| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| KnightErrantJR |
Posted - 30 Jun 2006 : 02:43:16
Fellow scribes, behold a vision from next year . . .
http://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/ASIN/0786941197/qid=1151631683/sr=1-7/ref=sr_1_2_7/701-6014151-6904357
Now, what might it mean?
And does anyone want to take bets on the fact that nobody will say a word about it for quite a while . . .  |
| 30 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Dhomal |
Posted - 25 Jan 2007 : 05:26:45
quote:
Originally posted by Asgetrion
I am more than happy with those 10 pages of Realmslore... there is always the alternative that we would get NO lore or fluff (or FR tomes) at all.
Hello-
I agree. Plus - we know that there will be little tidbits of lore throughout the adventure sections. Certainly might not be as concentrated or juice as a whole as the 10 pages will be - but its more lore nonetheless!
Dhomal |
| Asgetrion |
Posted - 24 Jan 2007 : 23:55:26
quote:
Originally posted by Uzzy
I for one am looking forward to these adventures. Never saw them as a replacement for sourcebooks.
Me too. I have actually run some adventures in the Vast Swamp, so I am drooling with anticipation... I just hope that they don't retcon the origin of the Vast Swamp from Minauros to the Plane of Shadow.
I am more than happy with those 10 pages of Realmslore... there is always the alternative that we would get NO lore or fluff (or FR tomes) at all.
|
| Verghityax |
Posted - 24 Jan 2007 : 19:06:14
I concur in the opinion. And like Dargoth, I do not intend to buy any of the adventures. I would rather wait for some regional sourcebooks to be published, if it happens at all. |
| Reefy |
Posted - 23 Jan 2007 : 22:56:57
quote:
Originally posted by Archwizard
I feel WotC really miscalculated their scheduling this time. Even though I have little to no use for adventure supplements, I won't begrudge WotC publishing them for those who want them. I can even forgive Mysteries of the Moonsea for its format which takes up one of the full-sized FR accessories for the year (though I still dispise the marketing that pretended it was a regular regional sourcebook). Thus I'm okay with the new mega-adventure that Cormyr: The Tearing of the Weave starts off.
However, I am extremely disappointed that from what the schedule shows, the mega-adventure trilogy completely dominates FR's releases for the entire year. One of the reasons given for WotC's sudden interest in adventures was because third party publishers have scaled back on production of adventures, so WotC is here to pick up the slack. This contains some faulty logic because regular FR sourcebooks (like the regional format) do not exist outside of WotC. It's not like some third party can suddenly start publishing a FR regional book. Who's going to pick up that slack?
If they kept up a quarterly release (which they haven't done with FR for a while now), have the adventure trilogy but also throw in a regular sourcebook in the mix. Or, knowing they only have three accessory slots to work with this year, they could have put a regular book somewhere between the trilogy. Ideally, for this big mega-adventure event, WotC should have promoted the annual 32-page adventure into a 160 page component of the mega-adventure in addition to maintaining a quarterly supplement release, broken into two parts of the mega-adventure and two regular sourcebooks. This gives us a balanced product line for the entire year, enough to keep the vast majority of consumers happy. They could have used the two sourcebooks for tie-ins with the adventure, like a Cormyr/Dalelands regional sourcebook.
This sort of organization is not beyond WotC, they managed to organize the Year of Dragons. They could have made this something more interesting.
I agree pretty much wholeheartedly. I can't argue with the logic of producing mroe adventures if there's a market for them. But your point about nobody else writing regular Realms products is also true. I currently don't think I will be running the series any time soon, so therefore am unlikely to pick it up, particularly as I don't have a lot of spare cash. Also, adventures are only bought by DMs, which means that while two or three of a group might potentially pick up a regional sourcebook or something, a maximum of one person per gaming group will be buying the adventure. This strikes me as a slightly odd marketing ploy, as it's putting all its faith in the adventures, rather than a two adventures and two other sourcebooks policy. Not only would Cormyr and the Dalelands tie in with the modules, as very popular regions of the Realms, I would expect sales for those products to be high, and able to compensate if necessary for less profit being generated from the adventures. I can't see Wizards getting a lot of my money this year. |
| Archwizard |
Posted - 23 Jan 2007 : 21:47:27
I feel WotC really miscalculated their scheduling this time. Even though I have little to no use for adventure supplements, I won't begrudge WotC publishing them for those who want them. I can even forgive Mysteries of the Moonsea for its format which takes up one of the full-sized FR accessories for the year (though I still dispise the marketing that pretended it was a regular regional sourcebook). Thus I'm okay with the new mega-adventure that Cormyr: The Tearing of the Weave starts off.
