Here's my question: I dimly remember seeing something about the hierarchy of druids. I think this probably relates back to 1st ed., but it seems to me I saw something more recent. It might have been an issue of the Oerth Journal, or an article on Canonfire, or it might just have been on these boards. Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Can you point me in the right direction? Thanks.
If anyone knows of any other resources, though, feel free to chime in.
Of course, this is also a major problem for the druids as well, since they don't know how many in their ranks are actually Black Druids, so it will make for more interesting adventures in the future...
I don't know about Oerth Journal #15, but there was a lot of information in the 1e PHB and Unearthed Arcana, and especially in The Complete Druid's Handbook. In TCDH, there's the Shadow Circle, the members of which in my campaign are often called Black Druids and who have aligned themselves with Iuz (they're still neutral, but have a very dark view of nature compared to regular druids).
Yes, but none of that is canon for GH (not anymore at any rate)
Later,
Yes, but none of that is canon for GH (not anymore at any rate)
Slightly off topic but who decides what's canon for a non-company supported campaign world?
WotC.
As long as GH remains the "core" default setting for the 3.X rules, it's supported (if indirectly). Since the current rules no longer use the druidic hierarchy (& splinter groups) from the 1e (& 2e) books Extempus refers to, these don't apply to GH.
Yes, but none of that is canon for GH (not anymore at any rate)
Good point, but it works well enough in my campaign (and were already in place long before 3e came out). In fact, there's enough in my campaign that isn't canon and probably wouldn't work for most anyway...
It is supported in all sorts of published GH material, including the Living Greyhawk material. I'd say its still a canon feature of GH, just not of the druid class generically.
By the same arguement, the publication of a "core" pantheon would wipe out the canon basis for all the other GH gods. Which is obviously not the intended function.
Likewise, Immonara Archdruidess of the Adri went from 16th in 2e to 14th in 3e. Is anybody aware of any official druids who are higher than 14th in Greyhawk? Who is the Grand Druid (15th) and who will ever be able to cast 9th level druid spells if the designers don't give up and accept that the hierarchy can't function based on level alone in 3e!!
WotC.
As long as GH remains the "core" default setting for the 3.X rules, it's supported (if indirectly). Since the current rules no longer use the druidic hierarchy (& splinter groups) from the 1e (& 2e) books Extempus refers to, these don't apply to GH.
What an unfortunate attitude.
It's your game, dude! If it's good, use it. If it's not, don't. Nothing else matters.
If you're going to be the lapdog of some faceless corporation, it should at least be one you work for.
What an unfortunate attitude.
It's your game, dude! If it's good, use it. If it's not, don't. Nothing else matters.
If you're going to be the lapdog of some faceless corporation, it should at least be one you work for.
Hey, I never claimed I liked it! All I said is that, canon-wise, it's the current situation. If I had my way, I would implement again many things from 1e (such as druidic hierarchy, bardic colleges, etc..).
And, yes, I do so in my campaign without bothering to ask WotC for their blessing
Finally, I would appreciate you not comparing me to a "corporate lapdog". There is a fine line between a cynical joke and an insult, and you're dangerously close to crossing it
LG NPC druid leaders are higher than 14th (and 15th) level.
Groovy. Glad to hear it!! Are there any details (names, level, alignment, locations) of the various druidic leaders?
On the topic of the hierarchy the op was looking for a way to get his player involved for plot hooks. Depending on when your Greyhawk campaign is set (before or after Greyhawk Wars) the hierarchy may be in a shambles. A definite power struggle may be occurring and it'd be a great time to introduce your player to it. Gather some bits from whatever material you can find and present it to the player knowing that in the back of your mind the info that you are sharing is only one specific viewpoint.
Following the old "neutral" way of looking at things druids, in my campaign, have always fell into the shades of grey type guys. They advise and council but always attempt to maintain balance.
Later
Greg Volz
Natural Twenty Gaming
www.naturaltwenty.com
RPGA#:154777
Druidic Circles of the Flanaess
Druidism in the Flanaess
Druids in the Flaneass (rtf)
Groovy. Glad to hear it!! Are there any details (names, level, alignment, locations) of the various druidic leaders?
Yes, but I don't have much. I get it mostly from background and development discussions. Probably the best place to check would be the LG Geoff website, since the Old Faith is a major part of their regional development.
All I said is that, canon-wise, it's the current situation.
Why do you feel this way?
So the Baklunish lands have a Great Druid and three archdruids.
