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Zealot
Seeker
USA
59 Posts |
 Posted - 03 Mar 2013 : 17:11:58
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I have stated previously that there was a long bit of time when I was unable to game. I came back to the gaming world to find 4th edition in full swing. I picked up a History of the Realms and read about the Spell Plague. I didnt quite care for it.
I love the Forgotten Realms(obviously or why would I be here?)and I had a large library of 3.5 material. After attending more than a few conventions, I decided to stick with 3.5. It was a personal decision and I kept running MY realms and running my campaigns that I had written out.
There is a local gaming group that I like to play with on occasion, but they only play the Pathfinder rpg. A few of the players have told me that they were big fans of the Realms, yet they refuse to play it because they say that its not the world of Pathfinder. On the other side of the coin, I was told that if I want to run a 4th Ed Realms Game, I have to run it post Spell Plague because it has to be true to Edition.
Ok now this is my question. Am I stuck in a time warp? It took me awhile to get into 3.5 maybe I should look at just chucking out my books and wait for 5E? Are there people out there that run pre-spell plague using 4th ED? I never followed the rules when it came to current edition being the be all end all. Mr Greenwood himself talked about "our Realms" where we do things the way we want. Im just feeling flustered. Help?
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Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage. |
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Dalor Darden
Great Reader
USA
4211 Posts |
Posted - 03 Mar 2013 : 17:19:19
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Many owners of Gaming Stores push (either overtly, or passive-aggressive style) the newest editions of what they are selling. My own friend at Game Quest in Radford once did this; but he has come to accept people want to play what they want to play.
If folks at your local store are only playing a certain game, you really can either do that or find other folks to play the rules you want to play.
Currently, I'm enjoying the game Hackmaster 5e (but we play in Kalamar); but for my own Forgotten Realms, I'm really happiest with Advanced Dungeons and Dragons or 2e AD&D.
You aren't stuck...but you may find others aren't wanting to play your game unfortunately. Good luck to you. |
The Old Grey Box and AD&D for me! |
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4690 Posts |
Posted - 03 Mar 2013 : 17:49:46
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You can play any year, you can play before the Time of Troubles for example or the Crown Wars. You can use any rule set as far as that goes, except rules that developed because of something like the spell plague. The PCs and your NPCs clearly can change the future of FR in your home game. There is no requirement to have FR would match the last printed source book, in fact it would be impossible unless you rail road your players. Often the changes tend to be small, though as the characters gain in power one of them might become a hidden Lord of Waterdeep.
Now finding players to play in your version of FR might be harder if the players are going to say but book <foo> says this happened in <foo> year. To prevent such at the table, simble tell players what edition you are using, what events your Realms have had occurred. Of course explaining that certain rules, spell scars simply do not apply. |
"Small beings can have small wisdom," the dragon said. "And small wise beings are better than small fools. Listen: Wisdom is caring for afterwards."
"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon |
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Aldrick
Senior Scribe
909 Posts |
Posted - 03 Mar 2013 : 17:58:09
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You can play with any rule set, and any version of the Realms you want. You can even decide to deviate significantly from the canon Realms. For example, you could use the 4th Edition D&D Rules (or Pathfinder) and play in a pre-Time of Troubles FR. The only limits that exist are those that you impose upon yourself.
Now, obviously, this doesn't mean people at your local gaming store will want to play the same type of game with the same rule set as you. However, that doesn't mean other people don't. Find ways to seek out other players who might be interested, and make clear the type of game you're running.
If you can't find any in your area, there is always the possibility of doing things online. |
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Mapolq
Senior Scribe
Brazil
466 Posts |
Posted - 03 Mar 2013 : 18:27:21
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I ran a 4th edition game in the Pre-Spellplague Realms. I don't like the system myself, but lots of my players and the guy who was co-DMing do, so I tried to make it work, and it pretty much did. If you have mature players they'll probably understand that if there's no dragonborn around they can't make one, but maybe they could make a Realmsian dragonborn as per Dragons of Faerūn, or a saurial. Just an example of stuff you may have to deal with... of course you could just say there are 4e dragonborn in your Realms, or say everyone should play a human - it's your game. You should probably try to cater to the tastes of your players, but if someone isn't willing to play at all because they can't play some race, or some other trivial thing like that, I think they're being rather annoying.
