Trying to make my own world [Archive] - Wizards Community

Trying to make my own world [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
FavoredSoulofNothing
02-21-08, 06:19 PM I am trying to make my own world, that is like a giant greece. You know with sand, huge temples, islands, jungles ect. But I am stuck on were to go with the dieties, of my world. I don't want a plethora of gods like forgotten realms, eberron. I just want simple, gods that only are gods of one thing. I don't know where to go, with not only the gods, but the history... any suggestions?
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
02-21-08, 06:51 PM I am trying to make my own world, that is like a giant greece. You know with sand, huge temples, islands, jungles ect. But I am stuck on were to go with the dieties, of my world. I don't want a plethora of gods like forgotten realms, eberron. I just want simple, gods that only are gods of one thing. I don't know where to go, with not only the gods, but the history... any suggestions?

Greece doesn't have jungles, for starters. :)
GothicDan
02-21-08, 07:03 PM Well, that SEVERELY detracts from what Greece is, speaking from someone who's had more than a few Classics-based classes. Currently in a Greek Mythology class right now. The wide plethora of gods, with interrelated, mingling portfolios, not to mention demigods, hero gods, hero cults, titans, cyclopeses, etc. is really what makes Greece what it is, religiously speaking.
Lord Karsus
02-22-08, 12:14 AM ...any suggestions?

-Um...Create deities with only one portfolio?
MarkusTay63
02-22-08, 12:24 AM It sounds more like Zakhara, then Greece - you should check that setting out - and I think it only has about a dozen gods or so.

And just like ancient Greece, most of the settled areas are city-states, except that they all give a nod to the High Caliph.
Kiioro
02-22-08, 01:04 AM You know with sand, huge temples, islands, jungles etc.

This sounds more like the world of "Shadow of the Colossus" videogame.

Lord Karsus's idea can be expanded:

Give a single deity one portfolio and said portfolio can't be repeated. That way, there are less deities needed to cover the different realities of your world. That portfolio could be considered a few (or a good amount) of portfolios that could be knit in the same "line".

For example:

Essehn is the god of knowledge. But in your setting, "knowledge" includes more than the usual. Essehn is the patron god of everyone who writes books, those who seek knowledge and those who spread knowledge. He is the patron of secrets, for secrets are knowledge, too. He is the patron of spies and informants, for they make their living off knowledge. He is also the patron of wizards, for their magic increases as their knowledge expands; since magic can be performed only through acquiring knowledge of the occult forces that rule the world (with the exception of spontaneous casters), Knowledge gives him "magic" by default.

Agni is the goddess of expression. Expression amasses various possible worshippers. Bards are her followers, as she believes in the expression of arts. She is also considered by most as the goddess of feelings, as they are also to be expressed. Sorcerers are her followers too, as they cast their magic through the expression of their charismatic natures. She is frequently invoked for diplomatic procedures: because a precise, educated and controlled (not necessarily truthful) expression of what you want is needed to achieve your wishes.

...and so forth, that's my guess.
GothicDan
02-22-08, 10:16 AM Agni was the Vedic Fire God. Just sayin'.

But yeah, if you're going to give them just one portfolio, make them VERY broad portfolios. My Classics professor absolutely hates the "god of...." stuff, and I tend to agree with him. So if you make the gods' portfolios broad enough, you can still get the right feel.
Kiioro
02-22-08, 10:22 AM Mr. Gothic, I knew I had heard that name, but...

A - G - N - I. Those were also the four first randomly typed letters that came up when I tried to machinate with a new name.
Soltares
02-22-08, 10:49 AM If you want a smallish pantheon, have there be four (or five) elemental gods.

The fire god could do double duty as god of innovation, creativity, chaos, energy, civilization, etc. He lives on / ferries / carries / *is* the sun. He's the god who makes the plants grow, and the god who strikes down with sunstroke those who displease him. Stare overlong at his magnificence, and be blinded, oh disrespectful mortal! Tall buildings have polished slabs of mica, or even thin sheets of beaten bronze or brass, set atop them to reflect the sun-gods glory back to him, as he finds no sight more appealing than his own face reflected back unto him. (And some philosophers claim that reflecting all that light back up keeps the buildings cooler on hot, dry summer days...)

