| Author |
 Topic  |
|
Xysma
Master of Realmslore
USA
1089 Posts |
|
|
SiriusBlack
Great Reader
USA
5517 Posts |
 Posted - 06 May 2005 : 18:00:28
|
quote:
Originally posted by Xysma
I found the pending cover art for Sons of Gruumsh an Amazon:
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0786936983.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg
From what I have gathered, this is to be the first adventure since COTSQ, has anyone else heard anything?
Thanks for the link to the cover. Yes, this marks a return to adventures in FR products. I've heard little regarding this product. Judging by the listed price, I imagine it is a softcover tome. |
Edited by - SiriusBlack on 06 May 2005 18:01:29 |
 |
|
|
Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 06 May 2005 : 18:03:40
|
| Rich talked about it a bit. I believe he said it was set in the Moonsea area..... Even though it also says an adventure path, it's not. It's a single stand alone adventure. |
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 |
|
|
|
Xysma
Master of Realmslore
USA
1089 Posts |
|
|
Snotlord
Senior Scribe
Norway
476 Posts |
Posted - 06 May 2005 : 19:24:40
|
Cool! I read somewhere that the adventure utilizes lots of the D&D minis, and is designed for 4th level characters. I'm not sure I'm too happy about the mini part, but if that is what it takes to get FR adventures again, I will not complain.  |
|
|
|
Orog-Hai
Acolyte
6 Posts |
Posted - 06 May 2005 : 22:57:18
|
| It has only 32 pages. |
|
|
|
Gray Richardson
Master of Realmslore
USA
1291 Posts |
Posted - 07 May 2005 : 09:42:46
|
Yes, but it is only $9.95!
What a great deal! I hope it sells very well for them. I know I will buy it!  |
|
|
|
Rudar Dimble
Learned Scribe
131 Posts |
Posted - 07 May 2005 : 10:28:35
|
I didn't know WotC was about to release a new adventure untill now. Does anyone have more details about this product? Hopefully this starts a new 'era' for WotC to release some big and epic adventures.
quote:
Originally posted by Xysma
I must admit, I am really excited about this tome. I thought City of the Spider Queen was a great product, hopefully this adventure will be as well.
CotSQ was really great, however, I tweaked it a lot since the beginning was way too much hack&slash for me.  |
Jesus saves... and takes ½ damage |
|
|
|
Alaundo
Head Moderator
United Kingdom
5695 Posts |
Posted - 07 May 2005 : 10:32:50
|
quote:
Originally posted by Gray Richardson
Yes, but it is only $9.95!
What a great deal! I hope it sells very well for them. I know I will buy it!
Well met
Certainly. I had be hoping that WotC would start again with adventure modules for some time, so was very happy to hear of this news. I hope this module sells well so that the publication of modules will continue.
I therefore urge all fans of the Realms to support this release. Even if this particular adventure may not appeal to ye, it it the first of what could be many. If it does not sell, we may see the end of any future modules  I see this as a last chance opportunity, as harsh as it may sound. |
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
|
|
|
|
Rudar Dimble
Learned Scribe
131 Posts |
Posted - 07 May 2005 : 10:41:11
|
quote:
Originally posted by Alaundo
quote:
Originally posted by Gray Richardson
Yes, but it is only $9.95!
What a great deal! I hope it sells very well for them. I know I will buy it!
Well met
Certainly. I had be hoping that WotC would start again with adventure modules for some time, so was very happy to hear of this news. I hope this module sells well so that the publication of modules will continue.
I therefore urge all fans of the Realms to support this release. Even if this particular adventure may not appeal to ye, it it the first of what could be many. If it does not sell, we may see the end of any future modules I see this as a last chance opportunity, as harsh as it may sound.
Yeah, i think you're right Big Al  . But why did WotC stop publishing new great, big, epic modules after CotSQ? I thought it selled pretty well...(?) |
Jesus saves... and takes ½ damage |
Edited by - Rudar Dimble on 07 May 2005 10:41:33 |
|
|
|
Alaundo
Head Moderator
United Kingdom
5695 Posts |
Posted - 07 May 2005 : 10:52:11
|
quote:
Originally posted by Rudar Dimble
Yeah, i think you're right Big Al . But why did WotC stop publishing new great, big, epic modules after CotSQ? I thought it selled pretty well...(?)
