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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36982 Posts |
 Posted - 18 Aug 2012 : 19:14:38
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quote:
Originally posted by Rhewtani
Yeah, but a thread for just announcements and reports of what's taking place at Gencon and a separate one where people argue about those reports would probably work better.
Exactly my point! People who aren't at GenCon are looking for news in this thread, and it'll be really nice if they didn't have to wade thru new rounds of the Edition Wars to get that news. |
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!  |
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Eltheron
Senior Scribe
740 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2012 : 19:24:41
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Saying things like "Where was this same restraint and respect that the 4E design team showed with the pre 4E Realms? They literally took a wrecking ball to 20+ years of material and imagination... They showed neither respect nor restraint... they even had the gall to tell us we would love it!" is focusing on old arguments and old debates. Continuously bringing up the past -- particularly in a highly negative fashion -- is not discussing the future.
If people want to know what Candlekeep scribes think of what was done to the setting in 4E, we've got hundreds of scrolls where this is discussed -- often with some of the same points that keep coming up in here.
It should be clear to anyone who takes the time to look that we are not a bunch of cheerleaders -- particularly myself; I've used some of the same statements about the 4E Realms myself.
What I'm saying is that if you want to discuss the pros and cons of the 4E Realms, feel free to do so. Just please don't do it in a thread that is about GenCon. If I want to see those old arguments again, I can. But I'm looking at this thread for news about GenCon.
In other words, please keep to the topic, and have other discussions in threads dedicated to those discussions.
Wooly, this isn't about Gencon so much as it is about what's being revealed at Gencon. And for 99% of us, I wager, we all want to know what's being revealed about the future of the Realms.
You cannot separate the discussion of 4E Realms from what's going to happen to the Realms in 5E (or Next), it's just not possible. We want to know what's changing FROM 4E because it's the most recent. We want to comment on what we want changed about 4E because it's the most salient. If you think Candlekeep is viewed on other sites as being unbiased, you really might want to rethink that view.
What I've seen here in recent days (months, really) is a massive attempt by insiders and pro-4E people to talk about how wonderful everything will be. That's fine, even though it's quite obviously PR. But other than "no reboot" and a few isolated details, not much in terms of concrete details have been said at all. I do want to know how things are going to be different (or the same) vs the current, most recent edition, and I'd like to be able to openly share my opinions on that.
So in terms of keeping it on topic, yes - is anyone willing to give us a bullet-point list of what was discussed at both the Candlekeep meetup and the "What is the Sundering?" events? Both happened yesterday. I know there's another "Sundering" panel today as well. Anyone care to share? Or better yet, did anyone take video/audio?
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"The very best possible post-fourteenth-century Realms lets down those who love the specific, detailed social, political and magical situation, with its thousands of characters, developed over forty years, and want to learn more about it; and those who'd be open to a new one with equal depth, which there just isn't time to re-produce; and those repelled, some past the point of no return, by the bad-taste-and-plausibility gap of things done to the world when its guardianship was less careful."
--Faraer |
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Diffan
Great Reader
USA
4492 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2012 : 19:25:46
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| So it's Saturday, anyone know of if any more info is coming that directly involves the Realms? |
Diffan's NPG Generator: FR NPC Generator
E6 Options: Epic 6 Campaign |
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Rhewtani
Senior Scribe
USA
508 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2012 : 19:29:41
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quote:
Originally posted by Eltheron
We want to know what's changing FROM 4E because it's the most recent.
We want to comment on what we want changed about 4E because it's the most salient.
Still pretty sure that Wooly just wants you to do the 1st one here and the 2nd on in a separate thread here at Candlekeep. |
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The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3567 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2012 : 19:36:50
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quote:
Originally posted by Eltheron
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Saying things like "Where was this same restraint and respect that the 4E design team showed with the pre 4E Realms? They literally took a wrecking ball to 20+ years of material and imagination... They showed neither respect nor restraint... they even had the gall to tell us we would love it!" is focusing on old arguments and old debates. Continuously bringing up the past -- particularly in a highly negative fashion -- is not discussing the future.
