He should be the kind of character they would like to keep.. relatively low level, a bit of a coward and always full of stories.
Becoming perhaps the new sage that introduces the adventure.. atleast sometimes. Gaining perhaps another 7 levels in the past century.. rog2/wiz10
Obviously immortal.. having "borrowed" the spell from some real archmages spellbook :D
Why not version IX or something like that.. indicating he has been at it all the time. While busily getting others to reveal their spells and secret tricks :P
Maybe even funding the occasional expedition "i sure would like to know what that castle looks like today.. but my busy schedule and old aching bones.." while busy drinking elvenquist and downing a hog drenched in cheese and sauces.. :D
Be sure to provide copies of any spells you come across, ill be happy to pay..
While naturally offering to sell a collection of his latest guides at a very special friendship price of 50gp each :D
But I doubt they would do this kind of book since they told they would not produce more books except de FRCG, FRPG and an adventure !
Maybe as DDI... anyway, this new mentality sucks for non-Internet Super-Computerized players around the world... but hey! its the new world, everybody has Mega Internet Access and Projector in they're basement ! At least, its what the Wizzies believe... they are too much close to the Silicone Valley syndrome...
Also, a Grandaughter, named Volaara, would be kinda cool to carry on the tradition.
-Personally speaking, I think it would be "cheap" to have him around in the post-Spellplague era. A grandson/daughter would be equally cheap, as well.
But I doubt they would do this kind of book since they told they would not produce more books except de FRCG, FRPG and an adventure !
Maybe as DDI... anyway, this new mentality sucks for non-Internet Super-Computerized players around the world... but hey! its the new world, everybody has Mega Internet Access and Projector in they're basement ! At least, its what the Wizzies believe... they are too much close to the Silicone Valley syndrome...
Err... no books?
Guess they have then managed to lose me completely as a customer.
Ecxcept maybe for novels.
But no books, i mean.. is it all a big computer game? Do they intent to have any kind of background data on the world at all aside from the FRCS? I can tell straight away that reading even 20 pages on a screen is pure torture.
Err... no books?
Guess they have then managed to lose me completely as a customer.
Ecxcept maybe for novels.
-There's only going to be two books (The FRCG, and the FRPG), and one adventure, as per their plans right now.
Also I wished the updated Aurora' Whole Realms Catalogue to 3rd edition. Those books I think replaced the novels for me in getting a feel for the Realms.I really liked the Volo books I wished they had continued them...
-That would have been nice. But, with the Magic Item Compendium, you can pretend it's from Aurora's company.
-That would have been nice. But, with the Magic Item Compendium, you can pretend it's from Aurora's company.
It is just not the same...
(also with 100% of the Magic Item Compendium being magic items and the Catalogue being about 100% not magical or quasi magical at best...really hard to do)It is just not the same...
-That is true...One of the "quirks" of Aurora's was the...stupid and mostly useless things inside, like tacos. Mmm...Tacos...
-That is true...One of the "quirks" of Aurora's was the...stupid and mostly useless things inside, like tacos. Mmm...Tacos...
I completely disagree.... one those 'mostly useless' items breathed more life into the Realms then a million magic items ever could dream of.
Ok that was a bit strong. true they might not have been useful for Mr. Powergamer in the Realms, but I am sorry I rather see more books like this then the books they come out with.
I completely disagree.... one those 'mostly useless' items breathed more life into the Realms then a million magic items ever could dream of.
-Coffee beans, or Tacos, had little use in the game. They can just as easily be replaced with "Trade Goods", and "Adventurer Rations", or whatever generic terms they have in the DMG. Hence why it's filled with "quirks", like the tacos, and assorted other things of that nature.
-That is true...One of the "quirks" of Aurora's was the...stupid and mostly useless things inside, like tacos. Mmm...Tacos...
Heh, this gives me an interesting nugget of an idea for an UnCon contest... who would I ask about creating a contest?
-Me. I have something in mind already, but...Let me know.
Will do - sending PM shortly.
Having him escape death would be funny to me since most of the other well known and more powerful NPCs of 1E and 2E bit the dust. They could revive Eds Volo articles in DDI also to fill in the gaps the campaign book missess.
I sort of liked Volo, but agree that the spellplague would have wiped him out long ago. He was only a mortal after all. I was hoping in my game to have a guild pick up where he left off. Volo's Tourists or something of the sort. Going around cataloguing the realms. Would be interesting to have the players the ability to still pick up a Volo's Guide 4th Edition from the Volo Guild house in Waterdeep or whatever. Maybe even do missions of the sort. Escort Todd Graves here apprentice Volo Tourist to Silverymoon. Although it might have a touch of the Light Fantastic to it. But then again I do love Pratchett and often times his novels have great ideas to lift into the way I run my realms games.
I actualy started a campaign(unfortuanaly it got canceled to RL issues players were having) where the PCs got hired by a rich merchant from Waterdeep to explore the Realms and give him infomation about the Realms so he could(well in his own opinion atleast) write a useful guide top the Realms and compete with the famous Volo. It was fun while it lasted.
I actualy started a campaign(unfortuanaly it got canceled to RL issues players were having) where the PCs got hired by a rich merchant from Waterdeep to explore the Realms...
-I might borrow that, actually. My players, right now, finished the major story arc, and I'm sitting here "drifting", listless, winging-it, until they determine what it is they want to do, and where they want to go...
I sort of liked Volo, but agree that the spellplague would have wiped him out long ago. He was only a mortal after all.
That's not a certainty. The Spellplague didn't kill or disable ALL mages, and if WotC wants Volo to still be alive, they can and will find a way to do that.
