| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Dargoth |
Posted - 17 Mar 2004 : 03:25:16
Gaming Report got a hold of WOTC release scheduele for the last Trimester and theres nothing after July. There are only 2 FR gaming supplements this year
For those who want to see the bad news for themselves
http://www.gamingreport.com/article.php?sid=12177
Grrr Bloody Eberron! |
| 30 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Sarta |
Posted - 18 May 2004 : 03:27:06
This is pure conjecture, so only take it as that:
My feelings on the entire upswing of evil is that it is based on a few things:
1. It is a direct response to the false, but wide-spread feeling that the powers of good are too powerful. On the Wizards boards I've seen far too many dm's struggling to find ways to tell their gaming group that Elminster or Drizz't simply don't have time to come help out with their specific plot-twist. By increasing the threat level, it is easier for people to see that the forces of good are stretched very thin and in need of all the help they can get. Now the players can feel that their characters are needed in the world. Again, I don't hold to this belief, but maintain that it is a common one.
2. Characters are starting to get up there in level. Assuming that one has run a weekly campaign with 3 suitable encounters a session since the release of 3.5 (July of 2003) the average character level will be around level 12. This means that the focus of many campaigns will be changing from lower level adversaries to higher level adversaries, or entire organizations. By increasing the threat-level you provide more high level opportunities for DM's. Whether this trend will continue and we start seeing more need for epic challenges in a year or two will remain to be seen.
3. It's hard to pin down what area or what sort of adventures will appeal to players and dm's. If they detail the Arcane Brotherhood, this doesn't help players running games in Thesk very much. By providing a wide pallette of adversaries you enable a dm to pick and choose from those which are appealing or applicable to the region of the game. This allows DM's to put together a campaign that only focuses on the Zhents, Red Wizards, and Iron Throne for example, but ignores the rest.
4. WotC has already stated that they will not be releasing further modules. Tossing out a bunch of threats and plot-hooks for dm's to follow up on makes for a nice substitute. Personally, I much prefer this tactic to detailed adventures that usually need to be very revised to be playable with your gaming group.
Sarta |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 17 May 2004 : 16:11:57
quote:
Originally posted by Faraer
But were the WotC people just playing to the (mostly false) perception than Realms evil is insufficient, or did they actually believe it? (Same with the Shadow Weave and the 'Mystra's too powerful' garbage.)
Wait -- for them to be playing to that perception would mean they actually had to pay attention to the fans. And when does that happen?
And I, personally, am rather tired of the "Mystra's too powerful" school of thought, as well as the "she's good aligned, so she can't be an effective goddess of magic!" belief.
Anyway, Ed's said in the past that there used to be a Code of Ethics forced on writers that meant that the forces of evil couldn't profit by their actions, except on a short-term basis.
So now evil is more effective. Okay, I can deal with that. What I can't deal with is the fact that the forces of evil overnight went from being an ineffective bunch to several tightly controlled and ran organizations, with their tentacles extending everywhere. It's like the forces of light took a holiday and ignored the bad guys for a while. It's just too much of an abrupt change.
To get more on topic, I'm hoping that this lizard creator race, the sarrukh, aren't still around, or, at the least, aren't available as races for PCs. We've got enough "lost races" that keep popping back up -- we don't need another one.
What next? Are the Seven Lost Gods gonna mysteriously reappear, as well?  |
| SiriusBlack |
Posted - 17 May 2004 : 15:38:41
quote:
Originally posted by Sarelle
I thought this exact same thing when I heard it. I always liked it that some things were SO far back in history that they were untouchable - i.e. left to DMs, if need be. The Creator Race had a great deal of mystery. Who bets they are now, say, CR 8, with Alertness being their best feat? 
Yep, everything needs to be statted out these days with feats and prestige classes so your characters can kill it in combat....the video game mentality is how I view it. |
| SiriusBlack |
Posted - 17 May 2004 : 15:33:34
quote:
Originally posted by Chyron
SO the realms are becoming a big play ground for Uber-evils? Phaerimm, Shadovar, Creators,.... *sigh how many more do we need before we have to have another Crisis on Infinite Earths type of event (aka Avatar Series) to redefine everything yet again. 
About the time when fourth edition rolls around is my estimation. |
| Faraer |
Posted - 17 May 2004 : 14:54:17
But were the WotC people just playing to the (mostly false) perception than Realms evil is insufficient, or did they actually believe it? (Same with the Shadow Weave and the 'Mystra's too powerful' garbage.) |
| Sarelle |
Posted - 17 May 2004 : 14:13:21
quote:
Originally posted by SiriusBlack
Old? Meaning I'm old? 
Yes, you're my grandfather!  |
| Sarelle |
Posted - 17 May 2004 : 14:08:57
quote:
Originally posted by Purple Dragon Knight
  
"[...] lizardfolk, nagas, yuan-ti, and their sinister creator race, the sarrukh."
Did I just see this? we finally get the name of this previously unknown creator race?? AND their stats??? AND they are still around?!?!?
