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Eytan C Bernstein
Acolyte
USA
17 Posts |
 Posted - 31 Dec 2023 : 12:09:53
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I figured it was time for a reintroduction. While I was at Wizards, I couldn't say much about what I was doing (FR or otherwise), but as of this month, I'm a free agent. I still can't speak about details of anything that hasn't been released yet, but I can do my best to answer lore questions about anything I've worked on that is already out. I also can't speak to the inner workings of Wizards, though I can confirm anything that's been said publicly. Standard disclaimer: I don't speak for Wizards of the Coast, everything I say in my opinion or belief, and nothing I say is canon.
Feel free to ask me about anything I've worked on, D&D or otherwise. Here is a non-exhaustive list of Forgotten Realms books, articles, and web features I've written or edited. Some of the works are not exclusively FR, but they all contain FR content. Caveat: I'm making no claim as to what is or isn't canon.
WRITER
D&D 3.5
-Dragons of Faerun, Web Enhancement, and 2 previews *
-Class Chronicles: 21 article web series *
D&D 4E
-Arcane Power
-Martial Power 2
-Open Grave
-Exemplars of Evil
-Online, Epic Insights: "Epic Binders"
-Dragon #380, Wizard Essentials: "Secrets of the Spiral Tower"
-Dragon #381, Channel Divinity: "Champions of Torm" (with Erik Scott de Bie) *
-Dragon #386, Bazaar of the Bizarre: "The Items of the Drizzt Saga" *
-Dragon #428 Bazaar of the Bizarre: "Treasures of the Far Realm"
-Dungeon #171: Eye of Justice (with Erik Scott de Bie) *
D&D 5E
-Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk *
EDITOR
D&D 5E
-Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants
-Keys from the Golden Vault $
-Prisoner 13 *$
-Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk *$
-Vecna: Eve of Ruin $
* after a title indicates a dedicated FR work.
$ lead editor
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I am available for freelance writing, editing, development, and sensitivity review.
https://www.eytanbernstein.com |
Edited by - Wooly Rupert on 19 Jan 2024 01:40:46
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jan 2024 : 04:30:28
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Welcome back, Eytan!
Without launching a round of complaining about WotC, allow me to say I sympathize with you and your unexpected return to free agent status. The same thing happened to me, this year, and it drew much vacuum. |
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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Brimstone
Great Reader
USA
3287 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jan 2024 : 05:03:44
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| Welcome back to these Hallowed Halls of Realmslore! That Acolyte Title needs to be changed! |
"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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Dalor Darden
Great Reader
USA
4211 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jan 2024 : 05:33:49
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| Welcome home! |
The Old Grey Box and AD&D for me! |
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George Krashos
Master of Realmslore
Australia
6666 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jan 2024 : 21:35:21
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Yes, welcome Eytan. Good to have you walking these halls once again.
-- George Krashos |
"Because only we, contrary to the barbarians, never count the enemy in battle." -- Aeschylus |
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ElfBane
Learned Scribe
USA
285 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jan 2024 : 22:44:04
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| If Eytan was here before, why is he at 1 post? |
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4688 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jan 2024 : 01:18:20
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quote:
Originally posted by ElfBane
If Eytan was here before, why is he at 1 post?
Odds are forgot login for this site?
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11829 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jan 2024 : 21:54:06
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Glory of the Giants question
Curious... were you involved in the giant divine lore for this? I read through it with a "don't overly research it... just enjoy it" view and liked the spins that I saw, especially the use of Diancastra along with the story of Bigby being reincarnated into a gnome body. |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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TomCosta
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
971 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jan 2024 : 19:12:14
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| Welcome Eytan! |
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Eytan C Bernstein
Acolyte
USA
17 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jan 2024 : 19:06:03
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quote:
Originally posted by Kentinal
quote:
Originally posted by ElfBane
If Eytan was here before, why is he at 1 post?
Odds are forgot login for this site?
