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The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3567 Posts |
 Posted - 16 Aug 2008 : 22:46:21
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I hope my fellow scribes who were lucky enough to be there for this wil chime in and correct any mis-remembered facts or fill in any I missed.
But over all the Seminar was 2 Good hours of Them not sharing any secrets!! At least not as many as we would have liked.
Most of the few things I gleaned from this session were Novel based.
1) Rich Baker said expect at least 1 FR novel a month yntil..well forever. So it looks like we will not lack for Novels!
2) The Ed Greenwood Presents Waterdeep series. Thet showed a sldie showing the first three in the series. Blackstaff Tower, Mistshore and Downshadow. Ed mention he has read the first three and they were very good. He also said jokingly that it was a series of 40 stand alone novels about the new Waterdeep. I believe Rich Said they could not really say anything yet about the next two....so looks like at least 5 based on the slide or if that meant the 2 that Ed hasn't read maybe 6.
3) What/Where is Mistshore?
According to Ed , somewhere out in the harbour all the half-sunken wrecks are lashed together in a kind of floating town. It is an area that the city watch only enters in great numbers and for as short a time as possible.
4) What/where is Downshadow?
According to the even taller in Real Life Erik Scott de Bie, it is the name for the first "level" of Undermountain. It is an area where one would go after arriving in Waterdeep and not having the means to afford living in the City above. It is a somewhat structured area where one would try to keep to the shadows trying to stay alive in between killing monsters and basically kicking butt or whatever it takes to stay alive.
5) Plague of Spells - Bruce Cordell said that this follows a previous character of his through the aftermath of the spellplague.(set 10 yrs after spellplague) Also said the trilogy would explain why the Aboleth stronghold (the name escapes me) appeared over the sea of fallen stars, why it is strom shrouded and why sailors go out of their way to avoid the area near it.
Thats all I recall for now!
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A little nonsense now and then, relished by the wisest men - Willy Wonka
"We need men who can dream of things that never were." -
John F. Kennedy, speech in Dublin, Ireland, June 28, 1963
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monknwildcat
Learned Scribe
USA
285 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2008 : 00:37:22
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Thanks, RW! Good info!  |
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Purple Dragon Knight
Master of Realmslore
Canada
1796 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2008 : 07:52:06
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Not interested in any of this.  |
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Jorkens
Great Reader
Norway
2950 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2008 : 09:51:31
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quote:
Originally posted by The Red Walker
3) What/Where is Mistshore?
According to Ed , somewhere out in the harbour all the half-sunken wrecks are lashed together in a kind of floating town. It is an area that the city watch only enters in great numbers and for as short a time as possible.
Now that's an idea I like, why haven't I thought of an idea like that myself? Now, which city can I place this in if not Waterdeep I wonder? Marsember is always an idea. OR maybe Westgate? Dragon Coast and Vilhon would be other great ideas.
Thanks for the update. |
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Alaundo
Head Moderator
United Kingdom
5696 Posts |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2008 : 11:50:13
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| K. looks like we don't have anyone else posting so tonight, or morrow, when I get back home to a comp that isn't as slow as a comp from five years ago, I'll post my notes. |
For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
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The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3567 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2008 : 13:23:49
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quote:
Originally posted by Jorkens
quote:
Originally posted by The Red Walker
3) What/Where is Mistshore?
According to Ed , somewhere out in the harbour all the half-sunken wrecks are lashed together in a kind of floating town. It is an area that the city watch only enters in great numbers and for as short a time as possible.
Now that's an idea I like, why haven't I thought of an idea like that myself? Now, which city can I place this in if not Waterdeep I wonder? Marsember is always an idea. OR maybe Westgate? Dragon Coast and Vilhon would be other great ideas.
Thanks for the update.
I forgot to add that it is "out somewhere the harbour shrouded in the mists." I know obvious right?
Sounds interesting to me as well.
