I love this video, please do more historical videos about important cannon characters to Dungeons & Dragons! I feel like I'm in grade school at story time 😁
it's so much fun for me to go back and research too. I ate all this stuff up when it first came out and while I'd visit it over the years, MUCH has been forgotten so getting that memory jog is cool. I've got a few more planned but that's the neat thing.. there is SO much history of D&D out there, I'll never run out of ideas haha!
I like your ideas of fixing the adventure. I also included the Infinite Stair and Nafas. I had Kas arrive in Sigil having stolen a key from Mord when he was out trying to find answers. Kas attempted to attack the characters and the characters did not fight back because they already knew that violence was not allowed in Sigil. The Lady of Pain arrived and mazed Kas. I really liked bringing in the Lady because of her part as you mentioned in Die, Vecna, DIe.
Vecna has been in the background of our last three campaigns. I plan on weaving 'Eve of Ruin' with our homebrew as the finale... As far as the voice Vecna heard centuries ago.. I'm going to use Cyric.. who will serve as the ultimate big bad for our entire arch.
I really like the hypothesis that Tharizdun is the one who whispers, which fits quite well with Allips whispering whispering his story. Now, as the Eye of Vecna used to be described as somewhat looking like a cat's eye, I like to imagine Vecna as a Tabaxi or Catfolk Wizard.
I run a variation of that. Vecna was so smart, even as a mortal, that his own subconscious was plotting while he slept, feeding him informations and in time developing a semi real separate persona as "The Serpente" which only grew more prominent as he ascended to lichdom First and then godhood.
oh yes! That thing is a BEAST of a tome (two parts actually) you can see a sneak peek at it here : ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-sXl2-YGYnsM.html
I've read a few write-ups on Vecna that mentions him describing the voice as a Serpent. I agree with the people who theorize that it's Dendar the Night Serpent.
Maybe, the voice that whispers to the younger Vecna and later to Kass IS the present day Vecna using the obelisk to communicate to people connected to himself in the past to insure things stay the way the are or to improve his chances now
A good amount of research and memory jogging for sure! It was fun strolling through the ooold stuff looking for references to Vecna. I didnt go through old issues of Dragin magazine, but there is quite a bit about Vecna in those too.
Welcome aboard and thanks for watching! In the new Vecna adventure the task is to find all of the pieces to the Rod of Seven Parts.. I did a similar video for that one as well : ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Cf2S-eY4vwo.html
A bit of lore I picked up... Vecna is an anagram for Vance. As in Jack Vance, the science fiction author that Gygax used for inspiration for alignment.
Vecna is, of course, all the rage at the moment.. but likely will pass.. for ME the bigger question is.. who (or what) is pulling _his_ strings? My bet is on Cthulhu.
I read somewhere that the voice you are talking about that talked to Venca, was an entie known as the Serpent. Otherwise known as the embodiment of magic. I don't remeber where I read this, but I remeber the Sperent being tied to Vecna.
Dendar is likely who would be referred to. He is a serpent god, and an Elder Eternal Evil. I have a theory of three possible choices.. Tharizdun, Dendar, or Pandorym.
@@gamemasters Unfortunately it's not Dendar, but an ancient being known as Mok'Slyk, one of the Ancient Brethren, a circle of immortal beings alongside the likes of the Lady of Pain and Asmodeus.
@@nicholasp.2563 I'm almost.. now wondering if the whisper is coming from... The Great Old One... Cthulhu... But then again.. I'm not sure that Cthulhu would even care, I mean "he" is beyond time and space and power that the likes of Vecna would be even below that of an ant compared to a human.. PLUS, while we have had a small mention of Cthulhu in 5E, for the most part, he doesn't exist.. Tho wow.. this would be one hell of an introduction...
I think the voice whispering to Vecna is Asmodues. Asmodeus is older, more patient, more intelligent and far more sinister and diabolical than any other.
that is where I get a hang up about it being Cthulhu. Cthulhu simply wouldn't care enough I don't think. I mainly want to see it be Cthulhu only for reason to get him back into D&D as being "officially" a part of it again.
