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<title>Indulge Me</title>
<link>https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2024/06/16/indulge-me/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dragons Never Forget]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 17 Jun 2024 00:03:20 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Dungeons & Dragons]]></category>
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<description><![CDATA[I miss magazines. There was a time when you could walk into any shop and you’d find a plethora of gaming magazines in the used bins and on the new shelves. Video games, role-playing games, war games; it was all there, just waiting to be discovered by eager readers. And eager I was. Long before… <a href="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2024/06/16/indulge-me/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">Indulge Me</span></a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I miss magazines. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">There was a time when you could walk into any shop and you’d find a plethora of gaming magazines in the used bins and on the new shelves. Video games, role-playing games, war games; it was all there, just waiting to be discovered by eager readers. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">And eager I was. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Long before I first played Dungeons & Dragons I was already reading DRAGON Magazine and the RIFTER. I had dozens of Conan Magazines, used copies of Imagine, Polyhedron, White Dwarf, Weird Tales, Amazing Stories, and more. Then, somewhere along the way, they all started disappearing. The used book stores seemed to dry up and what I could find was on the Internet Archive and other archival websites. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Now I have gigs of space dedicated to the magazines I loved as a kid. But I’m never talking about them. I think it’s time to change that. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">To that end, I’m going to begin talking about the magazines I’m reading on here. When possible I’m going to try and read them in order, but when I’m missing issues I’m just going to be missing issues. I’m not shelling out foolish amounts of money to read a magazine once and then put it away on a shelf to be forgotten about after. </p>
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<title>Knights of the Watch, A Greyhawk Knightly Order</title>
<link>https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2024/04/24/knights-of-the-watch-a-greyhawk-knightly-order/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dragons Never Forget]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 24 Apr 2024 11:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Greyhawk]]></category>
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<description><![CDATA[The Knights of the Watch were formed several centuries ago from the remnants of an older order, whose name is lost to time, located in the Gran March.  Their original mandate was for the protection of the lands of the Sheldomar Valley (an area which encompasses the nations of Keoland, Gran March, Bissel, and Geoff)… <a href="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2024/04/24/knights-of-the-watch-a-greyhawk-knightly-order/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">Knights of the Watch, A Greyhawk Knightly Order</span></a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Knights of the Watch were formed several centuries ago from the remnants of an older order, whose name is lost to time, located in the Gran March. Their original mandate was for the protection of the lands of the Sheldomar Valley (an area which encompasses the nations of Keoland, Gran March, Bissel, and Geoff) from the incursions of the Paynims and “Westerlings.” [1]</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In the early years of the Watch’s existence the nomadic Paynims were their main concern. The term “Paynims” refers to the numerous tribes that occupy the great plains of western Flanaess from the lands of Zeif and Ket to the valleys of the western Sulhauts. These tribes are remnants of the great Baklunish Empire that remained in their ancestral homelands after the Invoked Devastation, an apocalyptic spell launched by the Suel Imperium that destroyed the Baklunish Empire. They are a proud, determined people who have little care for the borders of their neighbors and continue to travel as they have for countless generations.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">To counter these migrations the Knights of the Watch built a series of castles, fortresses, and strongholds along the boarder of their mandate. The strongest of these bases can be found today in Hookhill (the Gran March), Hochoch (Geoff), and Pellak (Bissel). The Watch organized their defensive strategies around the teachings of the philosopher Azmarender, and in particular his Twelve Precepts of Battle and Seven Precepts of Life Beyond the Self. Azmarender’s Twelve Precepts of Battle prescribe the way that a knight is to behave and carry themselves during combat and war. The Seven Precepts of Life Beyond the Self is a guide for the Watch is to conduct themselves outside combat. Together these two sets of Precepts represent the core of how the Knights of the Watch interact with the wider world.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Recent centuries, however, have found the Watch shifting its focus to the “Westerlings,” the refuges of the Baklunish Empire’s destruction. Unlike their Paynims cousins, the Westerlings had long ago given up their nomadic traditions and had settled into the great cities of the Baklunish Empire. They were at the forefront of the Baklunish innovations in culture, technology, magic, industry, and trade. Their traditions were more sophisticated than the Paynims, but they still held a familial bond. After the Invoked Devastation the Westerlings were scattered within their shattered Empire. Eventually they were able to coalesce into bands of refugees, often led by what remained of their once great armies, and moved east into the more fertile lands of the Flanaess. This migration was not without violence and many died as they moved east.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Knights of the Watch had been organized to keep the Paynims out and found that these Westerlings were a far greater threat. Unlike their tribal cousins the Westerlings were organized with clear military structures and behaved as an invasionary force. They used advanced military tactics and did not hesitate to strike forcefully against perceived threats. This volatile mixture hardened the Watch against the Westerlings and created a near fanatical drive to keep the Westerlings out of the east.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Prior to the Greyhawk Wars (582 -584 CY) the Knights of the Watch had more than 6,500 members in their ranks and twenty outposts along their mandate that they occupied. This would change dramatically with the fall of Geoff.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In 583 CY the Giants, Ogres, and Orcs of the Crystalmists mountains began acting strangely. Previously these monstrous denizens of the Crystalmists would raid western Geoff in disorganized parties; content to stuff their bellies and then slink back to their mountainous homes. In the fall of that year, though, reports began to surface that these creatures were beginning to organize into more formal military parties. It was as though they were practicing for a grand raid.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In the spring of 584 CY the Giants, Ogres, and Orcs of the Crystalmists invaded western Geoff in mass in what has come to be known as the Crystalmists War. Their attacks were wholly unlike their previous actions. They were calculated and systemic cleansings of the western villages. By the month of Harvester, the end of summer, the invading force had conquered Geoff. Within two years nearly all resistance had been devastated and what few survivors remained had retreated deep into the eastern woodlands of the Dim Forest and Oytwood forest.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Knights of the Watch spent generations preparing for incursions of the Westerlings and Paynims from the west and during the Crystalmists War they fought valiantly against the invaders. The Watch, however, was fanatical in their devotion to the traditions of their order and were so entrenched in their battlefield techniques that they were unable to cope with the guerrilla tactics of Crystalmists armies. This resulted in significant losses among the Watch.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">585 CY saw the emergence of King Mogthrasir, the fire giant, who ruled the conquered lands from his stone castle in Pest’s Crossing. His kingdom is known as “Tjalf,” which means “toil” in the language of giants, and is a land of cruelty and slavery.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">By the spring of 587 CY the Knights of the Watch have splintered into two factions: the Watchers and the Dispatch. The Watchers continue to call themselves the Knights of the Watch and are noted for their devotion to the traditional ways of their order. They still practice the same tactics that their order has for centuries and abide by the Twelve Precepts of Battle and the Seven Precepts of Life Beyond the Self. The Dispatch, however, have recognized that the old ways will no longer work. They have splintered into smaller groups designed for scouting and regularly engage in ambushes on the occupying force. Their belief is that they cannot continue to watch for danger and wait for it to come but must meet it where it is.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The following year, 588 CY, saw the splinter faction, the Knight of the Dispatch, take the fight to the occupying force once more by launching a campaign in the Oytwood forest. The Dispatch used the base in Hochoch to launch raids, ambushes, and to harry their enemy throughout the spring and summer. By Harvester, though, King Mogthrasir had enough of their skirmishes and sent forth an army of giant-kin to put an end to the troubles in the Oytwood. The Dispatch was severely outnumbered by the Tjalf army of giant-kin; yet they fought a vicious battle in the western Oytwood where they defeated the army after great bloodshed.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Battle of Oytwood served as a rallying cry for the Knights of the Watch and saw their recruitments swell in the months since, bringing their numbers to around 2,500 knights. Yet the Dispatch has not pushed further into Tjalf as they await aid from the Gran March in the form of money and manpower.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Role-playing Notes</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Knights of the Watch are organized into two factions: the Watchers and the Dispatchers. Each has a personality that players should be aware of if they are interested in playing as a Knight of the Watch.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Watchers</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Watchers are traditionalist who seek to reestablish the old ways as the true path for the order. They speak in a formalized way, referring to everyone they meet by a title and will never use someone’s common name. If an individual does not have a title they will instead use their job as their title (for example, “It is an honor to meet you, Lady Baker,” and “Master Boatswain, what time is our departure?”). For their members they use a ranking system (<em>see Note 2 for more</em>) when addressing each other.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Watchers only recruit Fighters, Clerics, and Paladins of third level or higher. Cleric and Paladin Watchers tend to worship martial, lawful, non-evil deities such as Heironeous, St. Cuthbert, Pholtus, Allitur, and Mayaheine.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Weapon Proficiencies:</strong> Polearm (any), and any sword except short-sword. You may additionally pick one of the following: Battleaxe, crossbow, heavy flail, heavy mace, lance, or Warhammer.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Equipment:</strong> The Watchers provide their own equipment, but mounts are supplied by the nobles of Keoland and Gran March. The nobility of these nations will also replace broken non-magical weapons and gears, as well as, provide free meals and rations for Watchers.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Special Benefits:</strong> The nobility of Keoland and Grand March will also replace broken non-magical weapons and gears, as well as, provide free meals and rations for Watchers. They will also provide them with free lodging if needed.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Special Hindrances:</strong> Watchers must attend weekly drills and meetings with their local command. Failure to appear can result in disciplinary action including financial fines, hard labor, and expulsion from the order.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Dispatchers</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Dispatchers are often younger knights disenchanted with the old ways of doing things. They speak in a less formalized manner; often referring to others outside the order by their common names – though they still follow the titles of those within the order.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Dispatchers are far more open to recruiting aid from anyone seeking to help fight the enemies of the Sheldomar Valley. As a result they are willing to recruit fighters, clerics, rangers, and rogues.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Weapon Proficiencies:</strong> Any Bow or Crossbow and any sword. Additionally you may pick one of the following: Battleaxe, javelin, polearm (any), spear, or Warhammer.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Equipment:</strong> Dispatchers must provide their own equipment; a mount is optional but at their own costs. The nobles of Gran March and Keoland send monthly shipments of supplies and weapons to Hochoch but will not provide direct aid otherwise.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Special Benefit:</strong> Dispatchers choose one type of enemy as their sworn foe and after a period of 6 months they gain a 2 point bonus to attack rolls and damage versus that enemy.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Special Hindrances</strong>: Dispatchers have limited supplies coming in and unless they manage to impress the nobility of Keoland and Gran March they will see their funding cease. They are not granted the same benefits of shelter, sustenance, and equipment that Watchers receive in Keoland and Gran March.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Notes</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">[1] Sources for all information about the Knights of the Watch come from the following books: <em>Living Greyhawk Gazetteer</em>, pgs 47 – 49, 159 – 160; <em>Players Guide to Greyhawk</em>, pgs 55-56; and <em>Sword and Fist A Guidebook to Fighters and Monks</em> pgs 47-50</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">[2] Naming conventions for Knights of the Watch are fanciful. The lowest rank of knight is known as a “Vigil.” This is coupled with a descriptive adjective that best describes the knight and is given to them by their sponsor during their oath taking ceremony. Common examples include: Stalwart Vigil, Resilient Vigil, Radiant Vigil, Excruciating Vigil, Impeccable Vigil, and so on. When they ascend to the next level they are called “Elders,” and as part of their ceremonial ascendance they must defeat a magical beast and take its name as part of their title. Some examples of this are: Radiant Elder Manticore, Impeccable Elder Hippogriff, Stalwart Elder Gorgon, and so on. The next rank is called “Commander,” followed by the final rank, “Imperial.” Each of these maintain the previous naming conventions though a knight may seek to change their associated magical beast by conquering a new one as they ascend. Knights never seek to change their adjective as it is an honorific given to them by their sponsor.</p>
