| Author |
 Topic  |
|
Jakk
Great Reader
Canada
2165 Posts |
 Posted - 30 Oct 2008 : 02:00:58
|
 Thanks for the warning, Sage. I'm just going by the results of my poll (which, I'll admit, does not have a vast number of responses thus far, but those responses have been decidedly in favour) and the postings both in that scroll and in response to my requests here. And, as I said earlier, I was tired at the time...
On a related note to my earlier requests, is it possible to make PDFs of Polyhedron available online? Referencing the following scroll:
http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=11785
Again, there seems to be an interest in this old lore... an interest which is shared by myself. Thanks! |
Playing in the Realms since the Old Grey Box (1987)... and *still* having fun with material published before 2008, despite the NDA'd lore.
If it's comparable in power with non-magical abilities, it's not magic. |
Edited by - Jakk on 30 Oct 2008 02:05:18 |
 |
|
|
Kentinal
Great Reader
4705 Posts |
Posted - 30 Oct 2008 : 02:28:20
|
Well Lore indeed was what made FR what it was and is, but also there always have been requests for lore that makes some kind of sense.
I expect in time the retcons might be forgiven, the crunch was only required to explain how the lore was develped.
Example, High Elven magic was available by slow progression. It took longer to do things to earn the future rights to do far more mighty things.
|
"Small beings can have small wisdom," the dragon said. "And small wise beings are better than small fools. Listen: Wisdom is caring for afterwards."
"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon |
|
|
|
Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 30 Oct 2008 : 02:28:33
|
The idea is a sound one, though, all opinions aside.
Suppose WotC produced a thirty-page Netbook for each geographic location in the Realms. They could even produce and release them on a once-a-month basis. These booklets should have everything a DM needs to run a game in the area, including plothooks and several springboards to other adventure loacles
Then have those Netbooks downloadable for $5 each.
Yup... just $5 - You see, if you make it $15, or even $10, most people won't bother, but at just five bucks everyone would download them. WotC has to stop thinking about the thousand customers they can bilk for $15, and start thinking in terms of the hundred-thousand customers they can get $5 from. This is the Internet, for Chrisakes, and quantity is far more important then each individual sale.
They are still thinking like a P&P company, and they need to get their collective heads out of the sand, start producing great products as reasonable prces, and offering them on a case-by-case basis.
Seriously, why should anyone pay for the DDi, lore sight-unseen? I want to be able to pick and choose the stuff I want to pay for, and I want it to be lengthy - in other words, USEFUL. a five to seven page article might be a fun read, but very rarely will it be enough to actaully base a game session around, let alone a campaign.
Give us bigger, more SPECIFIC packets, and charge us for them individually. $5 might seem like chicken-feed to the boys at Hasbro, but when you get 10,000 people a month downloading the stuff that's a lot of scratch.
And at five bucks, people won't even be tempted to look for the info through more 'nefarious' channels - and they're out there, trust me. For thirty or forty dollars I might be willing to bend the law (as would most folks), but for $5 you'd have to be an idiot to take the illegal route.
Plus low prices for hefty/quality product = good customer relations - something WotC desperately needs right now. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
|
Edited by - Markustay on 30 Oct 2008 04:37:39 |
|
|
|
Jakk
Great Reader
Canada
2165 Posts |
Posted - 30 Oct 2008 : 03:53:03
|
quote:
Originally posted by Jakk
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Jakk
Another thing I'd like to see is a downloadable compilation of the complete run of "Elminster's Everwinking Eye" from Polyhedron. Again, I'm willing to pay for that as paid downloadable content, but independent of DDi. I'm hoping that my requests will be at least looked at, but from what I've seen from Wizards since the arrival of 3E, we (the customers) need to ask for what Wizards wants to give us if we want to see what we ask for. 
Oh gods, yes! This is something we need! I, too, would be willing to pay for such content. And as of this moment, I've not given WotC a dime for anything 4E except a single novel.
