An Object as a God? Help!!! [Archive] - Wizards Community

An Object as a God? Help!!! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
snakeman830
09-11-07, 10:07 PM This started out as a joke, but now we may have a problem.

My Elf necropolitan Warlock, Richard, has been carrying around the severed head of a gang leader for a while. Since he never learned the guy's name, his skull is named George.

Richard has been carrying George with him ever since he killed the gang leader. Recently, he got the idea to get George worshippers.

Well, now George is about to recieve his first divine rank, since he has enough followers.

I think you can see the problem. George remains an object, but is about to become a demigod due to the rules or worship. How would this work?

Oh, and Richard pretends that George only speaks to him, and through him, the word and teachings of George must be spread.
Fireclave
09-11-07, 10:21 PM I think you can see the problem. George remains an object, but is about to become a demigod due to the rules or worship. How would this work?
There are no official rules for one someone, or something, can become a god. Gathering worshipers may make you a god. Then again, it may end up making you look like a fool. Ultimately, what exactly happens when/if your inanimate object becomes a god is completely up to DM fiat. Therefore, this is something you should discuss with your DM.
Taeldrin Laesrash
09-11-07, 10:25 PM The object doesn't just need worshippers, there has to be some actual ascension. I'd make it an artifact of some sort that can use spell-like abilities based on domains it'd have, and project a powerful divine aura.
RealSorceror
09-11-07, 10:27 PM You.....you named your undead elf Richard? Why would you.....nevermind, I'll just answer your question.

Ok, heres the run down. That severed head can never be anything more than a severed head, no matter how many people worship it.

However, all this worship has to be doing something. If enough people believed hard enough in "George", there collective thoughts could create a consciousness (aka. beginnings of a divine being). Now, this consciousness can't really much of anything in its current state, but if it where able to form and come together, then you'd have something. Now, because all this worship is directed toward this head (it is effectively acting as a focus), the new godling may decide to possess the head. Now you can add that divine rank. However, the god is not really an object.

Now, if you want an object god, I'd suggest casting Animate Object, Awaken Construct, and Permanency. Well, actually, that would just make a construct...
You would need to somehow make the head into an intelligent item, just like any other intelligent sword or claok. So give it some magical enhancments, and find someway to give it sentience without making it a construct or an undead.

Alternately, all that worship might just be siphoned off by an existing diety, or it might empower "Richard". Still can't believe you named him that. Its like a sin or something...
malykoth
09-11-07, 10:28 PM ...I'm assuming this would be a problem in your campaign, since you're asking for advice.

I would warn the player that if George is indeed to gain his first divine rank, then he would first need to merge with the source of his power...the necropolitan. This might (depending on what kind of campaign you run) take the PC out of play.

After all, the worshippers may have been putting their faith in the skull, but their devotion was for the one who performed whatever 'miracles' were attributed to the skull. If there is nothing to direct the faith, then it will be wasted.

Also, it seems like a stupid jip to me...this is Godhood where talking about, not entry into some club.

...alternatively...

Go ahead and make George a god, but immediately have him decide to make the necropolitan his herald...again, potentially taking him out of the game.
RealSorceror
09-11-07, 10:28 PM The object doesn't just need worshippers, there has to be some actual ascension. I'd make it an artifact of some sort that can use spell-like abilities based on domains it'd have, and project a powerful divine aura.
That'd work. It should still be an intelligent item, though.
setekh
09-11-07, 10:55 PM Id personally say that as George is "Speaking through you" Then you would infact be the object of worship, and as such gain some shadow of the divine.
Return of the Flumph
09-11-07, 11:36 PM The skull comes to life, hovers up into the air, and plane shifts away to set up a divine realm.
Patrick Draken-Korin
09-12-07, 12:10 AM I'd go with George spontaneously animate as an undead, with a new personality (not relating to that gang leader) based upon the focus of the worshipers. Better yet, George really has been speaking through your character, is an ancient now-no-longer-dead god that had been drifting on the astral plane. Used to work the death-god scene, but Vecna pushed him down a set of stairs, figuratively speaking.

George returns to his divine job, and rewards your character by giving you an artifact or maybe a "chosen of George" template. Plot hooks await thereafter.

