Human history has examples of royal families claiming their right to rule by claiming that they are the descendants of deities. For example, the ancient Egyptian royal family was considered descendants of gods. Also, the concept that the emperors and empresses of Japan are descended from gods was enshrined in the Shinto religion. This happened in Japan’s earliest histories, as well as in the 1889 Meiji Constitution. Article 3 of this constitution stated in its entirety ‘The Emperor is sacred and inviolable’.
This background as a descendant of a deity would work with the Noble background.
The Aasimar species is essentially this so I’d say if a player wanted this for a character they’d be best playing that rather than it being a background
As a player, I wouldn't want this. As a GM, I'd flat-out reject it.
But .. that's pretty on-brand for me =)
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Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
Yes, i have. One of the 4E games that i played in all the PCs were near descendants of Tiamat, and we were put into situation where only one of us could be left, and that one would be Taimat's champion as she took over the world. We all rejected her offer, and fought against her and the Cult of the Dragon. We all started Calling ourselves "The Nieces and Nephews of Bahamut." it can be great if properly worked into the story, or lampshaded for humor. I have only once seen it used in all sincarity and not be "Main character syndrome agogo."
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He/Him. Loooooooooong time Player. The Dark days of the THAC0 system are behind us.
"Hope is a fire that burns in us all If only an ember, awaiting your call To rise up in triumph should we all unite The spark for change is yours to ignite." Kalandra - The State of the World
I agree with you. Imagine a royal family that has been disposed, while their kingdom was broken up or taken over by another nation. Thus, a player character of any background could claim to be a descendant of a deity.
People claiming to be the descendants of deities, or deities themselves, happen many times in the real world.
In elementary school, I learned that one person who claimed to be a god was Spanish Conquistador Hernan Cortes, the leader of a band of 500 conquistadors. The Aztecs believed in a white, bearded god named Quetzalcoatl, who, long ago, had disappeared into the east. Before he left, however, he promised to return. When Cortes and his crew of Spaniards came ashore in what is now Mexico in 1519, the same year that Quetzalcoatl said that he would return, many of the Aztecs and those of nearby tribes thought these Conquistadors were gods. And when these Conquistador soldiers marched inland to the city of Tenochtitlan, their native guides took them to the Aztec emperor’s palace. This meeting resulted in deception, followed by bloody battles that resulted in the conquest of the Aztec nation, providing much wealth to Spain.
Having good player characters freeing people from slavery and death from human sacrifice by an evil aristocracy could be a fun campaign arc for you and your players. What about allowing evil, non-player characters claiming to be a descendant of a God, or a God themselves?
Human history has examples of royal families claiming their right to rule by claiming that they are the descendants of deities. For example, the ancient Egyptian royal family was considered descendants of gods. Also, the concept that the emperors and empresses of Japan are descended from gods was enshrined in the Shinto religion. This happened in Japan’s earliest histories, as well as in the 1889 Meiji Constitution. Article 3 of this constitution stated in its entirety ‘The Emperor is sacred and inviolable’.
This background as a descendant of a deity would work with the Noble background.
While I have no interest in doing this, after reading your idea. I came up with a character concept using 2024.
I think the closest I've come to a character being descended from a god was an idea I had a while back about playing a Xvart by using Deep Gnome for stat/abilities and claiming to be descended from Raxivort who is the patron of Xvart warlocks and, depending on which lore you read, may of created the Xvart as a way of hiding from other more powerful gods/demon lords.
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* Need a character idea? Search for "Rob76's Unused" in the Story and Lore section.
I agree with you. Imagine a royal family that has been disposed, while their kingdom was broken up or taken over by another nation. Thus, a player character of any background could claim to be a descendant of a deity.
Still unclear on why there has to be royalty involved. Zeus was going around sleeping with everyone. Most of the Greek gods had human lovers. Other ancient myths are filled with similar examples. Certainly, lots of royal families claim to be descended from gods, and many claimed to be living gods. But in D&D, (campaign dependent, of course) there’s no reason someone couldn’t be an orphan on the streets and descended from a god.
