| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Jeremy Grenemyer |
Posted - 19 Aug 2012 : 08:37:59
Hello All,
With WotC's recent announcement that they're releasing the back catalog of Realms products online (file type and format as yet to be determined), I'm curious to know a few things:
1. Of all the items in the catalog, what is the first thing you would look up?
2. What do you consider to be the most overlooked and under appreciated book in the back catalog?
3. What would you recommend as the best book in the back catalog for someone new to the Realms to look up first?
[EDIT] To anyone at WotC who reads this: it would be cool if you could set up the back catalog so that users can see which of the items in the catalog are most downloaded or get the most views (if download is not available), via a percentile system or actual number of downloads listed next to each item. |
| 30 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| George Krashos |
Posted - 11 Sep 2012 : 08:39:42
Nothing in the way of products; just helping out a mate by mapping out the history of a few kingdoms of the North and providing some detail in terms of rulers ala my lineages that appeared in GHotR. It might even see the light of day. One day.
-- George Krashos
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| Jeremy Grenemyer |
Posted - 11 Sep 2012 : 08:26:39
quote:
Originally posted by George Krashos
Probably my favourite FR product. Considering how much I've dipped into it in the last month or so, I can say that it is the Realms product that keeps on giving.
A sign of new Realms products coming our way, I hope! |
| George Krashos |
Posted - 11 Sep 2012 : 01:41:32
quote:
Originally posted by Jeremy Grenemyer
I'm starting to think Dwarves Deep is a book I'll want to take a look at.
Probably my favourite FR product. Considering how much I've dipped into it in the last month or so, I can say that it is the Realms product that keeps on giving.
-- George Krashos
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| daarkknight |
Posted - 10 Sep 2012 : 20:22:28
I need to get my hands on the Forgotten Realms Adventures hardcover again. Two copies and I somehow lost both of them. :-(
I'm like so many others in having or recommending Cloak and Dagger. I don't think a month has gone by since it was released that I haven't referenced it or did any research in it at least once. When I moved 10 years ago and was waiting on all of my other books (which finally got to me), it was the one accessory I made sure to bring along. |
| Jeremy Grenemyer |
Posted - 08 Sep 2012 : 20:23:28
I'm starting to think Dwarves Deep is a book I'll want to take a look at. |
| Alystra Illianniis |
Posted - 26 Aug 2012 : 23:48:12
Wooly, you are so right. I'd love to get both of those now (suitably updated, of course.) I wonder if they will be included?
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| Mirrormar |
Posted - 23 Aug 2012 : 15:28:06
1. I have about 90% of what is published for FR, so I would pick up the Secrets of Magister probably first. Not sure how I missed that one the first time around.
2. As for an overlooked item, not really sure. I suppose 2e stuff that didn't have large print runs near the end of TSR.
3. I would have to go with the Old Grey Box.
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| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 23 Aug 2012 : 04:12:24
quote:
Originally posted by Eilserus
I was just thinking, but I'd like the option to buy the Forgotten Realms Interactive Atlas. You can't find them cheaply anywhere. I'm not sure what the costs are associated with making CD's of products, but maybe you could add in all the new maps from 3E on. I'd imagine the install software could be downloaded online too and wasn't this a hugely popular item with 800 plus maps or something crazy? Definitely, want to see the Atlas! :)
It is my opinion that the release of the Interactive Atlas and the Dragon Archive were about 5 years or so too early... I bought both from the Mail Order Hobby Shop for 50% of the original price -- and the first machine I installed them on had been recently upgraded to Windows 98!
I think both of them were originally $50, and they were released before computers had become as ubiquitous as they are now. That was the problem. Too high a price tag, and too small a market. Something like that would do much better now, I think.