I did indeed. If someone who can do so could help me regain access to it, I'll post through that account from now on. |
I am available for freelance writing, editing, development, and sensitivity review.
https://www.eytanbernstein.com |
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ElfBane
Learned Scribe
USA
285 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jan 2024 : 22:55:08
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quote:
Originally posted by Eytan C Bernstein
quote:
Originally posted by Kentinal
quote:
Originally posted by ElfBane
If Eytan was here before, why is he at 1 post?
Odds are forgot login for this site?
I did indeed. If someone who can do so could help me regain access to it, I'll post through that account from now on.
You would have to ask the Admins. I suspect that you will have to prove you are the same as the orinial Eytan. I don't know how rigorous this process may be. |
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Eytan C Bernstein
Acolyte
USA
17 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jan 2024 : 00:43:59
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Welcome back, Eytan!
Without launching a round of complaining about WotC, allow me to say I sympathize with you and your unexpected return to free agent status. The same thing happened to me, this year, and it drew much vacuum.
Thanks. I'm sorry you went through that. Don't hold back on anything or anyone on my account, though I can't participate for obvious reasons. |
I am available for freelance writing, editing, development, and sensitivity review.
https://www.eytanbernstein.com |
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Eytan C Bernstein
Acolyte
USA
17 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jan 2024 : 00:45:59
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quote:
Originally posted by Brimstone
Welcome back to these Hallowed Halls of Realmslore! That Acolyte Title needs to be changed!
Yes. I thought I had replied to my own thread rather than creating a new one. If someone could give me a hand with recovering my old account, that would be great. I'm not sure if there's a way to merge this thread with that one. Or maybe we could just rename this one "Eytan Bernstein [II]"? |
I am available for freelance writing, editing, development, and sensitivity review.
https://www.eytanbernstein.com |
Edited by - Eytan C Bernstein on 06 Jan 2024 00:47:16 |
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Eytan C Bernstein
Acolyte
USA
17 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jan 2024 : 00:50:54
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quote:
Originally posted by Kentinal
quote:
Originally posted by ElfBane
If Eytan was here before, why is he at 1 post?
Odds are forgot login for this site?
Yep. Couldn't get it to work. How do I get in touch with the admins? |
I am available for freelance writing, editing, development, and sensitivity review.
https://www.eytanbernstein.com |
Edited by - Eytan C Bernstein on 06 Jan 2024 11:05:47 |
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Eytan C Bernstein
Acolyte
USA
17 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jan 2024 : 00:55:22
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quote:
Originally posted by George Krashos
Yes, welcome Eytan. Good to have you walking these halls once again.
-- George Krashos
Thanks! It's good to be back! And thank you everyone for the welcome. |
I am available for freelance writing, editing, development, and sensitivity review.
https://www.eytanbernstein.com |
Edited by - Eytan C Bernstein on 06 Jan 2024 11:08:36 |
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Eytan C Bernstein
Acolyte
USA
17 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jan 2024 : 10:45:16
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quote:
Originally posted by TomCosta
Welcome Eytan!
Thank you!@ |
I am available for freelance writing, editing, development, and sensitivity review.
https://www.eytanbernstein.com |
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Eytan C Bernstein
Acolyte
USA
17 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jan 2024 : 11:03:49
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quote:
Originally posted by sleyvas
Glory of the Giants question
Curious... were you involved in the giant divine lore for this? I read through it with a "don't overly research it... just enjoy it" view and liked the spins that I saw, especially the use of Diancastra along with the story of Bigby being reincarnated into a gnome body.
I was was an editor on this, but I wasn’t the lead. My only contribution to the giabt lore was suggesting that we integrate the three giant goddesses more fully into giant society. The team recognized that in previous giant lore, the goddesses had been somewhat relegated to the sidelines. We couldn't re-engineer the ordning, so the design folks added lines here and there to bolster their influence and importance. I think it was an elegant solution.
