It's sort of like a mash of Greyhawk and Mystara where you are godlike. The back story is that it has been a millennium since the Gods all disappeared after a final battle with the Lords of Hell and the 666 Abyss. This literally destroyed the all of the planes except the Astral, but the other planes congealed and separated into a Heaven and hell. Thus only the Devils led by the Pit fiends rule over hell and what's left of the demons. While heaven is claimed by the Devas led by the Solars. The planet is much different now and more dangerous to humans.
The great and powerful magicians who held the terrors at bay, have long since died and their wards were destroyed. Thus if a human dies, his soul is claimed by the Devils as there are no gods to worship to take their souls. The Devas are not gods, and believe it would be sinful for them to presume to act like gods and save human souls. The Devas unflinching believe that they are merely holding down heaven until the gods return.
During the great war in the planes, energy was both destroyed and re-created. What was left of divinity eventually ebbed down in random areas of the planet to attach itself to an unknowing person. These people were few and nothing was special about them. Some were princes, some were merchants some still were mere shepherds or even beggars. In fact they would not know that they held a divine spark in them until something occurred that caused them to act. A lowly beggar suddenly found himself slaying several wild beasts, thinking him an easy feast, with his bare hands.
A handmaiden to the queen sentenced to beheading, suddenly has the power to command military generals and the King's court.
I haven't fleshed out their abilities, powers and what not. But for sure there has to be levels and someway to quantify their powers. Perhaps like Sorcery Points. I don't want them to radiate godhood. For the most part they should still look like regular humans, but far more robust. They would not have alignments, since there are no gods, they are free to determine what is good, evil whatever. They can have worshippers and can eventually create their own plane for their worshippers.
In the meant time they must protect their worshippers and earn more worshippers to gain rank. Obviously they would gain enough power to catch the attention of the Devils and Devas, undoubtedly see them as a threat in some way.
Just how powerful can the Demigods be? I think it would be decided by how many power points that they have available. And of course further limitations would be the need for a long rest to fully recoup lost points.
Because they are demigods they can still be killed, but it is really hard to do so. First of all killing demigod cause their divine power to erupt and spring them to life, with the power to ignore any spell or binding and flee by whatever method they can. Their hit points and power points are half their max for one round. After that both falls to one point. If they are killed after that, they are dead. And they this ability only works once per level.
Another ability is the power to spend power points to autosave a failed save. How many points needed and how many times this can be done needs to be fleshed out.
Now here's where it gets dicey. I envision Demigods beings who eventually reach their full divine glory at a certain level. I am thinking that 10th level would be the max. Second, no mortal power or weapon can do more than 1d4 per level etc. This would include traps. Environmental hazards/traps such as dropping in a vat of acid, lake of lava or vacuum of space, would do 1pt of damage per round. That being said only other godlike beings can do full damage. And mortals, using weapons of those beings (artifacts etc.) can also do full damage. Finally, demigods can spend power points to attempt to affect mortal's saving throws. Again, how many power points would it take would be the issue. I think this makes sense as a god should be able to force his will on any mortal.
Lastly, I don't know if the Demigods should be able to use any spell or class ability by virtue of their power points, or if they should pick a class and stick with it and be the "God of" that particular dominion. Of course dominion is another thing to work out. Spending power points should be able to confer on a worshipper or group of worshippers a certain gift.
Sorry if this is sounding all over the place. But I would like to hear some input. Especially from those who have played other games as gods or superheroes.
It's sort of like a mash of Greyhawk and Mystara where you are godlike. The back story is that it has been a millennium since the Gods all disappeared after a final battle with the Lords of Hell and the 666 Abyss. This literally destroyed the all of the planes except the Astral, but the other planes congealed and separated into a Heaven and hell. Thus only the Devils led by the Pit fiends rule over hell and what's left of the demons. While heaven is claimed by the Devas led by the Solars. The planet is much different now and more dangerous to humans.
The great and powerful magicians who held the terrors at bay, have long since died and their wards were destroyed. Thus if a human dies, his soul is claimed by the Devils as there are no gods to worship to take their souls. The Devas are not gods, and believe it would be sinful for them to presume to act like gods and save human souls. The Devas unflinching believe that they are merely holding down heaven until the gods return.
During the great war in the planes, energy was both destroyed and re-created. What was left of divinity eventually ebbed down in random areas of the planet to attach itself to an unknowing person. These people were few and nothing was special about them. Some were princes, some were merchants some still were mere shepherds or even beggars. In fact they would not know that they held a divine spark in them until something occurred that caused them to act. A lowly beggar suddenly found himself slaying several wild beasts, thinking him an easy feast, with his bare hands.
A handmaiden to the queen sentenced to beheading, suddenly has the power to command military generals and the King's court.
I haven't fleshed out their abilities, powers and what not. But for sure there has to be levels and someway to quantify their powers. Perhaps like Sorcery Points. I don't want them to radiate godhood. For the most part they should still look like regular humans, but far more robust. They would not have alignments, since there are no gods, they are free to determine what is good, evil whatever. They can have worshippers and can eventually create their own plane for their worshippers.
In the meant time they must protect their worshippers and earn more worshippers to gain rank. Obviously they would gain enough power to catch the attention of the Devils and Devas, undoubtedly see them as a threat in some way.
Just how powerful can the Demigods be? I think it would be decided by how many power points that they have available. And of course further limitations would be the need for a long rest to fully recoup lost points.
Because they are demigods they can still be killed, but it is really hard to do so. First of all killing demigod cause their divine power to erupt and spring them to life, with the power to ignore any spell or binding and flee by whatever method they can. Their hit points and power points are half their max for one round. After that both falls to one point. If they are killed after that, they are dead. And they this ability only works once per level.
Another ability is the power to spend power points to autosave a failed save. How many points needed and how many times this can be done needs to be fleshed out.
Now here's where it gets dicey. I envision Demigods beings who eventually reach their full divine glory at a certain level. I am thinking that 10th level would be the max. Second, no mortal power or weapon can do more than 1d4 per level etc. This would include traps. Environmental hazards/traps such as dropping in a vat of acid, lake of lava or vacuum of space, would do 1pt of damage per round. That being said only other godlike beings can do full damage. And mortals, using weapons of those beings (artifacts etc.) can also do full damage. Finally, demigods can spend power points to attempt to affect mortal's saving throws. Again, how many power points would it take would be the issue. I think this makes sense as a god should be able to force his will on any mortal.
Lastly, I don't know if the Demigods should be able to use any spell or class ability by virtue of their power points, or if they should pick a class and stick with it and be the "God of" that particular dominion. Of course dominion is another thing to work out. Spending power points should be able to confer on a worshipper or group of worshippers a certain gift.
Sorry if this is sounding all over the place. But I would like to hear some input. Especially from those who have played other games as gods or superheroes.
How many of the following stories are you familiar with?
I'd like to make the observation that demigod stories are often not happy ending stories and it is difficult to tell a tragedy with D&D...