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Winterfox
Senior Scribe
895 Posts |
 Posted - 24 Mar 2006 : 20:11:51
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quote:
Originally posted by Charles Phipps
Part of this problem is based on the fact that the majority of antagonists in the Realms are monsters Mace. Trogolidytes, Orcs, and Krakens. When you have nonhuman entities, its very difficult to make them interesting to our perspective. I think its part of the reason the Drow indulate everything. It's easy to understand the sex, power, wealth, and fame obsessed Dark Elves.
Disagreed. Why would non-humans be less interesting? Harder to write, sure, and harder still to do so and have them retain their alienness. But quite frankly, orcs aren't particularly alien, and neither are drow, elves, dwarves, halflings or gnomes. As one, they're humans in funny suits where FR's concerned. So no problem there.
On the other hand, a squirrel familiar? That'd be all shades of cool, especially if you can pull it off an interesting, believably non-human portrayal. I'm working on a fantasy project where I put considerable emphasis on my non-humans, and I try as hard as I can to make them alien. While I may or may not succeed, I think my non-humans as a culture come off as fairly... distinct, and they very often creep out my human characters. (Not by being Evil Stupid or even evil, period. They are just very strange, and can't empathize with humans because their biological and social makeup are so different.) It's quite fun to experiment around. |
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Charles Phipps
Master of Realmslore
1425 Posts |
Posted - 24 Mar 2006 : 20:41:05
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Well Lady (see, I've got it)
The problem is that they ARE less interesting because we rarely identify with them (wait, why the Abyss am I arguing this point since I just spent all that time talking about the benefits of nonhumans?). We can identify with Daleks to some extent because they're based on human evils.
But honestly barring something that awes or frightens us, nonhuman motivations just don't interest us as much. |
My Blog: http://unitedfederationofcharles.blogspot.com/
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Winterfox
Senior Scribe
895 Posts |
Posted - 24 Mar 2006 : 20:56:08
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| Wellll, speak for yourself regarding that "we." I'd love to read about convincing non-humans any time; genuinely alien characters (or even just a culture!) delight me. It'll ultimately be "humans in funny suits," but a truly great author can disguise this fact. |
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Charles Phipps
Master of Realmslore
1425 Posts |
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Erik Scott de Bie
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
4598 Posts |
Posted - 24 Mar 2006 : 21:34:57
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quote:
Originally posted by Winterfox
Wellll, speak for yourself regarding that "we." I'd love to read about convincing non-humans any time; genuinely alien characters (or even just a culture!) delight me. It'll ultimately be "humans in funny suits," but a truly great author can disguise this fact.
I think perhaps a happy middle ground would suit both your tastes. A race of beings that are, basically, alien, yet still understandable -- perhaps in an odd way. I would think "we" should be able to see something of ourselves in any villain / villainous race. Otherwise, aliens have a habit of coming off as a random plot device (entire races of deos ex machina), where the author didn't try hard enough (maybe) to explain them in terms we can understand.
Cheers |
Erik Scott de Bie
'Tis easier to destroy than to create.
Author of a number of Realms novels (GHOSTWALKER, DEPTHS OF MADNESS, and the SHADOWBANE series), contributor to the NEVERWINTER CAMPAIGN GUIDE and SHADOWFELL: GLOOMWROUGHT AND BEYOND, Twitch DM of the Dungeon Scrawlers, currently playing "The Westgate Irregulars" |
Edited by - Erik Scott de Bie on 24 Mar 2006 21:38:12 |
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Ethriel
Learned Scribe
USA
272 Posts |
Posted - 24 Mar 2006 : 22:33:31
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| On the villain subject, one thing that truly ignores me about the subject is the lack of development on any part...Fzoul'll still rule the Zhents, Semmemon'll still be with that adulterous Ashemmi, Manshoon'll never die and just reincarnate, Szass Tam'll still rule Thay...seriously, there's no risk of these guys getting taken down anything permanent anymore...that's why I like the smaller scale novels, gives villains that there is true risk to. Shyressa, Dharan Greyt, Sarya Dlardrageth...hell, I'm thrilled it looks like Sammaster and his cult may finally collapse...it almost matches my rage when Bane came back |
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Charles Phipps
Master of Realmslore
1425 Posts |
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Erik Scott de Bie
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
4598 Posts |
Posted - 24 Mar 2006 : 23:05:52
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quote:
Originally posted by Ethriel
that's why I like the smaller scale novels, gives villains that there is true risk to. Shyressa, Dharan Greyt, Sarya Dlardrageth...
