| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Brian R. James |
Posted - 25 May 2006 : 18:10:48
Well it took me a few months longer than I had anticipated but I've finally released the next update to A Grand History of the Realms. It can be downloaded at http://www.geonomicon.com/portal/
This edition contains a couple hundred new entries primarily centered on the regions of the Sword Coast North, Netheril, and the Old Empires. I've also included a new section entitled Ancient History which contains a new sarrukh creation myth and an atlas of faerûn during the Days of Thunder.
As before, all dates on the actual chronology are 100% canon and include references to the sourcebook in which the event was described. Color coding is used to differentiate events from different regions of Toril.
As always feedback is welcome. Enjoy.
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| 30 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 10 Feb 2007 : 03:59:48
There's actually an error in the Temporal Chronology... There was an article in Dragon, around the time that the Spelljammer novels were coming out, that specified the exact years that the respective novels were set in. The Krynn/Toril crossover on the Chronology is off by like 2 or 3 years.
I don't recall the exact issue; I want to say it was around the 170s. Unfortunately, I'm not on my home computer, so I can't consult the Archive.
Anyway, you can align the timelines by reading the novels, too. The first Spelljammer novel begins 2 years after the attack on Palanthas. The second Spelljammer novel, IIRC, actually specified what year it was in Realmspace when they got there. |
| Walls |
Posted - 10 Feb 2007 : 02:03:53
The Double Diamond Triangle Saga? Huhhhhhhhhh?
Cool stuff though, this chronology |
| KnightErrantJR |
Posted - 10 Feb 2007 : 01:53:32
I'd say it was probably based on the timelines mentioned in the Cloakmaster Spelljammer books and the Wizard's Three Column. Brian R James has a site called a temporal Chronology of the Primes that has the comparative timelines (at this location):
http://www.hobgoblin.org/chronology/chronology.htm |
| Walls |
Posted - 10 Feb 2007 : 01:43:43
Whoa.... ok, how the heck can someone determine timelines of dragonlance events in accordance with FR events?! |
| Jamallo Kreen |
Posted - 10 Feb 2007 : 00:33:41
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
[quote]
(snip)
It's the same price range as other hardcovers from WotC...
The current A Grand History of the Realms does not include information on the other worlds -- that's in his A Temporal Chronology of the Primes.
I don't foresee a Realms product containing info on anything other than the Realms. Cross-setting supplements would come from product lines like Planescape or Spelljammer, both of which are now defunct (sadly).
*sigh* In a year or so I am going to shake, rattle, and roll my players with some hopping, skipping, and jumping through the Temporal Chronology. I was astounded to discover that my campaign (set in 1360 DR, the Year of the Turret) takes place in roughly the third year of the War of the Lance. It's amusing to realize that -- in comparison to the campaign setting with the most time travel -- my "current" FR campaign is taking place simultaneously with some of the very earliest Dragonlance works. Most of Dragonlance's major modern events haven't even occured yet, vis-a-vis Toril in the 1360s and 1370s.
Whatever Hasbro does, I iterate my deep admiration for the pdf work done to date. I hope the book does it justice!
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| The Sage |
Posted - 09 Feb 2007 : 23:56:04
Ardashir, Wenin... take a look through this scroll:- http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8788
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| Kuje |
Posted - 09 Feb 2007 : 22:47:02
Indeed, it will be a hardcopy book, which is why Brian has said he'll most likely have to remove the electronic version. |
| Wenin |
Posted - 09 Feb 2007 : 18:41:35
I heard that it was going to be published this year through WoTC |
| Ardashir |
Posted - 09 Feb 2007 : 18:38:22
That's a magnificent piece of work there. Will it ever be an actual paper book, or is it only going to be available online? |
| Asgetrion |
Posted - 06 Feb 2007 : 00:33:02
quote:
Originally posted by Kajehase
30 €? Put some money away and take a trip across Ålands Hav. I usually pay about 210 SKr (approximately 30$) for my FR and D&D books - less when I order by them by mail.
We must have higher shipping costs, or something like that? Hey, I visited Haparanda (*Ahem*... actually, just IKEA :) during my christmas holiday.
Which reminds me that I have 'Library swedish' (Bibliotekssvenska) at school tomorrow  |
| Kajehase |
Posted - 05 Feb 2007 : 17:37:14
30 €? Put some money away and take a trip across Ålands Hav. I usually pay about 210 SKr (approximately 30$) for my FR and D&D books - less when I order by them by mail. |
| Asgetrion |
Posted - 04 Feb 2007 : 22:55:03
quote:
Originally posted by Jamallo Kreen
quote:
Originally posted by Garen Thal
I have absolutely nothing to say other than
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/fracc/9780786947317
I have absolutely nothing to say other than, "$30 for a 160 page hardback?! Like they couldn't print it in paper covers, perfect bound, so that it was AFFORDABLE to those who don't have endless gobs of money?! If there was any Realms book that I would want affordable, it would be Brian James's absolutely magnificent work, several copies of which I expect to wear out through repeated use!" 
