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Alaundo
Head Moderator
United Kingdom
5695 Posts |
 Posted - 26 Jan 2005 : 23:23:16
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Well met
This being a collective scroll of any questions the Scribes and visitors of Candlekeep wish to put to a new game designer of the Realms, namely - Ed Bonny. Ed has his first Forgotten Realms product released in 2005, namely the eagerly awaited Lost Empires of Faerun.
Present your questions herein and check back to see what news may also come forth from the quill of this Realms master.
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Alaundo
Candlekeep Forums Head Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
An Introduction to Candlekeep - by Ed Greenwood
The Candlekeep Compendium - Tomes of Realmslore penned by Scribes of Candlekeep
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Hymn
Senior Scribe
Sweden
514 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jan 2005 : 03:05:54
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So Ed you got any more work lined up for WotC or do they wait until the sales figures before they make any moves |
Sauro moki kara ochiro - Even monkeys falls from trees.
The path that leads to truth is littered with the bodies of the ignorant - Miyamoto Musashi |
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edbonny
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
157 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jan 2005 : 03:45:34
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quote:
Originally posted by Hymn
So Ed you got any more work lined up for WotC or do they wait until the sales figures before they make any moves
No, I do not. I don't know if Wizards uses prior sales figures before re-enlisting freelancers for a job. I know that TPTB at Wizards liked my ideas/writing for the MM2 enough to consider me for LEOF.
I am finishing up a LEOF-inspired article for Faerunian drow with roots dating back to the days when the drow first went underground. It could not be included with LOEF because Underdark empires were not covered in this book.
- Ed |
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warlockco
Master of Realmslore
USA
1695 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jan 2005 : 03:57:39
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quote:
Originally posted by edbonny
quote:
Originally posted by Hymn
So Ed you got any more work lined up for WotC or do they wait until the sales figures before they make any moves
No, I do not. I don't know if Wizards uses prior sales figures before re-enlisting freelancers for a job. I know that TPTB at Wizards liked my ideas/writing for the MM2 enough to consider me for LEOF.
I am finishing up a LEOF-inspired article for Faerunian drow with roots dating back to the days when the drow first went underground. It could not be included with LOEF because Underdark empires were not covered in this book.
- Ed
Nice, can't wait to see it.
Keep up the great work, and hope to see more from you. |
News of the Weird
D20 System Reference Document
D20 Modern System Reference Document
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George Krashos
Master of Realmslore
Australia
6666 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jan 2005 : 04:02:49
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That does indeed sound great Ed. Are we talking about Telantiwar, the drow city that was situated where the Great Rift is now or something new and wonderful?
-- George Krashos
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"Because only we, contrary to the barbarians, never count the enemy in battle." -- Aeschylus |
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SiriusBlack
Great Reader
USA
5517 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jan 2005 : 04:15:17
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quote:
Originally posted by edbonny
I am finishing up a LEOF-inspired article for Faerunian drow with roots dating back to the days when the drow first went underground. It could not be included with LOEF because Underdark empires were not covered in this book.
- Ed
Very good news, a web enchancement, right? |
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edbonny
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
157 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jan 2005 : 04:21:53
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quote:
Originally posted by George Krashos
That does indeed sound great Ed. Are we talking about Telantiwar, the drow city that was situated where the Great Rift is now or something new and wonderful?
-- George Krashos
It does indeed go back to the early days of Telantiwar and a long forgotten evil (some would say one of Lolth's earliest missteps). This is for Dragon magazine.
- Ed |
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George Krashos
Master of Realmslore
Australia
6666 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jan 2005 : 06:12:30
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Good stuff! And as an aside, to all the fine fellows at Candlekeep, I hope Ed gets a few more gigs with the FR line from WotC ASAP. I was most impressed by his hard work, excellent research, due diligence to "what had gone before" and his own ideas in the lead up to "Lost Empires". Oh and he wasn't above listening to other people's thoughts and suggestions on his own work which was great to see and be a part of.
