The Genius Guide to the Godling by Owen K.C. Stephens is a role playing game supplement published by Rogue Genius Games (originally Super Genius Games) for use with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. As such it is covered by the Open Game License and some parts are considered to be Open Game Content as a result.
The supplement is available as a 12-page PDF from DriveThruRPG for $3.99 but was purchased at a reduced price as part of a special bundle. Two thirds of a page are the front cover, one the Open Game License and Credits and one is an ad.
It opens explaining that the godling is a new class, suitable as both a base class and a prestige class. The base class is for characters that begin knowing that they are a scion of a god, with two subclasses, clever and mighty, whilst the prestige class is for those who don’t know and gain no special powers until their divine parent acknowledges the relationship.
The Godling explains this is a mortal hero who has divine blood, with samples from myth given. They are not demigods – not yet – but are more than mere mortals. The two subclasses, clever and mighty, and the type affects their abilities, from hit points to talents and traits. Tables are given for each, followed by the class skills for each subclass.
Class Features covers these. Godlings gain the powers, but not spells, of a cleric domain, more as they advance. They also gain divine traits, which are listed, and scion talents, again listed. The final feature is demigod, when the godling ascends from hero to the lower ranks of divinity.
Godling Prestige Class has some similarities and can choose from the same powers, but only goes up to level 10 and selects their abilities differently, as well as not being clever or mighty.
Godlings in Your Campaign covers how to use them; the early examples were from Greek myth but other ways godlings could be used are given, from the family of the pharaoh to champions of the gods to those cursed by such, and that legends worldwide give more options.
New Feats has a single new feat.
The Genius Guide to the Godling in Review
The PDF lacks bookmarks and, though short, has enough sections that these would have been useful. Navigation could be better. The text maintains the old three-column landscape format used by Super Genius Games and appeared to be free of errors. There are a number of pieces of stock art. Presentation is fine.
The godling class is an interesting idea and it allows the building of a multi-functional character with access to abilities from various different classes. It’s not quite as overpowered as might be thought of, given that the character could perhaps be described as a proto-divinity, but it might perhaps be best to limit this class to NPCs. It does have the possibility of being a little too dangerous as a player character class. The Genius Guide to the Godling is an interesting class that can be found by clicking here.
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