If people want to know what Candlekeep scribes think of what was done to the setting in 4E, we've got hundreds of scrolls where this is discussed -- often with some of the same points that keep coming up in here.
It should be clear to anyone who takes the time to look that we are not a bunch of cheerleaders -- particularly myself; I've used some of the same statements about the 4E Realms myself.
What I'm saying is that if you want to discuss the pros and cons of the 4E Realms, feel free to do so. Just please don't do it in a thread that is about GenCon. If I want to see those old arguments again, I can. But I'm looking at this thread for news about GenCon.
In other words, please keep to the topic, and have other discussions in threads dedicated to those discussions.
Wooly, this isn't about Gencon so much as it is about what's being revealed at Gencon. And for 99% of us, I wager, we all want to know what's being revealed about the future of the Realms.
You cannot separate the discussion of 4E Realms from what's going to happen to the Realms in 5E (or Next), it's just not possible. We want to know what's changing FROM 4E because it's the most recent. We want to comment on what we want changed about 4E because it's the most salient. If you think Candlekeep is viewed on other sites as being unbiased, you really might want to rethink that view.
What I've seen here in recent days (months, really) is a massive attempt by insiders and pro-4E people to talk about how wonderful everything will be. That's fine, even though it's quite obviously PR. But other than "no reboot" and a few isolated details, not much in terms of concrete details have been said at all. I do want to know how things are going to be different (or the same) vs the current, most recent edition, and I'd like to be able to openly share my opinions on that.
So in terms of keeping it on topic, yes - is anyone willing to give us a bullet-point list of what was discussed at both the Candlekeep meetup and the "What is the Sundering?" events? Both happened yesterday. I know there's another "Sundering" panel today as well. Anyone care to share? Or better yet, did anyone take video/audio?
You should start a new scroll for this, really you should. The debat is still welcome here , just not in an announcement scroll.
It's not really hard to separate news from debate. The debate is still welcome in these halls, if it occurs in the right spot. |
A little nonsense now and then, relished by the wisest men - Willy Wonka
"We need men who can dream of things that never were." -
John F. Kennedy, speech in Dublin, Ireland, June 28, 1963
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Eltheron
Senior Scribe
740 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2012 : 19:37:48
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quote:
Originally posted by Rhewtani
quote:
Originally posted by Eltheron
We want to know what's changing FROM 4E because it's the most recent.
We want to comment on what we want changed about 4E because it's the most salient.
Still pretty sure that Wooly just wants you to do the 1st one here and the 2nd on in a separate thread here at Candlekeep.
That's all well and good. But we're 8 pages in on this thread and most of it has been idle commentary and only the occasional tidbit of actual news. Only when someone dares bring up a comparison to 4E does the commentary get a slap on the hand.
Make two threads, post some news. I'm not against either of those. But I'm also not blind.
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"The very best possible post-fourteenth-century Realms lets down those who love the specific, detailed social, political and magical situation, with its thousands of characters, developed over forty years, and want to learn more about it; and those who'd be open to a new one with equal depth, which there just isn't time to re-produce; and those repelled, some past the point of no return, by the bad-taste-and-plausibility gap of things done to the world when its guardianship was less careful."
--Faraer |
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The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3567 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2012 : 19:40:43
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| I think I have shared as much as I can comfortably say is accurate. It was a long day at work, the. A long seminar. My info is spotted throughout this scroll, if I get time I'll. An try to pull it all together into something cohesive. I kind of just posted things as I was able to pull them together in my mind. 4.5 hours with that group, it's staggering the amount of info that flew around. It really seemed like less than an hour it was so enjoyable and flowed so well. |
A little nonsense now and then, relished by the wisest men - Willy Wonka
"We need men who can dream of things that never were." -
John F. Kennedy, speech in Dublin, Ireland, June 28, 1963
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Faraer
Great Reader
3308 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2012 : 19:43:57
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| Thank you for reporting for us, and I'll add my yay to the Haunted Halls tease. |
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Eltheron
Senior Scribe
740 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2012 : 19:49:38
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quote:
Originally posted by The Red Walker
I think I have shared as much as I can comfortably say is accurate. It was a long day at work, the. A long seminar. My info is spotted throughout this scroll, if I get time I'll. An try to pull it all together into something cohesive. I kind of just posted things as I was able to pull them together in my mind. 4.5 hours with that group, it's staggering the amount of info that flew around. It really seemed like less than an hour it was so enjoyable and flowed so well.