-- George Krashos
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"Because only we, contrary to the barbarians, never count the enemy in battle." -- Aeschylus |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jan 2005 : 11:18:50
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High praise from Krash... I'm impressed. I will then echo his sentiments, and hope this gentleman gets more work from WotC!  |
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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ElaineCunningham
Forgotten Realms Author
2396 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jan 2005 : 14:09:42
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Heartfelt welcome, Ed. I'm looking forward to reading your new release!
e |
Edited by - ElaineCunningham on 27 Jan 2005 14:16:19 |
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Steven Schend
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
USA
1715 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jan 2005 : 16:14:40
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quote:
Originally posted by ElaineCunningham
Heartfelt welcome, Ed. I'm looking forward to reading your new release!
e
What she said goes double for me.
SES
An old FR historian/"Tale Untangler" from way back |
For current projects and general natter, see www.steveneschend.com
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edbonny
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
157 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jan 2005 : 16:59:57
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Hello again all and thank you once again for all the warm welcomes and very kind words. You are all so wonderful here that I am thinking I should never leave this place.
Before LEOF hits the shelves, I'll use this thread to post details of my long, long, long love affair with the Realms (going back to the late 80s), the concepts behind the writing/ideas of LEOF (including the obsession for "consistent Realmslore"), the incredible guidance given by Rich Baker, Eric and George, and whatever else seems full of Realmsian goodness for these boards.
I am always interested in learning from Realms fans what was the one thing that immediately hooked them on the Realms? When did you first realize that you were part of something different, something amazing, something wonderful?
For me, it was back in the 1980s when I was reading the Time of Troubles trilogy (novels, not the modules) and just the idea of gods being thrown out from the heavens and forced to take mortal form made me sit up and take notice that something wild and new and unprecedented had just changed the way I thought about DnD forever.
- Ed
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SiriusBlack
Great Reader
USA
5517 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jan 2005 : 17:09:49
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quote:
Originally posted by edbonny
I am always interested in learning from Realms fans what was the one thing that immediately hooked them on the Realms? When did you first realize that you were part of something different, something amazing, something wonderful?
- Ed
The place: Heidelberg, Germany
The group: Five wonderful gamers that included a military policeman, a computer programmer, a military intelligence analyst who was on his second military occupational specialty having gone nearly deaf from working with artillery, a civilian who worked for the military and took great delight in roleplaying the quirky characters others would fine weak or borin, and a counterintelligence agent who was so diabolical it was only time before he became the steady DM. When you combined this group with
The Ruins of Undermountain boxed set.
Well, this fan was hooked and has been ever since. |
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Lord Rad
Great Reader
United Kingdom
2080 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jan 2005 : 18:18:23
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Hi Ed, welcome to Candlekeep.
I believe there are two other designers credited for Lost Empires, Travis Stout and another?
What areas of the product did you work on yourself?
Are there any areas\old empires which you included in the product which were'nt instructed to initially by WotC?
Was anything developed but not included in the product (later to appear as a web enhancement maybe?)
Thanks for your time. VERY VERY much looking forward to this product ::drool:: |
Lord Rad
"What? No, I wasn't reading your module. I was just looking at the pictures"
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SiriusBlack
Great Reader
USA
5517 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jan 2005 : 19:59:58
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quote:
Originally posted by Lord Rad
Hi Ed, welcome to Candlekeep.
I believe there are two other designers credited for Lost Empires, Travis Stout and another?
What areas of the product did you work on yourself?
Ed Bonny listed the areas he worked on at the bottom of page 3 in this thread |
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edbonny
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
157 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jan 2005 : 20:20:23
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quote:
Originally posted by Lord Rad
Hi Ed, welcome to Candlekeep.
I believe there are two other designers credited for Lost Empires, Travis Stout and another?
What areas of the product did you work on yourself?
Are there any areas\old empires which you included in the product which were'nt instructed to initially by WotC?
Was anything developed but not included in the product (later to appear as a web enhancement maybe?)
