Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 17 Aug 2006 21:44:04
Message:

Hmmm... well, to start, I'd suggest typed rather than handwritten correspondence. (Of course, word processor and printer are just as good as a typewriter, 'cause who the heck has a typewriter anymore?)

If you're asking a rules question, we'd prefer it if you tried our Customer Service folks first. You can call or email them (see the title page of any FR sourcebook) and you'll get an answer fast. I will field CS-type questions when people send them my way, but the CS folks keep records of the questions they're asked and the answers provided. That gives us a company-wide history of which questions are asked about which products, whereas if you just post a question on the message boards or email a random game designer at WotC that information isn't preserved.

If you would like to offer a suggestion or make a complaint, you have three good choices. You can post it in a public forum we keep an eye on (the appropriate wizards.com message board), you can email someone at WotC, or you can send snail mail. If you want to be sure that we see it, I recommend sending your suggestion straight to *someone* rather than just posting on a board -- it's hard to sort out the signal-from-noise in a message board, after all. If you contact us via snail mail, just add "Attn: Rich Baker" in the address line, and the letter will be delivered to me. Good people to talk to here at Wotc include me; Chris Perkins, the design manager; Bill Slavicsek, director of RPG R&D; or Liz Schuh, who heads up our RPG business team.

Email sent straight to one of the above folks is OK, too -- but I'd ask that you save it for serious correspondence. We like to hear from you, but I know in my own case that I wouldn't want to feel like I ought to reply to a dozen customer emails a day.

Finally, regardless of the format you choose, I'd ask that you try to be concise, polite, and direct. Short, well-organized messages are much easier to digest than long, indirect, rambling ones. Stay on message, and seriously, try to be civil even when you're angry about something. Nothing puts my hackles up faster like folks telling me I'm a talentless hack or that I'm an evil money-grubbing soulless corporate drone. (For that matter, I'm not particularly pleased by people who go out of their way to explain how So-and-So did my job better years ago and really cared about the work, as compared to the way I approach the job.) If you're complaining about something you don't like, state the problem clearly without making it into a personal attack. Don't get shrill, don't use hyperbole, and don't shout. We carefully consider reasonable, well-thought-out criticism expressed simply and politely; we ignore people acting like jerks. There it is.

Hope that helps!

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sanishiver

Hello Rich,

Can you give us scribes here at Candlekeep some suggestions or guidelines for how to write and structure customer feedback about the Realms, for the purpose of sending it in to Wizards of the Coast?

I understand as a rule all feedback is important, but am also certain (based on my own professional experience) that why and how feedback is written can make a great deal of difference as to whether it’s fully read and understood.

Could you please advise if hand-written letters are better/worse than sending email, and also if it’s appropriate to request a reply of some sort? If it’s not too much to ask, can you also advise if feedback is ranked at all? That is, if some customer correspondence is obviously rules related as opposed to setting/lore related, does that automatically rank higher in priority to read or perhaps cause the feedback to be sorted into different ‘piles’ for review by different departments later?

Thanks as always!

J. Grenemyer

---

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Reply author: Kentinal
Replied on: 17 Aug 2006 22:51:55
Message:

Mr. Baker it is nice to see you more active at candlekeep.

The "boards that should not be mentioned" is not useable for anyone that blocks images. I do have an account there, but have to go though the rather painful (for me) process of dealing with images to make or reply to a post. Prehaps you could talk to web design team about making those boards more friendly for users that wish to comment?

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Reply author: Sanishiver
Replied on: 18 Aug 2006 00:32:08
Message:

Rich,

Thanks for taking the time to provide a detailed response!

J. Grenemyer

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Reply author: Lameth
Replied on: 18 Aug 2006 12:44:16
Message:

Hi,
can you tell us where Filsaelene disappears to?
http://www.candlekeep.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7572

Whoosh and she was gone.

---

Reply author: Mkhaiwati
Replied on: 18 Aug 2006 17:25:50
Message:

Thanks for the reply's to questions, and more importantly, looking ta the thread that KnightErrantJR started on the other boards. It does mean a lot. (I would've said something there but even with a cable modem, it takes so long to navigate those boards sometimes.)

I possess some of Merritt's work, but can't really get into them. I have tried a couple of times.

Since this is supposed to be a question scroll, can you give us any idea what maps might be found within the Cormyr supplement, specifically maps of towns. (i.e should I continue mapping some villages in Cormyr on my own or just wait?)

Also, do you have any other writing projects planned? I did enjoy the Last Mythal trilogy.

Mkhaiwati

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Reply author: Conlon
Replied on: 21 Aug 2006 01:45:04
Message:

Greetings Mr. Baker.

I had asked this question elsewhere just moments ago, then realized I should have come directly to you. In the fantastic tome, Lost Empires of Faerun, in the Realms of the High Forest section, it is written that the dwarven kingdom of Delzoun once encompassed the Rauvin Mountains. I am running a campaign in that area presently and am wondering if there is another source which provides more detail to that specific area.

By the way, LEoF has been my go-to book for this campaign. My long-term plan is to involve the fey'ri in the High Forest, as well as the Eldreth Veluuthra, then eventually have my players become involved in the events of "The Last Mythal" trilogy - which I also greatly enjoyed.

Thanks for all of your efforts in "fleshing out" the Realms.

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Reply author: The Sage
Replied on: 21 Aug 2006 02:52:30
Message:

Conlon, I've provided you with a number of sources you can use to learn more about the Rauvin Mountains.

See your original scroll:- http://candlekeep.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7583

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Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 22 Aug 2006 00:04:24
Message:

She sticks with the Crusade, serving with the various healers that accompany the elven army. As it turned out I never really got back into the "hospital" again (there is one scene in Forsaken House where I did), so she never happened to cross paths with the protagonists again.

I intended for some characters to move into and out of the story, sometimes a little abruptly. Filsaelene first appeared in Forsaken House to illustrate the point that the fey'ri had sinister intentions in mind for any sun elf prisoners who fell into their hands. Having put her in the story to be rescued, I decided to have her road wind alongside Araevin's for a time before letting her go her own way. I suppose I was striving for a sense of verisimilitude; in a big, chaotic, hectic time of battles and adventures you might find different people around you at different times, and not always because someone had gotten killed and replaced.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Lameth

Hi,
can you tell us where Filsaelene disappears to?
http://www.candlekeep.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7572

Whoosh and she was gone.

---

---

Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 22 Aug 2006 00:09:28
Message:

Merritt is an acquired taste, no doubt. I have a soft spot for 1940s and 1950s SF; I can't tell you how many times I've read Doc Smith's Lensman books. To each his own.

The action in the Cormyr adventure mostly takes place in Wheloon and the Vast Swamp.

I will soon be starting a new FR trilogy, but I really can't say much about it yet. I have only the sketchiest plans so far.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Mkhaiwati

Thanks for the reply's to questions, and more importantly, looking ta the thread that KnightErrantJR started on the other boards. It does mean a lot. (I would've said something there but even with a cable modem, it takes so long to navigate those boards sometimes.)

I possess some of Merritt's work, but can't really get into them. I have tried a couple of times.

Since this is supposed to be a question scroll, can you give us any idea what maps might be found within the Cormyr supplement, specifically maps of towns. (i.e should I continue mapping some villages in Cormyr on my own or just wait?)

Also, do you have any other writing projects planned? I did enjoy the Last Mythal trilogy.

Mkhaiwati

---

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Reply author: Alaundo
Replied on: 22 Aug 2006 10:22:46
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by RichardBaker

I will soon be starting a new FR trilogy, but I really can't say much about it yet. I have only the sketchiest plans so far.

---

Well met

Now that's the kind of news I love to see first thing in a morn I'm very excited about even the slight mention of this and look forward to ye spilling some beans about this in the future, Richard

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Reply author: Mkhaiwati
Replied on: 22 Aug 2006 15:53:15
Message:

Thanks! I can continue mapping as I am not touching those areas.

quote:

---

I will soon be starting a new FR trilogy, but I really can't say much about it yet. I have only the sketchiest plans so far.

---

I am also looking forward to it, Alaundo.

Mkhaiwati

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Reply author: Wandering_mage
Replied on: 23 Sep 2006 14:38:25
Message:

Hello Mr Baker,
I am currently reading the first book in your Last Mythal series and might I say that Araevin is so similar to what I want my elven mage to be that I am now sad because I am 10th level and I can't change my feats to be more like him. Hahaha, anyways, you have written quite a gem. No wonder Ed says this is one of his favorite books. I really like how you portray Araevin as a capable yet also not perfect. As he finds himself rather useless during the golem fight I have also found my mage in the same situation. You obviously really thought out Araevin. Then again I am a huge fan of mages....and elves....and this series now. Araevin's party is very neat in its composition. You have written such a great story and I can't say that enough.

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Reply author: Wandering_mage
Replied on: 23 Sep 2006 16:52:55
Message:

I am soooo silly, I just realized you wrote City of Ravens book, and Condemnation. Sadly I never took the time to look at the authors name long enough to realize the same author wrote both books. So now that I look like a complete idiot I shall say this, Both the above mentioned books rocked! Jack Ravenwild was entertaining and absolutley well thought out. He had charm and an almost James Bond/Aladdin/Ladies Man character feel to him. When I say Ladies Man I am referring to the Tim Meadows movie/character. WotSQ on the other hand is probably my favorite FR series. Although the Last Mythal series might steal that title. You really bring a different look with your books adding on to the greats works (Greenwood, Salvatore, Schend). It is refreshing and quite an adventure. I really need to be more observant with my realmslore and book knowledge. Sorry about the late congrats on those two books.

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Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 27 Sep 2006 21:50:32
Message:

Thanks for the kind words, Mage! I'm glad you've enjoyed my books. I plan to start another Realms series soon, but you won't see the first of those for a while yet.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wandering_mage

I am soooo silly, I just realized you wrote City of Ravens book, and Condemnation. Sadly I never took the time to look at the authors name long enough to realize the same author wrote both books. So now that I look like a complete idiot I shall say this, Both the above mentioned books rocked! Jack Ravenwild was entertaining and absolutley well thought out. He had charm and an almost James Bond/Aladdin/Ladies Man character feel to him. When I say Ladies Man I am referring to the Tim Meadows movie/character. WotSQ on the other hand is probably my favorite FR series. Although the Last Mythal series might steal that title. You really bring a different look with your books adding on to the greats works (Greenwood, Salvatore, Schend). It is refreshing and quite an adventure. I really need to be more observant with my realmslore and book knowledge. Sorry about the late congrats on those two books.

---

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Reply author: Thangorn
Replied on: 28 Sep 2006 12:52:53
Message:

I recently read the first two last mythal novels after a long break from reading forgotten realms novels.. I must say these are some brilliant pieces of work right here Richard. I love books that can engage me and these certainly did that well. You are right up there as one of the best Forgotten Realms Authors in my view.

Your portrayals of the scenes with both Maalthiir and Fzoul were particularly good I thought.

I actually had a quick question about Maalthiir's personal guard of those freaky warriors with the black eyes. When Sarya Dlardrageth meets Maalthiir for the first time she mentions the taint of planar magic on these beings. I wonder whether you can elaborate on what manner of creature these might be.

forgive my ignorance if this is mentioned in the third last mythal novel as I havent found it in Brisbane, Australia yet and havent gotten around to ordering it.

Thanks

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Reply author: WalkerNinja
Replied on: 29 Sep 2006 16:46:55
Message:

Mr. Baker

First let me say that I've really enjoyed your work on the realms these last few years. On to the questions...

1) Can we expect a Campaign Journal Update (as appeared in PGtF) so that we can see some of the ramifications of your latest trilogy?

2) Does Zhentil Keep now rule Hillsfar as a kind of protectorate, or did we just witness a city state evolve into a nation?

3) Does Hillsfar retain its persecution of demi-humans now that it is under Zhentarim control (it always seemed like that was Maalthir's idea anyways)?

Thanks!
-Walker

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Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 04 Oct 2006 01:46:01
Message:

Thanks! Glad you liked the books.

I don't know if I ever really decided exactly what Maalthiir's creepy swordsmen were, other than some sort of extraplanar undead or constructs. Clearly they were much less bothered by being hacked to bits than they should have been, and they seemed to have a sort of collective mind or consciousness so that they acted in perfect unison without speaking. Beyond that, heck, I sorta just made them up. There's an old Planescape monster called a "keeper" that might just barely describe Maalthiir's guard, but I think I was really after something else, something new.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Thangorn

I recently read the first two last mythal novels after a long break from reading forgotten realms novels.. I must say these are some brilliant pieces of work right here Richard. I love books that can engage me and these certainly did that well. You are right up there as one of the best Forgotten Realms Authors in my view.

Your portrayals of the scenes with both Maalthiir and Fzoul were particularly good I thought.

I actually had a quick question about Maalthiir's personal guard of those freaky warriors with the black eyes. When Sarya Dlardrageth meets Maalthiir for the first time she mentions the taint of planar magic on these beings. I wonder whether you can elaborate on what manner of creature these might be.

forgive my ignorance if this is mentioned in the third last mythal novel as I havent found it in Brisbane, Australia yet and havent gotten around to ordering it.

Thanks

---

---

Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 04 Oct 2006 01:56:56
Message:

My pleasure!

As for your questions...

1) Campaign Journal. Nothing planned for the moment. I don't know what game product on the current schedule we would put it in.

2) Hillsfar is pretty much a tributary state to Zhentil Keep at the end of the series. It's wealthy and strong enough that the Zhents can't completely subsume it, but for years to come you can assume that Hillsfar won't do much without Fzoul's say-so. I would expect a lot of scheming, plotting, conniving, and backstabbing for quite some time. I see Hillsfar being governed by an ineffectual council of its wealthy merchant lords. Some collaborate with the Zhents, others resist Zhentish influence. There's a Zhent military legate who oversees "law and order" in the city, but I expect he's crooked, and I can see the high priest of the new temple of Bane scheming to make himself tyrant of the city. But overall the Zhents are trying to swallow a prize that might be a bit too big to digest.

