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Faraer
Great Reader
3308 Posts |
 Posted - 09 Mar 2008 : 08:18:29
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| Wizards could handle backlist differently. |
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Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
Posted - 09 Mar 2008 : 16:02:55
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Lady F.: I'm not thrilled to hear that, either.
But as far as you having trouble finding the older books, it doesn't have to be because there was some sort of special purge upon the publication of 3e. When sales fall off, bookstores are apt to stop reordering a book to clear rack space for new ones. Publishers may decide that demand is insufficient to justify the cost of reprinting and let the book go out of print. It's just the way the business works. |
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Faraer
Great Reader
3308 Posts |
Posted - 09 Mar 2008 : 18:45:30
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| Yes, but it's a decision to heavily brand setting sourcebooks as part of one particular game edition so they have a deliberately limited shelf life, and to advance the timeline (whether in short or hundred-year jumps) so older books are 'out of date'. |
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Dalor Darden
Great Reader
USA
4215 Posts |
Posted - 09 Mar 2008 : 20:15:21
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| Sorry, I don't think this is entirely accurate. Borders, Walden, etc. still have books like the original Dragonlance Chronicles and whatever. It only has to do with the sales volume of a particular book. Having worked in bookstores (Waldenbooks) I know for a fact that it simply boils down to sales...if a book just isn't cutting it anymore for them...then they send it back. |
The Old Grey Box and AD&D for me! |
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Stonwulfe
Seeker
Canada
81 Posts |
Posted - 09 Mar 2008 : 20:40:38
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| Like the proverbial pot of tulips all I have to say is "Oh no, not again." |
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Lady Fellshot
Senior Scribe
USA
379 Posts |
Posted - 09 Mar 2008 : 22:51:04
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*snicker* I thought it was a bowl of petunias :-) Right now, with regards to 4e I feel more like that poor displaced whale :-P
Alas for limited shelf space on the sales floor and the storage rooms *sigh* When will someone come up with extra dimensional storage units?
I honestly don't know what I think about the Crystal Shard as a film though. I still would prefer an original story, though. |
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 10 Mar 2008 : 00:48:22
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dalor, what you're describing is the normal way the industry works.
The "special factor" here is that Wizards of the Coast changed distributors not all that long ago, from Von Holtzbrinck (now called Macmillan) back to Random House.
Random House did not want to handle the HUGE Wizards backlist (it had never been pruned, and even included Red Steel and some other old TSR game titles), so Wizards declared a ton of stuff out of print.
In the industry, this begins with a "declaring these titles out of print; return stock of these titles within X days or you'll be stuck with them" announcement printed in Publishers Weekly. Wizards duly published that list, of dang near 100 titles as I recall, Power of Faerūn being among the most recent, and some of the early Hollow World and Known World (before it became known as Mystara) titles being among the oldest.
That's where all the early "Realms of" and Harpers series titles went.
love,
THO |
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Dalor Darden
Great Reader
USA
4215 Posts |
Posted - 10 Mar 2008 : 01:04:24
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Aye Lady...I remember what you are talking about now. I made the mistake of thinking the folks were saying that the change in Edition of the game was the reason the books were being pulled.
Random House could still print and sell those books...could they not? |
The Old Grey Box and AD&D for me! |
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 10 Mar 2008 : 02:22:33
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In theory, in a publisher made an agreement with Random House to do so, they COULD . . . but these days, unless a publisher is in Chapter 11, it's highly unlikely to happen. Make that "darned near impossible" when you factor in the attentive way in which toy companies (Hasbro) guard their brands and IPs. In other words, if Paris Designer X allowed their distributor to make "copies" of their high-end shoes or bags, they would in effect lose control over the exclusivity of that product, endangering its high price, possibly the quality of their brand (if the copies were somehow inferior), and even their profits (as the primary accounting would then reside with the distributor, not the publisher),
In short: ain't gonna happen. :}
love,
THO |
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ShepherdGunn
Seeker
USA
89 Posts |
Posted - 10 Mar 2008 : 11:46:11
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Back on the Movie topic, there's a number of things to consider when Wot-zi pulls out the "movie" blade. It's a double edged sword. How ever they choose to do a Forgotten Realms movie, it will have one of two effects. It will either become a hit and spawn a huge surge of business, or it will bomb like the last few attempts that Wot-zi has put out.
Here is my thoughts on how a Mass Media Forgotten Realms could work, and work well (but I'm not an expert, so it could totally bomb):
First- The Movie
I think this would need to be an existing book. Wizards is NOT the House of Ideas, sadly, and their last few "original" concepts of film really aren't that good. I think though, it would have to be something NON-Drizzt. Yes, Drizzt is Wot-zi's cash cow right now, but relying on one cow means that the farm goes broke in the end. I would suggest, personally, the Elminster books as my first choice. Second choice would be Spellfire. Third choice... I think Songs and Shadows, maybe.
