| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 18 Sep 2008 : 15:31:12
Anyone else pick this book up or check it out yet? Everyone here probably knows I like to poke fun at Drizzt and the Drizzt novels, but I did decide to buy this book. It's a fun read, and it brings back memories--the book more or less "exists" in 1370 DR and goes no further than that, so I get to have a nice taste of the "old Realms" that I adore without having to read "the Spellplague this, the Spellplague that." Much of the art in the book is reused to the point where it's amusing (Bella don DelRoy Harpell is Laeral with blonde hair!), but there seem to be a least some new pictures, and some of the pics are quite nice. There is are some maps and information about various cities that Drizzt has visited, although the information doesn't go into a great deal of depth. |
| 30 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| The Red Walker |
Posted - 24 Oct 2008 : 16:45:44
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
quote:
Originally posted by The Red Walker
Thanks for answering my questions! I would have liked to see those, but they are not essential.
I guess Rin was too busy since sep 24......  
Sorry.
Thats ok, Im sure you were getting to it! |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 24 Oct 2008 : 15:50:54
quote:
Originally posted by BEAST
That much of this art is reused and reworked from elsewhere goes a long way toward explaining these inconsistencies. Still, it's frustrating to see an old Kessell, gentle-faced Dendybar...
Yes, indeed--he looks like a kindly old scholar. And on top of that, he doesn't look particularly mottled!
quote:
But thankfully it does give some new details on several different things. It does give us some new lore. You just have to really go over it with a fine-tooth comb to catch it.
True, but I believe I did mention that there is some new information. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 24 Oct 2008 : 15:47:41
quote:
Originally posted by The Red Walker
Thanks for answering my questions! I would have liked to see those, but they are not essential.
I guess Rin was too busy since sep 24......
Sorry.
|
| The Red Walker |
Posted - 24 Oct 2008 : 14:50:06
Thanks for answering my questions! I would have liked to see those, but they are not essential.
I guess Rin was too busy since sep 24...... |
| BEAST |
Posted - 24 Oct 2008 : 14:26:39
PROS:
- Tiny kernels of new lore, on stuff like the lichs who created the Shard, the idea that Al Dimeneira was a deva rather than a solar (see Volo's Guide to All Things Magical), the origin of Icingdeath/Twinkle/Khazid'hea/Entreri's dagger, etc. These little crumbs & tidbits of new info are like Easter Eggs, as far as I'm concerned.
- Wonderful maps. Satellite-imagery-esque, indeed.
CONS:
- Inconsistencies of a lot of the old lore with old source materials. When did Telshazz, a "little demon" (The Crystal Shard, Pre.), become a <solamith>, "an obese fiend that stands 10 feet tall ["at least ten feet tall" in the intro] and weighs up to a ton" "typically"? Did Regis steal all of Pook's rubies, or just the one? Why is Bruenor still described as being one-eyed and wearing a patch here, in 1370 DR in the era of the pirate wenches (Sea of Swords), when his eye & scar were healed back in 1364 DR in Passage to Dawn? Enteri was last described as using his saber back in The Halfling's Gem, and has since gone through at least three other swords, so why does he still wield a saber here?
- Inconsistencies of a lot of the art with their subjects' descriptions in the various sources. That much of this art is reused and reworked from elsewhere goes a long way toward explaining these inconsistencies. Still, it's frustrating to see an old Kessell, gentle-faced Dendybar, skinny Eldeluc, brunette Delly, etc.
- As I have taken on the challenge of compiling a comprehensive chronology of all the Drizzt works, I have to say that the official WOTC dates for half of these things don't seem to add up. This book covers up to 1370 DR for SOSw, and supposedly Drizzt was born in 1297 (Homeland), which supposedly makes Drizzt 74 years old. Say what? 1370 - 1297 does not equal 74. It appears that somewhere along the way, little glitches worked their way into the lore (especially concerning dates), and now they have been preserved, repeated, and enshrined in quite a few high-profile, weighty books of the Realms.
However, that's just me doing my usual nitpicking over trivial details that the average person would never notice or care about. (If anything, it served me a dose of fun just to look for them!) In general, this book is still a solid, diverse retrospective on the last 20 years of Drizzt. If it helps some readers to sink even deeper into the stories and the world by being able to hold a book full of tangible images of most of the named phenomena in the Drizzt saga, then this is a very good thing.
