r/worldbuilding Bethesda's Sanctuary 9d ago

r/worldbuilding's Official Prompts #1! Prompt

I used to do these a while ago. and unfortunately life got me pretty busy and I wasn't able to keep it up. But they were a lot of fun, and I've really been wanting to come back to them!

With these we hope to get you to consider elements and avenues of thought that you've never pursued before. We also hope to highlight some users, as we'll be selecting two responses-- One of our choice, and the comment that receives the most upvotes, to showcase next time!

This post will be put into "contest mode", meaning comment order will be randomized for all visitors, and scores will only be visible to mods.

If you've got any other questions or comments, feel free to ask in the comments!

But with that, on to the prompt! This one is a suggestion left over from last time, submitted by u/Homicidal_Harry:

  • What is the nature of Gods in your setting?

  • Are they creators of the universe that predate time itself, or just very powerful beings perceived as gods?

  • Are your deities a pantheon of immortals in the image of man like Greek gods, or vast, indescribable, otherworldly entities too great for mortal minds to comprehend?

  • How often do they interact with the mortal world? If they do, what stakes do they have in the events of your setting?

  • Can your gods die? If so, explain how the consequences that would follow.

  • Do your gods even exist in your setting? Even if they don't, how would the people of your setting answer these questions?

If you have any suggestions for prompts of your own, feel free to submit them here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf9ulojVGbsHswXEiQbt9zwMLdWY4tg6FpK0r4qMXePFpfTdA/viewform?usp=sf_link

43 Upvotes

View all comments

u/Equivalent_Mess2870 9d ago

Godhood is a title given to People whose actions durably reshaped the world around them.

Said title is almost always given post-mortem, but rare occurrences appeared throughout History with recognition of Godhood staying localised until the protagonist's death.

The Domain of the Greats plays the role of a Pantheon as well as a Library of Records proving a God's existence.

The Triangle of Beliefs refuses to acknowledge the existence of the Domain because of its negative impact on the Guiding Lords Faith's global popularity.

These 'Gods' are still regular humans and hold no actual powers. They are folk heroes incarnate, whose actions were so great that they are questioned by the common people even in their lifetime.