Please, someone wise and knowledgeable in the way of the Force, tell me that this was mentioned somewhere else before and I missed it, that this is not yet another "Phaerimm-created-by-Imaskari", "Star Elves are baaaaaack!" or "Archwizards are bbbbaaaaaaaack!" importance level WotC "comic book super-hero resurrection" case...
I thought this exact same thing when I heard it. I always liked it that some things were SO far back in history that they were untouchable - i.e. left to DMs, if need be. The Creator Race had a great deal of mystery. Who bets they are now, say, CR 8, with Alertness being their best feat?
I didn't even know they had made the phaerimm created by the Imaskari until I came to these boards... *grumble* |
| Purple Dragon Knight |
Posted - 17 May 2004 : 10:19:08
Thinks I also... |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 17 May 2004 : 09:36:14
quote:
Originally posted by Chyron
SO the realms are becoming a big play ground for Uber-evils? Phaerimm, Shadovar, Creators,.... *sigh how many more do we need before we have to have another Crisis on Infinite Earths type of event (aka Avatar Series) to redefine everything yet again.
That's another thing that bugs me about the new direction of the Realms. I like that the bad guys are actually effective now, but we've gone from one extreme (evil is lame) to the other (evil rocks!)... They've given too much emphasis to the bad guys, thinks I. |
| Chyron |
Posted - 17 May 2004 : 09:16:46
Sid and Marty Crofts "Land of the Lost" aired in mid 70's (now on DVD)...yeah, yeah Im old 
Anyway....is the Creator Race they are mentioning the same who were the main antagonists in Neverwitner Nights? I thought that except for that incident they were extinct...
SO the realms are becoming a big play ground for Uber-evils? Phaerimm, Shadovar, Creators,.... *sigh how many more do we need before we have to have another Crisis on Infinite Earths type of event (aka Avatar Series) to redefine everything yet again.
|
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 17 May 2004 : 08:08:48
quote:
Originally posted by SiriusBlack
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I think I catch this reference... Some old TV show, as I recall...
And I thought for sure that it would take at least a day before someone even considered it as a reference.
Old? Meaning I'm old?
*grins* Of course I wasn't calling you old! But in the relative scale of TV shows, that one is an old one. It aired what, in the early 80's? That's when I remember watching it, and I'm not remembering too much about it... |
| Sarta |
Posted - 17 May 2004 : 07:49:17
Yeah, isn't it just wrong that something that was fundamental knowledge to your generation merely causes wrinkled foreheads and looks of puzzlement.
By the way, it was Marshall, Will, and Holly.
I also think you would be sadly remiss if you didn't include Cha-ka as an NPC.
Sarta |
| SiriusBlack |
Posted - 17 May 2004 : 06:16:20
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I think I catch this reference... Some old TV show, as I recall...
And I thought for sure that it would take at least a day before someone even considered it as a reference.
Old? Meaning I'm old?
|
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 17 May 2004 : 05:30:09
quote:
Originally posted by SiriusBlack
Personally, I was pulling for the creator race being the Sleestak so I could unleash my characters Rick, Will, and Holly upon them, but alas, I'm out of luck.
I think I catch this reference... Some old TV show, as I recall... |
| SiriusBlack |
Posted - 17 May 2004 : 04:52:39
quote:
Originally posted by Purple Dragon Knight
"[...] lizardfolk, nagas, yuan-ti, and their sinister creator race, the sarrukh."
Did I just see this? we finally get the name of this previously unknown creator race?? AND their stats??? AND they are still around?!?!?
Please, someone wise and knowledgeable in the way of the Force, tell me that this was mentioned somewhere else before and I missed it, that this is not yet another "Phaerimm-created-by-Imaskari", "Star Elves are baaaaaack!" or "Archwizards are bbbbaaaaaaaack!" importance level WotC "comic book super-hero resurrection" case...
No idea as to my recollection, this is the first mention of them. Personally, I was pulling for the creator race being the Sleestak so I could unleash my characters Rick, Will, and Holly upon them, but alas, I'm out of luck. |
| Purple Dragon Knight |
Posted - 17 May 2004 : 01:32:34
quote:
Originally posted by Faraer
27 new feats!
Oo, how will I decide which to take?
Haven't you heard yet? 22 of those 27 feats are brand new "Lifestyle Feats", which can be "purchased" through skill points. They are less powerful than the regular feats, but you can end up with a lot of them if you play classes with high skill points per level... |
| Faraer |
Posted - 17 May 2004 : 01:16:46
27 new feats!
Oo, how will I decide which to take? |
| SiriusBlack |
Posted - 16 May 2004 : 20:46:24
quote:
Originally posted by Sarelle
 I feel as though I am 6 years old, and a kind old grandfather just patted me on the head for trying to contribute to a political discussion! - You know: defeated, but warm inside!
Thanks for saying!
Sorry if it came across in that manner. Now back to the rickety old cardboard table. |
| Sarelle |
Posted - 16 May 2004 : 19:04:25
I feel as though I am 6 years old, and a kind old grandfather just patted me on the head for trying to contribute to a political discussion! - You know: defeated, but warm inside!