Human history has examples of royal families claiming their right to rule by claiming that they are the descendants of deities. For example, the ancient Egyptian royal family was considered descendants of gods. Also, the concept that the emperors and empresses of Japan are descended from gods was enshrined in the Shinto religion. This happened in Japan’s earliest histories, as well as in the 1889 Meiji Constitution. Article 3 of this constitution stated in its entirety ‘The Emperor is sacred and inviolable’.
This background as a descendant of a deity would work with the Noble background.
As far as I know, currently the only PC's who are descendants of a Deity or Deity like beings are Aasimars.
As far as I know, currently the only PC's who are descendants of a Deity or Deity like beings are Aasimars.
Not really, since forever there has always been people who have Roleplayed as having a Divine Ancestor, and ever since the Bhaalspawn trilogy it has become very common to have people play one.
There was a campaign I was in, where as the campaign progressed it became revealed to the party (myself included) that my character was descended from individuals who had been blessed as a God, and granted Demi-god Status. Part of my story for the campaign ended up being searching for a legendary Demi-God who had gone mad and turned into a villain. There apparently was a prophecy that we would duel to the death, and the winner would absorb the divinity from the other and ascend to God Status. Was pretty dope, and one hell of an Epilogue when the Campaign was over.
No it wasnt a player decision, I had given my DM a pretty open ended backstory, and my character had been cursed with amnesia and a powerful modify memory at some point in their history. Ended up being pretty dope.
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"Not getting cut into bloody littles slices, That's the key to a sound plan."
My one character was not a descendent, but his family line had been blessed by the Goddess of the Seas in that particular campaign. Another one was a randomly chosen holy entity of his people.
Characters can be descendants of Deities but how that would affect them is questionable. There is no specific race/species for such a descendant but Aasimar are descended from Celestials (which could be/include a good Deity) and Tieflings are Descended from Fiends (which could be/include an evil Deity). As Gothicshark mentioned, Bhaalspawn are children of Bhaal, yet they usually have little to no physical attributes that indicate the dark divine nature of their father and instead resemble their mother's lineage instead.
Overall, I don't think I'd go down this route of having a character descended from the gods, it's a bit too Hercules for my liking. It's a character that is big and strong because their father is Zeus rather than having built up their own strength and earned their own achievements and to me the better backstory. I don't mind playing Aasimar or Tiefling but I wouldn't want to play them as the descendent of a god, rather just some Fiend or Celestial that gives them some minor power but overall, most of what they achieved was from their own efforts and not because of who their parents are.
This is to say I have a preference for character that grow and mature, I just feel there is more to work with where, "My granddad is Tyr," would I feel take a lot away from the character them self, they are instead overshadowed by Tyr and everybody will be more interested in their connection to Tyr than who they are. Now what I might play is a fraudster that pretends to be a Deity, that is basically pretending they are Deity when they aren't really, that could lead to some interesting roleplay.
As far as I know, currently the only PC's who are descendants of a Deity or Deity like beings are Aasimars.
Not really, since forever there has always been people who have Roleplayed as having a Divine Ancestor, and ever since the Bhaalspawn trilogy it has become very common to have people play one.
Aren't we discussing core rules? If so then Aasimars only apply here.
As far as I know, currently the only PC's who are descendants of a Deity or Deity like beings are Aasimars.
Not really, since forever there has always been people who have Roleplayed as having a Divine Ancestor, and ever since the Bhaalspawn trilogy it has become very common to have people play one.
Aren't we discussing core rules? If so then Aasimars only apply here.
If we are discussing Core Rules then Aasimars are descendants of Celestial beings, not gods.
Else wise if we are saying the Celestial might be a god then the same is true of Fiends for Tiefling, Asmodeus who is a common ancestor for many Tieflings, is a god. Also Tiamat had many spawn and so some Dragonic Sorcery Sorcerers might also be descended from Tiamat.
