Druids; Sacrifice and the Wild Hunt within Greyhawk - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Druids; Sacrifice and the Wild Hunt within Greyhawk

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
crag
May 30, 2006 19:35:44 I have long felt the “Druidic Faith” has gotten the short end of the stick in most games; Druids becoming more green peace eco-activists than the fearful repository of natures force. To that end I have been trying to think of ways to revitalize and validate the Druids’ fearsome reputation.

Looking through various sources; some GH or other worlds, historical, mythological and OJ articles, some defunct; through some rewriting (tweaking) I have cobbled together a rough article that provides the druid a more savage context to help explain the fearful and beneficial awe they inspire.

Though I freely admit most of it is “taken more or less” as is from the sources and simply harmonized with other worthy concepts for the druidic faith; especially the well written OJ15 articles and Bastard Greyhawk site within one article.

It has helped me add more depth to nature and I would like to have other posters opinions on the controversial topics of druidic sacrifice and “the wild hunt” which I feel adds a unique and powerful druidic flavor to the game if handled correctly.

I have no desire to upset or reprint a posters work without consent; so I hope this option to send the article to those interested or to gain clarification of policy or hopefully consent from the authors involved. This is not an attempt to anger anyone simply to stimulate an open exchange of ideas to improve gaming for all concerned.

All interested please pm or email.
#2
waltero
May 30, 2006 21:57:48 Sometime in the near future I hope to begin a new campaign based on the Liberation of Geoff sourcebook. In my mind, I want the PC's to be of the "old faith," a pagan people, before the coming of the gods. I want to focus on the more mysterious aspects of druids, rather than only nature lovers and Obadhai worshippers.

I was toying with the idea of deconstructing the druid into three subclasses, using Diablo II as a guide. This would give an elemental (arcane) class, a shapeshifting (tank or stealth depending on bear or wolf) class, and a summoning/spiritual (divine) class. However, the fineries of doing so were more difficult than I was able to work out. I might keep at it.

I am intrigued by the dragon shaman in the PHBII. That fits in with my pagan tribe concept. What do you have so far on changing the focus of druids?
#3
crag
May 31, 2006 12:57:09 I haven't changed the class in terms of mechanics; rather I have added the practise of sentient sacrifice and incorporated a version of the wild hunt found within celtic and germanic myth and lore.

The practice of sacrifice provides the druid a more savage and neutral cast while explainining the fearful aspect the class has to have to balance the eco-friendly abilities. I always felt the druids should encompass both the friendly and feral nature for the populace; respect tinged with fear.

The Wild Hunt is an event which highlights and deepens the uniqueness of the druidic community. It also provides an acknowledgement by the civilized powers that nature must be accepted and never fully controlled.
#4
crag
May 31, 2006 12:57:11 I have sent you an e-mail with the document waltero; Sorry about the length but I wanted all my druidic information in one place.

The wild hunt is about 2/3 of the way in and the sentinent sacrifice is at the end of the article.

Look forward to your opinion of it.
#5
waltero
Jun 01, 2006 8:53:59 The email address in my profile was a bad one. Could you try to re-send. I updated it. Thanks.
#6
qstor
Jun 02, 2006 8:56:29 There was an article in Dragon on the Wild Hunt a few issues ago that might help too.

Mike
#7
extempus
Jun 22, 2006 4:10:04
I have long felt the “Druidic Faith” has gotten the short end of the stick in most games; Druids becoming more green peace eco-activists than the fearful repository of natures force. To that end I have been trying to think of ways to revitalize and validate the Druids’ fearsome reputation.

Looking through various sources; some GH or other worlds, historical, mythological and OJ articles, some defunct; through some rewriting (tweaking) I have cobbled together a rough article that provides the druid a more savage context to help explain the fearful and beneficial awe they inspire.

It has helped me add more depth to nature and I would like to have other posters opinions on the controversial topics of druidic sacrifice and “the wild hunt” which I feel adds a unique and powerful druidic flavor to the game if handled correctly.

That's why I thought the Shadow Circle fit so well in my campaign; the general populace refers to them as "Black Druids" to differentiate between them and regular druids who, while not necessarily being good or lawful, have more respect for civilization than do the socially Darwinistic Black Druids. I hadn't considered including sacrifice and the Wild Hunt, but they would definitely not be out of character for the Black Druids...