Aww. 
But anyway, I was going to mention something about Sarya -- WotC seems to be courting her as a kind of ongoing villain (she makes appearances in sourcebooks), but there's still the sense that things can go very, very wrong for her. It's good if a villain is popular, but also vulnerable (which may not be causally linked).
Cheers |
Erik Scott de Bie
'Tis easier to destroy than to create.
Author of a number of Realms novels (GHOSTWALKER, DEPTHS OF MADNESS, and the SHADOWBANE series), contributor to the NEVERWINTER CAMPAIGN GUIDE and SHADOWFELL: GLOOMWROUGHT AND BEYOND, Twitch DM of the Dungeon Scrawlers, currently playing "The Westgate Irregulars" |
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Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
Posted - 24 Mar 2006 : 23:29:01
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It's a bigger deal to bring about big, permanent changes in a shared world, particularly a shared world devoted both to fiction and gaming, than in a world a single creator controls. That includes whacking major villains and exterminating major villain groups.
Let's say I come up with an idea for a story in which we'll eradicate the Zhentarim. Even if it would make a terrific novel, WotC may not let me do it, because it makes a bunch of gaming sourcebooks outdated and subtacts an element from the setting that other novelists and game designers could exploit to good advantage in the future. It arguably messes things up for every DM who planned to use the Zhentarim as antagonists in his campaign.
That's not to imply that you will never, ever see genuine change in the FR. From time to time, you will. I'm just trying to explain why you may not see as much of it as you'd like. A bunch of people have to ponder the long-term implications of the change and agree that it's an idea worth implementing. |
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Mace Hammerhand
Great Reader
Germany
2296 Posts |
Posted - 25 Mar 2006 : 00:40:43
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One of the reasons why I quit writing in a shared world setting (which I did for 4 or 5 years).
Richard the problem with the entire not-subract-any-group-because-it-outdates-some-supplements thingy is that WotC has no qualms about adding more 'kewl' stuff to the realms, retrofitting things so these things can be added, and it doesn't 'upset' the balance, aside from nitpickers like me who still wonder why the bloody hell drow all of the sudden retain their underdark given powers when sunbathing along the Sword Coast. If you come up with a damn good story about wiping out the Zhentarim, all power to you. It would be a welcome change, from my point of view, subtract instead of add.
Winterfox, as I am about to take out that squirrel you are more than welcome to read that fragment. If anyone else is interested I'll gladly post it. Slightly altered so that the names will not be as they are in the novel.
It would be great to read more about the mind flayer priest of Oghma in Skullport, whose name incidentally escapes me at the moment.
Mace *I blame the beer, and cannot understand how Coleridge and others were able to write meaningful things while intoxicated* Hammerhand |
Mace's not so gentle gamer's journal My rants were harmless compared to this, beware! |
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Charles Phipps
Master of Realmslore
1425 Posts |
Posted - 25 Mar 2006 : 00:47:54
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Well its a D&D setting first, not a novel setting.
How would you feel if your players came to you and said you can't use the Zhents because they're all dead?
It's happened to me.
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My Blog: http://unitedfederationofcharles.blogspot.com/
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Winterfox
Senior Scribe
895 Posts |
Posted - 25 Mar 2006 : 01:53:47
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quote:
Originally posted by Charles Phipps
Well its a D&D setting first, not a novel setting.