The Diancastra and Bigby content was all the design folks' efforts. The choice of Diancastra was another way to create more gender parity. |
I am available for freelance writing, editing, development, and sensitivity review.
https://www.eytanbernstein.com |
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Italian Archmage Karsus
Learned Scribe
126 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jan 2024 : 16:11:29
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| Simply out of curiosity, were you planning on anything more for Zceryll, the vestige and alienist creator of the Bone Scepter of Zceryll? What about her Black Blood Kaleidoscope, and the Rod of Taupanga? |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 08 Jan 2024 : 02:44:11
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quote:
Originally posted by Eytan C Bernstein
quote:
Originally posted by Kentinal
quote:
Originally posted by ElfBane
If Eytan was here before, why is he at 1 post?
Odds are forgot login for this site?
Yep. Couldn't get it to work. How do I get in touch with the admins?
I'll ping Big Al on your behalf. |
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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Alaundo
Head Moderator
United Kingdom
5695 Posts |
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Eytan C Bernstein
Acolyte
USA
17 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jan 2024 : 13:08:26
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quote:
Originally posted by Italian Archmage Karsus
Simply out of curiosity, were you planning on anything more for Zceryll, the vestige and alienist creator of the Bone Scepter of Zceryll? What about her Black Blood Kaleidoscope, and the Rod of Taupanga?
I would love to do that. Unfortunately, I don't own the rights to that content. Anything I (and any other freelancer or employee) has written for WotC belongs to them. If I ever do freelance design work for them, who knows? |
I am available for freelance writing, editing, development, and sensitivity review.
https://www.eytanbernstein.com |
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Eytan C Bernstein
Acolyte
USA
17 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jan 2024 : 13:16:15
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quote:
Originally posted by Alaundo
Well met
Welcome back, Eytan. Your existing account is EytanBernstein. If the "forgot password" link isn't working for you, let me know and i'll get this reset by other means if you wish to use your old account (currently at a 704 post count).
It's probably fine to continue with this thread. Could we just rename it It could be "Eytan Bernstein, part 2." |
I am available for freelance writing, editing, development, and sensitivity review.
https://www.eytanbernstein.com |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2024 : 01:41:31
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quote:
Originally posted by Eytan C Bernstein
quote:
Originally posted by Alaundo
Well met
Welcome back, Eytan. Your existing account is EytanBernstein. If the "forgot password" link isn't working for you, let me know and i'll get this reset by other means if you wish to use your old account (currently at a 704 post count).
It's probably fine to continue with this thread. Could we just rename it It could be "Eytan Bernstein, part 2."
Done. I believe you should be able to rename your own threads without assistance. |
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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Alaundo
Head Moderator
United Kingdom
5695 Posts |
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Eytan C Bernstein
Acolyte
USA
17 Posts |
Posted - 25 Jan 2024 : 17:37:58
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Eytan C Bernstein
quote:
Originally posted by Alaundo
Well met
Welcome back, Eytan. Your existing account is EytanBernstein. If the "forgot password" link isn't working for you, let me know and i'll get this reset by other means if you wish to use your old account (currently at a 704 post count).
It's probably fine to continue with this thread. Could we just rename it It could be "Eytan Bernstein, part 2."
Done. I believe you should be able to rename your own threads without assistance.
Great. Thank you! |
I am available for freelance writing, editing, development, and sensitivity review.
https://www.eytanbernstein.com |
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Eytan C Bernstein
Acolyte
USA
17 Posts |
Posted - 25 Jan 2024 : 17:43:05
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quote:
Originally posted by Alaundo
Well met
I think it was more if you wanted to reinstate your old account (and post count) rather than the thread. Happy to assist here if required.
Yeah. That would be great, thanks! |
I am available for freelance writing, editing, development, and sensitivity review.
https://www.eytanbernstein.com |
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Italian Archmage Karsus
Learned Scribe
126 Posts |
Posted - 14 May 2024 : 04:08:56
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Mr. Bernstein, this is more of a comment than a question, but I wanted you to know that one of your Realms characters, Maerwûn Venedel, appears to have taken the Obscure Personal Truename feat sometime between June 20 2008 and December 21 2008.
https://web.archive.org/web/20081221151035/http://www.wizards.com:80/default.asp?x=dnd/frcc/20070801
The archived versions of the Class Chronicles article for Truenamers, after July 2008, have the circumflex accents replaced by illegible "û" codes; the print versions, curiously, replace the circumflex accent (far as I can tell, for this entry alone) with the hungarumlaut, rendering her as Maerw#369;n. The PDF still renders correctly, hilariously enough, but they are zipped, requiring an extra step to read.
