| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Dargoth |
Posted - 21 Aug 2004 : 04:25:32
Any news on FR products coming out next year? |
| 30 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Faraer |
Posted - 30 Aug 2004 : 15:47:29
Sure. It would depend on the climate of the thing, and I'd want to come up with a slightly new angle (point of leverage) rather than repeating a known point of view. |
| SiriusBlack |
Posted - 30 Aug 2004 : 14:29:00
quote:
Originally posted by George Krashos
I for one have been very happy with the "new" direction FR products seem to be heading in. As I've said before, late-2004 and 2005 augur well for FR products. Even the fanboys should be satisfied.
-- George Krashos
GK:
I keep hearing your comments in my head as I see the date drawing ever so closer to Shining South's release. October is not that far off.  |
| SiriusBlack |
Posted - 30 Aug 2004 : 14:24:01
quote:
Originally posted by Garen Thal
I know from other conversations that the "pendulum of fluff vs. crunch" overswang toward game mechanics after the release of 3e, and is going to be recentered as things go forward to include more flavor (for FR, read Realmslore),
So, what you are saying is that a balance will return to the force....
oh wait, wrong campaign world. 
quote:
That's just what I think, though. And what do I know?
Quite a bit purely judging from this post. If nothing else you possess the ability to calmly and intelligently present your points. Such a trait is a rarity these days. Thank you for sharing.
SB |
| George Krashos |
Posted - 30 Aug 2004 : 04:17:17
Well said, Garen.
I for one have been very happy with the "new" direction FR products seem to be heading in. As I've said before, late-2004 and 2005 augur well for FR products. Even the fanboys should be satisfied.
-- George Krashos
|
| Garen Thal |
Posted - 30 Aug 2004 : 04:08:18
Having been confronted with that exact situation, I can tell you what I said about missing dungeons, unrevealed Realmslore, merchant lore, climate patterns, and...
Nothing.
I said nothing for a pair of fairly important reasons. First was that I know that it's the sort of complaint that isn't going to be listened to from some Realms fanboy in the crowd (whether he knows his stuff or not), because I wouldn't have the time to back it up. My primary objective in that particular seminar was to steer the single WotC representative--Chris Perkins--into including the sorts of information I like to see in my books, rather than standing up and shouting "we want Realmslore." I saved that for afterwards. 
The second was one that doesn't really need to be made, but which I'll make anyway: Eric Boyd and Ed Greenwood were two of the four panelists at the FR seminar. If there's anyone who already knows what sort of stuff people like the Candlekeep audience want to see, and is in a position to demand/ensure that they get into books, it's those two.
There are other reasons, too, not least of which is that I know from other conversations that the "pendulum of fluff vs. crunch" overswang toward game mechanics after the release of 3e, and is going to be recentered as things go forward to include more flavor (for FR, read Realmslore), so I felt no need to stand up and shout my lungs out. They've heard us. It's just a matter of finding a place to put it all, and then listening to the groans when it doesn't all fit.
That's just what I think, though. And what do I know? |
| The Sage |
Posted - 30 Aug 2004 : 03:53:29
quote:
Originally posted by Faraer
GamingReport.com has posted a report and pictures of the Forgotten Realms seminar at Gen Con.
If I'd made it across the water, I wonder how I'd have approached the WotC panelists about the Realmslore backlog and all the existing dungeons and regional information and merchant lore and ... we haven't seen...
I think that's something we'd all like to ask ourselves if we were to be confronted with a similar situation such as this... 
|
| SiriusBlack |
Posted - 29 Aug 2004 : 17:54:13
Sean K. Reynolds has a report of his Gencon experience including pictures. |
| Faraer |
Posted - 26 Aug 2004 : 16:19:49
GamingReport.com has posted a report and pictures of the Forgotten Realms seminar at Gen Con.
