| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Dargoth |
Posted - 04 Mar 2005 : 00:02:38
Mat Smiths latest "Whats coming up article has Champions of Ruin coming out in May (it had previously been listed for August!)
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/iw/20050303a
Helps when I include the link |
| 30 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| The Sage |
Posted - 10 Mar 2005 : 08:23:20
I doubt Eric has time to read much of anything at the moment...  .
And as for George... Well, we all know of the miraculous powers at his command. Such amazing feats would not be out of his reach, that's for sure...  .
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| Dargoth |
Posted - 10 Mar 2005 : 08:06:40
*chuckle
Sage, Eric B and George K
3 men with 3 Babies 
Hmm I wonder if Eric reads the as yet Unpublished City of Splendors to his baby...... It might be worth taping the kids baby monitor |
| The Sage |
Posted - 10 Mar 2005 : 08:00:38
Yes, I could imagine myself with the baby in one arm, slowly rocking in my reading chair by the fireplace on cold winters night, reading passages from Champions of Ruin being held in the other hand as the child slowly drifts off into dreams shaped by tales of the Realms.
Lady K was always a rather keen artist. Perhaps I'll commission her to paint such a piece... .
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| Dargoth |
Posted - 10 Mar 2005 : 07:48:27
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
Aye!
I'd never even thought of that. I could even suggest that I'm buying the book for the child later, so that the little one can also enjoy the Realms as we do now... .
What do mean for later? Read it to the child from the day its born
"Corelleon took out Grummsh eye with a wicked left hook"
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| The Sage |
Posted - 10 Mar 2005 : 07:44:34
Aye!
I'd never even thought of that. I could even suggest that I'm buying the book for the child later, so that the little one can also enjoy the Realms as we do now... .
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| Dargoth |
Posted - 10 Mar 2005 : 07:31:50
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
[quote][Of course, by late April/early May we may have more important things to worry about...  .
Im sure Costello and Howard will be quite happy to let you spend the Baby Bonus on FR source books!  |
| The Sage |
Posted - 10 Mar 2005 : 07:15:41
quote:
Originally posted by Dargoth
Where appopriate Id like to see a couple of an Ancient nations cities detailed (with maps)
Political factions and what was going on when the empire "died"
All will be well received here also.
Of course, if these details could be related to the main bulk of the fluff, then I'd be even happier, but given the news of the page count decrease, that now seems unlikely.
And a May release... Looks like I'll have to alter my birthday list  . Lady K, please take note  . Of course, by late April/early May we may have more important things to worry about... .
|
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 08 Mar 2005 : 23:16:14
quote:
Originally posted by Dargoth
(Apprarently nothing noteworthy happaned in Jhaamdath between -2381 and -276)
From what I understand, that sordid incident with the gnome, the dancing girls, and the manticore eggs was very quickly covered up.   |
| Dargoth |
Posted - 08 Mar 2005 : 11:54:16
Hmm what would I like......
For starters more Maps! (For the love of God please let there be maps in City of Splendors!)
Where appopriate Id like to see a couple of an Ancient nations cities detailed (with maps)
Political factions and what was going on when the empire "died"
Religion: Which faithes where Common in the Empire (If the Gods arent around today then FRC length description for the deities)
More History
(Apprarently nothing noteworthy happaned in Jhaamdath between -2381 and -276) |
| George Krashos |
Posted - 08 Mar 2005 : 10:37:05
Oh, and to get back on topic, Rich Baker has confirmed that Champions of Ruin will be coming out in May.
-- George Krashos
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| George Krashos |
Posted - 08 Mar 2005 : 10:35:03
quote:
Originally posted by Dargoth
If it was me I would have done LEOF as a series 1 book each year and focused on 4 Empires in Each book and really hammered the 4.
So say this year we would of had LEOF Volume 1 which would have covered Narfell/Raumathar, Netheril, Jhaamdath and Ammarindar
Next year we get LEOF Volume 2 which details Cormanthyr, Shoon Empire, Imaskar and Eaerlann
Each LEOF book is 192 pages each realm gets 40 pages each with the remaining 32 pages going to crunch ie Spells, Feats PrCs etc
That does sound nice, doesn't it. IF something like that were ever to happen (which I would think is doubtful) what kind of information would you be after: stuff on what the ancient realms were like back before they were ancient realms (ala an Arcane Age-type product) or more stuff ala LEoF re legacies of those ancient empires in the here and now?