How would you feel if your players came to you and said you can't use the Zhents because they're all dead?
It's happened to me.
So turn your home campaign into an alternate universe...?
Incidentally: villains who get a viewpoint. Too often, they spend their scenes gloating and giving the plot away, a primary flaw of a lot of novels. It annoys me to no end, and shoots mystery and suspense to bits. |
Edited by - Winterfox on 25 Mar 2006 02:11:51 |
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Charles Phipps
Master of Realmslore
1425 Posts |
Posted - 25 Mar 2006 : 02:29:11
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quote:
So turn your home campaign into an alternate universe...?
Why? When the game will always and foremost be a setting for RPGs.
There's plenty of fantasy works NOT set in an inherently static world (to the extent that FR will never become a less dangerous place) for you to read.
I know you may want CHANGES in the Realms but you have to accept that premise because its not going to change. |
My Blog: http://unitedfederationofcharles.blogspot.com/
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Winterfox
Senior Scribe
895 Posts |
Posted - 25 Mar 2006 : 02:34:45
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quote:
Originally posted by Charles Phipps
There's plenty of fantasy works NOT set in an inherently static world (to the extent that FR will never become a less dangerous place) for you to read.
Er, yeah, which is why I'm reading them and less and less FR novels. And even then, my beef still lies with the lack of genuinely well-done characterization as well as the predominance of certain characters more than anything.
quote:
I know you may want CHANGES in the Realms but you have to accept that premise because its not going to change.
You're confusing me with someone else. Who was it that said the evil-aligned groups are too static? Not I. Durr. |
Edited by - Winterfox on 25 Mar 2006 02:59:33 |
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Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
Posted - 25 Mar 2006 : 03:12:50
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Mace: You don't have to convince me that retconning the Realms can be annoying. You're talking to the guy who wrote the first draft of his drow novel not knowing that the game designers were busily changing some of the basic drow attributes at the same time he was grinding the sucker out, and that he would have to rewrite to accommodate those changes. Admittedly, it wasn't that big a deal, but when you're lazy like I am, you begrudge those extra hours of labor.
Charles: Actually, the Realms do change significantly from time to time. The events of the Avatar Trilogy and the establishment of the new orc kingdom are cases in point, I think. It's just that there are considerations that promote a fairly conservative approach to changing them.
Winterfox: I agree completely that DMs are free to alter the FR however they like. When you think about it, even if they aren't consciously trying to do this, really, every campaign inevitably becomes its own unique version of the Realms.
But even so, I understand the annoyance of a DM who has some valued element of the FR yanked out from under him. His problem is that from that point forward, all the sourcebooks and what have you become more difficult to use. In effect, he has to correct them for use in his own game, which is not what most people want with canned RPG material. From a certain perspective, the whole point of it is to cut down on the DM's work load.
In fact, now that I think about it, I feel kind of bad about sinking the whole Sword Coast into the sea in my next project. Maybe turning all the elves into porcupines was a bit much, also.
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Charles Phipps
Master of Realmslore
1425 Posts |
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scererar
Master of Realmslore
USA
1618 Posts |
Posted - 25 Mar 2006 : 03:39:47
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quote:
Originally posted by Richard Lee Byers
Mace: You don't have to convince me that retconning the Realms can be annoying. You're talking to the guy who wrote the first draft of his drow novel not knowing that the game designers were busily changing some of the basic drow attributes at the same time he was grinding the sucker out, and that he would have to rewrite to accommodate those changes. Admittedly, it wasn't that big a deal, but when you're lazy like I am, you begrudge those extra hours of labor.
Charles: Actually, the Realms do change significantly from time to time. The events of the Avatar Trilogy and the establishment of the new orc kingdom are cases in point, I think. It's just that there are considerations that promote a fairly conservative approach to changing them.