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<media:title type="html">thatakinsboy</media:title>
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<title>Sheldomar Valley Political Map</title>
<link>https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2023/11/01/sheldomar-valley-political-map/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dragons Never Forget]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 01 Nov 2023 16:45:45 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Greyhawk]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Greyhawk Wars]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Maps]]></category>
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<description><![CDATA[Over the last few days I’ve been a little fascinated by the Sheldomar Valley. The area between the Lortmil Mountains and the Crystalmist Mountains is home to a series of small wars that coincided with the greater Greyhawk War that took up the majority of the continent’s attention. I made this version of the map… <a href="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2023/11/01/sheldomar-valley-political-map/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">Sheldomar Valley Political Map</span></a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Over the last few days I’ve been a little fascinated by the Sheldomar Valley. The area between the Lortmil Mountains and the Crystalmist Mountains is home to a series of small wars that coincided with the greater Greyhawk War that took up the majority of the continent’s attention. </p>
<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img width="1024" height="932" data-attachment-id="4665" data-permalink="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2023/11/01/sheldomar-valley-political-map/sheldomar-valley-1/" data-orig-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/sheldomar-valley-1.jpg" data-orig-size="3321,3024" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="sheldomar-valley-1" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/sheldomar-valley-1.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/sheldomar-valley-1.jpg?w=825" src="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/sheldomar-valley-1.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-4665" srcset="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/sheldomar-valley-1.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/sheldomar-valley-1.jpg?w=2048 2048w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/sheldomar-valley-1.jpg?w=150 150w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/sheldomar-valley-1.jpg?w=300 300w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/sheldomar-valley-1.jpg?w=768 768w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/sheldomar-valley-1.jpg?w=1440 1440w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
</div>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I made this version of the map to represent my own idea of the Flanaess. There are more foothills and tributaries than you have in Darlene’s map. Partly this is because I’m used to there being more foothills and rivers near mountains than the Flanaess is typically shown to have. The other side of this is that I wanted to attempt to connect the political map of the Flanaess with a map I’m actually using in my home campaign. </p>
<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img width="607" height="803" data-attachment-id="4668" data-permalink="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2023/11/01/sheldomar-valley-political-map/political-map-post-greyhawk-wars/" data-orig-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/political-map-post-greyhawk-wars.jpg" data-orig-size="607,803" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="political-map-post-greyhawk-wars" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/political-map-post-greyhawk-wars.jpg?w=227" data-large-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/political-map-post-greyhawk-wars.jpg?w=607" src="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/political-map-post-greyhawk-wars.jpg?w=607" alt="" class="wp-image-4668" srcset="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/political-map-post-greyhawk-wars.jpg 607w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/political-map-post-greyhawk-wars.jpg?w=113 113w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/political-map-post-greyhawk-wars.jpg?w=227 227w" sizes="(max-width: 607px) 100vw, 607px" /></figure>
</div>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">For the Map I’m going to be using I drew inspiration from this map of the Postwar Flanaess from page 16 of the <em>Wars </em>booklet from the <span style="text-decoration: underline">From the Ashes </span>boxed set. This gives us firmer boarders of the world and my own map largely mirrors this. </p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img width="1024" height="932" data-attachment-id="4670" data-permalink="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2023/11/01/sheldomar-valley-political-map/sheldomar-valley-map/" data-orig-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/sheldomar-valley-map.jpg" data-orig-size="3321,3024" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="sheldomar-valley-map" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/sheldomar-valley-map.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/sheldomar-valley-map.jpg?w=825" src="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/sheldomar-valley-map.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-4670" srcset="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/sheldomar-valley-map.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/sheldomar-valley-map.jpg?w=2048 2048w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/sheldomar-valley-map.jpg?w=150 150w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/sheldomar-valley-map.jpg?w=300 300w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/sheldomar-valley-map.jpg?w=768 768w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/sheldomar-valley-map.jpg?w=1440 1440w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">My political map includes the Grand Duchy of Geoff, Sterich, and Ull which were missing from the Wars map. I’ve also expanded the Kingdom of Keoland slightly while shrinking the Hold of the Sea Princes because that works a bit better for the stories I’m planning on telling there. Grand March has moved further east as my river runs along that course and this, in turn, provides us with a bit more wild space. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I hope this map can help some of you with your home games in the Sheldomar Valley. </p>
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<title>Forgotten Greyhawk: Gonduria</title>
<link>https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2023/09/04/forgotten-greyhawk-gonduria/</link>
<comments>https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2023/09/04/forgotten-greyhawk-gonduria/#comments</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dragons Never Forget]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 04 Sep 2023 09:23:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Dungeons & Dragons]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Greyhawk]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/?p=4580</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Last night I was up reading about the world of Greyhawk when I ran across the name of the fourth continent: Gonduria. The continent only appeared in print twice. The first time was in 1985’s Sagard the Barbarian Game Book: The Ice Dragon by Gary Gygax and Flint Dille. This was a Hero’s Challenge book… <a href="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2023/09/04/forgotten-greyhawk-gonduria/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">Forgotten Greyhawk: Gonduria</span></a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Last night I was up reading about the world of Greyhawk when I ran across the name of the fourth continent: Gonduria. The continent only appeared in print twice. The first time was in 1985’s <em>Sagard the Barbarian Game Book: The Ice Dragon</em> by Gary Gygax and Flint Dille. This was a Hero’s Challenge book where the reader chooses their own adventure path. The second time was three years later in 1988’s Gord the Rogue novel, <em>Dance of Demons</em>, by Gary Gygax. </p>
<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="183" height="293" data-attachment-id="4657" data-permalink="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2023/09/04/forgotten-greyhawk-gonduria/51txxligg-l-_sy291_bo1204203200_ql40_fmwebp_/" data-orig-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/51txxligg-l._sy291_bo1204203200_ql40_fmwebp_.webp" data-orig-size="183,293" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="51txxligg-l._sy291_bo1204203200_ql40_fmwebp_" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/51txxligg-l._sy291_bo1204203200_ql40_fmwebp_.webp?w=183" data-large-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/51txxligg-l._sy291_bo1204203200_ql40_fmwebp_.webp?w=183" src="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/51txxligg-l._sy291_bo1204203200_ql40_fmwebp_.webp?w=183" alt="" class="wp-image-4657" srcset="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/51txxligg-l._sy291_bo1204203200_ql40_fmwebp_.webp 183w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/51txxligg-l._sy291_bo1204203200_ql40_fmwebp_.webp?w=94 94w" sizes="(max-width: 183px) 100vw, 183px" /></figure>
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Neither source provides the reader with a lot of information about this continent, but it does provide us some tantalizing ideas about the people who once inhabited it.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In <em>Dance of Demons</em> the land of Gonduria is spoken of in passing:</p>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">. . . The three had been chivvied and chased across the whole of the world. From the distant south, through the Moving Islands, up across Gonduria’s vast continent, and thence across the Agitoric Ocean to western Oerik’s shore. No fastness or barren or mountain chain had served to coneal them from the hounding of Tharizdun and his yeth . . .”</p>
<cite>Demons, pg 402</cite></blockquote>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Gonduria is a single, throw-away line in the death knell of Greyhawk that’s never really followed up on as Gary Gygax largely moved on from the setting. But when we couple it with some information we gained from <em>The Ice Dragon</em> there are some tantalizing possibilities to be found there. </p>
<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="401" height="500" data-attachment-id="4655" data-permalink="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2023/09/04/forgotten-greyhawk-gonduria/51kv6oyjxnl/" data-orig-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/51kv6oyjxnl.jpg" data-orig-size="401,500" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="51kv6oyjxnl" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/51kv6oyjxnl.jpg?w=241" data-large-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/51kv6oyjxnl.jpg?w=401" src="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/51kv6oyjxnl.jpg?w=401" alt="" class="wp-image-4655" srcset="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/51kv6oyjxnl.jpg 401w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/51kv6oyjxnl.jpg?w=120 120w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/51kv6oyjxnl.jpg?w=241 241w" sizes="(max-width: 401px) 100vw, 401px" /></figure>
</div>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In section 39 of <em>The Ice Dragon</em> we’re given the following information about the Gondorians:</p>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">At the end of the path stands a large, cracked stadium that was built by the ancient Gondorians. Viewing its craftsmanship and nearly perfect symmetrical design, you can almost hear the roar of gladiator contests. Admiring it, you pause to wonder what other great structures these clever and industrious people built . . . Little is actually known of the Gondorians, but myth recounts them as a great civilization which thrived in ancient times. It is said that all people of this world are descended from them, for in the moments before their destruction (which some say was by earthquake and others claim was by divine conflagrations), they sent out the one hundred greatest men and women of their world to begin a new one . . .”</p>
<cite>Gygax, section 39</cite></blockquote>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Here we learn that the Gondorians were both capable of building highly complex structures and that they are the progenitor of the world from which all other humans are derived. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Our Gondorians then are master builders who saved the human race from extinction when their civilization fell. How they fell is unknown, but it is clear that they had the technology to realize their fate before it came. This tends to rule out the earthquake feint as such events, while somewhat predictable, can hardly be predicted with enough time to prepare and send out an expedition of the 100 greatest men and women of a society.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I tend to believe that they had a form of science[1] which allowed them to foresee their coming destruction. Whether this was from the hands of an enemy empire, celestial body (such as a meteor), or divine foe matters not. </p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center"><span style="text-decoration: underline">Works Cited</span></h2>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Gygax, Gary. <em>Gord the Rogue: Dance of Demons.</em> USA. Trigee Enterprises Corportion, 1988. pg 402</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Gygax, Gary and Fred Dille. <em>Sagard the Barbarian Game Book: The Ice Dragon</em>. USA. Archway Paperback, 1985. section 39, 81</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center"><span style="text-decoration: underline">Notes</span></h2>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">[1] In many fantasy settings there is a belief among the fandom that in order for magic to exist that science must wane. This is dependent on the idea that the two are diametrically opposed forces. There are counter examples to this belief such as Jack Vance’s <em>Plant of</em> <em>Adventure</em>, M. John Harrison’s Viriconium, Robert Silverberg’s Lord Valentine’s Castle, Palladium’s RIFTS, and FASA’s Earthdawn among others. Greyhawk itself even shows evidence of such a counter belief with adventures such as the City of the Gods and the ruins of past civilizations mentioned within the setting. </p>
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<title>Defiance.</title>
<link>https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2023/09/03/defiance/</link>
<comments>https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2023/09/03/defiance/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dragons Never Forget]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Sun, 03 Sep 2023 09:53:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[DM Advice]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Dungeons & Dragons]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/?p=4651</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Your players are always the stars of the show, but there should be times when they can’t win. They need challenges that overwhelm them; that they can struggle against but can’t immediately defeat. This provides them with an opportunity to show their grit and determination. Let them be the heroes they want to be.]]></description>
