| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| The Sage |
Posted - 08 Apr 2004 : 06:39:28
The latest update for Ed's 'Realmslore' column is now up at the FR site.
It's called Moon Doors of Silverymoon, and this first part is titled, Doors Within Doors.
Be sure to check it out, and return here for some interesting discussion...
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| 30 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| The Sage |
Posted - 24 May 2004 : 06:00:27
Reefy, as I said previously, I had considered making use of the Moon Doors in my campaign version of Silverymoon.
I've only composed some basic notes so far, but I want to create a specific article detailing alternative uses in Silverymoon once it's done. It will likely be included in the next Candlekeep update.
Look for it soon...
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| Reefy |
Posted - 24 May 2004 : 00:36:37
I was just wondering how anyone has made use of them as I'm currently devoid of inspiration (exams have been numbing my brain)? I'm sure I'll come up with some ideas of my own but I'm interested to see what others have done or suggest doing. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 14 May 2004 : 06:18:12
Thanks Wooly . It's a nice way to finish this sub-series. I wonder what will come next?
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| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 13 May 2004 : 08:21:47
Part four is up. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 29 Apr 2004 : 09:47:27
Indeed it is  .
Who ever thought such a simple aspect of architectural design could have such an interesting use...
I may just pop one or two Moon Doors into my Silverymoon.
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| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 29 Apr 2004 : 07:43:30
Part three is up. |
| Shadowlord |
Posted - 16 Apr 2004 : 20:03:24
Of course.  Wizards of the Coast just insists upon splitting the articles up, so as to prolongue waiting, and disappoint fans...  |
| Blueblade |
Posted - 16 Apr 2004 : 14:53:39
Hoo-boy! Traps, of course, but that messages thing completely changes how I think of "daily life" in Silverymoon---as well as giving me umpteen ideas of how to trick PCs into wild goose chases, send them into ambushes...oh yeah.
See, Shadowlord? I knew Ed'd come through. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 15 Apr 2004 : 05:30:58
Ah, thank you for that link, Lady K. |
| Lady Kazandra |
Posted - 15 Apr 2004 : 02:48:12
The second part to this new 'Realmslore' column has now been uploaded.
You can view it here.
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| Shadowlord |
Posted - 14 Apr 2004 : 02:33:40
I apologize for my earlier comment. When I said "Not as much originality," I was thinking more along the lines of "I can't find a use for this right now." It was around 11 PM when I posted, and I was extremely tired. Please excuse my mis-writings, as I tend to say the exact opposite of what I mean and/or talk of things that have absolutly nothing to do with the topic at hand when I become tired (as those who know me well can attest to)... |
| Blueblade |
Posted - 13 Apr 2004 : 17:54:06
Very well said, The Hooded One.
I saw that a lot on the WotC boards: no clear distinctions between author and his/her writings, or posters who seem able to 'know' all sorts of things about a writer's mind from the writings.
I don't think anyone meant that here, but I agree: too early to tell anything from one column. Wonder why WotC chops them so short? |
| The Hooded One |
Posted - 12 Apr 2004 : 21:06:00
Gosh, no, SiriusBlack. I doubt this or any other forum can be of much use to anyone if only rah-rah positive viewpoints can be expressed. I know Ed values the Realms-List, the WotC boards, Candlekeep, and the SFWA forums (I’m not sure if he ever reads any others), plus the informal private e-mail round-robins he maintains with WotC staffers, Eric and Krash and the other original ‘Monks of Candlekeep,’ and we players primarily for helpful crit that allow him to pinpoint when things weren’t expressed clearly enough, or too much of this and too little of that was covered, and so on. Like everyone else, he’s happy when someone likes his work, and very pleased when he knows he’s been helpful to a friend – but after all these years, and knowing the man personally, I very much doubt he feels much need for having his head patted regularly.
Nor do * I * expect to be pleased or not pleased by what I read here, or have scribes post or phrase comments on that basis, nor do I want or expect to have any measure of approval over them.
