| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| RodOdom |
Posted - 24 Feb 2007 : 06:09:50
What's your favorite good organization, other than the Harpers? For me, it would be the Knights of the Mystic Fire. |
| 30 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| The Sage |
Posted - 11 Mar 2007 : 23:56:39
Well, it may just be a matter of association.
If, like Eric said, he'd started with 'Grey Hands', we likely still would've made the connection with an "elite cadre of powerful warriors" because that's what we've associated the name 'Grey Hands" with. But, 'Grey Hands' wasn't the initial term used, 'Force Grey, was. And so, we make that connection instead.
For me, it's hard to detach the image and conception of the elite cadre from 'Force Grey' and then look at the 'Grey Hands' in such a way. Which is why they remain 'Force Grey' in my campaigns.
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| nbnmare |
Posted - 11 Mar 2007 : 23:53:29
Personally I'd have just swapped the words around. To me, the name 'Grey Force' prints a picture of a small but powerful group of law enforcers, either a splinter group of or unconnected to the main body of law enforcement. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 11 Mar 2007 : 23:43:57
Great point--"Gray Hands" doesn't sound especially vibrant, does it? |
| The Sage |
Posted - 11 Mar 2007 : 23:38:29
To me... 'Grey Hands' conjures up images of a religious order, rather than some elite cadre of loyal, powerful Waterdhavians able to match or exceed the power of the offenders at large. Which is what I expect when I hear the name 'Force Grey.'
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| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 11 Mar 2007 : 21:32:27
quote:
Originally posted by khorne
Force Gray sounds far too much like something Marvel or DC cooked up.
It does. Although on the other hand, "Gray Hands" sounds a bit...I don't know, kind of plain and generic. *shrug* To me anyway. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 11 Mar 2007 : 11:55:41
Well, WotC decided that 'Force Gray' felt inappropriate as a group name in the Realms and that 'Gray Hands' would actually be better.
Eric tells us that his bias, as always, is towards consistency (to a fault), but if he had been starting from scratch he would have definitely picked 'Gray Hands.'
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| khorne |
Posted - 11 Mar 2007 : 09:43:22
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
Though, they're still Force Gray to me! 
Ditto! 
They're the Gray Hands to me. Force Gray sounds far too much like something Marvel or DC cooked up. |
| Delzounblood |
Posted - 03 Mar 2007 : 23:53:41
quote:
Originally posted by Pasta Fzoul
My favorite generally "good" group would be Cormyr's War Wizards. I think the "FBI with wands" conceit holds a lot of creative possibilities 
I agree in part! I say more like Key Stone Cops than FBI, though Mulder & Skully could be armed with wands I guess
But seriously yes the Cormyr's War Wizards are a fave of mine.
Delz |
| Pasta Fzoul |
Posted - 03 Mar 2007 : 21:29:27
My favorite generally "good" group would be Cormyr's War Wizards. I think the "FBI with wands" conceit holds a lot of creative possibilities |
| MerrikCale |
Posted - 28 Feb 2007 : 01:30:27
quote:
Originally posted by Ranin
Lord's Alliance
I would like to see stories written about this group as well |
| Ranin |
Posted - 27 Feb 2007 : 19:50:25
Lord's Alliance |
| nbnmare |
Posted - 26 Feb 2007 : 18:42:10
There's also the Loomwarden (anti-sorcerers) verus Spellsavant (pro-sorcerers) split in the Azuthan faith, as briefly described in Faiths & Pantheons. |
| Lemernis |
Posted - 26 Feb 2007 : 18:22:59
In reading up a little more on Azuth, there's certainly plenty of room for evil types within the faith. But I'd still like to think of the Shining Hand monastic order as largely prosocial because it demands a sense of grave responsibility about the use of magic. Followers of Azuth are taught to maintain a sense of calm and caution with respect to the use of magic; to use always excercise reason and wisdom in its use; to use magic parsimoniously; and to always consider the consequences of the use of magic (especially those which cannot be undone). True, there is an amorality to the religion, and a typical lack of concerns about the social welfare of those in the land. Also Azuth himself was rather power-driven in his rise to divinity. But still, the Authian faith seems to teach a kind of rigorous self-discipline that probably acts as a civilizing force (if civilization is viewed as 'good'; some faiths would disagree, I guess). Anyway, the responsible use of magic would seem on the whole to be a prosocial thing. |
| RodOdom |
Posted - 26 Feb 2007 : 16:49:17
I'd love to read more about the Shining Hands. |
| nbnmare |
Posted - 26 Feb 2007 : 16:22:48
Shining Hand wizard/monks versus Dark Moon sorcerer/monks is a story just waiting to happen... |
| Lemernis |
Posted - 26 Feb 2007 : 15:26:19
Oh, also--speaking of Azuth, FRCS has a sidebar on p. 25 of monastic orders which describes the Shining Hand which is based in Amn and sounds pretty neat. These are monks of Azuth who combine the practice of wizardry with their monastic pursuits. Because of Amnian society's hatred of arcane magic, they remain an underground organization in Amn, though some have left to travel the world beyond Amn's borders. They are said to be one of the oldest monastic orders in Amn. They are Neutral, but I would think their aims are likely as noble as the Cowled Wizards with respect to the preservation of magic, and its use towards responsible, prosocial ends.
