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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
 Posted - 31 Aug 2012 : 23:18:31
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
I think they were supposed to just be a physical manifestation of Ao's will, nothing more.
Why on Toril would he need a "physical manisfestation" of his will when he's all-powerful in his own Crystal Sphere? To make the universe more vulnerable to the gods' idiotic meddling?! Meh. That's a brilliant plan coming from a brilliant overgod.
Ao and the Tablets are the least I expected when they announced that Ed would be the head of the team that would "fix" the Realms. He didn't create Ao in the first place. So I thought he'd be using materials that he himself made. |
Every beginning has an end. |
Edited by - Dennis on 31 Aug 2012 23:24:01 |
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Gustaveren
Learned Scribe
Denmark
197 Posts |
Posted - 31 Aug 2012 : 23:29:09
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quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
I think they were supposed to just be a physical manifestation of Ao's will, nothing more.
Why on Toril would he need a "physical manisfestation" of his will when he's all-powerful in his own Crystal Sphere? To make the universe more vulnerable to the gods' idiotic meddling?! Meh. That's a brilliant plan coming from a brilliant overgod.
Ao and the Tablets are the least I expected when they announced that Ed would be the head of the team that would "fix" the Realms. He didn't create Ao in the first place. So I thought he'd be using materials that he himself made.
Well, the tablets of fate can be seen as a kind of symbolic chains on the gods to limit their actions and in the realms can symbols be used as a kind of focus to channel power.
I guess, that is why it worked with giant runemagic or when wizards use gestures and symbolic speak to create magical effects. |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 31 Aug 2012 : 23:38:49
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quote:
Originally posted by Gustaveren
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
I think they were supposed to just be a physical manifestation of Ao's will, nothing more.
Why on Toril would he need a "physical manisfestation" of his will when he's all-powerful in his own Crystal Sphere? To make the universe more vulnerable to the gods' idiotic meddling?! Meh. That's a brilliant plan coming from a brilliant overgod.
Ao and the Tablets are the least I expected when they announced that Ed would be the head of the team that would "fix" the Realms. He didn't create Ao in the first place. So I thought he'd be using materials that he himself made.
Well, the tablets of fate can be seen as a kind of symbolic chains on the gods to limit their actions and in the realms can symbols be used as a kind of focus to channel power.
I guess, that is why it worked with giant runemagic or when wizards use gestures and symbolic speak to create magical effects.
I still fail to see the "grand purpose" of the Tablets. Ao's will alone can chain, maim, and eliminate gods if he so desires. Or at least, that's what an overgod is supposed to be capable of. Having that will exposed as a physical embodiment to his selfish and unruly children doesn't make sense. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Arcanus
Senior Scribe
485 Posts |
Posted - 01 Sep 2012 : 00:23:32
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quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
quote:
Originally posted by Gustaveren
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
I think they were supposed to just be a physical manifestation of Ao's will, nothing more.
Why on Toril would he need a "physical manisfestation" of his will when he's all-powerful in his own Crystal Sphere? To make the universe more vulnerable to the gods' idiotic meddling?! Meh. That's a brilliant plan coming from a brilliant overgod.
Ao and the Tablets are the least I expected when they announced that Ed would be the head of the team that would "fix" the Realms. He didn't create Ao in the first place. So I thought he'd be using materials that he himself made.
Well, the tablets of fate can be seen as a kind of symbolic chains on the gods to limit their actions and in the realms can symbols be used as a kind of focus to channel power.
I guess, that is why it worked with giant runemagic or when wizards use gestures and symbolic speak to create magical effects.
I still fail to see the "grand purpose" of the Tablets. Ao's will alone can chain, maim, and eliminate gods if he so desires. Or at least, that's what an overgod is supposed to be capable of. Having that will exposed as a physical embodiment to his selfish and unruly children doesn't make sense.
