| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| RaistMagus |
Posted - 28 Feb 2011 : 14:09:30
Greetings sages!
I am in need of information abou the ogre magi and I would be gratefull if you could direct me towards any official FR material discussing their communities, ethics, lifestyle and so on. I do have a preference for 2nd edition material, though anything will be very helpful.
Thank you in advance.
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| 18 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Thelonius |
Posted - 08 Aug 2011 : 17:22:12
quote:
Originally posted by Fellfire
So, I'm planning on using a clan of Ogre Magi as antagonists in an upcoming campaign. My question is this. Although they seem to be much more civilized than your average goblinoid, they are still Ogres. How much infighting do you think goes on inside an Ogre Magi clan? Can they function as a coherent unit? Do you think strength and fear of reprisal is the only structure, or is there any cooperation and coordination?
Maybe both of them, once one Ogre-Magi has become the leader cause it's magic, the rest of the clan would work as a whole. I once made something similar, and the clan leader was trully respected by his peers, as they valued magic above everything else, and they somehow despised the "bone-chewing" ogre way of conduct. The power of the leader impressed them and earned their respect, the means he achieved leadership was somehow civilized as he defied the former leader to a magic duel.
You can also get some inspiration about ogre magic from sources like Baldur's Gate, the one in Gullykin mentioned prevously, Shadows of Amn, where you find a good ogre magi called Madulf leading a bunch of Sythsyll desertors and one appearing in NWN2, the one on Arvahn that I can't remember right now. |
| Thieran |
Posted - 08 Aug 2011 : 12:58:10
A little addition to Ogre Magi in the Realms: an Ogre Magus is the antagonist in the Hand of Vaprak Forgotten Realms comic series, which has recently been reprinted: http://www.candlekeep.com/bookshelf/novels/frc-vol1.htm |
| Fellfire |
Posted - 08 Aug 2011 : 02:15:04
So, I'm planning on using a clan of Ogre Magi as antagonists in an upcoming campaign. My question is this. Although they seem to be much more civilized than your average goblinoid, they are still Ogres. How much infighting do you think goes on inside an Ogre Magi clan? Can they function as a coherent unit? Do you think strength and fear of reprisal is the only structure, or is there any cooperation and coordination? |
| Barastir |
Posted - 04 Mar 2011 : 12:59:31
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
'Ogre-Mage' is the western term for Wang-Liang, which are Oni (demon)-Ogre crossbreeds.
I didn't know that. There are Wang-Liang in the 1st edition Oriental Adventures, and in the Kara-Tur Monster Compendium folio (which was released in 2e, but kept some 1e rules, just like the Kara-Tur boxed set, since a 2e Oriental setting was never released). However, the Ogre mage looks more like an Oni, not being very similar to this particular version of Wang-Liang. |
| Dalor Darden |
Posted - 04 Mar 2011 : 05:40:46
The Ogre Kingdom of Thar was ruled by Ogre-Magi called the Kur-Tharsu. Dig around about Thar and you might find out more about Ogre-Magi. |
| Alisttair |
Posted - 03 Mar 2011 : 18:45:55
quote:
Originally posted by Barastir
There is an Ogre mage in 2e "Lands of intrigue",
He's on the cover I think right (the box and one of the books)? I like that cover.  |
| Markustay |
Posted - 03 Mar 2011 : 18:41:36
'Ogre-Mage' is the western term for Wang-Liang, which are Oni (demon)-Ogre crossbreeds.
They were bred thousands of years ago, and have firmly established themselves as an independent race (like Tieflings, Fey'ri, and Lizard-Kings).
Although obviously drawn to evil by their fiendish bloodline, because of their mortal (Ogre) heritage, they are capable of free-will, and can be good. I cite Kulung the Ogre Mage (who prefaces the 2e Humanoids sourcebook) as an example of one such. |
| Barastir |
Posted - 03 Mar 2011 : 17:33:23
quote:
Originally posted by RaistMagus
The 2nd ed. ogre mage (artwork from monstrous manual) has a clearly far eastern stlye, while the 3rd ed. is more of a universal monster.