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Your players are always the stars of the show, but there should be times when they can’t win. They need challenges that overwhelm them; that they can struggle against but can’t immediately defeat. This provides them with an opportunity to show their grit and determination.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Let them be the heroes they want to be. </p>
]]></content:encoded>
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<media:title type="html">thatakinsboy</media:title>
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<title>Bibgy was Never a Good Man</title>
<link>https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2023/09/02/bibgy-was-never-a-good-man/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dragons Never Forget]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Sat, 02 Sep 2023 09:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Dungeons & Dragons]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Greyhawk]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Posters]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/?p=4644</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Bigby is back in the Dungeons & Dragons lexicon again. He’s being used in the world of the Forgotten Realms where his dark past as a necromancer is largely forgotten and swept under the stage. It shouldn’t be. Bigby should be a complicated character. He should be cautious, and careful in how he operates –… <a href="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2023/09/02/bibgy-was-never-a-good-man/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">Bibgy was Never a Good Man</span></a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="829" height="1024" data-attachment-id="4649" data-permalink="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2023/09/02/bibgy-was-never-a-good-man/bigby-2/" data-orig-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/bigby.jpg" data-orig-size="3315,4096" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="bigby" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/bigby.jpg?w=243" data-large-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/bigby.jpg?w=825" src="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/bigby.jpg?w=829" alt="" class="wp-image-4649" srcset="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/bigby.jpg?w=829 829w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/bigby.jpg?w=1658 1658w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/bigby.jpg?w=121 121w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/bigby.jpg?w=243 243w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/bigby.jpg?w=768 768w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/bigby.jpg?w=1440 1440w" sizes="(max-width: 829px) 100vw, 829px" /></figure>
</div>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Bigby is back in the Dungeons & Dragons lexicon again. He’s being used in the world of the Forgotten Realms where his dark past as a necromancer is largely forgotten and swept under the stage. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">It shouldn’t be. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Bigby should be a complicated character. He should be cautious, and careful in how he operates – but there should be a hard edge to him that sits just beyond the mask he wears. He should feel like there is violence just on the other side of him; like a man who has killed and would do so again without thinking twice about it. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">#FreeBigby</p>
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<item>
<title>Keep Your Secrets</title>
<link>https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2023/09/01/keep-your-secrets/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dragons Never Forget]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 01 Sep 2023 09:13:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Dungeons & Dragons]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Greyhawk]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Greyhawk Postcards]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Greyhawk Wars]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/?p=4639</guid>
<description><![CDATA[One of the aspects of the world of Greyhawk that I have always found so fascinating is the idea that you’re existing in a world on the edge of war. It’s something that over the last few years I’ve spent a lot of time working on. I want the world to feel like it’s more… <a href="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2023/09/01/keep-your-secrets/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">Keep Your Secrets</span></a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="578" height="384" data-attachment-id="4640" data-permalink="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2023/09/01/keep-your-secrets/keep-your-secrets-greyhawk/" data-orig-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/keep-your-secrets-greyhawk.jpg" data-orig-size="578,384" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="keep-your-secrets-greyhawk" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/keep-your-secrets-greyhawk.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/keep-your-secrets-greyhawk.jpg?w=578" src="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/keep-your-secrets-greyhawk.jpg?w=578" alt="" class="wp-image-4640" srcset="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/keep-your-secrets-greyhawk.jpg 578w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/keep-your-secrets-greyhawk.jpg?w=150 150w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/keep-your-secrets-greyhawk.jpg?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 578px) 100vw, 578px" /></figure>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">One of the aspects of the world of Greyhawk that I have always found so fascinating is the idea that you’re existing in a world on the edge of war. It’s something that over the last few years I’ve spent a lot of time working on.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I want the world to feel like it’s more than just a placeholder where you can go adventuring and instead to feel like there’s something more going on – as though the world is a vibrant place that moves even when the players aren’t there. </p>
]]></content:encoded>
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<title>The Tomb of Azharadian</title>
<link>https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2023/03/16/the-tomb-of-azharadian/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dragons Never Forget]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Mar 2023 11:12:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Greyhawk]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/?p=4633</guid>
<description><![CDATA[One of the interesting places that Wizards of the Coast brought to the fore during the 3e era of Greyhawk was the Tomb of Azharadian. The Tomb was clearly meant to be an adventure hook, but it’s one that I think missed an opportunity to provide the world with something more meaningful. Let’s look at… <a href="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2023/03/16/the-tomb-of-azharadian/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">The Tomb of Azharadian</span></a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">One of the interesting places that Wizards of the Coast brought to the fore during the 3e era of Greyhawk was the Tomb of Azharadian. The Tomb was clearly meant to be an adventure hook, but it’s one that I think missed an opportunity to provide the world with something more meaningful.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Let’s look at the original text:</p>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Of the generals who led the armies of Aerdy to conquer three-fourths of the Flanaess the name of Azharadian is exalted above all. From his first command as a mere subaltern at the Battle of a Fortnight’s Length, to his death in Onnwal over sixty years later, he never knew defeat. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">After his passing, his loyal war captains bore his body to his home city of Rel Astra, where an enormous mausoleum was erected some leagues south of the city to house his remains. Towering above the surrounding countryside, the tomb quickly became a place of pilgrimage for many Aerdi warriors, especially those devoted to Heironeous, to whom the great general prayed it is said. However, as the Great Kingdom fell into decadence and depravity, the tomb was neglected and forgotten, falling quickly into ruin and another faded symbol of a more glorious past. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In the wake of the Greyhawk Wars, Rel Astra emerged from the collapse of the Great Kingdom as a Free City. To forestall the aggressive posturing of his neighbors Rel Astra’s ruler, the animus Prince Drax of Garasteth, moved quickly to secure his borders. The huge, partially overgrown Tomb of Azharadian seemed to be the perfect foundation for a fortification to ward the southern approaches to Rel Astra against the chaos of Medegia. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A small tower keep is currently under construction atop the tomb, while a ditch and curtain wall were built around the structure. However, the building work was plagued with problems. Late in 592 CY, a number of masons went missing while scavenging stone from the flanks of the Tomb. In the wake of this, rumors of passages leading into the mausoleum’s depths subsequently surfaced. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A number of the men at arms garrisoning the keep have also vanished, apparently after deserting their posts to loot the ancient vaults of their treasures. The garrison commander, Sir Dergann Velaster (LE male human Ftr7), an Iron Nation Knight, has forbidden exploration of the tomb, on pain of death. Recently however, fearful tales of a ghostly warrior, clad in archaic armour and pacing the battlements of the keep have begun to circulate among the jittery soldiers. These sightings are said to have attracted the attentions of the Fiend-Sage, who has paid Dergann several nocturnal visits in recent months. </p>
<cite>Broadhurst</cite></blockquote>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">As the text is presented it creates the impression that Azharadian’s ghost is wandering the fortress in a malevolent way. The logical conclusion is to assume that Azharadian was awakened by some fool attempting to plunder his tomb and is now seeking revenge on those who dared disturb his slumber. It’s a predictable, boring plot that follows the same beats we’ve seen a thousand times over.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A more compelling idea, to me, would be to have Azharadian’s ghost walking the battlements continuing his vigilance against the enemies of ancient Aerdy. The idea here would be that the construction of the fortress has called him back from his ancient slumber to once again defend his homeland from its enemies both abroad and at home.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Here Azharadian would be played as a guardian spirit that pushed back against the decadence and depravity that characterized the Great Kingdom’s late period and instead showed what made it so special. He could bestow blessings on those going to oppose evil and the enemies of ancient Aerdy; while also cursing those would do it harm. </p>
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="682" data-attachment-id="4636" data-permalink="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2023/03/16/the-tomb-of-azharadian/s-l1600/" data-orig-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/s-l1600.jpg" data-orig-size="1600,1066" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="s-l1600" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/s-l1600.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/s-l1600.jpg?w=825" src="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/s-l1600.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-4636" srcset="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/s-l1600.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/s-l1600.jpg?w=150 150w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/s-l1600.jpg?w=300 300w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/s-l1600.jpg?w=768 768w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/s-l1600.jpg?w=1440 1440w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/s-l1600.jpg 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Knight at the Crossroads by Victor Vasnetsov (1882)</figcaption></figure>
</div>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I imagine role-playing Azharadian would be a lot of fun. To my mind he would take on an almost Arthurian demeanor. He would have a heavy lean on the <a href="https://www.scasd.org/cms/lib/PA01000006/Centricity/Domain/1487/Knights%20Code%20of%20Chivalry.pdf">Knight’s Code of Chivalry</a> (contorted within the confines of the world of Greyhawk, of course), and would speak in a slow, deliberative manner. I would play him like Atticus Finch from <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Kill-Mockingbird-Harper-Lee/dp/0446310786">To Kill a Mockingbird</a>. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I want Azharadian to come across as a pillar of morality in a world awash in grays. He is a beacon of clarity in a world where good and evil aren’t always so clear because the world is complicated. War and history have taken what should be clearly defined ideas (good, evil, law, and chaos) and made them blur into each other. Azharadian is our black and white. He has the long perspective of centuries to look down and a clear moral code that he can use to determine right from wrong. </p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Works Cited</span></strong></h2>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Broadhurst, Creighton, Paul Looby, and Stuart Kerrigan.<span style="text-decoration: underline"> Azharadian’s Tomb and the Ship of Fools.</span> Wizards of the Coast. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20161031210030/http:/www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=lg/lgmp/20040427a">https://web.archive.org/web/20161031210030/http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=lg/lgmp/20040427a</a> <em>Accessed 3/15/2023</em></p>
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<title>The Curious History of Philidor the Blue Wizard</title>
<link>https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2022/09/16/the-curious-history-of-philidor-the-blue-wizard/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dragons Never Forget]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 16 Sep 2022 11:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[AD&D 2e]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Carl Sargent]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Curious Evolution]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Greyhawk]]></category>
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<description><![CDATA[Carl Sargent introduced a treasure trove of curiosities to the World of Greyhawk during the early 1990s as he helped reshape the setting, but perhaps none was more tantalizing than Philidor the Blue Wizard, Archmage of Oerth. Philidor made his first appearance in 1992’s From the Ashes boxed set where he was described as follows:… <a href="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2022/09/16/the-curious-history-of-philidor-the-blue-wizard/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">The Curious History of Philidor the Blue Wizard</span></a>]]></description>