3) Zhentil Keep has every reason to be highly suspicious of elven meddling in Hillsfar, and there are probably more than a few Red Plume holdouts still occupying influential positions in the city. On the other hand, I imagine that some of the "better" merchant lords--people who weren't all that happy under Maalthiir and likely disapproved of his humanocentric ways--might turn to Coronal Miritar and her people for help in wriggling out of Zhentish control. So, no arenas for now, but elves ought to expect to be harassed and spied upon every moment they're in the city.

quote:

---

Originally posted by WalkerNinja

Mr. Baker

First let me say that I've really enjoyed your work on the realms these last few years. On to the questions...

1) Can we expect a Campaign Journal Update (as appeared in PGtF) so that we can see some of the ramifications of your latest trilogy?

2) Does Zhentil Keep now rule Hillsfar as a kind of protectorate, or did we just witness a city state evolve into a nation?

3) Does Hillsfar retain its persecution of demi-humans now that it is under Zhentarim control (it always seemed like that was Maalthir's idea anyways)?

Thanks!
-Walker

---

---

Reply author: WalkerNinja
Replied on: 04 Oct 2006 02:34:38
Message:

Thanks Rich!

---

Reply author: Wandering_mage
Replied on: 05 Oct 2006 21:47:53
Message:

Quick question Rich, what spell is cast when Araevin uses his wand of Disruption? Oh, and I just finished forsaken House and I am now on the next book, Farthest Reach. Damn this story rocks!

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Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 06 Oct 2006 21:52:02
Message:

It's "resonating bolt" in the 3.5 Spell Compendium. It used to be "lance of disruption" in Player's Option: Spells and Magic, which I wrote a few years back.

Enjoy the rest of the story!

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wandering_mage

Quick question Rich, what spell is cast when Araevin uses his wand of Disruption? Oh, and I just finished forsaken House and I am now on the next book, Farthest Reach. Damn this story rocks!

---

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Reply author: Asgetrion
Replied on: 08 Oct 2006 00:08:40
Message:

Well met, Rich!

Now that the Faiths of Eberron is out, is there any chance for a Faiths of Faerūn?

I mean a book consisting of religious "fluff" and details - rituals, blessings/curses, terminology/vocabulary for each faith (i.e. fallen paladins or priests are known as 'Dark Watchers' within Helm's faith), daily chores, temple/shrine descriptions, heresies ('Heretic of the Faith'-feat is a marvelous DM tool :) and all that. No prestige classes, monsters or NPC statistics. Sort of usinf the lore presented in Faiths and Avatars and Faiths and Pantheons but taking it a bit further :)

Many scribes have asked very detailed religious questions from Ed here at Candlekeep ("How would a worshipper of Bane act in an inn?" or "How would a Cyricist react in the situation I have described" etc.)
I honestly think it would probably sell quite well, if Eric and Ed did it :)

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Reply author: Kuje
Replied on: 08 Oct 2006 04:12:29
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Asgetrion

Well met, Rich!

Now that the Faiths of Eberron is out, is there any chance for a Faiths of Faerūn?

I mean a book consisting of religious "fluff" and details - rituals, blessings/curses, terminology/vocabulary for each faith (i.e. fallen paladins or priests are known as 'Dark Watchers' within Helm's faith), daily chores, temple/shrine descriptions, heresies ('Heretic of the Faith'-feat is a marvelous DM tool :) and all that. No prestige classes, monsters or NPC statistics. Sort of usinf the lore presented in Faiths and Avatars and Faiths and Pantheons but taking it a bit further :)

Many scribes have asked very detailed religious questions from Ed here at Candlekeep ("How would a worshipper of Bane act in an inn?" or "How would a Cyricist react in the situation I have described" etc.)
I honestly think it would probably sell quite well, if Eric and Ed did it :)

---

I asked at Gencon.... I guess they thought it was a good idea and so they'd think about it.....

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Reply author: The Sage
Replied on: 08 Oct 2006 05:06:56
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Asgetrion

Well met, Rich!

Now that the Faiths of Eberron is out, is there any chance for a Faiths of Faerūn?

---

The fact that some EB-specific religious rituals and clerical practices were referenced and detailed within FoE, tends to make me think WotC may have started looking at this aspect of its various campaign settings with the intention of doing the same for FR as well, I hope.

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Reply author: Wandering_mage
Replied on: 08 Oct 2006 12:08:04
Message:

It's only fair that they cover Faerun. Is there a more detailed campaign setting to match it? I say nay! Now with that said a question for Rich, and I promise I will stop after this question. Concerning Araevin's study of High Magic I am slightly expecting a controlling action to occur on the behalf of Tower Reilloch. The danger of a "self taught" (selukiira helping out a lot) High Mage kinda makes Araevin a wild card. I'm really relating to everything Araevin is about (self-sacrifice for his people, bearing the burden of protecting the Nightstar from the Fey'ri) and I wondered if there is a hit team or something that might take a shot at Araevin should he prove too out of bounds for the Tel'Quessir? Even though Araevin would quickly show any hit team the error of their ways. -Insert evil grin here- Is there any lore that would detail this or is this possibility kinda detailed like the hunting down of any mage that even mentions 'Killing Storm' or 'Nether Scrolls'?

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Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 12 Oct 2006 21:15:32
Message:

I don't see Evermeet's High Mages putting out a contract on Araevin unless he does something that is insanely reckless or dangerous. For example, if Araevin got it into his head to start mass-producing new High Mages of the Aryvandaaran tradition by sharing the Nightstar's lore with anybody who came along, the Evermeet High Mages might be forced to do something. But Araevin certainly knows that it's darned dangerous knowledge, so I just don't see him doing something like that.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wandering_mage

It's only fair that they cover Faerun. Is there a more detailed campaign setting to match it? I say nay! Now with that said a question for Rich, and I promise I will stop after this question. Concerning Araevin's study of High Magic I am slightly expecting a controlling action to occur on the behalf of Tower Reilloch. The danger of a "self taught" (selukiira helping out a lot) High Mage kinda makes Araevin a wild card. I'm really relating to everything Araevin is about (self-sacrifice for his people, bearing the burden of protecting the Nightstar from the Fey'ri) and I wondered if there is a hit team or something that might take a shot at Araevin should he prove too out of bounds for the Tel'Quessir? Even though Araevin would quickly show any hit team the error of their ways. -Insert evil grin here- Is there any lore that would detail this or is this possibility kinda detailed like the hunting down of any mage that even mentions 'Killing Storm' or 'Nether Scrolls'?

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Reply author: Beirnadri Magranth
Replied on: 12 Oct 2006 21:34:09
Message:

Didn't he also abandon his goal of being tutored there. I mean it seemed pretty clear how uncomfortable he made his former masters. They even feared him.

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Reply author: WalkerNinja
Replied on: 13 Oct 2006 22:21:40
Message:

Besides, direct action (like sponsoring assassaination) isn't exactly elven style. Probably they would debate about it for a few years, systematically proposing, debating, and weighing every possible option including the four favorite solutions of the Elven People:

1) We'll ignore it. Its probably inferior (all evidence to the contrary) and will die before we hit middle age.

2)Let's imprison it with wards so that we won't have to deal with it, but a future generation (that is less informed about the threat than we) will have to deal with it instead.

3)HOLY CRAP! Kill it! Make it die! Destroy an entire nation or make a new desert if you have to! Just make it DIIIIE!

-and-

4)Ah hell, this place sucks. Lets just go somewhere else, like an island, or a phantom dimension of our own design. The suckiness of this place won't find us there, and we can always come back and visit in a few thousand years and pretend its our first time there (ahem ahem star elves ahem).

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Reply author: Wandering_mage
Replied on: 16 Oct 2006 21:38:09
Message:

Just finished the second book and wow! Araevin is bringing so much to the book. His progress details the long and well prepared revenge of a pissed off Elven mage.

I am loving your use of some military terms during the big battle sequences and the manuevering before and after. It's like looking back at battles like Gettysburg and Waterloo. You really capture the details involved in the planning and execution without losing your audience. Bravo!

Now I have to get the final book and prepare myself for what I assume will be a fantastic standoff. Great job Rich!

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Reply author: Purple Dragon Knight
Replied on: 17 Oct 2006 04:23:21
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wandering_mage

Now I have to get the final book and prepare myself for what I assume will be a fantastic standoff. Great job Rich!

---

...which I am going to finish off in the next day or two. Enough boards now, I've got a book to read, and last time I stopped Araevin was tearing a hole in time and space, seriously messing things up!



Mod Edit: Removed offensive language.

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Reply author: Wandering_mage
Replied on: 18 Oct 2006 02:51:20
Message:

Ok, I bought the last book. Wow, I am so excited! I haven't been this hyped about an elven wizard since reading the WotSQ series. You think Pharaun and Araevin would chill together and complain about how nobody gives them any respect or thanks them ever? In fact there is a book in itself! You could write it like the Screwtape letters or some correspondence like book format. That would be great! Then again you are probably hard at work on either an adventure write up, another sourcebook, or another elf oriented novel with tons of warfare and detailed magic. Well, good luck in any case.

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Reply author: Purple Dragon Knight
Replied on: 18 Oct 2006 03:21:05
Message:

Wandering Mage: sometimes, you're a genius you know. No... most of the time. You rock!

Yes Rich: I would pay DEAR money (i.e. harcover money) to read, "Interview With Two Elf Wizards" (with Pharaun and Araevin each chilling on a comfy stuffed leather chair, drink in one hand and pipe in the other, looking straight a us, i.e. the interviewer NPC, which could be a half-elf bard or perhaps a dispassionate and abrasive Candlekeep monk, who cares not a whit about their fame or success...)

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Reply author: Chosen of Moradin
Replied on: 18 Oct 2006 13:45:35
Message:

Or worst: the interviewer could be Volo...

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Reply author: WalkerNinja
Replied on: 18 Oct 2006 19:07:15
Message:

I was skeptical about that idea at first, but Chosen has sold me. I would pay double hardcover money to see a pair of elf wizards interviewed by Volo.

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Reply author: Wandering_mage
Replied on: 26 Oct 2006 21:05:19
Message:

Rich, I just finished the Final Gate series and you deserve a standing ovation Sir. All I can say is WOW.... I mean WOW. You made some epic heroes that have real flavor and have sacrificed all they could for the common good. I like your characterization of Selkirk. That was neat to see. I am amazed by the ending of the series and I have to say that you need to write three more books, that is if you don't mind.

Here is a silly question. In game terms did Araevin slap on the celestial template? Or is he truly something else now?

And another.
Are we going to see anymore of some of the coolest adventuring band in the Realms? And their leader?

And lastly.
What are the ranks of the Evereskan Vale Guard made up of? Are they Elven heavy infantry? Pikemen? Archer slash medium infatry with shock troop morale and experience from the recent war in Evereska (pre-final gate)? I got the feeling that they might be light the English Longbowman of the Hundred Years war. You know, they just do everything well and are vicious opponents.

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Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 27 Oct 2006 19:50:54
Message:

Thanks for the kind words! I'm just now starting to seriously tinker around with outlines for my next trilogy, but it won't really touch on any of the Last Mythal characters; I'm heading off for different parts of Faerun to tell a "smaller" story.

As for your questions...

RE: Araevin. Yes, the rite he performed at the end of "Farthest Reach" made him celestial. The darkest portions of the Aryvandaaran high magic tradition required the practitioner to replace the frailty of his mortal soul with the inflexible "outsider" soul. In game terms, many of those High Magic epic spells have mitigating factors to the effect of "take horrible soul damage if you're not an outsider."

RE: The Evereskans. I think you're right, they're archers and medium infantry. I think just about every elf in a elf army carries a bow. That said, the Vale Guard are probably the heaviest footsoldiers you'll see in an elf army. They're definitely swordsmen first and archers second. And they are also highly, highly experienced after the gruesome struggle against the phaerimm. I think that well-organized elven armies are probably the best "combined arms" forces in the world, using magic, archery, cavalry, and infantry quite skillfully to cut enemy armies to ribbons. Sort of like the early Byzantines that way, I guess.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wandering_mage

Rich, I just finished the Final Gate series and you deserve a standing ovation Sir. All I can say is WOW.... I mean WOW. You made some epic heroes that have real flavor and have sacrificed all they could for the common good. I like your characterization of Selkirk. That was neat to see. I am amazed by the ending of the series and I have to say that you need to write three more books, that is if you don't mind.

Here is a silly question. In game terms did Araevin slap on the celestial template? Or is he truly something else now?

And another.
Are we going to see anymore of some of the coolest adventuring band in the Realms? And their leader?

And lastly.
What are the ranks of the Evereskan Vale Guard made up of? Are they Elven heavy infantry? Pikemen? Archer slash medium infatry with shock troop morale and experience from the recent war in Evereska (pre-final gate)? I got the feeling that they might be light the English Longbowman of the Hundred Years war. You know, they just do everything well and are vicious opponents.

---

---

Reply author: Kuje
Replied on: 27 Oct 2006 20:04:58
Message:

Hi Richard,

I'm not sure if you can help me but there's 5 NPC's in Lost Empires that were never named and so I was looking for the names of these 5 NPC's.

They are:

At least 21st level Wizard. High Mage, Male Moon Elf Lich, Resides in the ruins of Shantar Othreier, Lost Empires of Faerun

5th Ranger/2nd Sorcerer Male Half-Green Dragon/Half-Wood Elf, NE, Offers the opportunity to question Chloracridara if they can meet her price, Lost Empires of Faerun

13th Wizard, Moon Elf Baelnorn, LG, One of the guardians of Reluraun's Tomb, Lost Empires of Faerun
13th Wizard, Moon Elf Baelnorn, LG, One of the guardians of Reluraun's Tomb, Lost Empires of Faerun
13th Wizard, Moon Elf Baelnorn, LG, One of the guardians of Reluraun's Tomb, Lost Empires of Faerun

---

Reply author: Wandering_mage
Replied on: 28 Oct 2006 00:12:58
Message:

Thanks Rich. Your lore is priceless and KnighterrantJR has already spread the knowledge on among the scribes here. Those Evereskan Vale Guards rock. More must be written of them! If you get some time in the future and aren't doing anything I would love to hear about Elven tactics and warfare strategems. Or that might already be somewhere. I know Steve Schend has written a lot on the subject, but I feel there is so much to know that not even ten books could cover it all. Maybe if some one here at Candlekeep gets enough knowledge on Elven warfare then an article could be written up. Ah, now I'm rabbling.