I had an Air Genasi Pact of the Genie Warlock as a character once.
I had his background that his Patron was his Great Great etc Grandfather who is a Djinni Lord. And that he worked as an enforcer of deals that his Great~ Grandfather made with mortals. Basically giving out Wishes in exchange for them giving him X or doing X.
Thats about as close to a Descendant of a Deity as I think I'd feel comfortable pushing.
No special powers or anything. Just some flavor considering Air Genasi can have Djinni ancestry and Pact of the Genie can have a Djinni as a Patron.
Human history has examples of royal families claiming their right to rule by claiming that they are the descendants of deities. For example, the ancient Egyptian royal family was considered descendants of gods. Also, the concept that the emperors and empresses of Japan are descended from gods was enshrined in the Shinto religion. This happened in Japan’s earliest histories, as well as in the 1889 Meiji Constitution. Article 3 of this constitution stated in its entirety ‘The Emperor is sacred and inviolable’.
This background as a descendant of a deity would work with the Noble background.
While true, whether or not they can back up their claim is a separate issue entirely. Back then, it was effectively treason to state otherwise.
Seems like it could work with any background. The big thing would be risking trying to be a main character.
The Aasimar species is essentially this so I’d say if a player wanted this for a character they’d be best playing that rather than it being a background
As a player, I wouldn't want this. As a GM, I'd flat-out reject it.
But .. that's pretty on-brand for me =)
Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
I'd be fine with it, depending on the cosmology of the setting in question. The question's I'd have are:
And work things out from there.
🎵I'm on top of the world, looking down on creation, wreaking death and devastation with my mind.
As the power that I've found erupts freely from the ground, I will cackle from the top of the world.🎵
Charisma Saving Throw: DC 18, Failure: 20d6 Psychic Damage, Success: Half damage
Yes, i have. One of the 4E games that i played in all the PCs were near descendants of Tiamat, and we were put into situation where only one of us could be left, and that one would be Taimat's champion as she took over the world.
We all rejected her offer, and fought against her and the Cult of the Dragon. We all started Calling ourselves "The Nieces and Nephews of Bahamut."
it can be great if properly worked into the story, or lampshaded for humor. I have only once seen it used in all sincarity and not be "Main character syndrome agogo."
He/Him. Loooooooooong time Player.
The Dark days of the THAC0 system are behind us.
"Hope is a fire that burns in us all If only an ember, awaiting your call
To rise up in triumph should we all unite
The spark for change is yours to ignite."
Kalandra - The State of the World
I agree with you. Imagine a royal family that has been disposed, while their kingdom was broken up or taken over by another nation. Thus, a player character of any background could claim to be a descendant of a deity.
People claiming to be the descendants of deities, or deities themselves, happen many times in the real world.
In elementary school, I learned that one person who claimed to be a god was Spanish Conquistador Hernan Cortes, the leader of a band of 500 conquistadors. The Aztecs believed in a white, bearded god named Quetzalcoatl, who, long ago, had disappeared into the east. Before he left, however, he promised to return. When Cortes and his crew of Spaniards came ashore in what is now Mexico in 1519, the same year that Quetzalcoatl said that he would return, many of the Aztecs and those of nearby tribes thought these Conquistadors were gods. And when these Conquistador soldiers marched inland to the city of Tenochtitlan, their native guides took them to the Aztec emperor’s palace. This meeting resulted in deception, followed by bloody battles that resulted in the conquest of the Aztec nation, providing much wealth to Spain.
Having good player characters freeing people from slavery and death from human sacrifice by an evil aristocracy could be a fun campaign arc for you and your players. What about allowing evil, non-player characters claiming to be a descendant of a God, or a God themselves?
While I have no interest in doing this, after reading your idea. I came up with a character concept using 2024.
An Aasimar celestial warlock with the Acolyte background.
Edit the idea:
https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/145519123
I think the closest I've come to a character being descended from a god was an idea I had a while back about playing a Xvart by using Deep Gnome for stat/abilities and claiming to be descended from Raxivort who is the patron of Xvart warlocks and, depending on which lore you read, may of created the Xvart as a way of hiding from other more powerful gods/demon lords.
