Interesting! I'm from Quebec and we have played in Greyhawk for decades. I think it's the first time I heard the name Iuz spoken outside my group. Now I know how it's supposed to be pronounced. For my group, because english is not our first language, we called him 'Yuse' phonetically. Not the same as 'I-use', but still the same evil bastard demigod that causes so much trouble... I love the creativity that Gary put in his world, factions, villains, gods, country... I never read the greyhawk boxes but I enjoy listening to a ogod story teller.
Lord Robilar.... I've recently been doing Clark Ashton Smith stories over on my channel, and in "The Seven Geases" (talk about a wild geas chase! ;-) the main character is Lord Ralibar Vooz. When recording it, I often said Lord Robilar instead of Ralibar... LOL! I think I caught myself on it each time and was able to correct it during the recording session and just edit out the wrong name in post, but it was hilariously annoying.
There is a natural process of monster and treasure accumulation in dungeons. These same forces actually create dungeons themselves. Powerful monsters tend to burrow deep, keeping all those weaker than themselves as buffers. The strong can always pass through the weak for surface access, but can only go so low as the next most powerful critter. Beholders and Mountain giants actively summon or charm lesser monsters to fight for them. Beholders can use disintegrate to create mazes, and charm monsters to populate them, for example. If neglected, the dungeons beneath castle greyhawk would have attracted new monsters, who would have brought whatever loot they could. Like a lawn left unmowed, life would bloom there, and it would be of whatever kin could best survive.❤
Greyhawk Ruins is one of my favorites. The Divine Effect power was in clear display. A demigod can stalemate a greater god? Why didn't the greater god just squash the demigod? Some other power was in play.
So many wonderful adventuring possibilities in the previous few hundred years. How would you change the rules, equipment/spells available etc… when running past events?
One campaign idea is a group of mercenaries in the Hateful Wars who are no longer needed or trusted by the dwarves and therefore need to fight their way out without support and even possible antagonism.
I did run EttRoG for my group but sadly they never made it to the Godtrap. On another topic, it would be great to hear/read your thoughts about who was behind the kidnapping of Prince Thrommel.
I am not a fan of the God Trap idea. Zagyg may have had a motive for imprisoning the Nine, but it was not to attain godhood, IMC. Zagig ascended to the ranks of the divine at the time he originally disappeared. The castle may have appeared deserted, but in my history Zagyg was still visiting and working on the dungeons, and doing other Zagyg things, like trapping the Nine, when not serving Boccob. When Zagig was the ruler of Greyhawk he turned it into the Gem of the Flanaess, and I think the discovery of the treasure troves was him doing it again to save his beloved city from becoming a backwater. "Several years ago a series of treasure troves was discovered in or near Greyhawk Castle. Immense wealth began flowing into the city, and artisans and mercenaries began flocking to Greyhawk due to this boom. Local lords used this influx of hard money to revitalize the city" I think that revitalization was Zagyg's plan.
Would it be possible for you to lay out these events as a time-line? Further, could you do a video about Zagyg’s God Trap detailing where it was, who was held in it and how each entity escaped?
The God Trap was in Expedition? I had, and ran my players through, Greyhawk Ruins. I recall the nine holding cells, but not the Trap. The Castle I’m building has the Trap. The Magic Level has a sub-level with reg'lar Magic Circles and a Special one, The God Trap, that has extra runes/glyphs/sigils that Do the Job. I’ll look at the Timeline and see what I can work out.
I had always thought of the difference in time between different sources on ascension to deity hood to the candidate first becoming a quasi deity (gaining divine spark) on the first date and strengthening to full deity hood (demi-god) on the second date. It was easier than just saying "EGG mixed up dates at a later time" :D
Hi Grognard, hope you're well. I have a copy of your old free version of Castle of the Mad Archmage. Other than adding a first floor (not necessary to those of us with Castle Zagyg Upper Works), is there any additional content in the paid version? Are any of the entries meaningfully expanded? (Even if there isn't a difference, I'll probably buy the illustration book at least -- your excellent work deserves remuneration!)
Hold out for July 1st. That's when my new Kickstarter for the 10th anniversary edition of the Castle launches. Not only will it have a lot of new material (plus stuff that was previously published in various places, now all in one book), but it will also have stat blocks for the monsters instead of just hit points, and will be more generic-OSR, rather than specifically written for Adventures Dark and Deep. Also, there have been a lot of errata over the years, and the new book will incorporate all of it. That said, the current version does indeed have a lot of additional material; NPC parties, quests, and more background info.
Man I hate you.😉. I've spent the last half hour looking for the modules you referenced and wondering how much Ramen I want you eat to start building adventures in Castle Greyhawk.
Did not make it that deep we I was a player entering the castle. Years later when I was DM my players did not make it down to the God trap, though I thought that they would eventually. They had the power but left due to the funhouse nature of the dungeon.
It's a shame that Gary is not here to tell us.
I just wish we had Gary’s originals. Oh my god, what a treasure trove they would be.
🙏🏻😇⛪👑🕯️
Interesting! I'm from Quebec and we have played in Greyhawk for decades. I think it's the first time I heard the name Iuz spoken outside my group. Now I know how it's supposed to be pronounced. For my group, because english is not our first language, we called him 'Yuse' phonetically. Not the same as 'I-use', but still the same evil bastard demigod that causes so much trouble... I love the creativity that Gary put in his world, factions, villains, gods, country... I never read the greyhawk boxes but I enjoy listening to a ogod story teller.
