This happens in many well-known conworlds, yes.gestaltist wrote: ↑31 Jul 2018 14:16 I just had a random idea I thought I'd share. What if god(s) of a setting were like developers of a MMO game, releasing patches and expansions when they discover exploits or create new content?
I have noticed that conworlds which have god(s) usually fall into one of two categories: either there is a god (or gods) who create the world and then let it run its course according to the rules they set out or gods are immanent in the world and are themselves subject to the world's rules. With this idea, gods would be periodically involved, altering the rules, changing the geography or even introducing new magic (or removed old capabilities which they consider overpowered).
Not sure if I will ever use this idea myself but I thought it was interesting and unique enough to share here. :)
For example, the gods, or God, in Tolkien's world at one point makes the world spherical, removes two continents and adds a new one just for fun.
The gods in Forgotten Realms change how magic works a couple of times; and various continents are juggled around a few times as well, although I think in-world that's described as being beyond the control of the gods.
The most controlling example, however, may be in the Ravenloft setting. Ravenloft is composed of different "Domains", which are periodically created (or sometimes stolen from other worlds) by seemingly-sadistic "Powers That Be", and the 'rules' of what things are possible in which domains periodically alter seemingly at the whim of the Powers.