There you have it, Brian... what Candlekeep fans and admins want (or at least the ones who have spoken here and in this poll: http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=11753) is lore. Lots of lore. Downloadable-for-a-fee PDF lore independent of DDi that isn't necessarily post-Spellplague, and the pre-Spellplague stuff doesn't even need to be new; convert existing unreleased (Cormyr noble genealogy) or uncollected ("EEE") lore into compilations for us, and get us to pay per download. Making this lore a part of DDi will not get me to buy into DDi; I will simply make do without the lore until it is available separately. There will be no rant against DDi here, because I'm signing off before my cranky tiredness gets the better of me, and I know that cranky people aren't listened to (I have a three-year-old neice and a six-year-old nephew in the house).
(Amended from my original post to accommodate The Sage's concerns regarding generalities. I thank The Sage for his concerns, which were entirely justified (I was being far too general in my attributions of opinions), but I suspect from his earlier comments in the referenced scrolls that he's in the pro-lore camp too.)
That's all. No more rant here. As individuals, we all know what we want, and that is information that is useful to us, regardless of the game we play. Anybody with the rulebooks can put crunch together. Canon lore is far less easily found, and whatever Wizards does to make that lore available without the DDi middleman makes me more likely to continue to visit www.wizards.com. And no, that's not a live link, and my previous posts here and in the "response to the feedback thread" scroll should suggest why. As I've said before, I have no problem with paying for articles that I'm interested in, but I won't pay in advance for any gaming product whose content is a mystery when I purchase it.  |
Playing in the Realms since the Old Grey Box (1987)... and *still* having fun with material published before 2008, despite the NDA'd lore.
If it's comparable in power with non-magical abilities, it's not magic. |
|
|
|
Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
37011 Posts |
Posted - 30 Oct 2008 : 05:17:52
|
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
The idea is a sound one, though, all opinions aside.
Suppose WotC produced a thirty-page Netbook for each geographic location in the Realms. They could even produce and release them on a once-a-month basis. These booklets should have everything a DM needs to run a game in the area, including plothooks and several springboards to other adventure loacles
This is a really good idea. But I think it'd be more reasonable as a once per two months thing. That way, they've got enough time for proper editing, research, and all that. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen!  |
|
|
|
The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 30 Oct 2008 : 06:10:33
|
quote:
Originally posted by Jakk
(Amended from my original post to accommodate The Sage's concerns regarding generalities. I thank The Sage for his concerns, which were entirely justified (I was being far too general in my attributions of opinions), but I suspect from his earlier comments in the referenced scrolls that he's in the pro-lore camp too.)
Well, I've often said that when it comes to the Realms, the lore is my first love. I make no secret of that.  |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
Edited by - The Sage on 30 Oct 2008 06:11:19 |
|
|
|
Dalor Darden
Great Reader
USA
4273 Posts |
Posted - 30 Oct 2008 : 06:34:38
|
Well, if they had the same team doing each one, two months might be a good time frame...but if they had alternating teams doing a spotlight, then once a month wouldn't be bad.
As a matter of fact, I'm nearly done with a regional write-up myself...and it didn't even take a month; although it isn't ready yet.
I think a month would be good as long as they didn't have the same team writing it out...that would make it pretty darned rushed like Wooly said...but with more than one team they could do this easily, cheaply (as in only labor cost, no supply costs since it could all be done electronically), and did I mention it wouldn't cost them much? If they got 10k hits in a month, that is a gross amount of 600k U.S. a year, and I'm sure that the salary of the four or so folks working on this couldn't be more than 100k a year...
I don't know about anyone here, but I think half a million a year would put some serious black ink in their ledger. |
The Old Grey Box and AD&D for me! |
|
|
|
Pandora
Learned Scribe
Germany
305 Posts |
Posted - 30 Oct 2008 : 07:50:48
|
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
Then have those Netbooks downloadable for $5 each.
Yup... just $5 - You see, if you make it $15, or even $10, most people won't bother, but at just five bucks everyone would download them. WotC has to stop thinking about the thousand customers they can bilk for $15, and start thinking in terms of the hundred-thousand customers they can get $5 from. This is the Internet, for Chrisakes, and quantity is far more important then each individual sale.