The earth god could be a god of time, fertility, nature, patience, law, etc. He/she is the earth itself, like Gaia, and yet also Cernunnos. The ordering of the seasons is her domain (even if each season might also tie to one of the four elements), and she also holds sway over marriage, hearth and home. It is her power alone that holds vampires at the doorstep, unable to enter the sacred space of a mortal home. While the fire-god overseas the innovation of new knowledge, it is the earth-goddess who is in charge of craft, woodworking, animal husbandry, agriculture, etc.

The air god could be god of freedom, weather, storms, passions, rulers & nobility, etc. Sky-gods are often the rulers of pantheons, and have a gift for shapeshifting and knocking up mortal women (and occasionally farm animals). He may or may not be leader of the gods, or think himself such, or be too flighty and self-absorbed to administer such duties.

The sea god could be the god of life, creation, wisdom, secrets, etc. He might be associated with law (steady as the tides, moving to their own secret rhythmns) or chaos (wild as the tempest-tossed seas), good (provider of the sea's bountry, the playful dolphin) or cruel indifference (the god whom fisherman's wives propitiate in hopes that their husbands survive the day, the heartless shark).

The last god could be the god of 'quintessence,' a fancy term for life (and death) and spiritual energies and higher concepts, equal parts lifebringer and soul-forger and guardian of the lands of the dead. Hades, and yet also Persephone.

Each god could have two aspects, a male and female, which would bring the diety count up to ten total, and allow the sea-god, for instance, to be both the raging tempest-tosser and also the calm orderly bringer of bounty who tames her husbands (or his wifes) savage excesses. In this case the guardian of the dead and the bringer of new life could also be two different gods, an eldery guide, leaning on his cane and pointing the souls of the departed to their final dispensation and his youthful daughter, flush with new life and cradling a swaddled infant in her arm.

Having each god have a plethora of areas of influence allows for any class or race in your setting to worship any specific god. A wizard who follows the way of the sun-god might be brash, overconfident and overly concerned with 'originality,' always seeking a flashy and memorable new solution to a problem, even if he has to research a new spell to do so, while a wizard who prefers the earth-goddess would be more interested in tried-and-true workmanlike efficiency, considering spellcraft to be just like any other craft, rewarding consistent effort and discipline over random 'trying stuff.'

Having each god only having one set 'domain' would tend to require having *tons* of gods. If there is only one 'god of magic,' and she's evil Hecate, then who do good Wizards serve? If she's good Mystra 3.0, prone to punishing evil spellcasters (and even gods!) and stripping them of their magics, then who do Thayvians and Necromancers serve? If the magic god is aloof and snooty Boccob the Uncaring, who actively discourages inclinations towards Good, Evil, Law or Chaos, then who does the Neutral Good mage who likes to create Continual Flame coins for the poor, and uses her magic to better the lives of those around her serve?
GothicDan
02-22-08, 01:54 PM I actually did that same thing for my own world, for the most part. I had the Divine Pair, Life and Death, who were the parents of the Four Elemental Gods. Each of the Elemental Gods had 3 Pillars that were the mainstream churches, each of different alignment. Then I had numerous little heretical cults and heresies attached to each, and then I had natively arisen Demigods/Hero Gods.

I really liked that system.

Fire's Pillars were LE (fire, pain, punishment, deserts, tyranny, authoritarianism), LG (warmth, candles, guidance, light, elders, experience, counsel), and CN (passion, burning, love, vanity, jealousy, art, inspiration). And so on.

Each Pillar even had completely different depictions and names for their version of their god. The LE Pillar of Ashes depicted the Fire God as a massive warrior with black obsidian armor, with ashes and embers crawling out of the plates of his armor, wielding a flaming sword and a whip of smoke. The CN Pillar of Flames depicted their god as the Scarlet Succubus - no need to say more. ;)
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
02-22-08, 06:07 PM Now that I think about it, "sand, huge temples, islands, jungles etc." makes me think of Southeast Asia.

But really, there are so many options if you have such non-specific criteria. I would even recommend not basing your setting too closely on any real-world place.
GothicDan
02-22-08, 09:01 PM You know, Rino - that's a perfect fit for the environment described, I think. SE Asia. Well, or some parts of the Middle East in older ages, when precipitation levels were higher.
FavoredSoulofNothing
02-23-08, 11:12 AM Thanks
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
02-23-08, 08:12 PM You know, Rino - that's a perfect fit for the environment described, I think. SE Asia. Well, or some parts of the Middle East in older ages, when precipitation levels were higher.