That's exactly why the tablets were created. Ao knew his "children" would be selfish and unruly. You could see them as a cosmic line in the sand-"this is why you were created, do as you are bid by me"-sort of thing. "oh, and just so you don't forget, here's some tablets with it all written down for you, so you have no excuses. |
Edited by - Arcanus on 01 Sep 2012 00:24:57 |
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Gustaveren
Learned Scribe
Denmark
197 Posts |
Posted - 01 Sep 2012 : 00:26:54
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quote:
Originally posted by Gustaveren
quote:
Originally posted by Gustaveren
Those there has seen the first indiana jones movie might be tempted to consider the dust from the original tablets as having artifact power
I am wondering, what happened to the dust from the destroyed tablets?
It sounds as a cool component for some magical item crafting or spell components for some insane wizard rituals
How wellknown is it, that AO destroyed the tablets of fate?
Just the gods and a few sages or?
Just checked the Avatar book
Seems the tablets were destroyed on a mountain near waterdeep. At least one Mystra priest (Adon) observed it
I might say, that he picked up the dust and stored it in a mystra table.
Players could later find that dust in such a temple ruin
It create an interesting question for them:
It might be really valuable as a spellcomponent or it might be completely worthless
There could for instance be part of a research note book were it is mentioned that the mystra church is trying to find out, if this dust has any magical properties or if it is completely worthless. |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 01 Sep 2012 : 00:35:25
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quote:
Originally posted by Arcanus
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
I still fail to see the "grand purpose" of the Tablets. Ao's will alone can chain, maim, and eliminate gods if he so desires. Or at least, that's what an overgod is supposed to be capable of. Having that will exposed as a physical embodiment to his selfish and unruly children doesn't make sense.
That's exactly why the tablets were created. Ao knew his "children" would be selfish and unruly. You could see them as a cosmic line in the sand-"this is why you were created, do as you are bid by me"-sort of thing. "oh, and just so you don't forget, here's some tablets with it all written down for you, so you have no excuses.
The last part is unnecessary, I believe. He could have simply told them, "I am your Father, the Overgod. I am the law. I am everything. Whatever I will and whatever I say, you obey. Or face annihilation." Having it written on Tablets like The Ten Commandments just doesn't make sense to me. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Gustaveren
Learned Scribe
Denmark
197 Posts |
Posted - 01 Sep 2012 : 00:43:41
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quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
I believe. He could have simply told them, "I am your Father, the Overgod. I am the law. I am everything. Whatever I will and whatever I say, you obey. Or face annihilation." Having it written on Tablets like The Ten Commandments just doesn't make sense to me.
Well, we know from the Avatar books that AO has a boss and that it is his task to ensure balance
The tablets might be a necessary tool to create that balance between order and chaos. There would after all be more chaos and less order if there was not written laws. |
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Arcanus
Senior Scribe
485 Posts |
Posted - 01 Sep 2012 : 00:47:47
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quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
quote:
Originally posted by Arcanus
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
I still fail to see the "grand purpose" of the Tablets. Ao's will alone can chain, maim, and eliminate gods if he so desires. Or at least, that's what an overgod is supposed to be capable of. Having that will exposed as a physical embodiment to his selfish and unruly children doesn't make sense.
That's exactly why the tablets were created. Ao knew his "children" would be selfish and unruly. You could see them as a cosmic line in the sand-"this is why you were created, do as you are bid by me"-sort of thing. "oh, and just so you don't forget, here's some tablets with it all written down for you, so you have no excuses.
The last part is unnecessary, I believe. He could have simply told them, "I am your Father, the Overgod. I am the law. I am everything. Whatever I will and whatever I say, you obey. Or face annihilation." Having it written on Tablets like The Ten Commandments just doesn't make sense to me.
I know what you mean but remember, some of the gods by their very nature will disobey, Ao knew this, so the tablets were created to be a constant reminder that daddy was watching them.
It didn't work though. The little buggers nicked em instead!  |
Edited by - Arcanus on 01 Sep 2012 01:00:19 |
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Arcanus
Senior Scribe
485 Posts |
Posted - 01 Sep 2012 : 00:57:12
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quote:
Originally posted by Gustaveren
quote:
Originally posted by Gustaveren
quote:
Originally posted by Gustaveren
Those there has seen the first indiana jones movie might be tempted to consider the dust from the original tablets as having artifact power
I am wondering, what happened to the dust from the destroyed tablets?
