First, thanks again for the help on my last thread "What could a Demigod do?". It was nice to see other people's opinions, and really solidified the concept. So I'm back again, with another queary...
In the game universe, the difference between "monster" and "hero" in the old days was based on your parents. Basically, Heracles was pretty, because he was a son of Zeus. While Grendel was ugly, as was his mother, since their divine heritage came from somebody else--Tiamat, or another "godlike monster".
I'd like to keep this in, but I'm having problems from a mechanical setting seperating the two. It's easy to come up with "monsterous powers"--batwings, fangs, scaley skin, etc., but for the hero's...not so much. At least, nothing to really differentiate from the other side.
I've got some theories about it, but wanted to hear from you guys. What powers might a "good" demigod have that a "bad" one wouldn't?
Well, there are only two I can think of, and you got one already "being attractive". The other is luck.
But what the "good" heroes really have is a lack of a cost associated with their abilities. The good heroes might have flaws (unsually personality or circumstantial), but normally not flaws associated with their powers/the source of their powers.
Well, you describe what makes bad guys look bad, but totally ignored what makes heroes look heroic.
The opposites of all your examples are a start: angel wings, shiny teeth, radiant skin, etc.
Heroes can also epitomize any virtue you want: humility, charity, chastity, etc. They might also have one virtue they can't quite get a hold on, a rather nasty vice: hubris, miserly, lustful, etc. Monsters tend to go the opposite, several nasty vices, but often one very remarkable virtue. The hideous, murdering monster who cares deeply for its children, something like that.
The problem with trying to define "hero" based on it's opposite, "monster," is that you have no base line for comparison. The hero just becomes a "not-monster" who lacks all the things that make the other bad. If you look at what makes a hero not a normal human however, then you can draw some ideas.
It depedns on how you want to define "heros" and "monsters". Technically, being a hero is more a matter of action than birth. Monsters can be similiarly vague.
Is it tied to virtue and vice? Are you heros neccesarily paragons and your monsters true villains?
Is the title based on how human the parent is? If so, hero's should be "superhuman". Not so so much non-human as an exageration of existing human traits, such as talents and skills.
Frankly, I'd rather see a more diverse spread than the standard "good vs evil" polarization, especially when it deals with bloodlines. Did the minotaur murder due to it's beastial heritage or did it have to do more with being cursed by a god, trapped in a prison without company since childhood, and having said murder victims be a primary source of protein? Humans don't take kindly to things that are "inhuman", so I imagine part of the "monster" reaction is based on that fact. That being said said, some lineages would affect mental and psychological traits, which might cause any number of antisocial reactions. Lets look at maenads. Like the other nymphs, they looked like beautiful women, but they acted as vessels of murderous rage, tearing people apart with their bare hands. On the other hand, all the egyptian gods have animal-headed representations, and they are plenty of strories about divine animals. So does beauty make the maenads good? For that matter, why are bird wings considered good but bat wings are supposedly evil? It seems like it's all a matter of perspective. If you want villains, I'd suggest making them that way because they have goals that conflict with those around them and the power to carry these wishes out. In short, ugly doesn't mean evil, but evil actions often do.
As I understand mythology, the monster/hero division wasn't just an either/or choice. For one thing, monsters are by definition not human; heroes are always human (even if partly divine). For another thing, some humans are villains and some are heroes. And, on top of that, some monsters were bad ones (the ones who would kill and destroy) while others were just wild (like the pegasus and others that acted like lions and horses - they'd defend their turf and such, but they didn't seek out carnage could be tamed and controlled).
On to powers for heroes:
- enhanced attributes (super strength, speed, dexterity, charm) - Hercules
- enhanced skills (mechanical skills, combat skills) - Icarus
- divination - Cassandra
- immunity (to substances or attacks) - Achilles
- divine intervention and warning - just about everyone, even if they didn't know of it
But... I honestly think that you're looking for patterns where there are none. It's a lot like asking the question "What can an inventor invent?" We can only answer it with what has been invented. We don't know what might have been invented, and we don't know what will be invented. And, we keep finding ancient inventions that we would have thought were impossible for their tech level.
In the same way, Achilles was made invincible by dipping him into something and so only the god's grasp on his heel was unprotected. There's no rhyme or reason to that, it just happened. Zeus had many children and not all of them were strong (for that matter, not all of them were special in any way). Many Greek heroes were just right place, right time kind of guys. I can't think of any Greek heroes who could throw fireballs, but if you wrote one in the same style, I'd shrug and say "Cool. I hadn't read that." There's no reason it couldn't have happened.
Anyway, in a mechanical sense, you might allow both heroes and monsters to pick from the same list of skills and abilities. It's just that the monsters will look hideous and the heroes won't. For example, what's the mechanical difference between Smaug in Lord of the Rings and Achilles from the Trojan wars?