---

Reply author: Purple Dragon Knight
Replied on: 29 Oct 2006 07:53:36
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by RichardBaker

Thanks for the kind words! I'm just now starting to seriously tinker around with outlines for my next trilogy, but it won't really touch on any of the Last Mythal characters; I'm heading off for different parts of Faerun to tell a "smaller" story.

---

I'm on the last few pages of the Final Gate, and should in fact see the end of it by tonight... so I can't wait to see the ending that Kuje and you have seen already!

As for your next book focusing of a 'smaller' story: bravo! I love character development, often much more than big RSEs!

Although I'll tip my hat to you here: as far as RSEs go, you handle them very well! I like when authors do not downplay one side or another as morons... in your book, we saw elves conquer; we saw the Zhents actually making headway -- Fzoul does the smart thing and wins himself a castle instead of [gasp!] losing yet another entire army in the woods of Shadowdale! ; the Sembians actually think longterm and in terms of their country as a whole rather than a mere cash grab by individual merchants, as reflected by their trust in Selkirk to handle things, etc.

Hopefully we see even more 'character-centric' vistas of the Realms in your next one. The only thing I'm really left wondering after the Last Mythal trilogy is who was that air genasi chick really? what about that Donner guy? and the two Sildeyuir/Yuirwood dudes? There was a lot of action and lots of events in the books, and it must have been hard to fit everything in such a low page count... I feel that there could have been another two-book's worth of pages distributed in those three books that dealt with character-development, as they all seemed so interesting! (wait: that means... humm.... 900+600 = 1500 pages divided by three = 500 pages per book... yeah, thereabouts! )

In your next book, [crossing fingers as I write this, hoping my Jedi mind powers are not too late and I can still 'convince' you to 'bend' your stories a 'certain' way... <ok, enough with the Shatnerianisms! ] I hope we see more about the character's religion (as applied in every day situations, including dogmas and ceremonies, sermons, etc.), local trade/economy, customs, habits, the importance or influence (or lack thereof) of the character's family upon his/her life, etc. (siblings!!! I hate how most characters in fantasy fiction sprouted from a cabbage patch and have no siblings!!! it's always 'dead when he was young' and such... if you give me a half-dragon, I want to see Joe Schuck Rashemi have a fight with that brass mature adult female! )

Ok, lots of tangential rants again, but you get the gist of it!

---

Reply author: Penknight
Replied on: 07 Nov 2006 07:42:20
Message:

I was curious if there are plans on putting stats to the characters from the Last Mythal series, and also if you could answer a big question my players (also avid readers of The Last Mythal series) have asked me... Is Sarya a wizard or a sorceress? Thank you for your time Mr. Baker, and my best to you.

Oh, one last thing... did I detect a reference to Reverend Ones in Book III of the Last Mythal? Seemed kinda right, but just want to make sure. Again, thanks.

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Reply author: Brenigin
Replied on: 07 Nov 2006 10:37:52
Message:

Sarya gets one-line stats in a couple of sourcebooks - CE Female Half-fiend Sor17? Can't remember off the top of my head...

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Reply author: MaskedOne
Replied on: 08 Nov 2006 00:16:00
Message:

Is Aeron Morieth likely to be revisited any time in the near future?

More amusing question, would he be a standard shadow adept under current rules or did he manage to retain limited access to the true Weave as he did in the book?

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Reply author: Kuje
Replied on: 08 Nov 2006 02:00:23
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by MaskedOne

Is Aeron Morieth likely to be revisited any time in the near future?

More amusing question, would he be a standard shadow adept under current rules or did he manage to retain limited access to the true Weave as he did in the book?

---

He is in the FRCS with short stats.....

---

Reply author: WalkerNinja
Replied on: 10 Nov 2006 17:02:28
Message:

Hey Mr. Baker!

First, let me thank you for making yourself available here.

I've got a question about the re-conquered Myth Drannor of five years in the future (I hope that I don't run into a big fat NDA..)

We know that they have recovered the Rule Blade... but what of the Nether Scrolls in Windsong Tower (in the form of a tree). Have they been re-discovered yet?

-Walker-

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Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 10 Nov 2006 21:36:03
Message:

I'm hesitant to say yes. My book just didn't cover it, so I would just be speculating.

If the elves do rediscover the Nether Scrolls, I'm inclined to think that they would tread very, very carefully with them. So, either the elves haven't found the Windsong hoard yet, or they've found it and have chosen to not avail themselves of the Scrolls' powers. Same result to most outside observers.

quote:

---

Originally posted by WalkerNinja

Hey Mr. Baker!

First, let me thank you for making yourself available here.

I've got a question about the re-conquered Myth Drannor of five years in the future (I hope that I don't run into a big fat NDA..)

We know that they have recovered the Rule Blade... but what of the Nether Scrolls in Windsong Tower (in the form of a tree). Have they been re-discovered yet?

-Walker-

---

---

Reply author: Kuje
Replied on: 10 Nov 2006 21:45:20
Message:

Rich,

Any answer to my question that I asked on the 27th of Oct, or should I ask Ed instead?

---

Reply author: WalkerNinja
Replied on: 10 Nov 2006 22:15:45
Message:

Thanks for the swift reply!

I can certainly understand why you would be hesitant to answer, but since the Myth Drannor scrolls grant EXP (LEoF) it seems like it would be a great way to regenerate the reputation for great magic in that region.

Another question, if you don't mind, again about something that your book didn't specifically cover. Would the Coronal and Fflar be sponsoring adventurers to purge the city of the lingering evil over the course of the intermittent five years?

If so, assuming elven artifacts must be returned to the government, what payment might they recieve? Real Estate?

quote:

---

I'm hesitant to say yes. My book just didn't cover it, so I would just be speculating.

If the elves do rediscover the Nether Scrolls, I'm inclined to think that they would tread very, very carefully with them. So, either the elves haven't found the Windsong hoard yet, or they've found it and have chosen to not avail themselves of the Scrolls' powers. Same result to most outside observers.

---

---

Reply author: Thangorn
Replied on: 20 Nov 2006 21:45:39
Message:

Hi again Richard,

I finally got "Final Gate" sent by Amazon.. awesome book, I've barely put it down once again.

couple of quick things to ask you concerning some stuff in the book..
of the creatures you mention in the Lorosfyr part of the book are you referring to Maur (big pale giants) and Ineffable horrors (those ogre-sized batwinged things that chase Araevin and his companions which he eventually destroys with a fireball) in this section?

I loved the scenes in Lorosfyr, I really want to find an excuse to use it in my online and offline campaigns :)

Our team are attempting to build a module that encompasses as much of the Moonsea as possible for Neverwinter Nights 2 so I'm interested in any canon referring to Zhentil Keep and environs.

You mentioned a castle that appeared to be on the north side of the new Tesh Bridge (or the Force bridge not sure) in Zhentil Keep that the city got its name for.. I was wondering whether I got it wrong and you were referring to Lord Orgauth's old castle (now the Temple of Bane) at the east end of the old city, or whether there is still (in FR canon) a castle called Zhentil Keep standing on the North side of the River Tesh?

I realise thats probably a pretty anal question, but any info that helps in fleshing out that area according to FR canon I'm very interested in.:)

Your portrayals of Fzoul and Scyllua in "Final Gate" were awesome. I particularly liked the scene with Tharxul the beholder.. "You submit, You serve, You obey!".. just awesome..

anyway.. I prattled on quite enough. Thanks Richard.

---

Reply author: Penknight
Replied on: 21 Nov 2006 21:52:44
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Brenigin

Sarya gets one-line stats in a couple of sourcebooks - CE Female Half-fiend Sor17? Can't remember off the top of my head...

---

The Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting lists her as a CE female sun elf/fey'ri Wiz17 (page 167), and Lords of Darkness lists her as CE female sun elf half-fiend Sor17 (page 126). I understand that in the Last Mythal series it makes several references to her being a sorceress, but on page 259 of Forsaken House it says "She had perpared her spells for the day with that task in mind..."

I know that in 2nd Edition the term sorcerer or sorceress was used to describe wizards, and I am just curious if the same held true here as well. Thanks!!

---

Reply author: Penknight
Replied on: 09 Dec 2006 01:14:18
Message:

Oh, one last question... is there a chance that the Most Noble Order of the Radiant Heart will be making an appearance in the upcoming Complete Champion?

---

Reply author: MerrikCale
Replied on: 11 Dec 2006 12:49:27
Message:

I'm sure this has been asked but I'm curious. How was it that Araevin and his old adventuring company come to be the characters drawn throughout the sourcebook Underdark and apparently on the cover of Lost Empires of Faerun? Have you ever provided more info (like names, races, classes, etc) to this Company?

---

Reply author: Kuje
Replied on: 11 Dec 2006 15:58:56
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by MerrikCale

I'm sure this has been asked but I'm curious. How was it that Araevin and his old adventuring company come to be the characters drawn throughout the sourcebook Underdark and apparently on the cover of Lost Empires of Faerun? Have you ever provided more info (like names, races, classes, etc) to this Company?

---

Rich has answered this on the WOTC boards. If I recall right, he said that his characters aren't actually the characters on the sourcebooks. It's just a coincidence.

---

Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 11 Dec 2006 20:20:18
Message:

Answered this all the way back on page 3 of the thread. But I copied the post here:

I've been second-guessing myself on this one in the last couple of months. Here's how it happened:

About three years ago, we created a set of "iconic" FR characters for use in playtesting and as generic FR adventurers on covers and in illustrations--just like core D&D uses Jozan, Regdar, Tordek, and the rest. Araevin was one of these characters (a sun elf wizard, obviously), and so we occasionally used him for illos, just as we randomly cycled through various sets of these characters for different FR products. Obviously, a set of generic adventurers have higher usefulness in some products than in others--so these guys appeared in City of the Spider Queen and Underdark, but not in Shining South or Unapproachable East.

(Belmora, Sanidine, and others are also on this list of iconic FR adventurers. The whole FR team at the time tackled this list, so the characters were created by different FR designers and editors. Araevin happened to be one I made up, though, so he's mine as much as he's anybody's. Other FR iconics included Teherrun, a tiefling rogue; Evendur, an aasimar paladin; Valak Vrinn, a drow bard; and Mara, a female human barbarian.)

When I started working on Forsaken House, I knew that I wanted an elf protagonist, since the whole series was supposed to be about elves. And more specifically I wanted a sun elf protagonist, because I sort of wanted to "rehabilitate" sun elves a bit. They've come off as more lawful evil than chaotic good in a lot of the material we've done about elves. Once I settled on a sun elf wizard, I naturally began to think of him as "Araevin" and used the name as a placeholder in the early story outlines. But the placeholder grew on me, and I eventually said to myself, "I like the name, I like the look, why change it?"

Anyway, I certainly knew that we'd used Araevin in a fair amount of art in several RPG sourcebooks, but I decided to stick with Araevin-the-iconic as the vision for Araevin-the-protagonist. In retrospect, it might have been a little "cleaner" to just make up a whole new name for the guy in Forsaken House, but there it is.

Araevin clearly has a history of adventuring in Faerun, but I think it's also clear that Araevin (the Forsaken House protagonist) couldn't have stomped around in Maerimydra in the events of the City of the Spider Queen adventure, where Araevin (the iconic adventurer) happens to appear. The timing's off, since we know that close to twenty years have gone by since Araevin last adventured with his old comrades. That's one of the reasons I'm second-guessing myself on the use of the same character name.



Hope that clears things up!

quote:

---

Originally posted by Kuje

quote:

---

Originally posted by MerrikCale

I'm sure this has been asked but I'm curious. How was it that Araevin and his old adventuring company come to be the characters drawn throughout the sourcebook Underdark and apparently on the cover of Lost Empires of Faerun? Have you ever provided more info (like names, races, classes, etc) to this Company?

---

Rich has answered this on the WOTC boards. If I recall right, he said that his characters aren't actually the characters on the sourcebooks. It's just a coincidence.

---

---

Reply author: MerrikCale
Replied on: 11 Dec 2006 20:40:11
Message:

Thanks. Sorry for asking the same question, thats what you get for quickly reviewing the previous pages. Was Belmora your creation as well. I notice she's in the Underdark Supp and listed as an old member of the Comapny.

---

Reply author: Mace Hammerhand
Replied on: 19 Dec 2006 22:29:52
Message:

Rich,

I already asked this question/suggestion on the Wizards forum but didn't get a reply, so far. Hence, I'm putting the question here as well:

The recent trend to make adventure-sourcebooks like MotM is to combine, if I understand your "mission-statement" correctly, to address more customers.

Wouldn't it make more sense to make books for either players or DMs?

Personally, I already got upset when one of my players bought Waterdeep: City of Splendors and read the entry for Elaith Craulnober. Personally I think, there is information that should not be in a player's hands, yet all the sourcebooks out there are with both player and DM in mind.

In my experience, although players can seperate their own knowledge from the character's knowledge, whatever they read in any sourcebook will influence their way of playing.

Why not make sourcebooks more like the old original D&D gazeteers with a player's guide and a DM guide, seperated into two booklets? Or make two smaller softcover books, one for the player and one, more extensive with vital game information, for the DM, which are then sold seperately. It would cause far less headache and heartache for us DMs, cuz we'd not have to restrict reading with books that we cannot enforce anyway...