The biggest problem, I think, when adapting the Realms to a different RPG system is to figure out what people (especially spellcasters) can do. Is scrying from afar something any hedge-wizard would be able to do, is it something left to practiced mages, or is it a long sought-after secret almost no one has access to? You have to decide that sort of thing... you might be able to fudge the exact spell level or whatever mechanic you use, but it will seem very weird if the average village elder has the same powers that the PCs had to crawl into the ruins of ancient Shoonach to find. In the game I ran, I kinda used a 3.5 power scale, since that game was part of a "meta-campaign" and the other games were 3.5 or Pathfinder-based. Not that Scrying was a 4th level spell in that game (as there's no such thing in 4th edition), but rather that it was something a well-learned wizard could do without too much trouble, but probably wouldn't do all the time.
So, it's not exactly trivial, but the answer is... of course you can run a Forgotten Realms game at any period with any system, or even no system at all. All you need is to present a fun, consistent setting and to have willing players.
And by the way... the truth is, for me, 4e Forgotten Realms hasn't even given much thought to how the rules would impact the setting anyway (kinda understandable, since there's not that much material to really get into more complex stuff). Mostly everything seems to be ad-hoc, so you wouldn't have much less work using that. Granted, I haven't read the novels (not much of a fantasy novel reader), just the sourcebooks, so maybe they expanded on that.
Edit: I forgot to say (though I've implied) I have also run Pathfinder games on FR. And, honestly, FR pretty much was "the world of 3.x" and Pathfinder is overwhelmingly based on 3.x D&D... so the Forgotten Realms are, for most purposes, as much "the Pathfinder world" as Golarion. The changes you have to do are really cosmetic. |
Never sleep under the jackfruit tree.
Tales of Moonsea - A Neverwinter Nights 2 Persistent World. Check out our website at http://www.talesofmoonsea.com and our video trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=am304WqOAAo&feature=youtu.be, as well as our thread here at Candlekeep: http://www.forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=12955
My campaign thread: http://www.forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=16447 |
Edited by - Mapolq on 03 Mar 2013 18:55:37 |
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Caladan Brood
Senior Scribe
Norway
410 Posts |
Posted - 03 Mar 2013 : 18:31:57
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| I returned to the Realms only recently (and got seriously bitten by the Realms bug), but I have no idea what happens after, say, 1367 DR. I am sticking to AD&D / the 2nd edition campaign setting box because there is more than enough material to keep track of, and the lady of the house is already grumbling after my recent purchases of about 15 2nd edition FR products (and not knowing four more are on their way in the mail - neheh). I am vaguely aware, mostly because of this website and from the occasional plunder over at WOTC's site, that there's a Spellplague and that the world looks different in the "future" (well for me it is the future), but as I'm fine with AD&D I don't feel the need to explore the timeline further. I'm interested in creating fun adventures in the Realms of the campaign setting box, and I'll let others enjoy the spellplague (and now I've figured there's a "sundering" coming too). |
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Euranna
Learned Scribe
USA
219 Posts |
Posted - 03 Mar 2013 : 20:27:45
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We are about to start a Realms game using Pathfinder rules (or D&D 3.75 as we like to call it). The timeline is pre-Spellplague because well, we don't like the Spellplague.
I personally think if you want to play with X edition rules and are willing to make the conversions, do what you want. |
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Diffan
Great Reader
USA
4448 Posts |
Posted - 03 Mar 2013 : 22:15:48
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quote:
Are there people out there that run pre-spell plague using 4th ED?
Sure can. One thing to remember is that Timeline =/= Edition. Sure, it helps for certain elements but a lot of stuff can be handwaved away, changed, or reflavored to fit your idea. There's no reason you can't use 4E mechanics pre-Spellplague and really, most of the lore supports the mechanics in some way or another. |
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BEAST
Master of Realmslore
USA
1714 Posts |
Posted - 03 Mar 2013 : 22:16:16
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As an analogy, I know a lot of people who are disgruntled with Windows 8, and who have asked the local electronics store to install or re-install Windows 7 onto their PCs, instead. They get really upset when the salesmen tell them that certain PCs were designed solely for Win8, and are not workable on Win7.
Similar deal, here.
But fortunately, WOTC is no longer holding to the policy of not supporting earlier versions, as MS does with its stuff. |
"'You don't know my history,' he said dryly."
