Canonfire!

Mon Jan 24, 2011 7:58 am The "Official" 2011 Greyhawkery Blog Thread

This sticky thread is now the home for my occasional Greyhawk Webcomic postings hosted through my more frequently updated blog, Greyhawkery. Please join in on the fun. Feel free to post comments on topics and comics here or in the threads on the blogposts. Enjoy!

http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/

Link to 2010 Webcomic thread:

http://www.canonfire.com/cf/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=3982

Mon Jan 24, 2011 6:01 pm

Looking forward to following your blog page.

Mon Jan 24, 2011 10:11 pm

Thanks ol chum! I hope you've been keeping busy yourself. In the meantime, everyone check this out:

http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2011/01/must-see-dragonchess.html

Tue Jan 25, 2011 10:01 am

Already "there" with you, "mentor" of mine! Evil Grin

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Tue Jan 25, 2011 4:20 pm

Cool stuff. You've got another follower!

Saludos,
Gabriel
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Sat Jan 29, 2011 3:36 pm

http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2011/01/virtuosos-of-villainy-eli-tomorast.html

A look at my favorite villain of all time.

Tue Feb 01, 2011 11:10 pm

http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2011/02/greyhawk-rugby-league.html

Are you ready for some RUGBY!!!

Wed Feb 02, 2011 5:09 am

Which code of rugby do the good folks of Greyhawk play; League or Union?

Are they Northerners or public schoolboys, in other words.

"A game for gentlemen, played by thugs" Smile

Wed Feb 02, 2011 10:14 pm

Thu Feb 03, 2011 5:51 pm

What are you going to call your (American) football league? What would the Flanaess call its Superbowl anyway? Evil Grin

Nice, Mort. I like it!
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Fri Feb 04, 2011 1:00 am

Sun Feb 06, 2011 11:57 am

Tue Feb 08, 2011 9:54 am

http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2011/02/ghost-tower-of-inverness-in-4e.html

Some of the goings on at Wizards again.

Tue Feb 08, 2011 10:18 am

I can honestly say that......

.......I just don't get it.

I mean, I know it's all about diversifying and finding a market but.....

.......huh Confused

This is like the time somebody feebleminded me.

Tue Feb 08, 2011 10:41 am

Ragr . . . I think we've all just been hit with feeblemind! Evil Grin

A sad day for rpg's. rolleyes

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Sun Feb 13, 2011 6:32 pm

http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2011/02/unnatural-deserts-of-flanaess.html

Deserted!

Mon Feb 14, 2011 10:30 am

Really interesting, mort.

So, is this laziness on the part of writers? Or is it an admission that the wastelands in question are not sited correctly and no normal explanation for their existence would hold water ( Evil Grin

) with natural history experts?

Unfortunately, geography was never my strong suit so I don't have any answers.

Mon Feb 14, 2011 7:48 pm

Great catch on the Bright Desert already having desert tribes, Mort! Good work, dude.

Wed Feb 16, 2011 4:37 pm

I have zero problems with the Flanaess's desert regions being of magical origin. I don't want the Flanaess to have natural deserts. How many deserts does Europe have? Anyone can slap a desert on some random part of a map and claim it's always been like that. I call that giving up. That's not creative. Creative is developing an interesting fantasy explanation for the terrain that's substantially different from the explanations for the other deserts, which provides plot hooks for adventures set in the setting. Both the Bright Desert and Barren Wastes backstories are pretty hooky and useful.

If someone came up with a magical or mythic explanation for every single terrain hex, from the Lortmil Mountains to the Adri Forest to the Plains of Greyhawk, I'd be happy. What have natural explanations done for me lately?

Incidentally, I blame the Burning Cliffs, and their portal, on Tzunk using the Codex of the Infinite Planes to invade the City of Brass from there (note the Tomb of Tzunk's Hands is right nearby). Whether that has anything to do with the Barren Wastes, though, is another question (probably not, since it has nothing to do with Sargent's subterranean lizardfolk).