Two problems:
1. downloadable = copyable
2. downloadable only as sole form = its not worth it
1. A simple hypertext "document" can be copied and distributed easily, so getting 5$ from ten times as many people is unlikely. Only one person in a group of friends needs to download & pay for the original. Even though PDF documents can have some copy protection that isnt failsafe either. So you are out of luck again. Lets face it: "The internet" is nothing but a huge copying machine for text and the way to make this hardest is a "hard copy", i.e. a book. Files are really easy to crack and this shows how much the whole management of 4e has fallen prey to "internet = more profit" or "internet = kewl and 1337" propaganda. Not everything that is new is better than the old stuff.
2. The second point simply means the bad handling of electronic files usually, because they are much harder to read (long term). Not everyone has a luxurious big screen to show the full page of a PDF document, so you have to scroll and scroll and scroll while reading(*1). Two-columned text requires you to scroll each page twice at least with the potential for more scrollings if you have to reference between the columns. Personally I have a color laser printer which can even print both sides of a page, but not everyone has that luxury. So saying "you can print it out yourself" doesnt result in the same quality a book would give; even I wouldnt have a hardcover book, but rather a stack of paper.
All in all this sums up to an extremists point of view:
Give us books or dont bother.
(*1) In case you didnt know: The movements which a hand does with a mouse are not really healthy, because they are so small. This can damage the nervous system if you do that too much. I know that from personal experience and I have to take a break from using the computer too much every once in a while. So pushing our lives ever more into the Internet isnt a healthy idea. Too much of a good thing makes it bad and even if you dont notice it when youre 16 or even 24 you might notice it when youre 40 but still have a few decades of work to do before you can retire. |
If you cant say what youre meaning,
you can never mean what youre saying.
- Centauri Minister of Intelligence, Babylon 5 |
Edited by - Pandora on 30 Oct 2008 08:01:05 |
|
|
|
Dalor Darden
Great Reader
USA
4273 Posts |
Posted - 30 Oct 2008 : 14:27:14
|
quote:
Originally posted by Pandora
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
Then have those Netbooks downloadable for $5 each.
Yup... just $5 - You see, if you make it $15, or even $10, most people won't bother, but at just five bucks everyone would download them. WotC has to stop thinking about the thousand customers they can bilk for $15, and start thinking in terms of the hundred-thousand customers they can get $5 from. This is the Internet, for Chrisakes, and quantity is far more important then each individual sale.
Two problems:
1. downloadable = copyable
2. downloadable only as sole form = its not worth it
1. A simple hypertext "document" can be copied and distributed easily, so getting 5$ from ten times as many people is unlikely. Only one person in a group of friends needs to download & pay for the original. Even though PDF documents can have some copy protection that isnt failsafe either. So you are out of luck again. Lets face it: "The internet" is nothing but a huge copying machine for text and the way to make this hardest is a "hard copy", i.e. a book. Files are really easy to crack and this shows how much the whole management of 4e has fallen prey to "internet = more profit" or "internet = kewl and 1337" propaganda. Not everything that is new is better than the old stuff.
2. The second point simply means the bad handling of electronic files usually, because they are much harder to read (long term). Not everyone has a luxurious big screen to show the full page of a PDF document, so you have to scroll and scroll and scroll while reading(*1). Two-columned text requires you to scroll each page twice at least with the potential for more scrollings if you have to reference between the columns. Personally I have a color laser printer which can even print both sides of a page, but not everyone has that luxury. So saying "you can print it out yourself" doesnt result in the same quality a book would give; even I wouldnt have a hardcover book, but rather a stack of paper.
All in all this sums up to an extremists point of view:
Give us books or dont bother.
I'm afraid I disagree completely with you.
The small number of 10,000 is indeed just that: small. This number takes into account all those people willing to go to ludicrous lengths simply to get a $5 PDF for free; while the majority of individuals will pay such a small fee.
