| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| DestroyYouAlot |
Posted - 13 Dec 2007 : 15:17:46
Hi, folks,
With the new edition (and resulting changes to the campaign setting) shaking things up, I thought I'd pitch an idea I've been nursing for a while: Edition-specific forums. Not, mind you, to have a place to edition-bash - and I can't see CK being as susceptible to that kind of thing as several other sites I can think of - but as a place for folks who either "jumped ship" from published canon at a certain point (usually seems to coincide with an edition change) or want to go back and explore the setting "as it was" to swap ideas and develop. As it is, there are those whose campaigns branched off from published canon with the advent of 3rd edition, and even folks who didn't make the 1e-2e switch; I anticipate these grognardly DMs will presently be joined by a host of diehard 3.5 players, left to develop alternate Realms canon without the Spellplague. Personally, I've been running games with HackMaster as a ruleset, and I'd love to explore a campaign before the Time of Troubles, with shared development from folks here on the site.
One other thing: While I wholeheartedly agree that "the rules aren't the Realms", most of us still use one ruleset or another to play! Having a place to share edition-specific rule info would be an asset to players and DMs of older editions alike.
So, the question stands: Would you want to see edition-specific forums on Candlekeep?
DYA |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| dwarvenranger |
Posted - 18 Dec 2007 : 18:40:13
Don't see the point, make a new topic if ya need to, but a whole forum? Nah. |
| Eremite |
Posted - 18 Dec 2007 : 12:11:44
I really like the idea of an alternative timelines board. Arguably, the forums are currently fairly poorly organised with too much overlap: perhaps this is an opportunity to complete rethink the organisation of the boards?
As for alternative timelines, I plan to go this route with my campaigns. At this stage, I do not plan to embrace 4E at all, and FR4E in particular. My FR games use the FRCS as a baseline and nothing else: I don't want to keep up-to-date with novels or the new edition change. There is a ton (or even tonne) of stuff to explore as the Realms stand so that's my plan: keep exploring it. The only major change I am considering for 2008 is swapping to Savage Worlds instead of D&D. |
| Halidan |
Posted - 14 Dec 2007 : 19:16:11
I think just making a single forum for "Forgotten Realms Alternate Campaigns/Timelines" would be sufficient.
Too many sub-forums will make it hard to follow some discussions (for example, a campaign that had no Time of Troubles, but did have a Spellplagure) and also make it very difficult for new readers (who might not know what either a ToT or Spellplague is) to access any information from the threads |
| Dalmar Amad |
Posted - 14 Dec 2007 : 17:07:04
I agree with what KnightErrantJR said. To me it seems more sensible, if there was a section discussing alternate timelines. There are few questions concerning rules that I've witnessed. It's almost always about lore.
By the way. Has anybody converted shadowmagic to 2nd edition? |
| Alisttair |
Posted - 14 Dec 2007 : 13:52:29
I probably won't participate but I think it is a good idea to have for everyone interested. |
| Matthus |
Posted - 14 Dec 2007 : 11:28:25
Don’t know if there would be much discussion within alternative timeline forums from the majority of the users. Can’t estimate what a splitting into edition-specific forums would do to our acceptance from authors and game-designers. I would vote for making the decision after the release of 4.0. |
| nbnmare |
Posted - 14 Dec 2007 : 10:30:08
I'll second KnightErrantJR's proposal, but if something like that's implemented there probably ought to be a "Forgotten Realms Alternate Campaign: Other" forum, too. That way there's a place for campaigns with more unusual alternative histories, for example one where Karsus stole the divinty of a different god (and thus Netheril never fell, and he is still a deity in the "present day"), the Imaskari defeated the slave rebellion, or where Malkizid corrupted the entire sun elf subrace.
EDIT: Or perhaps just have one forum for alternate campaigns without the spellplague (since there are bound to be a *lot* more of those than campaigns with the ToT or Shade's return), and a second for all other alternate campaigns. "The Realms without the ToT" and "The Realms without the return of Shade" could then be permanent stickies within the second forum. |
| BARDOBARBAROS |
Posted - 14 Dec 2007 : 09:40:22
I think we should wait and see the new edition first and the decide... |
| KnightErrantJR |
Posted - 14 Dec 2007 : 04:52:59
How about this for a proposal: It seems like your initial idea is less about "edition specific" forums and more about conjecturing about the setting had X not happened, with X being the main event tied to a given edition.
I kind of like this idea, so long as its not so much about complaining about edition, and perhaps with this spin on it:
Have a section of the site for discussion story ideas and alternate timelines for the Realms based on three different themes:
Forgotten Realms Alternate Campaign: Averted Godswar- Dealing with "what if Faerun had never seen the Time of Troubles."
Forgotten Realms Alternate Campaign: A World Without Netheril- Dealing with a Faerun where the Shadovar never returned from the Plane of Shadows.
Forgotten Realms Alternate Campaign: The Weave Eternal- Dealing with a Faerun where Mystra has never been killed, thus averting the Spellplague.
I think that if we went this route, we should definitely make these "Running the Realms" type forums, ones that focused on coming up with fun "what if" scenarios, rather than "the Realms was so much better back then," kind of focus.
Even if I don't usually deviate much from Realms continuity (at least until my campaigns get up around 1375 DR), I could have fun to come up with some wild ideas about what might have happened if the Godswar never happened or if the Shadovar didn't return.