I do see Sulm as something of an Egypt-parallel, with a fertile river that's now lost. Or perhaps more like Mystara's forgotten Kingdom of Nithia.

Wed Feb 16, 2011 10:04 pm

I know what you mean Rasgon. I guess the point I have been having trouble articulating is, the terrain type of deserts have some special sort of allure when it comes to fantastical background stories. Greyhawk did it, Realms did it, heck all of Athas is probably made from magic (psionics I have no idea). I would also bet there are deserts in popular fantasy lit are magical as well. Is it something about magic destroying/despoiling healthy terrain? The Invoked Devastation could just as easily caused the Baklunish Empire to deluge or become overgrown with brambly forests, but it didn't, just as the Rain of Colorless Fire could've just harmed living creatures leaving an emptied, ruined but intact land. I don't disapprove of magic deserts, its just one of those things that intrigues me as a pattern in world building.

Thu Feb 17, 2011 4:30 am

Thu Feb 17, 2011 3:26 pm

http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2011/02/greyhawk-comic-303-gods-in-space.html

It's baaaaack! Evil Grin

Thu Feb 17, 2011 8:52 pm

Fri Feb 18, 2011 1:49 am

Fri Feb 18, 2011 8:37 am

Sat Feb 19, 2011 10:54 pm

Yeah thats a good comparison smillan.

Twisted Forest. Hrm, magically created terrain!

Sun Feb 20, 2011 3:27 am

The way I'm thinking revolves around my old favourite, moral ambiguity.

A civilisation is shattered by a magical disaster (of their own making or by the hand of others) and millenia later a paradise has grown with fruit literally falling into the hands of the few survivors who know nothing of the past. There is little predation from animals/monsters so this society is a pacifistic one that doesn't even have weapons (they are vegetarians, which may backfire with some players Laughing

). Underneath their feet the remnants of the civilisation lurk totally unnoticed. Until one fateful day. An expedition arrives from far off having stumbled across the knowledge of the lost civilisation; these are adventurers seeking treasure, or; a canticle of evil spell users seeking the powers, or, and my favourite; a group of people from a land beset by blight, drought or devastation seeking to learn how the misuse of magic can result in a benign outcome. These interlopers meet the indigenous population and...........

Who will the pc's be? The pacifists (real stretch for some). Or, the newcomers.

Sorry, mort. Total thread hijack. Brain running too hard. Need tea.
You did start this, though.

Sun Feb 20, 2011 10:26 am

Don't worry Ragr, I'm hijacking the thread too:

http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2011/02/mearls-legends-and-lore.html

Thu Feb 24, 2011 9:34 pm

http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2011/02/funny-thing-happened.html

Apparently I'm starting a new Greyhawk campaign. rolleyes

Fri Feb 25, 2011 3:32 am

Good luck with the new campaign, mort.

A few years ago my players spent an extended amount of time in the Keoland region and you are absolutely right about the variety of different types of adventures that can be set there. We had pirates, undersea, exploring the jungle, intrigue and even the destruction of one of the lesser Death Knights. The only thing I've yet to do there is run Sinister Secret Of Saltmarsh; one of those mods I've long wanted to run but just never seems to coincide with players in the right place at the right level.

Still not tempted by 4e, then? Shocked

Fri Feb 25, 2011 5:14 pm

4e is fun to play, Ragr. I just don't feel tempted AT ALL about converting Greyhawk stuff to 4e when I've never DMed the system before. I've had way more experience converting stuff to 3.5 and Paizo of course put out ample stuff to cannibalize that I may not even need to do that.

Sun Feb 27, 2011 3:20 pm

"Return to Snowy . . ." er, I mean ". . . Greyhawk," eh? Shocked

'Bout time! Laughing

Glad to hear it, Mort! Read the blog, sounds like you guys are going to have a GREAT time! Happy

Wish I was there, buddy. Cry

Can't wait to read your posts on the game. Wink

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Mon Feb 28, 2011 8:59 am

http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2011/02/virtuosos-of-villainy-andrade-mirrius.html

I give you, Andrade Mirrius! Evil Grin

Thu Mar 03, 2011 7:31 pm

Food for thought.

http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2011/03/excerpt-nomenclature-of-greyhawk.html

Fri Mar 04, 2011 9:12 am

Fri Mar 04, 2011 9:32 am

Fri Mar 04, 2011 3:32 pm

Sat Mar 05, 2011 10:23 am

Good stuff, mort. Like Mystic, I'd forgotten about that explanation.

