meir dumbrava's page

Thanks anyway. I pretty much expected this to be left to the gaming group, just wanted to see if there re any cannonical concepts inherent to the world.

Thanks for the prompt response.

Hmmmm... I've been thinking about the answers to my previous questions about Divinity and so on. I'd like to refine some questions if I may:
1) While divine magic and arcane magic work the same in crunch terms, what makes them different in flavor terms? Why is healing only available to the divine? In most of it's forms? How does divine magic differs in it's ESSENCE from the arcane energies of the world? What is the source of power that the gods tap into and enable to grant their worshipers? There are certain themes in divine magic that feel different than arcane. What is the essence, the core, the source of this difference in Golarion?

I am asking since one of my characters seeks to take the "divine source" path ability, and thus gain access to divine magic, but she seeks to do so without having any connection to the gods themselves. A sort of "Thief/ trickster" of divinity. I am trying to understand divinity and arcane magic in order to try and find an interesting, flavorful and world consistent explanation and experience.

2) For the same reason, I'd like to understand the hierarchy of the divine beings better. Not their respective power levels. While that is helpful, it is a game terms approach, but I seek more of a flavor one. If A mortal, quasi or semi god wishes to ascend to the next "level", what core changes do they need to go through? What essential changes in their definition, being, makeup, spirit, soul or such do they need to go through?

In terms of flavor, and not just power, how do mortals, quasi, semi and full gods differ?

These re fantasy metaphysical questions, and I'm aware they may not be any answers. I'm asking out of interest, intrigue, and to provide my player with such an experience upon their "Ascension".

Thanks in advance,
Meir.

Thanks. That answers most of my questions. The rest (More philosophical and metaphysical questions about the divine) I will need to think up with my players.
I will look for those sources you mentioned.
Thanks again!

Hi James. My group has started to play in Golarion in the Wrath of the Righteous Adventure Path (No spoilers) some time ago. We learned the very basic of this world and mostly treated most stuff as a sort of "regular fantasy setting" for the time being, deciding we might expand on our study of the world if we do come to like it.

However, recently two of my players (One who is interested in fantasy religions, and one who seeks to defy the gods, maybe take some of their power, via the "Source of Divinity" universal path ability,) have taken an interest in divinity. I understood, that I have no idea how it is dealt with in Golarion! I started reading from various wikis (I don't have the books themselves), but I was wondering about the nature of divinity, faith, gods and portfolios in the world.

1) What is the nature of divinity? What differs it from Arcane magic? What's is it's source?

2) What makes a god... a god? What differs a divine being from a mortal, other than power? I know that there re 4 mortals who ascended to godhood through the Starstone trial. Are there any others? what about the non-previously-mortal gods, where do they come from?

3) What of the other divine beings? (In "divine being" I mean any being who can bestow divine power upon followers) Such as demon lords? How do they differ from the gods? Is there real distinction? Any other non-gods divine beings?

4) What of the planes? What relation do they have to divine entities? I know some demon lords for examples have their own planes, (As are the demon lords in the adventure Path, and also the mention of Iomedae herself in the 5th installment) is this the norm? What relations do the planes have between themselves?

5) What relation do divine beings have on Golarion itself? I understood there is a sort of "non intervention" clause, (Which I can't seem to find, but is important to the game) but I also understand that the god Aroden acted fairly freely on Golarion?

6) Any special laws/ guidelines/ pacts the gods follow? Any "game rules/ do-and-don't?"

Thanks in advance in shedding light on the matter. If you can't do it directly, but can point me to a (Hopefully free) source that can explain that would be great.

Till then,
Kol.