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[url=http://www.canonfire.com/cf/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=860&mode=flat&order=0&thold=0]Madness beneath the Flanaess

The idea behind this ...

The next of the "Introduction" series I intend to write will be on the Gods... sometime soon, I hope. :)

There are a few major events that would be worth covering as well - thanks for reminding me ...

This is a thread to discuss any or all of MerricB's Canonfire articles.

Recent articles...
County of Ulek
* Introduction to Greyhawk
* [url=http://www.canonfire.com/cf/modules.php?name=News& ...

You cannot, for example, have one adventuring party fight against another, as the format allows, at best, two or three (and that's really stretching it) stat blocks per encounter. That leads to fairly ...

It might not end up being used in my version of Greyhawk, but I really like this depiction of devils & demons.

I really like that demons are monsters and devils are humanoid... makes a lot of s ...

The combat was on the fifth or sixth round. Several of the designers of 4e have posted - check James Wyatt's blog for an example of this - saying that there's no way that the fighter would do 500 dama ...

Cebrion's right, of course. The best way to write the article is to write about the gods the author likes. Writing about a god you find boring or uninteresting is not likely to result in great insp ...

The APs don't really feel like Greyhawk to me, though I really like them. There are some things that are Greyhawk-like, and others that come from somewhere else entirely.

Things I like most about ...

the only reference in Savage Tide to "core" Greyhawk is Tamoachan - and that's hardly core Greyhawk! (Classic module, yes, but it's on the fringes of the known world).

Well, it had Iggwilv.

Yea ...

Although I've written about Yondalla in Ulek, these days I much prefer to simplify the gods as much as possible. 100+ gods just doesn't interest me.

IMC, I'm moving more towards Ehlonna being the g ...

I allow PCs to turn in evil items to good churches for destruction. They receive a bounty equal to what they would get if it were sold.

The Cleric of Kord needs atonement.

Cheers!

But if I understand it correctly, you loose all access to material you have paid for if your subscriptions lapses. That works for a game, but not for a game resource. '

From what I gather, at the ...

This brings me to Dungeon/Dragon and Paizo. They were successful by all accounts. Subscribership was up, so I understand. But the license was not renewed?!?! Dungeon and Dragon were the only places I ...

I am sure 4e will be a great, playable and fun game. I am just as sure that I will not be picking it up beyond the PH (out of curiousity) because 3x is a great, playable and fun game and I have inves ...

I don't know that its clear that the majority of folks playing in Living Greyhawk are setting neutral. I am sure that quite a few are. But hasn't there been other Living Campaigns that weren't nearl ...

WoTC has a rather large and enthusiastic fan base in GH. Look at LG - thousands of players from around the world, all of whom are dedicated enough to show up at weekend events and conventions (and pa ...

Rao, Pholtus, Istus, St. Cuthbert, Olidammara, Boccob, Ulaa, Ehlonna, Trithereon, Ralishaz, Heironeous, Hextor, Kord, Iuz, Fharlanghn.

Nice list.

Just at the moment, I'm tending towards...

P ...

That it has a god - yes. Rao? That was the surprise. (I find him such a "nothing"-god".) :)

Cheers!

If I may ask, when was Rao installed as the official god of Veluna? It's always seemed to be a strange placement to me.

Cheers,
Merric

Go and find my "Short Introduction to the World of Greyhawk" article on the site; that should give you an idea as to length and scope. Not more than a paragraph or two per god; not more than 15 gods c ...

This is a potential article written by myself alone for Canonfire.

Cheers!

Just a query - I'm thinking about writing an introductory primer to the Greyhawk gods.

Who would you include?

(Iuz, yes, is a given).

Cheers!

I've submitted another couple of articles:

* One looks at the current state of my County of Ulek campaign, updating the state of the Fhoi Myore invasion and providing several possible plot hooks (i ...

2> Article posting (after being submitted) needs to be handled in a more timely manner. Waiting months for an article to appear on the site just makes me want to post it on the forum or elsewhere w ...

