And no matter how un-fantasy worldish Escalla's dialogue was, it was way better than Gygax's dialogue and style in the Gord series, which I could never get through, even when trying to read for Greyhawk knowledge enhancement...I've recommended the Kidd books to all my gamer friends and they all loved 'em...The one story I didn't care for by Kidd was in a Dragon and involved a rather uncaring Paladin of Pelor which I thought was rather poorly portrayed...
Kwint
So what if Lolth is comic relief?
Because then it's no longer Greyhawk, and hence shouldn't bear the Greyhawk label.
And because it's just bad writing. If Escalla was his only character, I wouldn't have as much of a problem with it. It works for a fey. (Even then, it's kinda like caviar. Nice in small doses, but you don't want too much at once.) It does not work for an evil demon-goddess.
the player that gets one of everything on the Player's Handbook equiptment list (Forget that character's name) and the 1st Level Character in a group of higher level characters, hanging back using his crossbow, waiting for the XPs to roll in so he can eventually join in melee combat and survive (The Kid, forget his name),
Polk the teamster/henchman (kinda reminds me of Nodwick) gets all the gear and Private Henry is the kid's name. The two of them did really well when the group took on Lolth and the drow at the end of Descent into the Depths of the Earth. I did have a problem with the title, too close to Journey to the Center of the Earth. But the idea of a portal being activated by a virgin's golden "hairs" is just too hilarious.
... Paul Kidd is a modern Rose Estes IMO.
That's not really fair. At least Kidd's books take place in something that resembles Oerth (when they're on the Material Plane), as opposed to wandering off into "Dramidjia."
Rose Estes killed off Iuz and then forsook the Flanaess entirely. Kidd's novels are actually tied to classic Greyhawk modules.
His only crime is being really, really, really goofy - but lots of things on Oerth are pretty goofy (Zagyg, Murlynd, the Barrier Peaks spaceship crash, certain names like Melf the Elf and Nutherwood...) If goofiness alone made you Rose Estes, Gary Gygax would be Rose Estes (and he's definitely not).
At worst, the Paul Kidd novels draw a few new people into Greyhawk. At best, they draw a lot more people into Greyhawk. All Greyhawk novels are non-canonical, so there's no worry of them actually changing the RPG products. So don't worry about it.
The Justicar had the making of a grim & gritty anti-hero that was very well-suited for the post-war Flanaess. Of course, associating with Escalla just ruined it.
Still, I rather liked Kidd's view of Keraptis' legacy (the "overman" plot), Polk (gave me quite a few ideas about obnoxious hirelings), and Cinders (yes, so sue me!).
Oh, and the first chapter (but only that one) of the QotDP truly felt "GH". Too bad Kidd didn't stick to that writing style
I did have a problem with the title, too close to Journey to the Center of the Earth.
Are you aware that the title of the book is the same as the adventure module on which it is based?
Personally, I liked Kidd's work better than some other stuff in the GH line, especially the short stories in DRAGON. Then again, I like a touch of comedy in an otherwise staid line (my all time favorite DL novel is "Lord Toede" from Villains, especially since I'd just finished "Tom Jones" for English).
Probably the best sequence in the trilogy was the battle at Keggle Bend, if only because it shows how to use PCs in major engagements.
And that paladin in "By The Job" is basically designed as a foil to Evelyn (means Born Of The Woods-good moniker for a ranger); you know, 'natural justice' versus Law and the Greater Good. Also, the new, low Charisma paladin.
Oggie
PS-I'd read more Kidd if that's what it would take to get the GH novel line open again.
Well, the book is kind of a mash between Descent and Vault of the Drow.
Personally, I liked Kidd's work better than some other stuff in the GH line, especially the short stories in DRAGON. Then again, I like a touch of comedy in an otherwise staid line (my all time favorite DL novel is "Lord Toede" from Villains, especially since I'd just finished "Tom Jones" for English).
Probably the best sequence in the trilogy was the battle at Keggle Bend, if only because it shows how to use PCs in major engagements.