These monks often multiclass as wizards, as long as their monk level is equal to or greater than the wizard level. A sort of 'Kung Fu master/wizard' sounds like it like a potentially devastating combination. I would think they'd use spells that immobilize an enemy to render them sitting ducks to be wailed on with their blinding fists and feet. |
| Daviot |
Posted - 26 Feb 2007 : 15:09:46
quote:
Originally posted by RodOdom
It would be nice if they featured some of these groups more in the novels. There's a gaggle of really interesting good groups in the Champions of Valor source book.
Very, very true. We get brief snippets of the some of the day-to-day knightly and paladin orders of good deities, have various feats and PrC's adding flavor, and some interesting illustrations to keep the tone. Paladins of Kelemvor versus a dracolich, anyone?
That said, the idea of the Swords of the High One for Azuth struck a tone with me in that it's both unusual and very...Azuthan. You have an order of paladins who must also be highly intelligent and trained in wizardry. From a rules lawyer standpoint, that's spellcasting that requires Wisdom, Intelligence (and Charisma), rather just pumping a beneficial stat like Charisma. From a roleplaying standpoint, you end up with atypical paladins: I imagine the Swords of the High One paladins to not be the typical "holy bruiser" or "valiant knight in heavy armor" archetypes, but a bit smarter and more subtle at paladinship than most. |
| Victor_ograygor |
Posted - 26 Feb 2007 : 13:18:54
I am old fashion, its okay that you call the Gray Hand enforcer (Just because the prestige class call them that) but for me it’s Force Gray, Waterdeep´s elite force number uno.  |
| MerrikCale |
Posted - 26 Feb 2007 : 03:18:34
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
You mean the Gray Hands?
Though, they're still Force Gray to me!
Eric's thoughts on the subject -
"WoTC decided that Force Grey felt inappropriate as a group name in the Realms and that Gray Hands was a more appropriate.
My bias is always towards consistency (to a fault), but if I was starting from scratch I would have definitely picked "Gray Hands.
--Eric"
I did mean the grey hands. and I had forgotten that force grey stuff. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 26 Feb 2007 : 01:24:33
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
Though, they're still Force Gray to me!
Ditto! |
| The Sage |
Posted - 26 Feb 2007 : 01:14:35
You mean the Gray Hands?
Though, they're still Force Gray to me!
Eric's thoughts on the subject -
"WoTC decided that Force Grey felt inappropriate as a group name in the Realms and that Gray Hands was a more appropriate.
My bias is always towards consistency (to a fault), but if I was starting from scratch I would have definitely picked "Gray Hands.
--Eric"
|
| MerrikCale |
Posted - 26 Feb 2007 : 01:02:39
quote:
Originally posted by Victor_ograygor
I would say Force Gray in Waterdeep if you could call them an origination 
do you mean the Grey Enforcers? |
| Victor_ograygor |
Posted - 25 Feb 2007 : 20:00:04
I would say Force Gray in Waterdeep if you could call them an origination |
| MerrikCale |
Posted - 25 Feb 2007 : 18:31:46
The silverstars |
| RodOdom |
Posted - 25 Feb 2007 : 16:09:14
It would be nice if they featured some of these groups more in the novels. There's a gaggle of really interesting good groups in the Champions of Valor source book. |
| bitter thorn |
Posted - 25 Feb 2007 : 14:23:03
I almost went the same way, but I've got to go with the Lords Alliance.
quote:
Originally posted by Purple Dragon Knight
I can only go by what I have read either in game supplements or novels, which means that the frequency at which we see 'good' organizations appear in these product will ultimately affect my judgement. If I could pick an organization which I know nothing about, I'd pick the Knights of the Shadowy Cloak, a gnome paladin order worshipping Baravar Cloakshadow (as per the F&P supplement). Of the organizations which we know about from game products or novels, I will have to go with [big surprise here] the Purple Dragons of Cormyr, and all affiliated branches (incl. War Wizards, the Highknights, and most of the 'good/honourable' nobles of Cormyr). Alusair and her mobile battalion of 'man-flesh TV dinners' ranks high amidst these organizations! (what can you say? I have a soft spot for hot leader chicks who like to reward their men with some sweet action, after a night of bashing goblin skulls in... hey... I should have been born back in the 60's... I could have grown-up to be one of Janis Joplin's roadies... )
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| Penknight |
Posted - 25 Feb 2007 : 08:15:45
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Moonstars, although calling them "good guys" is a tad simplistic.
I'm right there with you. |
| scererar |
Posted - 25 Feb 2007 : 06:26:54
I would pick one of the various adventuring bands, out to save the realms single handedly |
| Purple Dragon Knight |
Posted - 25 Feb 2007 : 03:03:32
I can only go by what I have read either in game supplements or novels, which means that the frequency at which we see 'good' organizations appear in these product will ultimately affect my judgement. If I could pick an organization which I know nothing about, I'd pick the Knights of the Shadowy Cloak, a gnome paladin order worshipping Baravar Cloakshadow (as per the F&P supplement). Of the organizations which we know about from game products or novels, I will have to go with [big surprise here] the Purple Dragons of Cormyr, and all affiliated branches (incl. War Wizards, the Highknights, and most of the 'good/honourable' nobles of Cormyr). Alusair and her mobile battalion of 'man-flesh TV dinners' ranks high amidst these organizations! (what can you say? I have a soft spot for hot leader chicks who like to reward their men with some sweet action, after a night of bashing goblin skulls in... hey... I should have been born back in the 60's... I could have grown-up to be one of Janis Joplin's roadies... ) |
| Mazrim_Taim |
Posted - 25 Feb 2007 : 02:36:51
The Moonstars are my favorite 'good' group, and have been ever since I read Cloak and Dagger. |