Thanks for your time. VERY VERY much looking forward to this product ::drool::
Hi Lord Rad,
Rich Baker brought together the two halves of LEOF that Travis and I submitted. From the released table of contents, it appears he also added a few feats and the dead gods section. He also updated the monsters that appeared in Monsters of Faerun.
For ease of reference, I am reposting here what parts of LEOF I wrote up:
Introduction 4
The Ruin-Based Campaign 4
Chapter 1: Ancient Secrets 6
Ancient Feats 6
Arcane Manipulation 6
Arcane Transfiguration 6
Familiar Concentration 8
Godsight 8
Greenbound Summoning 8
Item Reprieve 8
Spell Reprieve 9
Wounding Spell 9
Prestige Classes 10
Glorious Servitor 13
Magelord 17
Sunmaster 25
Ancient Spells 29
This area was shared by Travis, Rich & me. As soon as the book comes out I will list the spells I wrote.
Assassin Spell 29
Bard Spell 29
Cleric Spells 29
Druid Spells 29
Paladin Spell 29
Sorcerer/Wizard Spells 29
Spell Descriptions 30
Chapter 2: Dreams of the Past 36
The Ruins of the Past 36
Cities into Dungeons 36
Interesting Sites 38
Ancient Deities 41
Auppenser 41
Epic Spell 43
Epic Spell Seeds 44
Chapter 4: God-Kings of the East 60
History 60
Timeline 60
Keepers of the Past 63
Songs and Stories 63
Important Sites 64
Imaskar 64
Mulhorand 66
Narfell 67
Raumathar 68
Unther 69
Legacies of the
Old Empires 70
Adventure Seeds 70
Buried Secrets 70
Heirs to the Empire 70
Adventure Site:
Sonjar’s Tower 72
Background 72
The Earth Node 72
Tower Features 73
Keyed Areas 73
Chapter 5: Realms of the High Forest 83
History 83
Timeline 84
Keepers of the Past 85
Songs and Stories 85
Important Sites 86
Ammarindar 86
Delzoun 87
Eaerlann 89
Sharrven 91
Siluvanede 92
Legacies of the
High Forest 92
Adventure Seeds 92
Heirs of the High Forest 94
Chapter 7: The Imperial South 113
History 113
Timeline 113
Keepers of the Past 116
Songs and Stories 117
Important Sites 117
Coramshan 117
High Shanatar 118
Memnonnar 119
Jhaamdath 120
Shoon Imperium 121
Tethir 122
Legacies of the Past 123
Adventure Seeds 123
Buried Secrets 123
Heirs to the Empire 124
Chapter 9: The Old North 136
History 136
Timeline 136
Keepers of the Past 142
Songs and Stories 142
Important Sites 142
Ardeep 142
Gauntlgrym 143
Old Illusk 144
Phalorm 144
Legacies of the
Old North 146
Adventure Site:
Keep on the Frontier 146
Background 146
Keep Features 146
Keyed Areas 146
Concluding the Adventure 150
Chapter 10: Artifacts of the Past 151
This area was shared by Travis, Rich & med. As soon as the book comes out, I will list the items I wrote.
Magic Item Descriptions 151
Weapons 151
Rings 152
Scepters 153
Staffs 153
Wondrous Items 154
Artifacts 156
Minor Artifacts 156
Major Artifacts 157
Chapter 11: Monsters of the Ancient Lands 160
Greenbound Creature 173
Sample Greenbound Creature 174
Creating a Greenbound Creature 174
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Edited by - edbonny on 27 Jan 2005 22:28:51 |
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Bakra
Senior Scribe
628 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jan 2005 : 21:56:51
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quote:
Originally posted by edbonny
[
I am always interested in learning from Realms fans what was the one thing that immediately hooked them on the Realms? When did you first realize that you were part of something different, something amazing, something wonderful?
We just started Ruins of Adventure and I decided to buy Spellfire which was later followed by Azure Bonds. I have been hooked ever since, even though the undead at the Graveyard ate my character.