Nor was I reacting to any less-than-positive viewpoints. I was reacting to a posted opinion about Ed’s originality because (and only because) I believe not enough of the Moon Doors series has yet been web-published for any valid opinion to be formed (about Ed’s originality, not about Moon Doors or anything else), and because I think scribes posting here should be sufficiently familiar with the Realmslore web column format by now to KNOW that we haven’t seen enough yet (Larlake being my stated example).
In my real-world, security-related work, my colleagues and your Hooded correspondent can speculate away like mad (in private, and between ourselves ONLY) about the possible motives, thinking, mental state, and intentions of someone, but it is literally a criminal act for any of us to state our opinions publicly (i.e. in a report) about such things without supportive evidence. Please note that I’m NOT suggesting Candlekeep should be run on the same lines or held to the same standards, but I do believe there’s a good reason why such rules and guidelines exist in some situations and organizations: unsupported speculation usually accomplishes more harm (even unintentionally) than it does anything else.
By all means react negatively to Moon Doors once you’ve seen it all, or most of it. However, before anyone tries “mind-reading” Ed from long-range, why not simply use me to ask him directly? I know he won’t get huffy (he saves that for tax officials :}), even if someone asks him point-blank: 'That sucked; what were you THINKING?'
I’ve read many of your posts here, SiriusBlack (and, if I’m not mistaken, back on the WotC boards, too), and would (as dispassionately as I can manage, stepping back into real-world op mode) judge your contributions to converse as very positive, over the years. I’d not want either of us to be muzzled or feel the need to self-censor.
I just think one installment of a multiple column is too early to mind-read Ed’s performance or intentions. Its TOPIC is fair game at all times, in my view.
Sorry if I ruffled any feathers. I simply commented that if I was Ed, I’d be upset if the initial column of every new Realmslore topic was greeted with instant judgements (good or bad) on Ed – especially when, as I posted, he doesn’t get to choose topics freely, and wrote these pieces a year ago.
BTW, I’ve posted his oaths of Tempus worshippers answer in the Questions for Ed thread over in Novels, for those who’ve been waiting for it for a week-plus, now. He’s been deep in the collaborative novel with Elaine, and currently has a house full of visiting family and is probably spending hours washing dishes.:}
THO
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| Alaundo |
Posted - 12 Apr 2004 : 18:55:36
Well met
Hmmmm, lets try not to misread pennings herein and get too heated. I'm sure a lot written here has been misunderstood, and i'm sure, Hooded One, that certainly nobody has intended to say any bad word against Ed. Merely that maybe the first article of this particular Realmslore column in not of use to them in particular. As you mentioned previously, it IS the first installment and I expect it will likely be expanded upon and possibly eventually please Scribes who were not immediately grabbed by the first part.
That said, please take no offence, nor Ed, if not everyone found this particular snippet of Realmslore 100% useful. We all highly value your presence here and indeed that of Ed's constant reponses and flow of Realmslore.  |
| SiriusBlack |
Posted - 12 Apr 2004 : 17:52:40
quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
And remember: what bores you might really turn the crank of the next player or DM, and the Realms has survived in print and become as colourful and popular as it is because Ed is very careful to cater to all gaming styles and tastes.
Exactly, but those people aren't being attacked or criticized for their comments. So either agree to like something or shut up? Is that what you are stating? |
| SiriusBlack |
Posted - 12 Apr 2004 : 17:51:17
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
I hope that Mr. Greenwood has not taken offense to some of the poorly worded comments in this scroll...
Where are there any poorly worded comments? If Shadowlord's comments are poorly worded, please show me how he could have expressed his opinion, which is allowed to my knowledge, differently?
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| SiriusBlack |
Posted - 12 Apr 2004 : 17:49:16
quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
Well, scribes, if I was Ed I'd tear my beard out reading some posters tearing up each new series of Realmslore columns just on the basis of the first one.
