One of the many things I loved about the later print editions of Dungeon Magazine was some of the write-ups of Greyhawk characters, e.g. Evard and Warduke. So that got me thinking I should write some articles like of that nature. Which then begs the question of whom to write about. So, Greyhawkers, what characters from Greyhawk would you like to be written up in this way?
I guess some of the more enigmatic figures (like Philidor the Blue and Cobb Darg) would be hard to do without major spoilers? And yes - they are not 'Threats' but I'm being pretty broad. My initial votes are Lord Obmi and Melf Brightflame.
You could also propose a non-named character, but rather an idea - like one of the Scarlet Brotherhood top assassins or some members of the Boneshadow. Also top thieves, evil mages, senior clerics of evil deities etc.
Just interested to know if you liked the write-ups too and if you had any ideas on who you would like to see.
Off the top of my head, here are some NPCs I'd like to see presented as Critical Threat topics. This list only includes those I don't recall ever seeing stats for.
Tuerny, the Merciless
Tzunk
Keraptis
Members of the Greater and Lesser Boneheart
The Hierarchs
Lerrick
Erac's Cousin
Emerikol, the Chaotic
Lyzandred, the Mad
Kas
Arnd
Joyhedee
Saint Benedor
Saint Ceril
Other suggestions:
Offer statistical conversions for special individuals in published modules for each edition of D&D (and, maybe, Pathfinder), making sure to include special equipment each is likely to use. Such as:
Chief Nosnra, his cloud giant advisor, and The Keeper;
Jarl Grugnir and any special guests in the glacial rift;
King Snurre, Ironbelly;
Maybe give Belgos and Silussa some class levels;
Drelnza;
I think the Greater and Lesser Boneheart were described in detail in Iuz the Evil.
Tuerny, in Nalfeshnee form is detailed in Return of the Eight.
Lyzandred the Mad is detailed in The Crypt of Lyzandred the Mad, at least in lich form.
The Hierarchs would be the most interesting to me, or at least anyones's interpretation. Of all the major villains circa 576 CY, they are the ones we still know the least about, though I have my own ideas...
I like the idea and have thought about submitting NPCs from my Hold of the Sea Princes campaign. Many of the NPC antagonists would fit well with the Critical Threats theme, and a couple of them derive from characters named in the Scarlet Brotherhood and/or the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer.
For example, I've developed "Emissary Turian" (who later might become Elder Brother Hammandaturian, should the PCs not defeat him) and William of the Axe (renamed Vilik Axson), who featured in a Treasures of Greyhawk adventure, "On the Town," as the ostler of "The Weary Traveler" in Monmurg with a secret life.
I've also developed numerous original antagonists, several of whom might interest the CF! community, including Lady Æltesh, emissary of the Kingdom of Shar to the Prince of Monmurg; Imen, a "child of Syrul' (su-doppleganger); Captain-General Emirikol, the leader of the Brotherhood's military invasion (similarly named but not the same person as the infamous magic-user of DMG fame); and Særvaül, who leads the death cult of Nerull in Monmurg, which I call the "Latreía’te Nerull."
It sounds like this might be a great topic for a new Postfest!
I would suggest that people be free to submit whatever NPCs they like. Different write-ups for the same NPC give DMs options for which they prefer for their own campaigns and even offer different options for different time-periods.
A postfest sounds grand. It's been so long since I've seen one, how do you call for it nowadays?
Also, I can't recall which OJ issue featured it, but I'm recalling an article that presented several versions (different levels, mostly) of NPCs, drawing on a similar device in one of the City of Greyhawk booklets. That might be fun for some posters.
If we're allowing original characters, do they have to be statted out?
I'd be interested in bringing over some of my original villains like Lady Babylon and Kalrek Burunne, but I doubt I'd be much good at statting them properly, plus the human and demihuman characters would be less impressive by the standards of more modern editions and their power creep.
Whether to stat out a character or not should be up to the individual poster, imo. Some might present full stats. Others might just suggest a level and noteworthy abilities. Also, it will be interesting to see what edition folks are using.