And that paladin in "By The Job" is basically designed as a foil to Evelyn (means Born Of The Woods-good moniker for a ranger); you know, 'natural justice' versus Law and the Greater Good. Also, the new, low Charisma paladin.
Oggie
PS-I'd read more Kidd if that's what it would take to get the GH novel line open again.
Toede is a total loser. The Gods didn't want him and now he lives forever. Who's bright idea was that anyways?
Where can I find "By the Job"? Is it about Jus, since his real name is Evelyn? Is this when he meets Cinders?
Where can I find "By the Job"? Is it about Jus, since his real name is Evelyn? Is this when he meets Cinders?
An issue of Dragon. I don't remember which one. (Yes, it's where he meets Cinders.) The same issue may have had the characters' stats (or it might have been yet another issue).
And that's just it. They didn't kill the Demon Goddess of Spiders, or even her avatar. They killed her Aspect (see the Miniatures Handbook), which is equivalent to clipping a toenail in terms of damage to the goddess. If anything, Lolth was probably amused by the whole thing.
And after all, she did kill them first...
"By The Job"-forget what issue.
The hydra's lair-The Dwarves issue (278?)
The character stats-Scoundrels issue
Lolth was fed into a portable hole full of holy water on her home plane. Her aspect/avatar was shoved into the Positive Energy plane. Books 3 and 2 respectively.
Oh and KenderBryant-have you read Grubb's book? It is a riot.
Oggie
There are three DRAGON articles:
"By The Job"-forget what issue.
The hydra's lair-The Dwarves issue (278?)
The character stats-Scoundrels issue
Lolth was fed into a portable hole full of holy water on her home plane. Her aspect/avatar was shoved into the Positive Energy plane. Books 3 and 2 respectively.
Oh and KenderBryant-have you read Grubb's book? It is a riot.
Oggie
Where can I get those issues (except Scoundrels)? I'm prevented from e-bay due to account screwup (password won't work) and which Grubb book? I've got the Alias and Joel series.
Who out there is a fan of the Justicar and Escalla from Paul Kidd's Books?
Though I read the first two books in Kidd's little series, I haven't read Queen of the Demonweb Pits. I found myself both fascinated and repulsed by the author's style. Shouting "Whee! I'm so funny I can hardly contain myself!" seems to be his theme, and I can only take so much of that at a time.
The books are fun to read - and I'm grimacing even as I type that. It hurts to admit it. I think my problem is that I enjoy Kidd's characterizations - he's capable of developing characters who feel real, who have motivations and emotions - but I cringe at his plot developments, half of which seem to cry out, "Stand by for more wacky fun!"
What really saddens me is this dread I have, deep in my heart, that newcomers to D&D will read those novels and think that that's the "tone" for the modules White Plume Mountain and Descent into the Depths of the Earth.
Where can I get those issues (except Scoundrels)? I'm prevented from e-bay due to account screwup (password won't work) and which Grubb book? I've got the Alias and Joel series.
You could order them on the Paizo's website.. assuming they still have them in stock.
Oggie
Oggie
As an aside, I know a lot of readers were angry that Kidd had Justicar and the gang kill Lolth in a rather foolish way (a vat of acid, IIRC) that would never work on the deity herself.
And that's just it. They didn't kill the Demon Goddess of Spiders, or even her avatar. They killed her Aspect (see the Miniatures Handbook), which is equivalent to clipping a toenail in terms of damage to the goddess. If anything, Lolth was probably amused by the whole thing.
And after all, she did kill them first...
Why would she be amused? If I was her I'd be ****** at the whole lot of them for presuming to try to kill me. The Aspect obviously wan't too intelligent if they were able to run her straight into a portable hole filled with holy acid, but I still liked reading the books. Anyhoo, it was evident that it wasn't the real Lolth they killed, they were too underpowered to do such a thing. First of all, Polk, Enid and Henry wouldn't have been able to do squat against her. Jus and Escalla would barely have been able to affect her, even with Benelux. If I were Lolth, I'd keep an eye on them just in case. Especially since they might be a threat to her future plans.