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Thomas M. Reid
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
334 Posts |
 Posted - 19 Aug 2006 : 04:43:47
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quote:
Originally posted by Paec_djinn
I posted this on the Gossamer Plains thread but I'll just go ahead and re-post this question here:
Is it possible for you to fill us in on additional details about the book? Like where it's set? What's it gonna be about (without spoiling too much)? How's the writing progress on the series? etc.
Check the other thread for my response.
Thomas |
"A knight is not truly virtuous, only truly resolved to be so."
www.thomasmreid.com |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 12 Sep 2006 : 16:42:46
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I just wanted to let everyone know that Thomas does have a new novel out but it's set in the Everquest line, if they are interested in his novels. :)
It's called Truth and Steel. |
For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31701 Posts |
Posted - 12 Sep 2006 : 17:00:33
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quote:
Originally posted by Kuje
I just wanted to let everyone know that Thomas does have a new novel out but it's set in the Everquest line, if they are interested in his novels. :)
It's called Truth and Steel.
Good thing I'm off to the bookstore today.  |
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 |
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MerrikCale
Senior Scribe
USA
947 Posts |
Posted - 05 Nov 2006 : 02:45:28
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| And by the way, Truth and Steel is great. I recommend it highly. Some great twists. |
When hinges creak in doorless chambers and strange and frightening sounds echo through the halls, whenever candlelights flicker where the air is deathly still, that is the time when ghosts are present, practicing their terror with ghoulish delight. |
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Thangorn
Seeker
New Zealand
84 Posts |
Posted - 13 Feb 2007 : 12:38:33
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Hi there Thomas,
My compatriots and I are developing a persistent world project for Neverwinter Nights 2 of Zhentil Keep and the Moonsea. We are all canon nuts and are attempting to utilise as much info from sourcebooks and novels as possible in our creation process.
Just wanted to ask your opinion on a little matter that we've come across.
quote:
Reading through the books RoZK and MotM, the Tesh Inn has some inconsistancy.
RoZK speaks of the proprietor being Lord Payr'adar, which I thought was right.
MotM speaks that it has been sold for a fraction of the price when the Inn was in financial trouble. Now Zhentarim merchants own it, and sometimes use it to make slaves out of visitors. (page 134 - Sinister Inn of MotM)
Ideas of what's going on. Is Lord Payr'adar still around? Has he been wasted or run out of town by the Black Network? What about Lord Halaster, is he in the Zhents bad books aswell? Is this because of their previous support of Lord Orgauth?
In addition, this begs a question which I previously posed to Ed, but which you may be in a position to answer.
Which former lords of Zhentil Keep are still alive and where are they now. I am aware of where Lady Alicia now makes her home, but I am now not sure where to put Halaster, Payr'adar and the rest after noticing this predisposition for the Tesh Inn to be a slavers trap.
A copper for your thoughts on the matter?
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Ex-A Land Far Away (ALFA) DM/Builder
Faerunian Canon Despot |
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Blackwill
Seeker
55 Posts |
Posted - 13 Feb 2007 : 14:08:28
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| Just to support the voice of my compatriot above. We'd love some insight of what's going on and what happened with the Lords of Zhentil Keep. |
~Blackwill |
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Thomas M. Reid
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
334 Posts |
Posted - 09 Apr 2007 : 22:50:48
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Hey, all.
So sorry for the long silence. Other issues have kept me away from the forums for a couple of months. Not sure which questions are still relevant at this stage, so if there's something you'd like to know, please re-pitch it and I will do my best to answer in a timely manner.
Thomas |
"A knight is not truly virtuous, only truly resolved to be so."
www.thomasmreid.com |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36779 Posts |
Posted - 09 Apr 2007 : 23:13:48
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I just found this floating in the ethers; I trust it was meant to go into this scroll. If not, I do apologize, Thomas. You can ping me or another mod if you intended the lost post to be a new thread. 
quote:
Originally posted by Thomas M. Reid
Almost forgot one other important point: if you have tried to send me private email in recent weeks, chances are it went to my old address and got lost. To reach me these days, please use the following:
TMR at thomasmreid dot com
I had to switch because the spam was growing intolerable.
Thanks,
Thomas
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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 09 Apr 2007 23:15:42 |
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Thangorn
Seeker
New Zealand
84 Posts |
Posted - 10 Apr 2007 : 21:29:02
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Hi Thomas,
Welcome back.
I'd like to repitch my question above
quote:
Hi there Thomas,
My compatriots and I are developing a persistent world project for Neverwinter Nights 2 of Zhentil Keep and the Moonsea. We are all canon nuts and are attempting to utilise as much info from sourcebooks and novels as possible in our creation process.
Just wanted to ask your opinion on a little matter that we've come across.
quote:
Reading through the books RoZK and MotM, the Tesh Inn has some inconsistancy.
