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Foxhelm
Senior Scribe
Canada
592 Posts |
 Posted - 15 May 2008 : 21:13:39
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I have been reading the threads on Fourth Edition and now I feel I can comment. This will be updated the more I learn. I hope to have the three main books in June and the Major realms books late this year.
1) The massive changes (The Spellplague)
-- The fact of the matter is we are just getting the tip of the iceberg with the information we have been given. It seems that man of the details are just the changes which are taking place in the realms, not their connection to the realms.
It like saying World War II happened because Nazis are jerks. Not that Nazis are not jerks, but there were more facts then that to cause the Nazis to rise to the point they had in the world at that time. Centuries of anti-semittism, interest in nationalism and Socialism plus a sense of being cheated due to the Treaties resulted from WWI. These are just a few factors to giving Hitler the power he had.
It is very likely for the creative team like Ed Greenwood and the rest to create the connections between the former realms and the current realms. To see how, even in a vague way, how 1385 become 1493 (or whatever).
2) Three books then shelved.
-- This doesn't make sense to me as it would limit how much money the company could make of the franchise. Even if it's limited for the first year or so to give Ebberon some room to grow, I can see it coming back after some time.
However, I can see some development in streamlining some of the work. Things like Prestage Classes/Paragon Path/Epic Destinies might be removed from the books to come out. People complained about too many feats, PrCl and such in the books for the different location books. Many of them were printed and reprinted from generic books and/or Forgotten Realms books.
I can see the company taking the such factors which could be used in multiple settings like Bladesinger and placing then into a generic book. Perhaps placing new spells as well in books for Arcane and Divine books. Especially is there a section to adapt it to the major settings like they did for the latter Monster Manuals in 3.5 edition. Things like name changes and new powers specifically for the Realms or Ebberon.
The realms books can be devoted to more information like specific details for the realms. PP and ED which are tightly wound with the realms like Harper Agent or Master Harper. Feats and powers linked to realms lore like the magical legacies of Faerun or the hightened link with magic the elves (or maybe just the Eladrin in 4th) have with the world.
We have much to learn and little information given on it. Give it some time and some more research. Even if you hate most of the changes the realms have made, the books might still be useful in creating your own realms.
Foxhelm
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Ed Greenwood! The Solution... and Cause of all the Realms Problems! |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36779 Posts |
Posted - 16 May 2008 : 00:09:09
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Considering that part of the goal with the never-ending flow of crunch was to make the books appealing to everyone, I really don't see that changing in 4E. Especially with them mutilating the setting to make it more universally appealing... 
Even if they do decide to revisit the Realms after a while, they've already stated that one year it's the Realms, the next year Eber-whatsit, and from there they're going to revisit other "fallen" settings. So it's entirely possible that it'll be several years before they get back to the Realms, if at all. Honestly, I don't think they'll get back to it before they decide to inflict 5E on us.
And you know, I am hoping that Ed and Brian do some good stuff for the 4E FRCG. But the problem is, no matter how good they can adapt stuff to the changes (and keep in mind, the way WotC does things, it'll be "this is how it is" rather than "this is how it got there"), the fact remains that I find many of the changes to be highly objectionable. I have great faith in Ed and Brian to give us some sections of the Realms that we'll be happy with -- but it's just going to be sections. The rest of the setting will still be some unrecognizable chimera. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36779 Posts |
Posted - 16 May 2008 : 00:25:06
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| Oh, and putting on my mod hat for a second: we don't need to argue about or further discuss the causes of World War II. It was just an example. |
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! |
Edited by - Wooly Rupert on 16 May 2008 00:29:25 |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 16 May 2008 : 16:31:36
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
And you know, I am hoping that Ed and Brian do some good stuff for the 4E FRCG. But the problem is, no matter how good they can adapt stuff to the changes (and keep in mind, the way WotC does things, it'll be "this is how it is" rather than "this is how it got there"), the fact remains that I find many of the changes to be highly objectionable.
Indeed, that's the sad truth for me as well.
Regarding 4th edition in itself, though--I am interested in that and do plan to buy the books for it. I agree that 4th Edition could provide worthwhile tools to create one's own setting. |
"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) |
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Aravine
Senior Scribe
USA
608 Posts |
Posted - 16 May 2008 : 17:43:22
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quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
And you know, I am hoping that Ed and Brian do some good stuff for the 4E FRCG. But the problem is, no matter how good they can adapt stuff to the changes (and keep in mind, the way WotC does things, it'll be "this is how it is" rather than "this is how it got there"), the fact remains that I find many of the changes to be highly objectionable.