...:rofl:
snakeman830
09-12-07, 08:51 AM You.....you named your undead elf Richard? Why would you.....nevermind, I'll just answer your question.

*snip*

Alternately, all that worship might just be siphoned off by an existing diety, or it might empower "Richard". Still can't believe you named him that. Its like a sin or something...

Hey, I at least play him properly.

And no, I'm not DM. My DM asked me to bring it here, since he didn't know what to do and deosn't have internet.
Naderion
09-12-07, 09:40 AM I would say either is a god created out of nothing, or Richard becomes a god himself. In any way, the skull itself is just a prop to fool the worshipers.
yellowdingo
09-12-07, 09:43 AM IDOL WORSHIP: An Idol can recieve Divine Ranks despite non-sentience. It cannot use those Ranks but the Worshipers can for influence and sway (if a god radiates FEAR...so does an idol). -yellowdingo 2007

How do We validate this? CLERICS are not required to worship a God to get spells. They can believe in an idea, an object, a force...A Cleric of Chaos Worships the Ideas and philosophies of Chaos...why shouldnt the focus of that worship be an Idol, or a Totem, or a Symbol? in the end the concept of an Idol having the Power (or Aura) of a God opens the game. It puts Living Gods in competition with Simple objects...suddenly there are all powerful objects which are the focus of Ancestor Worship...If an ancestor were worshiped directly then they might become a God, where as a Totem or Idol representing all Ancestors allows that Worship and veneration to be stored in such a way that they might not become gods yet they would have the same level of Authority and power simply based on the Idol or Totem.

Perhaps there is nothing more terrifying than a God on a Battlefield...Consider a Band of Cultists carrying the Skull onto a Battlefield as it radiates an Aura of FEAR with the power of a God...Then the Enemy must flee in fear before the divine presence (no-matter the nature of that presence).
RealSorceror
09-12-07, 03:05 PM Hey, I at least play him properly.

And no, I'm not DM. My DM asked me to bring it here, since he didn't know what to do and deosn't have internet.
I'm just messing with ya. A lot of my characters start out with "names I stole from a book I read" until I can figure out something that fits.

Also, I really like yellowdingo's suggestion. Give it divine ranks and choose salient abilities that are passive or that might activate at critical moments. Assign George an "Effective Charisma score" for all of his abilities (I'd suggest the 35 you get from the deital ability array).
tridiak
09-13-07, 04:36 AM Get Loki or Cyric to do something. Shouldn't be too hard to give it "life" and DvRk 0.
Gray Richardson
09-13-07, 01:30 PM I think all that worship directed at an object would attract an opportunistic fiend of possession. Could be a loumara, or any fiend that has the ability to possess objects, or has ranks in the fiend of possession prestige class.

The fiend could possess the head, receive vicarious adulation and be promoted to divinity once the head's divine rank accrues. Then watch the sparks fly as the party tries to square off against an ascended demon!
Bedlamtom
09-13-07, 02:37 PM If it were my game I'd force you to take a level of cleric and become the 1st priest of George with the head being your holy symbol.

Or maybe create a divine prc for you as the 1st cleric of George.
timidbarbarian
09-13-07, 06:08 PM I think this was kind of covered in OOTS. But I think you should turn George into a gun of some kind, like Megatron in Transformers. Base this off of divine blast. Give George the Inquisition Domain, and then destroy lycanthropes, vampires, dopplegangers and anything with the shapechanger subtype. Say it's part of your deity's attempt to destroy anything that's more than meets the eye.
Even better, you can change your character's battle cry into your best impression of the sound transformers make when they transform.
snakeman830
09-13-07, 09:37 PM I think this was kind of covered in OOTS. But I think you should turn George into a gun of some kind, like Megatron in Transformers. Base this off of divine blast. Give George the Inquisition Domain, and then destroy lycanthropes, vampires, dopplegangers and anything with the shapechanger subtype. Say it's part of your deity's attempt to destroy anything that's more than meets the eye.

Umm, that is a really wierd idea that I hope you don't mind if I skip it.

Even better, you can change your character's battle cry into your best impression of the sound transformers make when they transform.

