As a DM, roleplaying deities can be intimidating, because the perspective a deity has and the power they wield is quite different from our own. But unless your setting says otherwise, you’ll probably have to roleplay a god or other higher power eventually—especially if your PCs are clerics, warlocks, paladins, et cetera.

So, let’s talk about it!

Why is it a challenge?

Roleplaying a higher power is challenging because the perspective of a deity is a bit, well, removed from a mortal character’s. Settings vary in how much power their deities have, but regardless, deities are immortal beings who are much more powerful than the PCs. Not only that, deities also tend to hold a lot of importance either to the PCs, to the plot of the campaign, or both.

How can we approach this challenge?

During session prep, you can develop a deity pretty similarly to how you’d develop another NPC—what is their stance on the players? What is this deity’s goal, and how do they pursue that goal? If you have access to it, the Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide has a whole section on the deities of Faerûn, which you can use as inspiration even if you aren’t using that setting.

Once it’s time to actually roleplay that deity, keep your notes handy. It’s perfectly fine to take a second to formulate your thoughts before launching into a response. I’ve found it helpful to remember that I don’t have to answer all the characters’ questions, and it’s okay to be vague or cryptic about some things (deities are particularly known for their inscrutability).

It’s probably best to get in and get out of that encounter quickly, especially if you’re a new DM. Ending the encounter by giving the PCs something to think about—some prophetic statement or other omen—can really help the mood and, as a bonus, spark your players’ imaginations!

I’ve also seen some DMs avoid direct conversations with deities by using omens or dreams as a means for deities to communicate indirectly with the characters. You can also make use of saints or similar messengers—characters sent by the divine, but who might not have the whole picture like the deity who sent them has.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this, as I don’t have as much experience running these characters. What’s worked (or not) with your group before?