-- George Krashos
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| George Krashos |
Posted - 08 Mar 2005 : 10:32:22
Having just had a sneaky peek at Part 1) of what Eric is sending DUNGEON's way, my hopes re City of Splendors are on a big high.
-- George Krashos
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| SiriusBlack |
Posted - 08 Mar 2005 : 03:42:32
quote:
Originally posted by Melfius
Now, don't get me wrong. I LOVE the background information. I just wish there was MORE of it!
I'm just grateful we have more than what was present in previous tomes. My hopes for Waterdeep remain high. |
| Melfius |
Posted - 08 Mar 2005 : 03:21:23
Now, don't get me wrong. I LOVE the background information. I just wish there was MORE of it! |
| SirUrza |
Posted - 08 Mar 2005 : 02:38:24
quote:
Originally posted by Melfius
Well, I for one prefer the hardcovers. They hold up better during serious gaming.
Well I play A LOT in Silver Marches and mine is in great condition. But if I'm playing in Silver Marches then my other 5 region books are at home not getting worn out. PLUS, when I wear it out, because it has a cheaper cover, a cheaper spine, it means I have to buy a new one sooner. So they make money that way too.  |
| SirUrza |
Posted - 08 Mar 2005 : 02:36:19
*nods*
If you want spells, there are 100s of d20 publishers putting out sources book with nothing but books on magic... Relics & Rituals 1-3 being 3 awesome hardcovers featuring plenty of magic. :)
|
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 08 Mar 2005 : 02:02:43
I like Dargoth's idea.
Melfius, I don't think they've been doing a "flavor of the moment" thing. I don't recall snake-critters being a major flavor, or the lands of the Shining South...
And for me, the "fluff" as you call it (I've been weaned away from that term, I call it "lore") was what was appealing about Lost Empires of Faerūn. Spells? We've already had hundreds of spells in 3.x. But great background material... That's not been as plentiful. |
| Dargoth |
Posted - 08 Mar 2005 : 00:58:40
If it was me I would have done LEOF as a series 1 book each year and focused on 4 Empires in Each book and really hammered the 4.
So say this year we would of had LEOF Volume 1 which would have covered Narfell/Raumathar, Netheril, Jhaamdath and Ammarindar
Next year we get LEOF Volume 2 which details Cormanthyr, Shoon Empire, Imaskar and Eaerlann
Each LEOF book is 192 pages each realm gets 40 pages each with the remaining 32 pages going to crunch ie Spells, Feats PrCs etc
|
| Melfius |
Posted - 07 Mar 2005 : 23:44:53
Well, I for one prefer the hardcovers. They hold up better during serious gaming.
Seriously, I just get tired of the hyping of books that turn out to be just alot of fluff about their 'flavor of the moment'. Case in point - Lost Empires of Faerūn. They could have done without the section on Imaskar and added a ton of spells. |
| SirUrza |
Posted - 07 Mar 2005 : 22:02:27
quote:
Originally posted by SiriusBlack
I have no experience in publishing. The only power I have is as a consumer. If I don't like something, I don't purchase it. That's why I don't have a good many 3.0 and 3.5 FR products.
I'm just glad the Complete set it done. Maybe now they can get back to original products only. |
| SiriusBlack |
Posted - 07 Mar 2005 : 06:21:23
I have no experience in publishing. The only power I have is as a consumer. If I don't like something, I don't purchase it. That's why I don't have a good many 3.0 and 3.5 FR products. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 07 Mar 2005 : 06:07:56
I agree. I think they're lining their pockets more, not trying to meet any rising publishing expenses. |
| SirUrza |
Posted - 07 Mar 2005 : 03:23:24
quote:
Originally posted by Gray Richardson
That's the wrong way to think of it. I think WOTC is trying hard to keep the price low and affordable but unfortunately at the cost of content. Publishing costs as they are it is becoming nigh impossible to print 192 pages and keep the price below $30 (US).
Here's a simple solution. Get rid of the ridiculous hardcovers, use cheaper paper, oh.. and drop the stupid color backgrounds. Do THAT and they'll be adding pages to each book instead of editing out pages and we'll get certain USEFUL things, like indexes, in EVERY book.
quote:
I regret the necessity that WotC must cut the page count, but I don't begrudge them the right to make a profit and maximize sales.
