Interview with Erik Mona - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Interview with Erik Mona

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Jul 06, 2004 9:38:36 I figured this would probably get drowned out by the noise ratio in the other thread and that it deserved a thread of it's own.

http://www.silven.com/adnd.asp?case=show&id=363
#2
zombiegleemax
Jul 06, 2004 9:49:15 Well... I must say... I'm impressed.

I take almost everything back that I said about him. Almost everything.

And I also must say that I think I'll be checking out Dungeon again in what has been a VERY long absence.

Out of curiosity, Erik, is Monte's Ptolus campaign not using Arcana Unearthed rules?
#3
zombiegleemax
Jul 06, 2004 10:13:02
Out of curiosity, Erik, is Monte's Ptolus campaign not using Arcana Unearthed rules?

It is, although Erik's character is the only one not out of said book. All the other PCs are Arcana Unearthed characters.
#4
zombiegleemax
Jul 06, 2004 10:46:07 I wonder why. The classes in AU are intriguing enough that you'd think he'd bite. Note that I can fault him, none of my players took up the gauntlet when I offered AU classes.
#5
Greyson
Jul 06, 2004 14:41:29
Originally posted by Iksander
The classes in AU are intriguing enough that you'd think he'd bite.

Cook's Arcana Unearthed also has some very cool races - Litorians, Verriks amd Moj - very cool stuff.

Anyway, Mona's interview is awesome. I've said it before, and I'll say it again; Dungeon Magazine is in very capable hands and I trust Mona (and Jacobs and Strohm). They have done a fantastic job the last 18 months. Keep up the great work.
#6
erik_mona
Jul 06, 2004 15:57:51 Since Monte's game is the only regular game I'm in (though I'll eventually start my own), I wanted to play a wizards to help me get more familiar with 3.5 changes to spells and stuff.

--Erik Mona
#7
zombiegleemax
Jul 06, 2004 17:10:17 EDIT: Okay, I'm going to re-open this thread. Let's try to keep it on Greyhawk, though, okay?

Erik, for board members who are not familiar with your history with Greyhawk, could you tell us a bit about your history with Greyhawk?
#8
zombiegleemax
Jul 07, 2004 1:29:45 As I have an interest in combining Arcana Unearthed with GH, I'm curious to know if you would ever consider using AU classes (not races) and rules, such as truenames, in your Greyhawk game?

I've combined the two rather successfully, I think. Many of the AU classes can be modified slightly, (names and descriptions) to really add a flavour boost. The classes can bring a lot of Greyhawk fine details and intricacies to light, such as the differences in magical traditions between the human and even demi-human races, and how various cultures represent themselves in combat (for instance the Warmain being peculiar to oeridian society and the unfettered being a popular class amongst the sailing and pirate nations).

Also, I'm curious to know how you're going to incorporate GH adventures in Dungeon as being generic enough to appeal to the masses. Will writers have to avoid tying their Greyhawk adventures to any specific Greyhawk locales or involving Greyhawk persona's or will you require that an adventure be easily ported by changing place names and NPC names? How Greyhawk can a Greyhawk adventure submission be?
#9
zombiegleemax
Jul 07, 2004 8:49:26
Originally posted by WizO_Drake
EDIT: Okay, I'm going to re-open this thread. Let's try to keep it on Greyhawk, though, okay?

Erik, for board members who are not familiar with your history with Greyhawk, could you tell us a bit about your history with Greyhawk?

Hey, thanks for re-opening this Greyhawk topic, Drake.

People unfamiliar with Erik's Greyhawk history can actually use this thread and check out the interview in which Erik speaks about his D&D Road and the future he envisions for Greyhawk.
#10
Greyson
Jul 07, 2004 11:12:05
Originally posted by Iksander
As I have an interest in combining Arcana Unearthed with GH, I'm curious to know if you would ever consider using AU classes (not races) and rules, such as truenames, in your Greyhawk game?

Hey, Iskander - good question, and one we discussed when Arcana Unearthed (AU) initially released.