While things like Bit Torrent (sp?) and others make getting things free "easier" it isn't the actual standard for downloading. The majority of digital consumers actually still pay for what they get on the internet. It is a herd mentality really; but it works for digital corporations all the time. Why go to the lengths of copyright infringement when you can point, click, pay small fee with credit card, and have the document all in less than a couple of minutes?
Paizo is an excellent example of a corporation making available for download PDF files for gaming. While it isn't ideal for "holding in the hand" (my own preference) it is still a far superior choice than having no access at all to such materials. The fact that you can still print the digital copy out makes it simple to have the "hard copy" so many want.
I could go on with this; but I've done a bit of research and found that for the gaming industry 10k hits at $5 U.S. a pop is on the lean side for what a company can make doing this. Especially considering the constant "trickle effect" of downloads after the initial release date...for years people will still be able to download the material whenever they happen to join into the game.
Heck, if you don't believe me; go over to Paizo and try to have a chat with those folks about it. They are nice enough to chat with...and then I'm sure you will come to see the truth of the matter. |
The Old Grey Box and AD&D for me! |
|
|
|
Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
37011 Posts |
Posted - 30 Oct 2008 : 15:07:29
|
quote:
Originally posted by Pandora
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
Then have those Netbooks downloadable for $5 each.
Yup... just $5 - You see, if you make it $15, or even $10, most people won't bother, but at just five bucks everyone would download them. WotC has to stop thinking about the thousand customers they can bilk for $15, and start thinking in terms of the hundred-thousand customers they can get $5 from. This is the Internet, for Chrisakes, and quantity is far more important then each individual sale.
Two problems:
1. downloadable = copyable
2. downloadable only as sole form = its not worth it
1. A simple hypertext "document" can be copied and distributed easily, so getting 5$ from ten times as many people is unlikely. Only one person in a group of friends needs to download & pay for the original. Even though PDF documents can have some copy protection that isnt failsafe either. So you are out of luck again. Lets face it: "The internet" is nothing but a huge copying machine for text and the way to make this hardest is a "hard copy", i.e. a book. Files are really easy to crack and this shows how much the whole management of 4e has fallen prey to "internet = more profit" or "internet = kewl and 1337" propaganda. Not everything that is new is better than the old stuff.
Just because something can be copied and illegally distributed doesn't mean that it will be, or that it will be illegally distributed enough to noticably cut into legal means of distribution. A lot of companies have already proved this*.
The fact that many companies have successfully embraced the business model of web only and pdf content shows that it is a viable option, and that copying is not enough of a concern to prevent it. Heck, Wizards is already doing business this way, with the magazines having gone online. If they're not concerned about people pirating the magazines, I doubt they'll be concerned about these proposed netbooks being pirated.
iTunes is an excellent example of a business embracing electronic distribution methods and being successful at it. Amazon also sells MP3s, and theirs are DRM-free and can be played on anything.
It can be done. Most people would rather pay a reasonable fee than accept illegal material, and the average internet user (it's a series of tubes, right?) doesn't know how to find the illegal stuff. Hells, I myself know enough to be able to find the illegal stuff, and I'd rather buy it if it's reasonably priced.
*The RIAA needs to get this memo. 
|
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
|
|
|
Brian R. James
Forgotten Realms Game Designer
USA
1098 Posts |
|
|
Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 31 Oct 2008 : 19:43:18
|
I see Sembia is #1 -
If you check the Old Grey Box, you'll note that we were promised that region would be left for DM's to develop for themselves.
Does this mean 4e is going to ONLY develop those regions that were never supposed to be developed?
On a more serious note...
I can't for the life of me understand what people see in that incredibly boring place.
A land of money-grubing merchants.. Yay...
I can walk out my door and see that. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
|
Edited by - Markustay on 31 Oct 2008 19:44:24 |
|
|
|
Brian R. James
Forgotten Realms Game Designer
USA
1098 Posts |
Posted - 31 Oct 2008 : 19:58:21
|
I too am surprised by the interest in Sembia, but in a good way. I suspect it got alot of votes because it's smack dab in the middle of the Heartland and yet it's never been covered in any detail. I'm really looking forward to fleshing out this region and hopefully you'll find Sembia a little less boring afterwards.