I think if the focus was more along these lines rather than "edition specific," then it might be a fun creative outlet. Similarly, if we just say "pre" or "post," not only does that kind of set up a sort of "us" and "them" feel, but also it implies that you aren't going to talk about what would happen if X had not happened, only what the Realms was like up to X.
Hopefully this made some sense. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 13 Dec 2007 : 23:34:58
Kuje and Wooly responded in pretty much the same way I would have. A pre- and post- Spellplague forum split works for me.
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| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 13 Dec 2007 : 23:02:53
quote:
Originally posted by Snotlord
...and if Candlekeep go down that path, I would draw the line at ToT. That's where the mess started in the first place, unless we're facing a 100-year jump.
And this is part of why I dislike the edition division idea. I actually liked the ToT -- though I'm sure no small part of that is due to the fact that I was just getting into the setting when it happened. So, even by edition, some people are going to be interested in stopping at point A, while others would prefer point B...
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| Snotlord |
Posted - 13 Dec 2007 : 19:25:20
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I'd not mind a pre- and post-Spellplague division, but nothing more than that. Besides, most of the lore remains the same regardless of edition.
No, Candlekeep should remain edition-proof. FR (and D&D) is divided enough as it is, no need to add to that.
...and if Candlekeep go down that path, I would draw the line at ToT. That's where the mess started in the first place, unless we're facing a 100-year jump. |
| Hawkins |
Posted - 13 Dec 2007 : 18:58:11
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
quote:
Originally posted by Kuje
I agree with the pre and post spellplague but I don't agree with the edition specific forums. I feel that it would fracture the posters into smaller groups.
That's another good point--we don't need to have "cliques" here, do we?
I think that this is a very reasonable point as well. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 13 Dec 2007 : 18:41:01
quote:
Originally posted by Kuje
I agree with the pre and post spellplague but I don't agree with the edition specific forums. I feel that it would fracture the posters into smaller groups.
That's another good point--we don't need to have "cliques" here, do we? |
| Jorkens |
Posted - 13 Dec 2007 : 17:22:36
Well, Candlekeep has worked pretty well untill now, with several editions. I think a specified question conserning lore from one edition or the other would be answered well enough in the existing forums, but if it becomes a timegap of a hundred years this would be a bit different. |
| DestroyYouAlot |
Posted - 13 Dec 2007 : 17:18:19
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I'd not mind a pre- and post-Spellplague division, but nothing more than that. Besides, most of the lore remains the same regardless of edition.
True - unless you don't consider published lore past a certain point part of "your Realms." There are folks out there for whom time stopped with the Avatar trilogy. If I want to know, "has there been a [pre-ToT] reference to X in print?", this (hypothetical) forum is where I'd ask. |
| DestroyYouAlot |
Posted - 13 Dec 2007 : 17:14:02
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
[quote]Good idea.
I voted for the first choice. I think the idea is great, but there is the lingering question, "How many people would really participate?"
I suppose from a certain point of view, if one person ends up talking to another on the subforums, then they've done their job - it's a small investment for any potential payoff.
I'm for the idea of edition-specific (as opposed to, or in addition to, pre/post SP forums), largely because I play an edition of the game that doesn't include any of the 3e mechanics (and a campaign that omits several of the more recent metaplot events), and I'd like to be able to target my questions and efforts towards folks who are operating on the same page.
There's a need for continuing discussion about a Realms that hasn't gone through the Spellplague, sure - but what about a Realms that hasn't seen the return of Shade, the latest Flight of Dragons, or several other 3e-inspired RSEs? What about a Realms that hasn't experienced the Time of Troubles? If we have a 1e / "grey box" forum, then the worst that could happen is no one posts. (Then it's just me talking to myself.) But it's to be hoped that, instead, we can get some meaningful collaboration and discussion going on this "alternate Realms" that, believe it or not, more than a few people still play in.
*shrug* Just my two cents. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 13 Dec 2007 : 17:12:56
I'd not mind a pre- and post-Spellplague division, but nothing more than that. Besides, most of the lore remains the same regardless of edition. |
| Aravine |
Posted - 13 Dec 2007 : 17:07:44
I'd probably post. I'd probably post in any forum here that I knew anything about. |
| GRYPHON |
Posted - 13 Dec 2007 : 16:59:01
I'd go with the first option... |
| Kuje |
Posted - 13 Dec 2007 : 16:44:58
I agree with the pre and post spellplague but I don't agree with the edition specific forums. I feel that it would fracture the posters into smaller groups. |
| Jorkens |
Posted - 13 Dec 2007 : 15:36:43
I dont know, I think we should wait and see how things develop. There are people from several editions her right now and it works fine. Pre/post-Spellplague would be a better way to go I think though.
In other words I would participate, but I am a bit unsure if they will be needed. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 13 Dec 2007 : 15:32:07
quote:
Originally posted by AlorinDawn
I think rather than edition specific forums, I suggest if we go this route to consider pre spell plauge and post spell plauge.
Good idea.
I voted for the first choice. I think the idea is great, but there is the lingering question, "How many people would really participate?" |
| AlorinDawn |
Posted - 13 Dec 2007 : 15:27:03
I think rather than edition specific forums, I suggest if we go this route to consider pre spell plauge and post spell plauge. |
| Chosen of Moradin |
Posted - 13 Dec 2007 : 15:23:29
I find this an interesting idea, fellow scribe.
I only will wait until 4E came, and I see if I will really stay focused with I already have, or if I will jump to the new edition. |