However, I am extremely disappointed that from what the schedule shows, the mega-adventure trilogy completely dominates FR's releases for the entire year. One of the reasons given for WotC's sudden interest in adventures was because third party publishers have scaled back on production of adventures, so WotC is here to pick up the slack. This contains some faulty logic because regular FR sourcebooks (like the regional format) do not exist outside of WotC. It's not like some third party can suddenly start publishing a FR regional book. Who's going to pick up that slack?
If they kept up a quarterly release (which they haven't done with FR for a while now), have the adventure trilogy but also throw in a regular sourcebook in the mix. Or, knowing they only have three accessory slots to work with this year, they could have put a regular book somewhere between the trilogy. Ideally, for this big mega-adventure event, WotC should have promoted the annual 32-page adventure into a 160 page component of the mega-adventure in addition to maintaining a quarterly supplement release, broken into two parts of the mega-adventure and two regular sourcebooks. This gives us a balanced product line for the entire year, enough to keep the vast majority of consumers happy. They could have used the two sourcebooks for tie-ins with the adventure, like a Cormyr/Dalelands regional sourcebook.
This sort of organization is not beyond WotC, they managed to organize the Year of Dragons. They could have made this something more interesting. |
| Bakra |
Posted - 23 Jan 2007 : 15:45:50
I will purchase this product and depending how well it is put together will determine the purchase of the rest of the adventure supplements. I liked Sons of Grumsh and Mysteries of the Moonseas. I will take what they decided to give me on tidbits of lore/updates for certain regions… for now. |
| Njord |
Posted - 23 Jan 2007 : 15:41:32
Can you really be suprised? Maybe I was the only one who thought all they would be was adventures. I like adventures but i probably won't buy them for a while (at least until we get a release date for the 3rd one.) Still, I hope in 2008 they do more regional stuff. |
| Bocklin |
Posted - 23 Jan 2007 : 14:23:37
quote:
Originally posted by Dargoth
Which ever Wizards employee came up with the idea should be collecting unemployment 
I guess selling quotes will decide the future of that employee... I hope for him he did his market study properly before pitching the idea to his boss.
Bocklin |
| Uzzy |
Posted - 22 Jan 2007 : 23:21:37
I for one am looking forward to these adventures. Never saw them as a replacement for sourcebooks. |
| Dargoth |
Posted - 22 Jan 2007 : 22:19:09
quote:
Originally posted by Bocklin
Okay! Just as chance would have it, Rich has just posted this over at WotC:
quote:
Originally posted by Rich Baker
Cormyr and Shadowdale are really adventures; I think our marketing folks are stretching the definition of accessory. However, each includes an appendix that discusses source material relevant to each adventure. For example, Cormyr has an appendix discussing the region around the Vast Swamp, where the adventure takes place. Shadowdale obviously includes an appendix on Shadowdale. These bits of source material really don't account for more than 10 pages or so of each adventure, but it's certainly more than you will find in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting hardbound on those areas.
Wow 10 pages!!! Yep Cormyr and Shadowdale really are a decent replacement for those 160 page regional source books. 
Which ever Wizards employee came up with the idea should be collecting unemployment
Other than Expedition to Undermountain I do not intend purchasing any other FR or D&D roleplaying books in 2007
Hopefully sanity will return to FRs marketing department in 2008 |
| Faraer |
Posted - 22 Jan 2007 : 18:37:27
The Vast Swap is a fabled meeting, held every 17 years in what is said to be a demiplane reached by a gate from somewhere in the Vast Swamp. There, mages and priests perform great rituals in which a characteristic of one person -- a such as personality trait, friendship, or skill -- is exchanged for that of another. |
| Bocklin |
Posted - 22 Jan 2007 : 17:48:29
Okay! Just as chance would have it, Rich has just posted this over at WotC:
quote:
Originally posted by Rich Baker
Cormyr and Shadowdale are really adventures; I think our marketing folks are stretching the definition of accessory. However, each includes an appendix that discusses source material relevant to each adventure. For example, Cormyr has an appendix discussing the region around the Vast Swamp, where the adventure takes place. Shadowdale obviously includes an appendix on Shadowdale. These bits of source material really don't account for more than 10 pages or so of each adventure, but it's certainly more than you will find in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting hardbound on those areas.
|
| Bocklin |
Posted - 22 Jan 2007 : 07:27:47
Eric Boyd said earlier in this Thread that it would not be using the format of "Mysteries of the Moonsea". But it's pretty clear that it is an adventure, so I suppose the format will be similar to that of "Expedition to Castle Ravenloft" or "Scourge of the Howling Horde" (i.e. tactical maps for each encounters, encounters presented on one single or on two opposite pages, etc.)
