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Karesch
Learned Scribe
Canada
199 Posts |
 Posted - 15 Jul 2004 : 07:57:51
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Well, there has been a topic burning up in General Chat, and, as I suggested this topic start here, I figured I'd start it up. There's been some talk amongst fans of dwarves, that there hasn't been much for any novels that were centered on dwarves and their society. As such, I suggested that some of the scribes here could come together and perhaps start a storyboard including characters, plot lines, etc, for a book or trilogy centered on dwarves, and that perhaps one of the fine authors of FR books, might pick up the subject and perhaps write a book or set of books on this topic. So this is the call to scribes to start writing down their ideas and a call to perhaps one of the authors who's interested in the thread to offer picking up the idea...
K
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Knowledge is power... power corrupts... knowledge corrupts? hmm...
Death is only frightening to those who haven't died yet... |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36906 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jul 2004 : 08:27:12
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| I hate to break this to you, but a lot of authors make a point of not looking at the ideas of others. That saves them a lot of legal hassles, if they wind up doing the same thing... |
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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Karesch
Learned Scribe
Canada
199 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jul 2004 : 16:57:18
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I see. Well isn't that just a bummer. Here I thought it'd be a good helpful idea type of thing, and I figured anyone who wanted to be involved would be involved with the understanding that it was in hopes that an author would pick it up, and thus, in the interest of seeing some dwarven novels, there wouldn't ever be any legal issues.
oh well, I tried.
K |
Knowledge is power... power corrupts... knowledge corrupts? hmm...
Death is only frightening to those who haven't died yet... |
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Thomas M. Reid
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
334 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jul 2004 : 17:06:01
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I hate to break this to you, but a lot of authors make a point of not looking at the ideas of others. That saves them a lot of legal hassles, if they wind up doing the same thing...
Yeah, that's exactly right. Your idea is great in theory, Karesch, but the reality is that if I were to take a message-board-user-generated idea as the foundation for novels for WotC, I would be opening myself up to a great deal of risk. Beyond the issues involved in this particular endeavor (amendments to the contract would be necessary, every single person who posted an idea would have to sign a release form for their ideas, and the salability of the work would be called into question because it was visible to the public beforehand), it would also weaken any arguments I might have later on if someone sued me, claiming I had taken an idea for my book from something they posted on a message board. Sure, most people are well-intentioned and genuinely want to see their ideas reviewed without personal gain, but it only takes one bad apple to cause havoc for an author.
Right now, I can truthfully state that I avoid reading novel ideas (I won't open threads that plainly call them out, I close the not-so-obvious ones as soon as I see what they're actually about, and I won't read emails from people offering me ideas). But if I participated, my credibility when using that as a defense would be shot. So I would not be willing to participate in such a process, and few authors I know would, either.
And that's just the legal aspects of the idea. Trying to develop a solid plot with tight flow and realistic characters is hard enough by yourself--incorporating a slew of ideas from dozens of different people would be immensely harder, and there would be a tendency to spell out the whole plot during the development, sort of ruining the excitement of reading about it later. I write about ideas that I get excited about, and it might be harder to execute a plot that someone else cooked up for me and that I personally wasn't as excited about.
Which is not to say that your desire to see more novels featuring dwarves isn't valid. Simply by saying, "I'd like to see more dwarf books in the FR line," you've made a positive impact. The folks in the Books department at Wizards do sit up and take notice of those sorts of comments.
Thomas |
"A knight is not truly virtuous, only truly resolved to be so."
www.thomasmreid.com |
Edited by - Thomas M. Reid on 15 Jul 2004 17:07:27 |
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ElaineCunningham
Forgotten Realms Author
2396 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jul 2004 : 17:56:28
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What Thomas said.
One additional point: if you wish to express to the folks at WotC a desire for more books about dwarves, you might want to send emails directly to the book department. I don't know whether or not any FR editors frequent this site.
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hammer of Moradin
Senior Scribe
USA
758 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jul 2004 : 18:26:59
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I think these boards are better suited to posting our ideas for campaigns/games run in the Realms. I would definately be interested in novels with dwarves as the main characters. Even a 'Races of the Realms' line of novels would be interesting. Did anyone write a novel for the dwarf fighter shown in the Players Handbook?
As for games with dwarves set in the Realms, check out the PbEM game I started in the Adventuring section. All dwarves, all the time.
My players have done an excellent job so far, and the dwarven characters are quite a bunch. |
"Hurling himself upon his enemies, he terrified them with slaughter!"
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium
Candlekeep proverb: If a thing is said often enough, fools aplenty will believe it to be true. |
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Karesch
Learned Scribe
Canada
199 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jul 2004 : 19:49:32
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I see. Well, I understand the arguments about not taking it on, it was something I didn't particularly consider at first, however, as I said originally, it was just something I was opening up for other people because they were talking in the general chat section about wishing there were more books on dwarves/dwarven society, personally, I'm not overly particular on what I read, I enjoy all aspects of FR. I was just sort of opening the door on the subject. however, I understand what you, the authors, are saying, and it is very valid and more so, makes sense. It is, unfortunate, that we live in a day and age, where everyone must fear lawsuits, but it is reality, and understandable. Thank-you for the input, it's greatly appreciated.
K |
Knowledge is power... power corrupts... knowledge corrupts? hmm...
Death is only frightening to those who haven't died yet... |
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brjr2001
Learned Scribe
106 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jul 2004 : 20:25:53
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yeah they did make a book outta Tordek the Dwarven fighter but i heard it was no good, see what we need is Hammer of Morradins idea of
"Race of the Realms" and i also agree that the Forgotten Realms Forums and stuff are less likely to be heard from, see this is more like the dwarves collective state, they help each other for the greater cause. see Candlekeeps forums and Members do the same,
Forgotton Realms Forums and other sites arn't the same there more like the people who make fun of peoples postings calling them noobs and stuff
(bad experience)
But you guys should seriously consider making a "Race of the Realms"
because it also could be seen by many people as of all genders and all skin colors and all intellect and Physical Strengths working together for a greater cause. hey seems pretty awesome |
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VEDSICA
Senior Scribe
USA
466 Posts |
Posted - 16 Jul 2004 : 01:46:05
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| I agree that there isn't enough novels concerning dwarves and dwarves only.But that doesn't mean that you could fire up some ideas Karesch.What's on your mind???Though I agree with Thomas 100%.Well said! |
LIFE,BIRTH,BLOOD,DOOM---THE HOLE IN THE GROUND IS COMING ROUND SOON----BLS |
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brjr2001
Learned Scribe
106 Posts |
Posted - 16 Jul 2004 : 03:23:08
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| actually it was my idea just Karesch made up this topic, i thought we were going to have an intellectual collective story on dwarves |
on second thought lets not go to candlekeep it is a silly place |
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hammer of Moradin
Senior Scribe
USA
758 Posts |
Posted - 16 Jul 2004 : 16:47:24
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| Post a story line in the Adventuring section. A cross between the inn (post in-character interaction), and a Realms adventure (except no moderator, but a lot of fun). |
"Hurling himself upon his enemies, he terrified them with slaughter!"
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium
Candlekeep proverb: If a thing is said often enough, fools aplenty will believe it to be true. |
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Call for Dwarven fans