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A little nonsense now and then, relished by the wisest men - Willy Wonka
"We need men who can dream of things that never were." -
John F. Kennedy, speech in Dublin, Ireland, June 28, 1963
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The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3567 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2008 : 13:45:22
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quote:
Originally posted by Alaundo
Well met
Thanks, Red Walker. Good report, i've often wondered about those Waterdeep novel titles myself Keep it coming 
Thanks Alaundo. And here are a few other tidbits I have put together(posted elsewhere as well to reply to Uzzy):
I remember Ed said that the new FRCS was great, but at least 400 pages to short. The rest of the panel agreed that it was. (Brian R Cordell, Rich Baker, Chris Sims) They haope to fill that gap with Dragon articles, which a 2 page web spreads on an area.
Halflings - a bit taller (maybe 6-9 inches by the panels hand gesturing) But the reason why or the fact they were shorter is not mentioned, it is just assumed they were always this tall.
Gnomes - Ed said are not gone from the realms completely , but as of now now reason or cause given for their decline.
Dragonborn - Are not the same as the 3.5 introduced Dragonborn.
Rich Baker said that what happened here is that sometime int his business they get ahold of such a strong name that they cannot help but use it and need to overcome usuiagain. Also said it is a habit they are trying to and need to avoid. Said that new Dragonborn are not anything like previous. One major difference is theyDO NOT get along with Dragonkind, hinted that maybe the were a servant race for them and are opposed to Dragons.
Thats all the recall I have for now, sorry I did not take better notes! |
A little nonsense now and then, relished by the wisest men - Willy Wonka
"We need men who can dream of things that never were." -
John F. Kennedy, speech in Dublin, Ireland, June 28, 1963
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36899 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2008 : 14:17:29
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quote:
Originally posted by The Red Walker
Dragonborn - Are not the same as the 3.5 introduced Dragonborn.
Rich Baker said that what happened here is that sometime int his business they get ahold of such a strong name that they cannot help but use it and need to overcome usuiagain.
I'm sorry, but no. Reusing names causes more confusion than it does benefits, and I cannot think of any reason why one would not be able to help but reuse a name. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen!  |
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MerrikCale
Senior Scribe
USA
947 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2008 : 15:36:18
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i'm glad to hear about the novels
though this does mean I will never catch up |
When hinges creak in doorless chambers and strange and frightening sounds echo through the halls, whenever candlelights flicker where the air is deathly still, that is the time when ghosts are present, practicing their terror with ghoulish delight. |
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The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3567 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2008 : 15:40:22
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Another tidbit I just recalled:
Elminster - Ed was asked about the sanity of everones favorite Archmage...he replied coyly ,"which one???" After a chorus of Elminster (with me shouting out Halaster of course!) He said that the Spellplague ravaged many things, one of them being Elminster's mind.
Elminster is still somewhat safe to be around, as long as nobody does anything even remotely close to something that might make him think about wielding his magic. The consequences of this could be devastating for all.
Chosen - Ed says they are most assuredly all not dead, but the survivors are not left unchanged. They would not be chosen as we know them and could be "altered".
Netheril/Shade - As we know they have completed take over of Sembia. The countries which now border Netheril, see themselves as guardians holding them back. As of now it it pretty much a "cold war" , but Rich was quick to say it was not always that way, and at sometimes "shots" were definatly fired back and forth.
Rich also stated that the Spellplague did not leave them untouched and they are not happy with the results either.
Thats all for now, I will try to pull some more together, but that's about all I have. |
A little nonsense now and then, relished by the wisest men - Willy Wonka
"We need men who can dream of things that never were." -
John F. Kennedy, speech in Dublin, Ireland, June 28, 1963
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Uzzy
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
618 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2008 : 15:44:00
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That.. well. That sucks. A whole lot.
They told us a load of stuff we already knew, used the seminar as a marketing opportunity for their mass of books, and didn't even tell us many new things.
Ah well. |
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monknwildcat
Learned Scribe
USA
285 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2008 : 15:47:20
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by The Red Walker
Dragonborn - Are not the same as the 3.5 introduced Dragonborn.
Rich Baker said that what happened here is that sometime int his business they get ahold of such a strong name that they cannot help but use it and need to overcome usuiagain.