But he already has one: FOR PONY!!!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
snakeman830 09-11-07, 10:07 PM	This started out as a joke, but now we may have a problem. My Elf necropolitan Warlock, Richard, has been carrying around the severed head of a gang leader for a while. Since he never learned the guy's name, his skull is named George. Richard has been carrying George with him ever since he killed the gang leader. Recently, he got the idea to get George worshippers. Well, now George is about to recieve his first divine rank, since he has enough followers. I think you can see the problem. George remains an object, but is about to become a demigod due to the rules or worship. How would this work? Oh, and Richard pretends that George only speaks to him, and through him, the word and teachings of George must be spread.
Fireclave 09-11-07, 10:21 PM	I think you can see the problem. George remains an object, but is about to become a demigod due to the rules or worship. How would this work? There are no official rules for one someone, or something, can become a god. Gathering worshipers may make you a god. Then again, it may end up making you look like a fool. Ultimately, what exactly happens when/if your inanimate object becomes a god is completely up to DM fiat. Therefore, this is something you should discuss with your DM.
Taeldrin Laesrash 09-11-07, 10:25 PM	The object doesn't just need worshippers, there has to be some actual ascension. I'd make it an artifact of some sort that can use spell-like abilities based on domains it'd have, and project a powerful divine aura.
RealSorceror 09-11-07, 10:27 PM	You.....you named your undead elf Richard? Why would you.....nevermind, I'll just answer your question. Ok, heres the run down. That severed head can never be anything more than a severed head, no matter how many people worship it. However, all this worship has to be doing something. If enough people believed hard enough in "George", there collective thoughts could create a consciousness (aka. beginnings of a divine being). Now, this consciousness can't really much of anything in its current state, but if it where able to form and come together, then you'd have something. Now, because all this worship is directed toward this head (it is effectively acting as a focus), the new godling may decide to possess the head. Now you can add that divine rank. However, the god is not really an object. Now, if you want an object god, I'd suggest casting Animate Object, Awaken Construct, and Permanency. Well, actually, that would just make a construct... You would need to somehow make the head into an intelligent item, just like any other intelligent sword or claok. So give it some magical enhancments, and find someway to give it sentience without making it a construct or an undead. Alternately, all that worship might just be siphoned off by an existing diety, or it might empower "Richard". Still can't believe you named him that. Its like a sin or something...
malykoth 09-11-07, 10:28 PM	...I'm assuming this would be a problem in your campaign, since you're asking for advice. I would warn the player that if George is indeed to gain his first divine rank, then he would first need to merge with the source of his power...the necropolitan. This might (depending on what kind of campaign you run) take the PC out of play. After all, the worshippers may have been putting their faith in the skull, but their devotion was for the one who performed whatever 'miracles' were attributed to the skull. If there is nothing to direct the faith, then it will be wasted. Also, it seems like a stupid jip to me...this is Godhood where talking about, not entry into some club. ...alternatively... Go ahead and make George a god, but immediately have him decide to make the necropolitan his herald...again, potentially taking him out of the game.
RealSorceror 09-11-07, 10:28 PM	The object doesn't just need worshippers, there has to be some actual ascension. I'd make it an artifact of some sort that can use spell-like abilities based on domains it'd have, and project a powerful divine aura. That'd work. It should still be an intelligent item, though.
setekh 09-11-07, 10:55 PM	Id personally say that as George is "Speaking through you" Then you would infact be the object of worship, and as such gain some shadow of the divine.
Return of the Flumph 09-11-07, 11:36 PM	The skull comes to life, hovers up into the air, and plane shifts away to set up a divine realm.
Patrick Draken-Korin 09-12-07, 12:10 AM	I'd go with George spontaneously animate as an undead, with a new personality (not relating to that gang leader) based upon the focus of the worshipers. Better yet, George really has been speaking through your character, is an ancient now-no-longer-dead god that had been drifting on the astral plane. Used to work the death-god scene, but Vecna pushed him down a set of stairs, figuratively speaking. George returns to his divine job, and rewards your character by giving you an artifact or maybe a "chosen of George" template. Plot hooks await thereafter. ...:rofl:
