12-17-2018, 04:43 PM | #1 |
Join Date: Sep 2018
|
An idea for gods and cosmic beings
I'm planning a campaign in Greek mythology, which is a difficult thing to do with GURPS. I want to my characters to be able to fight and interact with gods of the Greek pantheon, but it is difficult to create beings of that level who don't have such an absurd point value that my PC's don't have a chance.
My solution is to treat the dominion of any given god as an entirely separate being. Since size isn't an advantage or disadvantage, I can make forces and concepts the size of the universe. Thanatos, for example, is the Greek god of death. The force of death might be priced like this St:0 (-100) DX:0 (-200) IQ: 15 (+100) HT: 20 (+100) Heart attack: 336 (aura +80%, affects substantial +40%, no trace +20%, always on, selectivity +20%, trigger: any mortal being with less than zero HP -20%, no active defense +300, no roll required if target is below -1xHP +300) Insubstantial: 120 (always on and affects substantial) Invisibility: 40 Unkillable 3: 150 154 HP: 154 (size limitation -80%) Death costs a total of 800 CP. You can also put the IQ of a cosmic force at a discount if it is only act with intelligence when the god wills it (maybe -20%?) or if it is only able to follow the god's commands (maybe -40%?). |
12-17-2018, 08:03 PM | #2 |
Join Date: Feb 2016
|
Re: An idea for gods and cosmic beings
No, I do not think that would work. First, a ST 0 entity can be wrestled to death by an infant and cannot do anything back. Second, DX 0 entity cannot move or attack, so people can just avoid the space it occupies. Third, always on and trigger are mutually exclusive modifiers (as are always on and selective effect), so it is an illegal build. I would personally would savage it to death by weasels with Attack Insubstantial, but it would be equally fun to have baby Hercules snuggle it into nonexistence repeatedly. If you make a god, spend the points to make a god, otherwise PCs will do horrible things to it until it wishes that it could permanently die.
Last edited by AlexanderHowl; 12-17-2018 at 08:07 PM. |
12-17-2018, 08:10 PM | #3 | |
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Yukon, OK
|
Re: An idea for gods and cosmic beings
Quote:
I think it is perfectly ok to have a god be built on an unreasonable amount of points. GURPS is not failing at its core design if some ideas cost a lot of points to be built on. I consider that a feature, not a bug.
__________________
My GURPS publications GURPS Powers: Totem and Nature Spirits; GURPS Template Toolkit 4: Spirits; Pyramid articles. Buying them lets us know you want more! My GURPS fan contribution and blog: REFPLace GURPS Landing Page My List of GURPS You Tube videos (plus a few other useful items) My GURPS Wiki entries |
|
12-17-2018, 08:26 PM | #4 |
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota, U.S.A.
|
Re: An idea for gods and cosmic beings
Whoisme, correct me if this isn't right; you seem to be saying you want the Greek gods to be mighty powerful divine beings, but also something PCs can smack in combat (like Achilles does at Troy). And that the separate divine dominion NPC is going to be like an ally each (relatively weak) humanoid god has access to?
__________________
I have Confused and Clueless. Sometimes I miss sarcasm and humor, or critically fail my Savoir-Faire roll. None of it is intentional. Published GURPS Settings (as of 4/2013 -- I hope to update it someday...) |
12-17-2018, 09:41 PM | #5 |
Join Date: Mar 2014
|
Re: An idea for gods and cosmic beings
You would probably want Underwater (and equivalent enhancements for non-water liquids, solids and other states of matter) on that attack.
Last edited by Andreas; 12-17-2018 at 09:47 PM. |
12-17-2018, 11:20 PM | #6 | |
Join Date: Sep 2018
|
Re: An idea for gods and cosmic beings
Quote:
I'm not too worried about characters avoiding it considering it would take up the entire universe. I'm tempted to give it cosmic insubstantial to avoid weasels, but I also like the idea of my characters messing with the forces of nature and facing the wrath of Olympus. Part of the fun of Greek mythology is that you might be capable of beating the gods, but that doesn't mean it's a good idea. Defeat Apollo and the world might plunge into night and freeze over. Capture Poseidon and the oceans might turn toxic. The reason I don't want to give the gods point values that high is because I want my PC's to be able to fight and interact with them. |
|
12-17-2018, 11:44 PM | #7 | |
Join Date: Sep 2018
|
Re: An idea for gods and cosmic beings
Quote:
I realize that the system doesn't intend for this, but it's what I want to use it for. |
|
12-17-2018, 11:52 PM | #8 | |
Join Date: Sep 2018
|
Re: An idea for gods and cosmic beings
Quote:
I was torn earlier over whether to link Duplicate, Alternate Form, Telesend and Mindlink to represent these aspects of reality taking physical form. Then I decided that in Greek mythology it makes more sense that the gods have control over their dominion rather than being a manifestation of it. |
|
12-17-2018, 11:53 PM | #9 |
Join Date: Sep 2018
|
Re: An idea for gods and cosmic beings
|
12-18-2018, 01:19 AM | #10 | |
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Yukon, OK
|
Re: An idea for gods and cosmic beings
Quote:
Also the PCs wouldnt fight a god by attacking thier domain or trying to one up the god. So your gods could be interacted or defeated socially (happened a lot, at least in the short term with the greeks) or physically, perhaps with a divine weapon or something. All that weather control doesnt say how many HP or DR you have for instance. Also the gods could be beaten in contests of skill, though again that rarely worked out for the hero (see Arachne)
__________________
My GURPS publications GURPS Powers: Totem and Nature Spirits; GURPS Template Toolkit 4: Spirits; Pyramid articles. Buying them lets us know you want more! My GURPS fan contribution and blog: REFPLace GURPS Landing Page My List of GURPS You Tube videos (plus a few other useful items) My GURPS Wiki entries |
|
|
|