I'm sorry, but no. Reusing names causes more confusion than it does benefits, and I cannot think of any reason why one would not be able to help but reuse a name.
This practice strikes me as a succinct way to overwrite lore without having to say they made a more retcons [i.e. it lets gamers know both (a) 3.5's dragonborn are removed and (b) introduces their replacement].
We've found a new feat: Greater Retcon!  |
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The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3567 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2008 : 15:47:57
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quote:
Originally posted by Uzzy
That.. well. That sucks. A whole lot.
They told us a load of stuff we already knew, used the seminar as a marketing opportunity for their mass of books, and didn't even tell us many new things.
Ah well.
I understand your feelings. One small ray of hope was imparted by Ed, when someone asked a question y his editor.he said "Well if I write it, then it is so!" (Insert Ed laugh here)
I am of the opinion that Ed will slip by more than his fair share by his editor! |
A little nonsense now and then, relished by the wisest men - Willy Wonka
"We need men who can dream of things that never were." -
John F. Kennedy, speech in Dublin, Ireland, June 28, 1963
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The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3567 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2008 : 15:58:00
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The Sword Never Sleeps - Last of the trilogy, you can tell Ed is fired up about this one. You can see it in his eyes when he talks about it.
Alusair- Ed said we will get to see Alusair come into her own as 13(?) year old princess and go toe to toe with old Vangy.
Vangerdahast - What I felt was even better, Ed says Vangy will more than reply in kind back to Alusair, and hinted he may even do them in a way that ummm.....is beneath his maturity level? Sounds very very fun!
Azoun and Filfaril(sp?) - Ed says they have a wonderful time just sitting back laughing at Alusair's antics and Vangy's reactions/retaliations!
Torm and Rathan - Ed says that while they are not Knights of Myth Drannor at the end of this novel, events are put in motion that push them in a way to make it inevitable that they will be.
Oh yes, and a certains beloved Knight's sense of.....irreverance?? is starting to be shown. |
A little nonsense now and then, relished by the wisest men - Willy Wonka
"We need men who can dream of things that never were." -
John F. Kennedy, speech in Dublin, Ireland, June 28, 1963
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The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3567 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2008 : 16:09:17
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Corsair - Novel 2 of Rich Baker's trilogy.
Centers on Rhovann's plot to over throw the Harmach and have his revenge on Geran, by working with his exiled Step-cousin. According to Rich :It is full of Piratey goodness, as Geran battles a brotherhood of Pirates on the Moonsea. Brotherhood of the purple Moon or some such name, Mabye Kuje has that in his notes?
I do remember that then Ed teased Rich about the name of his Pirate baddies and Rich responded with (paraphrasing here) "Hey, you named it the Moonsea, there wasn't many ways to go with it!!" The whole room, especially Ed had a great laugh and Ed nodded as if to acknowlegde Rich's point.
Pirate King - Second of the Transisions Trilogy. Rich said "the none to subtlely named trilogy". Focuses on the fate of Luskan and how it gets from where it is to its state in 4e.
Also said that the first time he read it, he shed a tear or two. But wanted to give no hint as to why. |
A little nonsense now and then, relished by the wisest men - Willy Wonka
"We need men who can dream of things that never were." -
John F. Kennedy, speech in Dublin, Ireland, June 28, 1963
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The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3567 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2008 : 16:25:22
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Shadowrealm - book 3 of Shadow War trilogy.
Paul was in the audience and said that Besides more of Cale this novel will work toward explaining what will happen with Mask.
Blackstaff Tower - Ed praised it highly and said for anylong time fan interested with lore, this was for them. He said Steve has packed it with behind the scenes goodies of how Waterdeep is runs such as what it is really like to be a Lord of Waterdeep. Also does a great job of showing the behind the scenes politics of the City. |
A little nonsense now and then, relished by the wisest men - Willy Wonka
"We need men who can dream of things that never were." -
John F. Kennedy, speech in Dublin, Ireland, June 28, 1963
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The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3567 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2008 : 16:33:03
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Zhents - Still exist, but in a diminished form, possibly smaller area of influence?