If I'd made it across the water, I wonder how I'd have approached the WotC panelists about the Realmslore backlog and all the existing dungeons and regional information and merchant lore and ... we haven't seen... |
| Kuje |
Posted - 24 Aug 2004 : 18:49:10
quote:
Originally posted by Garen Thal
Ed gave no eulogies, and wasn't planning on it. He and I had quite a few nice, long chats, and I attended nearly every event he was participating in. Had he been giving a eulogy of any sort, I'd have found out at some point, and that didn't happen.
Maybe next year...
Thanks for the help. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 24 Aug 2004 : 04:27:51
quote:
Originally posted by Dargoth
Rich Baker said that there would be a book mid 05 which would have stats for Dendar, Eltab and the other FR outsiders so that might be the missing book
Yes, I believe that's the Fiend Lords supplement. Although, I really do hope that the title is still tentative for this supposed work.
|
| Garen Thal |
Posted - 24 Aug 2004 : 03:13:15
Ed gave no eulogies, and wasn't planning on it. He and I had quite a few nice, long chats, and I attended nearly every event he was participating in. Had he been giving a eulogy of any sort, I'd have found out at some point, and that didn't happen.
Maybe next year... |
| Kuje |
Posted - 24 Aug 2004 : 02:43:21
Almost a month ago Gadodel posted this over on the WOTC boards, "Ed's giving another Eulogy at GenCon... Which Realms character should die and why?"
Did this really happen or? And if Ed did give a eulogy for a FR char.... Who was it that died? |
| Dargoth |
Posted - 23 Aug 2004 : 22:12:32
Hmmm 5 FR books a year (including the module)
My WOTC spending may rise back to 2003 levels in 2005
I wonder what the 4th FR book will be
Im assuming the break down will be
2 Regional Source Books: Waterdeep will be one of the RSBs
1 Generic: Ancient Empires is probably the 05 Generic
1 64 page Adventure
Rich Baker said that there would be a book mid 05 which would have stats for Dendar, Eltab and the other FR outsiders so that might be the missing book |
| SiriusBlack |
Posted - 23 Aug 2004 : 20:54:38
quote:
Originally posted by Garen Thal
Chris [Perkins] did mention that we've been rather shorted on maps recently, and that--at very least--he will be talking to the web team about getting more of the maps up there for our use. The idea of a Realms-specific Map Folio, with giant foldout continental map, was VERY well received by the audience.
That would be a wonderful thing to see come to fruition. |
| Lysander |
Posted - 23 Aug 2004 : 19:19:58
quote:
Originally posted by Garen Thal
I wouldn't worry too much about Eric. He surely knows his stuff, and is amazingly adept at keeping his Realmslore straight (and at adding new things to explain away inconsistency and past mistakes). He's also lucky enough to have access to a super-secret Realms search engine called the Krashos...
I'll also note that a few joke ideas were tossed around the FR Seminar, and Ed was very excited about the notion of Volo's Guide to the Naughty Bits, which was suggested after he mentioned the desire to write Volo's Guide to the Other Bits. Other funny mentions would be the City of Manshoons book, and the Manshoon Hunter prestige class.
Chris [Perkins] did mention that we've been rather shorted on maps recently, and that--at very least--he will be talking to the web team about getting more of the maps up there for our use. The idea of a Realms-specific Map Folio, with giant foldout continental map, was VERY well received by the audience.
Sounds great - wish I had known about it to try to go.
When it comes to maps, I get leery - the 2E to 3.xE transition for the maps.... I'd burn the 3E map if I could be positive it wouldn't be a health hazard  I'd love to see a giant fold out map, so long as they don't butcher the geography  |
| Garen Thal |
Posted - 23 Aug 2004 : 18:41:10
I wouldn't worry too much about Eric. He surely knows his stuff, and is amazingly adept at keeping his Realmslore straight (and at adding new things to explain away inconsistency and past mistakes). He's also lucky enough to have access to a super-secret Realms search engine called the Krashos...
