"Spit on the Old One," LMAO. Nice job, and props to Rick LaRue.
Just a couple of nit picks.
Originally posted by Greyson
Speaking of Dungeon magazine, issue #113, to be specific, the Knights of Holy Shielding PrC is pretty strong. I like it a lot. It is a very specific, narrowly focused PrC, the way all PrCs should be designed.
"Spit on the Old One," LMAO. Nice job, and props to Rick LaRue.
Thanks. I'm glad you liked it.
Originally posted by Lassiviren
Also the 8th level and 10th level abilities are typoed or reversed or something. Also it seems strange that the class doesn't require worship of Heironeous.
We caught the typos too late to change it before it went to press. Erik is going to errata it in another issue of Dungeon. The levels the abilities are gained at is listed correctly on the table, but the references in the text need to be swapped.
The class not having an explicit requirement to worship Heironeous comes from three things. First is the fact that there is no explicit connection anywhere in Greyhawk canon. Second, the KoHS are first and foremost about protecting the Shield Lands; their devotion to the Archpaladin is secondary. In the Living Greyhawk campaign the PC must be from the Shield Lands region. Third, the description from the article makes the connection clear enough and DMs should look at that when PCs try to find a sponsor for entry into the order. PCs who are not followers of Heironeous should have a harder time joining the order, but any valiant protector of the Holy Realm should have a chance (insert all kinds of roleplaying opportunities and plot hooks here). That being said, adding the worship of Heironeous as a strict requirement for the prestige class is always an option for a home campaign.
Originally posted by sedrorovin murghurobag
I remember reading about their connection to heironeous and was a bit surprised, too. Otherwise, I liked it. By the way, where was their previous write-up? I remeber the article but can't seem to find the book.
The two largest pieces of Greyhawk material on the KoHS are in the Player's Guide and the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer. The new article greatly expands what little we had on them previously; the prestige class is completely new. An expanded history for the article, which was removed because of size, is available as a web enhancement here:
http://www.shieldlands.net/files/ooths_hist.pdf
Also, here's the list of the direct KoHS references I worked off of for the article. I have about two more pages of related references I used to check the background, but most of it is more Greyhawk than KoHS (hstory and such). Despite the number of references, there wasn't very much hard info on the KoHS. Most of it is a mention of an NPC or some point of interest (like their arrogance, various victories or defeats, etc).
Knights Of The Holy Shielding References
City of Greyhawk: Adventure Cards #18
City of Greyhawk: Folks, Feuds and Factions p.49, 57, 59, 73-75, 79
City of Greyhawk: Gem of the Flanaess p.58, 95
Come Endless Darkness p.38
From The Ashes: Atlas Of The Flanaess p.16, 37
From The Ashes: Campaign Book p.11, 12, 70
Greyhawk Adventures p.73
Greyhawk Wars: Adventures p.9
Living Greyhawk Gazetteer p.17, 25
Players Guide to Greyhawk p.1, 16, 27, 49, 55, 57
Saga of Old City p.152
The Adventure Begins p.21, 71, 83, 84, 86, 92, 116
The Return of the Eight p.35, 59
WGR4 The Marklands p.11
WGR5 Iuz the Evil p.4, 42, 45, 92
WGR6 City of Skulls p.55
World of Greyhawk Boxed Set: A Guide to the World of Greyhawk p.34, 79
Rick
Despite the number of references, there wasn't very much hard info on the KoHS. Most of it is a mention of an NPC or some point of interest (like their arrogance, various victories or defeats, etc).
Rick, I think you did a wonderful job bringing all the myriad sources together into a compelling focus with an associated PrC to boot.
Question for Erik: Any plans for other pieces on the knightly orders of Greyhawk? All those combined with Holian's two paladin articles would make for a good personal collection.
Originally posted by RLaRue
First is the fact that there is no implicit connection anywhere in Greyhawk canon.
Rick, I think you meant that there is no explicit connection, and that there is only an implicit connection. ;)
I think having the group not have an explicit requirement is fantastic. There are so many hurdles for a non-Heironean getting into the Order of the Holy Shielding that someone overcoming all of them would be a great story in its own right... Knight Bannerette Incosee may have been one of those who have at first, and then converted later, but who knows.
Those who have a say at who can join the Knights of Holy Shielding probably aren't perfect humans themselves so they let their Heironean biases taint thier judgement. Afterall there is a renown arrogance. Still, there is a requirement to be LG, LN or NG... the Order of the Holy Shielding is pretty exclusive. Basically, defend the Shield Lands and don't violate Heironeous' teachings whether you worship him or not, and you're good to go... if you can convince a sponsor.
It DOES lend a tool for great role-playing opportunities.
Originally posted by RLaRue
http://www.shieldlands.net/files/ooths_hist.pdf
Now THIS is a great addition to have.
Everyone with a marginal interest in the Knights of Holy Shielding should read this web enhancement.
Originally posted by Eric Anondson
Rick, I think you meant that there is no explicit connection, and that there is only an implicit connection. ;)
D'oh! You are correct. Funny how the brain works (or doesn't).
Rick
The Knights of the Watch are detailed in a document available to Living Greyhawk players in the Sheldomar Valley check some of the Living Greyhawk websites for Grand March, Principality of Ulek, Keoland or Geoff. The prestige class in non-public.
The Triads for Veluna, Furyondy and Highfolk are working with the Living Greyhawk Circle of Six on the Knights of the Hart. The prestige classes are done and hopefully after Wizards of the Coast R&D look at them Erik can publish the information in Dungeon in another LG approved Greyhawk article. I would hope this is done soon. There's a bunch of groups like the Knights of the Hart and the Old Lore Bards that should have been done in the LGG or Dungeon a while ago...Just a tiny gripe on my part :P
Mike