What Eric might have been hinting at is that they might have intersped encounter pages with lore pages on the locales being visited.
Bocklin |
| Verghityax |
Posted - 21 Jan 2007 : 21:14:14
quote:
Originally posted by MerrikCale
OK. But how much fluff will there be?
I suppose nobody knows yet since WotC didn't say too much about it. Still, I'm afraid it is going to be something like "Mysteries of the Moonsea" - meaning loads of crunch and not enough fluff. |
| MerrikCale |
Posted - 21 Jan 2007 : 01:59:33
OK. But how much fluff will there be? |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 20 Jan 2007 : 19:20:19
quote:
Originally posted by Kajehase
The big question obviously being...swapped with what?
D'oh! I am usually good at catching my own typos...  |
| Kajehase |
Posted - 20 Jan 2007 : 18:39:33
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
The Previews for January and Beyond discusses this product, including the blurb from the back.
quote:
Delve into Darkness, Bring the Truth to Light
Beyond the pristine façade of the Temple of Mystra, a sinister conspiracy threatens the future of Cormyr. Profane acts within the temple hearken to a mounting threat in the Vast Swamp. Heroes must cross into the Plane of Shadow to unlock the truth about this growing darkness in time to thwart an attack against Cormyr and the goddess of magic herself.
This Forgotten Realms® campaign adventure is designed for characters of levels 4-7. It can be played as a stand-alone adventure or as the first adventure in a three-part series. Each encounter contains special tactical information for the Dungeon Master and expanded map features for ease of play.
That Vast Swap reference certainly gets my attention...
The big question obviously being...swapped with what? |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 20 Jan 2007 : 18:07:51
The Previews for January and Beyond discusses this product, including the blurb from the back.
quote:
Delve into Darkness, Bring the Truth to Light
Beyond the pristine façade of the Temple of Mystra, a sinister conspiracy threatens the future of Cormyr. Profane acts within the temple hearken to a mounting threat in the Vast Swamp. Heroes must cross into the Plane of Shadow to unlock the truth about this growing darkness in time to thwart an attack against Cormyr and the goddess of magic herself.
This Forgotten Realms® campaign adventure is designed for characters of levels 4-7. It can be played as a stand-alone adventure or as the first adventure in a three-part series. Each encounter contains special tactical information for the Dungeon Master and expanded map features for ease of play.
That Vast Swamp reference certainly gets my attention...
Edit: Correcting the typo, then giving Kajehase a raspberry *bppp!*  |
| ericlboyd |
Posted - 09 Oct 2006 : 12:58:46
quote:
Originally posted by maransreth
Ok, I really missed a couple of key points at the FR seminar at GenCon this year then. (For example I thought the Undermountain module was the last part of the mega-adventure that starts with Cormyr).
I thought Chris Perkins said that Mysteries of Moonsea was an experiment that WotC would continue in 2007. It is an experiment in that it is part sourcebook (detailing locations) and part module. And I thought Chris mentioned that this format was going to be continued in the mega adventure that would start with Cormyr: Tearing of the Weave.
So I'll wait til Eric can explain (or we see a ToC) what the expected format is.
I think this needs to be addressed to Rich Baker on the Ask WoTC thread on the Wizards boards.
I would phrase the question as:
"What is the format of the upcoming Cormyr: Tearing of the Weave? How does its format differ from past products."
Note that he probably can't answer for months. However, it can't hurt to ask.
--Eric |
| maransreth |
Posted - 09 Oct 2006 : 08:50:06
Ok, I really missed a couple of key points at the FR seminar at GenCon this year then. (For example I thought the Undermountain module was the last part of the mega-adventure that starts with Cormyr).
I thought Chris Perkins said that Mysteries of Moonsea was an experiment that WotC would continue in 2007. It is an experiment in that it is part sourcebook (detailing locations) and part module. And I thought Chris mentioned that this format was going to be continued in the mega adventure that would start with Cormyr: Tearing of the Weave.