It's greatly appreciated, it really is.
I still really don't have a clear idea (or any idea really) what "The Sundering" actually is, though. A book series, and some kind of RSE, that is apparent. But with a long "What is the Sundering?" seminar, even a bullet point kind of thing would be amazing to see, if possible.
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"The very best possible post-fourteenth-century Realms lets down those who love the specific, detailed social, political and magical situation, with its thousands of characters, developed over forty years, and want to learn more about it; and those who'd be open to a new one with equal depth, which there just isn't time to re-produce; and those repelled, some past the point of no return, by the bad-taste-and-plausibility gap of things done to the world when its guardianship was less careful."
--Faraer |
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Erik Scott de Bie
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
4598 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2012 : 20:59:50
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I will make an attempt to articulate what was discussed during the 4.5 hour panel. Probably I won't get this done from the con. Other than spotty sleep, I literally have not stopped since early Wednesday morning.
Cheers |
Erik Scott de Bie
'Tis easier to destroy than to create.
Author of a number of Realms novels (GHOSTWALKER, DEPTHS OF MADNESS, and the SHADOWBANE series), contributor to the NEVERWINTER CAMPAIGN GUIDE and SHADOWFELL: GLOOMWROUGHT AND BEYOND, Twitch DM of the Dungeon Scrawlers, currently playing "The Westgate Irregulars" |
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PaulBestwick
Seeker
United Kingdom
83 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2012 : 21:19:55
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| I think you can get a cream for that Eric :) |
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Irennan
Great Reader
Italy
3823 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2012 : 21:46:06
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quote:
Originally posted by Erik Scott de Bie
I will make an attempt to articulate what was discussed during the 4.5 hour panel. Probably I won't get this done from the con. Other than spotty sleep, I literally have not stopped since early Wednesday morning.
Cheers
Damn, 4.5 hours. Thanks for the effort you're going to put in it. |
Mathematics is the art of giving the same name to different things. |
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The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3567 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2012 : 21:52:55
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quote:
Originally posted by Faraer
Thank you for reporting for us, and I'll add my yay to the Haunted Halls tease.
I'm too tired to do it.
I think you should start a scroll advocating Ed being allowed to do this thing and we can all chime in happily in a concise easy to follow scroll, will make life easier on your benevolent wotc lurkers and make clear the support a product would have.
in fact I encourage all scribes to do the same if there is something you would like to see published or released as pdf
I really think it would help. |
A little nonsense now and then, relished by the wisest men - Willy Wonka
"We need men who can dream of things that never were." -
John F. Kennedy, speech in Dublin, Ireland, June 28, 1963
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Edited by - The Red Walker on 18 Aug 2012 21:55:39 |
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Eilserus
Master of Realmslore
USA
1446 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2012 : 21:58:15
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quote:
Originally posted by The Red Walker
quote:
Originally posted by Faraer
Thank you for reporting for us, and I'll add my yay to the Haunted Halls tease.
I'm too tired to do it.
I think you should start a scroll advocating Ed being allowed to do this thing and we can all chime in happily in a concise easy to follow scroll, will make life easier on your benevolent wotc lurkers and make clear the support a product would have.
in fact I encourage all scribes to do the same if there is something you would like to see published or released as pdf
I really think it would help.
