Which cosmology is more compelling to you?

[William Ronald]

You could try to combine elements from both scenarios. Option B creates more moral dilemmas, and emphasizes a possibility for redemption.

Possibly some evil beings wish to resurrect the Adversary. Of course, some evil beings would oppose this. Some may even reevaluate themselves in their opposition to their former lord, perhaps trying to reach the Light again (or for the first time).

 

[paulewaug]

Well, if a paladin is able to justify "up and killing" an evil person, surely a good god could do so to an evil god (and without the messy code of honor requirements ).

Plus... if he's the only other god, who's going to tell him otherwise?

haha! That's a good point!
But then Paladin's are "only human" and therefore prone to "Want to kill things" because (most of us?) we are easily swayed by darker emotions, although Paladin's Should be better, but seldom work out that way. (Just look at all the threads about Paladin's behavior.)
I would expect more from a god. Especially if it's the Only good god, he should set the example by trying the path of mercy first.

Since the good god is more powerful (as evidenced in option b)
it is possible that he doesn't kill the evil one and allows BBEG to cause problems for Mortals because overcoming adversity is a pathway to spiritual growth and man is best judged by his actions.

Also by doing the "mercy thing" first you can have "good" kill "bad" later and then you get to use Both ideas!



I want to add that I like the idea of Both of them killing Each Other a lot. That reminds me of Record of Loddoss War.
Good stuff-

 

[rbingham2000]

A) God of good defeats and imprisons the god of evil long ago. His demonic servants act in his stead but most do not care to see him released, because they want to supplant him. In this scenario, you would have good clerics, evil clerics, and demon worshippers all vying against each other.

B) Good of good slays god of evil at the dawn of creation. His evil essence is then radiated among his demonic servants and some of the angels fighting against them, thereby corrupting them and causing them to fall. In this scenario, you would have good clerics vying against the followers of fallen angels and demons, who are bent on eliminating rivals to accumulate as much of the divinity of the dead evil god as possible. Little do they know that by collecting all of the evil god's "divinity sparks” the victor will cease to exist; rather, the evil god will be reborn.

I have toyed with both ideas, but I have a slight preference for the first and that is the default in my game. I am interested in other posters opinions, though.

How about both?

Option A is the basic cosmology that is espoused by the main religion of the setting and is believed in by the majority of the people.

However, Option B is the real cosmology of the setting, and because it among other things calls into question the immortality of a god (maybe in the first cosmology, both gods are true immortals, and cannot kill each other even if they wanted to) and the incorruptibility of the good god's servants, the proponents of the first cosmology consider this cosmology to be heresy.

 

[SpringPlum]

Re: Re: Which cosmology is more compelling to you?

How about both?

I, too, think that both is a good idea. Could be that some of the people believe the first to be true and some believe the second to be the truth. Religious conflict with the people as well as between the 'good' side and the 'evil' side.