I've still got the original CDs for both programs, though the boxes and manuals went up in smoke. I've not installed either in a while, though -- I don't install stuff on my computer that I don't intend to use frequently, and since the archived Dragons were all pdfs, there's no need for that software. |
| The Red Walker |
Posted - 23 Aug 2012 : 02:51:07
quote:
Originally posted by Eilserus
I was just thinking, but I'd like the option to buy the Forgotten Realms Interactive Atlas. You can't find them cheaply anywhere. I'm not sure what the costs are associated with making CD's of products, but maybe you could add in all the new maps from 3E on. I'd imagine the install software could be downloaded online too and wasn't this a hugely popular item with 800 plus maps or something crazy? Definitely, want to see the Atlas! :)
Very nice, I had that thought at the Candlekeep seminar and it's slipped my min until you mentionedit.
Definitely want to see the atlas or at least a compilation of maps, maps and more maps! |
| Eilserus |
Posted - 23 Aug 2012 : 02:33:20
I was just thinking, but I'd like the option to buy the Forgotten Realms Interactive Atlas. You can't find them cheaply anywhere. I'm not sure what the costs are associated with making CD's of products, but maybe you could add in all the new maps from 3E on. I'd imagine the install software could be downloaded online too and wasn't this a hugely popular item with 800 plus maps or something crazy? Definitely, want to see the Atlas! :) |
| The Sage |
Posted - 23 Aug 2012 : 01:39:43
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
I happen to think the old Polyhedron articles are perfect for this sort of treatment. If they just decide to re-sell every last little thing, the 'greedy empire' accusations will begin to fly again. A little bit of free stuff (which costs them NOTHING) would go a long way in appeasing those folks who are just looking for reasons to hate.
The POLYHEDRON articles offer something of a unique place in the Realms back-catalogue, since a great many of them are solely lore-filled pieces without mechanics or rules that would require updating for a new edition.
The "Border Kingdoms" articles, for example [and just some of my most cherished parts of my collection] offer nothing but extensive Ed-lore that brings such life to the region. It's all easily adaptable for any campaign in the Realms which a DM might wish to run. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 23 Aug 2012 : 01:36:45
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I'll also note that there are some other oddly scattered about bits of Realms material, like the "Moon Over Myth Drannor" short story in the Eye of the Beholder III game manual (not sure how I got that short story as a Word doc, but I did). It'd be nice to have all those rounded up and in one place.
Or, at least, made available once again online as part of Wizards DDI service. Since it has offered some quality fiction in the past, this could yet be another opportunity to really restore a great deal of the short stories and other narrative tidbits that have been peppered across various other Realms products in the last 25+ years. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 23 Aug 2012 : 00:08:56
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
At the same time, I think some of the older material should be used to generate buzz - put into a free section of their site (with maybe a comic and some other 'kewl stuff').
I happen to think the old Polyhedron articles are perfect for this sort of treatment. If they just decide to re-sell every last little thing, the 'greedy empire' accusations will begin to fly again. A little bit of free stuff (which costs them NOTHING) would go a long way in appeasing those folks who are just looking for reasons to hate.
You want to catch a fish, you need to bait the hook. 
While I would like to see free content again -- heck, some of my fave bits of Realmslore were free! -- I think there is value in compilations, and would pay without a complaint. I don't think people would play the "greedy corporation!" card too much if the only other way to get the material was to haunt eBay and other sites, and slowly build an entire run of magazines.
I've never heard a single complaint about corporate greed leveled at them for releasing the Dragon Magazine Archive CD-ROM, for example... |
| Markustay |
Posted - 22 Aug 2012 : 22:39:40
At the same time, I think some of the older material should be used to generate buzz - put into a free section of their site (with maybe a comic and some other 'kewl stuff').
I happen to think the old Polyhedron articles are perfect for this sort of treatment. If they just decide to re-sell every last little thing, the 'greedy empire' accusations will begin to fly again. A little bit of free stuff (which costs them NOTHING) would go a long way in appeasing those folks who are just looking for reasons to hate.
You want to catch a fish, you need to bait the hook. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 22 Aug 2012 : 17:59:52
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
quote:
Originally posted by Steven Schend
Come to think of it, WotC might benefit from a singular release of all the DRAGON magazine FR articles compiled together.
A complementary series of products compiling all the FR adventures from DUNGEON would also be of great benefit to those who can't otherwise access some of those classic modules.