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="813" data-attachment-id="4621" data-permalink="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2022/09/16/the-curious-history-of-philidor-the-blue-wizard/eaxngj6xuaa08ea/" data-orig-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/eaxngj6xuaa08ea.jpg" data-orig-size="1200,953" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="eaxngj6xuaa08ea" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/eaxngj6xuaa08ea.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/eaxngj6xuaa08ea.jpg?w=825" src="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/eaxngj6xuaa08ea.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-4621" srcset="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/eaxngj6xuaa08ea.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/eaxngj6xuaa08ea.jpg?w=150 150w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/eaxngj6xuaa08ea.jpg?w=300 300w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/eaxngj6xuaa08ea.jpg?w=768 768w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/eaxngj6xuaa08ea.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A wizard casting spells from his magic circle by the light of his cauldron surrounded by creatures. by J. Wood 1763</figcaption></figure>
</div>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Carl Sargent introduced a treasure trove of curiosities to the World of Greyhawk during the early 1990s as he helped reshape the setting, but perhaps none was more tantalizing than Philidor the Blue Wizard, Archmage of Oerth. Philidor made his first appearance in 1992’s <span style="text-decoration:underline;">From the Ashes </span>boxed set where he was described as follows:</p>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Philidor stands 6’4” tall, weights 210 lbs., and appears to be in his mid-thirties. His appearance is singular and unmistakable. His skin is light blue all over his body, his hair is azure, and his eyes are dark blue, save for the pale blue corneas. He appears to be a human male, but should he polymorph himself, his skin, hair, and yes will always be a mix of blue colors. Likewise, he always wears blue garments with a little white or cream edging or decoration.”</p>
<cite>Ashes, pg 83</cite></blockquote>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Everything about Philidor was designed to be a mystery. He never eats out, doesn’t attend places like the Royal Opera House, and doesn’t mix with the political powers of Greyhawk City. Even asking him a personal question required a check against the average of the Wisdom and Constitution scores of the person asking or the individual would become confused and unable to continue on that line of questioning. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">To quote the text:</p>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Philidor is a mystery and an enigma, and much about him is deliberately left unspecified for the DM’s freedom . . . Keep him a mystery. Maybe we’ll tell you more about him later. . .”</p>
<cite>Ashes, pg 83-84</cite></blockquote>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">And they did tell us more. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Two important facts stick out at this point. First, it is recognized that Philidor is probably not native to Oerth, though even this is couched an language that could make it untrue. The second note is that the text mentions that Philidor appeared a year to the day before the Pact of Greyhawk was signed. This fact is so important that the text makes mention of it multiple times and draws a connection to Philidor’s appearance and Iuz’s rise to power in the world.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Elsewhere in <span style="text-decoration:underline;">From the Ashes</span> we find out that Philidor has been having a major effect on the Wizards of Greyhawk. On page 9 of the Campaign Book it’s noted that Philidor has been causing problems with the Wizard Guild’s senior ranks. It appears that everyone recognizes him as a supremely skilled wizard, and while he is responsive to their invitations he never returns the favor. He’s a figure respected by his peers but mistrusted because he doesn’t open his inner life up to them as they have to him.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">On pg. 83 it’s noted that Philidor is a 25th level Wizard – which marks him as more powerful than Mordenkainen and even Rary,[1] two of the most powerful magic users in the setting. He is also one of the most knowledgeable characters in the setting as he possesses sage abilities in the fields of astrology, astronomy, history of the central states of the Flanaess, mathematics, metaphysics, philosophy, sociology, theology, and he’s a polyglot. Yet he feigns ignorance in all these fields. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Philidor has strong ties to Highfolk and the elves who make it their home. And among the few people who have been inside his home are from Highfolk. It is even noted that he spends a lot of time in the Vesve forest polymorphed into a blue-skinned, elven mage.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The following year, 1993, saw Philidor appear in Iuz the Evil, Marklands, and in DRAGON Magazine #191. This would largely be the most active year in the character’s history, though it would only provide us with a few additional clues about who Philidor was and what the character’s goals would be going forward. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In DRAGON Magazine #191 we learn of <em>Philidor’s Globes</em>, a sort of magical warning device, that the wizard has set up in the Vesve to help defend the people there. He also appeared around the same time as Mayaheine, a demipower of Lawful Good.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In <span style="text-decoration:underline;">Iuz the Evil</span> the Vesve and Iuz connections are reinforced in the text where it is noted that:</p>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Philidor the Archmage, the Blue Wizard, looks calmy out over Iuz’s lands from the Vesve Forest, biding his time. Iuz is an emperor now, but he is not invulnerable . . .”</p>
<cite>Iuz, pg 6</cite></blockquote>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">And that vulnerability comes in the form of the Soul Husks Caverns where Iuz was able fuel his ascension to demi-god status by extracting the life force from six powerful individuals. A strike against this place would weaken Iuz directly and irreversibly; and contextually, it’s hinted that Philidor is looking for this opportunity.[2]</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">It’s in <span style="text-decoration:underline;">The Marklands</span>, though, where we’re provided the most context for Philidor’s actions and his character. Here we’re introduced to Philidor’s friends Cerenellyl (9th level elven fighter), Kashafen (12th level fighter / 13th level elven mage), Elrenn (16th level Human ranger), and Rafendyl (11th level half-elf bard) who are actively trying to help him in his mission to save the land from Iuz. To this end, Philidor has created his globes which provide the viewer with a true seeing device that will allow the defenders of the Vesve to see the goblinoids, humanoids, and demonic servants of Iuz early enough (hopefully) to turn them back before they overwhelm the lands.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The following year, in August 1994, we’re told in DRAGON Magazine #208 that Philidor is one of a select few to know the truth of Darnakurian’s Doom. This reinforces his position as one of the preeminent sages in the land. </p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="850" height="444" data-attachment-id="4625" data-permalink="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2022/09/16/the-curious-history-of-philidor-the-blue-wizard/circle8/" data-orig-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/circle8.webp" data-orig-size="850,444" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="circle8" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/circle8.webp?w=300" data-large-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/circle8.webp?w=825" src="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/circle8.webp?w=850" alt="" class="wp-image-4625" srcset="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/circle8.webp 850w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/circle8.webp?w=150 150w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/circle8.webp?w=300 300w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/circle8.webp?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Circle of Eight, artist unknown</figcaption></figure>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">1995 saw Philidor once more appear in <span style="text-decoration:underline;">Ivid the Undying</span>,[3] and it’s here the character of Philidor is further expanded upon. We are treated to the follow passage:</p>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Circle of Eight have heard the bard’s recitations; even the introverted, conservative, and repressed Bigby was shaking when the bard fell silent, and Mordenkainen himself was stirred enough not to repeat the experiment.l Gwydiesin’s power is unsettling to those who are used to power of their own combined with a firm sense of control. Philidor has been seen laughing with the old man and, incredibly enough, light-heatedly skipping along paving stones of Greyhawk City with the bard keeping pace</p>
<cite>Ivid, 116</cite></blockquote>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">We learn from this passage that Philidor has been exposed to powers of a greater magnitude than Gwydiesin’s and that it doesn’t intimidate him as it does the Circle of Eight – arguably the most powerful individuals on Oerth. He is later seen openly consulting the prophetic and demagogic book <em>The Lays of Bar Strannach</em> which confounds all but the wisest who read it.[4] </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Philidor is also known to the Specter of Shroudgate. This being, who seemingly keeps the hour-glasses of entire civilizations in his home and watches their histories unfold, will animatedly inquire after Philidor and exclaim, “So he’s come at last!” to news of him. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">It would be another three years before we would find any new information about Philidor, and then it would be only a passing paragraph in the <span style="text-decoration:underline;">Player’s Guide to Greyhawk.</span> Here we would find out that Philidor has been seen in many places across the Flanaess, particularly in the Vesve Forest and the City of Greyhawk, but not in recent years. </p>
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<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="742" height="1023" data-attachment-id="4623" data-permalink="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2022/09/16/the-curious-history-of-philidor-the-blue-wizard/darkwell/" data-orig-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/darkwell.jpg" data-orig-size="2030,2800" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="darkwell" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/darkwell.jpg?w=218" data-large-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/darkwell.jpg?w=742" src="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/darkwell.jpg?w=742" alt="" class="wp-image-4623" srcset="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/darkwell.jpg?w=742 742w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/darkwell.jpg?w=1484 1484w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/darkwell.jpg?w=109 109w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/darkwell.jpg?w=218 218w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/darkwell.jpg?w=768 768w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/darkwell.jpg?w=1440 1440w" sizes="(max-width: 742px) 100vw, 742px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Darkwell by Jeff Easly</figcaption></figure>
</div>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In 2000, we were given our last official information about Philidor when he appeared in the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer. Here he was only a single line when it came to the Valley of the Mage. </p>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The last claimed sighting of the archmage Philidor placed him near the entrance to the [Valley of the Mage] . . .”</p>
<cite>Holland, 128</cite></blockquote>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">And with that line Philidor disappeared. </p>
<h2 class="has-text-align-center wp-block-heading"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>Notes:</strong></span></h2>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">[1] Mordenkainen has a write up in <span style="text-decoration:underline;">The City of Greyhawk</span> boxed set, booklet 2, <em>Greyhawk Adventures Fantasy World Supplement: Folk, Feuds, and Factions</em> on pg 21. Mordenkainen is noted as being a level 20 Mage. Similarly, Rary’s write up appears on pg 25 of the same booklet and has him as a level 23 Mage.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">[2] Following the quote on pg 6 it’s noted on pg 22 of <span style="text-decoration:underline;">Iuz the Evil</span> that “. . .Very, very few sages on Oerth even know that such a place exists, let alone where it is. Mordenkainen and Philidor are among that handful of informed people. Obviously, a strike against this place would weaken Iuz very directly and possibly irreversibly . . .”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">[3] <span style="text-decoration:underline;">Ivid the Undying</span> was an unpublished source book that would eventually be released online by TSR in 1995. It was written by Carl Sargent around 1993, during the same period that saw the publication of <span style="text-decoration:underline;">Iuz the Evil</span> and <span style="text-decoration:underline;">The Marklands</span>.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">[4] pg 123 <span style="text-decoration:underline;">Ivid the Undying</span>. </p>
<h2 class="has-text-align-center wp-block-heading"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>Works Cited:</strong></span></h2>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Brown, Anne. <span style="text-decoration:underline;">Greyhawk Accessory: Player’s Guide to Greyhawk</span>. Wizards of the Coast, 1998 pgs 25-26</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Holian, Gary, Erik Mona, Sean K. Reynolds, and Frederick Weining. <span style="text-decoration:underline;">Living Greyhawk Gazetteer. </span>Wizards of the Coast, 2000. pgs. 61, 128</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Sargent, Carl.<span style="text-decoration:underline;"> Iuz the Evil.</span> TSR, Inc. 1993 pgs 6, 22, 89</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Sargent, Carl. “Campaign Journal: Risen from the Ashes”. <em>DRAGON Magazine</em>, March 1993, pgs 66,68</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Sargent, Carl. “Campaign Journal: GREYHAWK.” <em>DRAGON Magazine, </em>August 1994, pgs 54</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Sargent, Carl. <span style="text-decoration:underline;">From the Ashes, Atlas of the Flanaess</span>. TSR, 1992. pg 54</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Sargent, Carl. <span style="text-decoration:underline;">From the Ashes, Campaign Book</span>. TSR, 1992. Pgs 9, 83, 84, 87</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Sargent, Carl. <span style="text-decoration:underline;">Greyhawk Adventures: Ivid the Undying</span>. TSR, 1995. pgs. 74, 116, 123, 150, 157</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Sargent, Carl. <span style="text-decoration:underline;">Greyhawk Adventures: The Marklands.</span> TSR, Inc, 1993. pgs 38-39, 41, 54, 55</p>
