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Xysma
Master of Realmslore
USA
1089 Posts |
 Posted - 21 Aug 2007 : 04:43:07
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As George said in his GenCon report:
"The first of these was "Spin a Yarn" which was what I would describe as an "interesting experience". I'll be truthful and say that as a series of more and more ribald and inane suggestions flowed from the gathering I found it to be something of what I can best describe as a loss of opportunity. It goes without saying that the "Spin a Yarn" tales are a lot of fun and Ed does "fun" better than most, but I kept thinking that here we had a situation where we can get Ed to write a story on a topic of our choosing, and the topic of our choosing is "codpieces of doom", "flatulent dragons" and "halfling plumbers".
I have read and enjoyed all of the Spin a Yarn stories and while they are at times whimsical, they never come across to me as goofy. If I understand it correctly, these silly topics are par for the course with Spin a Yarn, sort of a "Let's see what Ed can do with this" type of thing. I am curious if there is a list of the topics Ed had to work with in the past. It would be interesting to me to read these tales again knowing the topics that were thrown out.
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War to slay, not to fight long and glorious.
Aermhar of the Tangletrees
Year of the Hooded Falcon
Xysma's Gallery
Guide to the Tomes and Tales of the Realms download from Candlekeep
Anthologies and Tales Overviews
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JEThetford
Acolyte
USA
44 Posts |
Posted - 21 Aug 2007 : 11:14:49
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quote:
Originally posted by Xysma
As George said in his GenCon report:
"The first of these was "Spin a Yarn" which was what I would describe as an "interesting experience". I'll be truthful and say that as a series of more and more ribald and inane suggestions flowed from the gathering I found it to be something of what I can best describe as a loss of opportunity. It goes without saying that the "Spin a Yarn" tales are a lot of fun and Ed does "fun" better than most, but I kept thinking that here we had a situation where we can get Ed to write a story on a topic of our choosing, and the topic of our choosing is "codpieces of doom", "flatulent dragons" and "halfling plumbers".
I have read and enjoyed all of the Spin a Yarn stories and while they are at times whimsical, they never come across to me as goofy. If I understand it correctly, these silly topics are par for the course with Spin a Yarn, sort of a "Let's see what Ed can do with this" type of thing. I am curious if there is a list of the topics Ed had to work with in the past. It would be interesting to me to read these tales again knowing the topics that were thrown out.
I have attended some odd 6 of these and now that I have attended with George, I must say that he is right. An opportunity is being wasted here to give Ed "griss for his mill" so to speak. We have a chance to gain an incredible amount of Realms Lore here and it is being wasted on "naked drunken haflings who think they are invisible" or a "sentient sword in love with its scabbard and wants to constantly be sheathed and drawn--sheathed and drawn". Now, I am the first to yell out ribald suggestions and characters as I am of that sort of character.....
Well, anyway, George is correct. We are indeed wasting an incredible opportunity. I say, speak with Ed and next time have a half hour of farting priests of Denier and a half hour of true, rich suggestions to get some much wanted lore. (again George's idea...ok George, this is getting annoying ).
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Jeffrey E. Thetford |
The only good Drow, is a dead Drow.
Aaomas Balkrim, Drow Hunter
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 21 Aug 2007 : 17:15:20
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I dunno,
Why does every FR article have to be serious? It's one article out of a whole years worth of material and the fans get to basically give the ideas for it. So, it's a bit of a silly article? Does it matter? No, I'd rather read a silly article once in awhile.
Speaking of, cough, where is last years! Gencon is over. I want to read it to see if two of my ideas made it in! |
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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Xysma
Master of Realmslore
USA
1089 Posts |
Posted - 21 Aug 2007 : 19:35:38
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quote:
Originally posted by Kuje
I dunno,
Why does every FR article have to be serious? It's one article out of a whole years worth of material and the fans get to basically give the ideas for it. So, it's a bit of a silly article? Does it matter? No, I'd rather read a silly article once in awhile.
Speaking of, cough, where is last years! Gencon is over. I want to read it to see if two of my ideas made it in!
I think that's one of the reasons I enjoy them so much, they are a bit silly, but wholly enjoyable. Also, if things go like they have in the past, I would expect to see last year's up sometime soon. If my memory serves, last year the 2005 spin a yarn showed up shortly after GenCon. |
War to slay, not to fight long and glorious.
Aermhar of the Tangletrees
Year of the Hooded Falcon
Xysma's Gallery
Guide to the Tomes and Tales of the Realms download from Candlekeep
Anthologies and Tales Overviews
Check out my custom action figures, hand-painted miniatures, gaming products, and other stuff on eBay.
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 22 Aug 2007 : 01:01:06
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quote:
Originally posted by Kuje
I dunno,
Why does every FR article have to be serious? It's one article out of a whole years worth of material and the fans get to basically give the ideas for it. So, it's a bit of a silly article? Does it matter? No, I'd rather read a silly article once in awhile.
Agrees with this.
I love the way writers can poke fun at a setting -- especially when it's from Ed and it includes the Realms. It's a reflection of the fact that the Realms itself has matured to a point where whimsical exploration of themes at play in the setting, can be just as entertaining and exciting as the more serious plots and Realmslore being published in official products.
More I say! 
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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 |
Edited by - The Sage on 22 Aug 2007 01:02:37 |
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Pasta Fzoul
Seeker
USA
79 Posts |
Posted - 22 Aug 2007 : 04:39:55
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| Also, some superficially "silly" topics may provide context for Ed to include more "serious" lore that might not otherwise be addressed. |
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Spin a Yarn