I’m equally surprised by Rashemen. Unlike Sembia, this nation has been covered pretty thoroughly in the past but I guess there is just a natural charisma to the place which drives fans to want more. I’ll make sure ‘Mask of the Betrayer’ gets a nod in some form for the Neverwinter Nights fans out there.
|
Brian R. James - Freelance Game Designer
Follow me on Twitter @brianrjames |
|
|
|
Ashe Ravenheart
Great Reader
USA
3256 Posts |
|
|
Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 31 Oct 2008 : 21:20:51
|
Maybe thats why I never liked it - it just seemed to be a fantasy-parellel of my own RW country, and was also extremely redundant with the far-more interesting Amn around.
If you gave us something that set it apart from Amn then maybe it would work for me. Paul Kemp's novels and the 4e Netherease probably also have something to do with this new interest.
quote:
Originally posted by Brian R. James
I’m equally surprised by Rashemen.
I have some ideas about their racial origins, so if you do anything historic (I'm talking ancient history here) I'll gladly be available as a sounding-board. 
Also, the Realms are in need of a Gypsy-like culture, and tying them to the Rashemi/Raumathar is just a no-brainer. Considering the massive upheavals caused by the Spellplague, 4eFR is ripe for a group of wanderers with no permanent home.  |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
|
Edited by - Markustay on 31 Oct 2008 21:23:37 |
|
|
|
Brian R. James
Forgotten Realms Game Designer
USA
1098 Posts |
Posted - 01 Nov 2008 : 04:43:36
|
Alright folks. The "pick your top 3 regions to see in Dragon" poll conducted on the WotC boards is officially concluded. Thank you to all who participated!
Even if you're favorite choice didn't make the top of list, don't loose heart. I have a soft spot for remote and unpopular regions of the Realms and there will be plenty of opportunities to expand their lore in the coming months and years.
But for now it looks like I may be starting a Rashemen or Sembia article soon. Unlike previous assignments, however, I hope to involve the Realms community in the design process from the very beginning. Stay tuned!
In the meantime, please continue to offer up your general suggestions in this thread. |
Brian R. James - Freelance Game Designer
Follow me on Twitter @brianrjames |
|
|
|
The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 01 Nov 2008 : 05:48:47
|
quote:
Originally posted by Brian R. James
Unlike previous assignments, however, I hope to involve the Realms community in the design process from the very beginning. Stay tuned!
Sounds good. I'll look forward to the opportunity. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
|
|
|
Asgetrion
Master of Realmslore
Finland
1564 Posts |
Posted - 01 Nov 2008 : 22:56:44
|
quote:
Originally posted by Brian R. James
I too am surprised by the interest in Sembia, but in a good way. I suspect it got alot of votes because it's smack dab in the middle of the Heartland and yet it's never been covered in any detail. I'm really looking forward to fleshing out this region and hopefully you'll find Sembia a little less boring afterwards.
Hmmm, I think it was covered well enough in FRA, FRCS and the FR Boxed Set (AD&D) -- not to mention the host of novels and short stories that took place there. |
"What am I doing today? Ask me tomorrow - I can be sure of giving you the right answer then."
-- Askarran of Selgaunt, Master Sage, speaking to a curious merchant, Year of the Helm |
|
|
|
Brian R. James
Forgotten Realms Game Designer
USA
1098 Posts |
Posted - 01 Nov 2008 : 23:54:22
|
| Sure if you consider that 'detailed'. FRA gave a couple pages each to a few cities, but never covered the nation itself. FRCS and the 2nd-Edition boxed set are a few pages each as well. By detailed, I meant that the nation of Sembia has never been covered in a regional sourcebook (unlike the nations which surround it). |
Brian R. James - Freelance Game Designer
Follow me on Twitter @brianrjames |
Edited by - Brian R. James on 01 Nov 2008 23:55:56 |
|
|
|
Zanan
Senior Scribe
Germany
942 Posts |
Posted - 02 Nov 2008 : 21:32:50
|
Well, Sembia is because of the Shade / Shar / Cale storyline, I would gather.
