Hi Erik, James, and crew,
I just want to let you know that I'm a huge fan of both the demonomicon and Core Beliefs articles. I was just wondering if you intend to publish a "Core Beliefs: Heironeous" article in the near future... it would be really timely, and would save me a great deal of effort fleshing out the faith for my players (if there are plans for such an article, I hope the author remembers to refer to the outstanding AD&D 2E product "Bastion of Faith," which would provide excellent background info)! And how about Hextor, Pelor, and Vecna -- any chance that they will be covered? They all receive a fair bit of attention in my game.
Thanks in advance for your time and reply, and thanks also for the wonderful things you've done with both Dungeon and Dragon over the last year... they've never been better!
-- TwiceBorn
I believe Erik wants to eventually cover all of the PH deities (which are Greyhawk deities), but we haven't scheduled more than 1-2 ahead at this time.
I believe Erik wants to eventually cover all of the PH deities (which are Greyhawk deities), but we haven't scheduled more than 1-2 ahead at this time.
Hi Sean,
Thanks for your reply. I also remember Erik saying he hoped to cover all the core deities, and I was hoping to catch a glimpse of those that are lined up for the coming publication year, thinking that at least 4-5 would have been slated by this time... but I guess not. I don't suppose you could divulge who the next 1-2 will be? Will you be writing any of them up yourself? I quite enjoyed your write-up of Olidamara... I never gave him much thought before, but would now be more than happy to play one of his priests!
For what it's worth, I would love to see a Core Beliefs article appear every 2-3 issues (okay, let's be honest... I'd love to see them published in every issue, but I realize that isn't realistic).
Long live Greyhawk! :-)
Cheers,
-- TwiceBorn
I really like this series too - not because I care about Greyhawk, but because I'm fascinated by in-depth treatments of fictional religions. :)
According to this month's Dragon, CB:Heironeous will be in next month's issue (354)!
This will tide you over until then: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heironeous
As an aside, it appears that SKR is taking a spin around the alignment wheel, hitting Neutral deities first (Boccob-N, Olidammara-CN, Pelor-NG, Vecna-NE, Wee Jas-LN) before hitting the more "extreme" alignments. Here are my predictions after Heironeous:
Hextor (LE)
Kord (CG)
Erythnul (CE)
I suspect that after each alignment is covered, SKR will hit the non-human gods (Corellon Larethian, Moradin, Garl Glittergold, Yondalla, & Gruumsh), then clean up with Obad-Hai, Ehlonna, Fharlanghn, Nerull, & St Cuthbert.
I could be wrong, but I bet my predictions for the next 3 are right (if not in that order).
According to this month's Dragon, CB:Heironeous will be in next month's issue (354)!
Talk about just-in-time delivery! :-)
I´m about to start a knightly campaign set in the pre-war Shield Lands, the first session will probably be around the ides of march or a bit earlier.The sword/axe dichotomy might be a technical thing: It is easier to forge an axehead than a swordblade, so the axe could be an older (pre-migration) weapon, and the sword a newer development in its present form.
Stefan
The sword/axe dichotomy might be a technical thing: It is easier to forge an axehead than a swordblade, so the axe could be an older (pre-migration) weapon, and the sword a newer development in its present form.
Stefan
I read somewhere that the battleaxe was Heironeous's old favored weapon (don't remember why), and he switched to the longsword in order to appeal to more followers.
I read somewhere that the battleaxe was Heironeous's old favored weapon (don't remember why), and he switched to the longsword in order to appeal to more followers.The sword/axe dichotomy might be a technical thing: It is easier to forge an axehead than a swordblade, so the axe could be an older (pre-migration) weapon, and the sword a newer development in its present form.
Stefan
I don´t like the idea of gods doing something to appeal more followers. There is this notion that the gods power depends upon the number of his mortal followers, which surely has its charm. But if gods have to collect followers like politicians have to win voters, this leads away from the principles and ideals they stand for, IMHO. Especially a god like Heironeous should uphold his high ideals as the "Archpaladin" rather than jockeying for to most followers among the gods - it would befit him rather badly, especially as his potential followers would probably honor other good gods, with whom he strives to work together against evil.
It is a matter of differing between editions of the game, anyway. In 2nd Ed (From the Ashes), his priests are allowed any weapon, with battle axe first. In the 1st Ed (World of Greyhawk), special weapons for his priests are not mentioned. The Living Greyhawk Gazetteer states that he promotes the Longsword to attract more common soldiers. I honestly cannot fathom that logic - why is a Longsword a more attractive weapon to a common soldier than a Battleaxe? IMHO, the Longsword is more the weapon of knights and nobility, with soldiers using a wide variety of weapon, the Longsword being just one possibility.