I've often wondered what you call someone from Idee.

Ideeain? Ideeosk?

Or, my front-runner, an Ideeot.

Sat Mar 05, 2011 12:57 pm

Ideeot! Hey Ragr! I like it! Happy

"Hi. Where are you from?"

"Idee."

"Oh! You're an Ideeot!" Evil Grin

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Sun Mar 06, 2011 2:55 pm

http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2011/03/anchors-aweigh.html

Ahoy!

Also check out this thread for additional discussion on ship rules:

http://www.canonfire.com/cf/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=4407

Mon Mar 07, 2011 8:00 am

http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2011/03/new-module-howling-hills.html

Check it out. Congrats go to CF's Glad27 on providing the cover art as well!

Mon Mar 07, 2011 11:54 am

Yep! Commented. Wink

Glad is awesome. Happy

Trying to get him to do a Calender of Greyhawk's "Greyladies" . . . says he's too busy making money! Razz

Tsk!

Love ya Glad! Cool

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Mon Mar 07, 2011 10:19 pm

You can make money drawing? What the hell have I been doing all this time??? Razz

Thu Mar 10, 2011 1:03 pm

http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2011/03/new-article-famous-gems-and-jewels-of.html

GVD's latest in case you missed the frontpage....

Sat Mar 12, 2011 11:10 pm

http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2011/03/sentient-races-of-greyhawk.html

An interesting list of old school D&D monsters, compliments of Jason Zavoda.

Sun Mar 13, 2011 9:02 am

Actually, mort, Moon Doggy is derived from Blink Doggy which itself has its roots in Snoop Doggy.

Sun Mar 13, 2011 10:55 am

Wed Mar 16, 2011 10:21 pm

http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2011/03/fiction-that-infamous-key-part-4.html

Mystic Scholar does it again! An homage at that!

Sat Mar 19, 2011 2:10 am

http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2011/03/gh-comic-304-unwanted-advice-from.html

Captured!

Sat Mar 19, 2011 12:09 pm

Thu Mar 24, 2011 11:00 pm

Mort, I had trouble posting on you blog, but I though you might be interested in this thread:

http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/topic/37800/MAQUAHUITL-Aztec-Swords-WAR-CLUBS-COUP-STICKS
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Plar of Poofy Pants

Fri Mar 25, 2011 9:02 pm

It looks like an oar that was weaponized. Deadly!

Sat Mar 26, 2011 1:58 am

http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2011/03/new-article-vile-roots.html

Well done, Leahcim!

Tue Mar 29, 2011 9:23 pm

http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2011/03/demonomicon-juiblex-faceless-lord.html

Tue Apr 05, 2011 12:13 pm

http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2011/04/greyhawk-reading-sea-of-death.html

Good Gygaxian info on the Baklunish lands from the Gord series.

Thu Apr 07, 2011 10:14 pm

http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2011/04/sea-princes-campaign-3-haunted-cellar.html

More Saltmarsh!

Fri Apr 08, 2011 6:07 am

I couldn't get your blog to accept my post regarding EGG's Sea of Death, Mortellan, so here it is:

I'm guessing that any name Gary Gygax came up with himself for the WoG, he got to continue to use; any name invented by someone else (eg Dave Arneson) was kept by TSR or that other person as copyright.

SirXaris

Fri Apr 08, 2011 8:47 pm

Thank you Xaris! Even I have trouble with posting comments on my own blog on that blogger site. Sometimes it takes 1-2 clicks before it even gives me the security word to type in. Sorry bout that.

As to your comment, yeah I agree, but its weird that he could still use the EXACT map of the Flanaess if IP was even a concern. At the time I thought all he managed to keep hold of was Gord and the characters in the books.