---

Reply author: Archwizard
Replied on: 20 Dec 2006 04:19:52
Message:

Dear Mr. Baker,

Wizards of the Coast recently tried several book experiments with alternate rules systems such as Tome of Magic, Tome of Battle, Magic of Incarnum and even the Invocation casting method of the Warlock in Complete Arcane. While not all of these systems performed as well as others, WotC did hint that some of these alternative rules received strong positive responses from fans. At the same time, I recall reading something about certain concepts and settings the company found difficult to work with and an idea occurred to me. Has WotC ever considered doing a take of Oriental Adventures with game mechanics in the style of these alternate systems, either adapting existing optional mechanics or creating entirely new ones to suit the flavor of games influenced by an oriental setting?

Such a fusion could potentially make an Oriental Adventures book feasible. This provides the draw of a fresh approach on oriental adventures and the new rules of an alternate mechanics system in a logical package where both aspects support the other. Currently, Asian theme classes such as the wu jen, the shugenja and the samurai (3.0e) simply borrow and modify the mechanics of the existing classes (basically just like a wizard, a favored soul, and a fighter but with restrictions). Redefining the classes, the magic systems, and the other mechanics of an oriental setting would help define what makes an oriental adventure different and unique in its own way while giving fans plenty to use in their games (fans who like new and alternate rules, fans who want to try an OA game, fans who like Kara-Tur, etc.).

Perhaps with such a project, WotC might even consider throwing in a revival of Kara-Tur (which is secretly the real purpose of this post, ::shhh::). The same applies to Arabian Adventures/Al-Qadim/Zakhara of course. Someone at Wizards of the Coast likely thought of this already, possibly even rejected it long ago as impractical, though I figured I should just ask since I have nothing to lose by doing so. I hope that this offered something constructive for consideration, as feedback if nothing else. Perhaps if it is convenient, you can share a few thoughts on this, enlighten us if Wizards thought about something like this idea, how far the idea went, or even reiterate that Wizards still feels they should leave anything Kara-Tur and Zakhara related to Dragon magazine.

Thanks,
Henry

---

Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 20 Dec 2006 23:05:22
Message:

She originated in the same process (creating a set of FR iconics), but I didn't actually design her. One of the other FR team members did (don't remember who right off the top of my head).

quote:

---

Originally posted by MerrikCale

Thanks. Sorry for asking the same question, thats what you get for quickly reviewing the previous pages. Was Belmora your creation as well. I notice she's in the Underdark Supp and listed as an old member of the Comapny.

---

---

Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 20 Dec 2006 23:10:23
Message:

I don't think we will explore two booklets in one cover any time soon, just because most of our physical format decisions are pretty much made through 2008. But it's not a bad idea to build a stronger segregation of player and DM material in the same book. Even a book like Unapproachable East or Underdark has chapters clearly pointed at the player and other chapters clearly pointed at the DM.

So, no immediate course changes, but I'll keep that in mind as we begin work on the next iteration of Realms product. It's a ways out at this point.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Mace Hammerhand

Rich,

I already asked this question/suggestion on the Wizards forum but didn't get a reply, so far. Hence, I'm putting the question here as well:

The recent trend to make adventure-sourcebooks like MotM is to combine, if I understand your "mission-statement" correctly, to address more customers.

Wouldn't it make more sense to make books for either players or DMs?

Personally, I already got upset when one of my players bought Waterdeep: City of Splendors and read the entry for Elaith Craulnober. Personally I think, there is information that should not be in a player's hands, yet all the sourcebooks out there are with both player and DM in mind.

In my experience, although players can seperate their own knowledge from the character's knowledge, whatever they read in any sourcebook will influence their way of playing.

Why not make sourcebooks more like the old original D&D gazeteers with a player's guide and a DM guide, seperated into two booklets? Or make two smaller softcover books, one for the player and one, more extensive with vital game information, for the DM, which are then sold seperately. It would cause far less headache and heartache for us DMs, cuz we'd not have to restrict reading with books that we cannot enforce anyway...

---

---

Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 20 Dec 2006 23:16:47
Message:

It's an interesting idea. But, I hate to say it -- we have no plans to tackle Oriental Adventures, Arabian Adventures, or Kara-Tur any time in 2007, which is as far out as I can discuss specific product plans. (At this point I would consider it highly unlikely for 2008, too, but I can't speak with as much confidence there simply because it's longer out.)

Our business and management teams are very skeptical of product lines or one-offs that would appeal to only a subset of the audience. They'd much rather spend our time and energy creating sourcebooks with the broadest appeal possible. Kara-Tur in the context of FR is a subset of a subset -- something our business guys really don't want to spend much effort on.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Archwizard

Dear Mr. Baker,

Wizards of the Coast recently tried several book experiments with alternate rules systems such as Tome of Magic, Tome of Battle, Magic of Incarnum and even the Invocation casting method of the Warlock in Complete Arcane. While not all of these systems performed as well as others, WotC did hint that some of these alternative rules received strong positive responses from fans. At the same time, I recall reading something about certain concepts and settings the company found difficult to work with and an idea occurred to me. Has WotC ever considered doing a take of Oriental Adventures with game mechanics in the style of these alternate systems, either adapting existing optional mechanics or creating entirely new ones to suit the flavor of games influenced by an oriental setting?

Such a fusion could potentially make an Oriental Adventures book feasible. This provides the draw of a fresh approach on oriental adventures and the new rules of an alternate mechanics system in a logical package where both aspects support the other. Currently, Asian theme classes such as the wu jen, the shugenja and the samurai (3.0e) simply borrow and modify the mechanics of the existing classes (basically just like a wizard, a favored soul, and a fighter but with restrictions). Redefining the classes, the magic systems, and the other mechanics of an oriental setting would help define what makes an oriental adventure different and unique in its own way while giving fans plenty to use in their games (fans who like new and alternate rules, fans who want to try an OA game, fans who like Kara-Tur, etc.).

Perhaps with such a project, WotC might even consider throwing in a revival of Kara-Tur (which is secretly the real purpose of this post, ::shhh::). The same applies to Arabian Adventures/Al-Qadim/Zakhara of course. Someone at Wizards of the Coast likely thought of this already, possibly even rejected it long ago as impractical, though I figured I should just ask since I have nothing to lose by doing so. I hope that this offered something constructive for consideration, as feedback if nothing else. Perhaps if it is convenient, you can share a few thoughts on this, enlighten us if Wizards thought about something like this idea, how far the idea went, or even reiterate that Wizards still feels they should leave anything Kara-Tur and Zakhara related to Dragon magazine.

Thanks,
Henry

---

---

Reply author: Rolindin
Replied on: 23 Dec 2006 09:46:29
Message:

First I would like to say hello to Mr. Baker.
A question that comes to my mind is from your Last Mythal Series.
This would be the question if it has not been covered before by others.
When the dead elf sprits were called to fight for the elf forces in Myth Drannor is there a elven name for this action. And is there going to be any kind of write up on this in the future WOTC book or Books, (or has the action been written up already in past books).

---

Reply author: Archwizard
Replied on: 24 Dec 2006 20:52:21
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by RichardBaker

It's an interesting idea. But, I hate to say it -- we have no plans to tackle Oriental Adventures, Arabian Adventures, or Kara-Tur any time in 2007, which is as far out as I can discuss specific product plans. (At this point I would consider it highly unlikely for 2008, too, but I can't speak with as much confidence there simply because it's longer out.)

Our business and management teams are very skeptical of product lines or one-offs that would appeal to only a subset of the audience. They'd much rather spend our time and energy creating sourcebooks with the broadest appeal possible. Kara-Tur in the context of FR is a subset of a subset -- something our business guys really don't want to spend much effort on.

---

Hi Rich,

I appreciate the response. In regards to the news of nothing on the immediate horizon on Kara-Tur and the like, no worries. Fortunately, due to the details of the process you and other authors/designers of the Realms provided us, I have a decent notion of the various factors that play into the publishing schedule. I hold no illusion of seeing another OA or a revived Kara-Tur in the next few years, perhaps not until the end of the decade or even the next edition. However, I do hope to see such a book sometime in the future.

Understandably, the company's attention isn't on such topics, nor should it be if the trends and current conceptualization continues. The company should promote the setting by offering books that provide the most use to the most people in their own interest and that of the fans (a faltering FR is no fun for anyone). At first, I thought to respond by saying my idea would produce a book that is the subset of many things (alternate rules enthusiasts, Kara-Tur fans, regular FR fans, people interested in OA), but then a subset of many things is still a subset.

So then the optimal choice should be to make OA/Kara-Tur as mainstream as possible. WotC could publish a new Oriental Adventures in the format and style of Tome of Magic or Magic of Incarnum, a book that deals solely with the new rules systems. WotC seems quite willing to put out such one-offs involving optional rules. Treat it as one of those books, which just happens to use an Oriental influences. As noted, Tome of Battle already leans heavily towards this concept.

Following this, WotC can then release a Kara-Tur book fully under the FR imprint. Treat Kara-Tur as another region of the Realms so it's no longer a subset. Thin the sub-setting distinction by integrating the two continents; detail and fill in bits based on the old books, perhaps even implement a few strategic retcons to Kara-Tur to make it more like Faerun in history and scope. Then you could treat Kara-Tur as a firm part of the Forgotten Realms rather than a one-off or a niche product line.

Though this probably still doesn't meet the ideal requirements for the marketing and business guys to give it much attention. I have noticed that non-Western ideas influence and constitute an increasing portion of the fantasy genre available through popular media (movies, TV, video games, comics, even the Magic CCG tried their hand at it with the Kamigawa set). OA/Kara-Tur arrived decades before this new wave of imported and eastern-inspired fantasy entertainment, a revival if given appropriate attention could be the perfect platform to expand D&D into this area (in a way that Rokugan couldn't sustain).

All right, enough of my amateur market pitching, Wizards probably has access to a number of highly trained and experienced business people who have facts and numbers showing otherwise. Thanks for your time, Mr. Baker, and once again for the swift reply. I do hope WotC keeps OA/Kara-Tur (and Al-Qadim/Zakhara) in mind.

H

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Reply author: Rolindin
Replied on: 25 Dec 2006 05:55:56
Message:

Helloe agian Mr baker first and happy hollidays.
I have a question about Fflar Starbow, if you don't mind.
The process that brought him back to life, does it have a name: from one of the older books. Or it it a process that has not been published as of yet.
And could you give us a kind of over view of the process and how one might be able to inact it.

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Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 28 Dec 2006 20:06:52
Message:

Essentially, it's just a resurrection spell. Now, that spell has a pretty tough time limit (10 years per caster level). So I hypothesized the existence of an epic resurrection spell that wouldn't care about the time limit. It wouldn't be that bad of a Spellcraft DC in the epic spellcasting rules, but it does mean one of two things: either Seiveril is at least a 21st-level cleric, or Corellon Larethian gave him a hand in some way. To be honest, I think it was a little of both--Seiveril was at least 15th level just based on the spells I had him using, and I think the book supports the idea that the Seldarine also took a hand in things.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Rolindin

Helloe agian Mr baker first and happy hollidays.
I have a question about Fflar Starbow, if you don't mind.
The process that brought him back to life, does it have a name: from one of the older books. Or it it a process that has not been published as of yet.
And could you give us a kind of over view of the process and how one might be able to inact it.

---

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Reply author: Mace Hammerhand
Replied on: 28 Dec 2006 20:24:39
Message:

Richard,

this point came up in a recent discussion (well actually I made that point):

why have the RSEs of recent times not been explored in supplement format? E.g. Shade, Myth Drannor/Cormanthor, etc. I thought it would be a good selling point to tie in supplements with the books.

In advance happy new one to you and your family

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Reply author: Skeptic
Replied on: 28 Dec 2006 21:16:43
Message:

quote:

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Originally posted by RichardBaker

Essentially, it's just a resurrection spell. Now, that spell has a pretty tough time limit (10 years per caster level). So I hypothesized the existence of an epic resurrection spell that wouldn't care about the time limit. It wouldn't be that bad of a Spellcraft DC in the epic spellcasting rules, but it does mean one of two things: either Seiveril is at least a 21st-level cleric, or Corellon Larethian gave him a hand in some way. To be honest, I think it was a little of both--Seiveril was at least 15th level just based on the spells I had him using, and I think the book supports the idea that the Seldarine also took a hand in things.

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Seiveril didn't have the body so it was at least a True Resurrection, but even this 9th level spell has a "years limit". Conclusion : Seiveril needed divine intervention and/or an Epic spell.

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Reply author: Rolindin
Replied on: 31 Dec 2006 14:55:16
Message:

I do wish to thank you for answering my questions Mr baker, and maybe we could see something in the future books on the 10 years per caster levels.

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Reply author: Wandering_mage
Replied on: 02 Jan 2007 23:26:09
Message:

Hey Rich, great job on the Dummies Guide to DM'ing. It has truly increased the enjoyment of my gaming sessions. I would suggest every DM get this book for the great advice in this book.

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Reply author: Penknight
Replied on: 03 Jan 2007 09:02:45
Message:

There is something else besides Sarya and the Radiant Heart that I would like to ask you about. I know that many people on other boards (as well as my own gaming group) have asked this many times: Are there any plans on a revision (again) of the bladesinger PrC, or are the versions from Races of Faerun and Complete Warrior the only versions that we will have to choose from? Thank you for your time yet again, Mr. Baker. I truly do appreciate it.

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Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 05 Jan 2007 21:13:11
Message:

We don't have any current plans to revise the bladesinger -- Races of Faerun and Complete Warrior are the only places it's going to appear, as far as I know.

quote:

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Originally posted by Penknight

There is something else besides Sarya and the Radiant Heart that I would like to ask you about. I know that many people on other boards (as well as my own gaming group) have asked this many times: Are there any plans on a revision (again) of the bladesinger PrC, or are the versions from Races of Faerun and Complete Warrior the only versions that we will have to choose from? Thank you for your time yet again, Mr. Baker. I truly do appreciate it.

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Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 05 Jan 2007 21:15:14
Message:

Say, thanks! I liked working with the Wiley Publishing folks, and I've always enjoyed the Dummies "style"--it suits my "casual writing" voice pretty well.

quote:

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Originally posted by Wandering_mage

Hey Rich, great job on the Dummies Guide to DM'ing. It has truly increased the enjoyment of my gaming sessions. I would suggest every DM get this book for the great advice in this book.