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 crag May 30, 2006 19:35:44	I have long felt the “Druidic Faith” has gotten the short end of the stick in most games; Druids becoming more green peace eco-activists than the fearful repository of natures force. To that end I have been trying to think of ways to revitalize and validate the Druids’ fearsome reputation. Looking through various sources; some GH or other worlds, historical, mythological and OJ articles, some defunct; through some rewriting (tweaking) I have cobbled together a rough article that provides the druid a more savage context to help explain the fearful and beneficial awe they inspire. Though I freely admit most of it is “taken more or less” as is from the sources and simply harmonized with other worthy concepts for the druidic faith; especially the well written OJ15 articles and Bastard Greyhawk site within one article. It has helped me add more depth to nature and I would like to have other posters opinions on the controversial topics of druidic sacrifice and “the wild hunt” which I feel adds a unique and powerful druidic flavor to the game if handled correctly. I have no desire to upset or reprint a posters work without consent; so I hope this option to send the article to those interested or to gain clarification of policy or hopefully consent from the authors involved. This is not an attempt to anger anyone simply to stimulate an open exchange of ideas to improve gaming for all concerned. All interested please pm or email.
#2 waltero May 30, 2006 21:57:48	Sometime in the near future I hope to begin a new campaign based on the Liberation of Geoff sourcebook. In my mind, I want the PC's to be of the "old faith," a pagan people, before the coming of the gods. I want to focus on the more mysterious aspects of druids, rather than only nature lovers and Obadhai worshippers. I was toying with the idea of deconstructing the druid into three subclasses, using Diablo II as a guide. This would give an elemental (arcane) class, a shapeshifting (tank or stealth depending on bear or wolf) class, and a summoning/spiritual (divine) class. However, the fineries of doing so were more difficult than I was able to work out. I might keep at it. I am intrigued by the dragon shaman in the PHBII. That fits in with my pagan tribe concept. What do you have so far on changing the focus of druids?
#3 crag May 31, 2006 12:57:09	I haven't changed the class in terms of mechanics; rather I have added the practise of sentient sacrifice and incorporated a version of the wild hunt found within celtic and germanic myth and lore. The practice of sacrifice provides the druid a more savage and neutral cast while explainining the fearful aspect the class has to have to balance the eco-friendly abilities. I always felt the druids should encompass both the friendly and feral nature for the populace; respect tinged with fear. The Wild Hunt is an event which highlights and deepens the uniqueness of the druidic community. It also provides an acknowledgement by the civilized powers that nature must be accepted and never fully controlled.
#4 crag May 31, 2006 12:57:11	I have sent you an e-mail with the document waltero; Sorry about the length but I wanted all my druidic information in one place. The wild hunt is about 2/3 of the way in and the sentinent sacrifice is at the end of the article. Look forward to your opinion of it.
#5 waltero Jun 01, 2006 8:53:59	The email address in my profile was a bad one. Could you try to re-send. I updated it. Thanks.
#6 qstor Jun 02, 2006 8:56:29	There was an article in Dragon on the Wild Hunt a few issues ago that might help too. Mike
#7 extempus Jun 22, 2006 4:10:04	I have long felt the “Druidic Faith” has gotten the short end of the stick in most games; Druids becoming more green peace eco-activists than the fearful repository of natures force. To that end I have been trying to think of ways to revitalize and validate the Druids’ fearsome reputation. Looking through various sources; some GH or other worlds, historical, mythological and OJ articles, some defunct; through some rewriting (tweaking) I have cobbled together a rough article that provides the druid a more savage context to help explain the fearful and beneficial awe they inspire. It has helped me add more depth to nature and I would like to have other posters opinions on the controversial topics of druidic sacrifice and “the wild hunt” which I feel adds a unique and powerful druidic flavor to the game if handled correctly. That's why I thought the Shadow Circle fit so well in my campaign; the general populace refers to them as "Black Druids" to differentiate between them and regular druids who, while not necessarily being good or lawful, have more respect for civilization than do the socially Darwinistic Black Druids. I hadn't considered including sacrifice and the Wild Hunt, but they would definitely not be out of character for the Black Druids...