Indeed, that's the sad truth for me as well.
Regarding 4th edition in itself, though--I am interested in that and do plan to buy the books for it. I agree that 4th Edition could provide worthwhile tools to create one's own setting.
the way I look at it, is that some of the material looks interesting, which may be why I haven't started my own rants, and might incorperate them, but most of it is very disappointing. However, in regards to incorperating material, Hasbro will most likely have the mechanics made in such a way that seperate from 4E, is a lethal poison to any campaign. It wouldn't surprise me at all. |
The brave don't live forever,the cautious don't live at all |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 16 May 2008 : 17:50:11
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As I have stated in many other threads on several sites, it's TWO sourcebooks and ONE adventure.
Two sourcebooks - one for ther DM, and the other for the players.. to cover every single aspect we have grown to love about the Realms. 
As Brian pointed out, many of the entries in the FRCG will be larger then the ones in the FRCS, which is great... but then we have NO supplementary info on them if we want more detail... EVER.
At least in 1e/2e/3e, we could reference the older sources for the details about each region (even in 1e we had Ed's Dragon articles), but with the century time-jump, all of that become irrelevant.
That was deal-breaker for me; all of those wacky new concepts being inserted into FR, like core races, Cthulhu-like Abeir, and deicides is NOTHING compared to that. I could have just "taken a hit for the team" and continued forward, but by invalidating the usefulness of ALL my old sources that I spent hard-earned money on was like a slap in the face. If they planned to replace those sources, I might have even gotten over that after a time (a decade?), but they basically made them worthless (in 4e) and have no intention of moving forward with the setting beyond the initial release.
I mean, then just what the hell was the point?  |
"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 16 May 2008 17:53:01 |
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Jamallo Kreen
Master of Realmslore
USA
1537 Posts |
Posted - 18 May 2008 : 09:26:54
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Whatever happens, I can take sardonic satisfaction in knowing that I have done exactly as I said I would: I stacked my Amazon.com Wish List and shopping cart with a lot of games, and when the $60 4.New.Coke "Deluxe" edition popped up on my recommendation list, I immediately checked the "Not Interested" box, thus planting a meme in Amazon's computer that anyone who buys White Wolf, Mongoose, Green Ronin, etc. games and used copies of OOP editions of FR novels will not be interested in 4,New.Coke. It's a little meme, all by itself, but the more times other people check that "Not Interested" box, the more strongly the meme will be reinforced, until the Amazon.com computer recognizes that it should only recommend 4.New.Coke carp to those who have actually bought one of the books already. The more game books from other publishers I buy and the more often I check that "Not Interested" box, the more I am doing my part to prevent Amazon recommending the poison to other game buyers, until, some day, I hope (Un bel di!), Amazon workers will take black markers, slash remainder marks across the top of this dreck and sell it for less than cost.
I've been looking at old and new Runequest material, to plunder it for story ideas, and today I realized that when Mongoose Publishing bought the Glorantha franchise, they placed their new books centuries in the past, not harming anyone's ongoing game or arbitrarily invalidating year upon year's worth of game purchases by those who were already customers of the franchise. And as Hasbro scales back it's 4.New.Coke more and more, Mongoose keeps producing a steady stream of new Runequest books. I wonder whose business model will prove more successful? 
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I have a mouth, but I am in a library and must not scream.
Feed the poor and stroke your ego, too: http://www.freerice.com/index.php.
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Zanan
Senior Scribe
Germany
942 Posts |
Posted - 18 May 2008 : 13:45:39
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| Just noted on amazon.com that many 3E and 3,5E items have already been reduced to well below 20 dollars, even less if you use market place. |
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. |
Edited by - Zanan on 18 May 2008 13:47:09 |
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BARDOBARBAROS
Senior Scribe
Greece
581 Posts |
Posted - 18 May 2008 : 19:44:02
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quote:
Originally posted by capnvan
Well, supposedly we'll be getting additional Realmslore via DDi, at $10-15 a month.
I will not give money for this DDi !!!
That's for sure !!!!! |
BARDOBARBAROS DOES NOT KILL.
HE DECAPITATES!!!
"The city changes, but the fools within it remain always the same" (Edwin Odesseiron- Baldur's gate 2) |
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Foxhelm Comments on Fourth Edition