Thank Allan! The prior discussion sent me to Postfest III and made me wonder about Postfest XIX, but now I'll look through Postfest XIII and Postfest XIV to learn / remember what we've prior done.
PSmedger and other powers-that-be or folks-in-the-know, I know you have a lot in the works. How does Postfest XIX fit into the schedule and/or Visions of Greyhawk?
I was hoping this thread might go the way of a postfest. I think character write-ups are some of the most interesting and inspiration reading for world-building. I'm a little surprised there isn't more of that type of article in the new greyhawk e-zines.
I guess we are talking both developing existing 'known' characters as well as introducing brand new Greyhawk characters. Would love to see a post-fest on this.
NPCs/Critical Threats sounds like an excellent topic for a postfest. I would gladly go along with that and contribute too.
I'm putting the final touches on Visions #3, which should come out before the start of the summer, if not sooner.
That will be followed this summer by a Visions Annual Special, a volume that will publish the underdark postfest. It will be dedicated to the late Michael Rapier, aka Leachim the Learned.
Then Visions #4 will be planned for an early fall release. It has room for new articles, its major ones include more revelations about the Sea Princes and a Gazetteer/Map of Port Toli.
That is probably a reasonable cadence. 2 visions a year, plus a special, focused on postfest.
And you are right, there are a lot of irons in the fire, including what might be the biggest Greyhawk project ever, inside or outside the company.
This would be extremely cool. I'd love to see stats for Tuerny, Kas, the Boneheart members (or maybe they're statted in Iuz the Evil? I'd have to check my copy), etc.
This would be extremely cool. I'd love to see stats for Tuerny, Kas, the Boneheart members (or maybe they're statted in Iuz the Evil? I'd have to check my copy), etc.
I don't believe that they are, but I don't have my copy at hand either. Erik and I had discussed detailing them for the LGJ during the Paizohawk era, but I didn't have the time available to do it, and then of course WotC pulled the license.
NPCs/Critical Threats sounds like an excellent topic for a postfest. I would gladly go along with that and contribute too.
I'm putting the final touches on Visions #3, which should come out before the start of the summer, if not sooner.
That will be followed this summer by a Visions Annual Special, a volume that will publish the underdark postfest. It will be dedicated to the late Michael Rapier, aka Leachim the Learned.
Then Visions #4 will be planned for an early fall release. It has room for new articles, its major ones include more revelations about the Sea Princes and a Gazetteer/Map of Port Toli.
That is probably a reasonable cadence. 2 visions a year, plus a special, focused on postfest.
And you are right, there are a lot of irons in the fire, including what might be the biggest Greyhawk project ever, inside or outside the company.
This all sounds fantastic! I'm especially keen to learn more about your Sea Princes and Port Toli. And that final line, I mean, come on!
To what email address should I write with possible article ideas for Visions #4?
I've literally written hundreds of pages for my campaign. Many are campaign logs, but I have separate documents for the Seolder nobility, Monmurg, Poniard and other parts of Flotsom Island, Fairwind Island, etc., which detail various NPCs and locales, so I'm sure that I could contribute something "useful" that could supplement what you have in store and/or provide alternate takes on particular places. (For example, I've shared some of my elaborations of the Count of Poniard's family with Mortellan, which is in part derived from his treatment, as published in the OJ and his website, and in part spun whole from and for my campaign.)
NPCs/Critical Threats sounds like an excellent topic for a postfest. I would gladly go along with that and contribute too. [snip]
That will be followed this summer by a Visions Annual Special, a volume that will publish the underdark postfest. It will be dedicated to the late Michael Rapier, aka Leachim the Learned.[snip]
And you are right, there are a lot of irons in the fire, including what might be the biggest Greyhawk project ever, inside or outside the company.
This all sounds fantastic! I'm especially keen to learn more about your Sea Princes and Port Toli. And that final line, I mean, come on!
Indeed, quite the tease Gary!
mtg wrote:
To what email address should I write with possible article ideas for Visions #4?
I believe there’s a discord server, will ask Gary.
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