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CorellonsDevout
Great Reader
USA
2708 Posts |
 Posted - 18 Sep 2012 : 04:46:39
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I was intrigued by the idea of the Abyssal Plague, and it expanded to four campaign settings: FR, core D&D, Ebberon, and DarkSun, and I know one of the aims was to try and draw readers who are loyal to one setting to another. I have not read anything set in Ebberon or DarkSun, but I read the D&D novels of the Abyssal Plague featuring Albanon and co, and Bruce R. Cordell's first Sword of the Gods book, which was the only book in the FR book to feature the Abyssal Plague.
This event seemed pivotal to me. Perhaps not in the same way the Sundering will be, but still significant, and I'm surprised it did not affect more of the Realms. So my question is, why make the theme of the Abyssal Plague so short? I enjoyed both the first and second Sword of the Gods novels, but why is there no more Abyssal Plague in the Realms?
Mod edit: Relocated to a better shelf, I think. 
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Sweet water and light laughter |
Edited by - Wooly Rupert on 18 Sep 2012 05:08:45
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Derulbaskul
Senior Scribe
Singapore
408 Posts |
Posted - 18 Sep 2012 : 07:14:17
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I suspect it simply wasn't popular.
If the books had sold better I am sure that the Abyssal Plague would have expanded. I also think that diehard fans of the various non-GH worlds might have been a tad annoyed to find GH in their Dark Sun or Forgotten Realms.
It also may have been because of flawed execution. A couple of the authors involved weren't exactly from WotC's "A" List. |
Cheers
D
NB: Please remember: A cannon is a big gun. Canon is what we discuss here. |
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Caolin
Senior Scribe
769 Posts |
Posted - 18 Sep 2012 : 07:48:59
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quote:
Originally posted by CorellonsDevout
I was intrigued by the idea of the Abyssal Plague, and it expanded to four campaign settings: FR, core D&D, Ebberon, and DarkSun, and I know one of the aims was to try and draw readers who are loyal to one setting to another. I have not read anything set in Ebberon or DarkSun, but I read the D&D novels of the Abyssal Plague featuring Albanon and co, and Bruce R. Cordell's first Sword of the Gods book, which was the only book in the FR book to feature the Abyssal Plague.
This event seemed pivotal to me. Perhaps not in the same way the Sundering will be, but still significant, and I'm surprised it did not affect more of the Realms. So my question is, why make the theme of the Abyssal Plague so short? I enjoyed both the first and second Sword of the Gods novels, but why is there no more Abyssal Plague in the Realms?
Mod edit: Relocated to a better shelf, I think.
There were about 5 maybe 6 novels dealing with it. The problem was that only the core world trilogy dealt with it directly. The novels set in the Realms and Dark Sun made it seem more of a minor annoyance rather than an earth shaking event. So I think it was WoTC's hesitancy to bring along another major RSE into the picture not long after the Spellplague that really hamstrung the Abyssal Plague. |
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Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
Posted - 18 Sep 2012 : 15:10:21
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Logically, when we have these humongous crises, they should have a major effect on everything that's going on. But if you're a writer with your plans for your own characters, you don't want to put all that on hold to write a book that plays second fiddle to some other guy's epic trilogy. There's also, I think, a concern, that if every novel that's coming out is an Abyssal Plague novel or a Rage of Dragons novel or whatever, readers will get bored with the whole idea.
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Erik Scott de Bie
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
4598 Posts |
Posted - 18 Sep 2012 : 16:38:11
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Agreed with RLB. Also, one slight correction . . .
quote:
Originally posted by CorellonsDevout
I have not read anything set in Ebberon or DarkSun, but I read the D&D novels of the Abyssal Plague featuring Albanon and co, and Bruce R. Cordell's first Sword of the Gods book, which was the only book in the FR book to feature the Abyssal Plague.
Actually, my FR novel Shadowbane is also an Abyssal Plague-related book. It even features a connection to Sword of the Gods.
The novel is mostly about my own story, but also definitely connected to the Abyssal Plague.
Cheers |
Erik Scott de Bie
'Tis easier to destroy than to create.
Author of a number of Realms novels (GHOSTWALKER, DEPTHS OF MADNESS, and the SHADOWBANE series), contributor to the NEVERWINTER CAMPAIGN GUIDE and SHADOWFELL: GLOOMWROUGHT AND BEYOND, Twitch DM of the Dungeon Scrawlers, currently playing "The Westgate Irregulars" |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
12074 Posts |
Posted - 18 Sep 2012 : 17:28:41
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Just wondering, what the hell was abyssal plague at its core even about?
I've not gotten into the e-reader/tablet fad myself yet, so I haven't gotten a copy of shadowbane (that plus not having bought many 4e FR novels). However, the idea of a thief turned paladin is intriguing.
BTW, on the idea of an e-reader, I've been seeing something about a google nexus 7 tablet, but I'd realistically like at least a 10 inch screen (with the ability to plug up a usb flash drive so that I can have my PDF books easily accessible). Only thing I see though is, once you get to $300 laptops are so cheap that it makes you wonder... why not go with that. Anyone have a good tablet that they'd recommend? |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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Erik Scott de Bie
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
4598 Posts |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
12074 Posts |
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CorellonsDevout
Great Reader
USA
2708 Posts |
Posted - 18 Sep 2012 : 23:46:02
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@Erik: oh, that's right! I read Shadowbane, and I really liked it, so I apologize for not remembering it was part of the Aybssal Plague mini-series. But I remember now. It's all comnig back to me ^^;
@RLB: mmm that's a good point. The Rage was only in your three novels, and didn't affect the whole Realms, unlike the Spellplague, and, from my understanding, the upcoming Sundering.