I'll also note that a few joke ideas were tossed around the FR Seminar, and Ed was very excited about the notion of Volo's Guide to the Naughty Bits, which was suggested after he mentioned the desire to write Volo's Guide to the Other Bits. Other funny mentions would be the City of Manshoons book, and the Manshoon Hunter prestige class.
Chris [Perkins] did mention that we've been rather shorted on maps recently, and that--at very least--he will be talking to the web team about getting more of the maps up there for our use. The idea of a Realms-specific Map Folio, with giant foldout continental map, was VERY well received by the audience. |
| SiriusBlack |
Posted - 23 Aug 2004 : 16:25:01
quote:
Originally posted by Lashan
I think the city book will indeed by Waterdeep, especially since it is already known to be in the works.
A wise assumption. I don't evny EB's job. So much has been written about the City. That's quite a bit to go through.
quote:
I still have my Dungeon, though, which looks to have gotten better.
I was delightedly surpised at the presentation quality of the last Dungeon I purchased. |
| Lashan |
Posted - 23 Aug 2004 : 16:18:06
Thanks for the update.
I think the city book will indeed by Waterdeep, especially since it is already known to be in the works.
I prefer the shorter modules as opposed to the larger "meatier" modules. I never bought the Spider Queen module and hope that WOTC stays clear of drow for a while. I'm just sick of them!!! Also, I find that the "super" modules tend to make larger changes in the FR, which I don't care for. The shorter modules are easily adaptable and I can ignore ones that I dislike without missing the only FR module to come out that year. I would rather see a few 32 page ones then one big FR one.
I've not renewed my Dragon subscription. Besides there being fewer FR info, I have generally found the magazine less usefull. The fact that they are proclaiming it to be a "new" Dragon and full of player stuff (i.e. new PrC's, races, and whatnot) then I can happily let my subscription drop and not worry about what I am missing. I still have my Dungeon, though, which looks to have gotten better. |
| SiriusBlack |
Posted - 23 Aug 2004 : 16:10:59
quote:
Originally posted by Garen Thal
Garen's Gen Con report (sorta), which covers public statements--and only public statements--by various people at the FR seminar, the What's New From WotC seminar, the D&D General seminar... you get the idea:
Thank you for sharing this information.
quote:
-The plan is still to release 4 Forgotten Realms game supplements (that is, sourcebooks, not minis or adventures or DM screens) per year, with one being removed or added to coincide with other releases, loosen up the schedule, etc. [Personal note--It's very unlikely that all 4 releases could or would be regional sourcebooks. Always expect to see at least one broader book, in the vein of Magic of ..., Races of ..., Player's Guide to ..., each year.]
I don't ever see them allowing four regional sourcebooks being released in one year.
quote:
-Ancient Empires is to concentrate more on the remnants of the covered nations rather than its history. This is not to say that it won't be packed with Realmslore, only that its goal is to help people use that material in modern-set campaigns. There will be some focus on epic material in the book, but just how much was not revealed.
The focus on ancient locations in current Realms time goes in line with what Richard Baker said some time ago about the product on the old WOTC boards. This is the first time I've heard about Epic material in the tome.
quote:
-Eric Boyd has been working on a city book. Although the panel could not reveal which city, Ed mentioned that the phrase "tie-in" might help.
What on earth could that be? 
I feel better about this upcoming tome knowing EB is involved.
quote:
-The current plan is to release one (1) short (32-64 page?) adventure per year for each of the various lines, the Realms included. WotC are not planning on releasing any mega-adventures a la City of the Spider Queen, and made that quite clear, but remember that last year, they weren't planning on ever doing adventures again...
Good point. I only purchased one mega-adventure last year and it was very disappointing. Perhaps the short adventures will produce better results for this buyer. I'm curious to see the focus for the first adventure and of course the scribe assigned to create it.
quote:
-Dragon is planning to focus on the "core D&D experience" and draw away from articles which are too world-specific. Lore-packed articles aren't going to be very common from now on.