Rashemen? Well, it simply rocks :D. No I did not vote, for a) it is 4E material and b ) one of my favourites have been nuked out of it too, the durthan. |
Cave quid dicis, quando et cui!
Gæð a wyrd swa hio scel!
In memory of Alura Durshavin.
Visit my "Homepage" to find A Guide to the Drow NPCs of Faerûn, Drow and non-Drow PrC and much more. |
|
|
|
Drakul
Senior Scribe
USA
367 Posts |
Posted - 02 Nov 2008 : 23:32:14
|
| I dislike the changes in 4E. Most notably the extreme changes in all things magical. Mystra's death and the death of my fave Drow deity Vhaeraun, just left a bitter taste in my mouth. I would like to know what brought these changes on. Hell, I even want Eilistraee and Selvetarm back. It seems wrong to only have one Drow deity to choose from. With the Ooze Lord lost, that kind of leaves two to choose from, but will he hear his worshippers' calls and prayers?? |
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDonLNKf6_KA9Qlal3Qu3zQ?view_as=subscriber |
|
|
|
George Krashos
Master of Realmslore
Australia
6692 Posts |
Posted - 03 Nov 2008 : 13:09:56
|
I was thinking of pitching a 4E Impiltur article but given the place didn't "rate" in Brian's poll, I don't think that's likely to happen now.
-- George Krashos
|
"Because only we, contrary to the barbarians, never count the enemy in battle." -- Aeschylus |
|
|
|
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 03 Nov 2008 : 14:47:54
|
quote:
Originally posted by Brian R. James
I'm really looking forward to fleshing out this region and hopefully you'll find Sembia a little less boring afterwards.
Have to say, I didn't find Sembia boring in the first place, though I appreciate your enthusiasm. And, it's nice of you to involve us, too. |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
Edited by - Rinonalyrna Fathomlin on 03 Nov 2008 14:57:51 |
|
|
|
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 03 Nov 2008 : 15:01:31
|
quote:
Originally posted by Zanan
Rashemen? Well, it simply rocks :D. No I did not vote, for a) it is 4E material and b ) one of my favourites have been nuked out of it too, the durthan.
Yeah, put the durthan back in. I don't see any good reason for people like them not to be around (unless all Rashemi spirits are benevolent/benign, which I doubt). |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
|
|
|
Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 03 Nov 2008 : 17:59:59
|
Considering Elaine connected Babba Yaga to the Realms and Rashemen in her Starlight and Shadows trilogy, having 'Dark Witches' in the region is a VERY good idea, and I can't for the life of me figure out why they would remove something cool like the Durthans.
The designers concept of 'cool' obviously is very different then ours.
quote:
Originally posted by George Krashos
I was thinking of pitching a 4E Impiltur article but given the place didn't "rate" in Brian's poll, I don't think that's likely to happen now.
-- George Krashos
Problem is, what little interest you were able to generate for the place was nuked when somebody 'up-top' decided to make it a devil-cult region (pretty much going against ALL canon you had developed for the place).
And was kinda stupid with Narfell right next door. 
Any other regions you interested in, George? How about a nice detailed article about Elturgard? A lot of folks want to know about the place, and it seems to have replaced both Damara and Impiltur as a place to get your Paladin character from (so it should be right up your alley).
And damn you both for getting me interested in 4e lore... |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
|
Edited by - Markustay on 03 Nov 2008 18:05:57 |
|
|
|
Jakk
Great Reader
Canada
2165 Posts |
Posted - 03 Nov 2008 : 21:21:39
|
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
The designers concept of 'cool' obviously is very different then ours.
Really? I just thought that one group or the other simply lacked a concept of 'cool' and I was suspecting it was us, since I've never really cared about what's 'cool' and what's not. I like what I like, and that was always enough for me until 4E Realms came out and I saw that I wasn't alone in my opinion of what was done. 