At the same time, a lot of Realmslore featured as part of the POLYHEDRON periodical... so finding ways to re-issue that material would also be a plus for Realms fans.
Oh ye dancing gods, these are wonderful ideas! Three compilations, one for each source -- oh, I'd pay for that in a heartbeat! I'd also pay for a fourth one, compiling all past and present web content, as well -- especially since WotC has shuffled around their site so many times that there are no links to some of the older articles.
I'll also note that there are some other oddly scattered about bits of Realms material, like the "Moon Over Myth Drannor" short story in the Eye of the Beholder III game manual (not sure how I got that short story as a Word doc, but I did). It'd be nice to have all those rounded up and in one place. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 22 Aug 2012 : 16:17:53
quote:
Originally posted by Steven Schend
Come to think of it, WotC might benefit from a singular release of all the DRAGON magazine FR articles compiled together.
A complementary series of products compiling all the FR adventures from DUNGEON would also be of great benefit to those who can't otherwise access some of those classic modules.
At the same time, a lot of Realmslore featured as part of the POLYHEDRON periodical... so finding ways to re-issue that material would also be a plus for Realms fans. |
| The Red Walker |
Posted - 22 Aug 2012 : 16:06:42
quote:
Originally posted by Steven Schend
Come to think of it, WotC might benefit from a singular release of all the DRAGON magazine FR articles compiled together.
Yes, a lot of the material is in other forms and has been updated, but in many ways, the Realms seems less distilled and polished in the earlier articles and folks who haven't seen those articles dating back to the early 80's before the OGBS might be surprised at how Ed built the Realms piece by piece.
I have two huge binders with all those articles due to Eric Boyd's diligence long ago and was looking at them this morning, thinking there's still lots of bits of lore within those articles that hasn't seen the light of day in decades.
And the devil's advocate rhetorically asks, "Wonder if WotC'd think this might be a worthy "new" item to offer fans?"
Excuse me, Mr. Wizard...of the Coast? This is something I would love to see, sooner rather than later! |
| Steven Schend |
Posted - 22 Aug 2012 : 14:56:44
Come to think of it, WotC might benefit from a singular release of all the DRAGON magazine FR articles compiled together.
Yes, a lot of the material is in other forms and has been updated, but in many ways, the Realms seems less distilled and polished in the earlier articles and folks who haven't seen those articles dating back to the early 80's before the OGBS might be surprised at how Ed built the Realms piece by piece.
I have two huge binders with all those articles due to Eric Boyd's diligence long ago and was looking at them this morning, thinking there's still lots of bits of lore within those articles that hasn't seen the light of day in decades.
And the devil's advocate rhetorically asks, "Wonder if WotC'd think this might be a worthy "new" item to offer fans?"
|
| Xnella Moonblade-Thann |
Posted - 22 Aug 2012 : 02:25:53
Hmmm...I'd have to say anything to do with Waterdeep, Tethyr, Western Heartlands, Sword Coast (the whole length of the region), Cormanthyr/Myth Drannor, Evermeet, anything fey-related...that's just for starters off the top of my head.  |
| The Sage |
Posted - 22 Aug 2012 : 01:49:49
quote:
Originally posted by Steven Schend
I had wondered why there weren't more folks interested in the 2E City of Splendors box as a source until Quale mentioned it. Was it just less rare or because it's had at least one or two major updates/sourcebooks? Just curious (as a writer and a collector) what makes it less desired by folks than other items....?
I hadn't considered that. As it is, the City of Splendors boxed set rarely leaves my gaming table. In fact, you could say that it has worn a permanent place on the table because it's being so well used in practically every game I run. It doesn't really matter if we're based in Waterdeep... there's nifty little nuggets inside that can almost be dropped anywhere in the Realms.
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| Alystra Illianniis |
Posted - 22 Aug 2012 : 00:48:10
I will second what Tamsar said. For me, what I'd look up first would be some of the Volo's Guides I missed the first time around in pdf, and also maybe Cloak and Dagger, as it's one of the few I've never read.
My vote for most over-looked would have to be any of the "... of Faerun" books. Those books still see more use for me than just about anything else in my library, both physical and e-format.
