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Matt James
Forgotten Realms Game Designer
USA
918 Posts |
 Posted - 27 Oct 2010 : 18:17:33
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Not a Realms product, but Brian R. James and I are co-authors on it (along with Sterling Hershey and Steve Townshend). I'm excited for it and think people who play 4e will find it to be an asset. Baring any post-production changes, it will have a nice booklet full of monsters and includes 4 color maps that we designed, and tokens to use for monster counters. It should be like the old-school boxed sets.
Monster Vault: Threats to the Nentir Vale
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Edited by - Matt James on 27 Oct 2010 18:18:43
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 27 Oct 2010 : 21:56:23
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Looking at the maps - very nice - is this supposed to be on the hypothetical 'core world'?
Just wondering - it all looks/sounds familiar - but I was under the impression that there were no plans to ever detail any part of the core lore (in order to keep it generic enough for everyone to be able to use, regardless of setting).
And I'm sure you suspect I am looking for 'ammunition', but I promise you this is just honest curiosity. I plan to start a 4e campaign VERY soon myself, and would like to know a little bit about the direction WotC is heading setting-wise at this point.
Thanks --- Mark |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Brimstone
Great Reader
USA
3285 Posts |
Posted - 27 Oct 2010 : 23:14:33
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A Nentir Vale is/was getting a Gazetter in Feb. I guess this is the Monster book for that area. |
"These things also I have observed: that knowledge of our world is
to be nurtured like a precious flower, for it is the most precious
thing we have. Wherefore guard the word written and heed
words unwritten and set them down ere they fade . . . Learn
then, well, the arts of reading, writing, and listening true, and they
will lead you to the greatest art of all: understanding."
Alaundo of Candlekeep |
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Matt James
Forgotten Realms Game Designer
USA
918 Posts |
Posted - 27 Oct 2010 : 23:54:47
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Wait, what maps are you looking at? The Nentir Vale resides in the 'Points of Light' generic setting that accompanied 4e. The Nentir Vale exists as an example of what you might use in your own game-- I'm not sure they're trying to make it a fleshed out campaign world like the Forgotten Realms.
The Nentir Vale came out with 4e, this product never had any ties to the Gazetteer. |
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Brimstone
Great Reader
USA
3285 Posts |
Posted - 28 Oct 2010 : 02:29:21
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| Cool. |
"These things also I have observed: that knowledge of our world is
to be nurtured like a precious flower, for it is the most precious
thing we have. Wherefore guard the word written and heed
words unwritten and set them down ere they fade . . . Learn
then, well, the arts of reading, writing, and listening true, and they
will lead you to the greatest art of all: understanding."
Alaundo of Candlekeep |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31701 Posts |
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Diffan
Great Reader
USA
4427 Posts |
Posted - 28 Oct 2010 : 03:11:48
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| The Nentir Vale is a location that is designed to be placed in pretty much any setting, though WotC has gone to some lengths to put a little creativity in a generic setting. This comes in the form of the fallen Tiefling nation of Bael Turath and the Dragonborn empire of Arkhosia. |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 28 Oct 2010 : 04:27:40
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quote:
Originally posted by Matt James
Wait, what maps are you looking at?
This One.
All I did was Google the name - I found a ton of sites with that same map.
Isn't that one official? I would assume so since there are so many copies of it floating around. It has the same look as the few 4e FR ones that have accompanied articles.
So this would then be more generic 'use anywhere' material, correct?
Because that is kinda what I am looking for for next campaign - gonna just let the world sorta build itself as I go along (that's REAL Old-School). Running a a game for a 13yr old and a 9yr old - I don't need to put a whole lot of deep-thinking into it. LOL |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Brimstone
Great Reader
USA
3285 Posts |
Posted - 28 Oct 2010 : 13:59:55
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| It is the map in the 4E DMG. |
"These things also I have observed: that knowledge of our world is
to be nurtured like a precious flower, for it is the most precious
thing we have. Wherefore guard the word written and heed
words unwritten and set them down ere they fade . . . Learn
then, well, the arts of reading, writing, and listening true, and they
will lead you to the greatest art of all: understanding."
Alaundo of Candlekeep |
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Matt James
Forgotten Realms Game Designer
USA
918 Posts |
Posted - 28 Oct 2010 : 17:59:33
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| Correct, Mark. I misunderstood you and thought that the maps we worked on for the project were out (or something). Diffan is correct as well as far as the little bit of lore that has been created for it. |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 28 Oct 2010 : 18:25:09
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Ah, okay.