Winterfox: I agree completely that DMs are free to alter the FR however they like. When you think about it, even if they aren't consciously trying to do this, really, every campaign inevitably becomes its own unique version of the Realms.
But even so, I understand the annoyance of a DM who has some valued element of the FR yanked out from under him. His problem is that from that point forward, all the sourcebooks and what have you become more difficult to use. In effect, he has to correct them for use in his own game, which is not what most people want with canned RPG material. From a certain perspective, the whole point of it is to cut down on the DM's work load.
In fact, now that I think about it, I feel kind of bad about sinking the whole Sword Coast into the sea in my next project. Maybe turning all the elves into porcupines was a bit much, also.
Your books are always great Richard, but please leave the sword coast alone, at least don't sink it. I can think of a couple of elves that could use a little time as a porcupine though  might do 'em some good |
Edited by - scererar on 25 Mar 2006 04:33:25 |
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Asgetrion
Master of Realmslore
Finland
1564 Posts |
Posted - 26 Mar 2006 : 18:08:23
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quote:
Originally posted by Charles Phipps
Well its a D&D setting first, not a novel setting.
How would you feel if your players came to you and said you can't use the Zhents because they're all dead?
It's happened to me.
I would say that not in my Realms  Remember, you don't have to like, or implement everything published in canon Realmslore.
For example, we chose to ignore Kelemvor' ascension to divinity in my gaming group, and thus Cyric is still the Lord of the Dead - no matter how much this conflicts with canon sources. If a new player came along, and had any problems with this, he/she wouldn't be playing with us for long. |
"What am I doing today? Ask me tomorrow - I can be sure of giving you the right answer then."
-- Askarran of Selgaunt, Master Sage, speaking to a curious merchant, Year of the Helm |
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DrJackal
Acolyte
21 Posts |
Posted - 26 Mar 2006 : 18:18:22
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quote:
Originally posted by Richard Lee Byers
I don't think Star Wars has enough depth or logical coherence to deserve credit for having anything meaningful to say about fascism.
But hey, that's just me. I always wind up as the grumpy, curmudgeonly nay-sayer in Star Wars discussions.
I think you'd fit right in with SW fandom. :) http://www.jivemagazine.com/column.php?pid=3381 |
"I was never on anyone's side in the first place, so how could I betray them?" -- Akabane Kuroudo.
"No man is a black magician in his own eyes." --- Richard Cavendish, The Black Arts |
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DrJackal
Acolyte
21 Posts |
Posted - 26 Mar 2006 : 18:30:02
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If people want to see how a villain becomes a villain in a FR novel, Manshoon would be a good candidate. Somewhere I read (Villains' Lorebook?) that at a young age he decided he'd have to defend himself from being dominated by his superiors and family, and thus became a tyrant himself.
One caveat I feel I have to point out for those who want to see more villains written about: WotC may freak out if said villains get too popular, a la Lucas and the Imperials, Joss Wheedon and Spike.
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"I was never on anyone's side in the first place, so how could I betray them?" -- Akabane Kuroudo.
"No man is a black magician in his own eyes." --- Richard Cavendish, The Black Arts |
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Winterfox
Senior Scribe
895 Posts |
Posted - 26 Mar 2006 : 19:38:09
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quote:
Originally posted by DrJackal
One caveat I feel I have to point out for those who want to see more villains written about: WotC may freak out if said villains get too popular, a la Lucas and the Imperials, Joss Wheedon and Spike.
I've never been able to comprehend these people going batcrap insane over such a thing. If a character they create get popular, what's the problem? Are they insecure that their heroes aren't well-done enough or something? |
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Charles Phipps
Master of Realmslore
1425 Posts |
Posted - 26 Mar 2006 : 19:42:19
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It's pretty much based on the fact that they take away from the heroes and their accomplishments. On another note, it also gets negative feedback when you indicate that you don't intend to portray the characters as anything but scum.