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
quote:
Originally posted by George Krashos
I was thinking of pitching a 4E Impiltur article but given the place didn't "rate" in Brian's poll, I don't think that's likely to happen now.
-- George Krashos
Problem is, what little interest you were able to generate for the place was nuked when somebody 'up-top' decided to make it a devil-cult region (pretty much going against ALL canon you had developed for the place).
And was kinda stupid with Narfell right next door.
Any other regions you interested in, George? How about a nice detailed article about Elturgard? A lot of folks want to know about the place, and it seems to have replaced both Damara and Impiltur as a place to get your Paladin character from (so it should be right up your alley).
Ditto. I loved Impiltur as presented in Champions of Ruin and Champions of Valor, and Impiltur in my Realms has made extensive use of those plot threads, so the only devil cult in my Impiltur is the new ruling class, servants of Soneillon. 
Elturgard is one of three regions in 4E Faerun that I'm interested in. The other two are Cormyr and Netheril/The North (yes, I consider it all to be one big region). I'm also interested in Returned Abeir, only because Ed wrote it and it's something new... but it still should have been the un-conjunction-warped Anchorome that we were getting, which is why I didn't (and won't) buy the books.
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
And damn you both for getting me interested in 4e lore...
What he said. |
Playing in the Realms since the Old Grey Box (1987)... and *still* having fun with material published before 2008, despite the NDA'd lore.
If it's comparable in power with non-magical abilities, it's not magic. |
Edited by - Jakk on 03 Nov 2008 21:26:18 |
|
|
|
lowtech
Learned Scribe
USA
315 Posts |
Posted - 05 Nov 2008 : 07:48:09
|
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
I see Sembia is #1 -
On a more serious note...
I can't for the life of me understand what people see in that incredibly boring place.
A land of money-grubing merchants.. Yay...
Didn't you ever want to roleplay as Silk from the Belgariad?
I always considered the Sembians to be more interesting than the Dalesfolk-they at least had the brains to realize the Dales Compact is an inherently unequal and degrading arrangement. |
|
|
|
Razz
Senior Scribe
USA
749 Posts |
Posted - 17 Nov 2008 : 16:40:42
|
I'd vote but it's 4E lore. I'd have loved a 3E treatise on Sembia instead. The 4E Sembia and pre-4E Sembia are going to just be two completely different regions to me no matter how good the writer is, no offense.
I think the only way would be to write more on Sembia's past and features of the area that still exist since pre-Spellplague. I'd be interested in it then. I mean, they want 4E Realms to be about "the past" so why not loophole and talk past tense with 4E Regions?
After all, WotC did state they don't want existing lore to get overwhelming for their new demographic base and want to leave the details to them. Sounds like it'd be a fine compromise. |
|
|
|
skychrome
Senior Scribe
713 Posts |
Posted - 12 May 2010 : 19:08:19
|
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
quote:
Originally posted by Brian R. James
[b]The existence of realms not mentioned in the FRCG (e.g. Hartsvale, Semphar, Icewind Dale, Border Kingdoms)
Heh. Easy one for me. Border Kingdoms.
Please excuse my ignorance, but has there been any 4e information on the Border Kingdoms made available since this thread has expired? |
"You make an intriguing offer, one that is very tempting. It would seem that I have little alternative than to answer thusly: DISINTEGRATE!" Vaarsuvius, Order of the Stick 625 |
Edited by - skychrome on 12 May 2010 19:12:27 |
|
|
|
Diffan
Great Reader
USA
4503 Posts |
Posted - 12 May 2010 : 21:44:57
|
| As far as I know, no. There was a little bit discussed in the FRCG but I dont think there are any DDI articles delving into that particular area of Faerun. Though I'm AFB right now so I can't recall what the FRCG said about the border kingdoms. |
Diffan's NPG Generator: FR NPC Generator
E6 Options: Epic 6 Campaign |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
|
|
The Realms design team is seeking your feedback