Let's not stop at the Haunted Halls. Maybe he has notes for many many products. How about the old 2E Myth Drannor boxed set? Or Menzoberranzan? Or director's versions of Volo's Guides? They could literally light a firestorm of people buying old edition products if they add a director's cut to the PDF's. The classics we love, plus new lore for said era/sourcebook would be the bomb diggity. |
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The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3567 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2012 : 22:10:05
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quote:
Originally posted by Eilserus
quote:
Originally posted by The Red Walker
quote:
Originally posted by Faraer
Thank you for reporting for us, and I'll add my yay to the Haunted Halls tease.
I'm too tired to do it.
I think you should start a scroll advocating Ed being allowed to do this thing and we can all chime in happily in a concise easy to follow scroll, will make life easier on your benevolent wotc lurkers and make clear the support a product would have.
in fact I encourage all scribes to do the same if there is something you would like to see published or released as pdf
I really think it would help.
Let's not stop at the Haunted Halls. Maybe he has notes for many many products. How about the old 2E Myth Drannor boxed set? Or Menzoberranzan? Or director's versions of Volo's Guides? They could literally light a firestorm of people buying old edition products if they add a director's cut to the PDF's. The classics we love, plus new lore for said era/sourcebook would be the bomb diggity.
Exactly....we were told to ask for what we want. Advocate for it, shout it from the rooftops.....they are listening.....as always though, if you buy it more will follow |
A little nonsense now and then, relished by the wisest men - Willy Wonka
"We need men who can dream of things that never were." -
John F. Kennedy, speech in Dublin, Ireland, June 28, 1963
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GX.Sigma
Acolyte
1 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2012 : 23:11:39
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
everything about the realms ever published available in PDF form
Did they specifically say PDF? In the keynote, they just said "electronic format," which could mean anything. |
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The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3567 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2012 : 23:13:21
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quote:
Originally posted by GX.Sigma
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
everything about the realms ever published available in PDF form
Did they specifically say PDF? In the keynote, they just said "electronic format," which could mean anything.
I wats tired, but I am pretty sure that it was said PDF in the Candlekeep seminar.
But I wholly reserve all right to be 100% wrong |
A little nonsense now and then, relished by the wisest men - Willy Wonka
"We need men who can dream of things that never were." -
John F. Kennedy, speech in Dublin, Ireland, June 28, 1963
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Edited by - The Red Walker on 18 Aug 2012 23:13:54 |
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Jeremy Grenemyer
Great Reader
USA
2717 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2012 : 23:38:15
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quote:
Originally posted by Erik Scott de Bie
I will make an attempt to articulate what was discussed during the 4.5 hour panel.
 Wow, that's a long damn time.
Erik do you recall seeing anyone recording the panel? I'm eager to see the video if there is one.
Regardless thanks for offering to relate some info from it. |
Look for me and my content at EN World (user name: sanishiver). |
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The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3567 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2012 : 23:48:39
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quote:
Originally posted by Jeremy Grenemyer
quote:
Originally posted by Erik Scott de Bie
I will make an attempt to articulate what was discussed during the 4.5 hour panel.
Wow, that's a long damn time.
Erik do you recall seeing anyone recording the panel? I'm eager to see the video if there is one.
Regardless thanks for offering to relate some info from it.
I was in the second row....didn't see anyone recording.
It's possible I could have missed someone in the back or on the other side of the big steel support that spilt the room |
A little nonsense now and then, relished by the wisest men - Willy Wonka
"We need men who can dream of things that never were." -
John F. Kennedy, speech in Dublin, Ireland, June 28, 1963
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Edited by - The Red Walker on 18 Aug 2012 23:49:49 |
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Dalor Darden
Great Reader
USA
4261 Posts |
Posted - 19 Aug 2012 : 01:39:33
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BY ALL THE FIENDS OF HELL!
It took me 8 pages of peoples crap to get the smallest amount of news out of this thread.
I don't care if people war til they run out of breath over the different issues of editions and whatever...but by Bel's Balls people! 
Can we just hear news here? It isn't like you get to interact with CNN for crying out loud... |
The Old Grey Box and AD&D for me! |
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D-brane
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
140 Posts |
Posted - 19 Aug 2012 : 01:57:04
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quote:
Originally posted by The Hidden Lord
quote:
Originally posted by Eltheron
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Folks, this thread is about the news coming out of GenCon. It's not a thread to rehash arguments we've been having for 4 years.