Szass Tam and the expansionist goals of Thay is the largest "Threat to the Realms"
Lathander has completed his change and is now Amaunator(sp?) |
A little nonsense now and then, relished by the wisest men - Willy Wonka
"We need men who can dream of things that never were." -
John F. Kennedy, speech in Dublin, Ireland, June 28, 1963
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Brimstone
Great Reader
USA
3290 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2008 : 18:31:49
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-Thanks for the info.
BRIMSTONE  |
"These things also I have observed: that knowledge of our world is
to be nurtured like a precious flower, for it is the most precious
thing we have. Wherefore guard the word written and heed
words unwritten and set them down ere they fade . . . Learn
then, well, the arts of reading, writing, and listening true, and they
will lead you to the greatest art of all: understanding."
Alaundo of Candlekeep |
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Hawkins
Great Reader
USA
2131 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2008 : 18:37:39
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quote:
Originally posted by The Red Walker
Paul was in the audience and said that Besides more of Cale this novel will work toward explaining what will happen with Mask.
I was soooo looking forward to this novel, and now I am almost afraid to buy and read it... |
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The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3567 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2008 : 23:06:16
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Elminster -
a tidbit I forgot. Not only is he insane , he most likely was before the spellague. So anything he's said or did Cannot be trusted as he is an unreliabke reporter.
That was straight from Ed, so take it as you will. |
A little nonsense now and then, relished by the wisest men - Willy Wonka
"We need men who can dream of things that never were." -
John F. Kennedy, speech in Dublin, Ireland, June 28, 1963
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crazedventurers
Master of Realmslore
United Kingdom
1073 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2008 : 01:17:17
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quote:
Originally posted by The Red Walker
Elminster - a tidbit I forgot. Not only is he insane , he most likely was before the spellague. So anything he's said or did Cannot be trusted as he is an unreliabke reporter.
That was straight from Ed, so take it as you will.
I see no issue here as it has always been so - straight from the OGBS:
"On my word as a sage nothing within these pages is false, but not all of it may prove to be true."
Cheers
Damian
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So saith Ed. I've never said he was sane, have I?
Gods, all this writing and he's running a constant fantasy version of Coronation Street in his head, too. .
shudder,
love to all,
THO
Candlekeep Forum 7 May 2005 |
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2008 : 02:43:55
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Just needed to chime in since I was at the seminar with my esteemed fellow scribes (and sitting between Red Walker and Kuje made the whole thing a lot more bearable, thanks guys).
Also, I wanted to point out the the best line of the whole thing probably went to Paul Kemp, who was skulking in the shadows of the seminar, and when the panel noticed him, and asked him to share something about Shadowrealm, his reply was,
"I wrote this novel in 48 hours while sitting naked and on a crack bender in Las Vegas."
Or words to that effect. |
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monknwildcat
Learned Scribe
USA
285 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2008 : 03:08:28
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Gonzo-realmslore. Sweet!  |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2008 : 04:41:01
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Kay, here's what I kept from my notes.
The changes were for new novels and lore.
The campaign book sold out at gencon, least on saturday.
In the players book there are rules for playing drow, genasi, sword mage, high forest scout, chosen, spellcrafted something. I couldn't really read the slide to well for that one. Think it's savant/servant/savart.
The module is set in the Gray Vale.
DDI is going to have future articles, which are Ecology of Genasi and Ecology of the Sharn.
The Living FR is canon.
There is a new book called Readers Guide to Drizzt coming out soon. It contains info about npc's, the cities, etc, from books 1 to 13.
Pirate King has lore about what happens to Luskan.
Unholy is out Feb 09.
Knights three is Nov 08.
Corsair is Mar 09. The book ends with a scene within the Tears of Selune.
Shadowrealm is Dec 08. As we know, it'll help answer what happened to Mask.
Fractured Sky is Nov 08. Helps explain the cosmology changes.
Cordell's Plague of Spells is Dec 08. Book 2 is Nov 09. Oct 2010 for the last. Its set ten years after the spellplague. Deals with the aboloths.
Downshadow is Apr 09. It's set in the 1st level of Undermountain.
