Demigods as player characters [or: It's All Greek to Me]

[JPL]

Y'know, the Greeks were the original powergamers.

We get on a player's case if he wants to play a troll or a half-ogre or a drow. The Greeks skipped all that and went straight to "I'm playing the son of Zeus, King of the Gods."

But imagine a D&D setting where the gods were constantly getting involved and making trouble and falling in love with mortals. The heroes would be far mightier than ordinary men, but still just dust beneath the feet of the gods.

I dunno...maybe this would be a high-level campaign which eventually became epic-level. Very low-tech, with magic very rare and often very powerful. A young world, with all the rough edges still in place, and humanity just starting to assert itself.

 

[MatthewJHanson]

I was thinking about doing something like this once, but my idea was to make everybody else less powerfull. The demigods would be the only one who could take the PC classes (which are pretty darn deimi-god like at high levels). All the other people in the wolrd would be limited to the NPC classes in the DMG.

 

[MatthewJHanson]

Oops double post

 

[Nightfall]

Well in that instance you might want to use some of Midnight for dealing with various magical aspects...but each of the gods COULD do what they want within reason. (Large parameters on what is reasonable for a god and a Greek one too)

 

[JPL]

I was thinking about doing something like this once, but my idea was to make everybody else less powerfull. The demigods would be the only one who could take the PC classes (which are pretty darn deimi-god like at high levels). All the other people in the wolrd would be limited to the NPC classes in the DMG.

I might not go quite that far...but limiting magic [or at least some varieties thereof] to the divine-blooded is certainly a possibility.

There'd be an argument for trying some mixed parties of epic-level humans and actual demigods. That'd be an interesting experiment, if I had both books.

I dunno...it would be interesting to play this group that were simultaneously the greatest among men --- natural leaders, heroes, and conquerers --- and the least among gods --- who operate on a far larger scale, and live forever, and who at times are like arrogant children and at other times like forces of nature...

 

[Ed Cha]

How about a game in which your PCs play gods and they influence NPCs in a mortal world? For example, the PC gods compete with each other as patrons of heroes or monsters by giving them gifts or special powers or favors.

It is almost like a chess game. The DM acts out the NPCs in their adventures and the PCs aid their clients by starting a thunderstorm in the trail of an opponent or sending a hippocampus to rescue an ally who is drowning in the ocean.

In some ways, you can say that the DM-Player role has reversed and this could offer for interesting scenarios. The DM should still be in charge of the world and what happens though the players can propose anything they wish as long as it meets the DM's approval.

 

[clark411]

I'd go against the idea of disallowing the better classes for NPCs if the players are playing demigods. Really, if they are going to be that powerful, they need a world filled with hardy, strong, heroic mortals to face, or they'll just walk all over it. That or fight hydra all day.

Either no PC classes beyond the party, and lots of Hydra...

or PC classes for everyone.

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hi JPL!

Y'know, the Greeks were the original powergamers.

We get on a player's case if he wants to play a troll or a half-ogre or a drow. The Greeks skipped all that and went straight to "I'm playing the son of Zeus, King of the Gods."

But imagine a D&D setting where the gods were constantly getting involved and making trouble and falling in love with mortals. The heroes would be far mightier than ordinary men, but still just dust beneath the feet of the gods.

Okay, you have just summed up our campaign from not so long ago (temporarily in hiatus until a certain book is released).

I dunno...maybe this would be a high-level campaign which eventually became epic-level.

Ours was a low-level campaign which eventually became immortal-level.

Very low-tech, with magic very rare and often very powerful. A young world, with all the rough edges still in place, and humanity just starting to assert itself.

I suppose either of those are possibilities, but I would try not to impose very many limits - its anathema to the whole idea.

I mean we incorporate all the above because we use multiple planets for the deities (or their missionaries) to proselytize upon. We even incorporate modern and sci-fi worlds now and again to give more variety.

The beauty of it is that anything goes!

Whether you are working with British Intelligence in a Cyberpunk 2020 setting to find the Sword of Kas; refighting the 2nd World War in an alternate Earth where the rennaissance and industrial revolution never happened; pretending to be a goddess (rather than a god) to gain a foothold in a matriarchy; warring with the Melnibonean Sword Gods; working with alien bounty hunters; time travelling to save your ancestors; starting a civil war in the Nine Hells or any of many, many other things we have accomplished along the way. I think the one thing that made it especially 'epic' was that there were no constraits - only consequences.

 

[Nightfall]

*Thread Interrupt!* Krusty! How are ya mate?! Btw what's the hold up on your little "project?"

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hi Nightfall mate!

*Thread Interrupt!* Krusty! How are ya mate?!

Not too bad mate thanks for asking. I hope you and the family are keeping well?

I meant to jump into your Scarred Lands Upcoming Products thread (some nice stuff on the way) - but I just got distracted.

Btw what's the hold up on your little "project?"

3 weeks WotC have said before they update ELH into the SRD. *fingers crossed*