Tips and Tricks for Creating Gods in DND

Gods are an important part of Dungeons & Dragons. Not only do clerics draw their powers from these divine or infernal beings, but gods can become the backbone of incredible stories told around the table. But sometimes conventional gods just don't cut it.

Whether you're a player looking for something the sourcebook doesn't provide, or a Dungeon Master (DM) looking to create your own gods, there are many reasons to want to create gods at home, and there's plenty of room within the multiverse to accommodate them. This article will give you some tips on how to create your dream god.

This list primarily focuses on God's creation and role-playing.

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chart their history

One of the first things to help create a god is to create a backstory for that god. How did they come about? What are their values? What alignment do they have? If you have a question to answer about your character or NPC, you must devise an answer for God.

As part of this, you can find out or determine how many people know and worship this deity, and whether they are actively seeking new worshipers or are a dormant entity. Knowing whether they interact with mortal beings or in mortal life can also help advance the story.

7

Choose a domain

Domains don't always play a big role in who can or will worship a god, but it can be helpful to have them as a guide. For example, if this god is the god of life, then what actions you do can have a huge impact on whether you will or will not receive the god's favor.

If a cleric decides to sacrifice an enemy in the name of a god, the god in question may actually scold the action, which in turn may weaken the connection between the cleric and the god. Instead, if the cleric spares an enemy, knowing that life is a precious gift from their god, the god may smile on them and grant them a power or boon. Areas to consider among the Dawn of War Gods in the 2014 Dungeon Master's Guide include:

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How do worshipers worship this god?

As mentioned above, worshipers can decide what they will do to worship this god. This may include whether worshipers gather in a temple or church for prayer or mass, or in a less organized manner. Will worshipers perform rituals? Do they demonstrate their commitment through acts of service? Or even an act of violence?

Knowing how the world embraces a god helps the DM populate the world with other NPCs who follow or believe in that god. Provides information on roleplaying and combat decisions from the player's perspective.

5

Determine important locations or objects

Many real religions have books, artifacts, and places that are very important to their gods. So why doesn't your god use the same? Do you have any stories or prayer books? Was there a place where you confronted and defeated another god or being?

Giving the god a few important objects or locations will deepen his knowledge of the god and make learning about it more immersive for the players and yourself.

4

Myths, Legends, Rumors and Lore

This can be used with important locations and objects, but can also be used alone. Take Zeus as an example and think of all the legends and myths surrounding this god of thunder. Between seemingly endless sexual conquests, wars and fights, and even retellings and imaginations, Zeus thrived, spreading his knowledge far and wide.

Create the same type of story about your god. What would a bard sing about in relation to your god? Did they beat other gods in a legendary drinking contest? Can you turn water into ale? Could you kill someone with your stone-cold gaze? These things help the gods feel larger than life.

3

Give it personality

If your deity is going to interact with you or another human being, it is important to know how they will act, speak, and appear. Do they have the voice of a stalker? Or is it subtle and mysterious? The possibilities are endless.

If you want, you can be one of many gods in trench coats. Whether you're a player or a DM, your imagination is limited in what you create for this god when you communicate with him or come face to face with him.

2

Compare your statistics with other gods or high-level monsters

If they show up in the heat of battle, you'll want to have your stats ready. It may sound difficult at first, but you can also compare and borrow from other creatures in D&D to help you make your decision.

The lich has a legendary action called Disrupt Life. You may decide to use this as a base for your god's abilities, but you can change it to deal radiant damage, heal, or anything else that suits the god. The same goes for all modifiers. Even if you know how to distribute the stats to your god, you can compare it to other creatures to understand what kind of challenge or benefit it will provide to your party.

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Get inspired by other gods

In all aspects of the above, inspiration can be taken from other gods, deities, and even historical figures. Maybe you want a female god who can transform men into something. It doesn't have to be a stone, and it doesn't have to be a curse. Since your god hates patriarchy, you can pull a little bit from Medusa's story.

It may be from a real-life example, such as a movie or video game. Dungeons & Dragons is a very creative space, so being influenced by unique gods, acts of worship, or anything else that can be used to fill in details about a god can help with immersion and improvisation.