For BEST book, I'd recommend the Cormanthor or City of splendors books, as well as DDUGttU. Okay, I'm elf heavy here, but they were great books, and Cormanthor is still one of my favorites. |
| Tamsar |
Posted - 21 Aug 2012 : 21:38:21
quote:
Originally posted by Steven Schend
quote:
Originally posted by Quale
1. First I'd look for the new pdfs, cause a few old ones did not have the search function possible.
2. Sea of Fallen Stars, obviously cause underwater games are rare
3. City of Splendors box, they can start small and with enough details
I'm blushing with pride that so many folks really want to read Cloak & Dagger and Sea of Fallen Stars, and I thank you kindly for that.
I had wondered why there weren't more folks interested in the 2E City of Splendors box as a source until Quale mentioned it. Was it just less rare or because it's had at least one or two major updates/sourcebooks? Just curious (as a writer and a collector) what makes it less desired by folks than other items....?
Like George, Sage, Wooly, and others, I admit that my shelves still bow beneath the weight of most/all of the 1E/2E material, so the need for the older stuff isn't there for me (though I'd like the easier reference ability, to be sure).
Even so, an item I'd recommend for folks who want a view of Waterdeep that's rare is Allen Varney's Knight of the Living Dead; it's a pick a path adventure heavily illustrated by George Barr (and something from it got a shout-out in my Blackstaff Tower novel a few years ago, just to remind folks of it).
Steven,
Is there any chance of you being involved in 5E FR, you're definitely in mine and many others all star FR designers, not casting aspersions at the other designers by any means. Some of your realms products are amongst the best ever published. You "got" the realms from the get go. The realms could only benefit from your involvement IMHO. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 21 Aug 2012 : 20:05:59
quote:
Originally posted by Steven Schend
quote:
Originally posted by Quale
1. First I'd look for the new pdfs, cause a few old ones did not have the search function possible.
2. Sea of Fallen Stars, obviously cause underwater games are rare
3. City of Splendors box, they can start small and with enough details
I'm blushing with pride that so many folks really want to read Cloak & Dagger and Sea of Fallen Stars, and I thank you kindly for that.
I had wondered why there weren't more folks interested in the 2E City of Splendors box as a source until Quale mentioned it. Was it just less rare or because it's had at least one or two major updates/sourcebooks? Just curious (as a writer and a collector) what makes it less desired by folks than other items....?
Like George, Sage, Wooly, and others, I admit that my shelves still bow beneath the weight of most/all of the 1E/2E material, so the need for the older stuff isn't there for me (though I'd like the easier reference ability, to be sure).
Even so, an item I'd recommend for folks who want a view of Waterdeep that's rare is Allen Varney's Knight of the Living Dead; it's a pick a path adventure heavily illustrated by George Barr (and something from it got a shout-out in my Blackstaff Tower novel a few years ago, just to remind folks of it).
The CoS boxed set was mentioned, though not by name, in my post -- I have all of the Waterdeep source material in pdf and print (and multiple copies of the maps, even the big 10-part one from City System).
Haven't read Knight of the Living Dead, though... I know it was referenced a couple of times in Volo's Guide to Waterdeep, but I didn't know of other references. I've got two copies of that book, I've just never read it.
I've got 80 FR pdfs already -- all legal, and all official material. Mix in the unofficial material, like the Realms Bestiary, Volumes 1 & 2 by Eric L. Boyd and Thomas M. Costa or Brian R James's last edition of the Grand History before it went to print, and I've got over 90 pdfs.
Either way, too much to list at once, which is part of why I just said "everything Waterdeep".  |
| Gyor |
Posted - 21 Aug 2012 : 20:01:29
My favourites are Faiths and Avatars, Powers and Pantheons, and Demihuman deities. You get an understanding of religion in realms, the mythology, great stories about the Gods and even Elder Evils. |
| Steven Schend |
Posted - 21 Aug 2012 : 19:39:49
quote:
Originally posted by Quale
1. First I'd look for the new pdfs, cause a few old ones did not have the search function possible.
2. Sea of Fallen Stars, obviously cause underwater games are rare
3. City of Splendors box, they can start small and with enough details
I'm blushing with pride that so many folks really want to read Cloak & Dagger and Sea of Fallen Stars, and I thank you kindly for that.
