D&D (2024) What does the new DMG say about gods?

[Henadic Theologian]

I'll just say I disagree with the 2024 DMG re: deities, and leave it at that.

One thing that I like about 5E is that (with few exceptions) it doesn't give stat blocks to deities. While I did enjoy reading Deities and Demigods as a kid, IMO, gods should be several orders of magnitude in power above mortals, ...even the most power mortals.

I wasn't happy with the Rime of the Frost Maiden because it potentially gives players the idea that they can challenge deities.

IMO, a deity's powers and abilities should be game breaking. They are on a different "tier" of power than mortals after all. They should be able to manipulate reality (within their sphere of influence), and curb stomp mortals with a mere wave of their hand.

Random question - canonically Is Asmodeus a lesser, greater, or demigod (or not one at all)? As a kid, I assumed he was a Satan analog (a greater god), but apparently that's not the case.

Anything less then Greater God never made sense to be me, he controls the devils, the nine hells, has countless cults on countless worlds and is one of the most influential Gods in the entire cosmos.

 

[M.L. Martin]

Random question - canonically Is Asmodeus a lesser, greater, or demigod (or not one at all)? As a kid, I assumed he was a Satan analog (a greater god), but apparently that's not the case.

I think the section on Infernal Hierarchy in the 2024 DMG states that he has the power of a lesser god, but I only glanced at it.

Asmodeus has undergone considerable promotion since WotC took over the game, although they seem to have backed off from the "fundamental creative force of the universe" toyed with in the late 2E Guide to Hell.

 

[pukunui]

What are the divine ranks? Is it just God, lesser God, Quasi Deity again, or is it more like the old school Greater God, Intermediate God, Lesser God, Demigod, Quasi Deity?

Greater deities
Lesser deities
Quasi-deities:
*Demigods
*Titans
*Vestiges

I think the section on Infernal Hierarchy in the 2024 DMG states that he has the power of a lesser god, but I only glanced at it.

Correct. He “wields the power of a lesser god” and is “worshiped as such on the Material Plane, [inspiring] evil cults and sinister Warlocks.”

 

[Parmandur]

Greater deities
Lesser deities
Quasi-deities
Demigods
Titans
Vestiges



Correct. He “wields the power of a lesser god” and is “worshiped as such on the Material Plane, [inspiring] evil cults and sinister Warlocks.”

To be clear, Demigods, Titan, and Vestiage are thw three major types of Quasi-deities, ao on the same (statable and killable) level.

 

[Parmandur]

I always thought it was weird that he was called saint if he was a god. Saints are people, not gods.

What's more, St. Cuthbert of Lindisfarne was very much a real individual person, so that always sat weird.

 

[TiQuinn]

Dumb question - in terms of any game mechanics that affect players, is there any difference between these levels of the Gods? If they were all Greater Deities, what would change?

 

[pukunui]

Dumb question - in terms of any game mechanics that affect players, is there any difference between these levels of the Gods? If they were all Greater Deities, what would change?

Nothing really.

The divine beings of the multiverse are often categorized according to their relative cosmic power. Some gods who are worshiped on multiple worlds have a different rank on each world, depending on their influence there.

Greater deities are generally the oldest gods of a pantheon, responsible (at least in myth) for creating or parenting the other gods. Their provinces are major areas of nature and mortal life, such as agriculture, the sun, and death. Greater deities are ultimately beyond mortal understanding, and they’re often known by different names across regions, cultures, and worlds. Having no fixed appearance or gender, they can assume whatever forms they like. Occasionally these deities manifest and perform mythic deeds among mortals.

Lesser deities are typically described in myth as the creations, children, or servitors of the greater deities. They govern narrower provinces, such as the activities of mortal life or limited aspects of the natural world. They share the fundamentally ineffable nature of greater gods, but they are more likely to manifest in mortal realms.

Quasi-deities have a divine origin, but they don’t receive or answer prayers. They are still immensely powerful beings, and in theory, they could ascend to godhood if they amass enough worshipers.

 

[TiQuinn]

Nothing really.

That's kind of what I figured. If a player said they wanted to be a Cleric of Murlynd or Hercules, there's no real impedance in the rules other than standing on canon.

 

[TiQuinn]

I always thought it was weird that he was called saint if he was a god. Saints are people, not gods.

Yet even in real life, people pray to saints as well.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

Greater deities
Lesser deities
Quasi-deities:
*Demigods
*Titans
*Vestiges



Correct. He “wields the power of a lesser god” and is “worshiped as such on the Material Plane, [inspiring] evil cults and sinister Warlocks.”

So same as the 2014 DMG interesting, makes me think that the Planar Incarnates should have had the Titan tag.