So I'll wait til Eric can explain (or we see a ToC) what the expected format is. |
| MerrikCale |
Posted - 09 Oct 2006 : 02:45:23
quote:
Originally posted by ericlboyd
quote:
Originally posted by maransreth
At the Forgotten Realms seminar at GenCon Indy, Chris Perkins mentioned that the MoM format is what they are doing for 2007 as an "experiment". So unfortunately Tearing of the Weave, and the others, will be in the same format - some lore, but also adventure hooks.
Cormyr: The Tearing of the Weave is not in the same format as Mysteries of the Moonsea.
--Eric
Is it more of a straight up module then? I hope not. |
| Archwizard |
Posted - 07 Oct 2006 : 02:45:51
Eric, are you allowed to tell us about the differences in formats? Or is it too early still? |
| ericlboyd |
Posted - 07 Oct 2006 : 02:31:35
quote:
Originally posted by maransreth
At the Forgotten Realms seminar at GenCon Indy, Chris Perkins mentioned that the MoM format is what they are doing for 2007 as an "experiment". So unfortunately Tearing of the Weave, and the others, will be in the same format - some lore, but also adventure hooks.
Cormyr: The Tearing of the Weave is not in the same format as Mysteries of the Moonsea.
--Eric |
| Brenigin |
Posted - 07 Oct 2006 : 01:22:59
I don't think you're strictly correct. Cormyr: the Tearing the Weave is part 1 of a 3 part adventure, and from what we've been told it will be a different format to Mysteries of the Moonsea. MoM was supposed to provide the bones of a campaign for 1st to 20th level. Cormyr: tTotW is for levels 4-8. |
| maransreth |
Posted - 06 Oct 2006 : 22:44:25
At the Forgotten Realms seminar at GenCon Indy, Chris Perkins mentioned that the MoM format is what they are doing for 2007 as an "experiment". So unfortunately Tearing of the Weave, and the others, will be in the same format - some lore, but also adventure hooks. |
| ShadowJack |
Posted - 06 Oct 2006 : 13:05:43
Wow! Am I behind on Realms-releases... Just saw this listed on Amazon and was curious about it... I knew that the Sages of Candlekeep would have the inside info on it... I am a little saddened that it is a mega-adventure, but, I too will reserve judgement until I peruse this tome for relevant Realms-lore... I must admit that I am reading through MotM right now and am a little disappointed. Not enough lore for having spent $20.00... Hopefully, the new format this tome uses will have more lore for us lore craving folks. |
| bitter thorn |
Posted - 03 Sep 2006 : 11:28:03
quote:
Originally posted by Ahwe Yahzhe
quote:
Originally posted by Dargoth
One of the Stores got the catlog for first trimester including
Cormyr: The Tearing of the Weave
Richard Baker, Bruce R. Cordell, David Noonan, Matthew Sernett, and James Wyatt
Cormyr: The Tearing of the Weave is the first-ever Forgotten Realms hardcover super-adventure! Designed to take characters from 4th to 8th level, the adventure pits the heroes against the evil agents of Shar and Cyric as they plot to corrupt the worship of Mystra, goddess of magic. The adventure begins in Cormyr, but the characters must also travel to the Plane of Shadow to thwart the villians machinations.
This adventure can be run as a standalone adventure or as Part One of an epic three-part series of hardcover adventures set in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting.
[March 20, 2007[/B]
160 page hardcover
$29.95/$37.95 CAN
Dargoth, you rock!
Man, just say it with me: "Part One of an epic three-part series..." I survive on well-written, lore-heavy pre-made adventures because of time constraints. It's much more fun to run a game where the primary plot path is all laid out, and there is still enough fluffy lore to allow me to indulge the players' desires to go off on tangents... March 2007 is much too far away...
I just hope that it's better edited than Into the Dragons Lair. Great story line dreadfull menchanical work. |
| Chosen of Moradin |
Posted - 29 Aug 2006 : 13:18:58
Great art, indeed.
Thanks for the link, Dargoth!  |
| Brenigin |
Posted - 29 Aug 2006 : 07:15:16
Wow - great art. Will O'Connor? |
| Dargoth |
Posted - 29 Aug 2006 : 03:51:59
I dont know whether this is old news or not but Amazon have the cover art for CTToTW up on their site
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/0786941197/ref=dp_image_text_0/104-1482795-6759905?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books |
