Thoughts on Book of the Righteous

[The Serge]

Question for ya, Aaron

Aaron,

Will Green Ronin ever release their "versions" of the Lords of the Nine, the Demon Princes, and their Lords of Goodness? I got the impression that we shouldn't hold our breaths since, based upon some of the publicity I heard about this book focused on the lack of divine stats at all.


Just curious. As I said before, this is a great book that shows how multiple cosmologies can exist using the same entities. I love what you folks did with the creation of the Arch-Devils and Demon Princes, despite the fact that I disagree with it. You did such a fantastic job that I can't help but admire it.

 

[Old One]

Allow Me to "Pile On"...

Aaron (and the folks at Green Ronin),

First, let me say that I am VERY stingy with my gaming $s. After buying thousands of dollars (US) of 1st and 2nd Edition supplements over the last 21 years of gaming, my 3E purchases have been few and far between. In addition to the 3 core books, I have purchased only the following over the last 2 years:

• Rituals and Relics
• Defenders of the Faithful
• Magic of Faerun

I am proud to add The Book of the Righteous to that very short list!

I run a detailed homebrew with a well-defined cosmology and (primarily) monotheistic/dualistic religious structure. It consists of one main deity (with several aspects), served by archangels, angels and saints. They are opposed by an evil deity, served by devils, demons, etc.

I have the main church very well detailed, but this book will save me an immense amount of work on the supporting aspects, holy orders, etc. After a 2+ hour skimming, I have "sticky noted" about 30 pages for additional review. I really like the format, the "flavor" of the different orders and the organizational format.

I was cautiously optimistic when I first heard about the book, but was really blown away by the depth and content. Well worth the $40 US! Great job...

~ Old One

 

[Nightfall]

First off -- to Nightfall, Morrus and others -- thanks so much for the warm embrace of the book. I've been working on it in one form or another for about 10 years (and writing for the last year), so it's very rewarding to hear people are enjoying it; especially people who weren't interested in it (ala Morrus) or who are absolutely sold on other settings/cosmologies (ala Nightfall).

Not a problem Aaron. Even though I haven't BOUGHT the book, I stood in the store for almost 2 hours reading it. It was a gripping book and one that ALMOST made me want to do a homebrew. Anyway I think this is a must for any DM worth his salt that wants to have a focused, well order type of religious thought and duties. You definately out did yourself Aaron.

 

[AaronLoeb]

Re: Question for ya, Aaron

Aaron,

Will Green Ronin ever release their "versions" of the Lords of the Nine, the Demon Princes, and their Lords of Goodness? I got the impression that we shouldn't hold our breaths since, based upon some of the publicity I heard about this book focused on the lack of divine stats at all.


Just curious. As I said before, this is a great book that shows how multiple cosmologies can exist using the same entities. I love what you folks did with the creation of the Arch-Devils and Demon Princes, despite the fact that I disagree with it. You did such a fantastic job that I can't help but admire it.

Well, I can't speak for Green Ronin as I'm just a freelancer. I will say, though, that I've known Chris Pramas, who owns GR, for over a decade and in that time I've learned two important things about him (and a few others besides, but these are the ones that are germaine):

1) Chris is very smart
2) Chris listens to what people say

I think if a lot of people say they'd really like to see Green Ronin provide stats for "the 9" and some of the demon princes from the Abyss, there will be Green Ronin-provided stats for the 9 and some of the demon princes. It's really a question as to whether people find that useful.

The truth is, in my mind, there is an enormous difference between providing stats for the lords of Hell and the Abyss, who can be thought of as the nemeses of mortal kind, and providing stats for gods. It makes sense to me on a gut level to have a fantasy campaign that culminates in the defeat of, say, Baphomet (for one hundred years and a day, or whatever it means to defeat a demon prince). It has never made sense to me, unless you are creating a game of truly mythic proportions, to have a game culminate in some god-killin'. And even if it does, do you really need stats? Balder was killed with a sprig of holly, not a vorpal blade. Does it matter what Zeus' Listen skill mod is? The killing of a god should be beyond the nuts and bolts of the usual d&d combat if and when it happens... or so I think, which is why I don't really ponder stats for gods.

But I do kind of want stats for the wand of orcus.

I can't explain why these two things are so different for me. They just are.

AJL

 

[Furn_Darkside]

Re: Re: Question for ya, Aaron

It has never made sense to me, unless you are creating a game of truly mythic proportions, to have a game culminate in some god-killin'. And even if it does, do you really need stats? Balder was killed with a sprig of holly, not a vorpal blade. Does it matter what Zeus' Listen skill mod is? The killing of a god should be beyond the nuts and bolts of the usual d&d combat if and when it happens... or so I think, which is why I don't really ponder stats for gods.

I still plan to get the book, but for the record- it would have been nice to include stats and let the dm decide what kind of campeign he wants.

FD

 

[AaronLoeb]

Re: Re: Re: Question for ya, Aaron

I still plan to get the book, but for the record- it would have been nice to include stats and let the dm decide what kind of campeign he wants.

FD

Sure, I understand that -- and I certainly don't mean to degrade anybody who DOES use statted out gods. My point is that I'm clearly not the guy to stat gods; I would do an awful job of it.

In any case, we ended up determining, though, that the space spent on stats was better spent on providing more info on the churches, a big ole glossary and some more monsters and magic items. Stat blocks for the gods would have taken up a lot of room!

AJL

 

[Crothian]

So, Mr Loeb, can we expect another project from you soon?

 

[yipwyg]

I just got email saying this book is on the way. I can hardly wait. Ever since I first read about this book, I thought that this is exactly what I wanted in a diety supplement. Reading the reviews, and posts from those that already have it, I thought exactly right.

I plan to use this book mainly as is with perhaps a little bit of modification to fit my players style.

I figure with this book, The Book of Fiends series, and Monte Cooks Book of Vile Darkness, I will have a complete mythology for my new homebrew.

I haven't yet got the Book of Righteous, but am already looking forward to what's next from the author.

 

[Graf]

Simple. While Div&Def gives me great gods, I want the Scarred Lands gods to be the MOTHER of all Bad asses in godly play. I mean come, you must have a SEMI-Hungering to see Vangal and Ethrynal go at it, only to have Vangal slaughter that guy. Basically this way I can take Epic to a whole NEW extreme. [/B]

? should I assume your game will be epic level SL?

I though the two or so pages of rules in tD&tD on divine attributes was just about all that I would ever need.

 

[Nightfall]

? should I assume your game will be epic level SL?

I though the two or so pages of rules in tD&tD on divine attributes was just about all that I would ever need.

Eventually. Course such epic level people might not have epic level items.