It sounds as a cool component for some magical item crafting or spell components for some insane wizard rituals
How wellknown is it, that AO destroyed the tablets of fate?
Just the gods and a few sages or?
Just checked the Avatar book
Seems the tablets were destroyed on a mountain near waterdeep. At least one Mystra priest (Adon) observed it
I might say, that he picked up the dust and stored it in a mystra table.
Players could later find that dust in such a temple ruin
It create an interesting question for them:
It might be really valuable as a spellcomponent or it might be completely worthless
There could for instance be part of a research note book were it is mentioned that the mystra church is trying to find out, if this dust has any magical properties or if it is completely worthless.
Well I would say that it goes against canon that anything was written about Ao crushing the tablets and the resulting dust. Ao purposely removed himself from the memory of mortals.
That's not ruling out a homebrew twist on that though. |
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Gustaveren
Learned Scribe
Denmark
197 Posts |
Posted - 01 Sep 2012 : 01:08:03
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People in the realms have heard about AO
There was a novel about an AO cult (there in fact was controlled by a sinister creature (Deepspawn as far as I remember)) |
Edited by - Gustaveren on 01 Sep 2012 01:09:34 |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 01 Sep 2012 : 01:15:45
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quote:
Originally posted by Arcanus
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
The last part is unnecessary, I believe. He could have simply told them, "I am your Father, the Overgod. I am the law. I am everything. Whatever I will and whatever I say, you obey. Or face annihilation." Having it written on Tablets like The Ten Commandments just doesn't make sense to me.
I know what you mean but remember, some of the gods by their very nature will disobey, Ao knew this, so the tablets were created to be a constant reminder that daddy was watching them.
It didn't work though. The little buggers nicked em instead!
If he knew they would disobey him, then he must have known the Tablets would be useless. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Arcanus
Senior Scribe
485 Posts |
Posted - 01 Sep 2012 : 01:18:31
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quote:
Originally posted by Gustaveren
People in the realms have heard about AO
There was a novel about an AO cult (there in fact was controlled by a sinister creature (Deepspawn as far as I remember))
Not read that one but I do remember reading that he made the mortals forget him appearing on mt waterdeep where he crushed the tablets. |
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Gustaveren
Learned Scribe
Denmark
197 Posts |
Posted - 01 Sep 2012 : 01:20:17
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well, it might be useful, if the players begin (after a vision) to research ways for preventing the spellplague from occuring
One dusty tome, could mention, that the dust from the tables of fate, might have unique powers to change prophecied events if it is used to write symbols of power.
Next problem for the players would be
1) find the dust
2) learn some runes of power
3) hope it would actually work
Well, I am not a nice GM. I would probably let them find several different theories on ceremonies / actions there might or might not work. It is always fun to watch a group there try to obtain internal agreement on what adventure option they should choose if presented with options. |
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Arcanus
Senior Scribe
485 Posts |
Posted - 01 Sep 2012 : 01:23:05
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quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
quote:
Originally posted by Arcanus
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
The last part is unnecessary, I believe. He could have simply told them, "I am your Father, the Overgod. I am the law. I am everything. Whatever I will and whatever I say, you obey. Or face annihilation." Having it written on Tablets like The Ten Commandments just doesn't make sense to me.
I know what you mean but remember, some of the gods by their very nature will disobey, Ao knew this, so the tablets were created to be a constant reminder that daddy was watching them.
It didn't work though. The little buggers nicked em instead!
If he knew they would disobey him, then he must have known the Tablets would be useless.
If he could see all future events then what would be the point in creating the world?
Maybe he did know what would happen and decided the gods needed to be taught a harsh lesson. |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 01 Sep 2012 : 01:27:49
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quote:
Originally posted by Gustaveren
There would after all be more chaos and less order if there was not written laws.
Not necessarily. It all boils down to who implements the laws. Ao's function, by his very nature as an Overgod, is tripartite: he is THE law, the maker, and reinforcer of the law. His very existence alone is more than enough reminder to his children about the laws he'd like them to follow. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Arcanus
Senior Scribe
485 Posts |
Posted - 01 Sep 2012 : 01:30:35
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quote:
Originally posted by Gustaveren
well, it might be useful, if the players begin (after a vision) to research ways for preventing the spellplague from occuring
One dusty tome, could mention, that the dust from the tables of fate, might have unique powers to change prophecied events if it is used to write symbols of power.
