So I like this. I like this a lot in fact. I like it enough that I have taken the liberty of going through the rules and ironing out some parts to make it a little more viable. Also I think the DM should simply be the Over Deity (hereafter referred to as OD) as Ao is an actual entity specific the the Forgotten Realms.
The Passage of Time
A single turn represents 250 years of in-world time or 12 real-world hours. At the beginning of each turn all deities gain a single Act to use as they deem fit. Every two turns (24 hours) the OD will stop the use of all acts (using a post such as 'The World is Changing...') after which they will compile the Acts the various deities have performed and then post how these changes have come into play and effected the world. This gives deities time to counter the acts of each other while also setting a dead-line by which people must post if they intend to use acts these turns.
An Age occurs after a preset number of turns have passed. The simplest method would be to use a week as the standard (so once every 14 turns). At the start of each new age all deities will receive a new allotment of Miracles, Curses and Endowments to use as they see fit during the current age.
An Age occurs after a preset number of turns have passed. The simplest method would be to use a week as the standard (so once every 14 turns). At the start of each new age all deities will receive a new allotment of Miracles, Curses and Endowments to use as they see fit during the current age.
The Flow of the Ages
As mentioned above each deity will receive a number of Miracles, Curses and Endowments at the start of each new age. These allotments will decrease (and occasionally increase) as ages pass. In addition the OD may grant additional allotments to specific deities based on there actions during the previous age (cultivating mass prayers is always a good way to acquire additional Miracles or Curses depending on the nature of the prayers). The exact number of Miracles, Curses and Endowments given are ultimately up to the OD but certain ages will inform this decision;
The First Age. The world is young and malleable making Miracles and Curses much easier to perform and capable of much more powerful effects (such as the creation of entire continents, oceans, celestial bodies and peoples - or the destruction of such
). However, as the world is still roiling the creation of direct divine conduits proves much less reliable resulting in fewer endowments during this age. Guidelines - Miracles: 8, Curses: 8, Endowments: 4.
Second Age. The world is now stable. Miracles/Curses are no longer able to directly cause dramatic changes to the planet though other methods of change (such as volcanic eruption or excessive flooding) or the co-operation of several deities can still effect such changes. The 'goal' of this age is for a deity to establish a steady stream of prayer that they may survive into the next age - as such 'flashier' displays of divine might and direct contact with mortals will be needed. Guidelines - Miracles: 6, Curses: 6, Endowments: 6.
Third Age and onwards. The state of the world is set. Any deity that does not have a stable source of prayers ceases to exist - or persist in a greatly diminished state [see addendum]. It is now that the surviving deities begin the task of increasing there power hold over mortal world. Direct divine action becomes more and more draining as time marches onwards making subtle influence and control the preferred tools of these aeons - though if needed the deities are still capable of conjuring up Miracles and Curses to defend themselves and their holdings. Guidelines - Miracles: 6, Curses: 6, Endowments: 6 (each of these reduces by one after each additional aeon (to a minimum of 1 each aeon)).
In addition the OD have the ability to proclaim special ages. The exact rules and nature of these special ages are up the the OD themselves but are often influenced by the actions of deities in the age before. For example if a large number of deities began taking offensive action towards one another the new age could be proclaimed an Age of War - resulting in additional Curses being allotted to each deity and reducing the cost of creating an Avatar.
The First Age. The world is young and malleable making Miracles and Curses much easier to perform and capable of much more powerful effects (such as the creation of entire continents, oceans, celestial bodies and peoples - or the destruction of such
). However, as the world is still roiling the creation of direct divine conduits proves much less reliable resulting in fewer endowments during this age. Guidelines - Miracles: 8, Curses: 8, Endowments: 4.Second Age. The world is now stable. Miracles/Curses are no longer able to directly cause dramatic changes to the planet though other methods of change (such as volcanic eruption or excessive flooding) or the co-operation of several deities can still effect such changes. The 'goal' of this age is for a deity to establish a steady stream of prayer that they may survive into the next age - as such 'flashier' displays of divine might and direct contact with mortals will be needed. Guidelines - Miracles: 6, Curses: 6, Endowments: 6.
Third Age and onwards. The state of the world is set. Any deity that does not have a stable source of prayers ceases to exist - or persist in a greatly diminished state [see addendum]. It is now that the surviving deities begin the task of increasing there power hold over mortal world. Direct divine action becomes more and more draining as time marches onwards making subtle influence and control the preferred tools of these aeons - though if needed the deities are still capable of conjuring up Miracles and Curses to defend themselves and their holdings. Guidelines - Miracles: 6, Curses: 6, Endowments: 6 (each of these reduces by one after each additional aeon (to a minimum of 1 each aeon)).