Thanks for saying! |
| SiriusBlack |
Posted - 16 May 2004 : 18:34:48
quote:
Originally posted by Sarelle
But maybe you guys already knew this, and I got the wrong end of the stick? I'm new I just help where I can 
If you do a search for "Shining South", you should see Thomas M. Reid has set up a forum for this product.
No worries about being new and wanting to share information. It's a very nice trait to see in scribes. |
| Sarelle |
Posted - 16 May 2004 : 18:30:02
Just to ask... if this thread is about there being no FR sourcebooks after Serpent Kingdoms in 2004, then Roch Baker's comment about one coming out in the fall is fact - check out The Shining South, detailing Durpar, Estagund, Var the Golden, Halruaa et all, in the WotC products listings for 2004. The cover is even featured, and it can be preordered from Amazon. If Unapproachable East and Underdark are anything to go by, it should be very nice in terms of crunch/fluff mix - for a 3E book.
But maybe you guys already knew this, and I got the wrong end of the stick? I'm new I just help where I can |
| Purple Dragon Knight |
Posted - 16 May 2004 : 18:27:21
"[...] lizardfolk, nagas, yuan-ti, and their sinister creator race, the sarrukh."
Did I just see this? we finally get the name of this previously unknown creator race?? AND their stats??? AND they are still around?!?!?
Please, someone wise and knowledgeable in the way of the Force, tell me that this was mentioned somewhere else before and I missed it, that this is not yet another "Phaerimm-created-by-Imaskari", "Star Elves are baaaaaack!" or "Archwizards are bbbbaaaaaaaack!" importance level WotC "comic book super-hero resurrection" case... |
| SiriusBlack |
Posted - 16 May 2004 : 17:24:35
The May "In the Works" features the following about this product:
quote:
Although the book was designed with the Forgotten Realms campaign setting in mind, just about anyone with a penchant for scaly-type monsters will find this 192-page hardcover to be more than worth flipping through. (If you've been picking up D&D minis, you probably already have at least one Lizardfolk, Bright Naga, and Yuan-Ti Pureblood in your collection -- get ready to break them out for some fun.) I'll pull together some stuff from the inside of the book to show you next month. But until then, I'll show you what's on the back of the book:
Crawling Evils Never Sleep
Chilling fireside tales describe the fell plans and foul actions of the horrors known as the Scaled Ones: lizardfolk, nagas, yuan-ti, and their sinister creator race, the sarrukh. Infinitely patient and ruthless, the insidious serpentfolk seek to enslave all of Faerūn's other races to breed them like cattle. For those bold enough to peer within, Serpent Kingdoms offers an unsettlingly detailed look at the malevolent serpentfolk and lizard races of the Forgotten Realms game setting.
27 new monsters
27 new feats
Dozens of serpentfolk sites
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/iw/20040516a |
| Bookwyrm |
Posted - 19 Mar 2004 : 08:48:41
Not me. I first got in through a book called The Crystal Shard. It wasn't what got me hooked, mind you. That honor belongs to Elfshadow. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 19 Mar 2004 : 04:47:14
quote:
Originally posted by SiriusBlack
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
Actually, this situation reminds me of WotC's early championing of the 3e Greyhawk setting...We all know how that saga ended now don't we...
If I recall correctly, most of Shakespeare's tragedies ended better than that saga.
It's quite a shame really, I've always been a Greyhawk devotee, and probably always will be as well... . It's the setting that first got me into the early editions of the first Dungeons & Dragons game...
|
| Bookwyrm |
Posted - 18 Mar 2004 : 17:06:05
Now that's saying something. |
| SiriusBlack |
Posted - 18 Mar 2004 : 16:58:17
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
Actually, this situation reminds me of WotC's early championing of the 3e Greyhawk setting...We all know how that saga ended now don't we...
If I recall correctly, most of Shakespeare's tragedies ended better than that saga. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 18 Mar 2004 : 09:09:30
Hmmm...you are right.
I've slowly come to adjust to the feel of Eberron, although I'm certain I won't stage a campaign there. As it is, I wish Wizards all the best in an attempting to promote this new setting, because, as we know, it's coming into a heavily competitive environment.
Actually, this situation reminds me of WotC's early championing of the 3e Greyhawk setting...We all know how that saga ended now don't we...
|
| Lord Rad |
Posted - 18 Mar 2004 : 08:51:23
Remembering that FR is WotC's biggest selling campaign setting (not that they have many, unlike the days of TSR!) and any new campaign settings they release (i.e. Eberron) receive a lot of advertising.....advertising seen by a lot of current D&D\FR fans. If FR fans feel that FR will take a back seat to Eberron then they will boycott it! WotC's tactic of putting Eberron first can easily backfire. Many will think that in order to let FR survive, Eberron must not suceed! WotC could easily shoot themselves in the foot by promoting Eberron too hard and neglecting FR! |
| The Sage |
Posted - 18 Mar 2004 : 06:46:13
Well, for the most part, this is certainly good to hear, especially straight from the mouth of Rich Baker.
Although, I did find something a little disturbing with a part of what he said, namely -
quote:
Eberron is definitely not displacing FR, at least not in the foreseeable future.
So the FR is secure, at least for now. The future of the setting though, appears to be within a slight sphere of doubt...
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