D&D General Forgive my blasphemy: downplaying the Grayhawk gods

[Jolly Ruby]

This post is a simple question: what's the effect of downplaying gods in Greyhawk, or even replacing the whole pantheon with something else? I know that they are a late addition, so maybe it's not a big deal.

As a grey box person I always felt Greyhawk gods were a bit too "gonzo" for my taste, and not in a good way like Barrier Peaks. The new DMG gave that grayhawk itch again and I'm thinking of trying to create my "Rubyhawk" based on a mix between the 1980 folio, things I stole from other sources and whatever 2024 DMG give us.

And one more question: if you think I should keep the Greyhawk original pantheon, or at least part of it, why do you think so and how to make the most of it?

PS.: I thought it was a good idea to make this post a "question", and now that I know what it means I regret it. This post should've been a discussion. If a mod see this and can fix my mistake I would be very grateful.

 

[MGibster]

To be honest, religion, and the gods thereof, have never played a big part in any D&D campaign I've run. In a game festooned with divine magic, beings, and intervention, my D&D experience has largely been secular oddly enough. I don't anticipate downplaying or changing the gods in your Greyhawk campaign will cause a big stir.

 

[Hussar]

Gods in Greyhawk, IMO, never played a huge role in the setting the way they did in, say, Forgotten Realms. Not that they were absent, mind, but, most of the action seemed far more about "earthly" concerns. Now, there are obvious exceptions. Iuz obviously. Llolth comes to mind as well.

But, yeah, if you were to remove Pelor and replace him with something else, or nothing at all, I don't think it would have too much of an impact on the setting.

 

[MerricB]

And one more question: if you think I should keep the Greyhawk original pantheon, or at least part of it, why do you think so and how to make the most of it?

I'd keep Iuz (since he's on the map!), St Cuthbert, his devout foe, and Zagyg.

After that, put in new deities or not as you please. I regularly ignore a lot of the Greyhawk pantheon, concentrating on the gods I like. (Currently Xan Yae and St Cuthbert). I believe in the original games, the "frost barbarian" pantheon didn't exist and there were priests of Thor. Cause Thor is awesome!

There's a few gods that feel more Greyhawky apart from those I name (like Wastri, Zuggtmoy, and Lolth), but you could just replace the lot of them and work out what to do with any references in classic adventures.

Cheers,
Merric

 

[Voadam]

Iuz is probably the biggest impact. You could turn him into a cambion with no priesthood and it would work fine though.

 

[Voadam]

Norse for frost, snow, and ice kingdoms seems natural.

 

[Voadam]

Decide on gods/religions for theocracy of the pale, see of medegia, the caliphate of ekbir?, prelacy of almor.

From 2e hextor’s church is huge in the former great kingdom

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

I think downplaying the pantheon is very doable. I’ve seen some run Greyhawk with their handpicked faves from the old Deities and Demigods.

On the whole, I can see the gonzo-ness especially when viewed as if it were a cohesive single. However, when viewing the different cultural origins as if each were originally their own pantheon things can make more sense.

It’s like trying to think of the “European pantheon” as if it were a mix of Celtic, Nordic, Roman, Slavic, Finnish, Greco, gods in one big pantheon. Paris would have temples to Athena, Thor, Loviatar, Jupiter, … maybe after a millennia that’s what medieval Europe people would have followed?

The source materials had not placed a strong emphasis on the cultural origins of different gods, but it is there and the Oeridian gods have something of its own cohesion, just like the Suel gods have strong themes, and the Flan gods too. 500 years pass by and the average resident of the Flanaess really doesn’t give any care about who a god’s team was a thousand years ago, instead will it help today’s harvest, calm tomorrow’s storm, or bring luck in tonight’s gambling den.

 

[Tonguez]

Greyhawk

Iuz is probably the biggest impact. You could turn him into a cambion with no priesthood and it would work fine though.

Iuz is a cambion already isnt he?

iirc Greyhawk gods all take the approach of being just really powerful magicusers, able - eventually - to be challenged (and defeated) by mortal PCs. Which means that in the end they are all expendable and replaceable

 

[haakon1]

I'd keep Iuz (since he's on the map!), St Cuthbert, his devout foe, and Zagyg.

After that, put in new deities or not as you please. I regularly ignore a lot of the Greyhawk pantheon, concentrating on the gods I like. (Currently Xan Yae and St Cuthbert). I believe in the original games, the "frost barbarian" pantheon didn't exist and there were priests of Thor. Cause Thor is awesome!

There's a few gods that feel more Greyhawky apart from those I name (like Wastri, Zuggtmoy, and Lolth), but you could just replace the lot of them and work out what to do with any references in classic adventures.

My set up:

• Greyhawk Gods are the Oeridian pantheon, including some cults adopted from other cultures like Rao from the Flannae and Xan-Yae from the Baklunish.
• Baklunish religion is the Greek pantheon (as expressed in Deities & Demigods) plus specifically Baklunish Greyhawk gods, like Geshtai and Xan-Yae
• Suel religion is the Norse pantheon plus specifically Suloise Greyhawk gods, like Wee-Jas
• Flannae religion is the Sumerian and American Indian pantheons from Deities & Demigods and specifically Flannae Greyhawk gods, like Rao.

This approach makes for a multi pantheon, multi theistic setting - some temples are too many gods.

But perhaps most importantly, it lets player characters choose Thor. As Merric notes, gotta have Thor. And why not mighty Athena?