I had bought the 4e PH and my oldest son bought the MM, but neither of us ever purchased the 4e DMG (which is why I didn't recognize the map itself, but the names sound familiar).
I gave the PH to my son soon after I bought it, because he was planning on running it for his friends (which never got off the ground). Now that he has his own Apt. and a live-in GF, I doubt he will ever have time again. 
I should get those from him....
Then again, I figure I should just start with a fresh slate and Essentials.
Thanks for the info Matt (and others).
P.S. - Would anyone be interested in a shoe-horning of that map into FR? |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Alisttair
Great Reader
Canada
3054 Posts |
Posted - 28 Oct 2010 : 18:29:51
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
P.S. - Would anyone be interested in a shoe-horning of that map into FR?
Markus, you need not ask.  |
Karsite Arcanar (Most Holy Servant of Karsus)
Anauria - Survivor State of Netheril as penned by me:
http://www.dmsguild.com/m/product/172023 |
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Brimstone
Great Reader
USA
3285 Posts |
Posted - 28 Oct 2010 : 19:44:20
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Shoehorn away Markus! |
"These things also I have observed: that knowledge of our world is
to be nurtured like a precious flower, for it is the most precious
thing we have. Wherefore guard the word written and heed
words unwritten and set them down ere they fade . . . Learn
then, well, the arts of reading, writing, and listening true, and they
will lead you to the greatest art of all: understanding."
Alaundo of Candlekeep |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 29 Oct 2010 : 03:33:11
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I decided to not put it where I was going to put it (having The Cloak Woods line-up to FR's Cloakwood), and instead found that the place where I felt Fallcrest would fit is still the perfect spot (if anybody remembers that quikie-adaption I did when 4e came out - I only placed Fallcrest and Hammerfast on the official map).
This one is a bit more involved, actually adapting the entire Nentir Vale region onto the Realms map, without having to make any compromises on either. Once I saw how tiny an area Nentir Vale was compared to Faerūn, I realized I could get it all in (and yeah, I matched the scales so that maps from both settings will still be accurate).
I have to nudge a couple of things out of the way a little bit, but so far its looking good - so good, in fact, that I would definitely use this in-place of the official FR version. The location is ideally suited to a 'start area', and considering the effects of the Spellplague, the changes are minimal compared to what I could have gotten away with. Basically, this could just be a rather 'normal' area of Abeir that got swapped. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Edited by - Markustay on 29 Oct 2010 03:49:45 |
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Matt James
Forgotten Realms Game Designer
USA
918 Posts |
Posted - 29 Oct 2010 : 16:07:23
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| I'm digging it! I can't wait to see the final map, Mark. |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 03 Nov 2010 : 22:26:46
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Still working on this - I don't want anyone to think I forgot about it - its actually my top-priority ATM.
I decided to rebuild nearly all of my old terrain patterns; after I started drawing-over the terrain on the delightful nentir vale map, I decided its time to retire the 3e terrains. As much as I loved them, they have seen better days, and you can do a lot more with better-defined terrain patterns.
Thats the same artists that did the other 4eFr maps, right? The ones from the DDi articles? His work is amazing - I will have to credit it for the terrain patterns I am lifting from his maps. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Edited by - Markustay on 03 Nov 2010 22:46:51 |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 27 Nov 2010 : 21:53:10
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I've run into a bit of a problem, it seems.
The map I am building-on was done by Mike Shley, wasn't it? |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Brimstone
Great Reader
USA
3285 Posts |
Posted - 27 Nov 2010 : 22:09:23
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
I've run into a bit of a problem, it seems.
The map I am building-on was done by Mike Shley, wasn't it?
Yep... |
"These things also I have observed: that knowledge of our world is
to be nurtured like a precious flower, for it is the most precious
thing we have. Wherefore guard the word written and heed
words unwritten and set them down ere they fade . . . Learn
then, well, the arts of reading, writing, and listening true, and they
will lead you to the greatest art of all: understanding."
Alaundo of Candlekeep |
Edited by - Brimstone on 27 Nov 2010 22:16:35 |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 27 Nov 2010 : 23:17:47
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From what I understand, he doesn't take kindly to folks doing derivative work (and the whole center of the map is his).
Which makes me wonder why no-one 'in-the-loop' pointed this out to me before I was 95% finished.  |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2010 : 00:21:41
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Update: When it is finished, the map will be posted over at WotC, and I will provide links to the thread here and at the CartographersGuild.