Joss Wheldon devoted an entire season to re-establishing Spike as evil and it just didn't fly with fans (especially female) whom wanted him to become a sort of Bryonic hero. |
My Blog: http://unitedfederationofcharles.blogspot.com/
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Mace Hammerhand
Great Reader
Germany
2296 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2006 : 10:54:56
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quote:
Originally posted by Charles Phipps
It's pretty much based on the fact that they take away from the heroes and their accomplishments. On another note, it also gets negative feedback when you indicate that you don't intend to portray the characters as anything but scum.
Joss Wheldon devoted an entire season to re-establishing Spike as evil and it just didn't fly with fans (especially female) whom wanted him to become a sort of Bryonic hero.
I think you mean Byronic or?
I am not so sure that it causes the hero to shine less. If the villain is a miserly, old, corrupt but all in all weak ruler who terrorizes his subject but never goes through with the threats etc and this ruler is put out of his misery, methinks the heroes are well... lame.
On the other hand, if you have an intelligent, cruel, yet in a twisted way just character (Vlad Tepez anyone) those who rise against him and actually defeat him are heroes worth that title.
To anyone not that familiar with Vlad Tepez (also known as Vlad Dracul, or Vlad the Impaler), his sytem of justice was very simple, and to a degree very effective. There was basically only one punishment: death by impaling. Quite effective since even the poorest man (incidentally, if I remember correctly his system helped the poor as well) would think twice about stealing anything, because it would be his last theft, if he was caught.
Implement a character based on Vlad as a villain/antagonist and let the characters be the commoners in his country. Sooner or later they will probably decide to rise against this tyrant, despite him being quite an effective ruler, and eventually defeat him. Now THAT is heroic, and why is it thus? Because the villain was damn good at his job.  |
Mace's not so gentle gamer's journal My rants were harmless compared to this, beware! |
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Charles Phipps
Master of Realmslore
1425 Posts |
Posted - 28 Mar 2006 : 22:16:27
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Yes, effective villains are certainly a good point but its a different case than people LIKING your villains.
Artemis is one example of a character that has transcended his value as a villain for either the audience or the author. Grand Admiral Thrawn also joins these ranks as does Spike. The question is honestly whether their value in redemption is better than their value as an enemy. Also, whether stories can be told from their perspective without redemption as anti-heroes.
With your Dracula example, its important for if I were DMing (or writing) that while establishing a 'cool' villain that's engaging to read about....I don't make him upstage the heroes to the point you don't want him to be fallen by them or you have an unsatisfying read.
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My Blog: http://unitedfederationofcharles.blogspot.com/
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Mace Hammerhand
Great Reader
Germany
2296 Posts |
Posted - 28 Mar 2006 : 22:35:46
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quote:
Originally posted by Charles Phipps
Yes, effective villains are certainly a good point but its a different case than people LIKING your villains.
Artemis is one example of a character that has transcended his value as a villain for either the audience or the author. Grand Admiral Thrawn also joins these ranks as does Spike. The question is honestly whether their value in redemption is better than their value as an enemy. Also, whether stories can be told from their perspective without redemption as anti-heroes.
With your Dracula example, its important for if I were DMing (or writing) that while establishing a 'cool' villain that's engaging to read about....I don't make him upstage the heroes to the point you don't want him to be fallen by them or you have an unsatisfying read.
I meant the historical man, not the fictional character.
Why not make a villain the hero? Why do the good guys always have to win? As to liking, I don't think Thrawn was as much liked as respected...hell, even I think he is damn cool. I would have loved to see him win, because he did things the right way. Did I like him? No.
Why should a villain not have the chance to win? A villainous protagonist, not in terms of how many people he slaughtered, but in terms of seeing, understanding him and know that he can actually make it without some 'hero' coming along again.
A Mulhorandi paladin with his entoutage of slaves would be a villain for a paladin of Torm from Waterdeep.
A person who believes in the system he lives in is as right as the guy who opposes said system.
