paizo.com - Forums: Advice: Creating Deities (2025)

I'm getting started with 2e and my first homebrew. After conferencing with my players, we are in a new, created world and we would like to have our own deities/pantheon.

I haven't seen any specific rules for creating deities in 2e. Have you?

Also (or possibly instead), what rules should I read again to help guide me in creating a deity?

Thank you.

Don't think there's anything specific for "how to craft homebrew," but I'd generally just recommend looking through the Gods & Magic book for how things are done with other deities.

In general, it seems mechanical bits for a deity are:
-Deity Alignment + Follower alignments they accept
-Divine Font: Do their clerics channel to heal, harm, or get to choose? Typically good=heal, evil=harm, neutral=choice.
-Divine Ability: Choice of two ability scores (used by Raised by Belief background)
-Divine Skill: 1 skill other than religion (because Clerics already trained in that)
-4 Domains
-Possibly 1-2 Alternate Domains
-Cleric Spells: Typically a 1st level spell + 2 more spells that are not already on the Divine Spell list. Some highly magic-associated deities grant more (like Nethys giving 9 spells).
-Edicts + Anathema
-Divine Intersessions: Minor/Moderate/Major Boons+Curses
-Favored Weapon
-Abilities granted for the Avatar Spell (10th level divine spell that varies a bit based on deity. Variable bits are Speed(s), Types of attacks, and Damage.)

While all the stats are important. The first step should be to pick the god's "area of concern" and edicts/ananthema. Both of these will inform all the other choices. What is this a god OF?

For instance, look at the confidence domain. It is offered by such varied Deities as Asmodeus, Iomedae and Gorum. LE LG and CN.

To expand on my prior comment, think of your gods as a character (in the sense of a book or movie, not PC). The Areas of Concern can help to inform their character, but edicts and anathema even more so. Think about a Sun god. They could be a life giving force or one that harms or burns and is a source of death, OR even both!

Let's do a thought experiment. So, making a god from scratch with areas of concern as: Isolation, loneliness, and introspection.

What kind of edicts would you expect? Be alone, and force other's to be alone. Allow the oppression of solitude smother you and others.
Anathema: Do your best to not disturb other's isolation. Releasing others from isolation. assuage loneliness.
These E/A point to a clearly non-good god, maybe NE? Domains: darkness, pain, secrecy, sorrow, void. This is not a fun god, really kind of terrifying isn't she?

Same Areas of concern, but different E/A.
Edicts: Take time to look inward when you can. meditate upon the solace of isolation. Allow others to be with themselves if they wish. Be available to those who are alone and in need without imposing on them.
Anathema: Disturb others when they seek to be alone. Allow others to despair in their loneliness. Ignore isolation as a symptom of greater despair.
This is a very different deity. She sounds like she is NG. Domains for her are Dreams, Freedom, Knowledge, Repose, Vigil.

Same Area of Concern, but very different Goddesses.