Thought you might get a kick out of it! XD
EDIT: Posting this after lovingly copypasting the characters has caused them to display incorrectly. While I was editing to note this, I see them replaced by a combination of chinese characters and strange octothorpe-headed strings. The font has also become bizarrely stretched-out and monospaced. So I'm assuming she took Personal Truename Backlash too, heh. |
Edited by - Italian Archmage Karsus on 14 May 2024 04:13:03 |
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Italian Archmage Karsus
Learned Scribe
126 Posts |
Posted - 19 May 2024 : 15:26:24
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This one is a question: in Dragons of Faerun, there is a Brown Dragon (MoF) known as Slavin'kraht'Magaal; she appears to be the last dragon of its kind to be used in any product. I'm trying to check if brown dragons and the sand dragons introduced in Sandstorm were intended to be one and the same. The Sandstorm dragon was introduced in 2005, a year prior, and became the core dragon in 4e, taking on the name of "brown dragon".
Would you happen to recall if there was any particular reason for the abandonment of the previous brown dragon, and the usage of the sand dragon as the brown dragon since, whether lore or editorial? |
Edited by - Italian Archmage Karsus on 19 May 2024 15:27:39 |
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Eytan C Bernstein
Acolyte
USA
17 Posts |
Posted - 21 May 2024 : 06:03:53
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quote:
Originally posted by Italian Archmage Karsus
Mr. Bernstein, this is more of a comment than a question, but I wanted you to know that one of your Realms characters, Maerwûn Venedel, appears to have taken the Obscure Personal Truename feat sometime between June 20 2008 and December 21 2008.
https://web.archive.org/web/20081221151035/http://www.wizards.com:80/default.asp?x=dnd/frcc/20070801
The archived versions of the Class Chronicles article for Truenamers, after July 2008, have the circumflex accents replaced by illegible "û" codes; the print versions, curiously, replace the circumflex accent (far as I can tell, for this entry alone) with the hungarumlaut, rendering her as Maerw#369;n. The PDF still renders correctly, hilariously enough, but they are zipped, requiring an extra step to read.
Thought you might get a kick out of it! XD
EDIT: Posting this after lovingly copypasting the characters has caused them to display incorrectly. While I was editing to note this, I see them replaced by a combination of chinese characters and strange octothorpe-headed strings. The font has also become bizarrely stretched-out and monospaced. So I'm assuming she took Personal Truename Backlash too, heh.
Hi there. That's really funny. I can't recall what was happening around the time that article was written. Something might have been scrambled when the manuscript was imported into whatever program they used to manage the Wizards website at the time. |
I am available for freelance writing, editing, development, and sensitivity review.
https://www.eytanbernstein.com |
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Eytan C Bernstein
Acolyte
USA
17 Posts |
Posted - 21 May 2024 : 06:42:17
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quote:
Originally posted by Italian Archmage Karsus
This one is a question: in Dragons of Faerun, there is a Brown Dragon (MoF) known as Slavin'kraht'Magaal; she appears to be the last dragon of its kind to be used in any product. I'm trying to check if brown dragons and the sand dragons introduced in Sandstorm were intended to be one and the same. The Sandstorm dragon was introduced in 2005, a year prior, and became the core dragon in 4e, taking on the name of "brown dragon".
Would you happen to recall if there was any particular reason for the abandonment of the previous brown dragon, and the usage of the sand dragon as the brown dragon since, whether lore or editorial?
Ah yes, Slavin'krath'magaal. Definitely on my list of top ten names I've created for D&D. She was created for Dragons of Faerun, not Monsters of Faerun, the latter of which was for 3e, though brown dragons are in Monsters of Faerun as well.