RoZK speaks of the proprietor being Lord Payr'adar, which I thought was right.
MotM speaks that it has been sold for a fraction of the price when the Inn was in financial trouble. Now Zhentarim merchants own it, and sometimes use it to make slaves out of visitors. (page 134 - Sinister Inn of MotM)
Ideas of what's going on. Is Lord Payr'adar still around? Has he been wasted or run out of town by the Black Network? What about Lord Halaster, is he in the Zhents bad books aswell? Is this because of their previous support of Lord Orgauth?
In addition, this begs a question which I previously posed to Ed, but which you may be in a position to answer.
Which former lords of Zhentil Keep are still alive and where are they now. I am aware of where Lady Alicia now makes her home, but I am now not sure where to put Halaster, Payr'adar and the rest after noticing this predisposition for the Tesh Inn to be a slavers trap.
A copper for your thoughts on the matter?
Thanks in advance
- Dez |
Ex-A Land Far Away (ALFA) DM/Builder
Faerunian Canon Despot |
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Thomas M. Reid
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
334 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2007 : 19:03:54
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I just found this floating in the ethers; I trust it was meant to go into this scroll.
It was, indeed, supposed to go in here, and thanks for "rescuing" it. Not sure how that happened, as I don't have "ethers" in my address book. 
Thomas |
"A knight is not truly virtuous, only truly resolved to be so."
www.thomasmreid.com |
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Thomas M. Reid
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
334 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2007 : 19:08:11
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quote:
Originally posted by Thangorn
Hi Thomas,
Welcome back.
I'd like to repitch my question above
[snip]
Thanks in advance
- Dez
Dez,
I honestly can't remember much about that product off the top of my head. Let me go back and review and I'll get back to you with an answer.
Thomas |
"A knight is not truly virtuous, only truly resolved to be so."
www.thomasmreid.com |
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Matthus
Senior Scribe
Germany
393 Posts |
Posted - 29 May 2007 : 16:25:15
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Hi Mr. Reid,
for another topic here in the halls we are collecting lore for Mercenary Companies. Is it possible that you remember some more details from:
”Sapphire Crescent” Mercenary company of Waukeen : The scions of Arrabar Triology
Type: ??? (Recruited veterans or what)
Fixed Base : The Company protects the clerics of Waukeen (Were - only while traveling?)
Number of Members : "
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Mod: Didn't get a confirmation for posting - and didn't known if there would be a "plink" for Mr. Reid
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Edited by - Matthus on 29 May 2007 16:28:33 |
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Chosen of Moradin
Master of Realmslore
Brazil
1120 Posts |
Posted - 09 Aug 2007 : 16:13:49
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Hi, Thomas!
One of the players of my brand new campaign in the Vilhon Reach want to play with an exalted druid of Nobanion/Lion of Talisid. We're working in the adaptation of Talisid as a servant of Nobanion, but my question is:
In Champions of Valor, the feat Initiate of Nobanion covers only clerics and paladins, but we think that it will be a good choice for the druid. How advice you give to handle this? Adjust the level requirement for a druid? And give some bonus in the wild class ability?
Thanks in advance. |
Dwarf, DM, husband, and proud of this! :P
twitter: @yuripeixoto
Facebook: yuri.peixoto |
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Thomas M. Reid
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
334 Posts |
Posted - 13 Aug 2007 : 21:00:40
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quote:
Originally posted by Thangorn
Is Lord Payr'adar still around? Has he been wasted or run out of town by the Black Network? What about Lord Halaster, is he in the Zhents bad books aswell? Is this because of their previous support of Lord Orgauth? Which former lords of Zhentil Keep are still alive and where are they now?
- Dez
Hey there. I'm very sorry I never got back to you on this. I never really unearthed any answers for you, so unless you got some info from somewhere else, I think it's left open to do what you wish.
Thomas |
"A knight is not truly virtuous, only truly resolved to be so."
www.thomasmreid.com |
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Thomas M. Reid
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
334 Posts |
Posted - 13 Aug 2007 : 21:06:10
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quote:
Originally posted by Matthus
Is it possible that you remember some more details from:
”Sapphire Crescent” Mercenary company of Waukeen : The scions of Arrabar Triology
Type: ??? (Recruited veterans or what)
Fixed Base : The Company protects the clerics of Waukeen (Were - only while traveling?)
Number of Members : "
Truthfully, I never considered any of that kind of information when I was writing the books, and the company was made up whole cloth for the novels. I'm not sure what you mean by Type. The company serves in a number of roles, including but not limited to protecting clerics of Waukeen when they are traveling on official business for the temple. They also get "loaned" out (part of the proceeds go back into the temple's coffers). As far as number of members, maybe 80 or 90 (about enough for three or four units of 20 to 30 members each).
