] (2), Meteor Swarm [Maximize] (3), Vampiric Touch [Enhance, Maximize, Empower x5] (2); 11--Horrid Wilting [Enhance, Maximize, Empower] (2), Magic Missile [Maximize, Empower x9] (2), Vampiric Touch [Enhance, Maximize, Empower x6] (3); 12--Horrid Wilting [Enhance, Maximize, Empower x2] (2), Magic Missile [Maximize, Empower x10] (1), Vampiric Touch [Enhance, Maximize, Empower x7] (2); 13--Horrid Wilting [Enhance, Maximize, Empower x3] (2), Meteor Swarm [Intensify] (1), Vampiric Touch [Enhance, Maximize, Empower x8] (2); 14--Horrid Wilting [Enhance, Maximize, Empower x4] (3), Vampiric Touch [Enhance, Maximize, Empower x9] (2); 15--Horrid Wilting [Enhance, Maximize, Empower x5] (2), Vampiric Touch [Enhance, Maximize, Empower x10] (3); 16--Horrid Wilting [Enhance, Maximize, Empower x6] (2), Vampiric Touch [Enhance, Maximize, Empower x11] (1); 17--Horrid Wilting [Enhance, Maximize, Empower x7] (1), Vampiric Touch [Enhance, Maximize, Empower x12] (2); 18--Horrid Wilting [Enhance, Maximize, Empower x8] (2), Vampiric Touch [Enhance, Maximize, Empower x13] (1); 19--Horrid Wilting [Enhance, Maximize, Empower x9] (1), Vampiric Touch [Enhance, Maximize, Empower x14] (2); Epic--Destroy (4), Epic Mage Armor (1), Explodet (2), Kinetic Control (3).

Spikard: SR 50, +5 resistance bonus to save, +5 deflection bonus to AC, "Haste" continuous, "Fly" continuous, Spellcraft +40, Knowledge (arcana) +40, Concentration +40, Iaijutsu Focus +40, Tumble +40. GP Value: 1,360,000.

Destroy:
Transmutation
Spellcraft DC: 49
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 12,000 ft.
Target: One creature, or up to a 10-foot cube of nonliving matter
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Fortitude half
Spell Resistance: Yes
To Develop: 441,000 gp; 9 days; 17,640 XP. Seed: destroy (DC 29). Factor: 1-action casting time (+20 DC).

The target of this spell explodes, taking 20d6 points of damage. If the target is reduced to -10 hit points or less (or a construct, object, or undead is reduced to 0 hit points), it is utterly destroyed as if disintegrated, leaving behind only a trace of fine dust.

Explodet:
Transmutation
Spellcraft DC: 69
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 12,000 ft.
Area: 20-ft.-radius spread
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Fortitude half
Spell Resistance: Yes
To Develop: 621,000 gp; 13 days; 24,840 XP. Seed: destroy (DC 29). Factors: 1-action casting time (+20 DC), change target to area of 20-ft. spread (+10 DC), increase damage die to d8 (+10 DC).

This spell causes a massive explosion, dealing 20d8 points of damage to everything within the area. Those reduced to -10 hit points or less (or constructs, objects, or undead reduced to 0 hit points) are utterly destroyed as if disintegrated, leaving behind only a trace of fine dust.



Xun Huo (pronounced Sun Hu-Oh) was played from Level 10. She got to where she is using all current rules, and she even has the suggested amount of wealth as per the ELH, which in this case is 13,600,000 gp. I also incorporation UK's CR system as shown in Asgard 6, and used UK's form of divine ascension for things such as ability scores and such.

Whatcha think, people? UK, I'd especially like to hear your opinion of her, as she would not be without your help. THIS is why I said Epic Level Deities could beat normal Deities as in the D&Dg no problem. Just as she is she has nearly as much power as Boccob!

Her first target will be Orcus . . . After that, probably Tiamat and then Bahamut . . .

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hello again mate!

WHOA WHOA WHOA!

Dammit, right when I finally had my Xun Huo finish, you change the rules on me. So it's +10 instead of +6?

Remember a few posts ago when I mentioned I already had the ability score post typed, I actually had that at +10 at that stage, but I changed it when I saw how badass Pit Fiend and Solars become.

I guess that's okay, although it just makes me even more powerful.

Thats the spirit!

Anyway, what is this crap about Divine Array and 35 and whatever?