I would start with a set of books that are popular, but not something that has the name of an author that has been crammed down everyone's throats. Unfortunately, outside of "the community" of FR fans, there really aren't a lot of people that know the name Ed Greenwood. To hedge one's bets only on Salvatori would be a mistake, when it came to a movie.
Also, books like Spellfire and Songs and Shadows do a bit to prevent the "Oh, they're ripping of Tolkien" arguments, I feel. I know there are those who point to the El - Gandalf connection, but doing the Elminster books would be great since it would focus on El, allowing the audience to learn about the Realms in a different manner then we see things in the LotR books and movies.
They would need to look at the Forgotten Realms also not as "A Movie", or even "A Trilogy". It would need to be seen through the eyes of the production company as A Franchise, which it is. It would need to go through a REAL movie production company, and not what ever company the Sci-fi Channel goes through. A company like New Line or Paramount would need to be involved. The effort and commitment on the previous production companies really haven't been there, I feel.
Finally, there would be no "safe" way of doing a 4E movie at this point. It would be a gamble, and though Wot-zi's a gaming company, their gambling record has been iffy as of late.
Second- The Game
Unfortunately, I'm thinking that we may end up seeing "Classic Dungeons & Dragons" rules appear if the movie were to take off. 3.5 stuff reprinted with prettier covers (again), under a "Classic" label. It would allow people who got hooked on the "Old Realms" to play in them, as well as getting more money from stuff that they've already put out. It would save Wot-zi money in development, as well.
I also agree with an "Age of the Chosen" book for 4th Ed.
Third- TV
A 4E FR animated series. Hey, if Lucas can retcon the Clone Wars, Wot-zi can do an animated series on the new stuff. Heck, if they did an El movie first, El could make cameos.
I actually think a animated (non-stupid) series would be a good place for "an original idea". Then they could throw a Dark Elf in all they wanted, too.
I think that's the way Wot-zi should go about things. I don't think doing a Salvatori movie is a smart idea. Of course, I doubt Wot-zi can see anything but dark pointy ears right now when they look at the Realms. |
"Man does not live by bread alone, likewise, blades and arrows aren't the only things that can kill him." |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36910 Posts |
Posted - 10 Mar 2008 : 12:56:29
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quote:
Originally posted by ShepherdGunn
I think this would need to be an existing book. Wizards is NOT the House of Ideas, sadly, and their last few "original" concepts of film really aren't that good.
It doesn't have to be an internally generated idea. They could tap many of their existing authors for an idea, and pick the one that everyone likes best. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen!  |
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ShepherdGunn
Seeker
USA
89 Posts |
Posted - 10 Mar 2008 : 13:34:16
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Oh, I agree that they could tap into one of their authors... but that may be making a larger jump of logic than Wot-zi appears to be capable of, lately.
Another option, btw, after a discussion with one of my co-workers is instead of doing movies for some of the novels, do animated series. Quite a few good anime have detailed beginnings, middles, and ends. I think the Dragonlance Chronicles would of worked far better as an animated series instead of trying to cram everything into three two-hour blocks. |
"Man does not live by bread alone, likewise, blades and arrows aren't the only things that can kill him." |
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Aravine
Senior Scribe
USA
608 Posts |
Posted - 01 Apr 2008 : 16:23:56
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quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
quote:
Originally posted by Aravine
Wooly, If we (D&D fans) were concerned about what people thought, we wouldn't have D&D. The Catholics beleive it's a Demon game. and the Vatican is much more powerful than the NAACP.
You know, there are Catholic players of D&D. Let's not offend them here?
I have no intention of Offending anyone, but that is the truth. to any Catholics, I'm sorry if I offended you. but It is true
On a sidenote, Has anyone seen the FR movie "trailer" on youtube? Can anyone say LOTR? |
The brave don't live forever,the cautious don't live at all |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 01 Apr 2008 : 16:27:43
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quote:
Originally posted by Aravine
I have no intention of Offending anyone, but that is the truth. to any Catholics, I'm sorry if I offended you. but It is true
No, it is not. And that's all I'll say about that. |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36910 Posts |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 01 Apr 2008 : 17:02:54
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And before this scroll is sealed forever, I'd just like to remind all scribes to adhere to the tenets of the Code of Conduct -- both here and in future discussions.
Thank you.  |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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FR Movie Possible
Topic Locked