Brown dragons did appear in other places:
- In the "Class Chronicles: Warmages and Favored Souls (2007)," Slavin'krath'magaal is mentioned as having a daughter, Braeden, who is a half-brown dragon and the favored soul of Tiamat. There's quite a bit more detail in that article.
- In Dungeon 160 (4e, 2008), brown dragons appear in an adventure written by Ari Marmell called "The Sand King's Daughter" (sometimes Tomb of the Sand King's Daughter), specifically one called Urum-Shar.
- In the Draconomicon for 4e (2008), brown dragons are covered, though I don't have that book, so I'm not sure what's in it.
- In "Wandering Stones," (2008) a story by Bruce Cordell in the Realms of the Dead FR anthology, there is a brown dragon named Thovantareth.
- Ed wrote a tweet (2019) that said, " ... The Scalyfang Marauder that terrorized Saelmur and Ankhapur in the mid-1300s DR, raiding out of the Thornwood, was almost certainly the lone, ‘mule’ (sterile) offspring of a brown dragon mating with a green dragon.
As for any decisions regarding brown dragons or sand dragons, I'm afraid I don't have any information on that. I was a freelancer for Wizards between 2005-2013, so I was never involved in those sorts of lore decisions. |
I am available for freelance writing, editing, development, and sensitivity review.
https://www.eytanbernstein.com |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11829 Posts |
Posted - 21 May 2024 : 15:19:34
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quote:
Originally posted by Eytan C Bernstein
quote:
Originally posted by Italian Archmage Karsus
This one is a question: in Dragons of Faerun, there is a Brown Dragon (MoF) known as Slavin'kraht'Magaal; she appears to be the last dragon of its kind to be used in any product. I'm trying to check if brown dragons and the sand dragons introduced in Sandstorm were intended to be one and the same. The Sandstorm dragon was introduced in 2005, a year prior, and became the core dragon in 4e, taking on the name of "brown dragon".
Would you happen to recall if there was any particular reason for the abandonment of the previous brown dragon, and the usage of the sand dragon as the brown dragon since, whether lore or editorial?
Ah yes, Slavin'krath'magaal. Definitely on my list of top ten names I've created for D&D. She was created for Dragons of Faerun, not Monsters of Faerun, the latter of which was for 3e, though brown dragons are in Monsters of Faerun as well.
Brown dragons did appear in other places:
- In the "Class Chronicles: Warmages and Favored Souls (2007)," Slavin'krath'magaal is mentioned as having a daughter, Braeden, who is a half-brown dragon and the favored soul of Tiamat. There's quite a bit more detail in that article.
- In Dungeon 160 (4e, 2008), brown dragons appear in an adventure written by Ari Marmell called "The Sand King's Daughter" (sometimes Tomb of the Sand King's Daughter), specifically one called Urum-Shar.
- In the Draconomicon for 4e (2008), brown dragons are covered, though I don't have that book, so I'm not sure what's in it.
- In "Wandering Stones," (2008) a story by Bruce Cordell in the Realms of the Dead FR anthology, there is a brown dragon named Thovantareth.
- Ed wrote a tweet (2019) that said, " ... The Scalyfang Marauder that terrorized Saelmur and Ankhapur in the mid-1300s DR, raiding out of the Thornwood, was almost certainly the lone, ‘mule’ (sterile) offspring of a brown dragon mating with a green dragon.
As for any decisions regarding brown dragons or sand dragons, I'm afraid I don't have any information on that. I was a freelancer for Wizards between 2005-2013, so I was never involved in those sorts of lore decisions.
Just to note, old empires was where they were introduced originally I think.
Non-canonically, I introduced brown dragons into the deserts of Maztica/Anchorome with my DM's Guild product "The Influence of the Amber Dragons of Anchorome on the North". In that product I used amber dragons, a few brown dragons, green dragons, and a moonstone dragon. That being said, I did NOT create monster stats for browns as they weren't the focus of the product.
[url]https://www.dmsguild.com/product/384365/The-Influence-of-the-Amber-Dragons-of-Anchorome-on-the-North[/ur;] |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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Eytan Bernstein, part 2