You know how they say everything happens for a reason? (and the older I get, the more I truly believe that)
When this site was down the other day I was going through withdrawal for my 'FR fix' and went over to WotC, where I haven't been in quite some time. This happened, BTW, when I reached a legal dilemma with my latest map (the Nentir Vale conversion, which is coming out phenomenal, if I do say so myself).
It appears that you can now upload pics directly to their site, via your account, which is PRECISELY what I need to do to avoid legal hassles (after-all, anything that appears on their site becomes THEIR property). Ergo I will not be using my usual DeviantART page or the occasional Photobucket post (which I was using for 'quick snapshots').
I was awaiting for some answers on dwarvish from Ed, but I think I have enough to move forward. I wanted to post a WIP just before Thanksgiving, but I have decided I am better-off posting a finished product (from a legitimacy stand-point - I stand a much better chance of being able to continue in this manner if I show something that is worthwhile to WotC).
In the interim, I accidentally discovered yet-another 'core' project over at the WotC which can also be adapted for this same project (it is actually a bizarre series of events that allowed me to find it - I accidentally gave a new town I created the SAME EXACT NAME as a town being used for another D&D project!)
The strangest part of that - that project centers around the Chaos Scar, and the town I named the same as that other guy... it is just to the west of The Deep Maw.. precisely where it needed to be, if the Deep Maw = the Chaos Scar!
And now I must ask myself, since I only found all of that by choosing a random name for that town I needed (a road went that way on the NV map), did I really choose that name... or did it choose me? 
So by linking my project to theirs (I already joined the group), and posting all of WotC's IP over on their own site (thus avoiding legal issues), I find I can finally continue with this. It would have been a damn shame to have to have just thrown-away all the work I did, which is what I feared, and now it seems i won't have to.
THANK YOU, CK Gremlins.  |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Edited by - Markustay on 01 Dec 2010 00:24:30 |
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Kno
Senior Scribe
452 Posts |
Posted - 03 Dec 2010 : 13:54:02
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| Chaos Scar was done by a meteor, possibly like the one that fell in Vaasa, of the same shower. |
z455t |
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Diffan
Great Reader
USA
4427 Posts |
Posted - 04 Dec 2010 : 12:04:43
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So I read over the review of the Monster Vault on EnWorld and they gave it a supportive A- !! After reading what the pros/cons were, I'm DEFINITLY going to have to get this supplement.
One thing of note, they have lots (and I mean LOTS) of monster tokens for your game. Not only that, but the tokens are flip-sided with a red ring around one side to show the "Bloodied" state of the creature. That's just damn brilliant!!
I'm soo looking forward to getting this for X-mas lol.
Just thought I'd share my enthusiasm!! |
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Matt James
Forgotten Realms Game Designer
USA
918 Posts |
Posted - 04 Dec 2010 : 13:23:29
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| Monster Vault: Threats to the Nentir Vale will have a bunch of punch-out tokens as well as four highly detailed maps-- in addition to the big book of monsters. I'm pretty excited for it! |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jan 2013 : 17:20:31
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Obviously I never finished the conversion, which is a damn shame - it was 95+% done (and looked just like Mike Shley's original). Now its gone {sigh}...
Anyhow, I went looking for any old Nentir Vale thread and found this one, so I will post this here - did a Gazeteer for that region ever come out? If not, where can I find out the most info about it? (Barring searching through each and every article and adventure).
The new conversion I am working on (NOT using Mr.Shley's textures) I like even better - seems Nentir Vale fits perfectly below the High Forest. Instead of tweaking existing (FR) terrain to get it to work, I just have to add some details in (and thats additive design - nothing says that terrain couldn't have been there all along). The Winterbole Forest becomes the southern edge of the High Forest (just assume its a local name for that part of the greater forest). I'm really loving the way the rivers worked out.
Nentir Vale becomes the site of the former kingdom of Athalantar... I like that a lot; it seems fitting somehow. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Matt James
Forgotten Realms Game Designer
USA
918 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jan 2013 : 00:25:00
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| It did not. That project was scrapped. No idea why. |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 12 Feb 2013 : 00:52:23
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Wow, what a shame - Nentir Vale was one of the very few good things (as in, accepted by folks on both sides of the edition debacle) to come out of 4e.
And it fits so nice and snug in that spot between the forest and the High Moor. Ah, well... I was able to glean quite a few things from Monster Vault - great job on that. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Monster Vault: Threats to the Nentir Vale