Are you referring to this thread for the "tearing up" comments? Because if so, please point out the posts that you think contained "tearing up" comments.
quote:
so why not wait and see before you trash Ed for 'lack of creativity.'
THO
Okay, where is his creativity trashed? The harshest comment I see calls on a lack of originality, not a lack of creativity. Even then, I think the poster was polite and respectful.
But, for a hypothetical sake, if after all four parts, this poster or other feels the same way, do we then have your permission to express any negative comments? |
| VEDSICA |
Posted - 12 Apr 2004 : 17:47:22
In my post I wasn't trying to bash Ed's creativity.IMHO I think he is brilliant.To come up with all this stuff is unbelievable.Just that sometimes he's not going to tickle everyones fanny,so to speak with some of his lore.That in no way,shape,or form diminishes his creativity prowess.It just didn't move me as it did kuje. |
| The Hooded One |
Posted - 12 Apr 2004 : 16:21:50
Ed and I discussed the Realmslore columns the last time I visited him, and he told me that Julia Martin (who is his good friend and computer guru, and whom he respects as an editor very much) is his editor for these columns, and chooses topics from lists of ideas Ed submits to her. Almost all topics will be addressed in 4 or 8 part series (a very few will be 2-parters, a VERY few might reach longer), and they will be "all over the map" in terms of importance and scope, from coverage of entire thus-far-neglected countries to small details of architecture and local custom. Julia turns some of the columns over to WotC rules designers to rule-check (I believe Skip Williams is overseeing the Moon Doors series, but I may be mis-recalling details from many chats).
My point was simply that, as a player whose character learned about moon doors to her cost years back, moon doors have been around for a l-o-o-ong time (and so presenting them now says nothing about how inspired Ed was, this week when you're seeing them; these columns were written a year ago, BTW), that Ed doesn't get to decide on his own what he writes about, and that it's unfair to judge any of the series on the first column alone. Speculate, yes, give one's personal opinions on the topic, yes, but to try to judge Ed's originality or creativity on the basis of a single column, when the column length is set (and, in my opinion, way too short; those who recall Ed's My Slice of Silverymoon two-parter can probably tell at a glance that he wrote it as a single piece, and it got chopped in half according to WotC needs) by others and the topic is drafted as a multi-parter, is just plain wrong. Give him until part two for REAL speculation, and part three for the judgements (a la Larlake).
And remember: what bores you might really turn the crank of the next player or DM, and the Realms has survived in print and become as colourful and popular as it is because Ed is very careful to cater to all gaming styles and tastes.
End of unladylike rant...oh, forgot: I'm no lady. :}
THO |
| Sarta |
Posted - 12 Apr 2004 : 08:41:20
quote:
Originally posted by kuje31
I have to disagree with the others. I happened to like the article. :) But you can't please every one. A lot of people didn't like the Broad Sheet articles either, even though I loved them. :)
I have to agree. While "cat flaps" (as Rad dubbed them) may not seem to be all that thrilling, it is very useful information should burglary come into play in a Silverymoon campaign.
I can just picture a team of halfling burglars putting these moon doors to very good use.
Sarta |
| The Sage |
Posted - 12 Apr 2004 : 07:05:12
quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
Well, scribes, if I was Ed I'd tear my beard out reading some posters tearing up each new series of Realmslore columns just on the basis of the first one. Folks were trashing the Alustriel's Consort series on the Realms list because they thought Ed had descended into soft porn over the very idea expressed in the first column. As far as I can recall, this is a four-parter, and these ARE supposed to be "lore add-ons," some big and important and others very small details. . . so why not wait and see before you trash Ed for 'lack of creativity.' After all, he DID create Silverymoon, WITH moon doors, before 1978, before any of you had a chance to judge his creativity at all...