Lord Robilar.... I've recently been doing Clark Ashton Smith stories over on my channel, and in "The Seven Geases" (talk about a wild geas chase! ;-) the main character is Lord Ralibar Vooz. When recording it, I often said Lord Robilar instead of Ralibar... LOL! I think I caught myself on it each time and was able to correct it during the recording session and just edit out the wrong name in post, but it was hilariously annoying.
Did you hear that back up warning outside Grognard? Your vid’s are so much information.
There is a natural process of monster and treasure accumulation in dungeons. These same forces actually create dungeons themselves. Powerful monsters tend to burrow deep, keeping all those weaker than themselves as buffers. The strong can always pass through the weak for surface access, but can only go so low as the next most powerful critter. Beholders and Mountain giants actively summon or charm lesser monsters to fight for them. Beholders can use disintegrate to create mazes, and charm monsters to populate them, for example. If neglected, the dungeons beneath castle greyhawk would have attracted new monsters, who would have brought whatever loot they could. Like a lawn left unmowed, life would bloom there, and it would be of whatever kin could best survive.❤
Greyhawk Ruins is one of my favorites.
The Divine Effect power was in clear display. A demigod can stalemate a greater god? Why didn't the greater god just squash the demigod? Some other power was in play.
So many wonderful adventuring possibilities in the previous few hundred years. How would you change the rules, equipment/spells available etc… when running past events?
One campaign idea is a group of mercenaries in the Hateful Wars who are no longer needed or trusted by the dwarves and therefore need to fight their way out without support and even possible antagonism.
Where can I find more information about the god trap?
Expedition to the Ruins of Castle Greyhawk. Gary had a very different take on it in an interview in the Oerth Journal.
@@GreyhawkGrognard TY, will need to read it (or re-read it, all these modules tend to merge after decades of reading them!).
I did run EttRoG for my group but sadly they never made it to the Godtrap.
On another topic, it would be great to hear/read your thoughts about who was behind the kidnapping of Prince Thrommel.
Iuz?
I am not a fan of the God Trap idea. Zagyg may have had a motive for imprisoning the Nine, but it was not to attain godhood, IMC. Zagig ascended to the ranks of the divine at the time he originally disappeared. The castle may have appeared deserted, but in my history Zagyg was still visiting and working on the dungeons, and doing other Zagyg things, like trapping the Nine, when not serving Boccob. When Zagig was the ruler of Greyhawk he turned it into the Gem of the Flanaess, and I think the discovery of the treasure troves was him doing it again to save his beloved city from becoming a backwater. "Several years ago a series of treasure troves was discovered in or near Greyhawk Castle. Immense wealth began flowing into the city, and artisans and mercenaries began flocking to Greyhawk due to this boom. Local lords used this influx of hard money to revitalize the city" I think that revitalization was Zagyg's plan.
The demigod of urban renewal. 😀
Would it be possible for you to lay out these events as a time-line? Further, could you do a video about Zagyg’s God Trap detailing where it was, who was held in it and how each entity escaped?
Thanks for the video! I wonder how many campaigns try to start some time BEFORE 576 so the DM has some planned stuff ready to go that is btb?
The God Trap was in Expedition? I had, and ran my players through, Greyhawk Ruins. I recall the nine holding cells, but not the Trap. The Castle I’m building has the Trap. The Magic Level has a sub-level with reg'lar Magic Circles and a Special one, The God Trap, that has extra runes/glyphs/sigils that Do the Job. I’ll look at the Timeline and see what I can work out.
I had always thought of the difference in time between different sources on ascension to deity hood to the candidate first becoming a quasi deity (gaining divine spark) on the first date and strengthening to full deity hood (demi-god) on the second date. It was easier than just saying "EGG mixed up dates at a later time" :D
The process of apotheosis has always been murky (deliberately so) but I like this explanation a lot.
Hi Grognard, hope you're well. I have a copy of your old free version of Castle of the Mad Archmage. Other than adding a first floor (not necessary to those of us with Castle Zagyg Upper Works), is there any additional content in the paid version? Are any of the entries meaningfully expanded? (Even if there isn't a difference, I'll probably buy the illustration book at least -- your excellent work deserves remuneration!)
Hold out for July 1st. That's when my new Kickstarter for the 10th anniversary edition of the Castle launches. Not only will it have a lot of new material (plus stuff that was previously published in various places, now all in one book), but it will also have stat blocks for the monsters instead of just hit points, and will be more generic-OSR, rather than specifically written for Adventures Dark and Deep. Also, there have been a lot of errata over the years, and the new book will incorporate all of it.
That said, the current version does indeed have a lot of additional material; NPC parties, quests, and more background info.
Fraz is a demon prince not lord. I studied the 1st Edition Monster Manuals. There is a clear power level difference.
Man I hate you.😉. I've spent the last half hour looking for the modules you referenced and wondering how much Ramen I want you eat to start building adventures in Castle Greyhawk.
No one expects the Pinkertons!
Did not make it that deep we I was a player entering the castle. Years later when I was DM my players did not make it down to the God trap, though I thought that they would eventually. They had the power but left due to the funhouse nature of the dungeon.