--Drizzt Do'Urden (The Pirate King, Part 1: Chapter 2)
<"Comprehensive Chronology of R.A. Salvatore Forgotten Realms Works"> |
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Dalor Darden
Great Reader
USA
4211 Posts |
Posted - 03 Mar 2013 : 22:24:56
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| Aye, any game at all can be used in the Forgotten Realms...which is more about the story and not about the mechanics to me. |
The Old Grey Box and AD&D for me! |
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Diffan
Great Reader
USA
4448 Posts |
Posted - 04 Mar 2013 : 02:50:42
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quote:
Originally posted by BEAST
As an analogy, I know a lot of people who are disgruntled with Windows 8, and who have asked the local electronics store to install or re-install Windows 7 onto their PCs, instead. They get really upset when the salesmen tell them that certain PCs were designed solely for Win8, and are not workable on Win7.
Similar deal, here.
How exactly? You can easily run 3E or Pathfinder or 2E in a Post-Spellplague timeline just as you can use 4E in a pre-Spellplague timeline. The mechanics of the game have really no bearing on the timeline of the Realms, though certain editions work better with specific timelines but that's mostly so that people can do as little work as possible.
For example, exchanging Io's Channel Divinity powers (Core D&D 4E) and just calling them Mystra powers work perfectly fine. |
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BEAST
Master of Realmslore
USA
1714 Posts |
Posted - 04 Mar 2013 : 05:03:49
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quote:
Originally posted by Diffan
quote:
Originally posted by BEAST
As an analogy, I know a lot of people who are disgruntled with Windows 8, and who have asked the local electronics store to install or re-install Windows 7 onto their PCs, instead. They get really upset when the salesmen tell them that certain PCs were designed solely for Win8, and are not workable on Win7.
Similar deal, here.
How exactly?
I apologize for some apparent miscommunication on my part.
The OP asked if he were out of line for feeling flustered or stuck in a time warp by not quite caring for the lastest edition. Many Win8 users feel the same way and ask themselves the same thing.
Dalor mentioned gaming shopkeepers only pushing the latest and "greatest", but eventually realizing that they really need to cater to previous-edition users, too. There are electronics stores running into this similar oversight with respect to differing versions of Windows, as well.
My main point in using the analogy is that this is not just a problem in our fantasy--it's a very real world one, too. But just as with the RW OS difficulties, compromise can be found, if people are willing to be considerate with each other. |
"'You don't know my history,' he said dryly."
--Drizzt Do'Urden (The Pirate King, Part 1: Chapter 2)
<"Comprehensive Chronology of R.A. Salvatore Forgotten Realms Works"> |
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Diffan
Great Reader
USA
4448 Posts |
Posted - 04 Mar 2013 : 05:28:30
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quote:
Originally posted by BEAST
quote:
Originally posted by Diffan
quote:
Originally posted by BEAST
As an analogy, I know a lot of people who are disgruntled with Windows 8, and who have asked the local electronics store to install or re-install Windows 7 onto their PCs, instead. They get really upset when the salesmen tell them that certain PCs were designed solely for Win8, and are not workable on Win7.
Similar deal, here.
How exactly?
I apologize for some apparent miscommunication on my part.
The OP asked if he were out of line for feeling flustered or stuck in a time warp by not quite caring for the lastest edition. Many Win8 users feel the same way and ask themselves the same thing.
Dalor mentioned gaming shopkeepers only pushing the latest and "greatest", but eventually realizing that they really need to cater to previous-edition users, too. There are electronics stores running into this similar oversight with respect to differing versions of Windows, as well.
My main point in using the analogy is that this is not just a problem in our fantasy--it's a very real world one, too. But just as with the RW OS difficulties, compromise can be found, if people are willing to be considerate with each other.
Ah, ok. I thougt your analogy pertained to the timeline of FR and the editions used and somehow they might not be compatible. My mistake....
Carry on!  |
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Thrasymachus
Learned Scribe
195 Posts |
Posted - 04 Mar 2013 : 06:10:38
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Zealot, I am currently laying out a Geocache choose your own adventure for a friend based on the Realms (Pre ToT). I have DM'd using Neverwinter Nights (post ToT). I plan on doing so again in the next incarnation of Neverwinter.
On the rare occasions I actually get to a game table I DM 1st Edition (post ToT timeline).
Point being it's all Realms.
Not to go all Zen on you, but like what you do. Do what you like. |
Former Forgotten Realms brand manager Jim Butler: "Everything that bears the Forgotten Realms logo is considered canon". |
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vorpalanvil
Seeker
USA
90 Posts |
Posted - 04 Mar 2013 : 13:32:38
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| The fact is, you're the DM. That means people can show up or not. I have always dictated the setting and rules under which I run my game. There are plenty of players, and oh so few DM's. |
"I'm a busy man! I got places to go, monsters to kill!" attributed to 1st level bard |
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Mournblade
Master of Realmslore
USA
1287 Posts |
Posted - 04 Mar 2013 : 15:43:39
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I currently run Pathfinder in the realms of about 1375. It runs great. Golarion is optimal because it includes all of the Advanced Players Guide classes and fits them in nicely, but part of the fun is making some of those classes work in the FR. I currently have an alchemist in party that is trying to find his place in the church of Mystra. I have a cavalier in the order of the dragon. It works great.