Well met
Alas, I believe not, Rudar. Remember, only DM's and collectors are likely to buy adventure modules. Nevertheless, I was quite surprised to hear that CotSQ didn't hit WotC's sales targets. This may be the reasoning behind a much cheaper and small product, to appeal to more fans and to keep the overall cost low. |
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
|
|
|
|
Rudar Dimble
Learned Scribe
131 Posts |
Posted - 07 May 2005 : 11:01:21
|
quote:
Originally posted by Alaundo
quote:
Originally posted by Rudar Dimble
Yeah, i think you're right Big Al . But why did WotC stop publishing new great, big, epic modules after CotSQ? I thought it selled pretty well...(?)
Well met
Alas, I believe not, Rudar. Remember, only DM's and collectors are likely to buy adventure modules.
So obvious, and yet I forgot about that little detail.
May be Sons of Gruumsh, like you said, is a way for WotC to see whether it would be profitable to make new adventures. I certainly hope they will |
Jesus saves... and takes ½ damage |
|
|
|
George Krashos
Master of Realmslore
Australia
6666 Posts |
Posted - 07 May 2005 : 12:19:10
|
Whilst I can understand the general clamour for adventures from harried FR DMs, I've always thought that the adventures published to date have always been the weakest link in the WotC/FR chain. A few exceptions such as Halls of the High King and Steven's Undermountain trilogy stand out, but on the whole the rest have been pretty underwhelming. We'll see how the next one pans out - and yes, I'll buy it: they locked me in back in 1987.
-- George Krashos
|
"Because only we, contrary to the barbarians, never count the enemy in battle." -- Aeschylus |
|
|
|
Krafus
Learned Scribe
246 Posts |
Posted - 07 May 2005 : 14:44:32
|
quote:
Originally posted by Alaundo
Well met
Alas, I believe not, Rudar. Remember, only DM's and collectors are likely to buy adventure modules. Nevertheless, I was quite surprised to hear that CotSQ didn't hit WotC's sales targets. This may be the reasoning behind a much cheaper and small product, to appeal to more fans and to keep the overall cost low.
Maybe those sales targets weren't reasonable. |
|
|
|
Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 07 May 2005 : 16:38:18
|
quote:
Originally posted by Alaundo
Well met
Alas, I believe not, Rudar. Remember, only DM's and collectors are likely to buy adventure modules. Nevertheless, I was quite surprised to hear that CotSQ didn't hit WotC's sales targets. This may be the reasoning behind a much cheaper and small product, to appeal to more fans and to keep the overall cost low.
A lot of DM's didn't use it or even buy it either since it tied in with the Spider Queen novels and we just saw how that ended. It was a mistake for WOTC to make a module that took 2+ years for the novels that tied in with it to end.
I say this from personal experience because I had a past DM ask me about it and also from what I've read a lot on the boards. |
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 |
|
|
|
Gray Richardson
Master of Realmslore
USA
1291 Posts |
Posted - 07 May 2005 : 16:42:30
|
While I have bought every single FR sourcebook published after 3E (and own most of them from 2E.) I myself never bought City of the Spider Queen.
The reason it did not appeal at the time was that I was in the midst of an epic campaign set in the north and had no real interest in taking my players on an epic quest through the underdark to fight the drow.
I think CotSQ was maybe too big and too narrowly focused on one locale and one race as the bad guys to make it one of those "must have" items. It had too limited a utility and appeal to be really successful in the marketplace.
I think I would still like to pick it up for the sake of completeness. But I don't see it anymore anywhere and it hasn't risen high up enough on my list to go hunt it down. |
|
|
|
Gray Richardson
Master of Realmslore
USA
1291 Posts |
Posted - 07 May 2005 : 16:47:45
|
I will add that Sons of Gruumsh does appeal to me precisely because it is short and cheap.
