Tuesday, October 6, 2020

Ring of Five Questions: Round 3

Welcome back Greyhawkers. If you've been following, it's time for another installment of the Return of the Ring of Five QuestionsIf you're coming into this column for the first time this is a community participation feature of Greyhawkery. Go back and read the previous installments then email me at mortellan@gmail.com with your five responses. Remember, you can be as short or wordy as you like in these responses. I think I will keep taking entries until the end of 2020. Now, let's enter the Ring once again, this round we will muse along with two avid Greyhawk fans, Jay Stypinski of Greyhawk Reborn and Rodney Hart (former TSRO/WizO_Rexx from the old TSR/WotC Online forums) This should be good...enjoy!

Q1. What is your favorite realm or region in the World of Greyhawk setting?
Jay: The Grand Duchy of Berghof in the HotSP (Hold of the Sea Princes)
Rodney: The Gnarley Forest has been the start of many a game through the years as it neighbours all kinds of fun spots, be it the Free City of Greyhawk, Dyvers, Verbobonc, or the Wild Coast.  The realm that fascinates me from an anthropological perspective is Shar, though my one attempt at running a "Scarlet Cell" game was derailed by the natural tendency of 30-something D&D players to act like 12-year old kids at the game table.

Berghof of course is the setting of the UK series mods, The Gauntlet and the Sentinel. I love the Sea Princes too, but I still have not ran these modules. Take Jay's advice. Rodney goes with a classic location, the Gnarley is the central region where the TOEE, Greyhawk and so much more happens. You can't go wrong here.

Q2. If you could actually be one Greyhawk deity which one would it be?
Jay: Murlynd
Rodney: Specific to Greyhawk (sorry Garl)?  Obad-hai.  I am a forester by vocation, so a nature power is the obvious choice.  Besides, I love the Green Man imagery.

Rodney is smart to go with his skill set on this but now I'm intrigued by Garl Glittergold as a choice...Jay on the other hand, Murlynd the hero-god is a deity to aspire to, former adventurer, planar traveler, wields modern tech in a medieval setting. What's not to love?

Q3. You have one wish. Which Greyhawk module or accessory would you do over or fix?
Jay: Rose Estes novelization of Against the Giants
Rodney: Three Faces of Evil, by Mike Mearls. The second installment of the Age of Worms adventure path could have used some tweaks to tie it to the bigger picture, allude to future plans, and add some red herrings of an Aqaa nature.  I offered some fixes back in the days of Paizo's Community Boards, Mike liked the suggestions and would have implemented some of them had a rewrite like The Shackled City hardcover been done.  I still offer the advice to people that are running AoW to this day. Tirapheg!

I know I ran Three Faces of Evil, but I don't recall what the wonky parts would be. I am definitely inspired by ol' WizO_Rexx's love of Wind Duke lore though. Jay, you had me at Rose Estes, lol.

Q4: You're putting together an all-star Greyhawk NPC group. Who is your number one pick?
Jay: The Slave Lords
Rodney: Tenser

Jay drafts the entire Wu Tang Clan, er, Slave Lords. He is the second person who has chosen this entire power group, so I may have worded this question poorly. At any rate good choice! Now Rodney has Tenser, owing to his central Flanaess love. Tenser is the heart and soul of much Greyhawk goings-on. Perfect pick!

Q5. If you could possess one artifact or relic from Greyhawk lore, which would it be?
Jay: Blackrazor
Rodney: The Rod of the Seven Parts, just so I can say Wind Dukes of Aqaa a lot. Still think that is an awesome name for a prog-rock band.

Rodney does the Wind Dukes proud, he must be a servant of Law! After all, he was a D&D forum moderator! Jay finishes off this round of the Ring with the nastiest blade in the game. So if you're ever in Berghof and run into Murlynd, don't test this old west paladin, he might draw a hog-leg or Blackrazor!

That was a fun set. I will try to pair more posts going forward. I'm eager to hear from more fans in the Greyhawk community new and old! 

3 comments:

Scott said...

Should have made them fight, cage match-style.

Mike Bridges said...

lol thats an idea!

Rodney Hart said...

One, two, three, four, I declare a thumb war!