That's not a certainty. The Spellplague didn't kill or disable ALL mages, and if WotC wants Volo to still be alive, they can and will find a way to do that.
And if anything, seemed to be deadly only to mages with lots of levels :P
And volo was a 5th leveler iirc, which means he should take it like a breeze..
I completely disagree.... one those 'mostly useless' items breathed more life into the Realms then a million magic items ever could dream of.
Ok that was a bit strong. true they might not have been useful for Mr. Powergamer in the Realms, but I am sorry I rather see more books like this then the books they come out with.
I must agree in these regards John. While in general, AWSR was a completely useless book in terms of gameplay, it was a source of fluff that too such generic things you might find in a general equipment list like 'Toys and games' and elaberated on them in such a way that made the Realms feel just a bit more real. I'm really hoping to see much more fluff than crunch in this new edition like the days of 2nd Ed.
I liked Volo and liked the books TSR put out (at the time).
Having him escape death would be funny to me since most of the other well known and more powerful NPCs of 1E and 2E bit the dust. They could revive Eds Volo articles in DDI also to fill in the gaps the campaign book missess.
Along with AWSR, Volo's Guides were some of my favorite 2nd Ed reads as well. the minor details tossed in (Like rules for games and recipies) added flavor to the world.
I wouldn't mind seeing 2 things done with our loveable rogue. First off, he should not be alive. I think keeping him alive cheapens the character. Second, I agree that reviving Ed's Volo articles would be cool, but rather than have them be about the current setting, maybe they could be about the 100 years (Or however long he would be kicking). Fill in that paticular gap to a small degree.
Also, if Volo's equivilent articles were to continue for the main timeframe, I'd prefer a decendant rather than the rogue himself.
In fact, that and the campaign John tried that died, just sparked an idea for a campaign.
The players are hired by Geran Geddarm, grandson of Volo Geddarm. Geran has recently discovered that his grandfather may still have some unpublished works out there written during and after the spellplague. Geran, now a merchant in waterdeep and lacking his grandfather's wanderlust, hires the players to retrieve these manuscripts and bring them back to geran to be properly preserved and/or published.
Baldurs Gate 3: The spawn of Volo
wherein a bunch of Volo's descendants seek to prove that each is the most annoying wanderer of the realms and the true inheritor of Volo's mantle... :P
I've got it...
Baldurs Gate 3: The spawn of Volo
wherein a bunch of Volo's descendants seek to prove that each is the most annoying wanderer of the realms and the true inheritor of Volo's mantle... :P
Good stuff ! ;)
I've got it...
Baldurs Gate 3: The spawn of Volo
wherein a bunch of Volo's descendants seek to prove that each is the most annoying wanderer of the realms and the true inheritor of Volo's mantle... :P
Good stuff ! ;)
I've got it...
Baldurs Gate 3: The spawn of Volo
wherein a bunch of Volo's descendants seek to prove that each is the most annoying wanderer of the realms and the true inheritor of Volo's mantle... :P
-That'd be worse than just letting Volo somehow live in the first place!
It gives me the idea of an 'Explorer's society' (similar to Golarion's Pathfinders), which doubles as a cult of Volo!
They call themselves the Volothamps, and while most members think they are a simple adventurer's guild, in reality the 'higher-ups' are secretly trying to bring back Volo as a Demi-god (Exarch). I'm picturing some sort of weird artifact that the cult centers around, like Volo's thighbone, or perhaps even his favorite writing quill.
Not that they will ever be successful, but it would be kinda neat to have a kooky cult similar to all the weird stuff people makeup about the RW Masons.
Thats what I was thinking - people not knowing the man except from his own agrandizing tomes would put him on a pedestal, hence my 'Kooky Cult' idea. :D
What would be even funnier -and 'adventure hook' worthy - would be that the thighbone (or whatever) actually belongs to something else, and the cult manages to accidently ressurect something vile.
Other then Volo, of course. :P
It gives me the idea of an 'Explorer's society' (similar to Golarion's Pathfinders), which doubles as a cult of Volo!
They call themselves the Volothamps, and while most members think they are a simple adventurer's guild, in reality the 'higher-ups' are secretly trying to bring back Volo as a Demi-god (Exarch). I'm picturing some sort of weird artifact that the cult centers around, like Volo's thighbone, or perhaps even his favorite writing quill.
Or an exaggerated style of travel hat, something with a dashing flair.
This is a very fun idea... perhaps a small group of the idle rich in Waterdeep have created a "traveling circuit" company for "adventures". The idea might be that there are specific lodging houses in major cities (very, very expensive), and as you travel this circuit there might be unique day trips into wilderness areas - to see old ruins, or travel out to a small village known for something interesting. Each "adventure" would focus on something that old Volo once visited.
For example, from Daggerford you could take a small party of five excited 60-70 year old nobles out to see the ruins of old Illefarn. Of course, they'd all have their signature Volo-style travel hat (or quill). They'd be escorted by a party of guards, of course, with a tracker and a ranger, and all the while they'd be in a fancy carriage with servants and regular service for tea and snack cakes. Once visiting the ruins of Illfarn, the venerable nobles would make their way back to the Geddarm Lodge where they can relax with fine food and spirits and talk excitedly about their day adventure.
EXACTLY.
Thats what I was thinking - people not knowing the man except from his own agrandizing tomes would put him on a pedestal, hence my 'Kooky Cult' idea. :D
What would be even funnier -and 'adventure hook' worthy - would be that the thighbone (or whatever) actually belongs to something else, and the cult manages to accidently ressurect something vile.
Other then Volo, of course. :P
Not a cult but an "Explorers Club" would seem more likely.