There is very little risk to buying it. It is short enough that I should easily be able to insert it into an ongoing campaign. Even if I end up never running it, it is cheap enough that I am sure I will get to read some fun Realmslore and might pick up a few ideas to use elsewhere so I will not feel that I wasted my money.
I think short and sweet and cheap might just be the magic marketing strategy and I hope it pays off for them. |
Edited by - Gray Richardson on 07 May 2005 16:49:11 |
|
|
|
Snotlord
Senior Scribe
Norway
476 Posts |
Posted - 07 May 2005 : 17:02:54
|
I am very much looking forward to Sons of Gruumsh. The City of the Spider Queen was cool, it is a major commitment that would have sucked up the later half of a Dales campaign. I suspect I'll never get round to run it.
I have good experience with the old 3.0 adventure path (Forge of Fury, Lords of the Iron Fortress, and Bastion of Broken Souls), and think 32 pages is a perfect size for an adventure, as shorter adventures are easier to use.
I hope Sons of Gruumsh is a huge success.
|
|
|
|
Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 07 May 2005 : 19:03:59
|
I'll buy it.
I agree with Gray, too: short and sweet is a better approach for them to take. All of the old modules were like that... I wouldn't mind the occasional supermodule, but it needs to be something that appeals to more of the Realms audience. |
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!  |
|
|
|
Brian R. James
Forgotten Realms Game Designer
USA
1098 Posts |
Posted - 07 May 2005 : 20:39:50
|
quote:
Originally posted by George Krashos
A few exceptions such as Halls of the High King and Steven's Undermountain trilogy stand out, but on the whole the rest have been pretty underwhelming.
I'm always surprised when Halls of the High King is mentioned as an excellent module. IMHO, Ed failed in capturing the essence of Douglas Niles' original trilogy. Though it was set on the Moonshae's, that module certainly didn't *feel* like the moonshaes. |
Brian R. James - Freelance Game Designer
Follow me on Twitter @brianrjames |
|
|
|
The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2005 : 01:59:06
|
quote:
Originally posted by Gray Richardson
While I have bought every single FR sourcebook published after 3E (and own most of them from 2E.) I myself never bought City of the Spider Queen.
The reason it did not appeal at the time was that I was in the midst of an epic campaign set in the north and had no real interest in taking my players on an epic quest through the underdark to fight the drow.
I think CotSQ was maybe too big and too narrowly focused on one locale and one race as the bad guys to make it one of those "must have" items. It had too limited a utility and appeal to be really successful in the marketplace.
I think I would still like to pick it up for the sake of completeness. But I don't see it anymore anywhere and it hasn't risen high up enough on my list to go hunt it down.
For a long time after the release of CotSQ, I was much the same. I put off purchasing the adventure expressly because I found it lacking in certain aspects when I read through a friend's copy.
In the end however, I did end up buying... but nearly two years after its initial release. And then, the only reason I did purchase it was because I intended to make it a "small" part of my Underdark campaign which had began a few months earlier.
If I hadn't have ran that adventure series in the Underdark, I doubt I would have bought CotSQ.
|
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 |
|
|
|
George Krashos
Master of Realmslore
Australia
6666 Posts |
Posted - 09 May 2005 : 02:27:39
|
quote:
Originally posted by Realmslore
I'm always surprised when Halls of the High King is mentioned as an excellent module. IMHO, Ed failed in capturing the essence of Douglas Niles' original trilogy. Though it was set on the Moonshae's, that module certainly didn't *feel* like the Moonshaes.
That's funny, I never thought Niles' novels felt much like the Realms either. His version of the Moonshaes was way too 'celtic' for my liking - I've always preferred FR material that you couldn't draw immediate real world comparisons to.
-- George Krashos
|
"Because only we, contrary to the barbarians, never count the enemy in battle." -- Aeschylus |
|
|
|
The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 09 May 2005 : 02:54:49
|
Sigh.
Realmslore, I just hope you’ll appreciate the irony here:
As one of Ed’s original players, I was “in the loop” on HALLS OF THE HIGH KING, and saw the design directives Ed was given for that project (stapled to every TSR contract in those days as “Exhibit A”).