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Reply author: Wandering_mage
Replied on: 06 Jan 2007 21:17:49
Message:

Rich, I can't say it enough but you have increased the ease of DM'ing for so much. You put into words many concepts and pieces of advice that have made my players wonder where the heck I got this knowledge. The Dummies Guide to Dungeon Mastering is a must for any DM and I suggested it to a friend just today in fact! Keep writing!

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Reply author: Besshalar
Replied on: 10 Jan 2007 22:43:49
Message:

Greetings Mr. Baker First let me tell you that I thoroughly enjoyed The Last Mythal trilogy (although I did feel that the last book seemed a bit rushed ). Now on to business The Nightlords of Moil I would be very grateful for any and all lore you might be able to give me . I know about their (or was it just the pocketplane of Moil?) first (and last?) appearance in the return to the tomb of horrors but would love to get as much up on them as possible even though I fear that i will receive a NDA reply to my query.

Edit: The reason I'm asking you is because there was a feat referring to them in a book which only has your name on the cover and I don't have a way of contacting Gygax who I believe was originally responsible for these guys..

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Reply author: Penknight
Replied on: 11 Jan 2007 01:17:25
Message:

Fey'ri gaming question... in 2nd Edition there was a fey'ri bladesinger that had scales that covered his body from the neck down that looked like an incredibly fine mesh chainmail armor that gave him a base AC of 0. Is there a web update or anything that you could recommend as a game designer that would help to show this in 3.5? The fey'ri that I am making reference to is (my personal favorite fey'ri) Lord-Consort Myrlaer Ealoeth from Cloak & Dagger (page 94). Another reason that I am asking is the tanarukk gain a natural armor of +4 along with several other benefits, yet their LA is just a +3, much like a fey'ri if you chose enervation or dimension door as one of your abilities.

Thank you again for your time, Mr. Baker. I realize that you must be a busy person, and I just wanted to assure you that I greatly appreciate your taking time to answer my questions.

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Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 12 Jan 2007 21:41:12
Message:

I'm pretty sure that Bruce Cordell invented the sinister city of Moil for "Return to the Tomb of Horrors." The feat I designed for "Complete Arcane" certainly draws inspiration from that excellent adventure. But, other than that feat, as far as I know everything we've ever said about Moil or its people is in the "Return to the Tomb of Horrors" adventure. I really don't have anything to add to what's there.

quote:

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Originally posted by Besshalar

Greetings Mr. Baker First let me tell you that I thoroughly enjoyed The Last Mythal trilogy (although I did feel that the last book seemed a bit rushed ). Now on to business The Nightlords of Moil I would be very grateful for any and all lore you might be able to give me . I know about their (or was it just the pocketplane of Moil?) first (and last?) appearance in the return to the tomb of horrors but would love to get as much up on them as possible even though I fear that i will receive a NDA reply to my query.

Edit: The reason I'm asking you is because there was a feat referring to them in a book which only has your name on the cover and I don't have a way of contacting Gygax who I believe was originally responsible for these guys..

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Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 12 Jan 2007 21:52:02
Message:

Well, it seems reasonable to me that you could add "+2 natural armor" to that laundry list of optional fey'ri abilities... maybe even +3 or +4, but in that case, it would certainly get the asterisk as an ability you can only have one of. I sure wouldn't go with "+10 natural armor" as the 2E character suggests, that's waaaaay too good for the level adjustment.

The fey'ri at +3 is probably suffering a bit. We've learned that level adjustment is not very good "game tech" and often leads to characters that just can't be played as PCs (or that compare badly against other critters of similar LA). If you're talking about a NPC, well, it's not important. But if you want to play this guy as a PC, then I think I wouldn't give away more than a couple of points of natural armor. (And how do you balance it against DR 10, anyway? How much natural armor is worth -10 damage per hit?)

quote:

---

Originally posted by Penknight

Fey'ri gaming question... in 2nd Edition there was a fey'ri bladesinger that had scales that covered his body from the neck down that looked like an incredibly fine mesh chainmail armor that gave him a base AC of 0. Is there a web update or anything that you could recommend as a game designer that would help to show this in 3.5? The fey'ri that I am making reference to is (my personal favorite fey'ri) Lord-Consort Myrlaer Eaoleth from Cloak & Dagger (page 94). Another reason that I am asking is the tanarukk gain a natural armor of +4 along with several other benefits, yet their LA is just a +3, much like a fey'ri if you chose enervation or dimension door as one of your abilities.

Thank you again for your time, Mr. Baker. I realize that you must be a busy person, and I just wanted to assure you that I greatly appreciate your taking time to answer my questions.

---

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Reply author: Asgetrion
Replied on: 12 Jan 2007 22:17:32
Message:

Rich, have you considered at WoTC doing a 'Ptolus'-style "citybook" for FR? I think it is a GREAT idea to publish a book with 600+ pages of very detailed official lore, handouts, maps, advice, campaign hooks etc. Many DMs would probably rather pay a steeper price to get all those pages within one covers, instead of paying for four books with 150 pages in each.

Waterdeep and Silverymoon spring to mind, but it could also be a city guide for, say, five or six cities (with 100 pages of lore for each).

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Reply author: Penknight
Replied on: 13 Jan 2007 00:23:31
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by RichardBaker

Well, it seems reasonable to me that you could add "+2 natural armor" to that laundry list of optional fey'ri abilities... maybe even +3 or +4, but in that case, it would certainly get the asterisk as an ability you can only have one of. I sure wouldn't go with "+10 natural armor" as the 2E character suggests, that's waaaaay too good for the level adjustment.

The fey'ri at +3 is probably suffering a bit. We've learned that level adjustment is not very good "game tech" and often leads to characters that just can't be played as PCs (or that compare badly against other critters of similar LA). If you're talking about a NPC, well, it's not important. But if you want to play this guy as a PC, then I think I wouldn't give away more than a couple of points of natural armor. (And how do you balance it against DR 10, anyway? How much natural armor is worth -10 damage per hit?)

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Thank you, sir. I'll keep all of that in mind. Best of luck on your future projects.

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Reply author: Penknight
Replied on: 17 Jan 2007 09:50:24
Message:

I have just had the pleasure of reading your story The Bladesinger's Lesson in Realms of the Elves, and I have to say that it is one of the best short stories that I have read in quite some time. I am now rather eager to ask if you plan on statting or have statted out Daried Selsherryn. I am really interested to hear how his levels are broken up. If you are too busy at this juncture to do so, could you at least tell me (well, us) what his golden armor is in all its gaming glory, and about his thinblade? Thank you again, Mr. Baker. I have to say in truth that of everything I have read Realms-wise in 3e and 3.5, that this short story of yours has been the best.

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Reply author: Purple Dragon Knight
Replied on: 18 Jan 2007 04:55:18
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by RichardBaker

The fey'ri at +3 is probably suffering a bit. We've learned that level adjustment is not very good "game tech" and often leads to characters that just can't be played as PCs (or that compare badly against other critters of similar LA). If you're talking about a NPC, well, it's not important. But if you want to play this guy as a PC, then I think I wouldn't give away more than a couple of points of natural armor. (And how do you balance it against DR 10, anyway? How much natural armor is worth -10 damage per hit?)

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Hi Rich, thanks for your input here.

The more I compare LA +X races to regular races in terms of playability, the more I agree with you. I have 'subconsciously' moved away from LA races when I am lucky enough to find the time to be a player on someone else's campaign (I can't stand the class level loss, especially if I play a spellcaster).

I've been thinkering with a few housespun fixes for LA +X races:

1. if you keep the LA system as is, treat the Level Adjustment as Hit Dice for feats or PrCs that say, lets you improve caster level by a certain amount 'up to your HD' (i.e. practiced spellcaster feat would now become very useful to drow and feyri; Abjurant Champion PrC makes your caster level equal to your BAB... just treat each LA pluses as a 'virtual' BAB+1...)

2. instead of a LA, the player can opt for an XP penalty (i.e. LA+1 = 10% XP penaly; +2 = 20%; +3 = 30%). This gives a good fighting chance to a low level party, and when the LA+3 guy trails two or three levels behind, the XP calculation method takes care of 'bringing that guy back into the fold' by dishing more XP to him compared to the rest of the party (i.e. if you're using the correct way to calculate XP, which calculate the total XP for ALL critters encountered for EACH PC's level - if they vary - then divide by the number of PCs)

3. develop a feat called 'Buy Back LA' with Special: this feat can be taken more than once; each time you take it your Level Adjustment is reduced by 1.

Option 3 is most likely the most balanced of all options I've come up with, as a feat is probably equivalent to an ability granting you a LA +1.

Thoughts?

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Reply author: KnightErrantJR
Replied on: 19 Jan 2007 06:31:03
Message:

Rich, I know that this question came up on WOTC's site, so I thought I would throw this out there, but according to Sage Advice in Dragon Magazine #352, Aasimaar, Tiefling, and Genasi do get proficiency in martial weapons according to their "outsider" type.

With that out of the way, I have a more subjective question to ask, about one of your characters. It has to do with how Araevin would react to another Realms character. How would Araevin react to Galaeron Nimhedu arriving in Myth Drannor offering to help rebuild the city and the mythal? I don't know that he would, but given that Galaeron helped repair Evereska's Mythal, I just wondered what would happen and how Araevin would react to him.

Thanks Rich.

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Reply author: Purple Dragon Knight
Replied on: 19 Jan 2007 18:53:20
Message:

quote:

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Originally posted by KnightErrantJR

Rich, I know that this question came up on WOTC's site, so I thought I would throw this out there, but according to Sage Advice in Dragon Magazine #352, Aasimaar, Tiefling, and Genasi do get proficiency in martial weapons according to their "outsider" type.

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I knew it! [gloating]
Why? because the martial weapons proficiency is an outsider trait, not a feature... again, as per SRD:

Outsider Type: An outsider is at least partially composed of the essence (but not necessarily the material) of some plane other than the Material Plane. Some creatures start out as some other type and become outsiders when they attain a higher (or lower) state of spiritual existence.
Features: An outsider has the following features.
—8-sided Hit Dice.
—Base attack bonus equal to total Hit Dice (as fighter).
—Good Fortitude, Reflex, and Will saves.
—Skill points equal to (8 + Int modifier, minimum 1) per Hit Die, with quadruple skill points for the first Hit Die.
Traits: An outsider possesses the following traits (unless otherwise noted in a creature’s entry).
—Darkvision out to 60 feet.
—Unlike most other living creatures, an outsider does not have a dual nature—its soul and body form one unit. When an outsider is slain, no soul is set loose. Spells that restore souls to their bodies, such as raise dead, reincarnate, and resurrection, don’t work on an outsider. It takes a different magical effect, such as limited wish, wish, miracle, or true resurrection to restore it to life. An outsider with the native subtype can be raised, reincarnated, or resurrected just as other living creatures can be.
—Proficient with all simple and martial weapons and any weapons mentioned in its entry.
—Proficient with whatever type of armor (light, medium, or heavy) it is described as wearing, as well as all lighter types. Outsiders not indicated as wearing armor are not proficient with armor. Outsiders are proficient with shields if they are proficient with any form of armor.
—Outsiders breathe, but do not need to eat or sleep (although they can do so if they wish). Native outsiders breathe, eat, and sleep.

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Reply author: koz
Replied on: 21 Jan 2007 06:38:21
Message:

Greetings Mr. Baker
I read City of Ravens several years ago and was blown away. I loved the character of Jack Ravenswild. The story and plot were outstanding. To this day this novel remains my favorite Forgotten Realms novel and one of my favorite novels in general. I recommend it to everyone who loves a good character driven story. Congratulations on your continued success.

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Reply author: Penknight
Replied on: 21 Jan 2007 08:59:03
Message:

quote:

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Originally posted by Purple Dragon Knight

quote:

---

Originally posted by RichardBaker

The fey'ri at +3 is probably suffering a bit. We've learned that level adjustment is not very good "game tech" and often leads to characters that just can't be played as PCs (or that compare badly against other critters of similar LA). If you're talking about a NPC, well, it's not important. But if you want to play this guy as a PC, then I think I wouldn't give away more than a couple of points of natural armor. (And how do you balance it against DR 10, anyway? How much natural armor is worth -10 damage per hit?)

---

Hi Rich, thanks for your input here.

The more I compare LA +X races to regular races in terms of playability, the more I agree with you. I have 'subconsciously' moved away from LA races when I am lucky enough to find the time to be a player on someone else's campaign (I can't stand the class level loss, especially if I play a spellcaster).

I've been thinkering with a few housespun fixes for LA +X races:

1. if you keep the LA system as is, treat the Level Adjustment as Hit Dice for feats or PrCs that say, lets you improve caster level by a certain amount 'up to your HD' (i.e. practiced spellcaster feat would now become very useful to drow and feyri; Abjurant Champion PrC makes your caster level equal to your BAB... just treat each LA pluses as a 'virtual' BAB+1...)

2. instead of a LA, the player can opt for an XP penalty (i.e. LA+1 = 10% XP penaly; +2 = 20%; +3 = 30%). This gives a good fighting chance to a low level party, and when the LA+3 guy trails two or three levels behind, the XP calculation method takes care of 'bringing that guy back into the fold' by dishing more XP to him compared to the rest of the party (i.e. if you're using the correct way to calculate XP, which calculate the total XP for ALL critters encountered for EACH PC's level - if they vary - then divide by the number of PCs)

3. develop a feat called 'Buy Back LA' with Special: this feat can be taken more than once; each time you take it your Level Adjustment is reduced by 1.

Option 3 is most likely the most balanced of all options I've come up with, as a feat is probably equivalent to an ability granting you a LA +1.

Thoughts?

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Hey, PDK. Have you tried the LA Buyoff from Unearthed Arcana? I have used it myself, and it worked out rather well. It sort of reminded me of 2nd Edition's slow advancement charts.

I like your house rules, by the way. Just sort of thought that you might want to give the UA rules a go if you hadn't already...