Since they are fixing the realms with the sundering I have decided to make my next campaign 4e realms just before the sundering starts. after the last D&D encounters adventures when Mystra came back I feel that I can use the Pathfinder mechanics in the realms again, as the weave is starting to get restored. I plan to run the Shattered Isles adventure path in 1486 to get them set up for the sundering action which I am REALLY REALLY hopeful will fix the realms.
Pathfinder will work great with 3rd edition realms, TONS of people use it instead of 3rd edition now adays. It is best fit with classes from core.
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A wizard is Never late Frodo Baggins. Nor is he Early. A wizard arrives precisely when he means to... |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36816 Posts |
Posted - 04 Mar 2013 : 16:22:43
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| If I was DM'ing, I would use either 3.5 or Pathfinder, set in a slightly divergent version of the 1370s. |
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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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 04 Mar 2013 : 17:02:27
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Didn't bother to read other folks responses (yet), so if I am repeating what others said then apologies in advance....
If I were to use the 4e rules, I would probably use the rest of the 4e material as well. That means either FR or Nentir Vale (I am aware of other choices but have no clue about them), and I would probably go with a a 'Realmsified' version of Nentir Vale (all of Nentir Vale fits nicely between the High Forest and the High Moor, and the waterways line-up fairly well). Regardless of what I did, I would probably just ignore most of the 4e Realms lore and just use the mechanics with my own fluff.
I know that MANY people are running the Realms - PRE-spelllague - using both the PF rules and the 4e rules (NOT together LOL). If I had to guess, judging by what I've heard, those folks probably out-number the ones using the 4e rules in the 4e FR setting. I have no idea why the folks you game with say you HAVE TO use the 4e Forgotten Realms with the 4e rules. That makes no sense. In a game all about imagination, you can't use your imagination? Not quite following the logic there. You don't need new gaming materials, you need new friends.
Anyhow, what I decided to do is put together a world that encompasses the best aspects of every fantasy RPG world, from all eras of every setting. Since it isn't enough of any one thing (although it looks a lot like FR because of my mapping artistic preferences), no-one can 'call me out' on anything, because its my own mish-mosh of everything. That allows me to use as much published material as I want, without having to choose, and make any changes I want, without having 'grognards' beat me up over it. I also use PF rules, NOT because they are 'better', but because they are currently available. I would have just used my old 3e/3.5 books if I still had them. I find nothing wrong with the 4e rules, I just don't prefer them over OGL/3e.
'Canon' is limiting. The guys who work for companies CAN'T pick-&-choose what they want to do as I do, because they can't use pieces of other people's intellectual properties. ME... I can do whatever the hell I damn please. And I certainly wouldn't let any group of 'canon-nazi' gamers tell me what era I have to run a game in. Run whatever world (in whatever time) you want, and use what you want - so long as everyone is having fun what else matters? |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Edited by - Markustay on 05 Mar 2013 00:35:32 |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36816 Posts |
Posted - 04 Mar 2013 : 17:51:14
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
'Canon' is limiting.
I'm going to disagree with this particular line. Just because I can map my own path doesn't mean I want to do that. And if I do, then I will always know what lies ahead or to the side. I like trying to stick with canon, because canon can surprise me, and because it means that other people's nifty ideas can give me more to work with. I sometimes find that working within set parameters can inspire me more and give me better ideas than working without parameters. |
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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Diffan
Great Reader
USA
4448 Posts |
Posted - 04 Mar 2013 : 18:29:13
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I'm not sure why you have to use the Post-Spellplague timeline with 4E unless it's strictly a RPGA sanctioned place who only do sanctioned stuff *shruggs*. If that's the case, you can still run FR games in a Post-Spellplague era but downplay the elements of the Spellplague to just background stuff. A game set in Waterdeep, for example, would probably play out a lot like any other Waterdeep campaign set prior to the Spellplague. Same as with other, less-known areas of Faerūn like Loudwater (the starting area in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide).