If you have more questions, I'll be glad to try to answer them, but please be as precise as you can.
Thanks,
Thomas |
"A knight is not truly virtuous, only truly resolved to be so."
www.thomasmreid.com |
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Thomas M. Reid
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
334 Posts |
Posted - 13 Aug 2007 : 21:07:37
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quote:
Originally posted by Chosen of Moradin
In Champions of Valor, the feat Initiate of Nobanion covers only clerics and paladins, but we think that it will be a good choice for the druid. How advice you give to handle this? Adjust the level requirement for a druid? And give some bonus in the wild class ability?
You ought to ask Sean Reynolds about this. That was his area of the book and he would have much better insight for you.
Thomas |
"A knight is not truly virtuous, only truly resolved to be so."
www.thomasmreid.com |
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Chosen of Moradin
Master of Realmslore
Brazil
1120 Posts |
Posted - 14 Aug 2007 : 04:37:15
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Ok, I will poke Sean about this...
Thanks, Thomas!
Now that you mention this, I'm curious. Who do what in the book? Champions of Valor is one of the most used of my FR supplements, right now! |
Dwarf, DM, husband, and proud of this! :P
twitter: @yuripeixoto
Facebook: yuri.peixoto |
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Thomas M. Reid
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
334 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2007 : 15:18:17
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quote:
Originally posted by Chosen of Moradin
Now that you mention this, I'm curious. Who do what in the book?
Oh, boy. It was all mixed together, and it would take me way too long to go through each chapter and list who did what. It's not that I am unwilling to do so, but I am on a book deadline. If there is something specific you want to know about, I'll try to answer that.
Thomas |
"A knight is not truly virtuous, only truly resolved to be so."
www.thomasmreid.com |
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Brian R. James
Forgotten Realms Game Designer
USA
1098 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2007 : 01:31:31
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| Thomas, are you attending Gen Con this year? I haven't seen you around. |
Brian R. James - Freelance Game Designer
Follow me on Twitter @brianrjames |
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Skeptic
Master of Realmslore
Canada
1273 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2007 : 03:36:34
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Hi M. Reid,
Now that we know you took part in writing the "ToT of the 3e/4e switch in FR"*, can you give us a hint on the scale of the change ? 
*The last 3.5 module : Anauroch : Sundering of the World (or something like it) |
Edited by - Skeptic on 18 Aug 2007 03:36:52 |
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Thomas M. Reid
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
334 Posts |
Posted - 19 Aug 2007 : 23:43:59
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quote:
Originally posted by Brian R. James
Thomas, are you attending Gen Con this year? I haven't seen you around.
No, I didn't make it to the show this year. It just wasn't financially feasible. |
"A knight is not truly virtuous, only truly resolved to be so."
www.thomasmreid.com |
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Thomas M. Reid
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
334 Posts |
Posted - 19 Aug 2007 : 23:48:32
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quote:
Originally posted by Skeptic
Hi M. Reid,
Now that we know you took part in writing the "ToT of the 3e/4e switch in FR"*, can you give us a hint on the scale of the change ?
*The last 3.5 module : Anauroch : Sundering of the World (or something like it)
Well, obviously, the world is sundered.
Seriously, I wrote only a small portion of the total and dealt primarily with the environs of the Great Desert -- the climate, native inhabitants, commerce, etc. -- and wasn't nearly as involved with the overall plot of the adventure as the other designers. Any more than that, I cannot say with any authority, and shouldn't speak of, regardless.
Thomas |
"A knight is not truly virtuous, only truly resolved to be so."
www.thomasmreid.com |
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Agis_of_Asticles
Acolyte
Brazil
17 Posts |
Posted - 06 Sep 2007 : 07:32:37
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Hi Thomas,
I´m DMing a FR campaign, 3rd edition, but I'm aways looking for information at 2nd edition sourcebooks.
Reading the Wizards and Rogues of the Realms, I saw a refernce to the Guild of Shadows at the introductory text of the Shadow Walkers.
I know you was the project coordinator of this book, but I have a question that you can answer me. In my searchs for this guild and their members [the shadow walkers] at the 3rd edition books, I can't find anything about those. Is there some FR 3rd edition book that explain this class and your organization?
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Sorry guys. Bad english, I know.
“While the wise may worship, only fools bow and wait.”
A North’s saying [FR]
Suporting the petition to our local [Brazil] publisher of Wizards [Devir] to publish more translated books. [http://www.petitiononline.com/DevirRPG/petition.html] |
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Thomas M. Reid
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
334 Posts |
Posted - 07 Sep 2007 : 23:43:52
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quote:
Originally posted by Agis_of_Asticles
In my searchs for this guild and their members [the shadow walkers] at the 3rd edition books, I can't find anything about those. Is there some FR 3rd edition book that explain this class and your organization?