They included a commandment to: “Bring the Moonshaes more fully into the Realms, update them vis-à-vis the Niles trilogy, and provide a suggested campaign arc set in the Moonshaes.”
The thinking AT TSR was that the Moonshaes (bought separately by TSR from Doug, a very nice man whom I liked at our only meeting, and I know Ed is friends with) didn’t feel sufficiently “Realmsian,” and Ed was the only guy who could fix that. So, yes, HALLS probably DOESN’T sufficiently capture the feeling of the original Niles trilogy. 
Of course, Books Department later retconned the dating of the first Moonshaes trilogy to allow for the second trilogy, so HALLS and the novels don’t match anyway, but that’s hardly Ed’s fault.
love,
THO |
|
|
|
Brian R. James
Forgotten Realms Game Designer
USA
1098 Posts |
Posted - 09 May 2005 : 04:13:23
|
quote:
Originally posted by George Krashos
I've always preferred FR material that you couldn't draw immediate real world comparisons to.
To be fair, we're not talking Dark Sun here. Faerûn is about as European as you can get. Calling the Moonshae's too Celtic, is like saying Cormyr is too French. Is Cormyr french? The similarities are only there if you choose to see them.
quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
The thinking AT TSR was that the Moonshaes didn’t feel sufficiently “Realmsian“
I can certainly appreciate the awkward position Ed must have found himself. In my opinion the Moonshae's didn't need to be pulled into the Realms. What does that mean anyway? What defines “Realmsian“?
To me, the defining feature of the Realms over all other campaign settings, are its distinct cultures with their rich histories. Compare the Moonsea Region with Halruaa. Or Damara with Amn. Compare Mulhorand with the Silver Marches. These diverse cultures *are* the Realms.
|
Brian R. James - Freelance Game Designer
Follow me on Twitter @brianrjames |
|
|
|
Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 09 May 2005 : 05:39:01
|
quote:
Originally posted by Realmslore
quote:
Originally posted by George Krashos
I've always preferred FR material that you couldn't draw immediate real world comparisons to.
To be fair, we're not talking Dark Sun here. Faerûn is about as European as you can get. Calling the Moonshae's too Celtic, is like saying Cormyr is too French. Is Cormyr french? The similarities are only there if you choose to see them.
I dunno... It's hard for me to look at the Moonshaes and not see a strong Celtic flavor, but I've never attached any specific nationality to any of the areas of the Heartlands. I'll grant that French history is not my forté, but I've never seen anything in Cormyr that makes me think of France. |
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! |
|
|
|
The Blue Sorceress
Learned Scribe
107 Posts |
Posted - 09 May 2005 : 05:47:06
|
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Realmslore
quote:
Originally posted by George Krashos
I've always preferred FR material that you couldn't draw immediate real world comparisons to.
To be fair, we're not talking Dark Sun here. Faerûn is about as European as you can get. Calling the Moonshae's too Celtic, is like saying Cormyr is too French. Is Cormyr french? The similarities are only there if you choose to see them.
I dunno... It's hard for me to look at the Moonshaes and not see a strong Celtic flavor, but I've never attached any specific nationality to any of the areas of the Heartlands. I'll grant that French history is not my forté, but I've never seen anything in Cormyr that makes me think of France.
I always thought Tethyr was very French, particularly since they went through a civil war that greatly resembled the French revolution. Cormyr always struck me as more of a semi-utopic England, especially considering their former Imperialistic interest in the Dales (analogous to Canada according to Ed Greenwood himself, I believe.)
-Blue |
Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely.
I see your walrus and raise you a carpenter |
|
|
|
Alaundo
Head Moderator
United Kingdom
5695 Posts |
|
|
Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
|
|
SiriusBlack
Great Reader
USA
5517 Posts |
|
|
Snotlord
Senior Scribe
Norway
476 Posts |
Posted - 10 May 2005 : 18:13:22
|
| Great cover. I don't mind seeing it twice |
|
|
|
Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 10 May 2005 : 18:14:52
|
quote:
Originally posted by SiriusBlack
Isn't that the same cover that Xysma posted in the first message for this thread?
Is it? Don't ask me. :) |
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 |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
Sons of Gruumsh