Good suggestion.:)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
FavoredSoulofNothing 02-21-08, 06:19 PM	I am trying to make my own world, that is like a giant greece. You know with sand, huge temples, islands, jungles ect. But I am stuck on were to go with the dieties, of my world. I don't want a plethora of gods like forgotten realms, eberron. I just want simple, gods that only are gods of one thing. I don't know where to go, with not only the gods, but the history... any suggestions?
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 02-21-08, 06:51 PM	I am trying to make my own world, that is like a giant greece. You know with sand, huge temples, islands, jungles ect. But I am stuck on were to go with the dieties, of my world. I don't want a plethora of gods like forgotten realms, eberron. I just want simple, gods that only are gods of one thing. I don't know where to go, with not only the gods, but the history... any suggestions? Greece doesn't have jungles, for starters. :)
GothicDan 02-21-08, 07:03 PM	Well, that SEVERELY detracts from what Greece is, speaking from someone who's had more than a few Classics-based classes. Currently in a Greek Mythology class right now. The wide plethora of gods, with interrelated, mingling portfolios, not to mention demigods, hero gods, hero cults, titans, cyclopeses, etc. is really what makes Greece what it is, religiously speaking.
Lord Karsus 02-22-08, 12:14 AM	...any suggestions? -Um...Create deities with only one portfolio?
MarkusTay63 02-22-08, 12:24 AM	It sounds more like Zakhara, then Greece - you should check that setting out - and I think it only has about a dozen gods or so. And just like ancient Greece, most of the settled areas are city-states, except that they all give a nod to the High Caliph.
Kiioro 02-22-08, 01:04 AM	You know with sand, huge temples, islands, jungles etc. This sounds more like the world of "Shadow of the Colossus" videogame. Lord Karsus's idea can be expanded: Give a single deity one portfolio and said portfolio can't be repeated. That way, there are less deities needed to cover the different realities of your world. That portfolio could be considered a few (or a good amount) of portfolios that could be knit in the same "line". For example: Essehn is the god of knowledge. But in your setting, "knowledge" includes more than the usual. Essehn is the patron god of everyone who writes books, those who seek knowledge and those who spread knowledge. He is the patron of secrets, for secrets are knowledge, too. He is the patron of spies and informants, for they make their living off knowledge. He is also the patron of wizards, for their magic increases as their knowledge expands; since magic can be performed only through acquiring knowledge of the occult forces that rule the world (with the exception of spontaneous casters), Knowledge gives him "magic" by default. Agni is the goddess of expression. Expression amasses various possible worshippers. Bards are her followers, as she believes in the expression of arts. She is also considered by most as the goddess of feelings, as they are also to be expressed. Sorcerers are her followers too, as they cast their magic through the expression of their charismatic natures. She is frequently invoked for diplomatic procedures: because a precise, educated and controlled (not necessarily truthful) expression of what you want is needed to achieve your wishes. ...and so forth, that's my guess.
GothicDan 02-22-08, 10:16 AM	Agni was the Vedic Fire God. Just sayin'. But yeah, if you're going to give them just one portfolio, make them VERY broad portfolios. My Classics professor absolutely hates the "god of...." stuff, and I tend to agree with him. So if you make the gods' portfolios broad enough, you can still get the right feel.
Kiioro 02-22-08, 10:22 AM	Mr. Gothic, I knew I had heard that name, but... A - G - N - I. Those were also the four first randomly typed letters that came up when I tried to machinate with a new name.
Soltares 02-22-08, 10:49 AM	If you want a smallish pantheon, have there be four (or five) elemental gods. The fire god could do double duty as god of innovation, creativity, chaos, energy, civilization, etc. He lives on / ferries / carries / is the sun. He's the god who makes the plants grow, and the god who strikes down with sunstroke those who displease him. Stare overlong at his magnificence, and be blinded, oh disrespectful mortal! Tall buildings have polished slabs of mica, or even thin sheets of beaten bronze or brass, set atop them to reflect the sun-gods glory back to him, as he finds no sight more appealing than his own face reflected back unto him. (And some philosophers claim that reflecting all that light back up keeps the buildings cooler on hot, dry summer days...) The earth god could be a god of time, fertility, nature, patience, law, etc. He/she is the earth itself, like Gaia, and yet also Cernunnos. The ordering of the seasons is her domain (even if each season might also tie to one of the four elements), and