Can we please stay on the topic of an event that many of us wish we were attending?
Wooly, this IS about what's happening at GenCon and the future of the Realms. I understand that you have a fine line to walk when it comes to keeping disagreements civil and polite, but the fact that this keeps coming up
means that the core issue has not yet been solved.
Even more importantly, we now know that WotC is watching these boards for comments and opinions. If you keep shutting down one side of an ongoing argument, it actually just drives people away or into silence. And to those people, it looks like you're fronting a party line.
More than ever, I think we now need to see ALL opinions on the table. Isn't that what they're requesting? Or are we going to shut down a lot of good people who share the belief that there's still a serious problem? Do you want the site reduced to just cheerleaders?
You have to keep in mind that, at Candlekeep, the dialog is dictated not by Candlekeep contributors, but by the Moderators; especially in light of the recent word that sites like this ones propaganda campaigns have real impact on the brand.
You can't seriously believe this?
I've been on this site a lot longer than yourself, and I have yet to find any discussion that has been wholly dictated by the site Admin/Mod-team.
The only times they've usually dictated non-Realms based dialog is when discussions steer into off-topicness, or when folk like yourself seek to promote some inane agenda that reeks of imagined slights made against you during one of your previous incarnations on this board. (And I think I have a good idea of who those previous incarnations are. So stop. Please. You're just appearing petty and childish.)
If you have a problem with the way this site functions take it up with Alaundo. Please. Stop bitching and moaning about something that exists only in your mind. You're distracting otherwise informative threads.
And I just want to apologise to Eric on behalf of this so-called Hidden Lord. I know what you were intending with this thread, and it's served in that function for some time. But unfortunately you always have to have one bad apple spoiling the whole cart  . |
"Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence." |
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Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2450 Posts |
Posted - 19 Aug 2012 : 03:18:20
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| Agreed. Hidden Lord's an idiot, or has a chip on his/her shoulder. I wouldn't have stayed here for so long (going on eight years now) if the discussion was stifled. Wooly's just trying to keep us from blowing up into 4e Edition Wars Round 537. Which we've more or less done. |
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
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Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2450 Posts |
Posted - 19 Aug 2012 : 03:29:25
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| Ok, new question: does anyone know how that Year of the Drow, or Rise of the Drow, or whatever that thing was that they announced fairly recently ties into all of this? Was there any mention of it one way or the other? I'll admit that I didn't pay any attention to it at all, but just realized that it was sort of conspicuous by its absence, so thought I'd check and see if anyone had heard anything. |
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
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Therise
Master of Realmslore
1272 Posts |
Posted - 19 Aug 2012 : 03:34:33
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Another page of unnecessary drama. More news, less personal accusations and name calling please.
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Female, 40-year DM of a homebrew-evolved 1E Realms, including a few added tidbits of 2E and 3E lore; played originally in AD&D, then in Rolemaster. Be a DM for your kids and grandkids, gaming is excellent for families! |
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Brimstone
Great Reader
USA
3290 Posts |
Posted - 19 Aug 2012 : 04:20:06
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quote:
Originally posted by Hoondatha
Ok, new question: does anyone know how that Year of the Drow, or Rise of the Drow, or whatever that thing was that they announced fairly recently ties into all of this? Was there any mention of it one way or the other? I'll admit that I didn't pay any attention to it at all, but just realized that it was sort of conspicuous by its absence, so thought I'd check and see if anyone had heard anything.
Lolth is trying to create a "Demon Weave" that covers Faerun in darkness. Drow wizards are looking for magical items to drain, so that Lolth can use the magical energy to weave the demon weave. Some of her priestess are none to pleased about this. It's in the Menzo book... |
"These things also I have observed: that knowledge of our world is
to be nurtured like a precious flower, for it is the most precious
thing we have. Wherefore guard the word written and heed
words unwritten and set them down ere they fade . . . Learn
then, well, the arts of reading, writing, and listening true, and they
will lead you to the greatest art of all: understanding."
