| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Faraer |
Posted - 08 Apr 2006 : 19:21:14
Would someone familiar with Bob Salvatore's latest books please outline for me the coverage of Gauntlgrym in the Drizzt novels? |
| 30 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| ArklemGreeth |
Posted - 17 Oct 2010 : 15:48:29
quote:
Originally posted by Kno
what's this bird doing in Gauntlgrym http://www.wizards.com/dnd/Article.aspx?x=dnd/dufe/20101007
a dire corby, in the new novel as jarkaxle and athrogate try to move through gauntlgrym the dires attack them and they escape barely when the elf woman dahlia uses the cloke she stole from the descendant of the crow to turn herself into a giant crow, as the corbys bow down in supersticion jarl and athrp make their escape |
| ArklemGreeth |
Posted - 15 Oct 2010 : 05:08:33
quote:
Originally posted by BEAST
quote:
Originally posted by ArklemGreeth
no actually i was refering to the novel when bruenor was searching for mithral hall,
Actually, you said Bruenor was looking for "the same damn thing". He is searching for Gauntlgrym this time around, so you were indicating that he was searching for Gauntlgrym before.
Calm down buddy, Although i was incorrect in the dates i was generally correct in the ideas. i was pissed because i read the first chapter of gauntlgrym and i thought what i paniced, because it was a mediocre start and having just read the ghost king i thought o no another mediocre effort. but now i can gladly say BOY WAS I WRONG. Not only did the book takee off flying after the first chapter, it was NOTHING like i had anticipated. so i say hail Bob because this book is one of the best ones to date. its got everything i need in a bob novel, assassins, dark elves, cults liches, and even ARKLEM GREETH makes an apearance. its almost as if Bob heard my reply and decided to make fun of me. hahaha. Gauntlgrym best book to date, i stand corrected |
| Cleric Generic |
Posted - 13 Oct 2010 : 22:21:46
They're just mutant birds, according to the DDI article. They were trapped in the underdark, lost their power of flight and developed a rudimentary and aggressive intelligence... that's pretty much it, really. No mention of avian creator races or any such things.
EDIT: the article is pretty brief, and half of it is dire corby stat blocks. There's nothing about illithids or Pazuzu.
EDIT 2: Reading comprehension, never mind... |
| Quale |
Posted - 13 Oct 2010 : 21:27:42
so what's the relation of the corbies and illithids there?
these birds are weird enough without the Lovecraftian element
are they cultists of Pazuzu?
is there a mention of the Gray Wolf curse? |
| Cleric Generic |
Posted - 13 Oct 2010 : 11:22:25
Ah, right... the back story to them in the article is, erm, slightly different, shall we say... |
| Quale |
Posted - 13 Oct 2010 : 11:16:03
yea, there was a place called Acid Aerie (sp?), got destroyed by Zaknafein and Drizzt, they are remnants of the avian creator race |
| Cleric Generic |
Posted - 13 Oct 2010 : 10:27:50
Yup, the DDI Gauntlgrym article has stats for several Dire Corby variants... There's a precedent for these things, isn't there? I'm sure I've heard of them before... |
| Quale |
Posted - 13 Oct 2010 : 10:24:19
dire corbies I think |
| BEAST |
Posted - 13 Oct 2010 : 09:14:48
quote:
Originally posted by Kno
what's this bird doing in Gauntlgrym http://www.wizards.com/dnd/Article.aspx?x=dnd/dufe/20101007
The abstract to that article reads, in part:
quote:
To memorialize their fantastic discovery, the dwarves prepared a haunting treatise that touched on the city’s appearance and also told of a secret cult of firestarters, murderous avian humanoids, dwarf ghosts, and a buried primordial (bold added).
So I'm gonna go with practicing a secret cult and murdering.  |
| Markustay |
Posted - 11 Oct 2010 : 21:28:32
That is some ugly 70's era cartoony looking art there.
I believe that is one of those head-pieces that some armor helmets have atop them. Its so dark and smudgy-looking its hard to tell though.
Does Todd Lockwood still even work for them anymore, is that another dept. that has suffered from budget cuts? I've seen amateur stuff on DeviantART that looks WAY better.
Of course, art is highly subjective so that is purely IMHO. 
Can't comment on an article I'm not willing to pay to read, but I'm curious as to why B.C. is in Gauntlgrym? The direction the lore may take leaves me cringing (I'm picturing tentacled dwarves right now).