I begrudge them. They waste pages on advertisements instead of indexes. They stop producing books in softcover. That alone adds $5 to the price tag.
I hate to say it, but the artsy crap that's been added to the Realms books MAY LOOK GOOD but I don't see Realms books taking any D&D/D20 awards for it. People buy books for the content, not the $2 semigloss paper it's printed on.
Wizards of the Coast is the largest company in the D20 market right? If that's so, why do Campaign Settings published by OTHER companies that have THE SAME 2-3 people working on each book, have twice as many books compared to 3E Realms, they're all cheaper, and some are even all hardcover. I could answer why, but I'd be a broken record, just read the BEGINNING of my post. |
| Dargoth |
Posted - 06 Mar 2005 : 22:46:17
Then Ill expect to see a 32 page web Enhancement when CoR and CoS come out |
| Gray Richardson |
Posted - 06 Mar 2005 : 16:42:06
That's the wrong way to think of it. I think WOTC is trying hard to keep the price low and affordable but unfortunately at the cost of content. Publishing costs as they are it is becoming nigh impossible to print 192 pages and keep the price below $30 (US). If they maintained the 192 page count they would probably have to charge somewhere between $32-$35 and that is probably a psychological breaking point that would mean dramatically fewer sales.
I regret the necessity that WotC must cut the page count, but I don't begrudge them the right to make a profit and maximize sales. I want WotC to remain fiscally hale and hearty for a long, long time into the future so they can keep putting out quality Realms products for us all to enjoy--and so our favorite Realms writers and freelancers can make a wonderful living sharing their work with us! |
| Dargoth |
Posted - 06 Mar 2005 : 10:29:53
quote:
Originally posted by BobROE
quote:
Originally posted by Dargoth
Think of it this way
If WOTC produce 4 Realms source books a year
Then we get 768 pages of Realms goodness a year (4x192=768)
With the new books we only get 640 pages and STILL pay the same price as if we had bought 4 192 page FR books
But what if we get an extra product because they cut 32 pages out of each? Then we get more total pages.
Id say its a rort
Currently we get a book at 20 USD so we spend 80 USD a year for 4 books and get 768 pages
Assuming your right we spend 100 USD and get 800 page (5 books at 160)
We get 32 pages for the cost of 192 page book, that doesnt impress me |
| BobROE |
Posted - 06 Mar 2005 : 08:43:25
quote:
Originally posted by Dargoth
Think of it this way
If WOTC produce 4 Realms source books a year
Then we get 768 pages of Realms goodness a year (4x192=768)
With the new books we only get 640 pages and STILL pay the same price as if we had bought 4 192 page FR books
But what if we get an extra product because they cut 32 pages out of each? Then we get more total pages. |
| Reefy |
Posted - 06 Mar 2005 : 01:17:31
quote:
Originally posted by Mareka
quote:
Originally posted by Dargoth
Think of it this way
If WOTC produce 4 Realms source books a year
Then we get 768 pages of Realms goodness a year (4x192=768)
With the new books we only get 640 pages and STILL pay the same price as if we had bought 4 192 page FR books
The lower page count is disappointing, agreed, but I can't justify depriving myself of Realmslore because of it. Yes, it's 32 pages less, but if you don't buy the book, that's 160 pages less.
That's the problem though, isn't it. I know I'm going to buy City of Splendours and maybe Champions of Ruin. I imagine Dargoth will probably buy both of them. Therefore what conclusions will WOTC draw from that if we keep buying the books for the same price with reduced content? |
| Mareka |
Posted - 06 Mar 2005 : 00:52:39
quote:
Originally posted by Dargoth
Think of it this way
If WOTC produce 4 Realms source books a year
Then we get 768 pages of Realms goodness a year (4x192=768)
With the new books we only get 640 pages and STILL pay the same price as if we had bought 4 192 page FR books
The lower page count is disappointing, agreed, but I can't justify depriving myself of Realmslore because of it. Yes, it's 32 pages less, but if you don't buy the book, that's 160 pages less. |
| Dargoth |
Posted - 06 Mar 2005 : 00:28:52
Think of it this way
If WOTC produce 4 Realms source books a year
Then we get 768 pages of Realms goodness a year (4x192=768)
With the new books we only get 640 pages and STILL pay the same price as if we had bought 4 192 page FR books |