Even though most of my 4E games are set in the post-Spellplague timeline, much of it's effects and changes are rarely brought up. I'll throw in some recent lore coupled with some older lore to give the players more flavor but I haven't received any complaints as of yet. I dunno, perhaps giving the post-Spellplague a try might change your perspective (it did with mine when we played Pathfinder's Golarion).
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Zealot
Seeker
USA
59 Posts |
Posted - 04 Mar 2013 : 20:14:07
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| Well I decided to stick with my 3.5 library. I am going to keep running the Realms my way. I will deal with 5E when it comes out. Its just hard sometimes, Im trying to readjust back to normal life and my hobby feels like it may have passed me by. Looks like its time to start hitting all the conventions again and hooking up with as many gamers as I can. I appreciate all the comments and the advice. |
Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage. |
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The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3567 Posts |
Posted - 04 Mar 2013 : 21:17:52
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quote:
Originally posted by Zealot
I have stated previously that there was a long bit of time when I was unable to game. I came back to the gaming world to find 4th edition in full swing. I picked up a History of the Realms and read about the Spell Plague. I didnt quite care for it.
I love the Forgotten Realms(obviously or why would I be here?)and I had a large library of 3.5 material. After attending more than a few conventions, I decided to stick with 3.5. It was a personal decision and I kept running MY realms and running my campaigns that I had written out.
There is a local gaming group that I like to play with on occasion, but they only play the Pathfinder rpg. A few of the players have told me that they were big fans of the Realms, yet they refuse to play it because they say that its not the world of Pathfinder. On the other side of the coin, I was told that if I want to run a 4th Ed Realms Game, I have to run it post Spell Plague because it has to be true to Edition.
Ok now this is my question. Am I stuck in a time warp? It took me awhile to get into 3.5 maybe I should look at just chucking out my books and wait for 5E? Are there people out there that run pre-spell plague using 4th ED? I never followed the rules when it came to current edition being the be all end all. Mr Greenwood himself talked about "our Realms" where we do things the way we want. Im just feeling flustered. Help?
1. No you are not out of line.
2. You are in a bit of a time warp, but hey your happy right?
3. Keep chucking your books(or better yet get them into the hands of someone who does want them) if they are not fitting into "your Realms"
4. Wait for 5e....but keep your fingers crossed
5. Help....Just keep plugging away....or even take a bit of a break, but remeber your realms are "your Realms" to do with as you see fit, be it ignoring bits or most of canon and what rules you utilize! |
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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Mapolq
Senior Scribe
Brazil
466 Posts |
Posted - 04 Mar 2013 : 22:24:36
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
'Canon' is limiting.
I'm going to disagree with this particular line. Just because I can map my own path doesn't mean I want to do that. And if I do, then I will always know what lies ahead or to the side. I like trying to stick with canon, because canon can surprise me, and because it means that other people's nifty ideas can give me more to work with. I sometimes find that working within set parameters can inspire me more and give me better ideas than working without parameters.
Well, I don't think it's a case of "Canon limits your imagination - ignore it!". But if you try to follow canon, that will certainly impose some restrictions on you. Of course, they're self-imposed restrictions, and there's an upside to them, as Wooly said. Basically, as long as you're enjoying it and not getting frustrated, following canon can be fun too, it's down to personal preference. Some people like to have their own highly customized sandbox that no one else will ever touch, others enjoy the challenge of working with other people's ideas. And of course, you can be anywhere in between, and you can change your mind tomorrow. I think that's just great. |
Never sleep under the jackfruit tree.
Tales of Moonsea - A Neverwinter Nights 2 Persistent World. Check out our website at http://www.talesofmoonsea.com and our video trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=am304WqOAAo&feature=youtu.be, as well as our thread here at Candlekeep: http://www.forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=12955
My campaign thread: http://www.forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=16447 |
Edited by - Mapolq on 04 Mar 2013 22:29:10 |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 05 Mar 2013 : 00:43:51
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What I meant was following one set of canon is limiting. WE don't have to do that. Only folks who work for the company (whatever company I am borrowing from at the time) have to adhere to that canon.
In my world, Kelemvor is Pharasma's consort. WotC can't do that. Paizo can't do that. Only a fan-made world can do that. When it comes to our own campaigns, we don't have restrictions, we have free reign to use (and abuse) whatever we like.