I had wondered why there weren't more folks interested in the 2E City of Splendors box as a source until Quale mentioned it. Was it just less rare or because it's had at least one or two major updates/sourcebooks? Just curious (as a writer and a collector) what makes it less desired by folks than other items....?
Like George, Sage, Wooly, and others, I admit that my shelves still bow beneath the weight of most/all of the 1E/2E material, so the need for the older stuff isn't there for me (though I'd like the easier reference ability, to be sure).
Even so, an item I'd recommend for folks who want a view of Waterdeep that's rare is Allen Varney's Knight of the Living Dead; it's a pick a path adventure heavily illustrated by George Barr (and something from it got a shout-out in my Blackstaff Tower novel a few years ago, just to remind folks of it). |
| The Red Walker |
Posted - 21 Aug 2012 : 15:15:52
1 and 3 The Old Grey Box |
| Quale |
Posted - 21 Aug 2012 : 10:20:47
1. First I'd look for the new pdfs, cause a few old ones did not have the search function possible.
2. Sea of Fallen Stars, obviously cause underwater games are rare
3. City of Splendors box, they can start small and with enough details |
| Eilserus |
Posted - 19 Aug 2012 : 19:12:17
I believe I have most the old 2E stuff. I wonder if they can put the old maps for the various products up for sale that they will ship to us. I know for one I lost my one if not both of my OGB ones. I hope they do director's cuts on more products than just the Haunted Halls. The Savage Frontier or The North boxed set would be pretty slick to see something like that. Dwarves Deep is another of my favorites I'd like to see done. Drizzt Do'Urden's Guide to the Underdark where all the cut material added in and possibly more would be slick. I think that would cover Sschindylryn for sure as that was cut if I recall. Maybe they could take the Demihuman Deities and the Faiths books and add in more detail about the various churches of the Realms like Ed or another designer originally (can't remember names) wanted to do. I think some folks have said such a product probably wouldn't stand on its own, but it'd be a really good addition to whats already out there in those various gods sourcebooks. I'm really hoping they run with this director's cut thing, we could see sooo much more lore coming in and it could make old out of print stuff new to us and fairly profitable for them.
Heck, if they really wanted to go out all out, they could take say all the old adventures that are classics. Like the old Fighters Challenge from 2E days has always been one of my favorites. What if they took things like that and polished them up and even added a few new bits and pieces to them? Most of the work is already done, they'd only have to go back in and do a bit of modifying and adding new content. Here's a prime candidate for such a thing: Hordes of Dragonspear. They could have made this into a really kick arse adventure, but I imagine ran into page constraints. Go back in, fix that baby up to something awesome and sell it. The Reclaiming Blingdenstone adventure in the Next playtest packet is done really well and is totally heading in the right direction for sandbox adventure design and if they modified some of these old ones with "director's cuts" or whatever we want to call them to follow that format, holy jeebus alot of those old adventures are gonna be even better.
I get too excited thinking about this stuff and then end up writing a novel on the boards about it. haha |
| sfdragon |
Posted - 19 Aug 2012 : 18:53:41
secrets of the magister is what I want.... |
| Tamsar |
Posted - 19 Aug 2012 : 17:01:30
I have pretty much everything in physical form, and everything in PDF format already.
1. Of all the items in the catalog, what is the first thing you would look up?
It's a toss up between the Volo's guides (Waterdeep being truly outstanding) or Eric's god books (Faiths & Avatars, Powers and Pantheons and Demi-human Deities)
2. What do you consider to be the most overlooked and under appreciated book in the back catalog?
Hmm thats a toughie. Not that it is under appreciated and overlooked but I would say Cloak and Dagger. There are enough adventure hooks in that book to last a lifetime.
3. What would you recommend as the best book in the back catalog for someone new to the Realms to look up first?
The OGB. No question. |
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