Alaundo of Candlekeep |
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Eye of Horus-Re
Acolyte
USA
36 Posts |
Posted - 19 Aug 2012 : 04:30:00
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| Havent posted in a very long time. This has given me a reason! I listened to the panel recording and I am extremely excited!! I am so happy to hear this and I really hope it comes to pass. I listened to a podcast the other day that RA Salvatore did about Charons Claw. He said that the 4th book in that series is already done, and he was working on his next Realms book. Sundering anyone! I feel like Im 14 again!!!! |
Long live 1384 and that which came before....!!! |
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George Krashos
Master of Realmslore
Australia
6689 Posts |
Posted - 19 Aug 2012 : 11:08:38
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quote:
Originally posted by crazedventurers
I suspect an Ed's home game version of Thay as a 'Conanesque Stygia' would interest me much more than any version that has currently been published, (please forgive the crude assumptions of what Thay is actually like in Ed's game given the scant info we have from him, but hopefully it get my point across).
Cheers
Damian
Ed loves using exotic faraway destinations as a source for in-game developments. Those guys in the red robes over there? They're from Thay. An exotic land far to the east where the tyrannical Red Wizards rule a nation of slaves ... etc. etc. That never-before-seen fire spell? Thay. That scarred guy in the corner? Escaped slave from Thay used in gladiatorial contests by his wizard masters.
Ed had and has broad notes on all these locales and where appropriate, details on aspects of life/society - like the Thayan legal system. What he doesn't have is the drill down detail of other core places in the Realms such as Waterdeep, Suzail and Shadowdale, where his players spent the majority of their time. I don't doubt for a second that Steven's Calimport is 100x more detailed than Ed's ever was. So Ed's Thay isn't one you could actually set a campaign in. He would let you visit, and he'd wing the people and places as you went, but brilliant as the guy is, if the Knights of Myth Drannor decided to bed down for the next couple of months in downtown Bezantur, Ed would either start writing feverishly, or get them out of there in a hurry!
But that's the majesty of the Realms isn't it? For all the talk of "the Realms is too detailed. There is no room for DMs to run their own individual campaigns", there are a hundred cities and locales in the Realms where a DM can go wild and create details to go with the broad brush strokes that makes up a solid 85% of the Realms. I'm the supposed expert on Impiltur, yet I couldn't tell you the names of any of the taverns situated in Lyrabar.
The Realms is wide open and still presents huge vistas of opportunity to create games and campaigns within broad frameworks and let a DM get started. Ed's vision of the Realms can be distilled down to "limitless opportunities". It's those opportunities I'd like to see fans use more, rather than always demanding that some other guys (i.e. WotC) do the heavy lifting.
That said, as I understand the thrust of the GEN-CON announcements, the Sundering will be an opportunity to erase some of the less popular 4E developments, the focus will be more on a 1E/2E style Realms feel (that likely means more of a focus on lore (story) rather than game mechanics), and that after the big Sundering novels are done, the focus of the 5E campaign setting and novels will be the smaller, not blowing up the Realms, stories.
Can't wait to hear more.
-- George Krashos
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"Because only we, contrary to the barbarians, never count the enemy in battle." -- Aeschylus |
Edited by - George Krashos on 19 Aug 2012 11:16:39 |
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Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2450 Posts |
Posted - 19 Aug 2012 : 15:38:15
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| Brimstone: Thanks for the synopsis. Yet another reason to do a bit of browsing in the Menzo book, I suppose. Is that the full extent of the Rise of the Drow plotline, or is there more supposedly on the way? |
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 19 Aug 2012 : 18:21:56
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I went back one page to see what folks were saying (seeing the crap above), read Dalor Darden's last post on that page, and decided I'd be a lot better off not reading any of it. I cut out of Gencon early (even though I had the 4-day ticket) because my GF lives in Louiseville and I would have caught a beating if I didn't visit while 'in the neighborhood'. I accomplished all I wanted to or need to (or was capable of). A good chunk of my 'bucket list' is done now.
