Avatars in 3.x: In Which Sourcebooks? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Avatars in 3.x: In Which Sourcebooks? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Kilsek of Sheverash
04-01-04, 09:08 AM Ok, while the obvious answer would be Deities & Demigods sourcebook, which I have, I combed through it and I didn't see the word avatar mentioned anywhere.

I saw minions of the gods, but no avatars. And of course, there's no index in that book, which is pretty disappointing.

In 2e, Avatars were found EVERYWHERE, especially in the Forgotten Realms series of faiths books like Powers & Pantheons, etc.

Is Avatar a template? Is the term no longer in use? What do the gods send down to the mortal world now instead of their Avatars? If there's any specific 3.x canon on Avatars, anywhere, pls point me to it! Thank you :)
Dr_Draco
04-01-04, 01:10 PM Deities and Demigods p. 36. "Avatar" is a Salient Divine Ability that requires a Divine Rank of 6 and Cha 29.

Also, each deity that has an avatar has the stats for their typical avatar listed at the end of their description.

http://www.geocities.com/flammabledragon/psion.TXT Dr. D http://www.geocities.com/flammabledragon/monk.TXT
UZI
04-01-04, 04:29 PM There are also Aspects listed in the Minis Handbook, but they aren't in the same ballpark as avatars.
Kilsek of Sheverash
04-01-04, 09:27 PM Thanks guys, I appreciate both references. I've heard "aspects" are like lesser avatars after spotting an incredibly cool Aspect of Bane D&D miniature. And my Minis Handbook is in the mail!

I also picked up the 3.x Forgotten Realms' Faiths & Pantheons and saw a little more discussion about avatars. Should've known considering the Time of the Troubles and all that there'd be at least something in this book.

Thanks again!
Mirtek
04-02-04, 11:12 AM Note that the "avatars" the gods had to use in the ToT are not the same as the avatars the gods normally use.
Kilsek of Sheverash
04-02-04, 03:18 PM Originally posted by Mirtek
Note that the "avatars" the gods had to use in the ToT are not the same as the avatars the gods normally use.

Do you mean the way it all happened, as in, Ao made it so that the gods themselves were "trapped" in Avatar form on Faerurn, or are you referring to something more/else? Thanks!
Mirtek
04-03-04, 10:18 AM Originally posted by Kilsek of Sheverash
Do you mean the way it all happened, as in, Ao made it so that the gods themselves were "trapped" in Avatar form on Faerurn, or are you referring to something more/else? Thanks!
Normally an avatar is an tiny fraction of a deity's power that has taken a physical form. A deity does not need to take over an existing body for an avatar, but creates her avatars out of nothing.

During the ToT Ao took away their divinity, including their ability to create avatars. Thus the deities had to possess and take over already existing bodies.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Kilsek of Sheverash 04-01-04, 09:08 AM	Ok, while the obvious answer would be Deities & Demigods sourcebook, which I have, I combed through it and I didn't see the word avatar mentioned anywhere. I saw minions of the gods, but no avatars. And of course, there's no index in that book, which is pretty disappointing. In 2e, Avatars were found EVERYWHERE, especially in the Forgotten Realms series of faiths books like Powers & Pantheons, etc. Is Avatar a template? Is the term no longer in use? What do the gods send down to the mortal world now instead of their Avatars? If there's any specific 3.x canon on Avatars, anywhere, pls point me to it! Thank you :)
Dr_Draco 04-01-04, 01:10 PM	Deities and Demigods p. 36. "Avatar" is a Salient Divine Ability that requires a Divine Rank of 6 and Cha 29. Also, each deity that has an avatar has the stats for their typical avatar listed at the end of their description. http://www.geocities.com/flammabledragon/psion.TXT Dr. D http://www.geocities.com/flammabledragon/monk.TXT
UZI 04-01-04, 04:29 PM	There are also Aspects listed in the Minis Handbook, but they aren't in the same ballpark as avatars.
Kilsek of Sheverash 04-01-04, 09:27 PM	Thanks guys, I appreciate both references. I've heard "aspects" are like lesser avatars after spotting an incredibly cool Aspect of Bane D&D miniature. And my Minis Handbook is in the mail! I also picked up the 3.x Forgotten Realms' Faiths & Pantheons and saw a little more discussion about avatars. Should've known considering the Time of the Troubles and all that there'd be at least something in this book. Thanks again!
Mirtek 04-02-04, 11:12 AM	Note that the "avatars" the gods had to use in the ToT are not the same as the avatars the gods normally use.
Kilsek of Sheverash 04-02-04, 03:18 PM	Originally posted by Mirtek Note that the "avatars" the gods had to use in the ToT are not the same as the avatars the gods normally use. Do you mean the way it all happened, as in, Ao made it so that the gods themselves were "trapped" in Avatar form on Faerurn, or are you referring to something more/else? Thanks!
Mirtek 04-03-04, 10:18 AM	Originally posted by Kilsek of Sheverash Do you mean the way it all happened, as in, Ao made it so that the gods themselves were "trapped" in Avatar form on Faerurn, or are you referring to something more/else? Thanks! Normally an avatar is an tiny fraction of a deity's power that has taken a physical form. A deity does not need to take over an existing body for an avatar, but creates her avatars out of nothing. During the ToT Ao took away their divinity, including their ability to create avatars. Thus the deities had to possess and take over already existing bodies.