D&D General The Greyhawk Pantheon: How Greyhawk Approaches Deities (& Demigods)

[David Howery]

To recap- Greyhawk started with no one caring about gods. Then, people just put in whatever gods they wanted to. It wasn't until the publication of World of Greyhawk in 1983 that we have the Greyhawk pantheon, which consists of fifty deities and the incorporation of the non-human deities.

this was what I encountered when I got into D&D way back then. No official WoG gods at first, but did have the D&D book, so our PCs worshipped whatever deities in that book we felt like. Then the Dragon articles came out, and we just made it all retroactive to have our PCs worship the appropriate ones....

 

[Voadam]

There was one more Greyhawk oddball non-Greyhawk deity I know mentioned in a 1e module that is recognized as Greyhawk. White Plume Mountain has Wave, a unique magic trident with special powers if the wielder converts to worshipping Poseidon.

WPM was not written to be Greyhawk or even with the intention that be published (it was originally a writing sample for a TSR job that got turned into a published module) but Gygax placed it in Greyhawk in the 1e campaign setting boxed set.

 

[Parmandur]

It helps that Prof. Barker is deceased, in this matter.

However,

I greatly miss the Greyhawk folio that I have repeatedly owned and sold over the years. While I don't always buy the books in a line, I have purchased the main three of each edition. If only to see changes, they can be a great resource for my own ever evolving game. The Greyhawk folio was a great initial primer as to make your own worlds, particularly early in the history of the game.

I always appreciated Wee Jas. While I had some quibbles about the name itself, the representation of the deity seemed quite realistic. Specifically, it seemed to have accretions and syncretics that felt similar to what had gone on in the real world. The religion felt old. I've wanted to do a deeper dive in the pantheons of Greyhawk, but never found the time. This may assist.

It's like 5 bucks on DMsGuild, and is edition neutral.

 

[Azzy]

I always appreciated Wee Jas. While I had some quibbles about the name itself, the representation of the deity seemed quite realistic. Specifically, it seemed to have accretions and syncretics that felt similar to what had gone on in the real world. The religion felt old. I've wanted to do a deeper dive in the pantheons of Greyhawk, but never found the time. This may assist.

There were series of articles called "Core Beliefs" in 3.5e-era Dragon magazine written by Sean K. Reynolds that detailed the various Greyhawk gods that were in the "core pantheon" of the PHB. Issue 350 detailed Wee Jas.

 

[SkidAce]

It helps that Prof. Barker is deceased, in this matter.

However,

I greatly miss the Greyhawk folio that I have repeatedly owned and sold over the years. While I don't always buy the books in a line, I have purchased the main three of each edition. If only to see changes, they can be a great resource for my own ever evolving game. The Greyhawk folio was a great initial primer as to make your own worlds, particularly early in the history of the game.

I always appreciated Wee Jas. While I had some quibbles about the name itself, the representation of the deity seemed quite realistic. Specifically, it seemed to have accretions and syncretics that felt similar to what had gone on in the real world. The religion felt old. I've wanted to do a deeper dive in the pantheons of Greyhawk, but never found the time. This may assist.

I use the info and lore, bit changed their name from "Wee-Jas" to Ereshkigal.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

I use the info and lore, bit changed their name from "Wee-Jas" to Ereshkigal.

Sorry. Can't do that. Official word from Wee-Ja........s.

 

[grodog]

I don't count Telumel, does WotC even have the rights to that anymore?

EPT was always owned by Barker, so WotC owns no rights to it.

And I’m not sure why you wouldn’t count it in your reckoning, since Lin Carter and other folks were LARPing in Tekumel in the 1950, making it the oldest established RPG setting by far.

my broad point still remains that all the other settings did not start as a device for telling none game stories first.

Can you please clarify your broad point?

Allan.

 

[grodog]

And now the rights are radioactive...

I wouldn’t agree with that: the Tekumel Foundation has done an admirable job of bringing EPT rules sets, novels, maps, and supplements back into print in new editions that correct errors, expand content, and introduce the setting to new fans.

They’ve also done a great job navigating Barker’s dubious choices in writing Serpent’s Walk: Tékumel Foundation - The Tékumel Foundation's Board of Directors Statement on Serpent's Walk.

Allan.

 

[grodog]

I greatly miss the Greyhawk folio that I have repeatedly owned and sold over the years. [snip] The Greyhawk folio was a great initial primer as to make your own worlds, particularly early in the history of the game.

Same for me: Why Greyhawk in 2023? - grodog's Thoughts

I always appreciated Wee Jas. While I had some quibbles about the name itself, the representation of the deity seemed quite realistic. Specifically, it seemed to have accretions and syncretics that felt similar to what had gone on in the real world. The religion felt old. I've wanted to do a deeper dive in the pantheons of Greyhawk, but never found the time. This may assist.

I find Wee Jas one of the most-compelling of Greyhawk gods, and highlighted her and her clergy as an example of how to design factions in general, and in GH in particular, in Oerth Journal #31.

Allan.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

I find Wee Jas one of the most-compelling of Greyhawk gods, and highlighted her and her clergy as an example of how to design factions in general, and in GH in particular, in Oerth Journal #31.

I'm partial to, uh, Zagyg.

Other than the obvious, these are some of my faves (no particular order):
Fharlanghn
Heironeous
Hextor
Incabulos
Istus
Nerull
Pholtus (as a jerk)
Trithereon
Wee Jas
Xan Yae
Zuoken