| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Ergdusch |
Posted - 18 Sep 2006 : 16:57:44
I am about to buy books from the Nobles series at ebay (King Pin, War in Tethyr & Council of Blades). However, before I do I would like to ask if anyone of you has read them and can provide the following information:
1) are the books of this series connected?
2) do they have the same main character(s)?
and most importantly 3) are they any good?
any other comments concerning this series (except for spoilers of course  ) are very much appreciated.
Thanks in advance, Ergdusch |
| 12 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Alisttair |
Posted - 19 Sep 2006 : 16:17:08
quote:
Originally posted by Kajehase
Also remember that one of the Fighter-novels, Master of Chains is set in Erlkazar.
Thanks Sage and Kajehase. I'm looking forward to reading Master of Chains now. I had a NWN server based in Erlkazar. Wasn't very hilly, but hey, it turned out pretty good anyways and I did have a link to another area which was undoubtedly the most accurate to the maps from it's boxed set and very beautifully made Zhentil Keep. |
| Kajehase |
Posted - 19 Sep 2006 : 16:01:36
Also remember that one of the Fighter-novels, Master of Chains is set in Erlkazar. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 19 Sep 2006 : 15:32:47
quote:
Originally posted by Alisttair
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
quote:
Originally posted by Alisttair
Where is Council of Blades located again and where abouts on the map is it? (I had finished it a few years ago for the sake of completion)
The 2e Vilhon Reach tome contains a map that labels a small area of land just south-east of the Fields of Nun and east of the northern most expanse of the Chondalwood. This is "The Blade Kingdoms" and the setting for Council of Blades.
For me though... It's definitely an area of the Realms that needs some serious overhaul. As it is, the Blade Kingdoms are wedged between Chessenta and Chondath, and yet the entire region has little cultural resemblance to any of its neighbours which only serves to further make it evident to us how the realm actually "does not belong there".
I think it would be neat to see the conflicted lands of the Blade Kingdoms, Chessenta, Threskel, and Unther get some treatment in the new material... an update to straighten out many of the inconsistencies.
I'm gonna have to take a look at that when I get home tonight. Wow.
The Blade Kingdoms haven't been directly noted on any 3e FR map, but the physical region upon which the Blade Kingdoms sat, still largely exists much as it did during 2e.
quote:
Was it taken off the map in 3E along with Erlkazar?
Well, Erlkazar wasn't taken completely off the map. WotC's map alterations to FR were responsible for removing move more then a quarter to a half of Erlkazar, but the country still exists.
Here's a little of what Steven Schend had to say on the subject -
"There's no reason why Erlkazar can't continue to exist as mapped in 2E within what they've produced in 3E. After all, the only real change to that area seems to be that they've made the entire area hilly, which it was in description anyways. If anyone's seen photos of the Scottish highlands, that's what I was going for in eastern Tethyr and Erlkazar. I think the only real change that might need to happen is to shrink farms and make them more hillside strip farms more than open fields (ala how they farmed in Peruvian highlands at Maichu Picchu et al).
Remember--the world doesn't change as much as the rules or how the gamers look at the world through those rules. After all, Elminster's been the same roguish gent he's always been, but how the rules allowed him to be seen have changed 4 times now...and he's still Elminster. Same goes for geography (sparing changes like Shade or Tilverton...)
Steven
who hopes you continue to get use out of Tethyr & environs even if WotC isn't...."
|
| Alisttair |
Posted - 19 Sep 2006 : 13:50:47
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
quote:
Originally posted by Alisttair
Where is Council of Blades located again and where abouts on the map is it? (I had finished it a few years ago for the sake of completion)
The 2e Vilhon Reach tome contains a map that labels a small area of land just south-east of the Fields of Nun and east of the northern most expanse of the Chondalwood. This is "The Blade Kingdoms" and the setting for Council of Blades.
For me though... It's definitely an area of the Realms that needs some serious overhaul. As it is, the Blade Kingdoms are wedged between Chessenta and Chondath, and yet the entire region has little cultural resemblance to any of its neighbours which only serves to further make it evident to us how the realm actually "does not belong there".
I think it would be neat to see the conflicted lands of the Blade Kingdoms, Chessenta, Threskel, and Unther get some treatment in the new material... an update to straighten out many of the inconsistencies.