Maybe you do not like the concept/idea, I find it a fascinating one, especially considering that it is past time to see the "bad guys" win. In Lolth's silence and the quest from the Menzo crew was not a battle of evil vs good.
Such a battle, to me, would be Fzoul actually managing to succeed taking over the Dalelands and holding them. Make that into a trilogy and you have an even better sequel trilogy of the retaking or what have you... Maybe let him rule over the Dales for a while even for all I care, if it makes good story material.
Tis all about the story, after all. |
Mace's not so gentle gamer's journal My rants were harmless compared to this, beware! |
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Charles Phipps
Master of Realmslore
1425 Posts |
Posted - 28 Mar 2006 : 22:49:20
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Well mainly because usually the villain winning is horribly unsatisfying. It's rare in certain occasions but it backfires as often as it succeeds. I for one would love "backstory" novels on several of the villains of the Realms. I also love reading about Gromph and wish he'd take over Menzoberrazan. I also want a Malik sequel. So I agree with you there.
However; when evil triumphs in the Shandril Novels, City of Splendors SPOILER (I refuse to acknowledge the redemption of one of the heroes END SPOILER, and also the Drow sexology I find the whole thing to leave a bad taste in my mouth.
I also think that usually the villains in the realms DO put up an extremely good fight Mace so I don't see there's an absence of "villains winning" since the majority of books show them wrecking serious havok before they're put down.
But on your point, its why I want Artemis to become King of bloodstone. It's so amazingly DIFFERENT that I'm rooting for an evil assassin to kill a Paladin King and take over his country.
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My Blog: http://unitedfederationofcharles.blogspot.com/
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Mace Hammerhand
Great Reader
Germany
2296 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2006 : 09:52:14
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I just saw part of "The Devil's Rejects", I quit halfway through the movie, because it ... well ... was too much of a bad thing so to speak.
I never never never want villains to be such as these lunatics, and 'hyper-active' brain-person that I am I still try to figure out why some person would act this way, and why the bloody hell (quite literally) people make such movies.
In "Saw" at least the villain had a purpose you could understand, twisted as it may have been.
I prefer Saw-type villains over *insert random slasher icon BS here*!
To revive this discussion!
BREATHE YOU BASTARD!!! |
Mace's not so gentle gamer's journal My rants were harmless compared to this, beware! |
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Charles Phipps
Master of Realmslore
1425 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2006 : 10:01:38
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At the risk of being the only guy who speaks here and 'deluge' the thread (like someone PMed me and said I was). I'm going to agree with Mace.
*The Abyss fills up suddenly*
I don't mind utterly evil protagionists. I'm fine with people who fully want to take over the world, commit mammoth amounts of genocide, and other utterly nasty things but I like them having some reason behind it. It doesn't have to be a sympathetic motivation as I've mentioned earlier talking about villains but I want to have some idea of what makes the character tick a few short ways off.
In Forgotten Realms I don't have any problem with murder cults but why exactly did Joe Nutbar Evil Priest join this group? One of my favorite Star Wars comics talk about how a Stormtrooper ended up onboard the Tantive IV in Star Wars. He lived on a farming village, was bored of the life, and the Empire offered him a way out that he knew from the start would involve murder and other actions. He still joined because he couldn't stand the life. It wasn't a deep motivation but it said to me....this man can be understood.
I love larger than life but I don't love cartoon either.
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My Blog: http://unitedfederationofcharles.blogspot.com/
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Mace Hammerhand
Great Reader
Germany
2296 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2006 : 10:10:12
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| What really frightens me about you agreeing with me is this: you agred with Winterfox as well. Scary stuff!!! |
Mace's not so gentle gamer's journal My rants were harmless compared to this, beware! |
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Charles Phipps
Master of Realmslore
1425 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2006 : 11:08:37
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But yes, back to the topics of villains that are leads in the stories. For me, here's a list of villains I'd love to see get their own stories.