Raistmagus, maybe you should also check the "oni" entry from the 1st edition Oriental Adventures, if you like the far eastern version... I think the Ogre Mage was originally an oriental monster, just like there were, in the Monster Compendiums, the indian Rakshasa and Egyptian sphinxes. When the Oriental Adventures were released, they launched it "again" in the common oni. However, I think even there it is considered evil, what's not necessarily true for the Oni (and Tengu) of legend. |
| RaistMagus |
Posted - 03 Mar 2011 : 14:36:58
Sorry guys, I had some issues with the forum or with my browser. |
| RaistMagus |
Posted - 03 Mar 2011 : 14:25:30
.. |
| RaistMagus |
Posted - 03 Mar 2011 : 14:14:20
Well, after reading the stuff you guys here mentioned, I find ogre mages lore to be very hazy.
It all started as an attempt to include some far eastern spirit (which, according to tradition could be a good or evil spirit). Hence the random collection of abilities the ogre mage has. The 2nd ed. ogre mage (artwork from monstrous manual) has a clearly far eastern stlye, while the 3rd ed. is more of a universal monster.
Well, the ogre mage has sprung (from adnd I guess) to other medieval fantasy media like warcraft, where it's an ogre with some spellcasting abilities.
The article in Dragon magazine about the ecology of the ogre mage is cool, but it doesn't expand on something. It simply creates some story from zero.
The way I see it, you can do whatever you like with ogre mages! You can play them as mysterious far eastern folklore spirits or as the usual medieval ogre lords or use the ecology from Dragon magazine. For some reason I find attracting the idea of "dressing" my ogre mage PC with something of a near eastern style, something similar to djinn.
Thanks again everyone!
May we keep the storytelling alive in these dark years of commercialism :)
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| Barastir |
Posted - 01 Mar 2011 : 10:58:04
There is an Ogre mage in 2e "Lands of intrigue", I think it is the original storyline that was probably rewritten in "Power of Fraerūn". And I think there is another ogre mage participating in the wars described in the "City of Ravens Bluff" 2e accessory. However, those are individuals, and I don't think details about the race as a whole are given. Probably the Dragon Magazine's ecology will be the best source for you, by now.  |
| Quale |
Posted - 01 Mar 2011 : 08:23:05
I looked for more info on them as well, there is not much. They had or have a homeland in the Northern Wastes of Kara-Tur. That's where the Twisted Rune recruited, or in Kozakura. Their enemies were the maraloi fey.
Edit: also look in Monster Manual V under Elemental Mage |
| RaistMagus |
Posted - 01 Mar 2011 : 07:58:37
Thank you all for the prompt replies! |
| Fellfire |
Posted - 01 Mar 2011 : 00:20:43
Dragon Mag #349 did an Ecology of the Ogre Mage article that featured the Cereborg (Psionic Ogre) and the Umbramage (Shadow Ogre,)that while not Realms specific had some great backstory on the race in general. Basically the two variants listed above and your traditional Ogre Mage were portrayed as three brothers and the founders of the separate bloodlines. I can't recall all the details but 'twas some rather good fluff. |
| Knight of the Gate |
Posted - 28 Feb 2011 : 23:39:44
Sythillis (an Ogre Mage from the Small Teeth) found the lost writings of the Horned Lord (another Oger Magi) and invaded Amn at the head of an army of evil humanoids out of the mountains, aided by the local church of Cyric. The full write-up is in Power of Faerun. |
| Jakuta Khan |
Posted - 28 Feb 2011 : 23:11:26
eventually the box of the hordelands or some 2e kara-tur stuff has some helpful information, asI think, especially after marukstay's writings, that ogre-magi are much more common in these lands. |
| Alisttair |
Posted - 28 Feb 2011 : 14:25:13
quote:
Originally posted by RaistMagus
Greetings sages!
I am in need of information abou the ogre magi and I would be gratefull if you could direct me towards any official FR material discussing their communities, ethics, lifestyle and so on. I do have a preference for 2nd edition material, though anything will be very helpful.
Thank you in advance!
I only know about the one who was in a Halfling village leading a band of Kobolds, in the Baldur's Gate CRPG |