@@gamemasters Perhaps he would care, Vecna is definitely obsessed with destroying the multiverse. So perhaps Cthulu has slowly been driving Vecna mad over the centuries in order to groom him as some sort of harbinger of Cthulu's great return. Just simply using Vecna as a pawn, a means to an end.
A legendary play set that I had imagined long ago involved Drizzt becoming mortally wounded losing and eye and hand in a fight only to have them both restored with Vecna’s parts. This made Drizzt become chaotic evil and gave him 18 STR, see invisible, unholy reflexes extra modifier to his dexterity roll and the ability to make his summoned creatures a undead version with enhanced abilities armor, speed and resistance. Needless to say no one wanted to play this set… shame.
I think I remember a video from Jorphdan analyzing the new Planescape book, and how at the base of the Spire there is a mistery that may point to Vecna. I don't remember the details tho.
(SPOILERS HERE) the planescape book states this in the section concerning Dendradis : "Dendradis is notable not only for its size but also because the slowly growing, lattice-like city works to cover a massive body entombed within the Spire. The rilmani who settle here know the massive corpse’s identity but keep this knowledge secret, leaving outsiders to speculate whether the corpse is a dead god, a visitor from beyond the multiverse, or something else entirely." One speculation is that it (the corpse) might be that of Dendar BUT.. as best I can recall Dendar was associated with Forgotten Realms and not Planescape.. but.. it's ambiguous at best from that given description. HOWEVER... And this is pretty cool.. in the adventure itself, there is a baernaloth that players will encounter inside the Spire, and it will impart unto one of them a secret; one is that the corpse is the god Aoskar (but isn't really dead), but the other... and I'll quote it is : "The Whispered One is coming, but there’s still time to prevent him from claiming power over the spokes of the Great Wheel." Vecna is known as 'The Whispered One'.. PLUS.. If that baernaloth is defeated, searching around it's area will reveal the Book of Vile Darkness..
Its that evil Elder God from the Far Realms, Whot-Cee... That's whats gone back in time and changed his history so that now his evil is because of a sound in his head... . .. ... Wait a minute, thats the backstory for The Master during the David Tennant Doctor Who era!
In the 5E Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft, Kas is still noted for being present on his side of their shared domain, but Vecna's presence is mysteriously overlooked in that book. Is Vecna missing or already freed? Spoilers. The mysterious voice that has been communicating or guiding Vecna is his mother's (the tale's true BBEG from behind the scenes). Clearly, unresolved mommy issues are at play as he likely didn't get enough praise or attention from her. It seems she's been on his mind as a driving factor. Hmm? A simple moment of maternal approval and there'd be no Eve of Ruin. Maybe. Also, didn't Vecna already have seven unspecified magic items intended for his ascension in 2E. Maybe he already has the rod of seven parts and is trying to put them inside the mystery towers set across the multiverse or they are used as keys needed to start them. Also, was Acererak once his disciple or pupil? If so, what is his role? Thanks for the video. Maybe they do need to be used in a specific order or even removed in a set order to stop Vecna's machine for universal dominance.
by the time 5e came about Vecna was already a god, thus he had already "escaped" the domain in ravenloft. Would be interesting if it was his mother... a - la jason voorhees... the 7 items from 2e were never specified as to what they were just that he used them in an attempt to block other god's worshiper's prayers from getting TO those gods and that only HIS worshiper's whispers could be heard. He felt that that would allow him to ascend from demi-god to full on god status. I think Acererak wasn't associated with Vecna until.. 4th edition? I think it was in Tomb of Horrors that it explains that Ace "rescues" Vecna at one point but Vecna finds out that it was a setup just so that Ace could attempt to gain favor (but it's been a loooong time since I've read that so don't quote me on it).
It is.. I didn't make it, it was purchased for me.. oof.. perhaps 5 years ago now? I can't speak to the ones who made it, but it's a cool shirt regardless of a misplaced digit.
