D&D 5E (2014) I believe the Greyhawk Campaign setting was a missed opportunity for Wizards of the Coast.

[MerricB]

Thanks for the reminders there Merric. I read the Gord the Rogue books and the old modules so long ago that I had forgotten what happened in them.
Relating that to what they did in 4E gives us a pretty good idea at least of what they might be thinking about...that's a good post.

Thanks!

Last year, I ran both Forgotten Temple of Tharizdun and Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil as the capstone adventures for my 6-year 4E Greyhawk campaign, so they're rather fresh in my memory. The Gord books are a bit less so - I read them all about 20 years ago, and finally tracked down a copy of Dance of Demons for myself a couple of years ago but I haven't revisited them. I ran Cradle of Madness when it first came out (and got a TPK there!), but I missed the 4E adventure - one of the few seasons of D&D Encounters I didn't run. Apparently I bought the Abyssal Plague novels about 2 years ago, but I haven't actually read them yet!

Cheers!

 

[Mouseferatu]

I was in my teens when I read the non-TSR Gord the Rogue books, and had no idea about any of the behind-the-scenes goings-on at TSR (Gygax leaving, etc.). So I was... rather befuddled by his fairly casual destruction of the world in that series.

Even then, though, Tharizdun felt off to me. Like Gygax could never quite decide what Tharizdun was supposed to be, or what he wanted to do with him. It's like someone trying to create a Lovecraftian god when his only exposure to Lovecraft was hearing about it through someone who heard about it through someone who read a few of the stories once, 30 years ago.

(Not saying that was the case. Just what it seems like to me, now.)

 

[Eric V]

The next time Tharizdun properly appears in a Greyhawk game product, it's 2001 and Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil is released.

Wasn't Tharizdun mentioned more than a few times in Carl Sargent's Greyhawk supplements? I think he was also mentioned in 'Night Below.'

 

[Nebulous]

Thanks!

The Gord books are a bit less so - I read them all about 20 years ago, and finally tracked down a copy of Dance of Demons for myself a couple of years ago but I haven't revisited them. I ran Cradle of Madness when it first came out (and got a TPK there!), but I missed the 4E adventure - one of the few seasons of D&D Encounters I didn't run. Apparently I bought the Abyssal Plague novels about 2 years ago, but I haven't actually read them yet!

Cheers!

I have very, VERY fond memories of Saga of Old City and Artifact of Evil, the first two Gord books by Gygax. I was in 6th or 7th grade and had just starting playing 1e officially, and it had all of the boobs, blood and badassness that a kid could ever want. After that, the series really got...weird. It also helped that the first two books had black and white illustrations by some of their top artists.

 

[MerricB]

Even then, though, Tharizdun felt off to me. Like Gygax could never quite decide what Tharizdun was supposed to be, or what he wanted to do with him. It's like someone trying to create a Lovecraftian god when his only exposure to Lovecraft was hearing about it through someone who heard about it through someone who read a few of the stories once, 30 years ago.

(Not saying that was the case. Just what it seems like to me, now.)

Might not be so far from the truth, as I think it was Rob Kuntz who actually came up with Tharizdun...

Cheers!

 

[MerricB]

Wasn't Tharizdun mentioned more than a few times in Carl Sargent's Greyhawk supplements? I think he was also mentioned in 'Night Below.'

This is probably the case; I'm less familiar with that period of Greyhawk's history. I'll go have a look.

Cheers!

 

[MerricB]

Wasn't Tharizdun mentioned more than a few times in Carl Sargent's Greyhawk supplements? I think he was also mentioned in 'Night Below.'

Just checked: In "From the Ashes", he's mentioned as being a god the Scarlet Brotherhood seek to free (which is basically incorporating the Gord the Rogue book Artifact of Evil into the game supplements), but that's about it. Sean K Reynolds in his later supplement "The Scarlet Brotherhood" recasts this as they use Tharizdun's name only for the shock value, and his worship isn't actually endorsed by the Brotherhood - only the insane on the fringes worship him.

Didn't notice anything else, but entirely possible I missed it, and I'd greatly appreciate any further references!

 

[SirAntoine]

Just checked: In "From the Ashes", he's mentioned as being a god the Scarlet Brotherhood seek to free (which is basically incorporating the Gord the Rogue book Artifact of Evil into the game supplements), but that's about it. Sean K Reynolds in his later supplement "The Scarlet Brotherhood" recasts this as they use Tharizdun's name only for the shock value, and his worship isn't actually endorsed by the Brotherhood - only the insane on the fringes worship him.

Didn't notice anything else, but entirely possible I missed it, and I'd greatly appreciate any further references!

I have enjoyed reading all this about Gord the Rogue and Tharizdun.

I don't think Tharizdun has a significant role in the Night Below campaign. I am a big, big fan of Night Below and Carl Sargent's Greyhawk work, but the super module was written for any setting. He recommends it for Forgotten Realms, Mystara, or Greyhawk, if memory serves.

What was the year of the world's destruction in the Greyhawk timeline if I may ask?

 

[MerricB]

What was the year of the world's destruction in the Greyhawk timeline if I may ask?

Not sure off hand; I think 5-10 years might pass between Artifact of Evil and Dance of Demons, but that's based on some really fuzzy memories. I'm not sure if there are any dates in the books. I'll check if I can find where I've stored my copies, as you've made me curious.

Cheers!

 

[Eric V]

I have enjoyed reading all this about Gord the Rogue and Tharizdun.

I don't think Tharizdun has a significant role in the Night Below campaign. I am a big, big fan of Night Below and Carl Sargent's Greyhawk work, but the super module was written for any setting. He recommends it for Forgotten Realms, Mystara, or Greyhawk, if memory serves.

What was the year of the world's destruction in the Greyhawk timeline if I may ask?

Isn't there an island dedicated to Tharizdun in book 3?