Bakra |
I hope Candlekeep continues to be the friendly forum of fellow Realms-lovers that it has always been, as we all go through this together. If you don’t want to move to the “new” Realms, that doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with either you or the “old” Realms. Goodness knows Candlekeep, and the hearts of its scribes, are both big enough to accommodate both. If we want them to be.
(Strikes dramatic pose, raises sword to gleam in the sunset, and hopes breeches won’t fall down.)
Enough for now. The Realms lives! I have spoken! Ale and light wines half price, served by a smiling Storm Silverhand fetchingly clad in thigh-high boots and naught else! Ahem . .
So saith Ed. <snip>
love to all,
THO
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George Krashos
Master of Realmslore
Australia
6666 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jan 2005 : 22:40:29
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For me it was Ed's "Pages From the Mages" and "Ecology of the ..." articles from DRAGON #82-ish onward to Dragon #100. The depth of detail and implied promise of further lore and layer upon layer of information appealed to the analyst in me - as I started trying to connect the dots on scattered bits of realmslore. Funnily enough, some 15 or so years later, I'm still trying to weave it all together! When DRAGON provided a preview mini-map just prior to the release of the Ol' Grey Box, there was no going back - although I couldn't find Waterdeep on it, no matter how hard I looked!
-- George Krashos
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"Because only we, contrary to the barbarians, never count the enemy in battle." -- Aeschylus |
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Seismo
Acolyte
New Zealand
28 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jan 2005 : 00:57:54
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What lead me into the Realms?
SSL's "Gold Box" computer games (I think Hillsfar was the first one I saw), and a novel that was based on the same setting - Azure Bonds. |
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4688 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jan 2005 : 01:15:28
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quote:
Originally posted by edbonny
I am always interested in learning from Realms fans what was the one thing that immediately hooked them on the Realms? When did you first realize that you were part of something different, something amazing, something wonderful?
Hmm, I do not believe I am hooked on the Realms, though do find them interesting. The frist thing that comes to mind that was Realms related was perhaps _Elves of Evermeet, Official Game Assessry_ 9430 which did offer some amazing things.
Being a part of something different, nay I did not feel that then or now, nor did I feel special when I first became involved with D&D Basic. Yes it is interesting and I do enjoy play and discussion of the game and setting, which could make me a part of a select group. |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jan 2005 : 01:17:25
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quote:
Originally posted by Seismo
What lead me into the Realms?
SSL's "Gold Box" computer games (I think Hillsfar was the first one I saw), and a novel that was based on the same setting - Azure Bonds.
Ditto for me on my old commodore 64 and then the novels that tied in with them. :) And now I'm obsessed with FR. :) |
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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monch9
Seeker
Poland
67 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jan 2005 : 01:40:45
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quote:
Originally posted by edbonny
I am always interested in learning from Realms fans what was the one thing that immediately hooked them on the Realms? When did you first realize that you were part of something different, something amazing, something wonderful?
Three words :
The Crystal Shard
After that, I gobbled up anything that had Forgotten Realms in it.
Monch
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Hymn
Senior Scribe
Sweden
514 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jan 2005 : 02:29:41
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quote:
Originally posted by kuje31
quote:
Originally posted by Seismo
What lead me into the Realms?
SSL's "Gold Box" computer games (I think Hillsfar was the first one I saw), and a novel that was based on the same setting - Azure Bonds.
Ditto for me on my old commodore 64 and then the novels that tied in with them. :) And now I'm obsessed with FR. :)
Ah those games where nice, but nothing beats Rambo First Blood Part II. The most amazing thing is that everything still works usually fires ut up during the summers when most of my pals from old are home. They don't build computers like that nowdays.
Oh yes and for me it was all my best friend's older brothers fault who ran a AD&D group. Thank fully in swedish otherwise I wouldn't had understood much of the technical terms since I was only 12 at the time. |
Sauro moki kara ochiro - Even monkeys falls from trees.