Sat Apr 09, 2011 9:42 pm

http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2011/04/new-article-famous-gems-jewels-of.html

As shown on the CF front page, another excellent piece by GVD.

Sun Apr 10, 2011 8:56 pm

Its a good time in the Hawk. Those scallywags need to fill their chests with some long lost crow gems. :-)
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Plar of Poofy Pants

Tue Apr 12, 2011 8:57 am

Great reading about the Gygax book, mort. I've never owned them and they're near impossible to get hold of in England.

As I was reading I wondered how things may have turned out had EGG retained control of the setting or, for that matter, AD&D. Perhaps we got a good idea from all his other game design work post Wotc but......well, just idle thoughts I suppose.

Keep us non-owners informed of your findings.

Tue Apr 12, 2011 7:01 pm

http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2011/04/greyhawk-reading-more-sea-of-death.html

For those who haven't read my latest findings.

Yeah Ragr, the novels have been a surprise from a DM standpoint. As for the story itself, it's not the best novel I've ever read. One minute I'm riveted, the next I'm bored and skimming. I dunno.

Tue Apr 12, 2011 7:18 pm

Can't argue with that assessment, Mort. Wink

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Tue Apr 12, 2011 9:35 pm

Yeah...

Here was my attempt at meshing in SoD: http://www.canonfire.com/cf/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=899

Unfortunatley, the maps went missing. Mort, I should still have them if I need to resend or link them.
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Plar of Poofy Pants

Sat Apr 16, 2011 6:10 am

http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2011/04/game-of-thrones-greyhawk.html

Game of Thrones!

Sat Apr 16, 2011 6:38 am

Great stuff, mort. My GH campaign has been heavily influenced by the writings of GRRM and, although my campaign is currently set in 593, your idea of an earlier timeline for GH is a good one.

The truth is I actually switched to using BRP instead of Pathfinder as a direct result of re-reading the Westeros books; massive hit points and feely available spells just do not suit the feel.

There is an absolutely lovely sourcebook for a d20; A Game Of Thrones by Guardians Of Order/White Wolf. This features really evocative artwork based on the first book and a really innovative re-thinking of d20 that makes for bloody combats; magic is a hard fit, however, if you're looking to adapt it to GH.

Let's hope the series lives up to expectations. Enjoy. Cool

Fri Apr 22, 2011 10:41 pm

http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2011/04/greyhawk-reading-sea-of-death-notes.html

Yoll-Yoll-Yoll!!!

Sat Apr 23, 2011 12:19 am

Great summary, mort. Now all I've got to do is wait until a second-hand copy of the book becomes available for less than £30. Mad

Wed Apr 27, 2011 12:10 pm

http://melkot.com/wogcomic/index.htm Point your browsers to here for my comic site and archives for the time being or follow along with my current issues from Greyhawkery.

Thanks Maldin!

http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2011/04/gh-comic-305-fellowship-broken.html

Wed Apr 27, 2011 6:28 pm

Welcome to Maldin's Greyhawk, mort!

Denis, aka "Maldin"
Maldin's Greyhawk http://melkot.com

Wed Apr 27, 2011 6:55 pm

Fri Apr 29, 2011 9:20 pm

I've been shilling Maldin's site in the comic for years, good to see him return the favor a thousand-fold.

Sat Apr 30, 2011 8:28 am

LOL Its true, you've done a great job of shilling different aspects of my website over the years. Its the least I can do! Laughing

I've also updated my sitemap so that your WoG comic appears there right in the middle for easy navigation. Wink

Denis, aka "Maldin"
Maldin's Greyhawk http://melkot.com

Sat Apr 30, 2011 1:35 pm

Cool! It's neat to see the comic as part of that many tentacled sitemap of yours.

Sat Apr 30, 2011 6:12 pm

Mutual fan club anyone? Laughing

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Sun May 01, 2011 12:57 pm

Get a room. Laughing

Tue May 03, 2011 10:15 am

http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2011/05/dmg-reflections-potion-miscibility.html

Mystic Scholar and Ragr, take two of these and call me in the morning.

