Deities and Demigods (Dungeons and Dragons) [Hardcover]

Enter supplemental materials like Deities & Demigods. Let's take a look:

Chapter 1: Deities in Your Game -- Here's an abbreviated list of the sections:
Monotheism, Dualism, The Nature of Divinity, Why Mortals Worship Deities, Why Deities Use Mortals, Building a Pantheon, etc.

For me, this was the strongest aspect of the book. First, it explains different types of pantheons -- one God, vs. multiple gods/goddesses. Then it addresses a very key point: Why do divinities and mortals need each other? What is the relationship? As a DM, this part really helped cement that important concept.

Chapter 2: Deities Defined
The next section is another winner: How to make your own pantheon. In the previous chapter, there are tips for formulating your pantheon conceptually. How many? What domains? This chapter leads right into an explanation of the mechanics used in the book. So, you can take your idea for a new pantheon, and put it into d20 game terms.

Chapter 3 and on through the rest of the book:
I've heard complaints that there are only four pantheons in this book, compared to dozens from previous editions. Let me take a stab at why. Do you have a 3rd edition character, say, 10th level? My 10th level gnome druid takes up four pages worth of character sheet. Each of the gods & goddesses in this book are around 30th level or higher! Their stats take up a LOT of room! Thus, we are only given the Greyhawk, Olympian, Pharaonic (Egyptian), and Asgardian (Norse) pantheons.

Pantheon Strengths:
1) Some GREAT art: Ehlonna, Aries, Athena, Pan, Heimdall, Sif (yay!), Thor, etc.
2) Fully detailed d20 stats for each deity.
3) Maps for some deity-related dwellings.
4) We are told the deities will work well with the up and coming Epic Rules.

Pantheon Weaknesses:
1) Some painfully BAD art: Aphrodite, Dionysus, Ptah (and he is so cool!), Loki (this one really hurt me, I'm a big Loki fan), etc.
2) Very limited information about the deities themselves. This, to me, is the major shortcoming on this book. The info for dogmas, clergy & temples, etc., are each a short paragraph only. What does this tell us? Perhaps the game designers went a little overboard being able to actually make legal d20 stats for the deities, and didn't think enough about fleshing them out. I would have loved more background, more rituals, and more mythology for each deity. Granted, if you want to put these deities in a brawl, you've certainly got the stats!

Overall:
The 3E Deities & Demigods book has some vital information -- namely, the first few chapters. DMs and players alike will enjoy learning more about the place of deities and mortals within a D&D world. The rules for making your own pantheon are also very cool. After that, we have many, many stat blocks (with fairly limited background) for insanely powerful NPCs. Personally, I'm a stat fanatic, and enjoyed pouring over them. If they had only added another few paragraphs for each deity's background, religious holidays, expectations for their clerics, etc. I'd have given Deities & Demigods 5 stars. As it stands, it only gets 4.

1) Who needs stats for gods?

Fair enough, but it isn't as if this book is new to the D&D system. The idea goes back a very long way indeed and has been done more than once. I think once the Epic-Level Campaigns book is released this volume will seem more accessible as well as a more natural progression from the Player's Handbook. Indeed, it seems almost as if the third part of a trilogy was released before the second, but that in no way makes this any less of a fun, useful, and enjoyable romp. For those of you that see this as only a glorified Monster Manual, I say free up your imaginations!

2) It only details four pantheons.

True, but it covers them very well. I think this is preferable to having a mixed bag of gods that you can only really use if you play a truly worldly sort of campaign. My only real disappointment with the D&D/Greyhawk Pantheon was that I wanted much, much more of it than was offered. And I think if the biggest problem you have with a book is that you wanted it to be bigger, then you just have to do like I do...and pray for a Deities & Demigods II.

The book is simply excellent. It begins by describing topics such as the nature of divinity (how a deity became a deity, where their power stems from, etc.), how to create your own gods, your own pantheons and so forth. There is a list of divine abilities and divine feats for fleshing out deities you create...as well as explaining the powers of those listed within. But, enough of about the nuts and bolts, because we know what everyone's waiting for...the gods!

The D&D/Greyhawk Pantheon is a real plus for those of you who want a look at and description of the deities mentioned in the Player's Handbook. It also includes Tiamat and Bahamut (dragon deities), Lolth (Drow), and for some reason Kurtulmak (Kobold). The artwork is Fantastic and the stats given make perfect sense for truly far-reaching epic campaigns. As I said before...the only thing I want from this section of the book is MORE!

The remaining three pantheons are Olympian (Greek), Pharonic (Egyptian), and Asgardian (Norse) and each are detailed comprehensibly. There are of course a few players missing from the deck (such as Fenrir from the Asgardian section) but with an average of 20 gods per pantheon you'll have plenty of stuff to keep you occupied and drool over.

There are also original examples of monotheistic and dualistic faiths and a mystery cult. These are interesting to compare to the pantheons, especially as you're given details on creating your own, but I prefer the pantheon system as it adds more diversity.

The book also includes several monsters spread throughout (cyclops, faun, greater mummy, minions of set, valkyrie, etc.), a few prestige classes and a list of "new" Domains and spells.

My only hope is that this book will be followed up, much like the Monster Manual, with a sequel that will detail other pantheons (Celtic? Babylonian?) and include more D&D/Greyhawk gods such as those found in the Living Greyhawk Gazeteer.

Until then (assuming it ever happens) enjoy what is here. The seeds for a great deal of high-level fun, and low-level awe when Fharlanghn meets you on the crossroads at the beginning of your next adventure.

Oh, yes...and don't let anyone tell you otherwise: The artwork is far beyond "okay"...it is superb!

Now the bad news: How often does your character actually try to brawl with a diety? Hopefully never, or very rarely. How often do your characters interact with a deities church? A lot more often than meeting the actual deity. There is almost NO detail on how each deities' religions are set-up. MAJOR PROBLEM. Even if the designers wanted to leave room for the DM to create a church, why flub on this crucial issue? For a top notch D&D religion book, check out the 2nd edition Forgotten Realms religion sourcebooks. Deities and Demigods 3E doesn't even come close to this standard. It merely demotes deities from a position of awe and true deific standings to uber-monsters you would meet on the 20th level of a dungeon. Planescape is much better in outlining how deities and characters should interact.