Not surprising. I wasn't happy with the vast majority of articles in the last Dragon I purchased. Thus, I see it will be rare for me to purchase this periodical in the future.
quote:
-Dungeon has similar plans, but still wants to release some 3-4 FR adventures a year. The focus, however, will be on those adventuers which require little background knowledge of the Realms and/or are very easily adapted to core D&D.
Sounds like a plan to get the FR fans to purchase it, but make the adventure generic enough to please other purchasers. |
| Faraer |
Posted - 23 Aug 2004 : 15:19:45
Yeah, thanks, Garen.
Four 160-page sourcebooks a year is good solid support, even if not all of each books is Realms-focused, and even though it falls short of Encyclopedia Faerūnica.
That focus on Ancient Empires is inevitable. Many of those of us who's prefer more history ultimately will 'use' it for campaigns in the modern Realms (that's a good part of why Netheril et al. came to be originally), but are just less impatient to cut to the chase.
You spelled swath right!
Apart from something like a campaign adventure from Ed himself, I'd rather have several smaller adventures than one big one. Look at what G1-3 do in several pages each, or what the dungeon section of FRQ1 does in, what, a dozen?
As long, of course, as they're Realms adventures in nature not just in name, which doesn't mean requiring knowledge of the Realms but working how the Realms work (how power groups get involved, who builds dungeons, and myriad subtle things), which is a question of using the right authors.
The new Dragon is quite explicit about going for the lowest common denominator -- they think they can grab a bigger portion of D&D players that way, let's see if they can. I guess my 'so-called generic articles have settings just as much as Realms or Greyhawk ones' arguments didn't get through. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 23 Aug 2004 : 08:45:15
quote:
-Ancient Empires is to concentrate more on the remnants of the covered nations rather than its history. This is not to say that it won't be packed with Realmslore, only that its goal is to help people use that material in modern-set campaigns. There will be some focus on epic material in the book, but just how much was not revealed.
Well that's disappointing, but not totally unexpected I suppose  . I also don't like this idea about focusing on Epic material, especially for those of us who have "issues" with the current D&D Epic ruleset. I would have rather seen those section devoted to more source material.
Still, I'm happy we'll be getting background information on most of the covered nations...
|
| Lord Rad |
Posted - 23 Aug 2004 : 08:33:12
Fantastic! Thanks Garen.
I'm quite happy to hear about the 32\64 page adventure modules for FR. Just like the good ol' days of TSR 
However, a nice meaty epic adventure every now and then wouldnt hurt
The Waterdeep sourcebook should be pretty amazing, its one of my favorite locales of the Realms, City of Splendors being one of my all time favorite FR products...so this sourcebook will have a LOT to live up to |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 23 Aug 2004 : 08:13:56
Eric Boyd is working on a city book, and Ed says it's a tie-in, huh? Ed said in the past that he couldn't reveal who was working on the Waterdeep book, but that it was in good hands. And we know that's coming, and we know that there's a Waterdeep novel coming... So it's not a definite thing, but I'm willing to bet a few gold pieces that Eric Boyd is doing the Waterdeep sourcebook.
I am disappointed about the lack of world-specific articles in Dragon, though. It doesn't seem right that a world first exposed to us from that magazine won't be described therein any longer... |
| Garen Thal |
Posted - 23 Aug 2004 : 07:55:40
Garen's Gen Con report (sorta), which covers public statements--and only public statements--by various people at the FR seminar, the What's New From WotC seminar, the D&D General seminar... you get the idea:
-The plan is still to release 4 Forgotten Realms game supplements (that is, sourcebooks, not minis or adventures or DM screens) per year, with one being removed or added to coincide with other releases, loosen up the schedule, etc. [Personal note--It's very unlikely that all 4 releases could or would be regional sourcebooks. Always expect to see at least one broader book, in the vein of Magic of ..., Races of ..., Player's Guide to ..., each year.]