Next problem for the players would be
1) find the dust
2) learn some runes of power
3) hope it would actually work
Well, I am not a nice GM. I would probably let them find several different theories on ceremonies / actions there might or might not work. It is always fun to watch a group there try to obtain internal agreement on what adventure option they should choose if presented with options.
It would certainly be ironic if you used the crushed tablets to stop the effects caused by crushing the tablets in the first place (even though the spellplague was caused by mystra's death). |
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The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3567 Posts |
Posted - 01 Sep 2012 : 01:34:30
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quote:
Originally posted by Gustaveren
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
I believe. He could have simply told them, "I am your Father, the Overgod. I am the law. I am everything. Whatever I will and whatever I say, you obey. Or face annihilation." Having it written on Tablets like The Ten Commandments just doesn't make sense to me.
Well, we know from the Avatar books that AO has a boss and that it is his task to ensure balance
The tablets might be a necessary tool to create that balance between order and chaos. There would after all be more chaos and less order if there was not written laws.
I believe it was stated the we, the "reader" was his "boss" |
A little nonsense now and then, relished by the wisest men - Willy Wonka
"We need men who can dream of things that never were." -
John F. Kennedy, speech in Dublin, Ireland, June 28, 1963
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 01 Sep 2012 : 22:31:59
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Someone brought up an excellent point in another thread (concerning Smokepowder).
What if, when the tablets were stolen, Ao simply made them 'not functional' at that point in time? They had meaning, but he stripped them of that when they went missing. In other words, when he no longer had possession of them, they became useless hunks of rock, and anything written upon them became null & void.
That would allow them (WotC) to do some other fine-tuning, as well (because if the tablets covered other topics then the gods - like the physics of Realmspace - then they could restore a lot of things to their pre-ToT status). |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Edited by - Markustay on 01 Sep 2012 22:44:08 |
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Gustaveren
Learned Scribe
Denmark
197 Posts |
Posted - 01 Sep 2012 : 22:42:10
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
Someone brought up an excellent point in another thread (concerning Smokepowder).
What if, when the tablets were stolen, Ao simply made them 'not functional' at that point in time? They had meaning, but he stripped them of that when they went missing. In other words, when he no longer had possession of them, they became useless hunks of rock, and anything written upon them became null & void.
That would allow them (WotC) to do some other fine-tuning, as well (because if the tablets covered other topis then the gods - like the physics of Realmspace - then they could restore a lot of things to their pre-ToT status).
well, if could be an excuse to change the cosmology of the planes by defining it on the tablets of fate |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 01 Sep 2012 : 22:43:23
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quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
He could have simply told them, "I am your Father, the Overgod. I am the law. I am everything. Whatever I will and whatever I say, you obey. Or face annihilation." Having it written on Tablets like The Ten Commandments just doesn't make sense to me.
I think it makes perfect sense for Ao to write the rules down. As a parent, at one time I had a list of rules posted on my fridge. When you do that, they can't say "I didn't know", or "I forgot". Even countries with despots have written laws - people (and deities) have to know what you are punishing them for.
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
I think they were supposed to just be a physical manifestation of Ao's will, nothing more.
Why on Toril would he need a "physical manisfestation" of his will when he's all-powerful in his own Crystal Sphere? To make the universe more vulnerable to the gods' idiotic meddling?! Meh. That's a brilliant plan coming from a brilliant overgod.
Ao and the Tablets are the least I expected when they announced that Ed would be the head of the team that would "fix" the Realms. He didn't create Ao in the first place. So I thought he'd be using materials that he himself made.
On the other hand, it could make perfect sense.
Suppose some 'Connecticut Yankee' and his buddies went back in time, with guns, and started taking over the place. The best way for the locals to counter that would be to get their hands on one (or more) of the guns and use it to take-out the bad guys. In the movie Independance day, the only way for us to defeat the aliens was to use their technology against them.
