The "Gandalf" in your campaign

[Mercule]

I don't usually use a "Gandolf" figure, but there is sometimes a patron of sorts. Most memorable are Lorac the Druid (named before the DL character showed up), Luis de Castille from my Masquerade game, and the current (unnamed) leshay.

I think the current "mentor" is the most interesting that I've used, though. IMC, elves were once one of the celestials, but they came to the Prime for some specific reasons. Eventually, they devolved to their current form and totally forgot their roots -- other than being the "greatest of the mortal races". This mentor is one of the Leshay (ELH), or proto-elves who retained their celestial status.

The PCs don't know this yet, but the campaign is revolving around the machinations of a mortal who found a way to attain godhood. All the other gods are bound by a pact to not interfere in the Prime except by certain, prescribed ways. Which means this god is generally unfettered, so long as he plays his cards right.

Although the leshay is bound, by proxy, by many of the same rules, the PCs managed to get ahold of a wish and make a bizarre wish for knowledge that only he had. I had come up with the idea for him, but wasn't sure I was going to use him and then, BAM! the PCs get a wish and make a very wierd request that pretty much means they'll either see the leshay or die.

Anyway, this method of approach his given him a bit more freedom to act, so he's manipulating the PCs into doing what he wants them to do, but he literally cannot aid them in any meaningful or direct way. Nor can he come right out and tell them what is going on. All part of the divine pact by which he is partially bound.

So he's been appearing to no more than one PC at a time, giving them some extremely cryptic information that isn't quite aid, although it appears to benefit them in a vague way. He will not identify himself, tell why he's interested in the PCs, or answer too many serious questions -- although he appears quite willing to just have a conversation about the weather, shoeing horses, the comfort level of various fabrics, etc. The PCs are not entirely convinced he's not a figment of their imagination, except for the part that absolutely does not trust him.

 

[Desdichado]

tangent warning -
In the Similarion I was always disapointed with Morgoth, the 'god' of evil who behaved as I saw it as an angry 2 yr old. knocking down the pretty sun and chanting Nah Nah Nah while the other gods sang.
I had more respect for Saulron and Saruman who seemed far more evil( manipulating, deceiving etc)

this is a good argument for the first evil.

You should run out and get a copy (local library will do, or ILL if not) of Morgoth's Ring and read Tolkien's discussions on Morgoth and his motivation. Morgoth is a lot more sinister than he seems from The Silmarillion.

 

[Mallus]

There's nothing like Gandalf in my Tales of CITY campaign... The closest I get is Erebus. He...

...may be an immortal sorceror who leads an organization called The Brotherhood of the Black Worm

...may be a fallen angel

...may have 'fathered' most of CITY's gods and goddesses.

What is known for sure about him is that he loves gin, shrimp scampi and canasta. You can usually find him enjoying all three at the bar in the Narayan Arms Hotel (where's he been a guest for the past century).

And he absolutely abhors cats...

 

[Steel_Wind]

Does Fizban the Fabulous count? He's a touch over the top and he's never shown up yet. (To assume he's Paladine would be assuming too much, by the way).

I also have Antimodes, though he's a much trickier, more cautious and far less flamboyant a wizard. Some might call him a tailor first, a spy second and a wizard third - and then only if the first two won't do.

 

[Ace]

Most Wizards IMC are mad bad and dangerous to know ---

As for a Gandolphiod well there are four candidates

The closest figure is an old PC of mine Melkar the Destroyer (and Cobbler) brought back at the players request --

The name and concept were lifted from a piece of art in Rolemaster Standard System but the character took on a life of his own -- he doesn't do much in the way of advice since he is part blast mage and part shoemaker

Another posible candidate would be Mary Bow -- she is an old adventurer turned inn keep who happens to be unaging and immune to disease

There is also The Old Man who is a grizzled vetern of some apoclyptic war whose life span was magically extended

lastly there is a Beryl Rasmussen the archmage -- he is the head of the Wizards council and very powerfull. None of the players have sought him out but he moght play Gandalf if it suited his needs

 

[Mokona]

There is no such character in my campaigns because magic usually isn't so prominent that there is a wizened old good guy of great power.

 

[PapersAndPaychecks]

I started to say "I don't have a Gandalf-figure in my game" but I've realised that probably I do. The PCs have been known to consult a crone called Thingizzard (name cribbed from Erol Otus' map for White Plume Mountain) who can apparently see many things which other mortals cannot - but nobody fully trusts her advice because her motives are so ambiguous.

 

[Khayman]

Teldon, former Court Wizard of Karameikos. Dottering, slightly spacey, and somewhat amoral when it comes to putting down threats to the throne.

Just wait till my party loses him in a jaunt to the Far Realm. Oh don't worry --- he comes back. Mwahahaha.

 

[Impeesa]

In my high school homebrew (the last time I did any sort of detailed world design), there was one initially... Kirulin, a legendary archmage. Catch was, nobody was sure if he was actually alive, since he's also been implicated in the creation of that plane some 5-6000 years ago. Turns out he's actually just into deity levels, and thus can't really take an active role in the world like he used to. He was able to help the PCs out on a few occasions, but they pretty much had to seek him out and ask nicely.

--Impeesa--

 

[KingOfChaos]

Yeah, we have one. His name is Mondor and he's a senile old coot who does more harm than good because he's so old and deaf that he does everything wrong. We quickly realized going to him for help was bad when the old bastard teleported our entire group into the middle of Spiderhaunt Woods.