I've been working on a theology for my new world of Moithane (previously known as Motain), and was thinking that most of the deities had to work their way up from mortality, through the epic levels, and then through "Immortal" levels, and finally get to become full fledged deities.
Of course, I doubt any PCs will get to taste "Immortal" levels, but I was thinking of having some characters in the area who are working their way up.
So, I am looking for ideas for how to handle it mechanically. An "Immortal" would not be able to grant all the benefits that a full deity would, so what would be the advantages of worshipping an "Immortal"? On the other hand, if a cleric does not need a deity, then why have a deity at all?
One idea is that you get more personal service from a patron Immortal than you do from a patron deity. Also, Immortals can grant enchantments to items in return to sacrifices, which help them along the way to divinity. I never liked the "Wal-Mart theory of magic items", but this is one way that PCs can "buy" magic items that they want. Being me, I probably would require special sacrifices beyond just generic coinage, and the item would probably acquire special properties when enchanted in that way.
Also, characters are more likely to get intervention from an Immortal, but have to be closer to the Immortial's shrine and the Immortal can't do as much as a full deity can.
Any other ideas?
A lot I would say depends on how closely your Gawds follow the game mechanical stuff from 3e Dieties & Demigods, as a starting point to consider.
For example, perhaps Immortals have but a half-mile radius of awareness as it relates to their various edifices. Perhaps those who actually worship such beings have access to spell lists like the paladin or ranger - so, no higher than perhaps 5th level?
This last is based on a recollection that 'back when' the agency actually granting a divine spellcaster's spells were tiered. In 3e terms, perhaps something along the lines of 1st - 3rd were pretty much accessible just on pure faith alone; 4th and 5th are granted primarily by minor divine servants (and thus perhaps serving as the Immortals' upper limits, also dovetailing into NPC Adepts' spell range); 6th level and up are progressively granted by greater and greater servants until 9th level spells which are granted directly by one's Gawd on a per-preparation basis.
This is not to say that one's Gawd as a cleric / druid / paladin / ranger / [other divine spellcaster] does not take direct note of what one requests (and, by extension, what one does with the divine power called up) - such as animate dead - but that as a general rule one does not actually interface with one's Gawd until the higher end of game play.
"Uh, whaddya mean my Gawd denied my prayers for three Implosions?"
"As a Gawd of Peace, Love and Hippehness, imploding creatures into balls of grue does not sit well. You have been granted three Symbols of Peace instead."
"..."