Ed is taking 'the weapon' (of change) and using it against itself. from what I understand, once the 'reset' (of the Tablets) comes into affect, everything will be as it was, and Ao will disappear into the background once again. This is his final curtain call - they need him one last time to fix the things he did the last time.
"Use the lore to fix the lore". The last thing we need is even newer 5e lore to over write past mistakes. At what point does it end? |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Edited by - Markustay on 01 Sep 2012 22:45:47 |
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The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3567 Posts |
Posted - 01 Sep 2012 : 22:54:16
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
Someone brought up an excellent point in another thread (concerning Smokepowder).
What if, when the tablets were stolen, Ao simply made them 'not functional' at that point in time? They had meaning, but he stripped them of that when they went missing. In other words, when he no longer had possession of them, they became useless hunks of rock, and anything written upon them became null & void.
That would allow them (WotC) to do some other fine-tuning, as well (because if the tablets covered other topics then the gods - like the physics of Realmspace - then they could restore a lot of things to their pre-ToT status).
Yep, of they had any power he surely removed it before the theft.....because the only way they could have been stole was if he allowed it......especially if he planned it, by making three dark fools believe it held all the power they could want.
Ha, I'm loving that.....imagine the conversation between the dark three when they realize they were AO's dupes which gave him an excuse to fix everything......I be t they wish they'd never heard of the tablets! |
A little nonsense now and then, relished by the wisest men - Willy Wonka
"We need men who can dream of things that never were." -
John F. Kennedy, speech in Dublin, Ireland, June 28, 1963
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Gyor
Master of Realmslore
1632 Posts |
Posted - 02 Sep 2012 : 02:02:40
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AO is more powerful then a Greater God, but not all powerful. He's not omnipowerful or omnipresent. In Divine Rank terms he'd be like a 20, vs a Greater God's 10.
Who knows if he stripped it of power first, because the Dark Three never had a chance to,find out, the tablets went into hiding as soon,as they were hidden and the Dark Three never recovered them.
Anyways I have idea for a 5e source books called Tablets of Fate.
It'd be two books, like thier are two tablets and they'd cover Gods, Divine Domains, thier cults/religions, what ever Paladins get as thier "build", Specialty Priest specialities, an update on divine politics, maybe another divine class, Primordials, the Planes, summonable divine servants, Celetrial Paragons, all that kind of stuff, plus stats for using the Tablets of Fate as Artifacts. |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
12194 Posts |
Posted - 02 Sep 2012 : 03:49:39
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quote:
Originally posted by Arcanus
As Ao is the supreme superdooper all-powerful overgod, why would he need the tablets to hold any power whatsoever? His will is all it takes to do anything.
To me the tablets were originally just symbols of Ao's will and decrees.
The new (2.0 lol) tablets may be different but I hope not.
I have the capability of unscrewing something by hand.... it doesn't mean I wouldn't much prefer having a screwdriver tool developed that makes it easier for me to do things. Same with the tablets of fate... maybe they were a tool he developed to handle the day to day bulldiddley he didn't want to deal with with the gods.
Mod edit: Language, please. |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
Edited by - Wooly Rupert on 02 Sep 2012 04:57:32 |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
12194 Posts |
Posted - 02 Sep 2012 : 03:54:02
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quote:
Originally posted by Arcanus
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
quote:
Originally posted by Gustaveren
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
I think they were supposed to just be a physical manifestation of Ao's will, nothing more.
Why on Toril would he need a "physical manisfestation" of his will when he's all-powerful in his own Crystal Sphere? To make the universe more vulnerable to the gods' idiotic meddling?! Meh. That's a brilliant plan coming from a brilliant overgod.
Ao and the Tablets are the least I expected when they announced that Ed would be the head of the team that would "fix" the Realms. He didn't create Ao in the first place. So I thought he'd be using materials that he himself made.
Well, the tablets of fate can be seen as a kind of symbolic chains on the gods to limit their actions and in the realms can symbols be used as a kind of focus to channel power.
I guess, that is why it worked with giant runemagic or when wizards use gestures and symbolic speak to create magical effects.
