| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Kuje |
Posted - 28 Apr 2005 : 18:20:16
OK, you folks have been asking for it, here it is: The Champions of Ruin ToC. I had to keystroke this in, so I didn't bother with many of the subordinate headers. I added a few quick notes about some things I thought you might want info on.
Just a reminder: I did very little work on this book. My only contribution was the initial write-ups on Bazim-Gorag and Malkizid, and even those were expanded on by the other authors (Jeff Crook, Wil Upchurch, and Eric Boyd).
INTRODUCTION
What You Need to Play
How to Use This Book in Your Campaign
Philosophies of Evil
Discussion of how folks might justify being evil--for example, by believing that there is no evil.
CHAPTER 1: RACES
Draegloth
Extaminaar
Krinth
CHAPTER 2: TOOLS OF EVIL
Feats
New Spells
Epic Spells
Magic Items
Looks like 36 new spells, plus 7 epic spells.
CHAPTER 3: PRESTIGE CLASSES
Black Blood Cultist
Justice of Weald and Woe
Night Mask Deathbringer
Shade Hunter
Thayan Gladiator
Vengeance Knight
CHAPTER 4: EVIL ORGANIZATIONS
Cult of the Dragon
Cults of the Moon
The Eldreth Veluuthra
Monks of the Dark Moon
Sharran Cells
The Unworthy of Ilsensine
Zhentarim
CHAPTER 5: EVIL PLACES
Evil Nodes
Shadow Weave Nodes
Shrines
Other Evil Sites
CHAPTER 6: ENCOUNTERS WITH EVIL
The Tone of Your Game
What the Players Want
Why Run an Evil Game?
Enemies and Allies
Nine ready-to-use villains, all statted up, with backstories and suggestions for use.
CHAPTER 7: CHAMPIONS OF EVIL
Aumvor the Undying
Living Zombie
Eltab
Thall of Eltab
Soneillon, "Queen of Whispers"
Dendar the Night Serpent
Caverns of the Serpent Mother
Kezef the Chaos Hound
The Death Shallows
Ityak-Ortheel, the Elf Eater
Bazim-Gorag, the Firebringer
Malkizid, the Branded King |
| 30 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Snotlord |
Posted - 05 May 2005 : 11:58:44
Maybe its just me, but it seems that FR is the only product line wotc develops new epic material. Not that I mind, the FR epic material has been very cool so far, and much more interesting than the generic material in ELH and the Complete Warrior.
The Champions of Evil chapter should give me material for years to come, judging by the TOC  |
| VEDSICA |
Posted - 02 May 2005 : 03:36:47
I am very interested in the Champions of Evil myself. |
| Krafus |
Posted - 01 May 2005 : 13:44:20
quote:
Originally posted by George Krashos
 Sorry to get your Planescape juices flowing Sage but Wooly is right - I was alluding to the fact that I think Aumvor will be a fine addition to the FR firmament and a potentially awesome long-term evil protagonist for any Realms campaign.
Oh, and he's Netherese.
-- George Krashos
Just the fact that he's Netherese is enough to make me want to see his stats. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 30 Apr 2005 : 12:20:15
Oh, to hear that Aumvor is Netherese is a comparable trade-off as far as my PS interests are concerned... .
|
| George Krashos |
Posted - 30 Apr 2005 : 12:13:42
Sorry to get your Planescape juices flowing Sage but Wooly is right - I was alluding to the fact that I think Aumvor will be a fine addition to the FR firmament and a potentially awesome long-term evil protagonist for any Realms campaign.
Oh, and he's Netherese.
-- George Krashos
|
| The Sage |
Posted - 30 Apr 2005 : 06:55:53
That could be.
Although, the keepers are an extraplanar race, with a history of involving themselves in worldly events. CoR seems to cover a great deal about outsiders who mingle in mortal and Material Plane affairs.
Or it may have been that I just let the anticipation for this sourcebook overwhelm my deductive reasoning centres...  .
|
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 30 Apr 2005 : 05:34:45
Uh, Sage, you do realize, do you not, that by "keeper" he could have meant that Aumvor was one worth keeping around? |
| The Sage |
Posted - 30 Apr 2005 : 04:50:46
Interesting. The keepers have a liking for knowledge and information that borders on obsession. They'll always seem to show up right when one least expects it demanding some fragment of knowledge. Of course, what they individually do with this knowledge they collect is something else that has never been fully revealed about the keepers. However, it seems Aumvor has found some good use for what he "keeps", by manipulating others with what he has learned.