I only heard one thing that caused trepidation (a minor, personal point), but the rest all seemed VERY positive. Everyone I met was helpful, positive, and wanted NOTHING MORE THEN MAKE THE FORGOTTEN REALMS THE BEST DAMN SETTING IT CAN POSSIBLY BE.
And yes, that means a setting for everyone. If the setting was designed for a cross-section of a the fanbase of a single setting of a niche hobby it would not be lucrative enough for Hasbro to continue its production. Therefor, it MUST be a setting for everyone, else there will be no setting for anyone.
And everything I have heard - both in public forums and in private conversations - tells me we will be happy. Maybe not 'garden of Eden, we are in a personal paradise of complete bliss' kind of happy (I can't recall a single edition that was absolutely perfect for everyone, IMO, so don't expect it to happen this time either), but I think whats happening will make most of us mostly happy, and thats really the best anyone could possibly shoot for.
These guys are on our side, but they also work for a company - a company that has the ability to shut-down the entire D&D branch and fire them all if they continue to bleed customers. A good FR for us means a successful FR for them, and vice-versa. Its unrealistic to imagine having one without the other. I do not envy the balancing act they are trying to do, but they are doing everything possible to make us - THE FANS - happy, doesn't that count for anything?
Finding an in-the-shrinkwrap copy of the 2e FR box was a highlight for me, and getting it signed by Ed was just icing on the cake (I also enjoyed the gasps when I tore the wrapper off it to have him sign it - I'm a gamer FIRST, and I bought it to use it!)
Having Michelle Nichols (Uhura) remember me from a 1975 Star Trek convention was another. I'll tell that story when I get back to NY.
And then there was meeting all the Candlekeep guys (and Garen Thal/Brian please forgive me for not recognizing you for two whole days), which was insanely cool. Going to lunch with them ranked right up there with meeting Ed.
After meeting Richard Lee Byers I decided to buy the Haunted Lands trilogy. It turns out he doesn't have horns, and doesn't smile evilly while twirling a mustache (funny how we imagine people we've never met). Helluva a nice guy - they all were. Erin Evans is beautiful, sweet, and highly intelligent - there's another stereotype blown.
The guys running the D&D booth were amazingly cool as well. I also met most of the artists I wanted to meet. Mike Shley is the bomb, and Tod Lockwood is one of the mellowist dudes I ever saw (He looks like he should be painting in a hippy commune LOL) Once again, no-one was like I expected. Eric DeBie may have been the biggest surprise (Not sure what I expected, but like everyone else he was really cool).
Anyway, aside from the fact I was in fanboi-heaven, you can't possibly understand what we are talking about without feeling the energy in the air. Body language is sometimes far more important then what is said. I got a really bad vibe from the 'positive-sounding' WotC people when 4e was released (there was bit of hesitation/reservation in their responses). This time out you can literally feel the electricity flowing around everyone involved. You can sense 'feigned enthusiasm'... and we did the last time. There is NOTHING feigned this time - please wait until Elminster's Forgotten Realms comes out before you decide you hate DnD next and 5th edition FR. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Edited by - Markustay on 19 Aug 2012 23:55:53 |
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Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2450 Posts |
Posted - 19 Aug 2012 : 19:18:15
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Glad you had a good time, Markus. I was hoping that this would be my year to get to Gencon, but switching jobs nixed that idea.
I'm also glad to hear that there seemed to be genuine enthusiasm. That doesn't necessarily mean 5e will be any good, but it's a lot more likely than if there wasn't enthusiasm. They still need to produce quality products, but it gives me hope that they actually will.
One question though: El's Forgotten Realms was, I thought, a one-off and something of a fluke. It's Ed's Realms from the single-chef days, and while useful for the TSR/WotC Realms (and something I desperately want), I don't really see how it has anything to do with 5e. Does it? |
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
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Live! Updates from Gencon 2012