she also holds sway over marriage, hearth and home. It is her power alone that holds vampires at the doorstep, unable to enter the sacred space of a mortal home. While the fire-god overseas the innovation of new knowledge, it is the earth-goddess who is in charge of craft, woodworking, animal husbandry, agriculture, etc. The air god could be god of freedom, weather, storms, passions, rulers & nobility, etc. Sky-gods are often the rulers of pantheons, and have a gift for shapeshifting and knocking up mortal women (and occasionally farm animals). He may or may not be leader of the gods, or think himself such, or be too flighty and self-absorbed to administer such duties. The sea god could be the god of life, creation, wisdom, secrets, etc. He might be associated with law (steady as the tides, moving to their own secret rhythmns) or chaos (wild as the tempest-tossed seas), good (provider of the sea's bountry, the playful dolphin) or cruel indifference (the god whom fisherman's wives propitiate in hopes that their husbands survive the day, the heartless shark). The last god could be the god of 'quintessence,' a fancy term for life (and death) and spiritual energies and higher concepts, equal parts lifebringer and soul-forger and guardian of the lands of the dead. Hades, and yet also Persephone. Each god could have two aspects, a male and female, which would bring the diety count up to ten total, and allow the sea-god, for instance, to be both the raging tempest-tosser and also the calm orderly bringer of bounty who tames her husbands (or his wifes) savage excesses. In this case the guardian of the dead and the bringer of new life could also be two different gods, an eldery guide, leaning on his cane and pointing the souls of the departed to their final dispensation and his youthful daughter, flush with new life and cradling a swaddled infant in her arm. Having each god have a plethora of areas of influence allows for any class or race in your setting to worship any specific god. A wizard who follows the way of the sun-god might be brash, overconfident and overly concerned with 'originality,' always seeking a flashy and memorable new solution to a problem, even if he has to research a new spell to do so, while a wizard who prefers the earth-goddess would be more interested in tried-and-true workmanlike efficiency, considering spellcraft to be just like any other craft, rewarding consistent effort and discipline over random 'trying stuff.' Having each god only having one set 'domain' would tend to require having tons of gods. If there is only one 'god of magic,' and she's evil Hecate, then who do good Wizards serve? If she's good Mystra 3.0, prone to punishing evil spellcasters (and even gods!) and stripping them of their magics, then who do Thayvians and Necromancers serve? If the magic god is aloof and snooty Boccob the Uncaring, who actively discourages inclinations towards Good, Evil, Law or Chaos, then who does the Neutral Good mage who likes to create Continual Flame coins for the poor, and uses her magic to better the lives of those around her serve?
GothicDan 02-22-08, 01:54 PM	I actually did that same thing for my own world, for the most part. I had the Divine Pair, Life and Death, who were the parents of the Four Elemental Gods. Each of the Elemental Gods had 3 Pillars that were the mainstream churches, each of different alignment. Then I had numerous little heretical cults and heresies attached to each, and then I had natively arisen Demigods/Hero Gods. I really liked that system. Fire's Pillars were LE (fire, pain, punishment, deserts, tyranny, authoritarianism), LG (warmth, candles, guidance, light, elders, experience, counsel), and CN (passion, burning, love, vanity, jealousy, art, inspiration). And so on. Each Pillar even had completely different depictions and names for their version of their god. The LE Pillar of Ashes depicted the Fire God as a massive warrior with black obsidian armor, with ashes and embers crawling out of the plates of his armor, wielding a flaming sword and a whip of smoke. The CN Pillar of Flames depicted their god as the Scarlet Succubus - no need to say more. ;)
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 02-22-08, 06:07 PM	Now that I think about it, "sand, huge temples, islands, jungles etc." makes me think of Southeast Asia. But really, there are so many options if you have such non-specific criteria. I would even recommend not basing your setting too closely on any real-world place.
GothicDan 02-22-08, 09:01 PM	You know, Rino - that's a perfect fit for the environment described, I think. SE Asia. Well, or some parts of the Middle East in older ages, when precipitation levels were higher.
FavoredSoulofNothing 02-23-08, 11:12 AM	Thanks
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 02-23-08, 08:12 PM	You know, Rino - that's a perfect fit for the environment described, I think. SE Asia. Well, or some parts of the Middle East in older ages, when precipitation levels were higher. Good suggestion.:)