Orcus [Ghostwalk]

[ColonelHardisson]

If you want OFFICIAL information about Orcus, there are four sources to choose from:

1. The original 1st edition Monster Manual

2. The Forgotten Realms module H4: The Throne of Bloodstone

3. The Planescape module: Dead Gods

4. The new adult content WoTC book: Book of Vile Darkness.

The links and posts that appear earlier on this thread are not official D&D sources. I would avoid them if you can.

Orcus is a figure from real-world mythology. He wasn't created for D&D. That means that while there may be "official" D&D stats for him, that doesn't mean that the only correct information about him comes from whoever is currently publishing D&D. It would be like saying avoid all other interpretations of King Arthur, Zeus, Loki, or Baba Yaga except for those from "official" D&D sources.

 

[Voadam]

I've been interested in the Ghostwalk campaign setting, and in all of the reviews/interviews I've read about it, they make references to Orcus. I understand that Orcus is the Roman equivalent to Hades, but was he published in some earlier product of some kind? I was just hoping someone would shed some light on this. I've only been in gaming for about five years.

Well, Pluto is the direct roman correspondent to Hades, Orcus is a distinct death god figure from my understanding of Roman/Greek myth.

Orcus is also the mascott for necromancer games and the link to their cite has extensive stuff on his D&D history and they even use him in some of their adventure products.

In D&D terms he is a demon prince ruler of an abyssal plane with a portfolio that covers undead and a famous D&D artefact: the wand of Orcus.

 

[BOZ]

The plain truth is this: I can only trust that which is a) written by guys who work for Wizards and b) published by Wizards. Simple. Got it? Sheesh!

*trying to figure out if that rant was sarcasm or seriousness... and it's not easy*

 

[Nightfall]

Re: Re: Orcus [Ghostwalk]

Well, Pluto is the direct roman correspondent to Hades, Orcus is a distinct death god figure from my understanding of Roman/Greek myth.

Orcus is also the mascott for necromancer games and the link to their cite has extensive stuff on his D&D history and they even use him in some of their adventure products.

In D&D terms he is a demon prince ruler of an abyssal plane with a portfolio that covers undead and a famous D&D artefact: the wand of Orcus.

Yes but for Ghostwalk we are talking D&D Orcus.

 

[Illrein]

Thanks for the response. Voadam, I completely forgot about Pluto. The article I read in pantheon.org said that he was the Roman concept of Hades. Here's another quick question: Is Baba Yaga mentioned in BoVD?

 

[The Serge]

Is Baba Yaga mentioned in BoVD?

No, she's not. She is mentioned in the ELH.

 

[Aaron2]

I prefer the BoVD Orcus because I think all the demon lords in ToH are way overpowered. Demon Lord should be in the CR20-30 range. Of course, as none of my players are anywhere near that, I might change my thinking in the future.


Aaron

 

[Coyote]

Orcus Is...

Well, as far as OFFICIAL is concerned, I skipped the whole 2nd edition thing and went straight from 1E to 3E. For continuity's sake, the Tome of Horrors Orcus is FAR closer to the original AD&D version of Orcus than the 2E or 3E "official" versions. The WotC / late-era TSR stuff kinda went off into their own little world and created their own history that bore little in common with the 1E predecessors.

 

[Gothmog]

I like the Necromancer verison of Orcus MUCH better than the WotC version. A buff Orcus? What is wrong with you people. Also, I always felt (since 1E) that the demon princes/arch-devils were far too weak, and the Necromancer Orcus is a definite step in the right direction. Official by WotC standards? No- but I view that as a good thing.

 

[blackshirt5]

BoVD Orcus just reminds me too much of Ren and Stimpy, with the "rippling, pectoral, muscles!". Personally, I always loved the Orcus illustration on the Creature Catalog; it looks like an old DM of ours.