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Thomas M. Reid
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
334 Posts |
 Posted - 08 Apr 2004 : 20:49:21
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The WotC third trimester catalog is apparently in hobby stores by now, so I no longer have to be secretive about the fact that I wrote The Shining South sourcebook, for release in October 2004. The topic originally came up in a thread in the novels forum, but I decided to bump it over here, where it's more pertinent.
Rad originally asked:
quote:
Thomas, how much coverage is there on Veldorn? Ive always been quite intrigued by it but very little information exists in previous FR products.
The quick answer is, about 3 pages. But it's part of a larger chapter that deals with the entire region known as the Shining Lands, which also includes Estagund, Var the Golden, and Durpar, and those three by necessity got more detailed examinations. Veldorn, quite simply, is one of those places that really needs 192 pages all on its own to cover everything that needs to be covered, and there just wasn't room to do more than a cursory examination of what's going on there.
Thomas
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"A knight is not truly virtuous, only truly resolved to be so."
www.thomasmreid.com |
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SiriusBlack
Great Reader
USA
5517 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2004 : 21:33:24
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Thomas Reid:
This area's received coverage in past products, albeit some time ago. How much in the way of changes can we expect? Were you directed to implement any changes to the region and/or developments? Any constraints on what you could or could not do?
Thanks in advance for any reply. |
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Lord Rad
Great Reader
United Kingdom
2080 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2004 : 22:16:28
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Thanks Thomas 
Are you the sole author of this sourcebook? If not, which areas did you work on?
Do you know if it is to include a poster map? |
Lord Rad
"What? No, I wasn't reading your module. I was just looking at the pictures"
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Dargoth
Great Reader
Australia
4607 Posts |
Posted - 09 Apr 2004 : 02:31:39
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A few questions for Thomas
Does the Shinning South have any adventures in it ie like the Silver Marches has?
Did you introduce Al Quinn Expates into any of the southern nations like they did with Kara Tara in Thesk?
Do you touch on Ulgarth? (it seems to have been cut off the map)
Given your involvement in the WOSQ saga and you writing up Dambrath where tempted to stir things up in that nation? (Say like a certain Drow city converting to Loviator)  |
“I am the King of Rome, and above grammar”
Emperor Sigismund
"Its good to be the King!"
Mel Brooks |
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Thomas M. Reid
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
334 Posts |
Posted - 09 Apr 2004 : 13:59:15
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quote:
Originally posted by SiriusBlack
This area's received coverage in past products, albeit some time ago. How much in the way of changes can we expect? Were you directed to implement any changes to the region and/or developments? Any constraints on what you could or could not do?
Well, aside from the obvious differences (2E to 3.5E), I tried very hard to smooth over some hiccups that existed (Ed Greenwood and I came up with a solution for one particularly odd descrepancy that existed between two older sources--I bet some of you might be able to guess what I'm talking about).
I wasn't directed to make any specfic changes, but I was encouraged to focus on the cool stuff. The area has only been detailed once before, in Tom Prusa's FR16--The Shining South accessory, so I pulled what I liked from that, and developed some new material to go with it.
No one gave me any specficic restraints, but that's a lot of area to cover in 192 pages (plus all the mechanics-driven chapters, of course), so nothing got as much detail as I would have and could done.
Thomas |
"A knight is not truly virtuous, only truly resolved to be so."
www.thomasmreid.com |
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Thomas M. Reid
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
334 Posts |
Posted - 09 Apr 2004 : 14:01:37
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quote:
Originally posted by Rad
Are you the sole author of this sourcebook? If not, which areas did you work on?
I wrote the whole thing. I received a lot of references from Eric Boyd and others, and I included as much of that material as I could.
quote:
Do you know if it is to include a poster map?
No, the maps in SS are just like the ones in Unapproachable East, full-color maps in the pages themselves.
Thomas
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"A knight is not truly virtuous, only truly resolved to be so."
www.thomasmreid.com |
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Thomas M. Reid
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
334 Posts |
Posted - 09 Apr 2004 : 14:05:34
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quote:
Originally posted by Dargoth
Does the Shinning South have any adventures in it ie like the Silver Marches has?
There are three very small mini-adventures, similar to SM.
quote:
Did you introduce Al Quinn Expates into any of the southern nations like they did with Kara Tara in Thesk?
