I'm currently in a game where I'm playing a Warpriest of Kurgess. We're only level 3 now, but my character's ultimate goal is to challenge Kurgess to unarmed combat (or whatever competetition Kurgess prefers).
I know challenging a god is normally impossible, but I think a demigod might be in the realm of possibility
How would you stat him up? What abilities do you think would fit?
I'd imagine demigod level is near Cthulhu levels of power, but I'm curious of what others might come up with. Or if he has been statted up somewhere before.
Kurgess is a god, not a demigod.
Anyway a demigod should be a creature in the CR 25-30 range, taking Mythic into account
Here is an officially statted Demigod.
He is CR 30, and a level 20/Mythic 10 character would be CR 25 (though generally more powerful...Achaekek should be updated since he predates Mythic).
This is still as far below an actual god as an ant is to a human.
Kurgess is a god, not a demigod.
Anyway a demigod should be a creature in the CR 25-30 range, taking Mythic into account
Kurgess (pronounced KUR-gess)[1] is a demi-god associated with healthy competition, sport, and physical development.
Is the wiki wrong on this one? He's referred to as a demigod many times.
A demi-god? More class levels that the normal limit of 20.
Is the wiki wrong on this one? He's referred to as a demigod many times.
Yes the wiki is wrong on this one, in the Inner Sea Gods book he's listed among the minor deities (Other Deities).
The Archives of Nethys are right on this one. (Link)
Is the wiki wrong on this one? He's referred to as a demigod many times.Yes the wiki is wrong on this one, in the Inner Sea Gods book he's listed among the minor deities (Other Deities).
The Archives of Nethys are right on this one. (Link)
That's unfortunate.
Maybe I'll change my goal into engaging in a competition versus Kugress's heralds or other companions.
How would I stat out a demigod? The answer is simple: Reluctantly. If you stat it, people will try to kill it. But if you really want to, there's the Demon Lords to look at as examples.
Also a few Empyreal Lords and Great Old Ones too according to Archives of Nethys. Most seem to be stated out in Bestiary 4.
How would I stat out a demigod? The answer is simple: Reluctantly. If you stat it, people will try to kill it. But if you really want to, there's the Demon Lords to look at as examples.
Err, that the entire point actually. The difference between gods and demigods is that the latter are killable.
(I know that some gods have been killed but that was by the hands of other deities)
I was originally led to believe that Kurgess was on the level of an Empyreal Lord. That's not the case though, I don't have any illusions of fighting an actual god.
I like the idea of my Warpriest still having the desire to compete with him though. What better competition than one with the god of competition himself?
It's possible that my copy of Inner Sea Gods is defective but it does specifically say in Kurgess' entry that he's a demigod who was raised to that level by Cayden Cailean and Desna.
I'm sure Kurgess is a true god. True gods have five domains whereas demigods have four or less. He probably was a demigod at one point and eventually became a true god.
I was originally led to believe that Kurgess was on the level of an Empyreal Lord. That's not the case though, I don't have any illusions of fighting an actual god.
I like the idea of my Warpriest still having the desire to compete with him though. What better competition than one with the god of competition himself?
Yeah, I think your initial concept still works out well; Kurgess was originally a human himself, after all, and I think he would want all of his followers to work themselves with the belief that they will one day be able to compete with him whether that's truly possible or not.
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Well, Irori and Nethys are proof of concept (human beings can, in fact, ascend to godhood under their own power).
One of the lines that always makes me smile is the bit about how Irori is really snobby to Norgorber, Cayden Cailean, and Iomedae because they "cheated".
I can just imagine him sitting around wherever he hangs out, grumbling to himself.
*Grumble grumble* "I busted my ass learning katas, sitting cross legged under waterfalls, and meditating until I achieved enlightenment and what do they do? TOUCH A ROCK." *Grumble grumble*
I would start by reading The Primal Order. It's old, and I'm sure it's out of print, but maybe available online somewhere.
It's the most amazing read on deities - what they really are, why they're so powerful, what they want, how to fight them, how they fight back, etc. It's system-agnostic so it applies to any system but it seems to have been written with 3.0 in mind as the abilities and their scaling fall perfectly in line with that system, so it's easily applied to Pathfinder.