If the gods are dependant of their followers, then it would be more logical to me if the followers re-interpret the god in question to include the Longsword as signatory weapon in his image. Thus my idea that the reason might be technological advancement rather thad godly politics.
Anyway, all accounts of Heironeous include the Battleaxe as his signatory weapon.
Well, we´ll see what the Core Belief has to say of it :-)
Stefan
It is a matter of differing between editions of the game, anyway. In 2nd Ed (From the Ashes), his priests are allowed any weapon, with battle axe first. In the 1st Ed (World of Greyhawk), special weapons for his priests are not mentioned. The Living Greyhawk Gazetteer states that he promotes the Longsword to attract more common soldiers. I honestly cannot fathom that logic - why is a Longsword a more attractive weapon to a common soldier than a Battleaxe? IMHO, the Longsword is more the weapon of knights and nobility, with soldiers using a wide variety of weapon, the Longsword being just one possibility.
As far as the common soldier goes, I would suspect that a longsword would be preferable to a battle axe simply because it can more reliably pierce vitals (read- higher crit range).
Technology-wise, doesn't the average battleaxe have a wooden handle? If so, then I could see switching to a sword simply because they're less likely to break, which would make the sword a more reliable choice for Joe Everysoldier.
Just some guesses. Heironeous is my favorite of the GH deities so I'm definitely going to pick up the issue with his Core Beliefs article in it. Maybe they'll answer our question, eh?
As far as the common soldier goes, I would suspect that a longsword would be preferable to a battle axe simply because it can more reliably pierce vitals (read- higher crit range).
That´s right. But I just don´t like rule mechanic reasons behind that rationale... We´re talking about gods here, no less.
Technology-wise, doesn't the average battleaxe have a wooden handle? If so, then I could see switching to a sword simply because they're less likely to break, which would make the sword a more reliable choice for Joe Everysoldier.
That is surely true. Reliability is important for a weapon.
Just some guesses. Heironeous is my favorite of the GH deities so I'm definitely going to pick up the issue with his Core Beliefs article in it. Maybe they'll answer our question, eh?
Heh. I hope so. I can´t wait to read that one - oh wait - I haven´t read the last issue yet...
Stefan
Don't overlook the fact that it's cheaper to arm your soldiers with battleaxes than with longswords. In game terms, a longsword runs 50% more than a battleaxe--in RW terms, however, a longsword would be even more costly due to the amount of skill needed to forge it.
So it's unlikely common soldiers would use longswords. However, perhaps the change came about because, with the Greyhawk Wars & Northern Crusde, more cavalry & officers began to look to Heironeous as their patron, & thus you began to see a shift in church art. Whether Hieroneous uses a longsword or not is not important--followers depict & imagine their gods to be like themselves, thus the variant interpretations.
So it's unlikely common soldiers would use longswords. However, perhaps the change came about because, with the Greyhawk Wars & Northern Crusde, more cavalry & officers began to look to Heironeous as their patron, & thus you began to see a shift in church art. Whether Hieroneous uses a longsword or not is not important--followers depict & imagine their gods to be like themselves, thus the variant interpretations.
That´s what I wanted to say - I think mortals re-interpret the deities, not deities are doing something to attract more followers.
Stefan
I think his favored weapon is the longsword simply because it's the de-facto favored weapon of paladins and Heironious is the "arch-paladin."
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I'm greatly looking forward to learning more about Heironeous; besides Pelor and Wee Jas, his temples/followers seem to be the most frequently encountered in games that I've participated in. Also, the art of him battling Hextor in Deities & Demigods is one of my favorites...pretty, pretty Arch-Paladin...:)
I would also put in a vote towards learning more about Fharlanghn sooner rather than later; while his complete neutrality and do-as-thou-wilt dogma (or almost total lack thereof) is part of his appeal, it does make it a bit challenging to play one of his clerics, as I'm increasingly discovering.
Umm, Vecna was covered in the October 2006 issue.And how about Hextor, Pelor, and Vecna -- any chance that they will be covered? They all receive a fair bit of attention in my game.
-- TwiceBorn
Thanks. Ummm... I take it you didn't notice that my original post was dated May 6, 2006, 5 months prior to the October issue...
Hoping that they can get in a few more befroe the end. So sad that there won't be one fore Pholtus :(
I'm doing a Pholtus sidebar in one of the upcoming ones.
I'm doing a Pholtus sidebar in one of the upcoming ones.
HAPPY DANCE HAPPY DANCE HAPPY DANCE !! Thanks that was a VERY bright spot in my day