[dungeoncrawl] Re: Gods of Conflict

  • From: Johnathan Detrick <jdetrick@xxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: dungeoncrawl@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Tue, 22 Oct 2002 09:44:05 -0400

    I think Carpathia is perfect where he is!  However, if Matt doesn't want him
there, that's his choice.  As I said, it's a big decision, and no one should
feel forced into anything.

Damon Kline wrote:

> Actually, I have to admit that while I read over the emails, I didn't go
> over them too much.  I hadn't even noticed that Quasit wasn't in there and I
> forgot that Matt didn't want to make Carpathia a deity.  I thought he fit
> great where Jim put him.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Johnathan Detrick [mailto:jdetrick@xxxxxxxxxxx]
> Sent: Tuesday, October 22, 2002 9:18 AM
> To: dungeoncrawl@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [dungeoncrawl] Re: Gods of Conflict
>
>     I really think that Jim's idea of only one Greater Power works well.  I
> like
> the idea of Dennis as the head of the pantheon.  It's basically makes him a
> Zeus
> or Odin.  By making all of the other deities lesser powers, it also ensures
> a
> lot of squabbling and conflict, especially among the neutral and evil
> powers,
> which is much more interesting.  But that's just my take.
>     As for your other question, I think we should do a combination of both.
> For
> example, if you didn't notice, Jim's pantheon didn't include Quasit.  That
> was
> one of the big omissions I noticed.  So we would fit him in somewhere.
> There's
> a case of knowing someone is a deity and fitting them in.  At the same time,
> it
> doesn't include nature deities.  That may be an example of deciding the
> pantheon
> and finding a character that fits.
>     I'd like to see the pantheon grow as organically as possible.  I'm
> resistant
> to taking a hard and fast approach in either of the directions you
> suggested.
> Either way it seems we will either be cramming in characters that should not
> be
> gods, or cramming in gods that don't make sense.
>     I wonder if your question does not stem from Carpathia being a deity?  I
> know that Matt was not planning on him becoming a god, yet Jim placed him in
> the
> pantheon.  However, he fits so perfectly that I'm hoping Matt will decide to
> leave him there.  However, if he doesn't, that's fine.  No hard feelings.
> Matt
> has been characteristically quiet during all of this.  Matt, your feelings?
>
> Damon Kline wrote:
>
> > Hey guys!  I like what I have read so far.  The idea of breaking down the
> > gods is cool and I think we can make it work.  I'm undecided on the idea
> of
> > only having one greater power.  On one hand, it seems cool and on the
> other
> > hand it seems like we're missing out a bit.  I just don't know yet.
> >
> > I don't know if we talked about it before, but does it make sense to find
> > out which characters will be deities and then decide where they will be in
> > the pantheon or does it make more sense to decide the pantheon and then
> fit
> > characters in?
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Johnathan Detrick [mailto:jdetrick@xxxxxxxxxxx]
> > Sent: Tuesday, October 22, 2002 8:33 AM
> > To: dungeoncrawl@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Subject: [dungeoncrawl] Re: Gods of Conflict
> >
> >     Actually, I had nothing at all to disagree with in your comments on
> the
> > war
> > gods.  I agree they should be demipowers, and couldn't agree more with
> your
> > comments in that regard.  I know that we are missing some powers in major
> > areas.  We have no one that is concerned with nature, and we also have no
> > real
> > magic deity.  I hope to speak more on this later.
> >     Thanks for the explanation on Iludriss though.  That does help me
> > understand
> > him better.
> >     I think you have crafted a unique and interesting pantheon.  Now we
> just
> > need to tweak it.  Of course, we haven't heard from anyone else, on
> whether
> > or
> > not they think this system would work.  Anyone?  Do you like breaking the
> > gods
> > down like this?
> >
> > Jim and Karen wrote:
> >
> > > John, I definitely agree - we need some more coverage.  And this is
> > actually
> > > better than if you had given the same feedback at the time - I like the
> > > comment in Shawn's one forwarded web page that talks about leaving
> things
> > > sit for two weeks and then going back to them.
> > >
> > > One thing, though - about the war gods.  I never explained my views on
> two
> > > things:  Iludriss and why I made the war gods demigods.
> > >
> > > With Iludriss, I always imagined him as a person of average intelligence
> > and
> > > exceptional fighting skill who suffered a tragic magical calamity.  When
> > the
> > > group encountered him, he'd already spent several years in constant pain
> > and
> > > torment from his transformation, and sought a release from it.  He was
> > > insane and enraged, but not necessarily dumb.  This might help to
> explain
> > > why I saw some potential for godhood.
> > >
> > > With the war demigods, I came from the point of view that warfare is an
> > > important part of mortal life, but sort of a limited or "specialized"
> > part.
> > > The lesser war gods are important during war, but not necessarily at
> other
> > > times or in other situations - their portfolios are very limited.  I
> kind
> > of
> > > like the idea of these supremely powerful warriors who compete with one
> > > another to influence the outcome of conflict - they're extremely
> important
> > > to mortal combatants, but their power level reflects their specialized
> > > portfolios.  Again, just my opinion - I'm just throwing out ideas for
> > people
> > > to "munch" on.
> > >
> > > Another thing to mention - even though Gadget is lawful good, as the
> > > proponent of "order" versus Magnus and Amrikol, he might not always be
> the
> > > staunchest ally to Dennis.  After all, Dennis is NG - he prefers
> > moderation,
> > > and wants to let the gods keep each other in check.  Gadget may find it
> > > impossible not to work at cross purposes with Dennis from time to time -
> > >
> > > just some ideas to keep the conversation flowing!
> > >
> > > Jim
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Johnathan Detrick" <jdetrick@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> > > To: <dungeoncrawl@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > > Sent: Monday, October 21, 2002 4:41 PM
> > > Subject: [dungeoncrawl] Re: Gods of Conflict
> > >
> > > >
> > > >     I've finally begun to examine Jim's idea in more detail.  I like
> the
> > > > way he grouped the gods, and I think it may just be the way we want to
> > > > proceed.  However, he is missing a few characters, and I think we may
> be
> > > > missing a few important areas of life.  I'm leaving now, but I hope to
> > > > send out some more e-mails on the subject tomorrow.
> > > >     Sorry it took so long for me to respond to this.
> > > >
> > > > jimkaren@xxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > I'm just going to shoot a few ideas out
> > > > > for feedback -  I'm picturing a world
> > > > > with only one "true" greater power
> > > > > (Dennis), and a number of intermediate
> > > > > powers that struggle with each other
> > > > > for dominance.  Here's the first one -
> > > > > again, I'm trying to find a way to do
> > > > > things differently than they did with
> > > > > FR:
> > > > >
> > > > > Baish - God of War (Intermediate Power)
> > > > >
> > > > > The Faces of War:
> > > > > Sir Baran (LG) *
> > > > > Talosaard (CN) *
> > > > > Cinilac (LN(e)) *
> > > > > Drake (NE) *
> > > > > Iludriss (CE) *
> > > > >
> > > > > Actual portfolio TBD. Basically, they'd
> > > > > be Demi or Lesser powers who represent
> > > > > a different aspect of war.  They
> > > > > wouldn't necessarily report to Baish
> > > > > (since I'm avoiding a FR mindset) but
> > > > > he'd be the one to govern them and keep
> > > > > them from destroying each other.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >


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