| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| dannyfu |
Posted - 09 Mar 2006 : 22:20:02
As a newer reader to the realms I admit that I have yet to read the Elminster novels, but Elminster is said to wield a +5 thundering longsword according to his stats in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting book. However in the art of that book and in most illustrations I have seen of him, the sword appears to be a bastard sword judging the size of the blade and the length of the handle that fit the physical characteristics of one. Maybe some of you have better insight to this having read the novels and could clue me in as to why that is the case. Here are some links illustrating my inquiry:
"http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/EPIC_Gallery/Gallery7/44192_CA1_Elminster.jpg"
"http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/2/29/180px-Elminster2.jpg"
"http://www.o-love.net/realms/covers_large/pic_elm5.jpg"
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| 16 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| dannyfu |
Posted - 11 Mar 2006 : 02:16:45
thanks to all of you for this informative thread. big ups to the hooded One for asking Ed. I didn't post this on his thread because i didn't think this was worth an inquiry from Ed himself. all of you were most awesome in extinguishing my curiosity. thanks again. (I love this site!) |
| scererar |
Posted - 11 Mar 2006 : 02:04:51
quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
Elminster (some 1100 years after the events of MAKING OF A MAGE) has only used a sword twice in all of our play sessions: once to spank Torm with the flat of it, and once to scare the squidgy stuff out of a haughty visiting Red Wizard by (after a subtle, VERY swift casting the Thayan missed noticing) taking hold of a sword in his bare hands and bending it effortlessly into a clove hitch. :}
Oh, and you don’t “forget” being a priestess of Mystra. Ever. From what I’ve seen of Elminster, he hasn’t given himself the chance to forget being a thief, either. :}
As for the illustrations you cite, I asked Ed to give you an answer, in-character as Elminster, and here it is:
The Lion Sword? Makes a good walking-stick.
love,
THO
small spoiler below:
If this lion sword is the same that Elminster's father, Elthryn Aumar, wielded when he died fighting off the dragon-riding mage, it is old indeed. Check out pages 10 through 13 of Making of a mage.  |
| The Hooded One |
Posted - 11 Mar 2006 : 00:30:48
Elminster (some 1100 years after the events of MAKING OF A MAGE) has only used a sword twice in all of our play sessions: once to spank Torm with the flat of it, and once to scare the squidgy stuff out of a haughty visiting Red Wizard by (after a subtle, VERY swift casting the Thayan missed noticing) taking hold of a sword in his bare hands and bending it effortlessly into a clove hitch. :}
Oh, and you don’t “forget” being a priestess of Mystra. Ever. From what I’ve seen of Elminster, he hasn’t given himself the chance to forget being a thief, either. :}
As for the illustrations you cite, I asked Ed to give you an answer, in-character as Elminster, and here it is:
The Lion Sword? Makes a good walking-stick.
love,
THO
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| Alaundo |
Posted - 10 Mar 2006 : 23:44:56
Well met
The events from Elminster: The Making of a Mage are a considerable time ago, remember. However, i'm 95% certain he did wield a sword during his early days as a fighter. |
| Beezy |
Posted - 10 Mar 2006 : 22:18:40
I don't recall him using a sword but I could be mistaken. Maybe in making of a mage but I don't recall him using it later |
| silverwizard |
Posted - 10 Mar 2006 : 21:49:11
Sounds plausible. Does Elminster actually use the sword in the rest of the series? |
| scererar |
Posted - 10 Mar 2006 : 19:58:11
quote:
Originally posted by silverwizard
The only Elminster novel I've read is the first one, and that in 1995, when I started playing AD&D. Therefore, due to the time elapsed (not to mention my -at the time- bad english), it is difficult for me to remember whether he wielded a sword near the end of the book. I do remember that the book was divided in 4 parts, one for each class he had: fighter, thief, cleric, mage. It is stated in "Heroes' Lorebook" that he has not used the abilities of classes other than mage for so long he has actually forgotten them. Since in 3E he miraculously regained the benefits of the classes he had formerly lost, I guess WotC wanted him to wield a top-notch super-duper sword.