Hey, that's goin to be 30 euros (about 45$, I think) here in Europe... and I am still going to buy it! Books are always a great investment, I think, and I am proud of my modest collection.
Think of it this way - I used to spend a lot of money on slot machines (about 200$ per month) and I still regret doing that for years... (my friends used to spend even more). Just think of how many more FR tomes and books I could have bought... *sigh*  |
| Markustay |
Posted - 04 Feb 2007 : 05:30:40
quote:
Originally posted by Reefy
I much prefer having the books hardback - even though they don't get as much use as other books, my copies of SM and LoD are my most damaged FR books. My FRCS, which is used constantly, is still in better shape.
And hurrah! A product for 2007 that I might just buy.
I second these sentiments, although I can honestly say I will buy AT LEAST one, and probably several as gifts.
A light fluffy snack with NO crunchy bits? Count me in!
Congratulations on your unlooked-for success, thats always the best kind. Now talk them into a giant-size coffee table version with lotsa pics, you can call it the 'Deluxe edition' and sell it for around $50 ($60 if leatherbound) |
| Wandering_mage |
Posted - 04 Feb 2007 : 00:55:16
I am looking forward to this product. Congrats again Brian. What an awesome success story! I like when people that love the realms write the books.  |
| The Sage |
Posted - 03 Feb 2007 : 23:35:56
quote:
Originally posted by Brian R. James
Sage, you've been holding out on me. Let's get to work on the Grand History of Krynn right away!
Aye.
It's still a semi-secret project (mostly because several of the entries have in fact been used in DL3e products [with alterations of course]). Since the original force behind the project moved on to other things, it was decided that I, and a few other dedicated DL fans, would pick up where he left off and continue to move it forward.
I don't want to provide any links to the site yet, mostly because of the traffic it will likely generate (and the timeline isn't anywhere near stable enough for that kind of attention just yet), but I'll gladly send you the "working" copy I have on my HD.
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| Jorkens |
Posted - 03 Feb 2007 : 15:55:34
quote:
Originally posted by Brian R. James
Unfortunately Dargoth, I am unable to say at this time *how* it will be different from the .pdf version other than it *will* be different.
Sage, you've been holding out on me. Let's get to work on the Grand History of Krynn right away!
Well, if we knew every detail about the book beforehand, where would the excitement be? Again, Brian, I cant wait to see this product.
P.S. Sage, that Dragonlance timeline sounds intriguing. |
| Brian R. James |
Posted - 03 Feb 2007 : 15:50:57
Unfortunately Dargoth, I am unable to say at this time *how* it will be different from the .pdf version other than it *will* be different.
Sage, you've been holding out on me. Let's get to work on the Grand History of Krynn right away! |
| Dargoth |
Posted - 03 Feb 2007 : 00:24:15
Hey Brian
How is GHotR source book going to be different from the latest version of GHotR.pdf? |
| Reefy |
Posted - 02 Feb 2007 : 23:37:29
I much prefer having the books hardback - even though they don't get as much use as other books, my copies of SM and LoD are my most damaged FR books. My FRCS, which is used constantly, is still in better shape.
And hurrah! A product for 2007 that I might just buy. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 02 Feb 2007 : 23:08:25
quote:
Originally posted by Jamallo Kreen
*sigh* Will it include the details on events in other game worlds (Krynn, Oerth, etc.) which the pdf file has, or will it be limited to the Forgotten Realms?
Jamallo, if you're looking for an Grand History-styled "close-to-official-and-very-comprehensive" timeline for DRAGONLANCE, contact me privately. I'll direct you to a source that I helped work on several years ago...
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| Archwizard |
Posted - 02 Feb 2007 : 23:02:59
I have a feeling that due to space reasons, the published book will likely leave out most of the timeline info for the sub-settings such as Kara-Tur, Zakhara and Maztica. They might leave a few sparse entries for very significant events, such as the Tuigan Horde invasion which crossed over to Faerun. I'm actually hoping for the opposite, that the timeline hints what has happened in those sub-settings over the last 15 years. Ever more optimistically, a few new references to Kara-Turan and Zakharan influences and interactions with Faerun would be fantastic. One can only hope. |
| Faraer |
Posted - 02 Feb 2007 : 23:02:29
quote:
Originally posted by Jamallo Kreen
I have absolutely nothing to say other than, "$30 for a 160 page hardback?! Like they couldn't print it in paper covers, perfect bound, so that it was AFFORDABLE to those who don't have endless gobs of money?!