No.
quote:
Do you touch on Ulgarth? (it seems to have been cut off the map)
Yep, very briefly.
quote:
Given your involvement in the WOSQ saga and you writing up Dambrath where tempted to stir things up in that nation? (Say like a certain Drow city converting to Loviator)
Actually, no, because I had to make it gel with information in the Underdark sourcebook. That one was further along in development, so I ran with their stuff.
Thomas |
"A knight is not truly virtuous, only truly resolved to be so."
www.thomasmreid.com |
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Alrunes Sinethal
Acolyte
USA
17 Posts |
Posted - 11 Apr 2004 : 01:32:36
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| I hope Luiren gets alot of attention. The halflings are like the forgotten race of tha major D&D races. The humans, the elves and the dwarves all have their kingdoms and wars and such. The short folk naturally got the short end :) Let's see some hobbitons, baggins, and stings. Some nice illustrated holes, some delicious food, some ridiculous customs, some hilarity. Basically anything that will make a simple rural live kewl. LIke who cares about gold pieces, spells and magic items |
.........reborned from the ashes
belovéd of the dead............. |
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Faraer
Great Reader
3308 Posts |
Posted - 11 Apr 2004 : 01:57:52
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Thomas,
I hope this works out well. Vaelan or Vaelen? And how much did you work from Ed's notes -- the FR series not by him varied a fair bit on that score, with no clear credit given.
The difficulty with Luiren is that although Ed established a lot about what it's like in GAZ8 The Five Shires (though it takes a little interpretation to the Realms), the 3E FRCS took in the changes D&D made to halflings, and the two aren't hugely compatible. We can hope that Thomas will do a good synthesis, but the business of rules remains to represent milieux, not change them. |
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Thomas M. Reid
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
334 Posts |
Posted - 11 Apr 2004 : 06:15:36
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quote:
Originally posted by Faraer
Vaelan or Vaelen?
That's one of those things that Ed and I had to tweak a bit. I'll hold off on commenting on it and let everyone find out when the book goes on sale. But I did address it.
quote:
And how much did you work from Ed's notes -- the FR series not by him varied a fair bit on that score, with no clear credit given.
I spoke with Ed on a few different points, but I didn't just sit down and write out his notes.
As far as Luiren goes, I tried to capture as much of the feel of what was described in FR16 while still maintaining continuity with the FRCS. I touched on their lifestyle while aiming my major effort toward what would be interesting from a campaign standpoint--in essence, the potential for conflict.
Thomas |
"A knight is not truly virtuous, only truly resolved to be so."
www.thomasmreid.com |
Edited by - Thomas M. Reid on 11 Apr 2004 06:16:42 |
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Dargoth
Great Reader
Australia
4607 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2004 : 03:48:23
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Do you get the feeling that the guys at WOTC like Jigsaw puzzles?
This year they'll have finished off the southern edge of the map, from Chult in the west (Serpent Kingdoms) to Var the goldern in the Eastern (Shining south)
Anyone want to bet that next year we see Old Empires (Which will link UE with SS) and Cold lands (which will link up with UE in the north and finish the eastern edge of the map)
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“I am the King of Rome, and above grammar”
Emperor Sigismund
"Its good to be the King!"
Mel Brooks |
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Dargoth
Great Reader
Australia
4607 Posts |
Posted - 13 Apr 2004 : 04:47:17
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Thomas
Did you introduce any new races in SS?
Is there much infomation on Zakhara in SS? (there seems to be a fair bit of trade and interaction going on between the nations of the Shining South and Zakhara, at least according to the origional SS)
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“I am the King of Rome, and above grammar”
Emperor Sigismund
"Its good to be the King!"
Mel Brooks |
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Thomas M. Reid
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
334 Posts |
Posted - 13 Apr 2004 : 05:02:04
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quote:
Originally posted by Dargoth
Did you introduce any new races in SS?
Not as such. There are four human cultures detailed, and two races that have been seen before that are given the full-blown treatment.
quote:
Is there much infomation on Zakhara in SS? (there seems to be a fair bit of trade and interaction going on between the nations of the Shining South and Zakhara, at least according to the origional SS)
No. I comment more than once that trade is heavy on the Great Sea (and I mention some of the goods that come from elsewhere), but I don't detail anything about Zakhara itself.