Anyway, bear in mind that Elminster is (or should be) primarily a mage. Under normal circumstances, there will be no need for him to use the sword.
from what I remember of making of a mage, Elminster did retreive his fathers sword, it was broken or melted, I don't remember which. During his short time as a warrior and then as a thief, I do beleive he weilded a sword of some sort. Additionally, I always assumed the sword, in the newer dipiction of the old mage, was his father's sword that he has had restored. |
| silverwizard |
Posted - 10 Mar 2006 : 19:51:56
The only Elminster novel I've read is the first one, and that in 1995, when I started playing AD&D. Therefore, due to the time elapsed (not to mention my -at the time- bad english), it is difficult for me to remember whether he wielded a sword near the end of the book. I do remember that the book was divided in 4 parts, one for each class he had: fighter, thief, cleric, mage. It is stated in "Heroes' Lorebook" that he has not used the abilities of classes other than mage for so long he has actually forgotten them. Since in 3E he miraculously regained the benefits of the classes he had formerly lost, I guess WotC wanted him to wield a top-notch super-duper sword.
Anyway, bear in mind that Elminster is (or should be) primarily a mage. Under normal circumstances, there will be no need for him to use the sword. |
| dannyfu |
Posted - 10 Mar 2006 : 19:35:23
bastard sword or not, I guess I can't see a mage of his caliber saying, "uh oh, red dragon swooping down at me....hmmmm.....i think i'm going to use a sword against it instead of my years of acquired spells and magic, just to change it up a bit. Y'know, have some fun, see how it goes." |
| scererar |
Posted - 10 Mar 2006 : 18:06:07
quote:
Originally posted by George Krashos
The Elminster books occur in the 200s DR and then (much later) the 700s DR. The sword he supposedly wields now is likely a recent acquisition (and knowing Ed and the Old Mage isn't really a sword at all ...) and hence not featured in the novels.
-- George Krashos
maybe it's just a cool way to carry around his pipe |
| The Sage |
Posted - 10 Mar 2006 : 00:24:33
quote:
Originally posted by Kuje
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
... And there's also the fact that the artwork sometimes doesn't even remotely resemble what it supposedly depicts... I'd not consider the artwork definitive in any way.
Has to back this up and recall my memories about what Ed said, when I met him on the book tour, about the cover of Elminster's Daughter. :)
At least, that's what I've always assumed.
And as Faraer just noted... this really has more to do with actual changing artist interpretations of the Old Mage, than any true reflection of Elminster himself.
Though, as Ed has said in the past here... Elminster is rather quite capable in this aspect if the need requires him to be  .
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| Faraer |
Posted - 09 Mar 2006 : 23:04:58
The our-world history of this is that as part of the reconceptualization of the Realms for the latest Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting it was decided to overhaul Elminster's appearance and make him less bearded-robed-old-sage-wizard-like: so the new face (Sean Connery look appropriated from Khelben), shorter hair, and sword.
As Ed has pointed out, this could well be an appearance Elminster sometimes adopts... but not most of the time. |
| dannyfu |
Posted - 09 Mar 2006 : 22:59:20
thank you for your replies. I, of course, do not consider the art to be a definitive source, I was just curious as to the consistency of that detail in the more recent art of the old mage and its contradiction to his character stats. |
| Kuje |
Posted - 09 Mar 2006 : 22:54:55
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
... And there's also the fact that the artwork sometimes doesn't even remotely resemble what it supposedly depicts... I'd not consider the artwork definitive in any way.
Has to back this up and recall my memories about what Ed said, when I met him on the book tour, about the cover of Elminster's Daughter. :) |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 09 Mar 2006 : 22:52:06
... And there's also the fact that the artwork sometimes doesn't even remotely resemble what it supposedly depicts... I'd not consider the artwork definitive in any way. |
| George Krashos |
Posted - 09 Mar 2006 : 22:46:18
The Elminster books occur in the 200s DR and then (much later) the 700s DR. The sword he supposedly wields now is likely a recent acquisition (and knowing Ed and the Old Mage isn't really a sword at all ...) and hence not featured in the novels.
-- George Krashos
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