The Divine Array is the (albeit unofficial) explanation from Rich Redman (co-writer of Deities & Demigods) for what happens to ability scores after Divine Ascension.

Technically it has its problems (some of which I outlined earlier).

When my character ascended, I just kept her with the stats she already had, and then added the bonuses you had spoken about. Did I do it wrong?

What's up with all that? It's confusing . . .

No I had a temporary change of heart when I saw the stats for the Pit Fiend Quasi-deity. But you have to stand by your convictions.

Typical Human Ability Scores

15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8

After Divine Ascension (& 20 class levels)

30 (35), 29, 28, 27, 25, 23

Typical Pit Fiend Ability Scores

25, 13, 21, 20, 20, 16

After Divine Ascension +20HD (& Huge Size Increase)

48 (40), 28 (26), 36 (40), 35, 35, 31

WOTC Divine Array

40, 28, 25, 24, 24, 24

 

[Impeesa]

Well it sort of depends on the balance between worship and siphoned energy.

But unless the deity encounters a worship points vacuum (siphoned energy takes WP total to negatives) I would allow the deity to sustain itself at Quasi-deity status.

Siphoned energy being, what, sort of a 'divine upkeep'?

Sounds interesting.

A little bit like Highlander.

We had a similar adventure on Earth 2020 (the Cyberpunk world). The main thing to remember is to make technological weapons a credible threat to deities.

Looking at CoC d20 the damages for the weapons there are a little weak against deities. So it will be interesting to see how d20 Modern handles things.

Heh, if they've let things get out of hand enough that they're being shot at, they deserve it.

Ooooh.. what if a war got going... and the PC's discovered that other immortals were behind it or at least involved at some level. As things heated up, both in the war at large and the hidden war of the gods, people would start dying, and it would all play into the prophecies of Ragnarok. Hehe.. I really should run this sometime..

--Impeesa--

 

[Upper_Krust]

Re: Xun Huo

Hello again mate!

Here she is, my goddess, Xun Huo!

Xun Huo (pronounced Sun Hu-Oh) was played from Level 10.

Excellent. Thats the way to do it!

She got to where she is using all current rules, and she even has the suggested amount of wealth as per the ELH, which in this case is 13,600,000 gp.

Okay. She has a lot of Epic items. Did she gain them through adventure or create them herself?

I also incorporated UK's CR system as shown in Asgard 6,

I may have undercalculated the Quasi-deity template. It could be +14 ECL rather than +8 (though the additional Divine Ranks are still +4 ECL each)

So your character would be ECL 62/CR 35

Running more tests now. The reason for this change is that I now have a new method of calculating the effect of ability score increases.

and used UK's form of divine ascension for things such as ability scores and such.

Also she between 1 and 1.5 million WP.

Whatcha think, people? UK, I'd especially like to hear your opinion of her, as she would not be without your help.

Very nice indeed. Though I probably need the ELH to more accurately assess things.

Though watch your tail in an Anti-Magic Field!

In fact I would be very interested to she a brief resume of her in an AMF.

THIS is why I said Epic Level Deities could beat normal Deities as in the D&Dg no problem. Just as she is she has nearly as much power as Boccob!

The main difference is the high propensity for Epic Magic Items. Something that even epic NPCs generally won't have in such high numbers.

Her first target will be Orcus . . . After that, probably Tiamat and then Bahamut . . .

I presume you mean the BoVD Orcus and the D&Dg Bahamut and Tiamat?

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hello mate!

Siphoned energy being, what, sort of a 'divine upkeep'?

You gain faith (energy) from worship.

You also have a siphoned (energy) figure. This occurs when you expend worship points for creation (etc.) which makes the siphoned figure negative. You can add to the siphoned energy; in a number of ways, notably by killing other deities (akin to Highlanders 'Quickening').

Faith (energy) + Siphoned (energy) = Divinity

Siphoned (energy) has no effect on the number of worshippers.

Heh, if they've let things get out of hand enough that they're being shot at, they deserve it.

Things inevitably do get out of hand though!

Ooooh.. what if a war got going... and the PC's discovered that other immortals were behind it or at least involved at some level. As things heated up, both in the war at large and the hidden war of the gods, people would start dying, and it would all play into the prophecies of Ragnarok. Hehe.. I really should run this sometime..

Perhaps Microsoft are really the Sons of Surtur!