Thomas |
"A knight is not truly virtuous, only truly resolved to be so."
www.thomasmreid.com |
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mother1219
Acolyte
26 Posts |
Posted - 14 Apr 2004 : 16:47:29
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| I really, really hope the Adama concept got some nice attention. Pretty please? :) |
History shows again and again how nature points out the folly of men...Godzilla.
Go, Go Godzilla
See my silly blog: http://www.motherlove.blogspot.com/ |
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Thomas M. Reid
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
334 Posts |
Posted - 14 Apr 2004 : 18:25:34
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quote:
Originally posted by mother1219
I really, really hope the Adama concept got some nice attention. Pretty please? :)
Not sure what you are looking for specifically, but I covered it in detail. There's even a prestige class associated with it.
Thomas |
"A knight is not truly virtuous, only truly resolved to be so."
www.thomasmreid.com |
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Lady Kazandra
Senior Scribe
Australia
921 Posts |
Posted - 15 Apr 2004 : 03:32:40
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Is it possible for us to know (roughly of course) what type of monstrous creatures will be detailed in this sourcebook?.
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"Once upon a time the plural of 'wizard' was 'war'." -- The Last Continent, by Terry Pratchett |
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Thomas M. Reid
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
334 Posts |
Posted - 15 Apr 2004 : 04:15:24
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quote:
Originally posted by Lady Kazandra
Is it possible for us to know (roughly of course) what type of monstrous creatures will be detailed in this sourcebook?.
I think I'd better not reveal too much before the book comes out. I'm not really sure what Wizards will frown on, so I'm going to err on the side of conservatism.
Thomas |
"A knight is not truly virtuous, only truly resolved to be so."
www.thomasmreid.com |
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Lady Kazandra
Senior Scribe
Australia
921 Posts |
Posted - 15 Apr 2004 : 05:46:51
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Okay then, thanks anyway  .
Can you at least tell us then, whether there are any "new" creatures?. And of course, by "new" I simply mean creatures that have never been featured in a Realms product before.
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"Once upon a time the plural of 'wizard' was 'war'." -- The Last Continent, by Terry Pratchett |
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Dargoth
Great Reader
Australia
4607 Posts |
Posted - 15 Apr 2004 : 06:54:46
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Thomas
The old SS featured a couple of kits for followers of Halfling deities does the 3ed one have something similar? |
“I am the King of Rome, and above grammar”
Emperor Sigismund
"Its good to be the King!"
Mel Brooks |
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Lady Kazandra
Senior Scribe
Australia
921 Posts |
Posted - 15 Apr 2004 : 15:54:47
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What about the realms of Dambrath and Halruaa?. Do they receive any detailing in the sourcebook?.
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"Once upon a time the plural of 'wizard' was 'war'." -- The Last Continent, by Terry Pratchett |
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Lord Rad
Great Reader
United Kingdom
2080 Posts |
Posted - 15 Apr 2004 : 16:02:48
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quote:
Originally posted by Lady Kazandra
What about the realms of Dambrath and Halruaa?. Do they receive any detailing in the sourcebook?.
Dambrath was certainly mentioned as being included when Thomas replied in another post. Id assume that Halruaa (and Luiren) are two as theyre the two main nations of the Shining South. |
Lord Rad
"What? No, I wasn't reading your module. I was just looking at the pictures"
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Lady Kazandra
Senior Scribe
Australia
921 Posts |
Posted - 15 Apr 2004 : 16:07:30
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Thanks Rad  .
Although, it's not Dambrath that I'm really concerned about. I want to read about the 3e realm of Halruaa. I've been waiting for this, since I first read about Halruaa in the 2e Shining South sourcebook last year.
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"Once upon a time the plural of 'wizard' was 'war'." -- The Last Continent, by Terry Pratchett |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 15 Apr 2004 : 17:42:44
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I hope they fixed the discrepency between the article Elaine wrote up about Dambrath and what was printed in the old Shining South and Faiths & Avatars in Loviatar's entry.
http://www.candlekeep.com/library/articles/crinti.htm
And we discussed the error here:
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=180162&highlight=dambrath |
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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mother1219
Acolyte
26 Posts |
Posted - 15 Apr 2004 : 22:18:46
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quote:
quote:Originally posted by mother1219
I really, really hope the Adama concept got some nice attention. Pretty please? :)
quote:
Not sure what you are looking for specifically, but I covered it in detail. There's even a prestige class associated with it.