I've always had a soft spot for the keeper race, right back from the early PS days when they were first introduced in the PSMCII.
This is just another aspect of this book that I can't wait to learn more about  .
|
| George Krashos |
Posted - 30 Apr 2005 : 03:35:10
Whilst not having seen Malkizid, but knowing all about the Kezef, Dendar the Elf-eater etc, the one I think many people will enjoy is Aumvor. Just pure, manipulative evil. He's a keeper.
-- George Krashos
|
| Krafus |
Posted - 29 Apr 2005 : 15:02:53
(Un)holy...
Aumvor, Eltab, Kezef, Ityak-Ortheel, Malkizid (who will probably play a prominent role in the Lost Mythal trilogy)... So many epic villains whose stats I've wondered at...
Champions of Ruin has just sold a copy. |
| Dargoth |
Posted - 29 Apr 2005 : 08:22:57
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
Is there anything mentioned about the EV in that module that we don't already know from the few other previous resources that detail them?
Only that the Elves in ITDL are likely to join them if they escape from the Demi plane |
| The Sage |
Posted - 29 Apr 2005 : 06:44:14
Is there anything mentioned about the EV in that module that we don't already know from the few other previous resources that detail them?
|
| Dargoth |
Posted - 29 Apr 2005 : 06:03:33
Ah ok, its not alot
The Eldreth Veluuthra is mentioned in the "Concluding the Adventure" section of the module for the elvee. hmm i thought there was more..Oh well |
| Kuje |
Posted - 29 Apr 2005 : 05:33:55
quote:
Originally posted by SiriusBlack
quote:
Originally posted by kuje31
Huh.... no that module ties in with the Cormyr novels and it came out before the FRCS.....
Thanks kuje. Late here, but that's what I thought.
Nod and I don't recall them being in that module..... Are you sure Dargoth? I know Cloak & Dagger has info on them..... |
| SiriusBlack |
Posted - 29 Apr 2005 : 04:21:46
quote:
Originally posted by kuje31
Huh.... no that module ties in with the Cormyr novels and it came out before the FRCS.....
Thanks kuje. Late here, but that's what I thought. |
| Dargoth |
Posted - 29 Apr 2005 : 04:19:07
It does however have more info than the other 2 FR products he mentioned |
| Kuje |
Posted - 29 Apr 2005 : 04:16:22
quote:
Originally posted by SiriusBlack
quote:
Originally posted by Dargoth
Into the Dragons lair has more info
Was that tome published after Lords of Darkness?
Huh.... no that module ties in with the Cormyr novels and it came out before the FRCS..... |
| SiriusBlack |
Posted - 29 Apr 2005 : 04:13:12
quote:
Originally posted by Dargoth
Into the Dragons lair has more info
Was that tome published after Lords of Darkness? |
| Dargoth |
Posted - 29 Apr 2005 : 04:04:05
quote:
Originally posted by SiriusBlack
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I'm particularly interested in the Eldreth Veluuthra, too. 
Yes, it will be interesting to see what new information this tome has to offer versus the organization's write up in LOD. To my knowledge, there have been no other FR novels or gaming products between LOD and COR's publication that explored the EV. Correct?
Into the Dragons lair has more info |
| SiriusBlack |
Posted - 29 Apr 2005 : 03:46:39
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I'm particularly interested in the Eldreth Veluuthra, too.
Yes, it will be interesting to see what new information this tome has to offer versus the organization's write up in LOD. To my knowledge, there have been no other FR novels or gaming products between LOD and COR's publication that explored the EV. Correct? |
| Dargoth |
Posted - 29 Apr 2005 : 02:55:59
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
[br
Vengeance Knight does sound like something Hoar would have...
Cults of the Moon... I'm really curious to see what that one is.
As for your speculation of evil sites... That's an interesting notion. It could certainly be argued that Boareskyr Bridge would qualify... But what about where Bane died? And I'm seriously doubting that the top of Blackstaff Tower would be an evil site...