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<title>Character Origins with One DnD</title>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dragons Never Forget]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Sun, 21 Aug 2022 11:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
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<category><![CDATA[One DND]]></category>
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<description><![CDATA[This past week, Wizards of the Coast, announced One D&D – which largely sounds like a revision of the current edition similar to the Player Options for AD&D 2e and Dungeons & Dragons 3.5. It’s clear that they’re looking to create a version of the game that they can sustainably use for another decade or… <a href="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2022/08/21/character-origins-with-one-dnd/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">Character Origins with One DnD</span></a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This past week, Wizards of the Coast, announced <a href="https://www.dndbeyond.com/one-dnd">One D&D</a> – which largely sounds like a revision of the current edition similar to the Player Options for AD&D 2e and Dungeons & Dragons 3.5. It’s clear that they’re looking to create a version of the game that they can sustainably use for another decade or two while providing a core update. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Thankfully they aren’t going blind into this process and are instead using an open playtest as they previously did when they made D&D 5e. This means that if there is something there that you don’t like, you have an opportunity to provide them with direct feedback.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">That said, I don’t much care for the non-existent cover for the playtest document. So I made my own. I’ve used some art from the amazing John Blanche to help create a sense for the sort of game that I want to play. </p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="715" data-attachment-id="4602" data-permalink="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2022/08/21/character-origins-with-one-dnd/alternate-character-origins-cover/" data-orig-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/alternate-character-origins-cover.jpg" data-orig-size="1286,899" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="alternate-character-origins-cover" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/alternate-character-origins-cover.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/alternate-character-origins-cover.jpg?w=825" src="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/alternate-character-origins-cover.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-4602" srcset="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/alternate-character-origins-cover.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/alternate-character-origins-cover.jpg?w=150 150w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/alternate-character-origins-cover.jpg?w=300 300w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/alternate-character-origins-cover.jpg?w=768 768w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/alternate-character-origins-cover.jpg 1286w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">If you like John’s art as much as I do then you absolutely need to pick up a print from his <a href="https://johnblancheprints.com/fullscreen/home/">store</a>. </p>
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<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">4597</post-id>
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<media:title type="html">thatakinsboy</media:title>
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<title>I’m proud of you, Kid</title>
<link>https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2022/06/02/im-proud-of-you-kid/</link>
<comments>https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2022/06/02/im-proud-of-you-kid/#comments</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dragons Never Forget]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 02 Jun 2022 08:40:43 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Dungeons & Dragons]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2022/06/02/im-proud-of-you-kid/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[I spend a lot of time on this blog talking about pretending and today I’d like to take a moment to say something real. I’m proud of you. I know what it’s like to get up at 3 am to go to a job you hate; to get yelled at by people who couldn’t give… <a href="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2022/06/02/im-proud-of-you-kid/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">I’m proud of you, Kid</span></a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I spend a lot of time on this blog talking about pretending and today I’d like to take a moment to say something real. I’m proud of you.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I know what it’s like to get up at 3 am to go to a job you hate; to get yelled at by people who couldn’t give a damn whether you live or die. I know what it’s like to struggle – financially, emotionally, and spiritually. I know what it’s like to want to give up and just be done with everything.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">But you haven’t, and I’m proud of you.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I’m proud that I can call many of you my friends and that I’ve gotten to know some of you incredibly well. I’m proud to know that you’re overcoming your struggles and to know that I’m not alone in this world. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Thank you for reading my silly blog. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I’ll be back with more D&D talk later. Now, though, I’ve got to get to work.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">4578</post-id>
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<media:title type="html">thatakinsboy</media:title>
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<title>Enjoy the Things You Enjoy, without Apologizing for It.</title>
<link>https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2022/05/27/enjoy-the-things-you-enjoy-without-apologizing-for-it/</link>
<comments>https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2022/05/27/enjoy-the-things-you-enjoy-without-apologizing-for-it/#comments</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dragons Never Forget]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 27 May 2022 10:21:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Dungeons & Dragons]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/?p=4488</guid>
<description><![CDATA[One of the things that I’ve noticed recently, online, is that there are some people who want you to feel bad about enjoying the game the way you want to play it. They will loudly, and incessantly, berate you about liking D&D 5e. They’ll demand that you play other games instead of doing what you… <a href="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2022/05/27/enjoy-the-things-you-enjoy-without-apologizing-for-it/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">Enjoy the Things You Enjoy, without Apologizing for It.</span></a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">One of the things that I’ve noticed recently, online, is that there are some people who want you to feel bad about enjoying the game the way you want to play it. They will loudly, and incessantly, berate you about liking D&D 5e. They’ll demand that you play other games instead of doing what you want with your game. </p>
<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="900" height="610" data-attachment-id="4574" data-permalink="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2022/05/27/enjoy-the-things-you-enjoy-without-apologizing-for-it/frank-frazetta-battlestar-galactica/" data-orig-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/frank-frazetta-battlestar-galactica.jpg" data-orig-size="900,610" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="frank-frazetta-battlestar-galactica" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/frank-frazetta-battlestar-galactica.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/frank-frazetta-battlestar-galactica.jpg?w=825" src="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/frank-frazetta-battlestar-galactica.jpg?w=900" alt="" class="wp-image-4574" srcset="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/frank-frazetta-battlestar-galactica.jpg 900w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/frank-frazetta-battlestar-galactica.jpg?w=150 150w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/frank-frazetta-battlestar-galactica.jpg?w=300 300w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/frank-frazetta-battlestar-galactica.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /><figcaption>Battlestar Galactica by Frank Frazetta</figcaption></figure>
</div>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Fuck that noise. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">If you want to use Savage Worlds and play in Greyhawk; do it. If you want to bring laser guns and robots into D&D 5e; do it. Bring all your favorite popular references from TV, books, comics, and everything else you love. Play the games that your group want to play. You aren’t playing with these self-righteous blowhards that constantly demand that you change everything about what you’re doing, and you don’t owe them anything. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Play the game you want to play.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Gods of the New Sun: Shaw</title>
<link>https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2022/05/26/gods-of-the-new-sun-shaw/</link>
<comments>https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2022/05/26/gods-of-the-new-sun-shaw/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dragons Never Forget]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 26 May 2022 10:40:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Book of the New Sun]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Dungeons & Dragons]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/?p=4561</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The next god of the New Sun is Shaw. Shaw is a god that kind of fills a big void for me that’s often missing when you look at the brief lists of gods that often appear in the Player’s Handbook. He’s there not so much to pick one side or the other, but for… <a href="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2022/05/26/gods-of-the-new-sun-shaw/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">Gods of the New Sun: Shaw</span></a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The next god of the New Sun is Shaw. Shaw is a god that kind of fills a big void for me that’s often missing when you look at the brief lists of gods that often appear in the Player’s Handbook. He’s there not so much to pick one side or the other, but for the contest.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Too often the gods that we’re presented with when we play Dungeons & Dragons come across with rather clearly defined goals. With Shaw we have a god that doesn’t really give a shit about the outcome, but who is deeply concerned with the contest itself. This makes him versatile in a way that few other gods can be. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I hope that you all can make good use of him because I love the silly bastard. </p>
<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="791" height="1023" data-attachment-id="4562" data-permalink="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2022/05/26/gods-of-the-new-sun-shaw/shaw-write-up-1/" data-orig-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/shaw-write-up-1.jpg" data-orig-size="1275,1650" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="shaw-write-up-1" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/shaw-write-up-1.jpg?w=232" data-large-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/shaw-write-up-1.jpg?w=791" src="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/shaw-write-up-1.jpg?w=791" alt="" class="wp-image-4562" srcset="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/shaw-write-up-1.jpg?w=791 791w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/shaw-write-up-1.jpg?w=116 116w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/shaw-write-up-1.jpg?w=232 232w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/shaw-write-up-1.jpg?w=768 768w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/shaw-write-up-1.jpg 1275w" sizes="(max-width: 791px) 100vw, 791px" /><figcaption>Shaw by Charles Akins</figcaption></figure>
</div>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Here’s the original sketch with all the misspellings:</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>
<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="768" height="1024" data-attachment-id="4567" data-permalink="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2022/05/26/gods-of-the-new-sun-shaw/20220416_214534-1/" data-orig-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/20220416_214534-1.jpg" data-orig-size="3024,4032" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"1.8","credit":"","camera":"SM-G996U","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1650145534","copyright":"","focal_length":"5.4","iso":"640","shutter_speed":"0.025","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="20220416_214534-1" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/20220416_214534-1.jpg?w=225" data-large-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/20220416_214534-1.jpg?w=768" src="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/20220416_214534-1.jpg?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-4567" srcset="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/20220416_214534-1.jpg?w=768 768w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/20220416_214534-1.jpg?w=1536 1536w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/20220416_214534-1.jpg?w=113 113w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/20220416_214534-1.jpg?w=225 225w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/20220416_214534-1.jpg?w=1440 1440w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure>
</div>]]></content:encoded>
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<media:title type="html">shaw-write-up-1</media:title>
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<title>The Gods of the New Sun: Nwt</title>
<link>https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2022/05/03/the-gods-of-the-new-sun-nwt/</link>