THO
As I recall Lady Hooded One, none of the scribes who have posted in this scroll have judged Mr. Greenwood to have any 'lack of creativity.' Now granted, Shadowlord said something about originality, but that really doesn't have much relevance since, as you say, Mr. Greenwood DID create Silverymoon.
We all know better, here at Candlekeep. We all know that, whatever Mr. Greenwood writes, will be flavorful, well-balanced, and above all, interesting. We are not out to trash his efforts, merely understand his great creativity when it comes to Realmslore.
I hope that Mr. Greenwood has not taken offense to some of the poorly worded comments in this scroll...
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| Kuje |
Posted - 12 Apr 2004 : 07:01:25
I have to disagree with the others. I happened to like the article. :) But you can't please every one. A lot of people didn't like the Broad Sheet articles either, even though I loved them. :) |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 12 Apr 2004 : 06:48:51
quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
Well, scribes, if I was Ed I'd tear my beard out reading some posters tearing up each new series of Realmslore columns just on the basis of the first one. Folks were trashing the Alustriel's Consort series on the Realms list because they thought Ed had descended into soft porn over the very idea expressed in the first column. As far as I can recall, this is a four-parter, and these ARE supposed to be "lore add-ons," some big and important and others very small details. . . so why not wait and see before you trash Ed for 'lack of creativity.' After all, he DID create Silverymoon, WITH moon doors, before 1978, before any of you had a chance to judge his creativity at all...
THO
Admittedly, Lady Hooded One, it's not off to an exciting start. However, I am withholding comment on the overall arc until the third part, at least. I have confidence in Ed to make it more interesting -- after all, the fourth Larlake post was the really intriguing one! |
| The Hooded One |
Posted - 12 Apr 2004 : 06:39:30
Well, scribes, if I was Ed I'd tear my beard out reading some posters tearing up each new series of Realmslore columns just on the basis of the first one. Folks were trashing the Alustriel's Consort series on the Realms list because they thought Ed had descended into soft porn over the very idea expressed in the first column. As far as I can recall, this is a four-parter, and these ARE supposed to be "lore add-ons," some big and important and others very small details. . . so why not wait and see before you trash Ed for 'lack of creativity.' After all, he DID create Silverymoon, WITH moon doors, before 1978, before any of you had a chance to judge his creativity at all...
THO |
| VEDSICA |
Posted - 12 Apr 2004 : 02:39:36
Sirius that's the only reason I still go back there(still angry over the novels forum wipeout).I like Ed's stuff.Just some of it is very uninteresting.No Offense!!!! |
| The Sage |
Posted - 11 Apr 2004 : 23:20:42
While I agree with the general opinion presented in this scroll in regards to the content of the article, it's still nice to read some extra material about Silverymoon. It's always been one of my favorite Realms locales, although, unfortunately, I've never had the opportunity to make effective use of the area in a campaign...
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| Lord Rad |
Posted - 11 Apr 2004 : 18:00:21
Well I didnt want to be the first to say it (about "cat flaps" ) but I found the article a bit tongue-in-cheek. It was all very nice but not terribly useful to know. Im sure more will come of it in the following articles though. |
| SiriusBlack |
Posted - 11 Apr 2004 : 16:52:38
quote:
Originally posted by VEDSICA
I don't know.I really didn't like this Moon Doors of Silverymoon.
Agreed. I didn't find this as interesting as some other articles by Ed Greenwood. Still, I'll take his stuff any day over the vast majority of others that contribute online articles. |
| Shadowlord |
Posted - 11 Apr 2004 : 16:48:05
Yes, I'll second that. It's got too much similarity with "cat doors" of the present day. Not as much originality as Ed normally churns out... |
| VEDSICA |
Posted - 11 Apr 2004 : 16:22:25
Mark me down as one who hopes that Ed keeps The Wyrms of the North thread going.Especially with Richards trilogy coming out this month,and the rest of it coming out in the next few years.
I don't know.I really didn't like this Moon Doors of Silverymoon. |
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