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Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 22 Jan 2007 21:37:15
Message:

Oh, I know what the type description in the Monster Manual says. But I don't think it's the *right* answer. Aasimar, etc., type-based martial weapon proficiency is an unintended consequence of the rule. I know that when we wrote those type descriptions we weren't looking to give aasimar clerics longswords. We were looking to give hezrous and planetars battle axes, if the DM wanted to kit up a unique baddy for his game.

So why did the Sage make that call, when it wasn't what we intended? In general, we don't admit minor stuff like this is wrong and designate it as errata. After all, your aasimar cleric could have easily spent a feat or picked the right domain or multiclassed to get his longsword proficiency, and all it does is add about 0.22 points of damage per round to his melee attacks. So, rather than go to the trouble of calling the type description wrong, the Sage chose not to suggest unnecessary errata.

Regarding Araevin and Galaeron... well, Araevin certainly understands what it means to be misunderstood and to pay a price for power. I think he wouldn't judge Galaeron too harshly.

quote:

---

Originally posted by KnightErrantJR

Rich, I know that this question came up on WOTC's site, so I thought I would throw this out there, but according to Sage Advice in Dragon Magazine #352, Aasimaar, Tiefling, and Genasi do get proficiency in martial weapons according to their "outsider" type.

With that out of the way, I have a more subjective question to ask, about one of your characters. It has to do with how Araevin would react to another Realms character. How would Araevin react to Galaeron Nimhedu arriving in Myth Drannor offering to help rebuild the city and the mythal? I don't know that he would, but given that Galaeron helped repair Evereska's Mythal, I just wondered what would happen and how Araevin would react to him.

Thanks Rich.

---

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Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 22 Jan 2007 21:39:38
Message:

Thank you! Of the books I've written, City of Ravens is probably my favorite too.

quote:

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Originally posted by koz

Greetings Mr. Baker
I read City of Ravens several years ago and was blown away. I loved the character of Jack Ravenswild. The story and plot were outstanding. To this day this novel remains my favorite Forgotten Realms novel and one of my favorite novels in general. I recommend it to everyone who loves a good character driven story. Congratulations on your continued success.

---

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Reply author: KnightErrantJR
Replied on: 22 Jan 2007 21:47:49
Message:

Thanks for the answers Rich, I appreciate it. For what its worth I agree with your interpretation of the "outsider weapon connundrum." Personally, I don't see, lets say, a commoner who just happens to manifest enough of his family's unknown progenetor's bloodline to be an aasimar, and on top of the "holy" abllities, he just happens to be able to pick up any martial weapon and know how to use them effectively.

On the topic of Galaeron and Araevin, I figured that Araevin would likely be more postitively disposed toward him, but I also know that some of the elves in Evereska didn't seem too thrilled with the idea of the Mythal being partially "tainted" with shadow weave magic. Again, thanks for the input.

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Reply author: Purple Dragon Knight
Replied on: 22 Jan 2007 23:43:13
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by RichardBaker

Oh, I know what the type description in the Monster Manual says. But I don't think it's the *right* answer. Aasimar, etc., type-based martial weapon proficiency is an unintended consequence of the rule. I know that when we wrote those type descriptions we weren't looking to give aasimar clerics longswords. We were looking to give hezrous and planetars battle axes, if the DM wanted to kit up a unique baddy for his game.

So why did the Sage make that call, when it wasn't what we intended? In general, we don't admit minor stuff like this is wrong and designate it as errata. After all, your aasimar cleric could have easily spent a feat or picked the right domain or multiclassed to get his longsword proficiency, and all it does is add about 0.22 points of damage per round to his melee attacks. So, rather than go to the trouble of calling the type description wrong, the Sage chose not to suggest unnecessary errata.

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But Rich, I actually LIKE my aasimar clerics with warhammers, and my tiefling rogues with nasty-looking greataxes!

Why, elves don't even pay a Level Adjustment and breed longsword-toting wizards!

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Reply author: Mace Hammerhand
Replied on: 06 Feb 2007 19:39:02
Message:

Rich, in the upcoming Anauroch adventure, will we receive more information of Shade? Sourcematerial regarding this area have been almost(!) nonexistant.

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Reply author: Archwizard
Replied on: 06 Feb 2007 22:14:35
Message:

Hello Mr. Baker,

I grew curious about the amount of communications between the design staffs of the different settings of D&D (Core, FR, and Eberron) in regards to book formats and cross setting content. For example, if the regional adventure format of Mysteries of the Moonsea performed well in sales, would the Eberron staff consider using that format? If a sub-system like Psionics does well in the core, is there pressure to include it in FR or Eberron books? Or is this mostly up to the setting designers themselves on whether they want to adopt certain formats or content?

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Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 08 Feb 2007 02:04:38
Message:

Well, we pretty much are a single pool of designers these days -- no one is specifically dedicated to FR, or Eberron, or Core D&D. We try to take lessons from all of our lines and spread 'em around. For example, the new FR adventures coming out this year make use of the adventure format of "Expedition to Castle Ravenloft."

quote:

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Originally posted by Archwizard

Hello Mr. Baker,

I grew curious about the amount of communications between the design staffs of the different settings of D&D (Core, FR, and Eberron) in regards to book formats and cross setting content. For example, if the regional adventure format of Mysteries of the Moonsea performed well in sales, would the Eberron staff consider using that format? If a sub-system like Psionics does well in the core, is there pressure to include it in FR or Eberron books? Or is this mostly up to the setting designers themselves on whether they want to adopt certain formats or content?

---

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Reply author: Archwizard
Replied on: 08 Feb 2007 06:41:54
Message:

Greetings Mr. Baker,

Thanks for taking the time out of your day to answer my question. After hearing about the Expedition format for the upcoming FR adventures, the combined designer resource pool was the situation I figured the company worked with, your answer gave solid confirmation to a guess. I feel this is good to know since it means each book we purchase is almost like a little more than one vote (generously speaking 1-1/2 for simplicity) for an aspect of the game we like, a very interesting consideration to keep in mind...

:: Ponders what minor but still present implications sales of Secrets of Sarlona might have on the format, approach, and content of the Realms product line. ::

quote:

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Originally posted by RichardBaker

Well, we pretty much are a single pool of designers these days -- no one is specifically dedicated to FR, or Eberron, or Core D&D. We try to take lessons from all of our lines and spread 'em around. For example, the new FR adventures coming out this year make use of the adventure format of "Expedition to Castle Ravenloft."

---

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Reply author: Kaladorm
Replied on: 08 Feb 2007 19:30:28
Message:

Rich, I'm currently working my way through the WotSQ books (loving them so much!) and I've just had to get out of the bath so I can ask you this question

Can you explain to me why, when in the tower of the beholder and Quenthel falls, the group (Valas in particular) actually decide to rescue her?

From a Drow's perspective I know there's no love lost, and with Quenthel being, quite frankly a pain in the arse, I just don't understand why they would not be glad that she was out of the picture and left to die.

It's not like she contributes anything in terms of spells or healing, she doesn't even seem to come up with any decent plans (though I understand why they have suffered her leadership thus far), that's the area of Pharaun and Valas. She is not a great fighter, certainly not as much as Ryld or Valas, nor is she a diplomat (in fact she seems to be a liability more often than not). She's not even really necessary to the mission, and the only one I can see having some loyalty to her would be Danifae, though I don't yet understand Danifaes intentions.

The only other reason I could see to keep her would be for fear of retribution when they returned to Menzoberranzen, but if she died in an accident such as that then they should all be absolved of blame.

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Reply author: Asgetrion
Replied on: 08 Feb 2007 22:25:20
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by RichardBaker

Well, we pretty much are a single pool of designers these days -- no one is specifically dedicated to FR, or Eberron, or Core D&D. We try to take lessons from all of our lines and spread 'em around. For example, the new FR adventures coming out this year make use of the adventure format of "Expedition to Castle Ravenloft."

---

And I, for one, truly appreciate that we are going to get so many great FR adventures and tomes this year!

Anything you can reveal about the first (Cormyr) adventure? I know it takes place in the Vast Swamp, and hopefully there will be links to Minauros (which is the source of the 'evil nature' of the swamp) and the kingdom of Orva (apparently mentioned in 'Four from Cormyr').

There are also references to old elven ruins in the center of the swamp ("as vast as Myth Drannor") and I was hoping that they will also be featured in the module in some way...

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Reply author: latharast
Replied on: 16 Feb 2007 18:21:20
Message:

Greetings Mr. Baker

My question (which is in fact a big request):
-can you tell me anything more about war-mythals, beside that, what you had written in TLM trilogy?

PS. Good luck with you're new trilogy :)

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Reply author: Asgetrion
Replied on: 24 Feb 2007 12:25:27
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by RichardBaker

I created the Pale Sybil for the story; she isn't mentioned anywhere else. However, a couple of the key components behind the Sybil appear in the FR sourcebook "Underdark," which I worked on extensively. For example, the abyss known as Lorosfyr is a place I created for that book. Bruce Cordell invented the Deep Imaskari, and I riffed on that by positing that a Deep Imaskari "sister city" might have been the cause of the mysterious ruins and terrible stairs found in the abyss.

When working on that part of Final Gate, I decided to put on my "A. Merritt" hat. Merritt wrote a number of stories about people going into fantastic hidden lands and worlds and confronting horrendous, inhuman evil; for example, "The Moon Pool," "The Metal Monster," "Dwellers in the Mirage," or "The People of the Pit." I like to pay homage to the Golden Age masters when I can. Lorosfyr and the Pale Sybil didn't fall far from the tree.

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What I really loved about the book was the atmosphere... and the fact that this book felt like it was written as an adventure (I think you could easily adapt it into a "super-sized" adventure :) and all the main characters felt like MY characters in a campaign.

The part in Lorosfyr was especially superbly written, and it felt like Araevin and co. were sticking their noses into a place that held something primordial/ancient, horribly patient and evil... I almost had goose-bumps many times as I poured through the pages. Lorosfyr really felt like a mythical, terrible place, and you did a GREAT job in portraying the place as such.
If I had played Araevin, I would have been scared out of my wits and instantly teleported out of there! :D

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Reply author: Jamallo Kreen
Replied on: 02 Mar 2007 19:53:31
Message:

Well met, Goodsir! I recently made a ruling in my campaign that wizards who use the Shadow Weave cannot learn spells from the spellbooks of Weave users, and vice versa. The question particularly concerned someone who started as a Weave user and then turned to the Shadow Weave.

Ed having declared you the ultimate authority on Shadow Weavery, Mr. Baker, I ask your opinion: can Weave and Shadow Weave users learn spells from the other's spellbooks? I know it's my campaign and all that, but I have promised my players that I will always seek out the opinions of the authors and designers when I have a doubt about something. Your answer, therefore, will be taken strongly into consideration.

I thank you for all of your wonderful contributtions to the game, and to the Realms in particular.

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Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 02 Mar 2007 23:04:04
Message:

Hi, Jamallo, nice to meet you --

Well, I hate to say it, but I think I would go the other way. To my mind casting a spell consists of two steps: 1) gather the energy, and 2) say the words and perform the actions that make it happen. I believe that step 2 is largely independent of the exact method used to gather the energy for the spell. However, there's no reason you can't go the other way in your campaign. It reduces the value of "enemy" spellbooks the PCs capture, but other than that it shouldn't make much difference in the game.

quote:

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Originally posted by Jamallo Kreen

Well met, Goodsir! I recently made a ruling in my campaign that wizards who use the Shadow Weave cannot learn spells from the spellbooks of Weave users, and vice versa. The question particularly concerned someone who started as a Weave user and then turned to the Shadow Weave.

Ed having declared you the ultimate authority on Shadow Weavery, Mr. Baker, I ask your opinion: can Weave and Shadow Weave users learn spells from the other's spellbooks? I know it's my campaign and all that, but I have promised my players that I will always seek out the opinions of the authors and designers when I have a doubt about something. Your answer, therefore, will be taken strongly into consideration.

I thank you for all of your wonderful contributtions to the game, and to the Realms in particular.

---

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Reply author: Jamallo Kreen
Replied on: 07 Mar 2007 19:12:25
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by RichardBaker

Hi, Jamallo, nice to meet you --

Well, I hate to say it, but I think I would go the other way. To my mind casting a spell consists of two steps: 1) gather the energy, and 2) say the words and perform the actions that make it happen. I believe that step 2 is largely independent of the exact method used to gather the energy for the spell. However, there's no reason you can't go the other way in your campaign. It reduces the value of "enemy" spellbooks the PCs capture, but other than that it shouldn't make much difference in the game.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jamallo Kreen

Well met, Goodsir! I recently made a ruling in my campaign that wizards who use the Shadow Weave cannot learn spells from the spellbooks of Weave users, and vice versa. The question particularly concerned someone who started as a Weave user and then turned to the Shadow Weave.

Ed having declared you the ultimate authority on Shadow Weavery, Mr. Baker, I ask your opinion: can Weave and Shadow Weave users learn spells from the other's spellbooks? I know it's my campaign and all that, but I have promised my players that I will always seek out the opinions of the authors and designers when I have a doubt about something. Your answer, therefore, will be taken strongly into consideration.

I thank you for all of your wonderful contributtions to the game, and to the Realms in particular.

---

---

Well, thank you! I may go part way and rule that 0 and 1st level spells would be learnable by the renegade, but that anything above the level she could cast when she "made the switch" would be blocked from her mind by Mystra. It is (I hope) a happy compromise. In my campaign there is, indeed, a serious question of who is accessing whose spellbooks, so I think this compromise may help to nip that in the bud -- after a certain point there would be no advantage to sneeking a peek at another party member's spellbook.

I shall proceed to my Yahoo group and spread the (revised) word.

Also, shall I take your comments to indicate that arcane spellcasters who do not prepare spells (bards, sorcerers, etc.) can learn to cast a spell from observing either its Weave or Shadow Weave counterpart? Their mojo is inherently different from wizardry, so I would be inclined to put fewer limitations on their ability to learn from either Weave or Shadow Weave users. Do you concur?

