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Greyhawk in psionics book

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Apr 06, 2004 11:51:07 I noticed in Wizards' art gallery for the updated psionics book that there are images called Zuoken (showing the god's symbol) and Fist of Zuoken (a prestige class?). So it looks like there will be some minor Greyhawk info in the book. Does anyone know anything about this?

IIRC, isn't Xan Yae another Greyhawk deity concerned with psionics? Maybe she'll get a write-up as well....
#2
eric_anondson
Apr 06, 2004 15:41:17 Zuoken is a demigod of Physical and Mental Mastery. He's reputably an ascended martial artist in the service of Xan Yae. Xan Yae herself is a lesser goddess of Twilight, Shadows, Stealth and Mental Power.

Regards,
Eric Anondson
#3
lincoln_hills
Apr 15, 2004 14:08:06 Anybody else find it odd that WotC simultaneously puts Greyhawk at the bottom of their "products to be released" list, while at the same time making regular use of our favorite setting's deities and icons? Whether it's "Fangs of Lolth" (not 'Lloth') in S&S, or "Fists of Zuoken" in this XPsH, the World of Greyhawk keeps intruding.
If I were still a Realms DM, I'd find the endless necessary retooling and renaming irritating.
Luckily, I ain't. (Or is it "amn't"?)
#4
chatdemon
Apr 15, 2004 15:22:11
Originally posted by Lincoln Hills
Anybody else find it odd that WotC simultaneously puts Greyhawk at the bottom of their "products to be released" list, while at the same time making regular use of our favorite setting's deities and icons? Whether it's "Fangs of Lolth" (not 'Lloth') in S&S, or "Fists of Zuoken" in this XPsH, the World of Greyhawk keeps intruding.

That's called the "core setting" for the game. Not odd at all since that is exactly what WotC announced that they would be doing with Greyhawk in 3e; sporadic products with a presence in all core books.

I'd also point out that even though Fangs of Lolth uses the Greyhawk spelling, IMO the 'drow flavor' used there is pretty FR. For a real Greyhawk take on the drow in 3e, I refer you to Fred Weining's "Vault of the Drow revisited" articles which appeared in Dragon magazine, in issue 297 or 298.
#5
lincoln_hills
Apr 15, 2004 17:33:50 Odd you should mention that - I saw that article the other day. Aside from one little beef (the illithids & drow of Greyhawk have a bitter rivalry dating back to good old Module G3 - I can't imagine an illithid scientist surviving a day in Erelhei-Cinlu...) - aside from my nitpicking, I agree that it did a good job of presenting the Vault of the Drow Experience.
Speaking of which, let me drag this back to the whole 'psionics in Greyhawk' theme which the thread started with. I know that I implement psionics (sparingly) in my campaign - treating it as a gift slightly more common than sorcery, but still rare enough that you'd find only half-a-dozen practicing psions (and a couple of 'wild talents') in a normal city. With the exception of a few obvious cultures (illithid, yuan-ti, Baklunish, braxat if you can call what they have a "culture"), I've assumed that the people of Oerth look on psionics as a somewhat more exotic form of magic, one which is restricted by "blood" somewhat as sorcery is. Does this seem in keeping with the (scanty) presentation of psionics in Classic Greyhawk?
#6
max_writer
Apr 16, 2004 6:55:04 Sounds correct IMHO.
#7
zombiegleemax
Apr 16, 2004 10:16:34
Originally posted by Lincoln Hills
Anybody else find it odd that WotC simultaneously puts Greyhawk at the bottom of their "products to be released" list, while at the same time making regular use of our favorite setting's deities and icons?

Yes, it's odd alright. It's also strange how WotC put this little bit of Greyhawk lore in the psionics book but removed Greyhawk references in the Complete Warrior (Knight Protector of the Great Kingdom became the plain old Knight Protector).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Apr 06, 2004 11:51:07	I noticed in Wizards' art gallery for the updated psionics book that there are images called Zuoken (showing the god's symbol) and Fist of Zuoken (a prestige class?). So it looks like there will be some minor Greyhawk info in the book. Does anyone know anything about this? IIRC, isn't Xan Yae another Greyhawk deity concerned with psionics? Maybe she'll get a write-up as well....
#2 eric_anondson Apr 06, 2004 15:41:17	Zuoken is a demigod of Physical and Mental Mastery. He's reputably an ascended martial artist in the service of Xan Yae. Xan Yae herself is a lesser goddess of Twilight, Shadows, Stealth and Mental Power. Regards, Eric Anondson
#3 lincoln_hills Apr 15, 2004 14:08:06	Anybody else find it odd that WotC simultaneously puts Greyhawk at the bottom of their "products to be released" list, while at the same time making regular use of our favorite setting's deities and icons? Whether it's "Fangs of Lolth" (not 'Lloth') in S&S, or "Fists of Zuoken" in this XPsH, the World of Greyhawk keeps intruding. If I were still a Realms DM, I'd find the endless necessary retooling and renaming irritating. Luckily, I ain't. (Or is it "amn't"?)
#4 chatdemon Apr 15, 2004 15:22:11	Originally posted by Lincoln Hills Anybody else find it odd that WotC simultaneously puts Greyhawk at the bottom of their "products to be released" list, while at the same time making regular use of our favorite setting's deities and icons? Whether it's "Fangs of Lolth" (not 'Lloth') in S&S, or "Fists of Zuoken" in this XPsH, the World of Greyhawk keeps intruding. That's called the "core setting" for the game. Not odd at all since that is exactly what WotC announced that they would be doing with Greyhawk in 3e; sporadic products with a presence in all core books. I'd also point out that even though Fangs of Lolth uses the Greyhawk spelling, IMO the 'drow flavor' used there is pretty FR. For a real Greyhawk take on the drow in 3e, I refer you to Fred Weining's "Vault of the Drow revisited" articles which appeared in Dragon magazine, in issue 297 or 298.
#5 lincoln_hills Apr 15, 2004 17:33:50	Odd you should mention that - I saw that article the other day. Aside from one little beef (the illithids & drow of Greyhawk have a bitter rivalry dating back to good old Module G3 - I can't imagine an illithid scientist surviving a day in Erelhei-Cinlu...) - aside from my nitpicking, I agree that it did a good job of presenting the Vault of the Drow Experience. Speaking of which, let me drag this back to the whole 'psionics in Greyhawk' theme which the thread started with. I know that I implement psionics (sparingly) in my campaign - treating it as a gift slightly more common than sorcery, but still rare enough that you'd find only half-a-dozen practicing psions (and a couple of 'wild talents') in a normal city. With the exception of a few obvious cultures (illithid, yuan-ti, Baklunish, braxat if you can call what they have a "culture"), I've assumed that the people of Oerth look on psionics as a somewhat more exotic form of magic, one which is restricted by "blood" somewhat as sorcery is. Does this seem in keeping with the (scanty) presentation of psionics in Classic Greyhawk?
#6 max_writer Apr 16, 2004 6:55:04	Sounds correct IMHO.
#7 zombiegleemax Apr 16, 2004 10:16:34	Originally posted by Lincoln Hills Anybody else find it odd that WotC simultaneously puts Greyhawk at the bottom of their "products to be released" list, while at the same time making regular use of our favorite setting's deities and icons? Yes, it's odd alright. It's also strange how WotC put this little bit of Greyhawk lore in the psionics book but removed Greyhawk references in the Complete Warrior (Knight Protector of the Great Kingdom became the plain old Knight Protector).