I can't help but think there is a connection between The Hand of Vecna and The Hand of Fear - a Doctor Who episode released the same year (in which the severed hand of an ancient evil master is found buried in a quarry).
hmm... it makes me want to research what was going on at the time. I looked up that episode, looks like it was a multiple part episodic adventure but came out in October of 1976, Eldritch Wizardry came out that same year.. Because we didn't have the internet, I cannot fathom that EW would have made it over to England.. so that's what I'm more curious about, what inspired the Hand of Vecna and what inspired the Hand of Fear?
@@gamemasters they didn't have internet, but they did share a lot of film & television. E.g Star Wars was being filmed in the UK at the time. Maybe someone from USA played DnD with a writer from Doctor Who? Or maybe the writers of both programs saw the same movie? Might just be a coincidence, but the similarities are uncanny.
Loved the video!!! I was thinking about using the Ravenloft Vecna adventures after Curse of Stahd for my players and link them to Eve of Ruin at the end, and my players would roll new PCs to start it as a new campaign. Also, nice shirt, where did you get it?
got the shirt at amazon : amzn.to/3PnIRjj Aye, I think we are going to use the Phandelver and Below Shattered Obelisk adventure as the prequel to Vecna Eve of Ruin.. It goes to level 12.. but I think with a couple of minor adjustments it should be fine.
vecna is soon to be a killer in dead by daylight! came here to learn about this man and his lore! with how mysterious he is his power will definitely be horrifying thank youuu!!❤️
They ready let us down with that book. Im glad you mads rhat video, i changed a bit and made it 1-20. Lost ofcplaces to visit and we have books and lore so might as well do what they didnt
yeah, it blows my mind that they (wotc) don't really produce lore heavy books. I'd _love_ to see a 5e Manual of the Planes that DOES NOT include an attached adventure..
My theory is that Vecna traveled to Barovia or maybe Barovia was on Oerth, years before Strahd arrived, maybe killed the wizards from the temple, and made a pact with the vestige from the amber temple who can teach lichdom, helped Kas make a pact with Vampyr, eventually after kas betrayed him, vecna's spoul would be traped on the amber temple like the other dark entities, with only a weakened part o him existing through the hand and eye of Vecna in the adventures of past editions, finally at some moment during 5e, someone entered Barovia and released Vecna, the broken amber sarcophagi in the amber temple was Vena's, this is why is sorrounded by Nothics, the eye the night hags have is not a normal eye is the eye of Vecna, and Vecna was waiting somewhere on Barovia not wanting to reveal his scape until the adventurers defeated strahd so the mist would disapear and could make his scape.
thanks! I've been getting on a "history" kick as of late.. Today, for example, we dive back in history to see where we were first able to play as monsters.. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-AFbZqo-bCM0.html
it is VERY possible as they (gygax and arneson) were big into fantasy and drew inspiration from a lot of places in the early starts of D&D. I'm fairly sure the moorcock books were out at about the same time so yep, I'd say it's likely that is where they might have drawn inspiration from.
I'm currently running a 3.5e campaign where a lich is trying to become a deity like Vecna did and the party may or may not need to get assistance from Vecna to stop this ascension.
oddly.. I can see Vecna wanting to help... but you gotta let the twist be that somehow Vecna will use that lich's body in the future against the party..
This is a good enough d&d historical view of Vecna to than read Eve of Ruin coming up shortly. It sounds like 6th edition and 5th edition are not that much different. This book will still be 5th edition?
even the new version will be 5th edition. I suppose on a technical level it could be considered 5.5? But overall, mechanically, it's still going to be 5th edition.
"Steal" has negative connotations. It was more of a fair trade and more importantly, nothing personal, just business. Wouldn't want to slander the good name of Arkhan the Cruel. A noble paladin merely seeking to carry out the divine will of his goddess. Not unlike Elminster, who also had fun adventures in Avernus.
The order of cool AD&D 2nd edition settings goes: -Dark Sun -Forgotten Realms -Planescape -Spelljammer -Dragonlance -Ravenloft -Council of Wyrms -Greyhawk -Mystara You are welcome (lol).