I'm gonna have to take a look at that when I get home tonight. Wow. Was it taken off the map in 3E along with Erlkazar? |
| Ergdusch |
Posted - 19 Sep 2006 : 09:07:26
I bought King pinch and War in Tethyr. Do to your answers I am highly motivated to read them especially the second one - I such much love the lore-part of books. the more insight on lore of the realms the better.
Thanks again. Ergdusch
|
| The Sage |
Posted - 19 Sep 2006 : 01:36:53
quote:
Originally posted by Alisttair
Where is Council of Blades located again and where abouts on the map is it? (I had finished it a few years ago for the sake of completion)
The 2e Vilhon Reach tome contains a map that labels a small area of land just south-east of the Fields of Nun and east of the northern most expanse of the Chondalwood. This is "The Blade Kingdoms" and the setting for Council of Blades.
For me though... It's definitely an area of the Realms that needs some serious overhaul. As it is, the Blade Kingdoms are wedged between Chessenta and Chondath, and yet the entire region has little cultural resemblance to any of its neighbours which only serves to further make it evident to us how the realm actually "does not belong there".
I think it would be neat to see the conflicted lands of the Blade Kingdoms, Chessenta, Threskel, and Unther get some treatment in the new material... an update to straighten out many of the inconsistencies.
|
| Kalin Agrivar |
Posted - 18 Sep 2006 : 18:09:37
quote:
Originally posted by Alisttair
Where is Council of Blades located again and where abouts on the map is it? (I had finished it a few years ago for the sake of completion)
*sigh* as I'm at work I don't have my library at had but from memory:
roughly it is in NW Chessentia, almost on the Chessentia/Chondath border...along the Akanapeaks...
If I remember right the north arrow in the novel's map does not point up, so it is misleading... |
| Alisttair |
Posted - 18 Sep 2006 : 18:02:03
Where is Council of Blades located again and where abouts on the map is it? (I had finished it a few years ago for the sake of completion) |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 18 Sep 2006 : 17:23:14
As I recall, all the books stand alone, and each has a new cast of characters.
As for how good they are... It's hard to say, really. Different people have different tastes, and there's plenty of examples of some scribes hating books that others love. Myself, I wasn't impressed by the Nobles books I read, but it's been a while. One book I never finished, and I think there's two more I never read. |
| Kalin Agrivar |
Posted - 18 Sep 2006 : 17:14:07
quote:
Originally posted by Jorkens
Unless you are really a completist I would see no reason to touch Council of Blades (and I don't usually advise people to not read books)as I still have not heard of any one having anything good to say about it and could not get past page fifty myself.
it took me four different maps to actually find the geographical area where that book is placed in  |
| Jorkens |
Posted - 18 Sep 2006 : 17:10:07
The books are not connected and have non of the same characters.
I liked War in Tethyr.
King Pinch is OK, but nothing more.
Unless you are really a completist I would see no reason to touch Council of Blades (and I don't usually advise people to not read books)as I still have not heard of any one having anything good to say about it and could not get past page fifty myself. |
| Kalin Agrivar |
Posted - 18 Sep 2006 : 17:08:09
quote:
Originally posted by Ergdusch
I am about to buy books from the Nobles series at ebay (King Pin, War in Tethyr & Council of Blades). However, before I do I would like to ask if anyone of you has read them and can provide the following information:
1) are the books of this series connected?
2) do they have the same main character(s)?
and most importantly 3) are they any good?
any other comments concerning this series (except for spoilers of course ) are very much appreciated.
Thanks in advance, Ergdusch
1 and 2) no, each is stand alone..but one is a huge canon source (War in Tethyr)
3)
The Nobles Series
King Pinch - Pretty good, good canon but they didn't expand on it
War In Tethyr - It's the whole Reclaimation War for Tethyr..the "sequal" is actually in the 2E Lands of Intrigue box set This is the one to read of the set
Escape from Undermountain - it was an ok novel...not sure if should be canon
The Mage in the Iron Mask- another tongue-in-cheek Volo novel, some canon for waterdeep,it was good
Council Of Blades - didn't like it, never could finish it...I found it hard to even find in the Realms map
The Simbuls Gift - didn't really like it...some fluf about Aglraond
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