Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Abbacabba 06-25-07, 12:09 PM	Last campaign one of my players characters(Rogue) met Baccob, he was allowed to use the Boccob's library for quite awhile... studying to reverse a powerful psionic effect. This effectively retired the character, we did run a final session with the PC's using their powers and knowledge to reverse the effect. The character went on to obtain a Divine Rank 0 and "work" for Baccob. The character is known in the game world and is quite famous. ... Now, faced with a perilous situation, my players are wanting to try an contact this old character for help, thinking he will spring to action to help them. Personally, I'm thinking such a long time with Baccob has turned the character to TN as Baccob. I need information on Baccob, so I can figure out how this character might view the world.
Abbacabba 06-25-07, 12:11 PM	Information that would be helpful would be : Has Baccob ever stepped into mortal affairs directly? If so how and how much help has he given? What (if any) is his "philosophy", besides being "uncaring" :)
Zousha_Omenohu 06-26-07, 08:02 AM	To the extent of my knowledge, Boccob has never allowed himself or his clergy to involve themselves in any conflict. The only thing they really care about at all is the study of magic and study in general. I imagine they'd get passionate if a local tyrant was holding book burnings or attempting to get rid of the spellcasters in his region, but if neither events are the case, then they'll basically ignore cries for help, unless you're looking to buy a magic item from them or have some new magic item or spell for them to study in exchange for their help. The pursuit of knowledge is the single most important thing to Boccob and his clergy and he requires that they strive for it at the cost of everything else. Heck, Boccob is so absorbed in his own studies that he practically ignores prayers to him and he really doesn't give a whit whether he's actually worshiped or not. He's got far to much research to do to be bothered by trivial things like that.
Mai_ariti 06-28-07, 03:31 PM	Boccob doesn't make all his lackies TN, take Zaggy or whoever (the CN mortal turned god in the Boccob Dragon Magizine article, I can't seem to remember his name). He has remained CN and is completely insane. . . Basically, I think that this 'God' PC would have to stay out of the interaction to a large extent but if magic as a whole is threatened he should cry havoc and smite the enemies.
Zousha_Omenohu 06-29-07, 12:19 AM	I'm sorry if I gave the impression that he requires strict neutrality from his followers. I'm a little bit aware of Zagyg, but only to the extent that he trapped various assorted entities, including Wastri, Grazz't and Olidammara and that's how he attained godhood, and that yes, he's a total loonie. What I was trying to say is that Boccob and his followers are too absorbed in their research to pay attention to the world around them. I agree that this demigod would basically be disinterested in whatever is being said to him/her unless magic or knowledge was somehow involved and become violent is there was a threat to either (again, book burnings or arcanist-hunting inquisitors).
Mai_ariti 06-29-07, 10:33 AM	Well, are the PCs worshipers of this god? if they are, that might make him more likely to help, most gods look out for their own in some respects. And this doesn't have to mean no help, even Boccob sends Planar Allies and has a Herald, you new god could do that even though he refuses to incolve himself. Lastly, if he is powerful enough, he could send an avatar without even inconviencing himself or interuption himself. As a point what is this PC god's portfolio, that could clarify some of his views. . .
darkbarrierbeast 07-03-07, 04:03 AM	If you need information on Boccob I would suggest purchasing the book Deities & Demigods. It gives insight on all of the D&D gods plus additonal insight on gods of Greek, Egyptian, and Norse Mythology. It even has some newly created gods for any use needed.
ripvanwormer 07-03-07, 01:28 PM	When magic first awakened, it stretched like a great serpent, coiled like a double helix, and began to explore the mists of possibility that yawned before the beginning of the world. Everything it touched changed, sang with life, hummed with power. When it encountered the four elements, the first genies were born. When it finally reached the end of everything, it gazed at its reflection in the void, and what it saw there disturbed it so much that it hid itself in the corners of creation, and magic died on all worlds. This is when Boccob came, whispering words of power to draw the serpent back out. Boccob didn't try to pull it back all the way, to roam again untamed and wild, but neither did he try to keep it under his control. He was simply the desire for balance. Some claim that when the Serpent saw its reflection, it was Boccob's face it saw in the void, and that it fled because it feared the coming of balance, its limitations and its responsibilities, and even its freedoms and indulgences made even more painful by the knowledge of their boundaries. The Serpent was fundamentally imbalanced, and Boccob came into the multiverse to counter that, balancing the Serpent's wild passion with arcane logic and balancing the Serpent's alien logic with a playfulness and eccentricity of his own. Others claim that whatever the Serpent saw was something that Boccob himself fears, and that Boccob keeps the Serpent partly tethered in order to keep that dark echo from entering the multiverse itself. If the Serpent left entirely, or was unable to act, its image would attempt to replace it. If the Serpent was completely unbound and wild, it might shatter the multiverse's skin and let its image come to join it. So the Balance must be maintained.
Adrez Nesnsid 07-05-07, 07:21 PM	Boccob doesn't make all his lackies TN, take Zaggy or whoever (the CN mortal turned god in the Boccob Dragon Magizine article, I can't seem to remember his name). He has remained CN and is completely insane. . . His name was Zagyg; Its easy to remember because its "Gygax" spelled backwards, and with the X changed to a Z (not that that makes any difference in pronunciation)