The path that leads to truth is littered with the bodies of the ignorant - Miyamoto Musashi |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jan 2005 : 05:53:42
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quote:
Originally posted by kuje31
quote:
Originally posted by Seismo
What lead me into the Realms?
SSL's "Gold Box" computer games (I think Hillsfar was the first one I saw), and a novel that was based on the same setting - Azure Bonds.
Ditto for me on my old commodore 64 and then the novels that tied in with them. :) And now I'm obsessed with FR. :)
By Labelas... I remember those  . I also recall that I had a very hard time loading them up on my old beaten up C64. When I converted to the tape drive... that didn't improve the situation much.
However, when the games and computer were in synergy and worked their magic... they were truly my favorite computer games of the time... .
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Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jan 2005 : 11:25:53
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How did I get into the Realms? Well, it started with a friend, who was reading the Dragginglance comics. Those looked interesting, so I read his. That made me want to follow that title myself, so I did. When the FR comic was launched, I read that one, too.
The DL comic lead me to those novels -- I wanted to read more of those stories! I read the first five trilogies they released, but then I was getting a little bored with the lack of activity in the setting.
Then I stumbled across either Spellfire or Shadowdale (I can't recall which). That got me into the Realms, but it was the Forgotten Realms Adventures hardcover that truly got me hooked -- there was so much lore, and so much potential in there, and I could see that stuff was happening in that setting.
And the rest, as they say, is history. |
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 |
Posted - 28 Jan 2005 : 12:09:52
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quote:
Originally posted by edbonny
I am always interested in learning from Realms fans what was the one thing that immediately hooked them on the Realms? When did you first realize that you were part of something different, something amazing, something wonderful?
Well met
This particular scroll may be of interest to ye, Ed. I encourage such experiences to be listed therein. |
Alaundo
Candlekeep Forums Head Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
An Introduction to Candlekeep - by Ed Greenwood
The Candlekeep Compendium - Tomes of Realmslore penned by Scribes of Candlekeep
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edbonny
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
157 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jan 2005 : 13:52:25
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quote:
Originally posted by Seismo
What lead me into the Realms?
SSL's "Gold Box" computer games (I think Hillsfar was the first one I saw), and a novel that was based on the same setting - Azure Bonds.
Wow - almost forgot about those! I played my first Realms SSI gold box game on an old Tandy 1000 back in '89. I loved all the ones they came out with.
- Ed |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jan 2005 : 00:53:01
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quote:
Originally posted by Alaundo
quote:
Originally posted by edbonny
I am always interested in learning from Realms fans what was the one thing that immediately hooked them on the Realms? When did you first realize that you were part of something different, something amazing, something wonderful?
Well met
This particular scroll may be of interest to ye, Ed. I encourage such experiences to be listed therein.
Ah, I knew I'd answered that question recently! |
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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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 04 Feb 2005 : 06:37:26
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ARRRRRRRRRGH!!!!!!!
From the excerpt. Please tell me that this doesn't say this in the sourcebook:
"But the moon elf wizard known as the Srinshee, now the de facto regent of Cormanthyr, held firm to Aravae's wishes, primarily because preparing the high magic necessary for the succession ceremony would take at least the remaining year and a half of the Mourning Days."
The Srinshee is NOT A MOON ELF! At least according to Cormanthyr! |
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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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 04 Feb 2005 : 11:16:39
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quote:
Originally posted by kuje31
ARRRRRRRRRGH!!!!!!!
From the excerpt. Please tell me that this doesn't say this in the sourcebook:
"But the moon elf wizard known as the Srinshee, now the de facto regent of Cormanthyr, held firm to Aravae's wishes, primarily because preparing the high magic necessary for the succession ceremony would take at least the remaining year and a half of the Mourning Days."
The Srinshee is NOT A MOON ELF! At least according to Cormanthyr!
Whoa, that's a huge retcon if it's true...  |
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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Questions for Ed Bonny
