Tell me about Greyhawk

[Doug McCrae]

Does that make it a circle jerk?

 

[Gentlegamer]

The "Grey in Hawk" largely nails it, though I disagree with the conclusion about the "From the Ashes" boxed set. Yes, evil to some degree "triumphed" and created a more "dark fantasy" setting, but not permanently. It shook up the status quo and created tons of adventure ideas (one of my best campaigns spun out of King Belvor and the Archcleric of Veluna declaring a crusade against Iuz which involved recovery of the Crook of Rao . . . sounds good v. evil but there was a lot of shady politics and motives involved from all sides).

It is true, however, that few "old-school" Greyhawk fans liked that boxed set; I am one of the few.

Now, that's more of a defense of FtA than a description of Greyhawk. I'll add this brief description: it's a setting were barbarians and cavaliers can be members of the same adventure party . . . and it makes sense!

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

It is true, however, that few "old-school" Greyhawk fans liked that boxed set; I am one of the few.

As am I. From the Ashes reignited my enjoyment of the setting and brought me back to Greyhawk after I drifted away for things like Spelljammer and Dark Sun.

 

[Erik Mona]

I have always liked From the Ashes.

And I like the original boxed set enough to own the cover paintings, so I think I also qualify as a fan of that too.

--Erik

 

[green slime]

It is true, however, that few "old-school" Greyhawk fans liked that boxed set; I am one of the few.

Really? I was vastly pleased when it arrived. It was still very open, introduced a few minor physical changes to borders, and injected a whole new level of political intrigue, with the major successes of the Suel monks.

I think the biggest disappointment about 3.0 when it arrived was the discontinuation of material for Greyhawk. IIRC, just prior to the arrival of 3.0 there was several excellent GH modules, followed by 3.0 + LGG and the gazetteer, then nothing. From golden age, to abyssmal darkness.

Which was a shame really, especially as how organised gameplay managed to completely ignore pleadings from interested parties in Scandinavia. I know several people who tried to contact the RPGA, with zero response. With all the interest generated for 3.0, what a wasted oportunity.

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

It was still very open, introduced a few minor physical changes to borders, and injected a whole new level of political intrigue, with the major successes of the Suel monks.

I think you are understating things. Looking at the map, there can hardly be said to be few, or even minor changes to borders. It was pretty widespread and significant. I can itemize them all if you'd like.

Which was a shame really, especially as how organised gameplay managed to completely ignore pleadings from interested parties in Scandinavia. I know several people who tried to contact the RPGA, with zero response.

I think all the contacting did some good, eventually. Because all of Scandinavia was added into a Living Greyhawk region. It was originally just Sweden but now includes Finland, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. It is mostly a Finnish player-base right now I hear as the most active Triad for the region is from Finland.

 

[jasin]

That means no Dragon Shamans, no Fire Genasi, no wacky prestige classes, nothing like that.

Why are dragon shamans and genasi too exotic?

A dragon shaman, being a guy with a spear who can heal with a touch and breath fire, doesn't seem more outlandish to me than a druid, which is a guy with a spear who can heal with a touch and throw little balls of fire and shoot lightning and shapechange into animals.

Fire genasi as they're drawn in the FRCS, with hair of flames, might be a bit weird, but genasi and aasimar and tieflings as they (IMO) should be, near-humans with a trace of planar ancestry which could be mistaken for exotic but normal humans on sight, don't seem to me to be more exotic than, say, gnomes.

See those goblin women and children? Dwarves take them back for sacrifice-living sacrifice-to the dwarfish gods. After all, the orcs and goblins sacrifrice dwarves, so why can't the dwarves return the favor? They're just goblins, after all.

Say what!? Is this just your impression, or is this from some Greyhawk book? It doesn't sound like shades of gray to me, it sounds like simple evil!

A gun? Are you crazy, or just stupid? Everyone knows that "gunpowder" stuff doesn't work here!

Didn't Murlynd use guns? And isn't there a certain crashed spaceship with lasers and robots and stuff somewhere in the Barrier Peaks?

 

[green slime]

I think all the contacting did some good, eventually. Because all of Scandinavia was added into a Living Greyhawk region. It was originally just Sweden but now includes Finland, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. It is mostly a Finnish player-base right now I hear as the most active Triad for the region is from Finland.

Except neither I, nor anyone else I personally know who contacted them (individually, without knowledge of each other at the time), stating that we were interested, received any information whatsoever. We contacted RPGA, as soon as the intent to start a Triad in Scandinavia was declared. Repeatedly. So whoever was responsible for Sweden, didn't even manage a poor job. They did no job whatsoever. So, as far as I'm concerned, it did me absolutely no good whatsoever.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Didn't Murlynd use guns? And isn't there a certain crashed spaceship with lasers and robots and stuff somewhere in the Barrier Peaks?

This is the Internet. Keep your filthy facts and logic to yourself.

 

[Moggthegob]

One last thing, where did turrosh mak come from? It seems unusual for orcs to be organized under one leader.

Secondly, I was thinknig of making magic items unsellable,i.e theres no real market for something like a +3 flaming longsword or a quaal's feather token, while having things like wands and potions and scrolls purchasable, forcing them to craft most items that they want to have in addition to what they actually find.

lastly, I am considering, after reading your comments running something out of either the Shield Lands, Furyondy/Veluna, or Ket. I know shield lands is between a roc kand a hard place, but is there additional informtion on these places that is easily accessible(i.e. not requiring me to find an out of print book)