But who knows? One can only hope he has gotten his Mojo back. I wouldn't mind hearing some opinions on it, for those of you who have read it. I'm just wondering which direction he went with stuff. After salvatore used that odd creature (Ethereal Marauder) in the other novel, I hope he hasn't been infected by the 'aberration bug' as well.
|
| Kno |
Posted - 11 Oct 2010 : 20:30:40
what's this bird doing in Gauntlgrym http://www.wizards.com/dnd/Article.aspx?x=dnd/dufe/20101007 |
| questing gm |
Posted - 08 Oct 2010 : 14:57:39
There's a novel trailer by Wizards on the new Gauntlgyrm novel. If it can shed some light into anything...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfAE7sQuaXE&feature=sub |
| Brace Cormaeril |
Posted - 06 Oct 2010 : 13:38:07
quote:
Originally posted by Faraer
In Bob's defence, the materials he had didn't definitely specify the colour of Dove's hair, and glitches like this are as much the editor's fault.
Personally, I don't think it's the business of anyone's novels to use up long-standing hooks like Gauntlgrym. Same with things like the Sleeping Sword, and Jim Butler's ridiculous incidental conclusion of the Randal Morn plot in his module trilogy. Better for authors to make up their own sites in such cases.
i think you will find the community divided over this issue. Many fans of FR *want* long-running hooks resolved. Check out Ed's thread. |
| Brace Cormaeril |
Posted - 06 Oct 2010 : 13:36:17
quote:
Originally posted by Skeptic
I never had a problem with RAS book on this matter before, except maybe for the facts that clerical spells suck terribly but in PofWK, when I read that the daemons were coming from Gehenna... Forst the first time im my life, I said to myself that WOTC editors should have done their job 
Daemons are the native residents of Gehenna. |
| althen artren |
Posted - 03 Oct 2010 : 04:27:05
It is so easy to bring them forward, have them petrified by
a gorgon or a cockatrice in a hidden complex, and have them
restored after they were found, simple no? Needless to say,
I have done this with past NPC's before. |
| BEAST |
Posted - 03 Oct 2010 : 01:32:43
Sourcebooks confirm that illithids discovered the ruins of Gauntlgrym, but do they actually say so about the human travelers? Or did they just claim to have re-discovered it, as tale-spinners are wont to do? |
| Kno |
Posted - 01 Oct 2010 : 10:56:04
the mind flayers discovered Gauntlgrym |
| Dalor Darden |
Posted - 01 Oct 2010 : 03:19:13
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Dalor Darden
Wait...wasn't Gauntlgrym discovered in 1357 by the Company of the Gryphon?
And wasn't it widely proclaimed in Waterdeep?
I'm confused.
This was mentioned in the City of Splendors boxed set, but the trio of adventurers that found it weren't given a name. And they disappeared when they tried to go back.
I see this being a good point to exploit by R.A.S.; but I'm not sure it will be. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 01 Oct 2010 : 02:56:37
quote:
Originally posted by Dalor Darden
Wait...wasn't Gauntlgrym discovered in 1357 by the Company of the Gryphon?
And wasn't it widely proclaimed in Waterdeep?
I'm confused.
This was mentioned in the City of Splendors boxed set, but the trio of adventurers that found it weren't given a name. And they disappeared when they tried to go back. |
| Bakra |
Posted - 30 Sep 2010 : 12:52:42
quote:
Originally posted by Dalor Darden
Wait...wasn't Gauntlgrym discovered in 1357 by the Company of the Gryphon?
And wasn't it widely proclaimed in Waterdeep?
I'm confused.
No, no, you are thinking of Grumpytlgyrm designed by one of the seven legendary dwarven kings.
 |
| Dalor Darden |
Posted - 30 Sep 2010 : 03:48:37
Wait...wasn't Gauntlgrym discovered in 1357 by the Company of the Gryphon?
And wasn't it widely proclaimed in Waterdeep?
I'm confused. |
| BEAST |
Posted - 29 Sep 2010 : 23:53:04
quote:
Originally posted by ArklemGreeth
no actually i was refering to the novel when bruenor was searching for mithral hall,
Actually, you said Bruenor was looking for "the same damn thing". He is searching for Gauntlgrym this time around, so you were indicating that he was searching for Gauntlgrym before.
But Bruenor was not searching for the same damn thing (Gauntlgrym) when he was searching for Mithral Hall.
Bruenor searched for Mithral Hall in Streams of Silver, which was book 5 in the saga. He searched for Gauntlgrym in The Orc King, which was book 17. And Gauntlgrym will be book 20.
So he searched for the same damn thing only 3 books ago, like I said.
