Otto, Tenser, Mordenkainen and more...

[DM_Rocco]

Hello everyone,

I am going to run my players, under 3.5 rules, through the Vecna lives module, which happens to be 2nd eddition. The module starts out where the player characters are controlling the actions of some of the most powerful mages to have ever walk the world. These mages are Bigby, Drawmij, Jallarzi Sallavarian, Nystul, Otiluke, Otto, Rary, Tenser and Mordenkainen.

The module gives stats for the mages, but under 2nd edition. I am putting out a call for anyone who has information, that they might have seen in a dragon magazine or in a gaming supplement, on these 9 mages to please help me get there 3.0 or 3.5 character stats.

Now, I know that Mordenkainen has his stats listed in the Epic level players hand book, so I have him covered, but the others I am not sure about.

I used the DM genie program to make stats for the mages, but I would like to be as accurate as possible, so, if you have game stats for any of these mages, please help out.

Also, if someone knows of a place or website that might have Vecna Lives converted into 3.0, please tell me.

Thanks again for your time.

 

[AFGNCAAP]

Cool. I have that module myself, but never had an opportunity to run it. Kinda curious how you'll work things out, esp. since with the current timeline, Vecna is a lesser deity now.

As for stats on the Circle of Eight, you can get some of them from the Living Greyhawk Journal, issue #0. It was a very then preview issue that covered the current roster of the Eight. It was in 3.0 stats.

I must emphasize "some" in the above sentence, because some of the members of the Eight during Vecna Lives! are no longer members, whether by choice or by death.

Rary betrayed the Circle of Eight, killing Otiluke and Tenser in the process (as well as destroying all of their clones, eliminating any chance of their survival). He's still a villain, IIRC, out in the Bright Desert with Robilar somewhere.

Tenser was rescued & restored to life, but decided to stay out of the Circle of Eight. He was the most lawful & good member of the Eight, & IIRC, he feels that more direct action should be taken & is tired with the relative inaction of the Circle of Eight.

So, the LGJ #0 has the current Circle of Eight's basic stats, minus Tenser, Rary, and Otiluke, but with their replacements.

On a side note, since the loss of race/class restrictions in 3.X D&D, I'd kinda hope to see some new members join the Circle, esp. ones of races who previously couldn't be full-blown arcane spellcasters (perhaps a dwarf or halfling member). The Circle of Eight is changing, first with its 1st female member, then with its first non-human member (an CN elf wizard). Or maybe even have a sorcerer join their ranks instead of a wizard.

 

[DM_Rocco]

Hmm

Well, thanks for the information. I am not all that up to date on the Greyhawk setting as I play mostly in my own world. However, Greyhawk is home to some of the best modules.

That being said, where can I get a hold of this Living Greyhawk journal #0? I have no idea, is that a website?

Are these stories in a book or novel or just part of game material?

I am using the module mainly for the adventure, not so much the places and settings of the current Greyhawk, but I do love the idea of playing some of the best mages in the world, so I am expanding that part of the module so the players can have a little more fun.

On a side note, I think Melf would make a great counsil member

 

[AFGNCAAP]

IIRC, LGJ #0 was a "freebie" that was sent out with Dragon magazine back during the debut of 3.0 D&D. It basically covered the race, class, level, & basic stats of the characters, but I can't say for sure if it covered things such as skills, feats, & possessions.

Even though this would be a bit more work, a viable alternative to hunting down the stats is to do a rough conversion of the 2nd ed. material. I think there's still .PDFs &/or links with the 3.0 conversion guidelines still around.

I think this may be a more viable option for you, esp. since you're importing this module into your game. You can customize the characters as needed (perhaps with PrCs applicable to your campaign), and even shape the Circle of Eight to fit your campaign (perhaps the events in Vecna Lives! are a bit more permanent than they were in Greyhawk).

The events concerning the Circle of Eight have been detailed through various modules & supplements. Rary the Traitor was a module which had the PCs pursuing Rary & Robilar after he had slain Tenser & Otiluke.

There was another module (whose title escapes me at the moment) where the PCs rescue Tenser, as well as Jallarzi--both of whom were affected by the machinations of the demon Tuerny (as in "Iron Flask of Tuerny the Merciless" Tuerny). It was one of the last 2nd ed. AD&D Greyhawk modules before the jump to 3E.

The more I think about it, some of the Greyhawk NPCs may be covered in either the Greyhawk Gazetteer, or the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer. You may find all of the members of the Circle of Eight. You may be able to find Melf there, too.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

The issue of Dragon on the stands as I write this has the stats for Rary.

 

[Welverin]

Actually it's the latest Dungeon (103).

 

[Graf]

Having recently purchased the LGG I can say that there are no stats of any sort in it. (Which is not a bad thing, I like a book that focuses on one thing well). But no stats.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

Actually it's the latest Dungeon (103).

My bad. I bought them at the same time.

 

[WizarDru]

As stated, the current issue of Dungeon (#103) has the latest and greatest stats for Rary (also known now as Rary the Traitor). The previous issue has more information on The Bright Desert and Rary's current situation which could easily serve as the basis of a campaign.

LGJ #0 gave complete 3.0 stat-blocks for the Circle of Eight. It was made available to people who joined the RPGA, if they weren't at the Gencon when it was given as a promotional piece. It had write-ups on each member of the Eight (as current during the start of 3E).

Mordankanein, at the least, has received the Epic treatment in the Epic Level Handbook, as has Lord Robilar (Rary's right-hand man). None of the other have been, but most of them would be relatively easy to translate, as they didn't have any special classes (mostly just specialty wizards). IIRC, Mord was statted out as a 26th level character. None of the others have been so updated, and none of them have been updated for 3.5, afaik.

This auction on ebay is selling a collection of the LGJs, all of them excellent source material for Greyhawk. The one with the people standing around the fire is issue #0, and those folks are the Eight.

 

[diaglo]

in 2ed there were several modules to cover the inaccuracies of the Greyhawk persons of fame as written by the people who inacted the coup.

rary the traitor had his own module...adventure

tenser was in adventure: the return of the eight

but since you aren't interested in the real history of greyhawk i too would suggest the LGJ.