Fanged Crown, the 1st book of the Wilds, is Jan 09 by Jenna Helland.
Dragonborn are everywhere but not as prevalent as some other reaces.
New content is on DDI. No plans for more printed sourcebooks beyond the three. Novels will detail specifics.
Kara-tur is changed in the Spellplague.
Zakhara they never discussed. They assume it was also changed.
The Living FR/novels/sourcebooks/DDI articles will be in sync with each other, causing no errors.
Most of the events will not be giving a highly detailed timeline.
No new FR atlus.
Not all the Chosen perished but they aren't the Chosen we knew.
Magister may or may not exist. Wasn't really discussed during the meetings.
Gnomes are still in the setting.
No Undermnt reprint.
Rich has a Elven High Magic DDI article.
Divine casters of Mystra probably picked a new deity.
Dragonborn, as was said, are not the same ones as in Dragons. (Nice question Knight!)
And that was the last of my notes. Had fun chatting with Knight, Walker, and Neri during the seminar. |
For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
Edited by - Kuje on 18 Aug 2008 04:47:49 |
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2008 : 04:51:53
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It was particularly fun to hear the former Living Greyhawk player, when asking about Living FR, detail the ancient litany of how PCs can never ever affect the FR in any significant way and how powerful NPCs dominate the setting.
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Edited by - KnightErrantJR on 18 Aug 2008 05:02:23 |
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The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3567 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2008 : 14:41:33
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Great notes Kuje.
About the Magister what was funny even thought Kuje's note is right on what they said, I think it was Rich who said they are working on/or kicking around the idea of doing a Magister Paragon path. Said there was only 1 maigister. But in your campaign, it could be you.
Also about the Dragonborn-
Someone refered to it as a retcon, but I forgot this little bit shared by Rich(maybe Bruce, but I think Rich). The 3.5 Dragonborn are not mentioned in FRCG, so technically there are still around, just different than the new. So they could both be around.
In fact the panel said if it was not touched on in the FRCG, assume it is still there.
Like Zakhara, they didn't cover it, so assume it is there with some changes.
Also Gods, if they do not mention a Gods demise, do not assume the were axed, even if they are not on "a list of Gods". |
A little nonsense now and then, relished by the wisest men - Willy Wonka
"We need men who can dream of things that never were." -
John F. Kennedy, speech in Dublin, Ireland, June 28, 1963
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Edited by - The Red Walker on 18 Aug 2008 14:42:50 |
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The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3567 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2008 : 14:50:02
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A Fun Fact learned at GenCon 2008.
There is no Knight Errant Jr.
Hells....there isn't evan a Knight Errant Sr.
What a Rip-Off!!
But lucky I didn meet Knight Errant J. R.
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A little nonsense now and then, relished by the wisest men - Willy Wonka
"We need men who can dream of things that never were." -
John F. Kennedy, speech in Dublin, Ireland, June 28, 1963
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Uzzy
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
618 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2008 : 15:30:21
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quote:
The Living FR/novels/sourcebooks/DDI articles will be in sync with each other, causing no errors.
Anyway, how was the atmosphere? Hostile? |
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monknwildcat
Learned Scribe
USA
285 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2008 : 15:38:58
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quote:
Originally posted by The Red Walker
Also about the Dragonborn-
Someone refered to it as a retcon, but I forgot this little bit shared by Rich(maybe Bruce, but I think Rich). The 3.5 Dragonborn are not mentioned in FRCG, so technically there are still around, just different than the new. So they could both be around.
In fact the panel said if it was not touched on in the FRCG, assume it is still there.
I recant my Greater Retcons and join Wooly in doubting any reason for reusing the name dragonborn if they leave the original dragonborn around. I foresee confusion for new 4E FR gamers, and I'm not even NostraMarkus!
Good to see you posting, KEJR! |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2008 : 16:02:32
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It seemed pretty much as it always has, least from the ones I've gone to. So, pretty respectful.
quote:
Originally posted by Uzzy
Anyway, how was the atmosphere? Hostile?
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For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
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Secrets of Forgotten Realms: a GenCOn 08 Report!