I still think AU has a lot of potential to customize and enrich a GH campaign. We have associated the Magister from AU as the primary magic-using class for our Balklunish wizards. It gave our Balklunish PC a very unique and alien style that made him an interesting PC.

I won't bore you with any more details, in an effort to prevent this thread from getting too long. But the above is one element of AU we have adopted.

Oh yea, and thanks, WizO_Drake, for reopening this thread. You're doing a good job, mate. It's not easy managing the GH boards.
#11
zombiegleemax
Jul 07, 2004 14:10:34
Originally posted by Greyson
Oh yea, and thanks, WizO_Drake, for reopening this thread. You're doing a good job, mate. It's not easy managing the GH boards.

Heh! Not a prob, guys. I'll try to just nudge the thread back in the right direction next time. Just for the record, I consider Erik Mona to be an honored guest on these boards.

Back to topic...

It’s been a while since I opened my copy of Arcana Unearthed, but I think it would be a good fit for Greyhawk. Certainly, the magister has the feel of many of GH’s spellcasters, such as the Circle of Eight. I’m not quite sure how the mage blade or greenbond would work.

Personally, I think the totem warrior would be the perfect fit for the Tiger Nomads and Wolf Nomads. What do you guys think?
#12
Argon
Jul 07, 2004 22:35:49 Well Wizo Drake, In think the Totem Warrior has Tiger and Wolf Nomads written all over it. As far as the mage classes I'm not familar with those because I don't own Unearthed Arcana but have read some of it's contents from those that do own it.

Besides I have my own theories on the way magic should work in greyhawk and the magical school or pratices a given region might subscribe too.

Besides here's a little something for those elf fans out there. Check out my Valley of the Mage article part II which includes the treeshaper which was inspired by ElfQuest.
#13
zombiegleemax
Jul 07, 2004 22:47:14
Originally posted by WizO_Drake
I’m not quite sure how the mage blade or greenbond would work.

Some conversion notes...
#14
zombiegleemax
Jul 08, 2004 16:48:45 Sweet. I am surprised that Lassiviren is getting the 3rd ed update so soon. A critical threat no less. It will be interesting to see what one of my main NPC villains gets for a write up.