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
the book in question truly is a readers guide to the Drizzt novels rather than a gaming sourcebook, although I suppose it could be used as a sourcebook. That said, I guess I wouldn't call it in-depth--the book covers a large amount of material, but only rarely goes into great detail about it.
But thankfully it does give some new details on several different things. It does give us some new lore. You just have to really go over it with a fine-tooth comb to catch it.
If one were to cite this work as a sourcebook on some bit of lore, would one attribute that blurb to the ARG? For example, "RAS once said X (novel 10), but PA said Y (ARG). Arghhh!!!" 
quote:
Originally posted by The Red Walker
Is there a map of Mooshie's grove?
Negatory, Ghost Rider.
quote:
Originally posted by The Red Walker
Also any map of Clan Battlehammer's home in IWD?
Nope--not really: there is only a full-color sat-image-esque map of Ten-Towns. Details in the image and the text reveal some info about the dwarven valley. We are now told that the valley is a "river valley". Apparently it's a dried-up valley from a defunct river that used to run south from Kelvin's Cairn. KC itself is now described as a probable dormant volcano. The valley is shown as running all the way south to Bryn Shander, where it appears to become shallow, but still continue. It now looks like the dried river gully served as the basis for the main merchant trail leading up to BS from the south. It also looks like the Eastway, the road leading from BS to Easthaven, might've had a similar origin as a tributary from that same old river once upon a time.
Unfortunately, though, there is no map of the dwarven complex itself. 
Instead, we get a cutaway of the guts of Cryshal-Tirith, and maps of the verbeeg lair & Icingdeath's lair. |
| Alisttair |
Posted - 10 Oct 2008 : 18:46:50
Ok I just went through almost the whole book now (I'm at the monsters section now) and the maps are beautiful. Also I think the book does well in presenting the world of FR to people who are only familiar with the Drizzt novels and unfamiliar with D&D in general. Some of the maps look like sattelite images. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 24 Sep 2008 : 19:33:30
Again, I'll have to double check that for you. |
| The Red Walker |
Posted - 24 Sep 2008 : 15:36:59
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
quote:
Originally posted by The Red Walker
Is there a map of Mooshie's grove?
Don't remember. I'll check when I get home.
Thanks! I want to leaf through this at my store before buying it, but I won't be able to do that until it rains!
Also any map of Clan Battlehammer's home in IWD? |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 24 Sep 2008 : 14:51:58
quote:
Originally posted by The Red Walker
Is there a map of Mooshie's grove?
Don't remember. I'll check when I get home. |
| The Red Walker |
Posted - 24 Sep 2008 : 13:38:03
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
quote:
Originally posted by Ranak
Checked it out in the book store - this book has better lore than the 4ed FRPG.
Fully fleshed out characters and locations with illustrations and excellent maps (especially compared to the new FRCG/PG).
I agree, the maps are great! Especially if one is a fan of the Underdark.
Is there a map of Mooshie's grove? |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 23 Sep 2008 : 15:58:13
quote:
Originally posted by Ranak
Checked it out in the book store - this book has better lore than the 4ed FRPG.
Fully fleshed out characters and locations with illustrations and excellent maps (especially compared to the new FRCG/PG).
I agree, the maps are great! Especially if one is a fan of the Underdark. |
| Ranak |
Posted - 23 Sep 2008 : 03:56:23
Checked it out in the book store - this book has better lore than the 4ed FRPG.
Fully fleshed out characters and locations with illustrations and excellent maps (especially compared to the new FRCG/PG).
I am not even a Drizzt fan, but it is really a shame that more of this kind of "fluff" will not be forthcoming outside of DnD Insider.
quote:
Originally posted by Alisttair
I bought it on Saturday. The art looks great. I'll have a read when I'm done my Waterdeep run.
|
| Alisttair |
Posted - 22 Sep 2008 : 14:05:19
I bought it on Saturday. The art looks great. I'll have a read when I'm done my Waterdeep run. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 22 Sep 2008 : 01:58:17
quote:
Originally posted by Nilus Reynard
Will have to check out this book. Thank you for the tip.