We know that the River that runs under Boareskyr bridge is tainted with evil
The site where Bane and Torm died is probably been cleaned up by Torms followers or Torm and Bane may have cancelled each other out (Ala Dagobath in Timothy Zahns SW Heir to Empire novels)
Mykrul on the other hand didnt really die on Blackstaffs tower his essense was sent away to a number of different locations including the Sea of Swords (Where we know Mykrul now has a temple on the sea floor) and the market area in Waterdeep which crumbled and decayed where ever Mykruls essense touched. Now the MArket area has probably been cleansed but Mykruls essense may have been washed down into Waterdeeps sewers or it may have even ended up in Undermoutain....... |
| ericlboyd |
Posted - 29 Apr 2005 : 02:34:40
Not sure how the rest of the book was split up ... but I only had a small bit.
I detailed Aumvor the Undying (and Living Zombies and 2 epic spells), Eltab (and Thrall of Eltab), Soneillion (and her pet death knight), and the magic items that go with these guys.
--Eric |
| The Sage |
Posted - 29 Apr 2005 : 02:09:31
quote:
Originally posted by kuje31
(Jeff Crook, Wil Upchurch, and Eric Boyd)
Ah! Then Baker's work is in good hands. All three writers/designers have been exceptional in their other works. Crook has done wonders for the DL line, and Wil Upchurch's creative efforts in the Midnight setting know no bounds. And then there's Eric... But we already know how wonderful he is  .
quote:
The Unworthy of Ilsensine
This sounds particularly intriguing. Kuje do you know yet who was directly responsible for each write-up for each chapter or section?
|
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 29 Apr 2005 : 01:12:10
quote:
Originally posted by Dargoth
Hmm interesting
I was hoping for a Knight of the Black Gauntlet PrC.....Oh well
Any ideas on the following
Prcs
Justice of Weald and Woe (Sounds like a PrC for Tyche)
Venegence Knight (PrC for Hoar?)
Organisations
Cults of the Moon: Sounds like an evil Cult for Selune!!
I wonder if any of the places where evil gods died during the time of troubles will be considered Evil Sites
Vengeance Knight does sound like something Hoar would have...
Cults of the Moon... I'm really curious to see what that one is.
As for your speculation of evil sites... That's an interesting notion. It could certainly be argued that Boareskyr Bridge would qualify... But what about where Bane died? And I'm seriously doubting that the top of Blackstaff Tower would be an evil site... |
| Dargoth |
Posted - 29 Apr 2005 : 00:07:54
Hmm interesting
I was hoping for a Knight of the Black Gauntlet PrC.....Oh well
Any ideas on the following
Prcs
Justice of Weald and Woe (Sounds like a PrC for Tyche)
Venegence Knight (PrC for Hoar?)
Organisations
Cults of the Moon: Sounds like an evil Cult for Selune!!
I wonder if any of the places where evil gods died during the time of troubles will be considered Evil Sites
|
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 29 Apr 2005 : 00:00:45
I'm interested in the Draegloth, too... But I don't recognize the other two races from their names. I pray to Lurue that neither of them is a "return".
I'm particularly interested in the Eldreth Veluuthra, too. |
| Alaundo |
Posted - 28 Apr 2005 : 23:18:18
Well met
Splendid. Many thanks for bringing this over, Kuje
I'm more interestd in this tome that I initially expected i'd be. I'm quite surprised and happy to see Draegloth's featured in the Race section for starters and am very eager to read the beings listed Chapter 7, many of which I have hoped to read of for some time now. Chapters 4 through 6 also hold great interest to me.
Yet another fine FR tome |
| Chosen of Moradin |
Posted - 28 Apr 2005 : 18:33:44
Thank´s Kuje!
For all the chapters, this book aparently will be a great boon to FR fans! |
| Kuje |
Posted - 28 Apr 2005 : 18:30:02
quote:
Originally posted by SiriusBlack
Thanks kuje for this ToC. Did this come from Richard Baker on the WOTC message boards?
Yup he just posted it within the hour. :) |
| SiriusBlack |
Posted - 28 Apr 2005 : 18:25:19
Thanks kuje for this ToC. Did this come from Richard Baker on the WOTC message boards? |