In addition the OD have the ability to proclaim special ages. The exact rules and nature of these special ages are up the the OD themselves but are often influenced by the actions of deities in the age before. For example if a large number of deities began taking offensive action towards one another the new age could be proclaimed an Age of War - resulting in additional Curses being allotted to each deity and reducing the cost of creating an Avatar.
Addendum
Help! I didn't create a people in the First Age and no-one will help me do so in the Second! Am I doomed to die?
You do not need to be the deity of a people to survive - you can also embody a concept. If you are the God of War then the simple act of causing battles will ensure you have enough mortals praying to you to keep you alive into the third age.
In addition the OD may allow you to persist as a vestige deity - you receive only a single Miracle, Curse or Endowment each age (of your choice) and may use it to try to create worshipers. A god of disease for example could use his single Curse to create a virulent plague to infect the mortals - perhaps even enough for them to pray for divine intervention? This may be all you need to reignite yourself - though immediate action would be needed to establish yourself before you fade again.
You do not need to be the deity of a people to survive - you can also embody a concept. If you are the God of War then the simple act of causing battles will ensure you have enough mortals praying to you to keep you alive into the third age.
In addition the OD may allow you to persist as a vestige deity - you receive only a single Miracle, Curse or Endowment each age (of your choice) and may use it to try to create worshipers. A god of disease for example could use his single Curse to create a virulent plague to infect the mortals - perhaps even enough for them to pray for divine intervention? This may be all you need to reignite yourself - though immediate action would be needed to establish yourself before you fade again.
The Death of Old Gods, the Birth of New
Inevitably a player will wish to enter or leave a game in progress - both actions that can be resolved relatively easily. For a deity to retire is simply a case of them dividing up the aspects of there portfolio - either returning them to the OD or giving them out to deities (or potential deities) of there choice (though the OD has final say in these matters). Any deity leaving the game may also be given the option of persisting behind the scenes as a vestige deity (see Addendum above) so that they may return later if they so wish - though they will still have regain their former portfolios (truly crafty deities may create schemes by which to fuel there rebirth in such occasions - think Bhaal and Bane from the Forgotten Realms).
Deities joining the game prior to the third age need simply carve out a place for themselves in the primordial world. Those entering afterwards will require some portfolio to ensure there survival (perhaps a fraction of an existing deities in exchange for alliance). Assuming they can acquire a portfolio (or the OD simply devises one for them) they are free to interact and commune as any other deity - though they must be careful about treading on the toes of older, stronger deities.
Deities joining the game prior to the third age need simply carve out a place for themselves in the primordial world. Those entering afterwards will require some portfolio to ensure there survival (perhaps a fraction of an existing deities in exchange for alliance). Assuming they can acquire a portfolio (or the OD simply devises one for them) they are free to interact and commune as any other deity - though they must be careful about treading on the toes of older, stronger deities.
End Game
One of the first things to jump out is that this thing doesn't have an in-built end game - outside of the OD simply closing shop or a single deity claiming dominion of the entire world (a herculean task assuming there is any resistance at all to oppose them) the game will simply go on until people lose interest in it. Not a terrible thing for a game of this nature and not something I feel could be adequately fixed without changing the point of the exercise but it is something people should be aware off when they begin.
Alternatively if interest does dwindle the OD could simply instigate an apocalypse scenario - some cataclysmic force or external threat of a magnitude great enough to end the world. Or at the very least reduce it to a state where direct divine intervention would be required again to pick up the pieces (perhaps allowing particularly strong deities to save their followers and ensure there survival in the 'new world'). Just a thought.
Alternatively if interest does dwindle the OD could simply instigate an apocalypse scenario - some cataclysmic force or external threat of a magnitude great enough to end the world. Or at the very least reduce it to a state where direct divine intervention would be required again to pick up the pieces (perhaps allowing particularly strong deities to save their followers and ensure there survival in the 'new world'). Just a thought.
Edit: Oh yeah. Assuming we get enough interest I would be willing to OD this (on the condition that the update times are GMT so I don't have to get up at 05:00 to update things - he says posting this at 06:00). Scratch that. That's like mid-afternoon for most of y'all across the pond. You all prolly want to spend that time with families and things. I'll do it 24:00 (EST) since it's rare I'm not still up at that point.