Me? You're welcome. Hope you all enjoy it. |
| BARDOBARBAROS |
Posted - 21 Sep 2008 : 08:43:05
I've ordered it but it has not come yet... |
| The Sage |
Posted - 20 Sep 2008 : 01:35:22
Okay folks, we seem to be wandering somewhat off-topic. Back to the topic of discussion for this scroll. |
| The Red Walker |
Posted - 19 Sep 2008 : 23:00:58
quote:
Originally posted by Alisttair
Wu Who?
Wu
Wu Who
Wu You
Wu Me
that's 4 of them |
| Nilus Reynard |
Posted - 19 Sep 2008 : 21:40:37
Will have to check out this book. Thank you for the tip. |
| Snotlord |
Posted - 19 Sep 2008 : 20:31:28
Got my copy today, and enjoyed it. But keep in mind it is a coffeetable book, and not a game sourcebook. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 19 Sep 2008 : 18:54:25
He had a title, but I don't remember it, sorry. |
| Alisttair |
Posted - 19 Sep 2008 : 18:46:11
Wu Who?
|
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 19 Sep 2008 : 18:40:26
quote:
Originally posted by The Red Walker
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Heh. Yes, each of the liches are named, and like I said there is a very brief description of them. There's even a picture, but a few of the liches are hard to make out in it (not the best picture, IMO).
Not even gonna slip one name milady?
Don't have my books with me now, and I only remember one off the top of my head: Wu. |
| The Red Walker |
Posted - 19 Sep 2008 : 18:11:15
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Heh. Yes, each of the liches are named, and like I said there is a very brief description of them. There's even a picture, but a few of the liches are hard to make out in it (not the best picture, IMO).
Not even gonna slip one name milady? |
| The Red Walker |
Posted - 19 Sep 2008 : 18:10:40
quote:
Originally posted by Christopher_Rowe
quote:
Originally posted by The Red Walker
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
...the guide does tell us some things we haven't known before (such as the names and a few details about the liches who created Crenshinebon).
Does it name all 7?
Oh, how can we possibly resist?
My suggestions: Dusty, Musty, Gloomy, Bony, Batty, Toothy, and Doc.
Hmmm, I was sure one of them was Brian. |
| Hawkins |
Posted - 19 Sep 2008 : 16:53:48
I have been thinking about picking it up, just because I enjoy stuff like this. |
| StarBog |
Posted - 19 Sep 2008 : 16:00:10
Mmm....I would pick this up then if I weren't allergic to all things Angstydrow. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 19 Sep 2008 : 15:53:14
Heh. Yes, each of the liches are named, and like I said there is a very brief description of them. There's even a picture, but a few of the liches are hard to make out in it (not the best picture, IMO). |
| Christopher_Rowe |
Posted - 19 Sep 2008 : 15:08:18
quote:
Originally posted by The Red Walker
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
...the guide does tell us some things we haven't known before (such as the names and a few details about the liches who created Crenshinebon).
Does it name all 7?
Oh, how can we possibly resist?
My suggestions: Dusty, Musty, Gloomy, Bony, Batty, Toothy, and Doc. |
| The Red Walker |
Posted - 19 Sep 2008 : 14:29:12
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
quote:
Originally posted by StarBog
Mmmmmm....How does it compare to say, a 3e FR supplement in terms of depth of coverage?
Well, to be honest I think that's a little like trying to compare apples and oranges, because the book in question truly is a readers guide to the Drizzt novels rather than a gaming sourcebook, although I suppose it could be used as a sourcebook. That said, I guess I wouldn't call it in-depth--the book covers a large amount of material, but only rarely goes into great detail about it. Of course, Drizzt and his gang--along with Artemis and Jarlaxle--all have at least two pages devoted to them, and the guide does tell us some things we haven't known before (such as the names and a few details about the liches who created Crenshinebon).
Does it name all 7? |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 18 Sep 2008 : 23:41:52
quote:
Originally posted by StarBog
Mmmmmm....How does it compare to say, a 3e FR supplement in terms of depth of coverage?
Well, to be honest I think that's a little like trying to compare apples and oranges, because the book in question truly is a readers guide to the Drizzt novels rather than a gaming sourcebook, although I suppose it could be used as a sourcebook. That said, I guess I wouldn't call it in-depth--the book covers a large amount of material, but only rarely goes into great detail about it. Of course, Drizzt and his gang--along with Artemis and Jarlaxle--all have at least two pages devoted to them, and the guide does tell us some things we haven't known before (such as the names and a few details about the liches who created Crenshinebon). |