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Sweet water and light laughter |
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Caolin
Senior Scribe
769 Posts |
Posted - 19 Sep 2012 : 04:51:50
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quote:
Originally posted by sleyvas
Just wondering, what the hell was abyssal plague at its core even about?
I've not gotten into the e-reader/tablet fad myself yet, so I haven't gotten a copy of shadowbane (that plus not having bought many 4e FR novels). However, the idea of a thief turned paladin is intriguing.
BTW, on the idea of an e-reader, I've been seeing something about a google nexus 7 tablet, but I'd realistically like at least a 10 inch screen (with the ability to plug up a usb flash drive so that I can have my PDF books easily accessible). Only thing I see though is, once you get to $300 laptops are so cheap that it makes you wonder... why not go with that. Anyone have a good tablet that they'd recommend?
I wouldn't call tablets a fad. When it comes to literature, they are the future. They won't kill print books, but they will relegate them to a vinyl like niche market.
As for finding a 10" tablet for $300, it might take a few more years to get to that price point. The closest would be the new Kindle Fire HD with the 8.9" screen. As for having flash drive access, again the Kindle Fire may be your best bet. You can easily jail break those but I am sure there is a way to rig it up so that you can connect a USB drive to it. But I'm not sure why you would want to. It's fairly easy to connect it to your computer and transfer files back and forth.
Sorry to the original poster for going off topic btw. |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
12074 Posts |
Posted - 19 Sep 2012 : 22:28:31
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quote:
Originally posted by Caolin
quote:
Originally posted by sleyvas
Just wondering, what the hell was abyssal plague at its core even about?
I've not gotten into the e-reader/tablet fad myself yet, so I haven't gotten a copy of shadowbane (that plus not having bought many 4e FR novels). However, the idea of a thief turned paladin is intriguing.
BTW, on the idea of an e-reader, I've been seeing something about a google nexus 7 tablet, but I'd realistically like at least a 10 inch screen (with the ability to plug up a usb flash drive so that I can have my PDF books easily accessible). Only thing I see though is, once you get to $300 laptops are so cheap that it makes you wonder... why not go with that. Anyone have a good tablet that they'd recommend?
I wouldn't call tablets a fad. When it comes to literature, they are the future. They won't kill print books, but they will relegate them to a vinyl like niche market.
As for finding a 10" tablet for $300, it might take a few more years to get to that price point. The closest would be the new Kindle Fire HD with the 8.9" screen. As for having flash drive access, again the Kindle Fire may be your best bet. You can easily jail break those but I am sure there is a way to rig it up so that you can connect a USB drive to it. But I'm not sure why you would want to. It's fairly easy to connect it to your computer and transfer files back and forth.
Sorry to the original poster for going off topic btw.
Ah, thanks for that info. The current kindle fire is only 7" right? So the new one will be bigger? |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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jornan
Learned Scribe
Canada
256 Posts |
Posted - 20 Sep 2012 : 05:02:03
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| On top of the three Books in the Year of the Rogue Dragons there was also two Anthologies and RLB's Queen of the Depths was definitely related. |
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Xar Zarath
Senior Scribe
Malaysia
552 Posts |
Posted - 20 Sep 2012 : 07:03:52
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| Personally I thought the whole idea of the Abyssal Plague as kind of cliche. I mean dont get me wrong but imprisoned god trying to escape and all that, evil goo transforming stuff, it should have been relegated to one of the Elder Evils. At least they would have made it a bit more plausible. |
Everything ends where it begins. Period.
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Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
Posted - 20 Sep 2012 : 14:18:38
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| jornan: Unfortunately, WotC doesn't seem to be interested in doing anthologies that tie in to the big trilogies and such anymore. And as you note, I'm the guy who got drafted at the eleventh hour to write Queen of the Depths, and that's why it links to Year of Rogue Dragons. |
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jornan
Learned Scribe
Canada
256 Posts |
Posted - 20 Sep 2012 : 18:41:10
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RLB, I really miss the short story anthologies, I thought they were a nice addition and were small glimpses at how the Realms Shaking Event affected a a variety of different people and places without devoting an entire novel to each. That is too bad.
What is the story behind Queen of the Depths being developed at the eleventh hour? Or is that an NDA? |
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Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
Posted - 20 Sep 2012 : 20:36:59
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I liked the anthologies, too.
When I referred to me coming onboard to do Queen of the Depths late in the game, I meant that a book of that title had been announced and scheduled as part of the Priests series, and suddenly, the original author was no longer connected to the project. I have no idea why that was the case.
At that point in time, I was in the middle of writing The Year of Rogue Dragons, and I had to come up with a plot for QotD fast to make my deadline. So the path of least resistance for me was to link the novel to the Rage of Dragons, and I think the result was a pretty decent story. |
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Aulduron
Learned Scribe
USA
343 Posts |
Posted - 22 Sep 2012 : 21:13:57
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| I saw an Abysmal Plague book or two in the store, but didn't buy them because I didn't see "Forgotten Realms" anywhere on them. |
"Those with talent become wizards, Those without talent spend their lives praying for it"
-Procopio Septus |
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Abyssal Plague--why so short?
