text: Anamnesis of the Mystic Scholar: December 2013
  Olidammara – God of Thieves?
  I've seen him referenced as such. For instance, Edition 3.5's Complete Warrior, page 11. When discussing the Prestige Class Swashbuckler, it says:
  "Most swashbucklers pay at least some small amount of homage to Olidammara (god of thieves) since that deity is renowned as being lucky."
  I think this is due to the fact that many of today's "younger" people have no idea as to the meaning of words. This shows in their creating a "so-called" Class named "Rogue." I suppose this was done to be "politically correct." Have I ever told you how much I despise "politically correct?" No? Well, we'll save that for another post.
  The problem is that Swashbucklers are "Rogues." So are Bards.
  In fact, I can testify and bear witness to the fact that Jason Zavoda, Ken Harrison, Skip Twitchell, Allan Grohe, Mike Bridges, Denis Tetreault – heck everyone in my "Readers" section and then some – are all, every one . . . Charming Rogues.
  The problem? None of them are Thieves.
  Yes, Bards are "rogues," Swashbucklers are "rogues" and I'm sure we can name a couple of other Classes that qualify as "rogues" . . . but they're not Thieves. Bard is a Class, Swashbuckler is a Class and Thief is a Class. Rogue? Rogue is a personality.
  Captain Jack Sparrow is a "charming rogue," but he's not a thief. I know you're going to say that pirates are thieves. Well, that's true, but, in The Game, Jack Sparrow is a Swashbuckler, not a Thief and not a Bard. He's a Swashbuckler . . . who happens to be a very "charming rogue."
  Also, every Thief that ever trusted to luck is in prison. Successful Thieves trust to skill, not luck. So, I give you . . . Dalt! Yes, Dalt, God of Portals, Doors, Enclosures, Locks and Keys. You're telling me that don't sound like a God of Thieves to you? Of course, Dalt only acknowledges those of Neutral Good or Chaotic Good leanings.
  For "neutral" Thieves there's Kurell, God of Theft, amongst other things. Teaching his followers to "take what is rightfully theirs and to seize all their desire." You know, kind of like the way Kurell tried to take his brother's wife! Tsk.
  For "evil," well, there's always Nerull, God of Murder, amongst other things, who seems to be favored by Assassins. After all, what is assassination but a form of murder? And what is murder? The theft of someone's life, the most precious thing you can steal! Yeah, "evil" Thieves have Nerull.
  But Dalt is "the man." His Clerics are divided between those that "keep things locked and those who seek to open the locks . . . Dalt's clerics work to build locks and traps;" thieving specialties. Dalt's clerics even act "as instructors for . . . thieves, though they will only teach those that have the greater good in mind."
  Yeah, Dalt beats Olidammara as the God of Thieves hands down. Olidammara might be the God of Rogues, be it Bards, Swashbucklers or select Thieves, but Dalt is the God of Thieves in particular.
  Like I said, I believe the confusion comes from "younger" writers and editors not knowing the difference between a Thief and a Rogue. They're not the same thing.
  Posted by Mystic Scholar at 18:29 10 comments:
  Well, another Needfest is upon us and Midwinter Night is here.
  Me? I'll be relaxing, running RPoL games and dodging cats. Yep, still have 17 of them in this house and with Pork roast today and Turkey tomorrow, they do prove themselves a dangerous gauntlet. Yeah, kobolds have nothing on these guys, trust me: Cat Swarm CR 10.
  I've been thinking which Greyhawk God best portrays the Needfest "feeling" – given we associate the holiday with the Real World's Christmas. Oldimara easily comes to mind as the God of Music, Revels and Wine. Of course, he also has his own "special" celebration at this time, the "Feast of the Doubling Dare."
  The Suel goddess Lydia is also a Patron of Music, not to mention Daylight, and who doesn't want more "daylight" during this overcast season?
  The Gods of Winter are not portrayed as "nice guys," so I wouldn't include them, they like bringing misery to people!
  Berei, goddess of Home and Family also comes to mind, as this is a time to be with loved ones.
  Berna, goddess of Passion and Forgiveness also seems to fit, which goes hand in hand with Zodal, god of Mercy, Hope and Benevolence.
  Rudd, goddess of Chance and Luck seems to be the best "fit" for the "Feast of Fools."
  No, no one god of Greyhawk seems to fit the Real World season perfectly, so I suppose we have to tip our hat to all of them at once.