Also... I almost want them to steal my Greyhawk material. Why? They'd then be publishing Greyhawk! :)

Cheers!

From Scott Rouse:
(in answer to a question that specifically mentions Canonfire):

I don't see fansite policy changing. IMO they serve a valuable function for promoting a product like D&D. In t ...

Never came up in my campaign. I just ignore the Non-Interference Pact.

The ways of the gods are mysterious to mortals. If a god interferes in the campaign, it's due to something the PCs aren't awar ...

Dragon Issues #315 & #319.

You can buy #319 as a pdf for $4.95
http://paizo.com/store/downloads/dragon/319

#315 is only available in print - $7
http://paizo.com/dragon/products/issues/2004 ...

I was in favor of WOC picking up the game at frst, but now, after seeing how they run things, I can only say I'm disappointed with them. They killed my two favorite things, Greyhawk and Top Secret/S. ...

Okay, I've decided I'm staing my campaign in the Uleks, probably in the Duchy of. However, I need to know what religions would be found in the Uleks, especially for humans, so that I know what the pri ...

IMC, Zuoken was released from Castle Greyhawk at the same time as the other demigods, but almost immediately captured by the Scarlet Brotherhood and imprisoned on the Plane of Shadow (in a place coter ...

A Short Introduction to the World of Greyhawk:
http://www.canonfire.com/cf/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=197

Cheers!

...and it's a sequel to my Short Introduction to Greyhawk article.

I expect it'll be posted in the future. I've been meaning to write it for years, but I've finally done so. It covers the period of ...

Run "Age of Worms", currently running "Shackled City" and "Savage Tide".

How did you deal with the rapid rise of the characters from 1st to 20th Level?

IME, almost every PC rises rapidly from 1s ...

I disagree. Perhaps especially in 3.xE, druids seem like they are well suited to representing the "priests" of many Oerthly gods and religions.

That's definitely my take on the matter.

Cheers!

Every supplement seems to show the "people of the land" - farmers, hunters and herdsmen- peasant classes all pay some respect and welcome druids and the old faith unofficially. (Even in "evil lands" l ...

G'day, all!

The next article I propose to write will examine the Old Faith as worshipped in the County of Ulek. Matters such as its influence with the people and the ruler, benefits to belonging to ...

Why is the "Old Faith" crumbling in the county?

I see it as written, very strong in its faith and druidic culture.

Broadly it could be argued that Ehlonna is part of the "old faith", since sever ...

Yeah, I do tend towards brevity (and I was surprised at how short the article was - I must have been pressed for time). To expand on your questions:

Where in Ulek is the Keep on the Borderlands?
...

Thanks!

Derwa was created for a very specific purpose: I needed the PCs to have access to a raise dead spell. However, she's a very useful NPC to have around as a spur for adventures and a mentor t ...

But, if I remember right, a +5 weapon in AD&D made a much bigger difference than it would in 3rd.

Even +3 weapons in 3rd are very rare, mainly because player prefer a +1 flaming keen weapon. ...

Yes, Nathan, I think you are right, I think if more was written on GH in 3rd, the luminaries would have higher levels. I dont mean by this that they would have advanced, just that they would have bee ...

CSL, I´ve created a guideline for epic monsters at an old "epic" topic, but they extend to epic characters and a reason for their existence (or not) in Oerth. I pasted it below, perhaps it can be use ...

1e: Average stats made almost no difference to a characters abilities.

In 1e, no long-term adventurer would have average stats. The difference between a 1e fighter with a 15 and an 18/63 strength ...

No, it's just a very useful rule for games that aren't set up for the PCs as merchants. :)

Actually, there are rules in the DMG2 and other sources for PCs running businesses (as well as using Craf ...

Quite a few. They tend to live in places where humans can't get to, though.

Here's a point: there are several high-level AD&D adventures (Isle of the Ape, Giants/Drow, Barrier Peaks) and descri ...