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Reply author: Delzounblood
Replied on: 08 Mar 2007 10:14:41
Message:

Richard,

I just wanted to say I have just read The Shadow Stone, What an Excellent Book!

Now this is one of those books that lends itself to a sequel.

So is it part of a trilogy or series? and if so What are the other titles?

Again a really good book!

interesting use of wood for spell storage.

Delz

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Reply author: Jamallo Kreen
Replied on: 08 Mar 2007 21:03:43
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Delzounblood

Richard,

I just wanted to say I have just read The Shadow Stone, What an Excellent Book!

Now this is one of those books that lends itself to a sequel.

So is it part of a trilogy or series? and if so What are the other titles?

Again a really good book!

interesting use of wood for spell storage.

Delz

---

Lest you think that I am only interested in you because Ed said you were the man on Shadow Weave matters, permit me to echo all of the above.

I'd like to learn a lot more about pre-modern Shadow Weave magic and Shadow Mages (ones who use Weave magic to manipulate shadows). Ebenfar and the Shadowking were rooted in Weave magic, weren't they?

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Reply author: Dargoth
Replied on: 19 Mar 2007 03:31:09
Message:

Any chance you can tell us what levels characters need to be do go through Expedition to Undermountain?

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Reply author: Jamallo Kreen
Replied on: 20 Mar 2007 20:57:26
Message:

Well met, Mr. Baker!

I have some questions about the article on the Far Side ... er ... Far Realm, which Bruce R. Cordell wrote about for Dragon 330 (April 2005). However, since I haven't yet figured out how to quickly post a message to him on his web site, I refer them to you, as lead author for Lords of Madness. Given the possibly broad application of the answers, you are certainly just as qualified to voice your learned opinion as are the other sages to whom we defer.

The first question, a two-parter, is this: First, "if there is a level of the Intelligence or Wisdom abilities so high as to render a living (or undead) being mentally immune to the mind-shattering effects of poking about in the Far Realm or having its inhabitants poke about in one's body and mind, what would you consider that level to be?"

There is a Realms angle to this. The big problem with the spell Karsus's Avatar was that Karsus himself didn't have the mental capacity to grok Mystryl's knowledge and he cracked under the pressure, necessitating her sacrifice. This suggests that a deity's knowledge and understanding are vastly superior to that of even top-notch Archwizards/Netherese Arcanists. However, repeated examples show that some humans can cope with deific amounts of knowledge (and not just Chosen or proxies). Presumably, anyone who had the mental chops to deal with god-level knowledge could survive the shock of realizing its immensities. (Pace, Vaarsuvius!) Bane can clearly handle it, and Cyric obviously can't. Both were once mortals, and Cyric went insane, whereas Bane merely developed a bad attitude. (Oh, to see Bane's childhood report card comments! -- "The boy doesn't play well with others. Instead of asking teachers proper questions, he shouts at them them to, 'Tremble and obey!' He runs while carrying scissors. He will doubtless come to a bad end")

Ahem. Please pardon the digression. I return to my sheep: question the first, part the second: "if most mortals cannot handle god-knowledge, but some can, may we safely infer that some deities can handle Far Realm experiences and some can't? Would that be a reflection of their Intelligence, Wisdom, Divine Rank, class levels, or portfolios and domains?"

The second question is, I trust, simpler: "are aberrations, and those who have monstrous feats which muddle their minds with an alien mind-set when they are probed by other beings, immune to the mind-shattering effects of the Far Realm?" Its corollary: "if some monstrous beings are immune to the insanity caused by the Far Realm, which are they?"

The second question has implications for all D&D campaigns which incorporate intrusions from the Far Realm, but for those following the Age of Worms adventure path, my questions are particularly relevant to the show-down with Kyuss. He is immune to mind-effecting magics (as are many deities), and he is an aberration himself. The thrust of my questions is this: "Is the Far Realm so unspeakably awful that it supersedes normal D&D rules, affecting those who are 'normally' immune to mind-affecting magic or effects, and are Cerebrotic spells so horrendously abnormal that they can effect those who would 'normally' be immune to all magic less than Epic? Might an Alienist with Cerebrotic spells, for example, prevail against mighty beings who would be otherwise immune to the magic of 'normal' space-time?"

If Cthulhu calls, are 'normal' gods unafraid to pick up the white courtesy telephone and take his call? Are his most powerful minions (or those of other eldritch, capital-"E" Evils) able to scorn the gods themselves because of the magic of madness which they wield?

I have noticed that Toril's EEEs (Elder Elemental Evils) and some deities from other pantheons are so abominable that it requires many deities (and sometimes whole pantheons) to subdue or imprison them, and trickery must often be used to trap them. Such entities include the Dragonking (Marco Volo's buddy), Kezef the Chaos Hound, the Fenris Wolf, Ksarul (from Tekumel/Empire of the Petal Throne), the historical Tiamat of Earth, and the historical Sekhmet of Earth (whose subdual turned out to be relatively simple, although only one god could figure it out: She had to be plied with blood-colored beer -- something those folk who were recently partying on Saint Paddy's Day might want to think about: if Sekhmet needed blood-colored beer to get Her stupefied, what abominable, soul-rending horror might need to be subdued with green beer?!).

I realize that much of this ultimately devolves upon individual DMs, but I'd like Faerun's premier Lord of Madness to weigh in on this. Having read Monte Cook's When the Sky Falls, I have already ruled that the plasma "element" can harm gods (it is presumably "thaumaturgic meteorites," loaded with raw plasma energy, which they chuck at each other during their God Wars), and I am using the 3E Unearthed Arcana sanity rules, so ruling that the Far Realm and its nightmarish entities and their magics can effect aberrations and even gods is not a stretch for my campaign, but I don't want to go completely off the deep end and veer too far from the standard rules, so I'm very interested in reading whether or not you think that the Far Realm is so far out that it and its denizens can alter the norms of a game, especially one set in a world as well thought-out as Toril.

Elsewhere I have asked people what they consider to be "Forbidden Lore" -- the stuff so bad that even gods of knowledge such as Oghma and Oerth's Delleb forbid access to it or possibly destroy it and all records of it. Given the heavy-duty magic which Oghma permitted Cyric to read in Prince of Lies (a spell personally written by Gargauth!), real "Forbidden Lore" must be so extreme that it blows even the minds of greater gods (or reveals their deepest weaknesses). We know that this lore is "out there," so do you, Mr. Baker, think that the Far Realm and that which is associated with it would/should fall under the "Forbidden Lore" heading because it is baleful to the gods themselves? Or are they made of sterner stuff? If the latter, which quality or qualities permit them to stand against the Far Realm?

Please forgive the great length of this post, but it's difficult to express oneself succinctly when writing about matters which can melt the brain of a 41st level Netherese Mentalist with a 22 Intelligence and a 19 Wisdom!

---

Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 22 Mar 2007 21:10:41
Message:

Sorry for the slow response, I've been super-busy lately. I'm glad you liked the book!

The Shadow Stone is a stand-alone book, although the Shadow Weave concept obviously was picked up for 3rd Edition. I suggested a sequel to our Book Department (basically "Aeron Goes to Thay") but nothing ever came of it.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Delzounblood

Richard,

I just wanted to say I have just read The Shadow Stone, What an Excellent Book!

Now this is one of those books that lends itself to a sequel.

So is it part of a trilogy or series? and if so What are the other titles?

Again a really good book!

interesting use of wood for spell storage.

Delz

---

---

Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 22 Mar 2007 21:12:47
Message:

Again, my apologies for the slow response.

You should start with 1st level characters. I believe the adventure will take you up to about 9th level by the time you finish.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dargoth

Any chance you can tell us what levels characters need to be do go through Expedition to Undermountain?

---

---

Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 22 Mar 2007 21:22:21
Message:

Well, RAW (rules as written) simply say that you make a DC 20 Will save when you enter the Far Realm, and another save each hour you remain. So if your Will save bonus is +19, presumably you're pretty safe. You can still fail on a roll of 1. However, deities of divine rank 1 or higher no longer auto-fail on 1. So any deity with a Will save of +19 or better is effectively immune to Far Realms madness, but any mortal creature not native to the Far Realm is still at some small risk no matter how good their Will saves are.

It might be reasonable to "house rule" that aberrations count as natives of the Far Realm and therefore aren't subject to the plane's madness, but nothing in the rules supports that. It seems like a okay use of Rule Zero to me, though.

* Snipped quote *

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jamallo Kreen

Well met, Mr. Baker!


The first question, a two-parter, is this: First, "if there is a level of the Intelligence or Wisdom abilities so high as to render a living (or undead) being mentally immune to the mind-shattering effects of poking about in the Far Realm or having its inhabitants poke about in one's body and mind, what would you consider that level to be?"


The second question is, I trust, simpler: "are aberrations, and those who have monstrous feats which muddle their minds with an alien mind-set when they are probed by other beings, immune to the mind-shattering effects of the Far Realm?" Its corollary: "if some monstrous beings are immune to the insanity caused by the Far Realm, which are they?"

The second question has implications for all D&D campaigns which incorporate intrusions from the Far Realm, but for those following the Age of Worms adventure path, my questions are particularly relevant to the show-down with Kyuss. He is immune to mind-effecting magics (as are many deities), and he is an aberration himself. The thrust of my questions is this: "Is the Far Realm so unspeakably awful that it supersedes normal D&D rules, affecting those who are 'normally' immune to mind-affecting magic or effects, and are Cerebrotic spells so horrendously abnormal that they can effect those who would 'normally' be immune to all magic less than Epic? Might an Alienist with Cerebrotic spells, for example, prevail against mighty beings who would be otherwise immune to the magic of 'normal' space-time?"

If Cthulhu calls, are 'normal' gods unafraid to pick up the white courtesy telephone and take his call? Are his most powerful minions (or those of other eldritch, capital-"E" Evils) able to scorn the gods themselves because of the magic of madness which they wield?

I have noticed that Toril's EEEs (Elder Elemental Evils) and some deities from other pantheons are so abominable that it requires many deities (and sometimes whole pantheons) to subdue or imprison them, and trickery must often be used to trap them. Such entities include the Dragonking (Marco Volo's buddy), Kezef the Chaos Hound, the Fenris Wolf, Ksarul (from Tekumel/Empire of the Petal Throne), the historical Tiamat of Earth, and the historical Sekhmet of Earth (whose subdual turned out to be relatively simple, although only one god could figure it out: She had to be plied with blood-colored beer -- something those folk who were recently partying on Saint Paddy's Day might want to think about: if Sekhmet needed blood-colored beer to get Her stupefied, what abominable, soul-rending horror might need to be subdued with green beer?!).

I realize that much of this ultimately devolves upon individual DMs, but I'd like Faerun's premier Lord of Madness to weigh in on this. Having read Monte Cook's When the Sky Falls, I have already ruled that the plasma "element" can harm gods (it is presumably "thaumaturgic meteorites," loaded with raw plasma energy, which they chuck at each other during their God Wars), and I am using the 3E Unearthed Arcana sanity rules, so ruling that the Far Realm and its nightmarish entities and their magics can effect aberrations and even gods is not a stretch for my campaign, but I don't want to go completely off the deep end and veer too far from the standard rules, so I'm very interested in reading whether or not you think that the Far Realm is so far out that it and its denizens can alter the norms of a game, especially one set in a world as well thought-out as Toril.

Elsewhere I have asked people what they consider to be "Forbidden Lore" -- the stuff so bad that even gods of knowledge such as Oghma and Oerth's Delleb forbid access to it or possibly destroy it and all records of it. Given the heavy-duty magic which Oghma permitted Cyric to read in Prince of Lies (a spell personally written by Gargauth!), real "Forbidden Lore" must be so extreme that it blows even the minds of greater gods (or reveals their deepest weaknesses). We know that this lore is "out there," so do you, Mr. Baker, think that the Far Realm and that which is associated with it would/should fall under the "Forbidden Lore" heading because it is baleful to the gods themselves? Or are they made of sterner stuff? If the latter, which quality or qualities permit them to stand against the Far Realm?

Please forgive the great length of this post, but it's difficult to express oneself succinctly when writing about matters which can melt the brain of a 41st level Netherese Mentalist with a 22 Intelligence and a 19 Wisdom!

---

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Reply author: Delzounblood
Replied on: 23 Mar 2007 10:30:04
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by RichardBaker

Sorry for the slow response, I've been super-busy lately. I'm glad you liked the book!

The Shadow Stone is a stand-alone book, although the Shadow Weave concept obviously was picked up for 3rd Edition. I suggested a sequel to our Book Department (basically "Aeron Goes to Thay") but nothing ever came of it.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Delzounblood

Richard,

I just wanted to say I have just read The Shadow Stone, What an Excellent Book!

Now this is one of those books that lends itself to a sequel.

So is it part of a trilogy or series? and if so What are the other titles?

Again a really good book!

interesting use of wood for spell storage.

Delz

---

---

Arrrgh!!!!

A stand alone!


*incohearant gibberings*


Please could you, would you try Wotc again!

Delz

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Reply author: Jamallo Kreen
Replied on: 24 Mar 2007 18:31:15
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by RichardBaker

Well, RAW (rules as written) simply say that you make a DC 20 Will save when you enter the Far Realm, and another save each hour you remain. So if your Will save bonus is +19, presumably you're pretty safe. You can still fail on a roll of 1. However, deities of divine rank 1 or higher no longer auto-fail on 1. So any deity with a Will save of +19 or better is effectively immune to Far Realms madness, but any mortal creature not native to the Far Realm is still at some small risk no matter how good their Will saves are.

It might be reasonable to "house rule" that aberrations count as natives of the Far Realm and therefore aren't subject to the plane's madness, but nothing in the rules supports that. It seems like a okay use of Rule Zero to me, though.

* Snipped quote *

quote:

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Originally posted by Jamallo Kreen

Well met, Mr. Baker!


(snip)

Please forgive the great length of this post, but it's difficult to express oneself succinctly when writing about matters which can melt the brain of a 41st level Netherese Mentalist with a 22 Intelligence and a 19 Wisdom!