Old Blackmoor has a Great Druid and three archdruids.
Old Ferrond has a Great Druid and three archdruids.
The Sheldomar has a Great Druid and three archdruids.
The Empire of Iuz has a Great Druid and three archdruids.
The Thillonrian Penninsula has a Great Druid and three archdruids.
Old Nyrond has a Great Druid and three archdruids.
The former Great Kingdom has a Great Druid and three archdruids.
The southern jungles and the former Suel Empire have still another Great Druid and three archdruids.
It's interesting that the Great Druids parallel the nine members of the Circle of Eight, the nine alignments, and the nine imprisoned demigods.
The Shadow Circle, on the other hand, may not be canonical. I tend to assume that anything that isn't explicitly contradicted is still valid, but I'm not certain the Complete Druid's Handbook ever really spoke for Greyhawk.
Of course, I encourage everyone to do what they like in their own campaigns as heartily as anyone.
Yes, but I don't have much. I get it mostly from background and development discussions. Probably the best place to check would be the LG Geoff website, since the Old Faith is a major part of their regional development.
Same here really. It's such a shame that so many great LGG npcs are swimming around in a sea of information and only a fraction of it has been collated even at a regional level.
I'm not a fan of the old scheme of druidic hierarchy from earlier D&D editions at all.
I'm just trying to find some justification in why my druid would want to go adventuring, primarily. This stems from problems with the class rather than my ability to justify it outright. Sure I can create some forced reason for him to be questing, but I want to get a better feel for the class in general and something logical would go well toward solidfying that for me.
I'm currently playing him as an older human Flan man - 52 years of age. He's form Highfolk and doesn't even go so far as to use ANY metal weapons - leathers, wood and stone being his preferences. I don't want him to be a social recluse - he's intrigued by all forms of life in nature - both above and under ground. But why would this guy actually go adventuring? What really motivates a druid to be an adventurer?
I've been trying to stay away from stereotypes, but maybe I should embrace one just to make my life easier?
That being said, I think a more likely explanation can be found in you description of him as age 52. What motivates a man of that age to pick up a new profession?
I'm currently playing him as an older human Flan man - 52 years of age. He's form Highfolk and doesn't even go so far as to use ANY metal weapons - leathers, wood and stone being his preferences. I don't want him to be a social recluse - he's intrigued by all forms of life in nature - both above and under ground. But why would this guy actually go adventuring? What really motivates a druid to be an adventurer?
I've been trying to stay away from stereotypes, but maybe I should embrace one just to make my life easier?
It's a potential problem for a lot of classes. It might make more sense for a wizard to stay in his tower to study, or a fighter to join the army, or a rogue to hang out in the city. You just have to start with the premise that there is something different about your character that makes him want to go on random adventures.
In your case, since he's an older person, perhaps something has happened recently that's forced him to start adventuring. Perhaps the forest he lived in all of his life has been taken over by an evil dragon. Perhaps he needs to awaken the oak in the sacred grove to fulfill an ancient prophecy. Whatever the case, he needs to gain power to accomplish his goal, and adventuring is a means to that end. So he's a reluctant but motivated adventurer.
Or you could go the opposite way. Perhaps he's been tied down all his life. Maybe he's had a hereditary obligation to tend some minor grove, but now he's finally free to pursue his dream of adventuring. Maybe his son is old enough to perform his duties now, or maybe the evil dragon did him a favor by taking over that forest. The character has wanderlust, and he doesn't care where he goes or what he sees as long as it isn't those same dozen trees.
Anyway just some examples. Begin with adventuring in mind and work back to the druid stuff.
he's intrigued by all forms of life in nature - both above and under ground.
This is a loaded statement, isn't it? The party is currently in the Underdark. :evillaugh
(During the final encounter in "Forge of Fury," the way back out was cut off, but they found a cave leading down. They didn't really want to be in the Underdark - they're just looking for a way back to the surface.)
This is a loaded statement, isn't it? The party is currently in the Underdark. :evillaugh
Yes it is. Indeed. I'm beginning to accept the tastiness of mushrooms and fungus as part of my daily diet and believe I can fucntion quite comfortably in the slimey caves of the underdark. Keep it up and I may even CRAFT a summerhome down here.
(To the third parties in the thread - I expressed some trepidation having designed a druid who took the Scribe Scroll and Craft Wondrous Items feats ever being able to make use of his crafting abilities while living in a cave deep underground - I'm over it now).