I still fail to see the "grand purpose" of the Tablets. Ao's will alone can chain, maim, and eliminate gods if he so desires. Or at least, that's what an overgod is supposed to be capable of. Having that will exposed as a physical embodiment to his selfish and unruly children doesn't make sense.
That's exactly why the tablets were created. Ao knew his "children" would be selfish and unruly. You could see them as a cosmic line in the sand-"this is why you were created, do as you are bid by me"-sort of thing. "oh, and just so you don't forget, here's some tablets with it all written down for you, so you have no excuses.
Or they were created as an artificial sentience or program that would manage the gods for him while he went off and did something else (like create a new plane, create linkages between planes, screw with the laws of physics for fun in a "test plane" for a while, torture some gods who irritated him, etc...). |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
12194 Posts |
Posted - 02 Sep 2012 : 04:01:36
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quote:
Originally posted by Arcanus
quote:
Originally posted by Gustaveren
quote:
Originally posted by Gustaveren
quote:
Originally posted by Gustaveren
Those there has seen the first indiana jones movie might be tempted to consider the dust from the original tablets as having artifact power
I am wondering, what happened to the dust from the destroyed tablets?
It sounds as a cool component for some magical item crafting or spell components for some insane wizard rituals
How wellknown is it, that AO destroyed the tablets of fate?
Just the gods and a few sages or?
Just checked the Avatar book
Seems the tablets were destroyed on a mountain near waterdeep. At least one Mystra priest (Adon) observed it
I might say, that he picked up the dust and stored it in a mystra table.
Players could later find that dust in such a temple ruin
It create an interesting question for them:
It might be really valuable as a spellcomponent or it might be completely worthless
There could for instance be part of a research note book were it is mentioned that the mystra church is trying to find out, if this dust has any magical properties or if it is completely worthless.
Well I would say that it goes against canon that anything was written about Ao crushing the tablets and the resulting dust. Ao purposely removed himself from the memory of mortals.
That's not ruling out a homebrew twist on that though.
I'd just put it simply that human eyes couldn't comprehend what the hell Ao was actually doing, so he created a mystical scene for their bemusement. Then, when one of you asks why he would do that... his interests don't extend to mortals.... I'd say, yep, and he just removed the protections on the tablets of fate just to teach the gods a lesson and give mortals the ability to mess with them. Ao would be the person who got so mad at his pet for messing on the floor that he just stirred up an antpile and made his pet sit in it as punishment. |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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Arcanus
Senior Scribe
485 Posts |
Posted - 02 Sep 2012 : 12:12:09
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quote:
Originally posted by sleyvas
quote:
Originally posted by Arcanus
As Ao is the supreme superdooper all-powerful overgod, why would he need the tablets to hold any power whatsoever? His will is all it takes to do anything.
To me the tablets were originally just symbols of Ao's will and decrees.
The new (2.0 lol) tablets may be different but I hope not.
I have the capability of unscrewing something by hand.... it doesn't mean I wouldn't much prefer having a screwdriver tool developed that makes it easier for me to do things. Same with the tablets of fate... maybe they were a tool he developed to handle the day to day bulldiddley he didn't want to deal with with the gods.
Mod edit: Language, please.
I don't like it. Ao is an overgod with virtually endless power etc, he has no need for "tools", his will alone is the ultimate tool. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36982 Posts |
Posted - 02 Sep 2012 : 16:17:57
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quote:
Originally posted by Arcanus
quote:
Originally posted by sleyvas
quote:
Originally posted by Arcanus
As Ao is the supreme superdooper all-powerful overgod, why would he need the tablets to hold any power whatsoever? His will is all it takes to do anything.
To me the tablets were originally just symbols of Ao's will and decrees.
The new (2.0 lol) tablets may be different but I hope not.
I have the capability of unscrewing something by hand.... it doesn't mean I wouldn't much prefer having a screwdriver tool developed that makes it easier for me to do things. Same with the tablets of fate... maybe they were a tool he developed to handle the day to day bulldiddley he didn't want to deal with with the gods.
Mod edit: Language, please.
I don't like it. Ao is an overgod with virtually endless power etc, he has no need for "tools", his will alone is the ultimate tool.