Well, the vast majority of 'demigods' were as likely evil as good, at least in the large mythos that have them. And to be honest, very few of them were morally 'good' beings. Herculese was a bragart (then again, why wouldn't he be), a womanizer, a drunk, and a general SOB at times, in a lot of stories (most of the ones he was in aside the 12 labors. And, to an extent, even those, depending on version. He never went out and deliberately hurt anyone, but his actions showed a blatent disregard for others' well-being.
Achilles and a few others were much the same.
Caliban (I think), another demigod, was cursed for similair behavior. I think he also claimed superiority to the gods, never a good idea, as well. He qualifies quite well as a 'monster', at least after the fact, but that's an entirely different argument. The point is, the children of good or evil gods don't necessarily turn out anything like expected.
As for trully 'angelic' demigods, most of the truly great ones were, in fact, lacking in much of any magical power. Generally superior to normal people in most areas. Smarter, more charismatic, somewhat stronger, etc. Perseus didn't have much of any real *power* per se. His quests ended with him earning a long list of useful magical items. Including winged boots and a severed medusa head. But, though he was set on the course by divine power, he actually EARNED those prizes.
Other demigods, in general, had access to actual magic. Typically female, and varied back and forth as to their 'good' or 'evil' natures. Healing, cursing, the whole nine yards of witchcraft. Nothing more powerful than voodoo supposedly grants.
To be honest, if you want examples of 'good' demigod abilities, you'd probably be better asking about saintly or divine miracles than the behaviors of ancient mythological half-gods. Moses seemed to have pretty good skills using water.
For example, what's the mechanical difference between Smaug in Lord of the Rings and Achilles from the Trojan wars?
That's my point exactly...
Basically, for the game universe, there are two "branches" of gods: Those originally from Order, and those from Chaos--light/dark, etc. The Order side we know--Zeus, Odin, Thor...all the golden oldies.
The Dark ones are known more as monsters from myth...Leviathan, Lilith, and all the other monsters that are just as popular, just as powerful, but not apparently a god--because the "good" side killed the "bad" side.
Not that it's anywhere near that simple--you are an individual, even if you're a monster...
There appear to be three main categories of power so far.
I. UNIVERSAL POWERS: Powers that both sides can access easily. (really strong, really tough, etc.)
II. "THRONE" POWERS (needs another name): Powers of the "god" categories (like being an air god grants you powers no one else has, etc.) Both light and dark sides can get these, as well.
III. BIRTH POWERS: For those of light, and those of darkness, there are things taht are more common for them to have. Ex: "dark" genes get you things like horns and poison, while "good" side makes you...?
Some ideas:
*able to come back from the dead...
*Able to survive mortal wounds longer...
*Able to rally the hordes...?
Both sides can buy either side of III, but it's cheaper to pay for your own birth side. I'd just like some more ideas for "light" powers.
There appear to be three main categories of power so far.
I. UNIVERSAL POWERS: Powers that both sides can access easily. (really strong, really tough, etc.)
II. "THRONE" POWERS (needs another name): Powers of the "god" categories (like being an air god grants you powers no one else has, etc.) Both light and dark sides can get these, as well.
III. BIRTH POWERS: For those of light, and those of darkness, there are things taht are more common for them to have. Ex: "dark" genes get you things like horns and poison, while "good" side makes you...?
Both sides can buy either side of III, but it's cheaper to pay for your own birth side. I'd just like some more ideas for "light" powers.
How about: I. Powers II. Domain (or Miricles) and III. Birthrights ?
Break up some of the tedium and make them sound fancy, heh.
Type3 Powers: Good:
Golden Aura - You shine with a barely perceptible aura of goodness and light
Molded Body - your not just good looking, you got the godly airbrush treatment so that your body is disproportionate to most people, in a good way.
Commanding - You voice carries the air of command and respect, able to sway to nations with the charm of your speech
Empathy(Nature) - Animals are drawn to you as a friend and accept your requests
EVIL:
Black Aura - A grim field of evil draws the life from all around you
Malformed - hideous looking and frighting
Terror Invoking Roar - Your voice spreads fear through all who hear it, making them obey or flee in horror
Empathy(Monster) - The outcasts of nature are drawn to you and obey you every command
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Re: So, what would a Good Demigod do??
Maybe expand on the order/disorder dichotomy? The spawn of disorder are physically disordered too, asymmetrical, with odd numbers of parts, etc.
the children of the gods of Order might have "knacks" that relate to civilization and order:
mastery of beasts (tame them, ride them)
cunning builder (a natural at making and building things, from city walls to a new shield)
Prometheus' favor (special aptitude for fire -- not wildfire, but fire in the forge, in the hearth, in the kiln, in the oven. Can use fire to make and purify things, not destroy them)
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Re: So, what would a Good Demigod do??
Quote:
Originally Posted by jdagna
In the same way, Achilles was made invincible by dipping him into something and so only the god's grasp on his heel was unprotected. There's no rhyme or reason to that, it just happened.
Earlier conceptions of the character have him merely being badass.
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