<comments>https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2022/05/03/the-gods-of-the-new-sun-nwt/#comments</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dragons Never Forget]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 03 May 2022 10:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Book of the New Sun]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/?p=4543</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The second god I created was Nwt. I wanted someone who could stand in stark contrast to Geb and so this is what came out: When I started working on the illustration for Nwt I wanted to draw someone who was confident and felt like she could hold her own against anyone. Which is who… <a href="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2022/05/03/the-gods-of-the-new-sun-nwt/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">The Gods of the New Sun: Nwt</span></a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The second god I created was Nwt. I wanted someone who could stand in stark contrast to Geb and so this is what came out:</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="791" height="1023" data-attachment-id="4544" data-permalink="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/nwt-write-up/" data-orig-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/nwt-write-up.jpg" data-orig-size="1275,1650" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="nwt-write-up" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/nwt-write-up.jpg?w=232" data-large-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/nwt-write-up.jpg?w=791" src="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/nwt-write-up.jpg?w=791" alt="" class="wp-image-4544" srcset="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/nwt-write-up.jpg?w=791 791w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/nwt-write-up.jpg?w=116 116w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/nwt-write-up.jpg?w=232 232w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/nwt-write-up.jpg?w=768 768w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/nwt-write-up.jpg 1275w" sizes="(max-width: 791px) 100vw, 791px" /><figcaption>Nwt by Charles Akins</figcaption></figure>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">When I started working on the illustration for Nwt I wanted to draw someone who was confident and felt like she could hold her own against anyone. Which is who I drew. I based her loosely on some very strong women that I’ve known over the years.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Anyway, fuck necromancers. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Here’s the original journal entry, complete with the misspellings:</p>
<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="768" height="1024" data-attachment-id="4548" data-permalink="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/20220413_221307/" data-orig-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/20220413_221307.jpg" data-orig-size="3024,4032" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"1.8","credit":"","camera":"SM-G996U","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1649887995","copyright":"","focal_length":"5.4","iso":"500","shutter_speed":"0.0333348","title":"","orientation":"1","longitude":"0"}" data-image-title="20220413_221307" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/20220413_221307.jpg?w=225" data-large-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/20220413_221307.jpg?w=768" src="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/20220413_221307.jpg?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-4548" srcset="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/20220413_221307.jpg?w=768 768w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/20220413_221307.jpg?w=1536 1536w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/20220413_221307.jpg?w=113 113w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/20220413_221307.jpg?w=225 225w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/20220413_221307.jpg?w=1440 1440w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption>Nwt, original campaign journal entry, by Charles Akins</figcaption></figure>
</div>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>The Gods of the Book of the New Sun: Geb</title>
<link>https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2022/05/02/the-gods-of-the-book-of-the-new-sun-geb/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dragons Never Forget]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 02 May 2022 10:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Book of the New Sun]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/?p=4534</guid>
<description><![CDATA[One of my favorite aspects of creating a world is building up the gods. I don’t know why it is, but it’s something that I’ve always loved. To that end I’ve begun working on the pantheon of the New Sun. Meet Geb. Geb was the first god that popped into my head when I started… <a href="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2022/05/02/the-gods-of-the-book-of-the-new-sun-geb/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">The Gods of the Book of the New Sun: Geb</span></a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">One of my favorite aspects of creating a world is building up the gods. I don’t know why it is, but it’s something that I’ve always loved. To that end I’ve begun working on the pantheon of the New Sun. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Meet Geb.</p>
<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="791" height="1023" data-attachment-id="4535" data-permalink="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/ged-write-up/" data-orig-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/ged-write-up.jpg" data-orig-size="1275,1650" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="ged-write-up" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/ged-write-up.jpg?w=232" data-large-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/ged-write-up.jpg?w=791" src="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/ged-write-up.jpg?w=791" alt="" class="wp-image-4535" srcset="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/ged-write-up.jpg?w=791 791w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/ged-write-up.jpg?w=116 116w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/ged-write-up.jpg?w=232 232w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/ged-write-up.jpg?w=768 768w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/ged-write-up.jpg 1275w" sizes="(max-width: 791px) 100vw, 791px" /><figcaption>Geb, by Charles Akins</figcaption></figure>
</div>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Geb was the first god that popped into my head when I started working on the setting and he kind of set the tone for what would come next. I didn’t define the domains that the gods are associated as it seemed more fun to ask the players if they thought their spell choices would be in line with what their god preferred. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I still think so. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Here’s the original write up from my campaign journal in case you’re interested in such things:</p>
<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="768" height="1024" data-attachment-id="4539" data-permalink="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/20220413_221247/" data-orig-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/20220413_221247.jpg" data-orig-size="3024,4032" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"1.8","credit":"","camera":"SM-G996U","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1649887978","copyright":"","focal_length":"5.4","iso":"640","shutter_speed":"0.0333348","title":"","orientation":"1","longitude":"0"}" data-image-title="20220413_221247" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/20220413_221247.jpg?w=225" data-large-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/20220413_221247.jpg?w=768" src="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/20220413_221247.jpg?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-4539" srcset="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/20220413_221247.jpg?w=768 768w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/20220413_221247.jpg?w=1536 1536w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/20220413_221247.jpg?w=113 113w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/20220413_221247.jpg?w=225 225w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/20220413_221247.jpg?w=1440 1440w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption>Geb, original campaign journal entry, by Charles Akins</figcaption></figure>
</div>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Book of the New Sun</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Campaign announcement and Starting Map</p>
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<title>The Book of the New Sun</title>
<link>https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2022/04/28/the-book-of-the-new-sun/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dragons Never Forget]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 28 Apr 2022 10:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Book of the New Sun]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/?p=4524</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Recently, I started talking to some friends about beginning a new campaign. Several of them had heard of Dungeons and Dragons, though only two of them have played before. So I’m treating this as a new experience for everyone involved and that means that I need to treat it like my first time DMing again,… <a href="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2022/04/28/the-book-of-the-new-sun/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">The Book of the New Sun</span></a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Recently, I started talking to some friends about beginning a new campaign. Several of them had heard of Dungeons and Dragons, though only two of them have played before. So I’m treating this as a new experience for everyone involved and that means that I need to treat it like my first time DMing again, too. What I mean by “treat it like my first time DMing again” is that I need to explore the things that made me first fall in love with Dungeons and Dragons. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">So what made me fall in love to begin with?</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">When I first started playing I began with a simple title: Ashland. From that name the whole world began to take it’s shape. I built up a simplified cosmos (largely lifted from the world of Greyhawk), and then drew a map. From there I populated the world and began working on the adventures that I hoped my players would go on. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">They even went on some, if you can imagine that. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This new campaign is called “The Book of the New Sun.” Below is the starting map that I’ll be using for my campaign. </p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="768" data-attachment-id="4528" data-permalink="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/book-of-the-new-sun-starting-map/" data-orig-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/book-of-the-new-sun-starting-map.jpg" data-orig-size="4032,3024" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"1.8","credit":"","camera":"SM-G996U","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1650718587","copyright":"","focal_length":"5.4","iso":"200","shutter_speed":"0.0166674","title":"","orientation":"0","longitude":"0"}" data-image-title="book-of-the-new-sun-starting-map" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/book-of-the-new-sun-starting-map.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/book-of-the-new-sun-starting-map.jpg?w=825" src="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/book-of-the-new-sun-starting-map.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-4528" srcset="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/book-of-the-new-sun-starting-map.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/book-of-the-new-sun-starting-map.jpg?w=2048 2048w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/book-of-the-new-sun-starting-map.jpg?w=150 150w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/book-of-the-new-sun-starting-map.jpg?w=300 300w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/book-of-the-new-sun-starting-map.jpg?w=768 768w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/book-of-the-new-sun-starting-map.jpg?w=1440 1440w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>The Book of the New Sun starting map by Charles Akins</figcaption></figure>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I decided that this time I would like to explore a world that’s a bit more wild west, and a bit less old world. I’ve got two deserts, a river leading out into a sea, badlands, marshland, plains, and a big forest. There’s lots of room to explore here and more as they decide to roam further from home. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">As I continue to build up this setting I’ll be posting more stuff here. A lot of things will come after our sessions, but things that aren’t going to spoil anything I’ll post on here so you all can see it as I go through the creative process. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I hope you’ll join me for this journey.</p>
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<title>The Curious Evolution of Morgan Ironwolf</title>
<link>https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2022/03/24/the-curious-evolution-of-morgan-ironwolf/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dragons Never Forget]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 24 Mar 2022 10:25:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Curious Evolution]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Dungeons & Dragons]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/?p=4496</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Morgan Ironwolf first appeared as line in the 1980 Dungeon Masters Adventure Log as seen below: Here Morgan Ironwolf appears, alongside other player characters, as an example for the Dungeon Master in how to accurately record an adventure using the log system that TSR was attempting to get Dungeon Masters to adopt. Yet for our… <a href="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2022/03/24/the-curious-evolution-of-morgan-ironwolf/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">The Curious Evolution of Morgan Ironwolf</span></a>]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Morgan Ironwolf first appeared as line in the 1980 Dungeon Masters Adventure Log as seen below:</p>
<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="886" height="598" data-attachment-id="4499" data-permalink="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/character-log/" data-orig-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/character-log.jpg" data-orig-size="886,598" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="character-log" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/character-log.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/character-log.jpg?w=825" src="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/character-log.jpg?w=886" alt="" class="wp-image-4499" srcset="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/character-log.jpg 886w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/character-log.jpg?w=150 150w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/character-log.jpg?w=300 300w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/character-log.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 886px) 100vw, 886px" /><figcaption>Character Log example from Dungeon Master’s Log</figcaption></figure>