snakeman830 09-12-07, 08:51 AM	You.....you named your undead elf Richard? Why would you.....nevermind, I'll just answer your question. snip Alternately, all that worship might just be siphoned off by an existing diety, or it might empower "Richard". Still can't believe you named him that. Its like a sin or something... Hey, I at least play him properly. And no, I'm not DM. My DM asked me to bring it here, since he didn't know what to do and deosn't have internet.
Naderion 09-12-07, 09:40 AM	I would say either is a god created out of nothing, or Richard becomes a god himself. In any way, the skull itself is just a prop to fool the worshipers.
yellowdingo 09-12-07, 09:43 AM	IDOL WORSHIP: An Idol can recieve Divine Ranks despite non-sentience. It cannot use those Ranks but the Worshipers can for influence and sway (if a god radiates FEAR...so does an idol). -yellowdingo 2007 How do We validate this? CLERICS are not required to worship a God to get spells. They can believe in an idea, an object, a force...A Cleric of Chaos Worships the Ideas and philosophies of Chaos...why shouldnt the focus of that worship be an Idol, or a Totem, or a Symbol? in the end the concept of an Idol having the Power (or Aura) of a God opens the game. It puts Living Gods in competition with Simple objects...suddenly there are all powerful objects which are the focus of Ancestor Worship...If an ancestor were worshiped directly then they might become a God, where as a Totem or Idol representing all Ancestors allows that Worship and veneration to be stored in such a way that they might not become gods yet they would have the same level of Authority and power simply based on the Idol or Totem. Perhaps there is nothing more terrifying than a God on a Battlefield...Consider a Band of Cultists carrying the Skull onto a Battlefield as it radiates an Aura of FEAR with the power of a God...Then the Enemy must flee in fear before the divine presence (no-matter the nature of that presence).
RealSorceror 09-12-07, 03:05 PM	Hey, I at least play him properly. And no, I'm not DM. My DM asked me to bring it here, since he didn't know what to do and deosn't have internet. I'm just messing with ya. A lot of my characters start out with "names I stole from a book I read" until I can figure out something that fits. Also, I really like yellowdingo's suggestion. Give it divine ranks and choose salient abilities that are passive or that might activate at critical moments. Assign George an "Effective Charisma score" for all of his abilities (I'd suggest the 35 you get from the deital ability array).
tridiak 09-13-07, 04:36 AM	Get Loki or Cyric to do something. Shouldn't be too hard to give it "life" and DvRk 0.
Gray Richardson 09-13-07, 01:30 PM	I think all that worship directed at an object would attract an opportunistic fiend of possession. Could be a loumara, or any fiend that has the ability to possess objects, or has ranks in the fiend of possession prestige class. The fiend could possess the head, receive vicarious adulation and be promoted to divinity once the head's divine rank accrues. Then watch the sparks fly as the party tries to square off against an ascended demon!
Bedlamtom 09-13-07, 02:37 PM	If it were my game I'd force you to take a level of cleric and become the 1st priest of George with the head being your holy symbol. Or maybe create a divine prc for you as the 1st cleric of George.
timidbarbarian 09-13-07, 06:08 PM	I think this was kind of covered in OOTS. But I think you should turn George into a gun of some kind, like Megatron in Transformers. Base this off of divine blast. Give George the Inquisition Domain, and then destroy lycanthropes, vampires, dopplegangers and anything with the shapechanger subtype. Say it's part of your deity's attempt to destroy anything that's more than meets the eye. Even better, you can change your character's battle cry into your best impression of the sound transformers make when they transform.
snakeman830 09-13-07, 09:37 PM	I think this was kind of covered in OOTS. But I think you should turn George into a gun of some kind, like Megatron in Transformers. Base this off of divine blast. Give George the Inquisition Domain, and then destroy lycanthropes, vampires, dopplegangers and anything with the shapechanger subtype. Say it's part of your deity's attempt to destroy anything that's more than meets the eye. Umm, that is a really wierd idea that I hope you don't mind if I skip it. Even better, you can change your character's battle cry into your best impression of the sound transformers make when they transform. But he already has one: FOR PONY!!!