To answer why the gods can't manifest on the plane. I like the idea that Gods require MASSIVE amounts of raw power to exist in a corporeal form. To the point that multiple gods existing on the plane would cause the plane to buckle under the stress. They know this, because they have done this to planes (previous attempts at a mortal plane) before, stripping the plane of it's magical nature. To combat this, and to prevent interdimensional threats, the God have created a kind of Web/Gate that surrounds the plane. Anything beyond a certain level of power can not pass through the gaps in the gate. This doesn't prevent most mortal interdimensional travel (they aren't considered strong enough), but it sure keeps stuff like Archdemons/astral dreadnaughts/etc... from messing with the plane.
If the gods want someone dead, they have a choice to make. You said that they could destroy the plane if they entered it personally, so they can hang back and let a party of adventurers face off against something powerful enough to scare them, or they can go right ahead and take the risk of destroying the plane. If the plane survives, great! If not, who cares? They can always make another one, they have done so in the past, so it's just a matter of time. I hear the last time a contractor did it took 7 days, but be careful, they way I hear it, they actually took off a day at the end to rest, and still billed for all 7. Don't get overcharged. Insist on six days, and maybe pay a premium for getting it done faster. Or better, the gods might just do it themselves, and save a huge amount of time by working together.
I know which I would chose if it was a case of me being destroyed or just one plane of existence.
Oh her power can't destroy them, simply sever their link to the plane. And you are right they COULD just F*** off and go seed a new plane. But that's a lot of time and effort, plus that means they don't get to harvest those souls they spent all that time enriching. Do you have any idea how much a level 20 character's soul is worth on the open market?
This is actually kind of a thing. The higher the level of a character, the more power they self actualize. Like if you throw a level full 20 caster into a non magical space they would literally generate enough magic to gain back their spell slots up to level 4 maybe even level 5 (doesn't work in anti magic zones). You want to bargain with a god like being and offer your soul as payment? You aren't going to get much as a level 1 chuckle ****. But OH BOY will they bend over backwards at the higher levels. The logic being, "how many level 1-3 people, could a level 20 take in a fight before falling? How many more if initiative order wasn't a thing?"
Sounds like you've got this all stitched up then! You have your BBEG, given them the ability to scare/threaten a Godlike being and soon enough, they'll be hurtling through your universe in a brand new Edgar suit. I do agree that your Pantheon would probably act with impunity without something concrete to bind them to the Prime Material. There currently is none.
That being said, you've come asking for advice and received quite a bit. I hope that it serves you well, and best wishes on your campaign!
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“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.” - Mark Twain - Innocents Abroad
Have your BBEG be a scientist. She is an Artificer.
She trusts in the prime material plane and all it has to offer. Alchemy, invention, innovation and technology are her allies. The Gods fear being irrelevant or replaced by things made by man. Miracles = medicine. Enchantment = pharmaceuticals. Transmutation= industry. Evocation= physics/chemistry, Etc. The gradual replacement of followers of their faith to followers of Science scares them. They have peered into other dimensions and seen it happen. It will take time but Gods seem immortal. Are they?
If the Science is taken to the extreme you get The Matrix. So no one wins anyway.
To answer why the gods can't manifest on the plane. I like the idea that Gods require MASSIVE amounts of raw power to exist in a corporeal form. To the point that multiple gods existing on the plane would cause the plane to buckle under the stress. They know this, because they have done this to planes (previous attempts at a mortal plane) before, stripping the plane of it's magical nature. To combat this, and to prevent interdimensional threats, the God have created a kind of Web/Gate that surrounds the plane. Anything beyond a certain level of power can not pass through the gaps in the gate. This doesn't prevent most mortal interdimensional travel (they aren't considered strong enough), but it sure keeps stuff like Archdemons/astral dreadnaughts/etc... from messing with the plane.
If the gods want someone dead, they have a choice to make. You said that they could destroy the plane if they entered it personally, so they can hang back and let a party of adventurers face off against something powerful enough to scare them, or they can go right ahead and take the risk of destroying the plane. If the plane survives, great! If not, who cares? They can always make another one, they have done so in the past, so it's just a matter of time. I hear the last time a contractor did it took 7 days, but be careful, they way I hear it, they actually took off a day at the end to rest, and still billed for all 7. Don't get overcharged. Insist on six days, and maybe pay a premium for getting it done faster. Or better, the gods might just do it themselves, and save a huge amount of time by working together.
I know which I would chose if it was a case of me being destroyed or just one plane of existence.
<Insert clever signature here>
Oh her power can't destroy them, simply sever their link to the plane. And you are right they COULD just F*** off and go seed a new plane. But that's a lot of time and effort, plus that means they don't get to harvest those souls they spent all that time enriching. Do you have any idea how much a level 20 character's soul is worth on the open market?
This is actually kind of a thing. The higher the level of a character, the more power they self actualize. Like if you throw a level full 20 caster into a non magical space they would literally generate enough magic to gain back their spell slots up to level 4 maybe even level 5 (doesn't work in anti magic zones). You want to bargain with a god like being and offer your soul as payment? You aren't going to get much as a level 1 chuckle ****. But OH BOY will they bend over backwards at the higher levels. The logic being, "how many level 1-3 people, could a level 20 take in a fight before falling? How many more if initiative order wasn't a thing?"
Sounds like you've got this all stitched up then! You have your BBEG, given them the ability to scare/threaten a Godlike being and soon enough, they'll be hurtling through your universe in a brand new Edgar suit. I do agree that your Pantheon would probably act with impunity without something concrete to bind them to the Prime Material. There currently is none.
That being said, you've come asking for advice and received quite a bit. I hope that it serves you well, and best wishes on your campaign!
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.” - Mark Twain - Innocents Abroad
Have your BBEG be a scientist. She is an Artificer.
She trusts in the prime material plane and all it has to offer. Alchemy, invention, innovation and technology are her allies. The Gods fear being irrelevant or replaced by things made by man. Miracles = medicine. Enchantment = pharmaceuticals. Transmutation= industry. Evocation= physics/chemistry, Etc. The gradual replacement of followers of their faith to followers of Science scares them. They have peered into other dimensions and seen it happen. It will take time but Gods seem immortal. Are they?
If the Science is taken to the extreme you get The Matrix. So no one wins anyway.