</div>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Here Morgan Ironwolf appears, alongside other player characters, as an example for the Dungeon Master in how to accurately record an adventure using the log system that TSR was attempting to get Dungeon Masters to adopt. Yet for our purposes we can discern some key information about who this character is, and what we should expect of them going forward. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Morgan is an eighth level human fighter of Chaotic Good alignment with a magical Ring of Warmth, a +1 Shield, and a +2 Spear. She also appears to have gained a point of Constitution from a magical chair. As an eighth level character she was the highest level character in the party.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This information about the character tells us that we’re dealing with an unusual fighter and with a player of some skill. They’ve chosen to forgo the more typical magical sword (of which the party has four) and instead go with the greater reach provided by the spear. This tends to indicate a character who is more comfortable on the second row behind the better armored fighter, Fred 9802, and ranger, Black Dougal. It also indicates that the character is played more cautiously as they survived the encounter with the Fire Giant that killed Black Dougal and the battle with the Black Dragon that killed Sister Rebecca.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The following year, 1981, we would be given a second look at Morgan Ironwolf, when Tom Moldvay edited the updated Basic Rulebook. Here we’re presented with a version of the character at the beginning of her career. For a fighter her core ability scores are solid, though unremarkable, while her ancillary scores are below average. This tells us that while she is strong, healthy, and nimble she is also remarkably dim witted when it comes to book learning and on the lower end of average when it comes to dealing with life. With an 8 charisma it is also probable that she doesn’t do that well with others – quite possibly by rubbing them the wrong way[1].</p>
<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="861" height="660" data-attachment-id="4501" data-permalink="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/morgan-character-sheet/" data-orig-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/morgan-character-sheet.jpg" data-orig-size="861,660" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="morgan-character-sheet" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/morgan-character-sheet.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/morgan-character-sheet.jpg?w=825" src="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/morgan-character-sheet.jpg?w=861" alt="" class="wp-image-4501" srcset="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/morgan-character-sheet.jpg 861w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/morgan-character-sheet.jpg?w=150 150w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/morgan-character-sheet.jpg?w=300 300w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/morgan-character-sheet.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 861px) 100vw, 861px" /><figcaption>Morgan Ironwolf Character Sheet from Moldvay Basic</figcaption></figure>
</div>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This version of the character is designed to work with the Basic rules and their simplified alignment system so we no longer have a “Chaotic Good” character but instead have a “Lawful” one. This change is one we need to look at a bit deeper to understand how significant a change this potentially was for the character. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In the AD&D DMG Chaotic Good was defined as:</p>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow"><p>. . . To the chaotic good individual, freedom and independence are as important to life and happiness. The ethos views this freedom as the only means by which each creature can achieve true satisfaction and happiness.[2] Law, order, social forms, and anything else which tends to restrict or abridge individual freedom is wrong, and each individual is capable of achieving self-realization and prosperity through himself, herself, or itself . . .”</p><cite>Gygax, 23</cite></blockquote>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This means that if we’re playing a Chaotic Good character that they will be looking to live their lives as free as possible; often butting up against any law, organization, or cultural norms that would constrict their freedom. They’re essentially the mythological pioneers going West to search for freedom to be themselves. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">When we contrast this with the Basic Game’s “Lawful” we find that there is a huge shift in how the character is to be played:</p>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow"><p>. . . Law (or Lawful) is the belief that everything should follow an order, and that obeying rules is the natural way of life. Lawful creatures will try to tell the truth, obey laws, and care about all living things. Lawful characters always try to keep their promises. They will try to obey laws as long as such laws are fair and just . . . If a choice must be made between the benefit of a group or an individual, a Lawful character will usually choose the group. Sometimes individual freedoms must be given up for the good fo the group. Lawful characters and monsters often act in predictable ways. Lawful behavior is usually the same as behavior that could be called ‘good’ . . .”</p><cite>Moldvay, B11</cite></blockquote>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">These two alignments are diametrically opposed to each other. Where “Chaotic Good” prized personal freedom, Basic’s “Lawful” is one step away from a benevolent fascist who chooses the greater good over the individual. It is practically impossible to imagine converting over the “Chaotic Good” Morgan Ironwolf into “Lawful” Morgan Ironwolf; which may be why the next time she appears her alignment has changed to “Neutral.” </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">On page B28 we’re provided with the following scene after a fight with some Hobgoblins:</p>
<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="662" height="542" data-attachment-id="4509" data-permalink="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/after-the-fight/" data-orig-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/after-the-fight.jpg" data-orig-size="662,542" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="after-the-fight" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/after-the-fight.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/after-the-fight.jpg?w=662" src="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/after-the-fight.jpg?w=662" alt="" class="wp-image-4509" srcset="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/after-the-fight.jpg 662w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/after-the-fight.jpg?w=150 150w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/after-the-fight.jpg?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 662px) 100vw, 662px" /><figcaption>from Moldvay Basic, pg B28</figcaption></figure>
</div>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Here we see Morgan Ironwolf acting more in line with the “Chaotic Good” alignment she had in AD&D. She doesn’t want to allow these hobgoblin captives, who might kill her from being left behind to slit her throat when she isn’t looking; and it is only by the interference of Sister Rebecca that she doesn’t kill them. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Being “Neutral” in Moldvay Basic is significantly closer to being “Chaotic Good” in AD&D. As Basic states:</p>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow"><p>. . . Neutrality (or Neutral) is the belief that the world is a balance between Law and Chaos. It is important that neither side get too much power and upset this balance. The individual is important, but so is the group; the two sides must work together . . . A Neutral character is most interested in personal survival. Such characters believe in their own wits and abilities rather than luck. They tend to return the treatment they receive from others. Neutral characters will join a party if they think it is in their own best interest, but will not be overly helpful unless there is some sort of profit in it. Neutral behavior may be considered ‘good’ or ‘evil’ (or neither!), depending on the situation . . .”</p><cite>Moldvay, B11</cite></blockquote>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This alignment is much more in line with the “Chaotic Good” Morgan Ironwolf that survived the Fire Giant and Black Dragon that took her friends lives. Just as the Neutral character would, she survived. </p>
<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="673" height="679" data-attachment-id="4514" data-permalink="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/morgan-illustration/" data-orig-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/morgan-illustration.jpg" data-orig-size="673,679" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="morgan-illustration" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/morgan-illustration.jpg?w=297" data-large-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/morgan-illustration.jpg?w=673" src="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/morgan-illustration.jpg?w=673" alt="" class="wp-image-4514" srcset="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/morgan-illustration.jpg 673w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/morgan-illustration.jpg?w=150 150w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/morgan-illustration.jpg?w=297 297w" sizes="(max-width: 673px) 100vw, 673px" /><figcaption>Morgan Ironwolf by Jeff Dee from Moldvay Basic, pg B20</figcaption></figure>
</div>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">We have no official portrait of Morgan Ironwolf, though the above illustration is often assigned to her.[3] The equipment is right for the basic character sheet, but would not work with the original version.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">For the next 25 years Morgan Ironwolf would largely remain forgotten – until her name appeared in DRAGON MAGAZINE 346, in the spring of 2006. The article, <em>The Ecology of the Adventurer, </em>was clearly not meant to be looked at as a serious thing, nor is the character write up of Morgan. Here she has an 18 in every ability score. She has multi-classed into 10 different classes, casts spells, has impossible magical items, and her favorite enemy is the kobold. She is the quintessential “Mary Sue.” [4]</p>
<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="655" height="715" data-attachment-id="4518" data-permalink="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/morgan-ironwolf/" data-orig-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/morgan-ironwolf.jpg" data-orig-size="655,715" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="morgan-ironwolf" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/morgan-ironwolf.jpg?w=275" data-large-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/morgan-ironwolf.jpg?w=655" src="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/morgan-ironwolf.jpg?w=655" alt="" class="wp-image-4518" srcset="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/morgan-ironwolf.jpg 655w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/morgan-ironwolf.jpg?w=137 137w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/morgan-ironwolf.jpg?w=275 275w" sizes="(max-width: 655px) 100vw, 655px" /><figcaption>Morgan Ironwolf from DRAGON 342, pg 62</figcaption></figure>
</div>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">What is fascinating, though, is that the illustration that accompanied the character is often taken for male even though no gender is listed.[5] This has prompted a wide ranging debate among those who are familiar with the character as to why the gender changed. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I think that a lot of that debate comes back to what you expect with gender norms. For some, they expect that a female character is going to have their distinguishing feminine aspects highlighted. Her bosom, hips, and hair all have to be clearly feminine. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">That’s simply not reality. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Women can, and do, dress however they want; and in the case of Morgan Ironwolf it makes far more sense that she would dress in outfits that protected her rather than accentuated her. The Jeff Dee illustration, while iconic, hearkens back to a time when women were often illustrated in chain-mail bikinis and shown to be damsels in distress no matter how powerful their abilities were. The Morgan that appears in the DRAGON article could not wear the same outfit. That character is too powerful, too aggressive, to be a damsel in distress. The illustration is truer to the original version of the character that we were first presented with in 1980 than the Basic version ever did.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>
<h2 class="has-text-align-center wp-block-heading"><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Notes</span></strong></h2>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">[1] In the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Dungeon Master’s Guide Gary Gygax wrote, “. . . Many persons have the sad misconception that charisma is merely physical attractiveness. This error is obvious to any person who considers the subject with perceptiveness. Charisma is a combination of physical appearance, persuasiveness, and personal magnetism. True charisma becomes evident when one considers such historic examples of Julius Caesar, Napoleon Bonoparte, and Adolf Hitler. Obviously, these individuals did not have an 18 score on physical beauty, so it is quite possible to assume that scores over 18 are possible, for any one of the named historical personalities would have had a higher charisma score there can be no question that these individuals were 18’s – if they would have had great attractiveness as well as commanding personal magnetism and superb persuasiveness.” </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">[2] As sometimes happens when reading Gygax this sentence can be a bit difficult to understand. Perhaps a better way to word this sentence would be, “The spirit of this view is that freedom is the only means by which a creature can achieve true satisfaction and happiness in their lives.” </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">[3] While it is not expressly mentioned that this illustration is of Morgan Ironwolf the text directly above it certainly leads the reader to draw that conclusion. As a result the image has widely been connected with the character. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">[4] A “Mary Sue” is a term used to derisively describe a fictional character, usually female, who is so powerful, socially perfect, and flawless that they’re largely boring. Often it is also seen as an idealized version of the creator.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">[5] According to <a href="https://dungeonsdragons.fandom.com/wiki/Morgan_Ironwolf">D&D Lore</a> Morgan’s gender switch may be the result of using a disguise self spell, or she was cursed with the girdle of masculinity/femininity, or it is simply two different characters. </p>
<h2 class="has-text-align-center wp-block-heading"><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Works Cited</span></strong></h2>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Gygax, Gary. <em>Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Special Reference Work Dungeon Masters Guide</em>. USA, TSR Inc. 1979. pg. 15, 23</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Moldvay, Tom. <em>Dungeons & Dragons Fantasy Adventure Game Basic Rulebook.</em> USA, TSR Inc., 1981. pgs. B8, B11, B14, B20, and B28.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Moseley, Tony. “The Ecology of the Adventurer.” <em>DRAGON MAGAZINE</em>, April 2006. pgs. 62</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">TSR Hobbies, Inc. <em>Advanced D&D Fantasy Adventure Game Dungeon Masters Adventure Log.</em> TSR, 1980. </p>