If he wants to, let him.

By the rules, it costs 5,625 gp, 450 XP and 12 days to make a wand of fireballs... which he can then sell for 5,625 gp. :)

Cheers!

Umm, how do you figure that? ...

If he wants to, let him.

By the rules, it costs 5,625 gp, 450 XP and 12 days to make a wand of fireballs... which he can then sell for 5,625 gp. :)

If you're more lenient about the selling pric ...

No time and prefer to write articles on my own schedule (when I have time).

One of the joys of my own article series is that they conform only lightly to established Greyhawk fact; I've never been ...

Oh well - more articles from my County of Ulek campaign are on their way as I move back into more original creations. I'm just workshopping with my friends a set of affiliations for the County - see P ...

Overall, the worst part of this book would be the size. There are so many spells in here it will take a DM a week just to review it, and longer to absorb it all, even if you have all the sources used ...

I just found the reference to the Giants series - and I'm now quite sure that Cebrion's reaction to it is inappropriate.

Consider what is actually in Heroes of Battle:

Against the Giants
Many l ...

No, but it does use a Greyhawk proper noun. That's better than nothing. :)

Cheers!

For a generic rules supplement, any Greyhawk material would be a bonus. Heroes of Battle is as generic as they come, offering tips and tricks for DMs wanting to run PCs during war scenarios. It doesn' ...

No group can stay secret forever.

If you want to keep something mysterious and unexplained, it is the same as not having it there at all. At some point, mysterious organisations have to matter. Aft ...

According to the 1983 guide, the area that was to become the Ulek states was for centuries a place where Flan and demihumans lived.

I expect that they weren't formally states until Keoland control ...

One thing I disagree on is the status of "adventurers". There seems to be an assumption here that they are of the lower classes.

That may be the case for their early career, but it is certainly not ...

How available are potions of healing in your campaign? I find the idea of a church or wizard stockpiling them...silly Confused

Note, my answer relies upon 3rd edition rules.

Very available ...

I ran a campaign in the County of Ulek for a while.

You can find the links to the Canonfire articles about it on my webpage:
http://www.3rdedition.org/merricb/dnd.htm

Cheers!

It really shouldn't be that hard. Multiclass spell-users will need some tinkering, but the 3.5e rules also aid such conversions.

Why don't you post the details of the PCs, and we'll see what help w ...

BTW, if I'm not mistaken, the original timeframe for the adventure precedes Iuz's "Great God of the North" scheme.

Indeed it does - it is, in fact, the trigger!

Iuz, noticing the barbarians havi ...

Honestly, if you really want to get Greyhawk support from Wizards, you might consider joining the RPGA and reporting your regular home Greyhawk campaign through their database.

As of last month, yo ...

Greyhawk fans are acknowledged as tenaciously loyal

Actually, Greyhawk fans are acknowledged as terminally bickering and divided. Loyal? To what?

You have those Greyhawk fans who _only_ acknowle ...

Maze of Zayene part IV (d20 conversion) is available from Different Worlds; grodog should have a link in his signature, or he'll give you one presently. :)

Parts I-III (d20 conversions) were releas ...

Here are the three articles I wrote that touch on the subject:
http://www.canonfire.com/cf/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=207
http://www.canonfire.com/cf/modules.php?name=News&file=article&s ...

Vampire Thrommel is brilliant design.

* Canonical Greyhawk does not have Thrommel rescued.
* One of the "known" pieces of gamer lore is Thrommel disguised as a vampire in ToEE.

So, Monte throws ...

Hackmaster is basically 1E + 2E + a bunch of other stuff to make rules lawyers jump with joy. :)

In design, it's very similar indeed (the rulebooks using great slabs of text from the 1E and 2E rule ...

Greyhawk doesn't have 3E support... Why make the change -- when you know there is little or no 3E support.

Actually, there is support for Greyhawk, but it's nowhere near concentrated. There's the ...