I honestly couldn't tell you. In addition to that project coming out well over a decade ago, I was, as you observed, the project coordinator and didn't actually write any of the material. Furthermore, I don't know who might have taken info from that book for new material, and I have never worked on anything that included the Shadow Walkers.
That is a question better suited for the General Discussion thread, as I'm sure there are folks who read that regularly who have a far more encyclopedic knowledge of what's been covered than I do.
Good luck!
Thomas |
"A knight is not truly virtuous, only truly resolved to be so."
www.thomasmreid.com |
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 27 Sep 2007 : 22:42:52
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Hey Thomas, just a question, which you may or may not be at liberty to answer. Can you say what the timeframe of of the Empyrean Trilogy is? Does it wrap up in the "near" future (1375-1376, thereabouts) or does it push closer the the 1380s (since I noticed that Lisa's latest trilogy has shot up to 1377 DR now). And is it safe to assume that the book starts out in 1373 DR, since it picked up right after the WOTSQ?
Thanks. |
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Faraer
Great Reader
3308 Posts |
Posted - 29 Sep 2007 : 16:47:52
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Thomas,
Reading Shadowdale: The Scouring of the Land (see Eric Boyd's thread if you want to read some of my thoughts), I wondered how Jyordhan came to be a dread wraith, what his unlife was like before the Zhent occupation. Eric thought there might have been more explanation in your original draft of the chapter. Can you tell us what you had in mind? |
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Thomas M. Reid
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
334 Posts |
Posted - 04 Oct 2007 : 18:45:46
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quote:
Originally posted by KnightErrantJR
Hey Thomas, just a question, which you may or may not be at liberty to answer. Can you say what the timeframe of of the Empyrean Trilogy is? Does it wrap up in the "near" future (1375-1376, thereabouts) or does it push closer the the 1380s (since I noticed that Lisa's latest trilogy has shot up to 1377 DR now). And is it safe to assume that the book starts out in 1373 DR, since it picked up right after the WOTSQ?
I can confirm that the book picks up a few months after the end of WotSQ. Beyond that, I am, as you surmised, not at liberty to answer.
Thomas |
"A knight is not truly virtuous, only truly resolved to be so."
www.thomasmreid.com |
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Thomas M. Reid
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
334 Posts |
Posted - 04 Oct 2007 : 19:35:49
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quote:
Originally posted by Faraer
Reading Shadowdale: The Scouring of the Land (see Eric Boyd's thread if you want to read some of my thoughts), I wondered how Jyordhan came to be a dread wraith, what his unlife was like before the Zhent occupation. Eric thought there might have been more explanation in your original draft of the chapter. Can you tell us what you had in mind?
This is probably not the answer you are looking for, but there wasn't as much to it as Eric was imagining (unless we kicked around some concepts in email, which I didn't save). Basically, I was encouraged to try to use monsters that had been created in the D&D minis line at about that time, a dread wraith was one such choice, and I thought it would make a good inhabitant in a once-abandoned castle. The choice to make it Jyordhan (as opposed to some unnamed throw-away individual) was pretty easy -- he was the central figure of the keep before it fell into ruin, and his death was a violent one, leaving unfinished business. I thought it was a good fit.
Thomas |
"A knight is not truly virtuous, only truly resolved to be so."
www.thomasmreid.com |
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Faraer
Great Reader
3308 Posts |
Posted - 05 Oct 2007 : 15:38:24
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| Thomas, thanks for the candid, though sad, answer. It's because I thought it was a decent enough fit that I wondered how else he might have been trying to finish his business, other than waiting to be slain by PCs. (Compare "Wyrms of the North"!) |
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Thomas M. Reid
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
334 Posts |
Posted - 05 Oct 2007 : 21:07:53
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quote:
Originally posted by Faraer
Thomas, thanks for the candid, though sad, answer. It's because I thought it was a decent enough fit that I wondered how else he might have been trying to finish his business, other than waiting to be slain by PCs. (Compare "Wyrms of the North"!)
Yep. I feel your pain, but the truth is, that's not "how things are done" very much any more. When you're given X number of pages to fill, with Y number of encounter spreads, with the idea being to advance the characters by Z experience points by the end of your section, there's just not much in the way of space left to fill in those gaps like we used to do "in the old days."
I won't feign complete non-culpability; I probably could have included something in the intro to hint at what Jyordhan was up to all those years of undeath, but by the time I came up with the idea for a dread wraith, I was in the final weekend of my deadline and just needed to get my word count wrapped up. Making it him rather than a nameless monster was my "token" nod to continuity and lore. There just wasn't time/space for anything more than that. So it goes.
Thomas |
"A knight is not truly virtuous, only truly resolved to be so."
www.thomasmreid.com |
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Questions for Thomas M Reid