I agree. I also fail to understand why people are wanting to assign power to the tablets when the only thing even hinting at them being more than stone was the mistaken belief of three former mortals. |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
12194 Posts |
Posted - 02 Sep 2012 : 18:40:32
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Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
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Originally posted by Arcanus
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Originally posted by sleyvas
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Originally posted by Arcanus
As Ao is the supreme superdooper all-powerful overgod, why would he need the tablets to hold any power whatsoever? His will is all it takes to do anything.
To me the tablets were originally just symbols of Ao's will and decrees.
The new (2.0 lol) tablets may be different but I hope not.
I have the capability of unscrewing something by hand.... it doesn't mean I wouldn't much prefer having a screwdriver tool developed that makes it easier for me to do things. Same with the tablets of fate... maybe they were a tool he developed to handle the day to day bulldiddley he didn't want to deal with with the gods.
Mod edit: Language, please.
I don't like it. Ao is an overgod with virtually endless power etc, he has no need for "tools", his will alone is the ultimate tool.
I agree. I also fail to understand why people are wanting to assign power to the tablets when the only thing even hinting at them being more than stone was the mistaken belief of three former mortals.
That's where we have a huge difference of opinion then. I personally don't like the idea that Ao can do anything to the gods at a whim just based on his will. I don't like it anymore than I'd like that gods can do anything to a mortal at a whim just based on their will. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Ao shouldn't be able to achieve whatever end goals he wants.... but making the being have to spend at least a modicum of effort to "make" something lends more palatability to me of having an overgod in the first place. In the case of gods and portfolio management, what the originator of this thread put forth in that Ao might make a tool that helps control what portfolios a god can use, manages the rise to power of minor deific entities (like through the process Talos used with Velsharoon), and maybe just does his basic day-to-day tracking of what's going on in the divine realm. In that way, he can let it deal with things and he can work on things that interest him. In the grand scheme of things, what happened with the dark three, the Time of Troubles, the intervening years until the spellplague, and then this follow up.... that's probably the equivalent to us of punishing unruly children for a week or so after they tried to steal the family car for a joy ride but only succeeded in scratching up the steering column and dashboard with a screwdriver. |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 02 Sep 2012 : 18:46:50
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I agree. I also fail to understand why people are wanting to assign power to the tablets when the only thing even hinting at them being more than stone was the mistaken belief of three former mortals.
Because this is the path WotC has chosen to take with FR, and the thing we folks here at Candlekeep love to do is take lore that is a bit 'iffy' and spin it in such a way as to make the most sense. (and hopefully, what we come up with will become canon).
We don't make the rules, but we sure as hell can hope to make them better.
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Originally posted by sleyvas
I'd just put it simply that human eyes couldn't comprehend what the hell Ao was actually doing, so he created a mystical scene for their bemusement. Then, when one of you asks why he would do that... his interests don't extend to mortals.... I'd say, yep, and he just removed the protections on the tablets of fate just to teach the gods a lesson and give mortals the ability to mess with them. Ao would be the person who got so mad at his pet for messing on the floor that he just stirred up an antpile and made his pet sit in it as punishment.
It needn't be that complicated - we already have heard from official sources (writers/designers) that what a mortal 'sees' (or even a low-level outsider) is not the totality of what is really happening - it is the the way the human (mortal) mind interprets what it is experiencing, which is happening on so many levels beyond their meager senses. This was discusses at-length on WotC site (and maybe here as well), and we were told that what Aliisza (the Alu-fiend) 'saw' concerning Mystra's death was a vision, and not what necessarily happened - its how her mind interpreted the events.
People see what they expect to see when it comes to the divine, and also what their mind is able to handle. Mortals cannot 'handle' the truth - it would drive them insane (IMO). What Adon 'saw' was symbolic of what really happened. Ao didn't have to do anything in regards to an 'illusion'. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Edited by - Markustay on 02 Sep 2012 18:49:43 |
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Arcanus
Senior Scribe
485 Posts |
Posted - 02 Sep 2012 : 23:16:43
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| Do mortals actually know about the tablets and their history? |
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The Nature of the Tablets of Fate