It would cost $5 less, and sell fewer copies, as well as being less hard-wearing. And Wizards would be less likely to publish relatively marginal titles, which I don't think this is but it is according to the fabled Bean-Counter thinking -- if it couldn't count on so much income from them.
Once more, BOOKS ARE CHEAP. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 02 Feb 2007 : 22:51:15
quote:
Originally posted by Jamallo Kreen
quote:
Originally posted by Garen Thal
I have absolutely nothing to say other than
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/fracc/9780786947317
I have absolutely nothing to say other than, "$30 for a 160 page hardback?! Like they couldn't print it in paper covers, perfect bound, so that it was AFFORDABLE to those who don't have endless gobs of money?! If there was any Realms book that I would want affordable, it would be Brian James's absolutely magnificent work, several copies of which I expect to wear out through repeated use!"
*sigh* Will it include the details on events in other game worlds (Krynn, Oerth, etc.) which the pdf file has, or will it be limited to the Forgotten Realms?
It's the same price range as other hardcovers from WotC...
The current A Grand History of the Realms does not include information on the other worlds -- that's in his A Temporal Chronology of the Primes.
I don't foresee a Realms product containing info on anything other than the Realms. Cross-setting supplements would come from product lines like Planescape or Spelljammer, both of which are now defunct (sadly).
|
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 02 Feb 2007 : 22:37:15
Wouldn't the hardback be less likely to wear out though? It would probably cost more overall to have to buy several softcovers. |
| Jamallo Kreen |
Posted - 02 Feb 2007 : 22:28:05
quote:
Originally posted by Garen Thal
I have absolutely nothing to say other than
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/fracc/9780786947317
I have absolutely nothing to say other than, "$30 for a 160 page hardback?! Like they couldn't print it in paper covers, perfect bound, so that it was AFFORDABLE to those who don't have endless gobs of money?! If there was any Realms book that I would want affordable, it would be Brian James's absolutely magnificent work, several copies of which I expect to wear out through repeated use!"
*sigh* Will it include the details on events in other game worlds (Krynn, Oerth, etc.) which the pdf file has, or will it be limited to the Forgotten Realms?
|
| ShadowJack |
Posted - 02 Feb 2007 : 17:10:35
This is the first Realms product in a long time that I have really gotten excited about!!! This will be an awesome tool for my campaigns... and great reading besides! kudos to Mr. James for getting this printed! |
| scererar |
Posted - 02 Feb 2007 : 07:09:17
I agree with Wooly. However, having this great sourcebook, put into an official product will just make it outstanding. |
| RodOdom |
Posted - 02 Feb 2007 : 02:02:23
Kick a** ! |
| The Sage |
Posted - 02 Feb 2007 : 01:46:31
Neato! 
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
In addition, the book features an exclusive Forgotten Realms short story by best-selling author R.A. Salvatore and new revelations for Realmslore aficionados.
The latter part sounds quite promising!
I'm quite intrigued by this little bit. 'Tis indeed something wonderful to look forward to.
quote:
In the evenings, he is an active member of the Forgotten Realms online community...
Since Candlekeep is one of Brian's FR haunts, I'd say that's another advertising win for Candlekeep in an official FR product! 
quote:
I wonder if they're going to make him take down the pdf version... It would make sense for them to do so, but I'd mourn the loss of such a wonderful free resource.
Indeed. I'm assuming Brian will know more about this as the time of publishing for the Grand Histoy approaches.
quote:
Ooh, I just realized two things: 1) this is one of the first products in a long time that is intended for just Realms fans, and not everyone else; and 2) no mention of feats or prestige classes! "And there was much rejoicing. Yay!"
I'll definitely echo this. 
|
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 02 Feb 2007 : 01:33:40
quote:
In addition, the book features an exclusive Forgotten Realms short story by best-selling author R.A. Salvatore and new revelations for Realmslore aficionados.
The latter part sounds quite promising!
I wonder if they're going to make him take down the pdf version... It would make sense for them to do so, but I'd mourn the loss of such a wonderful free resource.
Ooh, I just realized two things: 1) this is one of the first products in a long time that is intended for just Realms fans, and not everyone else; and 2) no mention of feats or prestige classes! "And there was much rejoicing. Yay!" |