And he searched for Mithral Hall 15 books ago within the Drizzt saga--not 5-6 novels ago. Thus, you stand corrected.
Sorry if that sounds a bit terse, but if you attack the Bobster, I'm gonna get a bit defensive. And if you cop a 'tude with me personally, I get really defensive. 
quote:
i dont know if you read the chapter i included but it sounds exactly the same as the icewind dale begining. he was searching for mithral hall now he searches for Gauntlgrym.
Actually, the beginning of "The Icewind Dale Trilogy" was The Crystal Shard (book 4 in the saga), and at that time, Bruenor was not searching for anything at all--Mithral Hall or otherwise. He was only reminiscing about the place at that time. And then he was haggling with the Council of Ten-Towns, sending Wulfgar to be trained by Drizzt, and fighting the various monsters of Kessell's army.
He didn't search for the Hall until the 5th book, Streams of Silver, which was the middle of "TIDT"--not the beginning.
And whether the Gauntlgrym Prologue "sounds exactly the same" to you as either The Crystal Shard or Streams of Silver is largely a matter of perspective. But remember:- In TCSh, Bruenor reminisced about Mithral Hall because it had been his home and he wanted to return; he considered Icewind Dale to only be a stopping point in his life. He never really got along with the humans in ID, anyway. But I believe that he wants to find Gauntlgrym because he's bored being king, and he wants one more big adventure before he bites the dust.
- As I said, Mithral Hall was Bruenor's home. But Gauntlgrym was never such. (And as Candlekeep member George Krashos has repeatedly pointed out here, Gauntlgrym wasn't even a dwarf city at all, really--it was a city built by dwarves for humans.)
- Here, Bruenor has to fake his death and sneak out of Mithral Hall to search for Gauntlgrym, and he plans on it being a one-way trip. But he didn't sneak out of Icewind Dale to search for Mithral Hall--he appointed a steward and told them he'd be coming back; that quest was just meant to serve as an advance scouting mission for the dwarf army, which was to come later on.
- Bruenor had his daughter, son, and buddy on the quest for the Hall. But he has none of them, anymore. He's only bringing Pwent along because the goofball bodyguard practically forced himself on his king--well, that, and because everybody loves Pwent!
- The quest for the Hall was comprised of a party of melee-specialists (plus Regis). But they've got a gnome alchemist and an orc priestess along for the ride this time around, which should add some magic to the party's battle repertoire.
- Drizzt has long had a figurine of wondrous power which summoned an animal for battle and companionship. Now, he's got a figurine that summons an animal for transportation, too.
quote:
not very refreshing, he should try to come up with new ideas.
To each his (or her) own.
But I am beginning to wonder how many different plot ideas there can be for a medieval world. If you've read much fantasy, it all starts sounding pretty familiar. Bob's strength has been his characters and descriptions of battle. I don't think he's ever tried to create the next great American novel, so I don't understand why it even needs to be commented upon.
quote:
also read my whole post and see what i said about the pirate king it was his best novel to date.
I read that, before. I just didn't take issue with it, so I didn't feel the need to reply to that.
But if it makes you happy, I'll agree with you that TPK was a very, very good read.
quote:
he should have talked more about arklem greeth and not let him die.
And you should've read TPK more carefully.
Bob didn't let Greeth die. Greeth let Greeth die, when he chose to become a lich! Or rather, he chose to embrace undeath.
And in the end of TPK, it is only Greeth's original corporeal body that was destroyed by Robillard. But his lifeforce or essence is still safe within his phylactery, and that is safe in the hands of his beloved within a dimensional pocket plane. Greeth was defeated--not killed.
I cannot say whether Bob has plans to re-visit Archmage Arklem Greeth in the future, but he certainly left the option open, as Bob is wont to do. Heck, with you lamenting the fact that he isn't coming up with anything refreshing or new, I'd think that you would be practically expecting him to write about Greeth again! |
| ArklemGreeth |
Posted - 29 Sep 2010 : 10:14:15
I suppose you're right. i never thought about it that way, very interesting. maybe the new book will have some interesting villains, i hope he brings back Arklem Greeth or Entreri. Be that as it may i think the ghost king was not as good as the pirate kind, too confusing. I didnt know he got paid so little though, thats a shame. He is a great writer. regards |
| Dalor Darden |
Posted - 29 Sep 2010 : 05:57:29
Without mediocrity there is little to reflect upon greatness with.
When an author "seems" boring, they are most likely simply bringing you down in the curve for the next shot up...if they are good.