Thats what I meant by 'canon is limiting'. Sure I use the canon... from about 20 different worlds and modules. Canon is a tool, not a set of rules. You use it when you need it, and set it aside when you don't. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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BEAST
Master of Realmslore
USA
1714 Posts |
Posted - 05 Mar 2013 : 05:01:41
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When I was working with Brian on Menzoberranzan: City of Intrigue, I was very pleasantly surprised to read that the draft had a lot of scenarios in it suggesting non-canonical outcomes of major events and encouraging gamers to pursue these various side-tangents. I don't know how much of all of that was Brian's own personal idea or handed down to him from up on high, but I found it very refreshing that this major 4E sourcebook was branching out beyond established lore, so. It was especially cool to see a subversive product being helmed by such a stickler of a loremeister as Brian. 
The fiction's canon is limited.
But it doesn't need to be seen or cast as all that limiting.
I still don't play the game, but that kind of freedom is a really attractive feature of D&D to me. |
"'You don't know my history,' he said dryly."
--Drizzt Do'Urden (The Pirate King, Part 1: Chapter 2)
<"Comprehensive Chronology of R.A. Salvatore Forgotten Realms Works"> |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36816 Posts |
Posted - 05 Mar 2013 : 05:12:44
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I say that canon is only a limitation if you let it be a limitation. As detailed as the Realms is, there are plenty of hazy grey areas and flat out blank spots, allowing the imagination to run wild.
I wanted warforged in the Realms. They don't exist in canon. But I found those grey areas and the blank spots, let them guide me to three different varieties of warforged, and I ended up with a finished product I'm rather proud of. And I daresay that working around canon made them a lot more interesting than no canon at all would have. |
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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Jeremy Grenemyer
Great Reader
USA
2717 Posts |
Posted - 05 Mar 2013 : 05:46:48
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I think canon-as-limitation depends on whether there's an interest among one or more players, or the DM, to stick with canon.
In my experience this has come from players who read the novels and either assume what's in a novel is how it is in my game, or ask if certain novels (by an author they like reading) are true for my game. |
Look for me and my content at EN World (user name: sanishiver). |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 05 Mar 2013 : 12:39:05
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@Wooly - right. So you took Eberron canon (Warforged) and integrated it into the Realms. Pretty much what I do.
Thats a thing WotC can also do, since they own both IP's. At one point I probably would have had a cow if they did that to the published Realms, but these days I find myself becoming more and more ambivalent to the setting changes. Whether good or bad, they don't need to effect me at all.
quote:
Originally posted by BEAST
When I was working with Brian on Menzoberranzan: City of Intrigue, I was very pleasantly surprised to read that the draft had a lot of scenarios in it suggesting non-canonical outcomes of major events and encouraging gamers to pursue these various side-tangents. I don't know how much of all of that was Brian's own personal idea or handed down to him from up on high, but I found it very refreshing that this major 4E sourcebook was branching out beyond established lore, so. It was especially cool to see a subversive product being helmed by such a stickler of a loremeister as Brian.
The Neverwinter product is filled with a lot of those if/then suggestions as well.
I would assume its a '4e thing'. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Edited by - Markustay on 05 Mar 2013 12:54:37 |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36816 Posts |
Posted - 05 Mar 2013 : 17:15:00
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
@Wooly - right. So you took Eberron canon (Warforged) and integrated it into the Realms. Pretty much what I do.
I wouldn't call it Eberron canon, since the canon for warforged includes the Last War and the creation forges and all that. I respun a concept that is part of the Eber-whatsit setting, but I didn't touch the Eber-whatsit canon itself. |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31792 Posts |
Posted - 06 Mar 2013 : 01:09:14
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| And it's difficult to properly justify the concept of the warforged as being specifically EBERRON. Granted they are unique to the setting... but it's hardly a "new" idea when it comes to the various types of constructs that have long been a part of both science fiction and fantasy related media. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36816 Posts |
Posted - 06 Mar 2013 : 01:26:17
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
And it's difficult to properly justify the concept of the warforged as being specifically EBERRON. Granted they are unique to the setting... but it's hardly a "new" idea when it comes to the various types of constructs that have long been a part of both science fiction and fantasy related media.
True. Self-willed constructs have appeared in a lot of places, even in D&D. Dragonstar had its soulmechs long before the contest that birthed the published Eberron setting, and we had named, free-willed constructs in FR canon before that -- Squch, Minder, and Aragus, in particular. While my focus was specifically to make Realms-specific versions of warforged, I was simply adapting yet another spin on a long-existing concept.
Not to be dismissive of Eber-whatsit's warforged; I obviously really like the idea. I'm simply agreeing that it's not a wholly original concept. |
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Am I out of Line (No Edition Bashing)