Thomas
Ooooo...*drool* PrC associated with the Adama. Sweeeeet. I was really just talking about the Adama as a broad concept/philosophy. Sounds like I won't be disappointed.
I really enjoy the SS, and Estagund in particular. Some of the social values and social class set-up stuff there is ripe for the writing/playing.
Thank you very much. |
History shows again and again how nature points out the folly of men...Godzilla.
Go, Go Godzilla
See my silly blog: http://www.motherlove.blogspot.com/ |
Edited by - mother1219 on 15 Apr 2004 22:20:36 |
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Thomas M. Reid
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
334 Posts |
Posted - 15 Apr 2004 : 22:51:24
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quote:
Originally posted by Lady Kazandra
Can you at least tell us then, whether there are any "new" creatures?. And of course, by "new" I simply mean creatures that have never been featured in a Realms product before.
Some of the creatures I included have never been in a supplement with game statistics (any edition of the game), but there is nothing that was created from scratch--they either came out of a novel, an old FR comic, or other stuff of that nature.
Thomas |
"A knight is not truly virtuous, only truly resolved to be so."
www.thomasmreid.com |
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Thomas M. Reid
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
334 Posts |
Posted - 15 Apr 2004 : 23:02:09
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quote:
Originally posted by Dargoth
The old SS featured a couple of kits for followers of Halfling deities does the 3ed one have something similar?
Not per se, but I did do some other things specifically devoted to the halflings of Luiren.
Thomas |
"A knight is not truly virtuous, only truly resolved to be so."
www.thomasmreid.com |
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Thomas M. Reid
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
334 Posts |
Posted - 15 Apr 2004 : 23:04:58
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quote:
Originally posted by Lady Kazandra
What about the realms of Dambrath and Halruaa?. Do they receive any detailing in the sourcebook?.
The regions that are included in the sourcebook are:
The Shaar
The Great Rift
The Eastern Shaar
Veldorn
Halruaa
Dambrath
Luiren
Estagund
Var The Golden
Durpar
Plus some minor information on bordering areas.
Thomas
*edited for very confusing typo. |
"A knight is not truly virtuous, only truly resolved to be so."
www.thomasmreid.com |
Edited by - Thomas M. Reid on 17 Apr 2004 04:03:00 |
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Thomas M. Reid
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
334 Posts |
Posted - 15 Apr 2004 : 23:08:11
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quote:
Originally posted by kuje31
I hope they fixed the discrepency between the article Elaine wrote up about Dambrath and what was printed in the old Shining South and Faiths & Avatars in Loviatar's entry.
Yep, I have tried to clear up as many discrepancies as I could.
Thomas |
"A knight is not truly virtuous, only truly resolved to be so."
www.thomasmreid.com |
Edited by - Thomas M. Reid on 15 Apr 2004 23:09:55 |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 15 Apr 2004 : 23:39:30
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quote:
Originally posted by Thomas M. Reid
quote:
Originally posted by kuje31
I hope they fixed the discrepency between the article Elaine wrote up about Dambrath and what was printed in the old Shining South and Faiths & Avatars in Loviatar's entry.
Yep, I have tried to clear up as many discrepancies as I could.
Thomas
Good good. It'll be nice to have a sourcebook that doesn't create more errors that conflict with the older 1/2/3e material. :) Yes I am jaded, sorry! |
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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Lady Kazandra
Senior Scribe
Australia
921 Posts |
Posted - 16 Apr 2004 : 10:40:17
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Mr. Reid, I've never heard of a place in the Realms called, Car the Golden. Are you sure that's correct?. I thought it was supposed to be Var the Golden . . .  .
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"Once upon a time the plural of 'wizard' was 'war'." -- The Last Continent, by Terry Pratchett |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 16 Apr 2004 : 15:16:51
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quote:
Originally posted by Lady Kazandra
Mr. Reid, I've never heard of a place in the Realms called, Car the Golden. Are you sure that's correct?. I thought it was supposed to be Var the Golden . . . .
I'm sure that was a typo on his part. The C and the V are right next to each other on the keyboard, after all.... |
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The Shining South Sourcebook