I almost agree with this list line for line.. tho some did shift around, for example, when Red Steel came out, Mystara shot to my number one spot. Heh I noticed that Birthright didnt make your list either haha
I haven't read the book, but it seems ridiculous to believe Vecna would be trying to obliterate the multiverse. After all he endured to become a God, now he wants to destroy everything he controls? It's kinda stupid.
no... he became a god (little g). By destroying the multiverse he also destroys all other gods so that he can become THE GOD and can then force all the other gods to do his bidding. not stupid at all from an evil point of view, and one that craves power.
what do you think happens when vecna puts on his hand and eye? does he gain the same powers as the books say, or does he gain more? and why wouldnt he go kill iuz as a stepping stone to power? also, did he know iggwilv?
all good questions! Based on some of the images (and the book cover for the regular edition) it does appear that his eye and hand are back on him (although they are kindav a "spirted purple" color). Regarding Iuz : In 2nd edition they were very well aware of each other and in Die Vecna Die! and in many respects Vecna Eve of Ruin is largely inspired from that adventure as it takes players across 3 different realms; Planescape, Greyhawk, and Ravenloft. (Also, big reveal if you read hte final bit in the book as I suspect the exact same thing could potentially happen with Eve of Ruin). As far as Iggwilv goes.. I've no idea if there is a connection there or not..
Loved the vid. I used Vecna in one of my campaigns. Your knowledge of the lore is quite good. One thing. Sigil is pronounced like Siggle. Not Sijil. That aside, I always enjoy a good Vecna vid.
@@gamemastersOh dear, I can't believe there's an opposing pronunciation for that word. On another topic, is the follow up to your DM screen video in the works?
@@potterfanz6780 aye, it's there in the works. I'm doing a few different things with how I film it, kinda.. artsy.. kinda.. not at the same time. Attempting something a bit new, but I've redone it 3 times so far.
Hmm i mixed up die vecna die and vecna reborn's cover art. Its vecna reborn that they're using the art for the vintage miniature in the july 50th anniversary Wizkids release.
@@gamemasters I could see that. And I don’t know the history of Cthulhu and Oerth. I just know Tharizdun has the tendency of ultimate chaos and talks to people in their dreams.
If I remember correctly, Acererak was Vecna's apprentice, and branched off to create the Tomb Of Horrors to garner souls for him (Gygax created it from what I understand to kill his characters in his game)
So Eve of Ruin Vecna is searching for all the parts of the Rod of 7 parts. But the whole adventure is about the players characters gathering the 7 parts of the Rod....sounds fishy to me. A- pcs refuse to gather the parts which is obviously a trap, why would they do Vencas job for him? Seems the easiest way to beat Vecna.
Any DM worth his salt can do the same thing, a globe trotting campaign and hunting for certain items. Too easy. Anyway, if WotC did not hate straight white men, I really might have bought this module, if for nothing else, too see how they do this campaign.
regardless.. should I have not upset them and get a review copy.. I'll be checking it out to let you all know if it is worth it or not. I've a BIG concern on the price.. $60.00.. for what one will ultimately be getting.. but we shall see..
i've heard in other videos that vecna learned lichdom from orcus, but you didn't mention it. is that something that the lore generally supports? or is that something that there is contradiction about? if i had to guess what the voice was, orcus wouldn't be a bad candidate.
In all of the lore that I read across, I never once saw any mention of Orcus and Vecna interacting with each other. I can't dismiss that it never happened (there is A LOT of material out there), but I did not scour any issues of Dragon Magazine and I did not include any canon from Critical Role in this video (nor did I include any fan-fiction or homebrew world creations), but in everything that I did research, I never saw anything mentioned in any book specifically that cited Vecna learned how to become a lich from Orcus. HOWEVER... if you visit WotC's website here: dnd.wizards.com/lore/vecna it does have this passage : "Orcus, the demon prince of undeath, taught Vecna a ritual that would allow him to live on as a lich." (but DO note that that is not mentioned at all in the Dossier).
Galápagos Jogos was doing that since 2018 to 2022 with DnD, when WotC decided to end the partnership and translate and distribute on their own. Since then, we got almost zero new books, and this "critical hit" when our beloved game reach its 50 aniversary...