Tue May 03, 2011 7:51 pm

I never had the courage to use that table.
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Plar of Poofy Pants

Wed May 04, 2011 10:00 am

Gulp. Gulp. Mmmmnnn! Fruity.

WOW, I feel 10th level. Cool

Glug! Glug! A hint of asparagus about that one.

Wooooo!!! I'm invisible. Evil Grin

Burp! Burp!

Shocked

BANG!!!!

Wed May 04, 2011 10:31 pm

Ragr the halfling, R.I.P.

Moving right along...

http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2011/05/gh-comic-306-literate-orcs.html

Mon May 09, 2011 4:32 pm

http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2011/05/mighty-thor.html

the hammer strikes!

Mon May 09, 2011 6:39 pm

I don't we will get to see this in 3d.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6enKhHs85M&feature=related
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Plar of Poofy Pants

Fri May 13, 2011 10:10 pm

http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2011/05/sea-princes-campaign-4-raise-anchor.html

Ahoy!

Sat May 14, 2011 12:20 pm

If you haven't read it, I would recommend Wilber Smith's novel "Birds of Prey" for pirate ideas.
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Plar of Poofy Pants

Sun May 15, 2011 12:55 am

Good stuff, mort.

Any objection if I borrow (okay, if you must, steal) some of your locations and names?

My campaign's often in that part of the world.

Oh, BTW, that explosion just turned out to be flatulence. Confused

Mon May 16, 2011 11:31 am

Steal away Ragr, in fact I insist. Some of the place names I've myself culled from other people's stuff (chatdemon's area maps for one might be a saving grace to my research).

While I'm responding to you Ragr....

http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2011/05/fiction-knot.html

Congrats on the first posted article/story. Sorry I didn't cover it sooner but there ya go!

Tue May 17, 2011 1:28 am

Thanks, mort.

Cebrion threatened me with all manner of suffering if I didn't stop writing drivel and contribute something meaningful. Evil Grin

So I did (hopefully).

2 years later. Smile

Sat May 21, 2011 2:29 am

http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2011/05/end-is-nigh.html

Yeah I went there...

Tue May 24, 2011 10:41 am

http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2011/05/postfest-xv-sanctigaard-and-demesne-of.html

Well done Sir Xaris!

Tue May 24, 2011 8:30 pm

Mort,

Love the appearance of your blog great job designing it. By the way mixing potions can be permanent how do you think I became a gas in the first place! Shocked

Tue May 24, 2011 9:01 pm

Yikes! Potion of Gaseous Form! What was the other potion, Argon?

Wed May 25, 2011 10:26 am

Wed May 25, 2011 9:09 pm

Tis nothing, Sir Xaris. I will always promote those who add to the wealth of CF. Heck, I used to do comics based on the front page articles. Now that was alot of work!

Wed May 25, 2011 11:32 pm

http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2011/05/new-prediction-for-future-greyhawk.html

Hmmm...

Thu May 26, 2011 7:06 am

Sun May 29, 2011 9:52 pm

http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2011/05/postfest-xv-pyert.html

Another good showing by Ragr! He's on a roll!

Mon May 30, 2011 2:07 am

Always beware a rolling Halfling. Cool

Many thanks for the kind words, mort, and that was a nicely relevant bit of artwork too.

Thanks again. Happy

Thu Jun 02, 2011 5:27 pm

http://melkot.com/wogcomic/title/wogstrip307a.htm

Your favorite show and mine is back!

Thu Jun 02, 2011 5:52 pm

Always enjoyable, Mort. Glad to see that Graz'zt hasn't lost his touch. Wink

Keep 'em coming, my friend. And, FYI, I'm back home now, so look for Part 6 soon. You make another appearance. Evil Grin

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Fri Jun 03, 2011 2:15 am

"Laugh or die" had me in stitches.

So I guess I.........er.........opted for the former.

I really hope no-one really nails the retro thing so well that I have no choice but to change systems again; my players will then insist upon the latter option.