Reconciling 3.5 deity ranks with immortal ranks using mathematics
by redkingFortunately, its not very hard. D&D 3.5 has 20 ranks for deities, with an additional rank of 0. More on the latter later. We will be rounding up when calculating Immortal to Deity ranks for this work.
20/36 = 0.5555555555555556
36/20 = 1.8
Rank 0
Creatures of this rank are sometimes called quasi-deities or hero deities. Creatures that have a mortal and a deity as parents also fall into this category. These entities cannot grant spells, but are immortal and usually have one or more ability scores that are far above the norm for their species. They may have some worshipers. Ordinary mortals do not have a divine rank of 0. They lack a divine rank altogether.Rank 1-5
These entities, called demigods, are the weakest of the deities. A demigod can grant spells and perform a few deeds that are beyond mortal limits. A demigod has anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand devoted mortal worshipers and may receive veneration or respect from many more. A demigod controls a small godly realm (usually on an Outer Plane) and has minor control over a portfolio that includes one or more aspects of mortal existence. A demigod might be very accomplished in a single skill or a group of related skills, gain combat advantages in special circumstances, or be able to bring about minor changes in reality itself related to the portfolio.Rank 6-10
Called lesser deities, these entities grant spells and can perform more powerful deeds than demigods can. Lesser deities have anywhere from a few thousand to tens of thousands of worshipers and control larger godly realms than demigods. They also have keener senses where their portfolios are concerned.Rank 11-15
These entities are called intermediate deities. They have hundreds of thousands of mortal worshipers and control larger godly realms than demigods or lesser deities.Rank 16-20
Called greater deities, these entities may have millions of mortal worshipers, and they command respect even among other deities. The most powerful of greater deities rule over other deities just as mortal sovereigns rule over commoners.Rank 21+
These entities are beyond the ken of mortals and care nothing for worshipers. They do not grant spells, do not answer prayers, and do not respond to queries. If they are known at all, it is to a handful of scholars on the Material Plane. They are called overdeities. In some pantheistic systems, the consent of an overdeity is required to become a god.
Immortals:
Initiate 1 - 6
Temporal 7 - 12
Celestial 13 - 18
Empyreal 19 - 24
Eternal 25 - 30
Hierarch 31 - 36
Old One 37+ (equivalent to Overdeity)
Deity to Immortal ranks.
Initiate 1 to Temporal 9 = rank 1 - 5 rank Demigod. Example: Al-Kalim is a 3rd ranked Initiate. When he meets a Deity from a different campaign setting, the Deity perceives Al-Kalim as a rank 2 Demigod.
Temporal 10 to Celestial 18 rank = 6 - 10 rank Lesser Deity. Example: Freya is a 13th ranked Celestial. When she meets a Deity from a different campaign setting, the Deity perceives Freya as a rank 8 Lesser Deity.
Empyreal 19 to Eternal 27 = 11 - 15 rank Intermediate Deity. Example: Orcus (who is apparently not the same as the Demonlord) is a 25th ranked Eternal. When he meets a Deity from a different campaign setting, the Deity perceives Orcus as a rank 14 Intermediate Deity.
Eternal 28 to Hierarch 36 = 16 - 20 rank Greater Deity. Example: Ordana is a 31st ranked Hierarch. When she meets a Deity from a different campaign setting, the Deity perceives Ordana as a rank 18 Greater Deity.
What is Divine Rank Zero in Mystara?
Quasi Deities exist in Mystara in a strictly transitional state. When a candidate for immortality is accepted, it becomes a rank zero Immortal, exactly the same as a rank zero Deity. The candidate must succeed it its quest or die trying.
The Immortal ranks are more granular than divine ranks, but they are socially constructed by Immortal society rather than being an objective difference to the divine ranks. A given quantity of sugar is the same whether you calculate it in pounds or kilos. Likewise, Immortals assign their own ranks Immortal ranks to Deities when they come across them. For example, a Mystara Immortal meeting the 18th divine rank Shar from the Forgotten Realms setting will perceive her Immortal rank as a 33rd ranked Hierarch.
Immortals are focused on Mystara because most of them came from that planet. Its also possible that the Old Ones have programmed the Immortals to take less interest in the rest of the multiverse. Certainly no Immortal is bothering with the Blood War or other planar controversies. Nor are the Immortals of Mystara bothered by Deities from elsewhere. The Immortals are quite tight knit and do not tolerate interference from outside. Not even the Entropic Immortals tolerate interlopers. If Mystara is to be destroyed, it will be by hand of the Entropic Immortals, not some foreign Deity like Tharzidun.