Still unclear on why there has to be royalty involved. Zeus was going around sleeping with everyone. Most of the Greek gods had human lovers. Other ancient myths are filled with similar examples. Certainly, lots of royal families claim to be descended from gods, and many claimed to be living gods.
But in D&D, (campaign dependent, of course) there’s no reason someone couldn’t be an orphan on the streets and descended from a god.
As far as I know, currently the only PC's who are descendants of a Deity or Deity like beings are Aasimars.
Not really, since forever there has always been people who have Roleplayed as having a Divine Ancestor, and ever since the Bhaalspawn trilogy it has become very common to have people play one.
Aasimar not required. As a DM I have seen it more with Human players than anything, and it's usually just a background bit. But also a background for people who like to play https://www.dndbeyond.com/classes/6-sorcerer#DivineSoul
There was a campaign I was in, where as the campaign progressed it became revealed to the party (myself included) that my character was descended from individuals who had been blessed as a God, and granted Demi-god Status. Part of my story for the campaign ended up being searching for a legendary Demi-God who had gone mad and turned into a villain. There apparently was a prophecy that we would duel to the death, and the winner would absorb the divinity from the other and ascend to God Status. Was pretty dope, and one hell of an Epilogue when the Campaign was over.
No it wasnt a player decision, I had given my DM a pretty open ended backstory, and my character had been cursed with amnesia and a powerful modify memory at some point in their history. Ended up being pretty dope.
"Not getting cut into bloody littles slices, That's the key to a sound plan."
My one character was not a descendent, but his family line had been blessed by the Goddess of the Seas in that particular campaign. Another one was a randomly chosen holy entity of his people.
Characters can be descendants of Deities but how that would affect them is questionable. There is no specific race/species for such a descendant but Aasimar are descended from Celestials (which could be/include a good Deity) and Tieflings are Descended from Fiends (which could be/include an evil Deity). As Gothicshark mentioned, Bhaalspawn are children of Bhaal, yet they usually have little to no physical attributes that indicate the dark divine nature of their father and instead resemble their mother's lineage instead.
Overall, I don't think I'd go down this route of having a character descended from the gods, it's a bit too Hercules for my liking. It's a character that is big and strong because their father is Zeus rather than having built up their own strength and earned their own achievements and to me the better backstory. I don't mind playing Aasimar or Tiefling but I wouldn't want to play them as the descendent of a god, rather just some Fiend or Celestial that gives them some minor power but overall, most of what they achieved was from their own efforts and not because of who their parents are.
This is to say I have a preference for character that grow and mature, I just feel there is more to work with where, "My granddad is Tyr," would I feel take a lot away from the character them self, they are instead overshadowed by Tyr and everybody will be more interested in their connection to Tyr than who they are. Now what I might play is a fraudster that pretends to be a Deity, that is basically pretending they are Deity when they aren't really, that could lead to some interesting roleplay.
Aren't we discussing core rules? If so then Aasimars only apply here.
If we are discussing Core Rules then Aasimars are descendants of Celestial beings, not gods.
Else wise if we are saying the Celestial might be a god then the same is true of Fiends for Tiefling, Asmodeus who is a common ancestor for many Tieflings, is a god. Also Tiamat had many spawn and so some Dragonic Sorcery Sorcerers might also be descended from Tiamat.
I had an Air Genasi Pact of the Genie Warlock as a character once.
I had his background that his Patron was his Great Great etc Grandfather who is a Djinni Lord. And that he worked as an enforcer of deals that his Great~ Grandfather made with mortals. Basically giving out Wishes in exchange for them giving him X or doing X.
Thats about as close to a Descendant of a Deity as I think I'd feel comfortable pushing.
No special powers or anything. Just some flavor considering Air Genasi can have Djinni ancestry and Pact of the Genie can have a Djinni as a Patron.