The best part is the way the book sets Deities, even minor ones like demigods and godlings, so far above mortals but still working withing a rules framework that integrates into Pathfinder. For example, gods wield primal energy naturally, and they have a reserve of points to spend. Each point can do 1d6 unresistable damage - no save, no DR, nothing, just take the damage. Why? Because primal energy is the energy of gods and it's better than ordinary magic. And they can focus this into a ranged blast or even an AE blast. No save, take the damage. Put 10 points into it, that's 10d6 of unresistable damage. Oh, and it never misses. Why? Because it's primal. How much primal do they have? Godlings might have 50-100 primal points available per day (yes, that means they might go nova and do 100d6 of unresistable damage if they want to). Full gods have points into the thousands and even tens of thousands.
How do you fight them? I suggest get some primal of your own. Of course, that requires ascension to the ranks of divinity. No problem, the book covers that and then covers what you do as a newborn godling to increase your daily primal reserves through gaining worshippers, building shrines and temples, gaining a domain, getting a home plane, etc.
It's a great book for anyone wanting to actually stat out and run any level of divinity, or to become one themselves.
Interesting stuff!
I think he must have been a demi-god in life, since he's rumored to be the son of Caydan Cailean (unless the wiki lies again).
I'll probably stat up a "demi-god form" he might take that limits his powers so that he can still enjoy competitions himself.
Of course, my Warpriest wouldn't be happy unless his god gave 100%. It's more the thrill of the contest and the chance to get stronger and eventually win that attracts him.
As a Good god of fair sportsmanship I'd find reasonable for him to take a form which the warpriest stands a chance against.
That's what the Mythic rules are for! Stat away!!!
Gods can create physical avatars on the Material Plane. Many of the great stories of the gods involve them creating avatars that pretend to be ordinary people. If Kurgess was truly impressed with your character, he would totally make an avatar to challenge him in a fair fight. The power of an avatar might depend on Kurgess's preference. At the very least, he'd be your character's level plus up to 10 mythic tiers. He definitely wouldn't use NPC gear, so the CR would equal his level plus half his mythic tiers. That would be a very tough fight for a single PC, but not impossible.
Interesting stuff!
I think he must have been a demi-god in life, since he's rumored to be the son of Caydan Cailean (unless the wiki lies again).I'll probably stat up a "demi-god form" he might take that limits his powers so that he can still enjoy competitions himself.
Of course, my Warpriest wouldn't be happy unless his god gave 100%. It's more the thrill of the contest and the chance to get stronger and eventually win that attracts him.
It may not be wiki lies so much as the nature of the source texts. The entries on some gods are written in more speculative terms than others implying that even something written in a Paizo publication may not be giving the whole truth on the god.
Though I don't see any specific allusions to him being the son of Cayden Cailean in this specific wiki entry. It does seem to suggest that direct contest with Kurgess is somewhat inappropriate. The article suggests that most of his followers are content in the afterlife in trying their might against his servants.
carefully
A good idea would be to take a look at Korada from Bestiary 4 that is a Monk demigod basically and try to build something similar based on Brawler abilities.
A good idea would be to take a look at Korada from Bestiary 4 that is a Monk demigod basically and try to build something similar based on Brawler abilities.
Wow, some slight changes to that would make for a perfect "semi-mortal" form of Kurgess, or maybe one of his servants. I'll keep that in mind, thanks!
It may not be wiki lies so much as the nature of the source texts. The entries on some gods are written in more speculative terms than others implying that even something written in a Paizo publication may not be giving the whole truth on the god.Though I don't see any specific allusions to him being the son of Cayden Cailean in this specific wiki entry. It does seem to suggest that direct contest with Kurgess is somewhat inappropriate. The article suggests that most of his followers are content in the afterlife in trying their might against his servants.
The wiki does mention that Kurgess "has occasionally reappeared and taken part in sporting events, intent on protecting and encouraging those who take part in them".
It sounds like he's there to observe mostly, but he seems like the type of god who would accept a mortal's challenge as long as the challenger is respectful.
My Warpriest (Durnick "One Punch" Smith, a Pummeling Style Sacred Fist) wouldn't boast or claim superiority over his god. He has no illusions of grandeur, but he'd see a competition with Kurgess as an invaluable experience, win or lose.