<h2 class="has-text-align-center wp-block-heading"><strong>Interested in Reading more Lore Dives on D&D Characters? Be Sure to Check Out:</strong></h2>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><a href="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2021/01/21/the-curious-evolution-of-sir-kargoth-greyhawks-first-death-knight/">The Curious Evolution of Sir Kargoth, Greyhawk’s First Death Knight:</a> An exploration of the first named Death Knight and how he changed over the years into a terrifying enemy to challenge your players’ skills. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><a href="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2022/01/07/lets-talk-about-alakbar-of-the-world-of-greyhawk/">Let’s Talk about Al’Akbar of the World of Greyhawk:</a> A deep dive into the rarely encountered demi-god Al’Akbar and how they have changed since first appearing in 1976.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><a href="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2021/10/13/dungeons-and-walmart-and-ljn-part-1/">Dungeons, and Walmart, and LJN?</a> A series of articles exploring the toy line LJN produced in 1983/84 and the characters that were created – including Warduke, Strongheart, and Kelek!</p>
<h2 class="has-text-align-center wp-block-heading"><strong>Curious about Checking out More Dragons Never Forget Content? Check out the <a href="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/the-series/">Series Page!</a> Where All the Connected Blog Posts are set in Order for Easy Reading!</strong> </h2>
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<title>Making Clerics Distinct</title>
<link>https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2022/03/01/making-clerics-distinct/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dragons Never Forget]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 01 Mar 2022 11:27:43 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Dungeons & Dragons]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[House Rules]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/?p=4489</guid>
<description><![CDATA[One of the great problems I find with clerics is that they’re largely all the same. A lot of the sameness comes from the way that Dungeons and Dragons presents the class. Little wonder too, as they’re trying to provide a class that will be appealing to the greatest number of people across the largest… <a href="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2022/03/01/making-clerics-distinct/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">Making Clerics Distinct</span></a>]]></description>
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">One of the great problems I find with clerics is that they’re largely all the same. A lot of the sameness comes from the way that Dungeons and Dragons presents the class. Little wonder too, as they’re trying to provide a class that will be appealing to the greatest number of people across the largest swath of play styles.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">So how do we fix that sameness feel?</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">For me it all starts with how we present the gods and what they expect of our players. That means that as Dungeon Masters we have a bit of work to do up front.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">We don’t need to have 50, 60, or a 100 gods for the game world to feel alive (though having a varity of gods can help create a sense of verisimilitude in your games). Instead I pick 10 or 12 gods for the players to pick from. These gods get fleshed out a bit. I describe the core tennents of their faith, how their priests act, their holiest days, and how their faith is treated in the world at large.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The goal is to do all that in a single page. I want it to be easily digestible for my players and to provide them with inspiration for how they play. On this single page I also provide a list of spells that the god provides their clerics.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The was exceedingly easy with 3.5e D&D as there were hundreds of officially publisted spells across dozens of books; and as a DM I could make unique spell lists with little crossover. 5e complicates this slightly as there are less spells overall by comparison; however, it’s still possible to accomplish this task. You just have a bit more crossover.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">What about you all? How do you make your clerics feel special?</p>
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<title>The Beauty of Saying, “I Don’t Know.”</title>
<link>https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2022/02/17/the-beauty-of-saying-i-dont-know/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dragons Never Forget]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 18 Feb 2022 03:43:48 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Dungeons & Dragons]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/?p=4474</guid>
<description><![CDATA[One of the things that I love about reading older role-playing game materials – whether they’re old books, magazines, or zines – is that so often you can tell that the authors have no pretense at being “right.” More often than not, they’re likely to begin talking about any topic by hedging what they say… <a href="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2022/02/17/the-beauty-of-saying-i-dont-know/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">The Beauty of Saying, “I Don’t Know.”</span></a>]]></description>
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">One of the things that I love about reading older role-playing game materials – whether they’re old books, magazines, or zines – is that so often you can tell that the authors have no pretense at being “right.” More often than not, they’re likely to begin talking about any topic by hedging what they say with phrases like, “Some say,” “Few know,” and “It’s rumored.” </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">They do this because they’re still making up everything that will eventually become the tropes we live with today. They got to experience getting together in a tavern for the first time without everyone rolling their eyes and to go into a dungeon without all their players begging them to do something different. That’s fun, and it’s something that I’ve never really gotten to experience. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I suppose that’s why I so often spend time reading old books and magazines that aren’t really all that relevant towards what I’m playing today. Like there’s nothing in Quest of the Ancients, with it’s broken rules and esoteric plots, that I can use in my games.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">And yet I still enjoy reading them.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I like seeing that people were constantly trying to hack older systems. I love reading home rules for Traveler, D&D and GURPS even if I don’t really play the versions they were written for. It’s fantastic to see them make their own hacks into legit games of their own. It inspires me to hack my my own games and to explore what is possible with them.</p>
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<title>How Many Cows Are There, Really?</title>
<link>https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2022/01/25/how-many-cows-are-there-really/</link>
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<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dragons Never Forget]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 25 Jan 2022 11:08:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Dungeons & Dragons]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[House Rules]]></category>
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<description><![CDATA[Occasionally I find myself slipping off into a bit of minutia when it comes to the worlds I’m playing with in my home games. This morning was just such an occasion. I had been working on a scene my players would be encountering in the countryside when I noted that there was a cattle pasture… <a href="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/2022/01/25/how-many-cows-are-there-really/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">How Many Cows Are There, Really?</span></a>]]></description>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="639" data-attachment-id="4456" data-permalink="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/changing-pastures/" data-orig-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/changing-pastures.jpg" data-orig-size="4000,2499" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="changing-pastures" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/changing-pastures.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/changing-pastures.jpg?w=825" src="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/changing-pastures.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-4456" srcset="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/changing-pastures.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/changing-pastures.jpg?w=2048 2048w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/changing-pastures.jpg?w=150 150w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/changing-pastures.jpg?w=300 300w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/changing-pastures.jpg?w=768 768w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/changing-pastures.jpg?w=1440 1440w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Changing Pasture by Anton Mauve</figcaption></figure>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Occasionally I find myself slipping off into a bit of minutia when it comes to the worlds I’m playing with in my home games. This morning was just such an occasion. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I had been working on a scene my players would be encountering in the countryside when I noted that there was a cattle pasture on the north side of the road. My wife asked, “What kind of cows?”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">What kind, <em>indeed</em>. </p>
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="560" height="375" data-attachment-id="4462" data-permalink="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/juma-e1430341736483/" data-orig-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/juma-e1430341736483.jpg" data-orig-size="560,375" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="juma-e1430341736483" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/juma-e1430341736483.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/juma-e1430341736483.jpg?w=560" src="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/juma-e1430341736483.jpg?w=560" alt="" class="wp-image-4462" srcset="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/juma-e1430341736483.jpg 560w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/juma-e1430341736483.jpg?w=150 150w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/juma-e1430341736483.jpg?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px" /><figcaption>Texas Longhorn bull image from the <a href="https://www.tlbaa.org/about/">Texas Longhorn Breeder’s Association of America</a></figcaption></figure></div>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">According to Wikipedia there are more than a 1,000 recognized breeds of cattle in the world. This gets divided up by the type of cattle you’re planning on using as “Beef,” “Dairy,” or “Dual-Breed” cows – the three types that are breed for very different lifestyles.[1] There are multiple spotted, long hair, short hair, and single color varieties. There are kinds with humps, with pointed horns, rolled horns, long horns, and even short, stubby horns. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">So what kind do you say when someone asks that question?</p>
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="800" height="533" data-attachment-id="4460" data-permalink="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/red_devon_bull/" data-orig-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/red_devon_bull.jpg" data-orig-size="800,533" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"3.2","credit":"","camera":"Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1205421780","copyright":"","focal_length":"50","iso":"200","shutter_speed":"0.008","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="red_devon_bull" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/red_devon_bull.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/red_devon_bull.jpg?w=800" src="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/red_devon_bull.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-4460" srcset="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/red_devon_bull.jpg 800w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/red_devon_bull.jpg?w=150 150w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/red_devon_bull.jpg?w=300 300w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/red_devon_bull.jpg?w=768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption>A Devon Bull, image by Mark Robinson</figcaption></figure></div>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Personally I tend to identify the cattle in my games as either <a href="https://www.thecattlesite.com/breeds/beef/12/devon/">Devon</a>, the <a href="https://www.thecattlesite.com/breeds/beef/18/texas-longhorn/">Texas Longhorn</a>, or the <a href="https://www.thecattlesite.com/breeds/dairy/22/holstein/">Holstein</a>. These breeds were fairly common when I was growing up, though the Devon is less so now, so it’s easier for me to recall their look, sound, and even smell when I’m put on the spot. </p>
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="640" height="349" data-attachment-id="4464" data-permalink="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/5824713327_50cd7c5ef4_z/" data-orig-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/5824713327_50cd7c5ef4_z.jpg" data-orig-size="640,349" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="5824713327_50cd7c5ef4_z" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/5824713327_50cd7c5ef4_z.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/5824713327_50cd7c5ef4_z.jpg?w=640" src="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/5824713327_50cd7c5ef4_z.jpg?w=640" alt="" class="wp-image-4464" srcset="https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/5824713327_50cd7c5ef4_z.jpg 640w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/5824713327_50cd7c5ef4_z.jpg?w=150 150w, https://dragonsneverforget.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/5824713327_50cd7c5ef4_z.jpg?w=300 300w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /><figcaption>Holstein cow image from <a href="https://www.morningagclips.com/dairy-lists-recognize-high-ranking-females/">Morning Ag Clips</a></figcaption></figure></div>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I included the pictures above so that if you have to make a quick call out that you might be able to use one of them as well for your own home games. If you’re looking for other varieties I highly recommend checking out <a href="https://www.thecattlesite.com/">The Cattle Site</a>. It not only has a fantastic “Knowledge Center” where you can explore different breeds but it provides a great glimpse into what concerns modern cattle farmers. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Notes</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">[1] It should be recognized that you certainly can eat a “Dairy” cow and you can milk a “Beef” cow but that the different varieties have been cultivated to provide the best product for the farmer. Dairy cows produce more, and better tasting, milk as they’ve been selectively bred for that purpose. Beef cows taste better and have better marbling in their flesh than their Dairy brethren. Dual Breeds, by contrast, are neither the best tasting nor the best at producing the most, and tastiest, milk; however, they are fully capable of producing an enjoyable milk and a decent steak.</p>
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