It's great having a true 'hawker editing Dungeon.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Jul 06, 2004 9:38:36	I figured this would probably get drowned out by the noise ratio in the other thread and that it deserved a thread of it's own. http://www.silven.com/adnd.asp?case=show&id=363
#2 zombiegleemax Jul 06, 2004 9:49:15	Well... I must say... I'm impressed. I take almost everything back that I said about him. Almost everything. And I also must say that I think I'll be checking out Dungeon again in what has been a VERY long absence. Out of curiosity, Erik, is Monte's Ptolus campaign not using Arcana Unearthed rules?
#3 zombiegleemax Jul 06, 2004 10:13:02	Out of curiosity, Erik, is Monte's Ptolus campaign not using Arcana Unearthed rules? It is, although Erik's character is the only one not out of said book. All the other PCs are Arcana Unearthed characters.
#4 zombiegleemax Jul 06, 2004 10:46:07	I wonder why. The classes in AU are intriguing enough that you'd think he'd bite. Note that I can fault him, none of my players took up the gauntlet when I offered AU classes.
#5 Greyson Jul 06, 2004 14:41:29	Originally posted by Iksander The classes in AU are intriguing enough that you'd think he'd bite. Cook's Arcana Unearthed also has some very cool races - Litorians, Verriks amd Moj - very cool stuff. Anyway, Mona's interview is awesome. I've said it before, and I'll say it again; Dungeon Magazine is in very capable hands and I trust Mona (and Jacobs and Strohm). They have done a fantastic job the last 18 months. Keep up the great work.
#6 erik_mona Jul 06, 2004 15:57:51	Since Monte's game is the only regular game I'm in (though I'll eventually start my own), I wanted to play a wizards to help me get more familiar with 3.5 changes to spells and stuff. --Erik Mona
#7 zombiegleemax Jul 06, 2004 17:10:17	EDIT: Okay, I'm going to re-open this thread. Let's try to keep it on Greyhawk, though, okay? Erik, for board members who are not familiar with your history with Greyhawk, could you tell us a bit about your history with Greyhawk?
#8 zombiegleemax Jul 07, 2004 1:29:45	As I have an interest in combining Arcana Unearthed with GH, I'm curious to know if you would ever consider using AU classes (not races) and rules, such as truenames, in your Greyhawk game? I've combined the two rather successfully, I think. Many of the AU classes can be modified slightly, (names and descriptions) to really add a flavour boost. The classes can bring a lot of Greyhawk fine details and intricacies to light, such as the differences in magical traditions between the human and even demi-human races, and how various cultures represent themselves in combat (for instance the Warmain being peculiar to oeridian society and the unfettered being a popular class amongst the sailing and pirate nations). Also, I'm curious to know how you're going to incorporate GH adventures in Dungeon as being generic enough to appeal to the masses. Will writers have to avoid tying their Greyhawk adventures to any specific Greyhawk locales or involving Greyhawk persona's or will you require that an adventure be easily ported by changing place names and NPC names? How Greyhawk can a Greyhawk adventure submission be?
#9 zombiegleemax Jul 07, 2004 8:49:26	Originally posted by WizO_Drake EDIT: Okay, I'm going to re-open this thread. Let's try to keep it on Greyhawk, though, okay? Erik, for board members who are not familiar with your history with Greyhawk, could you tell us a bit about your history with Greyhawk? Hey, thanks for re-opening this Greyhawk topic, Drake. People unfamiliar with Erik's Greyhawk history can actually use this thread and check out the interview in which Erik speaks about his D&D Road and the future he envisions for Greyhawk.
#10 Greyson Jul 07, 2004 11:12:05	Originally posted by Iksander As I have an interest in combining Arcana Unearthed with GH, I'm curious to know if you would ever consider using AU classes (not races) and rules, such as truenames, in your Greyhawk game? Hey, Iskander - good question, and one we discussed when Arcana Unearthed (AU) initially released. I still think AU has a lot of potential to customize and enrich a GH campaign. We have associated the Magister from AU as the primary magic-using class for our Balklunish wizards. It gave our Balklunish PC a very unique and alien style that made him an interesting PC. I won't bore you with any more details, in an effort to prevent this thread from getting too long. But the above is one element of AU we have adopted. Oh yea, and thanks, WizO_Drake, for reopening this thread. You're doing a good job, mate. It's not easy managing the GH boards.
#11 zombiegleemax Jul 07, 2004 14:10:34	Originally posted by Greyson Oh yea, and thanks, WizO_Drake, for reopening this thread. You're doing a good job, mate. It's not easy managing the GH boards. Heh! Not a prob, guys. I'll try to just nudge the thread back in the right direction next time. Just for the record, I consider Erik Mona to be an honored guest on these boards. Back to topic... It’s been a while since I opened my copy of Arcana Unearthed, but I think it would be a good fit for Greyhawk. Certainly, the magister has the feel of many of GH’s spellcasters, such as the Circle of Eight. I’m not quite sure how the mage blade or greenbond would work. Personally, I think the totem warrior would be the perfect fit for the Tiger Nomads and Wolf Nomads. What do you guys think?
#12 Argon Jul 07, 2004 22:35:49	Well Wizo Drake, In think the Totem Warrior has Tiger and Wolf Nomads written all over it. As far as the mage classes I'm not familar with those because I don't own Unearthed Arcana but have read some of it's contents from those that do own it. Besides I have my own theories on the way magic should work in greyhawk and the magical school or pratices a given region might subscribe too. Besides here's a little something for those elf fans out there. Check out my Valley of the Mage article part II which includes the treeshaper which was inspired by ElfQuest.
#13 zombiegleemax Jul 07, 2004 22:47:14	Originally posted by WizO_Drake I’m not quite sure how the mage blade or greenbond would work. Some conversion notes...
#14 zombiegleemax Jul 08, 2004 16:48:45	Sweet. I am surprised that Lassiviren is getting the 3rd ed update so soon. A critical threat no less. It will be interesting to see what one of my main NPC villains gets for a write up. It's great having a true 'hawker editing Dungeon.