Salvatore is a good writer. Does he always do his research? Nope...but then (and this he knows) there is little more than him and a couple of others even keeping the money coming in on the WotC Novel line. His other works are good too... |
| ArklemGreeth |
Posted - 29 Sep 2010 : 03:29:18
also i must add something else. my criticism of bob comes out of love and not out of hate.i love bob as a writer he has such pure potential but he choses to dillute this with moments of mediocrity. i only read his books for his villans. he has an amazing ability to invent incredibly well developed villains. Artemis entreri, the ghost, and arklem greeth, were sheer genius. Now on the other hand im not a fan of the done to death characters, why because you know what bruenor is gona do, hes gona bahh and stuff he will be completely predictable and boring, to me bruenor reminds me of an old grumpy irish biker from new hampshire, a total redneck, probably because bob has been living around them all his life, anyway, as for drizt he is mostly predictable hence boring, however i i like his character simply because those hjournal entries that he comes up with, those tantalizing moral dilemas, theyre so incredibly well written so philosophical and so amazing. so to end i say bob keep working on your strengths and leave out as much boredom as possible |
| ArklemGreeth |
Posted - 29 Sep 2010 : 03:16:53
no actually i was refering to the novel when bruenor was searching for mithral hall, i dont know if you read the chapter i included but it sounds exactly the same as the icewind dale begining. he was searching for mithral hall now he searches for Gauntlgrym. not very refreshing, he should try to come up with new ideas. also read my whole post and see what i said about the pirate king it was his best novel to date. he should have talked more about arklem greeth and not let him die. |
| BEAST |
Posted - 29 Sep 2010 : 01:35:04
quote:
Originally posted by ArklemGreeth
come on bob the only thing u can come up with is bruenor doing another silly adventure to find the same damn thing he was looking for 5-6 novels ago?
No, no one said it was the only thing Bob could come up with.
It's just what he wanted to do.
And why not? Sure, Bruenor was looking for Gauntlgrym in The Orc King (just 3 novels ago, BTW). But he never actually found it.
When have you known Bruenor to quit trying and just give up?
It all makes perfect sense that an aging dwarf would bust out his "bucket list" and go out and scratch some things off that list. And apparently "Find Gauntlgrym" is at the top of that list. |
| ArklemGreeth |
Posted - 27 Sep 2010 : 16:52:13
Hi, interesting topic, the only think i can say is i have READ THE FIRST CHAPTER from gauntlgrym available at ra salvatores home page and all i can say is. WOW what a disappointment, it was almost like a dejavu of re reading bruenors quest for the mithral hall. i dont know why but i got a revulsive feeling through the whole thing. seems like everything he writes now has been done to death. come on bob the only thing u can come up with is bruenor doing another silly adventure to find the same damn thing he was looking for 5-6 novels ago? anyway i am currently re-reading the dragonlance preludes, and i must say what a SUPERIOR storytelling they contain. seems to me salvatore has become TSR golden boy and has been spoiled so much he keeps churning low quality crap.
however i must say that the PIRATE KING was an EXCELLENT novel, his development of arklem greeth was totaly superior, he had some exceellent villains. such as the crow. the ghost king ion the other hand was disapointing, too complex./confusing and the villains were plastic simplistic and plain stupid. but at least bob is not afraid to let his heroes die, i would prefere drizzt dies though he is getting on my nerves. anyway HERE IS THE FIRST CHAPTER OF THE BOOK INCLUDED FOR YOUR PLEASURE DOWNKLOADED FROM SALVATORE.COM and thanks for welcoming me to this great forum since it is my first post
cheers
http://www.rasalvatore.com/data/pics/Gauntlgrym_Ch1.pdf |
| creyzi4zb12 |
Posted - 31 Aug 2010 : 15:52:57
Ooooh, another novel that has something to do with orcs. Can't wait, can't wait. I wish more orcs would get the spotlight now. Perhaps Obould sends one of his rangers to assist Bruenor and company. |
| Noxica |
Posted - 29 Aug 2010 : 17:41:07
quote:
Originally posted by Winterfox
Considering that he described Dove's hair as brown once, had an elf sleep with her eyes closed, and had elves calling back one of their dead to resolve a drow's angst, do you think he cares how accurate his novels are? Hah.
I believe some elves who have "fallen" from their practices do sleep with their eyes closed now, I think that happened to the protagonist of Troy Denning's Book Return of the Archwizards?
I do believe Ed Greenwood has stated as well that RA's description and capture of the Icewind Dales location was spot on with what he envisioned.
That said, I am so bored of Drizzt and friends that I really only stick to the Artemis books these days.
Correct me if I am wrong on any of the above! |
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