278 replies to this topic

[Cryomancer]

I was always under the impression that demigods were really powerful mortals with a god for a parent (like Hercules for example, or the PC from BG) I could be wrong though. I guess that couldn't be, because then there would be a mass of demi-gods running around in BG2.

[Kish]

That's the case in mythology, but D&D uses "demigod" as a deity rank.

[Cryomancer]

In one custom campaign I played, we ran into a goblin who was the Demigod of Dumbness. Quite an interesting character, actually.

[Bane]

As it has been said before Ao makes sure there is balance between good and evil and makes sure that either of the two are not overly powerful (unleess the other side rises again to maintain the balance). He is for the whole world of Toril and for all races (not just humans).

He is not on the ranking so I guess he could be called an Overgod
for example of the rest:
Higher god is Lathandar...etc
Intermediate god is Helm (becoming greater though)
Lesser god would be Jergal (subserviant to the god of the dead who is Kelemvor)

demi gods i believe would be for example the main BG character as in part god part something else.

Then there are the demons, devils, fiends... for evil
and the Planetars, devas, solars and archons for good.

[NiGHTMARE]

Nope, demigods are full deities, not half-mortal or whatever. They're just the least powerful of the gods, usually because they've only recently ascended to godhood, their worship is confined to only a small part of the Realms (e.g. the High Forest), they've lost most of their worshippers (through war, neglect, etc), another deity has stolen part of their portfolio, and so on.

Demigods of the Realms include Shaundakul (though he recently became a lesser power), Finder Wyvernspur, Garagos, Gargauth, Gwaeron Windstrom, Hoar, Jergal, Lurue, Nobanion, the Red Knight, Savras, Sharess, Shialla, Siamorphe, Ulutiu, Uthgar, Valkur.

BTW Ao places just as much importance on maintaining the balance between law and chaos as he does good and evil.

Oh, and it's "greater power", not "higher power" .

[Dalis'ilhea]

This arguements been had before, and yes Demi-god is a full fleged god and a quasi-god eg. Demogorgan and other abyssal lords is just increadibly powerful, but a demi-god would still swat 'em like flies, and if you were to call a demi-god a half-god half-mortal, you'd be wrong thats why they're called half-gods (If any reference is made to their parentage), you wouldn't call a half-elf a demi-elf would you?

[Kish]

Demigods in D&D are full gods. No part mortal.

[Ziggy]

So wat would u call a half mortal/god?

[NiGHTMARE]

An <insertnameofdeityhere>spawn .

[Mongoose87]

Perhaps a half-god, much as we have half-elves

[Kish]

A half-god.

[Daggerless]

As stated in both Deities and Demigods and Faiths and Pantheons manuals, half-mortal/half-god characters are called quasi-deities or hero deities. They have a divine rank of zero, are immortal and get many other bonuses. Mortal characters lack divine rank altogether. Our BG protaganist would be an example of a quasi-deity.

[Ziggy]

But demi means half, so a half-elf is a demi elf. Therefore shouldnt a half god be a demi god?

[NiGHTMARE]

As already mentioned, demigod is the name given to the least powerful full deities, so that would only make things confusing.

[raptor]

That is defined by campaign setting, this campaign setting desided that it is not so. how teh words are used in reallife is unrelevant.

[Ziggy]

Thats rediculous, of course how words are used in real life is relevant, why would they not?

[Kish]

If you call a half-elf a "demi-elf," most people will look at you blankly.

If you call a D&D half-god a "demigod," you are using the term incorrectly.

If you assume an AD&D2ed "thief" is a person who steals, you'll be wrong as often as not.

[NiGHTMARE]

In D&D, elves, gnomes, dwarves and halflings are all types of demihuman, even though none of them are half/part human.