If I was in charge....
The Villains Series
A Seven Book Cycle of the Realm's greatest evils
1. Manshoon: It's been stated but I'd prefer the Manshoon stories to downplay the Clone Saga honestly since frankly I've always felt that story was a bit silly and sort of detracts from the role of the character as a invincible, evil, scheming archwizard. Clones flinging spells at one another imply that he's not very good at staying alive. For me, I'd like to see flashbacks to his childhood as ruler of Zhentil Keep and the novel chronicle that he's also not 'answerable' to Fzoul in any shape or form despite the Chosen of Bane's beliefs.
I'd also like to establish that Manshoon is one of the most powerful mages in the Realms, even Chosen like Elminster fear him, and might even enjoy a plot where Manshoon passes up a chance to be a Chosen because he wants to be beholden to no deity.
Some depictions of the Zhentarim as NOT the planet's whipping boys would be appreciated as well. Frankly, since they're a trading Empire to begin with I'd like some sense of the scope of their operations and that his plans for world domination are well on their way would be nice. Perhaps a sense that things like the Manshoon clone in Westgate are under his command as well.
Frankly, I wouldn't mind a major shake up where the Red Wizard Trading Enclaves get subverted. Red Wizards should be evil magocrats, Zhents should be merchants.
2. Fzoul: For Fzoul, I wouldn't mind a history that explains him as a former mercenary priest and also talks about how he essentially rose from a 'heretic' in the Church of Bane to a Priest of Xvim to someone who destroyed all surviving worshippers of Bane to someone whose held in Bane's highest favor. One big thing, I want Fzoul's 'pro wrestler' look maintained. Remind people Fzoul isn't some scrawny guy with a knife but a BIG guy who carries a BIG mace.
Compared to Manshoon, I can also think Fzoul is a guy with tastes if you catch my drift. If any of the villains are to have concubines or 'enjoys' the fruits of his labors then it should be him.
I'd like him to be a little less sharp than Manshoon but someone who'd never kneel to someone like Cyric again.
3. Szass Tam: I HATE the Lich King. However, if you did do a novel on him I'd personally make some 'corrections' to some misconceptions about the man's behavior. 1. I'd establish that for the most part that he sends the Red Wizards of Thay that attack the Simbul or 'natives' that get slaughtered as a way of culling stupid Red Wizards. 2. I'd make it clear that his ambitions are well beyond pitiful kingdoms like Aglarond. Maybe he's plotting to take over Mulhorand.
If I wanted to give a plot, the best plot for me would be to see Ssass Tam destroy Velsharoon.
4. Gromph Baenre: Frankly, I think this novel is long overdue and I think it would be a good thing to finally put down Quenthel and establish that Triel needs him as much as he needs Triel. My suggestion is that he should be shown as an 'Anti-Elminster' with him putting down cults of other gods (maybe drow worshipping gods of light), secret plots by surface authorities to overthrow the Matron Mothers, and also secretly fostering his own web of power.
5. Kymil Nimsen: I'd like to see Kymil after the attack on Evermeet, a social pariah whom is more or less half crazy after his situation. I'd like him then to recover the cursed Moonblade of the Starym. Then I'd like to see him take over the human slaying Eldreth Veluuthra as he comes to see that he can recover his position by manning a crusade against mankind.
6. Semmenon: A personal novel where we see the powerful wizard that nevertheless must live in fear, his genuine love for Ashemi, and also I'd tie it into Bronwyn where the slick and dark wizard eventually seeks his revenge on Dag Zoreth. I'd also tie in the Pereghost as a figure of fear and terror to this work.
7. Bane: Yes, THE novel that everyone wants to see. Bane's return to power and also perhaps his son's perspective on all this.
We already have Artemis novels so there's no real point to asking for them, I'd prefer if he was a bit more cold blooded of a jerk though.
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My Blog: http://unitedfederationofcharles.blogspot.com/
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Villains in Novels
