Book of the Righteous

[yipwyg]

Did anyone pick this book up at Gencon, if so could you please post what you thought about it.

I am planning on purchasing it when it comes available in stores. I am going to use the holy warriors as a test replacement for the core paladins in my world, and the deities will be the core pantheon. I appreciate any info you can give me.

Thanks

yipwyg

 

[sunbeam60]

bump

[edit: spelling]

Want info about it so badly. Definately looks like Green Ronin's meatiest release yet, IMHO. I love the stuff you can pick up immeadiately and use, and I think that's where Green Ronin is succeeding where others are failing; they deliver that stuff.

Sorry yipwig, you were prob. hoping for some real info instead of another fanboy, but just though I'd bump your post up.

regards
bjorn

 

[Drew]

I picked the book up at the Green Ronin booth at Gen Con and had the author sign it. He wrote: "Andrew, don't look over your shoulder." He was very enthusiastic and seemed really nice.

The book is indeed meaty. Its a bit pricey at $40, but you are getting a big book for your money. The cover is cool, with a huge kingly god on the front and a human follower looking up at him in his throne. The cover font looks like one you might see on a religious tome.

I don't have it with me at work, so I can't give you a full review until I get home. I'll get on it as soon as I can.

 

[Furn_Darkside]

Does it have a reference sheet you can print out and hand to players?

FD

 

[Hecatol]

I have it right here, but I'm a little short on time right now. Here's a brief overview of the contents:

Ch 1: Introduction
How to use the book

Ch 2: The Mythology
Reference for mythology, cosmology and legend. Explains who all the gods are and where they came from.

Chapters 3-7 describes the gods and their churches. Each faith has its own section on character classes, myths, prayers, holy days, ethos, and more.

Ch 3: Practicing the Faith: The Great Church
Introduction to the churches and The Great Church in particular.

Ch 4: Practicing the Faith: The Old Gods
Info on the old gods - earth, water, air, the Creator, the Tree of Life

Ch 5: Practicing the Faith: The Gods of the Tree
Gods of healing and mercy, war and valor, knowledge and magic, inspiration and madness, and death.

Ch 6: Practicing the Faith: The Gods of the Womb
Gods of justice, travel and tricks, art and love, home and hearth, forge and artisans.

Ch 7: The Three Sisters
The Three Sisters are goddesses of nobility, victory, and the Hunt.

Ch 8: Putting Your Faith In Evil
Blasphemous cults of Asmodeus, Canarak, Thellos, and Naran + plus more generic evil cults.

Ch 9: Campaigning
Campaign and adventure ideas for using this material. How to bring it into your campaign.

Ch 10: Do It Yourself
Create your own cosmology and gods instead.

Ch 11: Additional Rules
New Holy Warrior class, feats, domains, spells, items, servitors.

Appendix 1: A Treatise on the Divine
Mythology and the gods described as an in-character narrative. Very good!

Appendix 2: Gods and Races
Geneaology and glossary of the gods and races.

Appendix 3: Religion Reference Guide
Reference guide and charts comparing the faiths.

Index

All in all an extremely classy book. There's more info here than you can absorb in a straight reading. Personally I will use it as a resource guide for my existing pantheon(s) rather than directly integrating it into my campaign. Don't let the $40 sticker price scare you - you get what you pay for.

More to come if there's any interest.

 

[Hecatol]

Furn - no there is no reference sheet. The third appendix might fit the bill - it describes each faith briefly in terms of:

Name of the Faith
Religious Name
Clergy Name
Proper address and introduction for priests of various level
Holy Warrior Name
Proper address and introduction for holy warrior
Prestige Class Name
Proper address and introduction for prestige class

A separate table lists the deities, with columns for alignment, cleric domains, holy warrior domains.

Oh, and the book is 320 pages in case anyone didn't know.

 

[Krug]

There's two extensive previews at http://www.greenronin.com . Looks like an excellent product but no $ to fork out for it right now.

 

[yipwyg]

Thanks for the info, I appreciate it.

Hecatol, yes please if you have time later on would appreciate any more info you can give. I am very interested in how the Holy Warrior core class works.

I have downloaded and read the two web enhancements for the book and was very impressed with the detail given.

Also for those that do not already know of it. Green Ronin has a support site for the book called the Tree of Life. Here is the link.

http://www.greenronin.com/tree_of_life/index.php?x=main.htm

I can hardly wait to get this product.

 

[Hecatol]

Essentially, the Holy Warrior is based on the standard paladin class where most special powers have been stripped out into domain powers specific to each particular faith.

Holy warriors use the same attack and saving throw progressions as paladins. They also receive spells like the standard paladin, starting at level four and have the same class skills and proficiencies. Ability to turn undead is granted at level 3, and at level 5 the Holy Warrior receives a special mount/companion.

Now, instead of the standard paladin's lay on hands, protection from evil, etc., the Holy Warrior receives powers as follows:

- At first level they get 4 domain abilities, followed by 2 more domain abilities at second level. The HW chooses two domains from his god's ethos. Each of these two domains give two abilities at first level, and one more powerful ability at the second level. For example, the domain abilities for the Champion domain are Detect Evil, Lay on Hands, Smite Evil, while the Guardian domain has the abilities Divine Grace, Divine Health, Aura of Courage. Thus, by worshipping a deity that allows access to these two domains, you can in essence recreate the standard paladin! There's a complete list of domains and their associated powers in the book.

- Starting at third level, and every three levels thereafter, the HW receives a Gift From God. These special abilities differ from faith to faith. In some cases it might be a singular ability usable once per week at lvl 3, twice per week at lvl 6, etc. In other cases, it might be a new and distinct ability every time.

This all appears very well thought out and balanced, and I haven't spotted any negative aspects with the system yet.

 

[yipwyg]

Cool. It looks like the holy warrior class is exactly what my friends and I were looking for.

Thanks for the info.