-Ancient Empires is to concentrate more on the remnants of the covered nations rather than its history. This is not to say that it won't be packed with Realmslore, only that its goal is to help people use that material in modern-set campaigns. There will be some focus on epic material in the book, but just how much was not revealed.
-Coming soon, Shining South, which is designed to dovetail nicely with the more recent Serpent Kingdoms, covering a large swath of continuous geography.
-Eric Boyd has been working on a city book. Although the panel could not reveal which city, Ed mentioned that the phrase "tie-in" might help.
-Mulhorand will be a "substantial part" of a future/planned supplement, but how far down the road, we don't know (this was in response to a couple of Mulhorandi Monk-inspired questions).
-Ed Greenwood is both obscenely humourous and humourously obscene.
-The current plan is to release one (1) short (32-64 page?) adventure per year for each of the various lines, the Realms included. WotC are not planning on releasing any mega-adventures a la City of the Spider Queen, and made that quite clear, but remember that last year, they weren't planning on ever doing adventures again...
-Dragon is planning to focus on the "core D&D experience" and draw away from articles which are too world-specific. Lore-packed articles aren't going to be very common from now on.
-Dungeon has similar plans, but still wants to release some 3-4 FR adventures a year. The focus, however, will be on those adventuers which require little background knowledge of the Realms and/or are very easily adapted to core D&D. |
| Saime |
Posted - 22 Aug 2004 : 15:43:40
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
Beneath the Twisted Tower... Wasn't that from the 2e revised FR boxed set tome, Shadowdale?
Yes it was. Page 41-89 (at least in my version).
|
| The Sage |
Posted - 22 Aug 2004 : 14:16:21
Beneath the Twisted Tower... Wasn't that from the 2e revised FR boxed set tome, Shadowdale?
|
| Lord Rad |
Posted - 22 Aug 2004 : 10:36:42
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
quote:
Originally posted by Lord Rad
Well that comment in the last paragraph of that link certainly sounds promising. Ill keep my fingers crossed, this would sure make me EXTREMELY happy if WotC started to churn out FR adventures.... some good 192-page meaty ones though, none of those 32-page efforts
With that, I can agree with you. It's certainly something I would once again like to see. Especially if they double as sourcebooks, like some 2e adventure modules did.
Wooly has a point though, some of the 32-page modules were fine products, even though they were small.
Oh I agree, I wasnt being totally serious Some of my favorite adventures are 32 pages - The Daggerdale trilogy (Sword of the Dales etc.) are modules which I constantly mention. I just think that adventures would stand a much better chance if they were a bit meatier. I think that WotC will have to think hard on the type of adventures too. I loved Beneath the Twisted Tower, more like that would be good |
| The Sage |
Posted - 22 Aug 2004 : 03:07:09
quote:
Originally posted by Lord Rad
Well that comment in the last paragraph of that link certainly sounds promising. Ill keep my fingers crossed, this would sure make me EXTREMELY happy if WotC started to churn out FR adventures.... some good 192-page meaty ones though, none of those 32-page efforts
With that, I can agree with you. It's certainly something I would once again like to see. Especially if they double as sourcebooks, like some 2e adventure modules did.
Wooly has a point though, some of the 32-page modules were fine products, even though they were small.
|
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 21 Aug 2004 : 20:22:05
quote:
Originally posted by Lord Rad
Well that comment in the last paragraph of that link certainly sounds promising. Ill keep my fingers crossed, this would sure make me EXTREMELY happy if WotC started to churn out FR adventures.... some good 192-page meaty ones though, none of those 32-page efforts
Hey, some of the 32-page ones were good. |
| Lord Rad |
Posted - 21 Aug 2004 : 19:50:33
Well that comment in the last paragraph of that link certainly sounds promising. Ill keep my fingers crossed, this would sure make me EXTREMELY happy if WotC started to churn out FR adventures.... some good 192-page meaty ones though, none of those 32-page efforts |
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