---

---

That's why you write the rules and I just buy them. A few minutes of thoughtful study would have revealed those (obvious to everyone but me!) answers and saved you me the trouble of writing that post and you the trouble of reading it.

I am enlightened. Thank you. I will now go ask my dog about his Buddha nature....

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Reply author: Jamallo Kreen
Replied on: 30 Mar 2007 18:40:59
Message:

My enlightenment now lapses.

I got Dungeons & Dragons for Dummies yesterday (hey! -- it was well-reviewed in Dragon!) and ran across the following sentence on pp 344-345 which left me totally confused: {Re:sleep} "In fact, many players with sorcerer characters use their 4th-level spell swap to chuck sleep and learn something else." I don't understand that at all. I can't find a reference anywhere to 4th-level sorcerers being able to abandon one spell and take up another. Admittedly my players and I run wizards and not sorcerers, but I don't think I'd miss something as (seemingly) obvious as a caster being able to unlearn a spell and learn a new one. Or would I?

Richard, sir, what, pray, didst thou mean? (If it's just a rule I've overlooked, a simple reference to the appropriate page will suffice.)

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Reply author: TomCosta
Replied on: 30 Mar 2007 20:58:01
Message:

Reread the sorcerer's spellcasting section in the 3.5E PH. They can swap out their spells known as they get more powerful, so sleep, which is great for a low level character but almost useless for a higher level one, is an easy choice to drop.

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Reply author: Purple Dragon Knight
Replied on: 31 Mar 2007 00:02:26
Message:

Jamallo: click on the link on my sig; from there, select "Classes 2" and look under "Spells" in the Sorcerer section. Bards also have a similar feature by the way.

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Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 04 Apr 2007 01:56:39
Message:

This is a rule that changed between 3rd Edition and 3.5. Sorcerers gained a limited "swap-out" feature that allowed them to retire spells obsoleted at later levels. When you're a 1st-level sorcerer, sleep looks like a critically important choice. At 10th level, you never cast it anymore, but something like charm person or shield is a spell you might still occasionally use.

quote:

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Originally posted by Jamallo Kreen

My enlightenment now lapses.

I got Dungeons & Dragons for Dummies yesterday (hey! -- it was well-reviewed in Dragon!) and ran across the following sentence on pp 344-345 which left me totally confused: {Re:sleep} "In fact, many players with sorcerer characters use their 4th-level spell swap to chuck sleep and learn something else." I don't understand that at all. I can't find a reference anywhere to 4th-level sorcerers being able to abandon one spell and take up another. Admittedly my players and I run wizards and not sorcerers, but I don't think I'd miss something as (seemingly) obvious as a caster being able to unlearn a spell and learn a new one. Or would I?

Richard, sir, what, pray, didst thou mean? (If it's just a rule I've overlooked, a simple reference to the appropriate page will suffice.)

---

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Reply author: Jamallo Kreen
Replied on: 06 Apr 2007 21:07:41
Message:

quote:

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Originally posted by RichardBaker

This is a rule that changed between 3rd Edition and 3.5. Sorcerers gained a limited "swap-out" feature that allowed them to retire spells obsoleted at later levels. When you're a 1st-level sorcerer, sleep looks like a critically important choice. At 10th level, you never cast it anymore, but something like charm person or shield is a spell you might still occasionally use.

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Thanks!

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Reply author: Kaladorm
Replied on: 17 Apr 2007 23:55:35
Message:

Rich, sorry to press a point, but I'd just like to know if you have an answer at all for my previous question? Just asking as it's on the previous page and I thought you may have missed it
Thanks

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Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 24 Apr 2007 22:43:07
Message:

Darn it, should have caught that sooner. My bad, it's a good question.

First, Valas was pretty reliable in drow terms. I think it was a sense of mercenary professionalism--he wants to demonstrate that he's competent and reliable in order to maintain his "rep."

Second, I think the others recognized that there might be unpleasant consequences if they returned to Menzoberranzan and somehow their fearless Baenre leader just hadn't managed to survive the trip. If nothing else, the draegloth would pose an immediate problem if he thought the others had let Quenthel die.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Kaladorm

Rich, sorry to press a point, but I'd just like to know if you have an answer at all for my previous question? Just asking as it's on the previous page and I thought you may have missed it
Thanks

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Reply author: Phoebus
Replied on: 28 Apr 2007 15:22:44
Message:

Hello Rich,

I was hoping you might be able to share some background information about some of the elven folk during the Crown Wars. Lost Empires of Faerun does an excellent job (in my humble opinion) of casting some light on that series of conflicts, but I (and others, I would imagine) was left with some questions about "how things were" back then.

When reading the Crown Wars chapter, the timeline, accompanying text, and additional items (such as the description of the Iron Pit) gave me what I felt was a clear enough view into Ilythiir so as to plausibly identify them with a society "worthy" of becoming the Drow so feared in the Realms today. I also understood the role the Vyshaan clan played in that grand game, and that of their infernal patron as well.

What about the Aryvandaaran sun elves as a whole, though? How do they reconcile with their rulers' attempts and actions? Were they debased and decadent enough to merit being called "evil" in their own way as many of the Ilythiiri were? Or were they dupes in a grand power play? I'm very curious to know what their society thought about the Crown Wars and their rulers as the conflicts broiled on--especially after the Elven Court's verdict was laid down.

I ask because, as you mentioned in an earlier post, there is a negative label often attached to the Sun/Gold Elves... and I'm curious to know if they merited it at that time. Think of all of the titanic debates you could settle if only you would answer the above 3-4 questions!!!

/R
Phoebus

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Reply author: Kaladorm
Replied on: 29 Apr 2007 00:31:46
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by RichardBaker

Darn it, should have caught that sooner. My bad, it's a good question.

First, Valas was pretty reliable in drow terms. I think it was a sense of mercenary professionalism--he wants to demonstrate that he's competent and reliable in order to maintain his "rep."

Second, I think the others recognized that there might be unpleasant consequences if they returned to Menzoberranzan and somehow their fearless Baenre leader just hadn't managed to survive the trip. If nothing else, the draegloth would pose an immediate problem if he thought the others had let Quenthel die.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Kaladorm

Rich, sorry to press a point, but I'd just like to know if you have an answer at all for my previous question? Just asking as it's on the previous page and I thought you may have missed it
Thanks

---

---

Thanks for shedding some light on that , I figured that would be the reason but its nice to have it clarified. I'd also like to say thanks for writing it, it was a very enjoyable book, amongst all the others of the series as well.

Whilst we're on the topic, and I'm not sure it happened in Condemnation but sadly I can't remember which, do you happen to know how Nimor escaped when Gromph trapped him in the plane of shadow? I couldn't remember and neither could Reefy who's just read the series, and no one on candlekeep has offered a solution yet.

If you don't know the answer then I understand but I thought I'd try. Oh and I realise it's a long time ago but I read city of Ravens recently and I 'loved' all the intrigue of the balls. I've started reading Masquerades and deep down I was hoping it would offer something close to City of Ravens

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Reply author: Zanan
Replied on: 29 Apr 2007 10:31:58
Message:

Hello Mr. Baker!

Some people over at the German boards mentioned with surprise that the cambion template included in Expedition to the Demonweb Pits shows uneven ability modifiers, e.g. +5 for STR. Given that this goes against the traditional usage of such bonuses, are we going to see more of this in the future?
I for one would not have any problems, as "monster" ability scores start off with 10 or 11 anyway, yet some concerns were raised with regards to min-maxing and future products (i.e., not necessarily cambion characters).

Speaking of which, do designers tend to double-check on such possibilities, i.e. min/maxing? While I accept that this style of play is an popular option for some, I hope that for the sake of flair and background, classes/races/etc. are not toned down because of this.

Thanks in advance, Zanan!

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Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 02 May 2007 02:03:29
Message:

Hmmm, +5 sounds like a mistake to me. We wouldn't have done that on purpose.

And yes, we are *always* conscious of power balance issues. We often cut overpowered race or class designs "down to size" without regard to story and background concerns. Balancing the game is more important to us than making a race or class "interesting." To be fair, we try hard to accomplish both goals with everything we do. But sometimes we miss something.

quote:

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Originally posted by Zanan

Hello Mr. Baker!

Some people over at the German boards mentioned with surprise that the cambion template included in Expedition to the Demonweb Pits shows uneven ability modifiers, e.g. +5 for STR. Given that this goes against the traditional usage of such bonuses, are we going to see more of this in the future?
I for one would not have any problems, as "monster" ability scores start off with 10 or 11 anyway, yet some concerns were raised with regards to min-maxing and future products (i.e., not necessarily cambion characters).

Speaking of which, do designers tend to double-check on such possibilities, i.e. min/maxing? While I accept that this style of play is an popular option for some, I hope that for the sake of flair and background, classes/races/etc. are not toned down because of this.

Thanks in advance, Zanan!

---

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Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 02 May 2007 02:05:53
Message:

I'd have to go look through the later books of War of the Spider Queen to figure that out, since I don't know off the top of my head. I haven't looked at the back half of the series in a couple of years, really.

Glad you liked City of Ravens--it's one of my favorites!

quote:

---

Originally posted by Kaladorm
Whilst we're on the topic, and I'm not sure it happened in Condemnation but sadly I can't remember which, do you happen to know how Nimor escaped when Gromph trapped him in the plane of shadow? I couldn't remember and neither could Reefy who's just read the series, and no one on candlekeep has offered a solution yet.

If you don't know the answer then I understand but I thought I'd try. Oh and I realise it's a long time ago but I read city of Ravens recently and I 'loved' all the intrigue of the balls. I've started reading Masquerades and deep down I was hoping it would offer something close to City of Ravens

---

---

Reply author: Kaladorm
Replied on: 04 May 2007 14:46:19
Message:

Ah it was worth a shot. The fact no one seems to know leads me to believe that it was just missed out, but the books are still fresh enough in my mind that I don't fancy reading through them all again to work out the time between when he disappears and when he reappears.

---

Reply author: Kuje
Replied on: 11 May 2007 01:49:40
Message:

Hiya Rich,

If you could, could you help me answer a few questions?

In your adventure in Dungeon #101 you give a list of prisoners and five of them are from one caravan and three are from another.

Could you, if you remember, I know that this adventure came out 6 years ago, put who is in what caravan? Also, could you list their gender and race for each? The article just says they are male or female and human or dwarven, but I don't like guessing on which is which.

I need the info for my NPC file.

The prisoners are:

Dreth
Edsard
Hela
Ilsa
Morrin
Staarvid
Thurgan
Welsil

Genders are also needed for:

Andremel
Belindara (I'm guessing this one is female :))
Jhovar

---

Reply author: The Sage
Replied on: 12 May 2007 02:09:17
Message:

Kuje, here is Rich's reply from WotC -

quote:

---

Originally posted by Rich Baker

In all honesty, your guess is as good as mine. Put the NPCs anywhere you want 'em.

---

---

Reply author: Penknight
Replied on: 31 May 2007 02:18:30
Message:

Greetings and salutations once again, Mr. Baker. I was wondering something about the mythal surrounding Myth Drannor:


*Spoiler Alert*




After the reclamation of the City of Song, will the mythal be able to keep out the remaining fey'ri, or will there still be a way for them to slip in (as a wolf in sheeps clothing) and wreak havoc on the internal affairs of the elven People as they struggle to find their place once again on Faerūn, the land so cherished and loved by their ancestors?


Also, another quick question, but this time about Silverymoon... I know that the mythal there keeps outsiders from entering into the city, but what about fey'ri and tieflings? Since they are native outsiders, can they make their way in?

I would also like to say thank you for your time and all of your hard work on the new novels and sourcebooks. I and my players greatly appreciate what you and the other game designers have done to "flesh out" characters, classes and races. So again, a huge thanks from my four players and I.

---

Reply author: Penknight
Replied on: 22 Jun 2007 20:12:32
Message:

Hello again. I have a question about a monster from 2nd Edition that I have been wondering about as of late. Long ago in 2nd Edition there was a monster that appeared in Elves of Evermeet that really caught my fancy. They were the Reverend Ones, and I have been wondering if Reverend Ones made a reappearance in 3.5 if they would be just a monster/creature like the Baelnorn or if they would be a template that you added to an existing creature with elven blood? Also, are there any plans on placing them in any upcoming game products? Thank you, sir.

---

Reply author: TomCosta
Replied on: 22 Jun 2007 20:37:10
Message:

It's not official, but I did a work up of them in Bestiary of the Realms 2 http://www.ericlboyd.com/dnd/monsters.html and I think the Creature Catalogue has a different take.

---

Reply author: Penknight
Replied on: 23 Jun 2007 03:27:09
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by TomCosta

It's not official, but I did a work up of them in Bestiary of the Realms 2 http://www.ericlboyd.com/dnd/monsters.html and I think the Creature Catalogue has a different take.

---

Thank you, sir. I'll give it a good look.

---

Reply author: althen artren
Replied on: 25 Jun 2007 17:36:11
Message:

Hello Rich, I have some questions about Last Mythral.

Shadowdale, Daggerdale, Deepingdale soldiers were all involved in the siege of Myth Drannor. Archendale did not. Were any other dales soldiers present in the final siege?

I have the idea of Myth Drannor not taxing its citizens for a little bit and living off the treasures claimed by the returning elves as they clear out and reclaim the city Did the Shades clean stuff out in return of the Archwizards or is there still enough treasure around to enrich many kingdoms.

After the end of the novels, is there still a sizable infernal population running around in Cormanthor to justify random encounters?

Will the Word of Potency or the Ritual to Summon Revered Ones reach print anytime soon? Are there any discussions for a sourcebook or at least updates such as whether or not Sembia withdrew from the Southern Dales?

Also, can you give us a rough % of the gates that are now broken across the Realms with the destruction of the Fhoeldin Durr?

---

Reply author: Aulnil
Replied on: 26 Jun 2007 04:38:53
Message:

I know you've touched on topics concerning The Last Mythal trilogy multiple times, but considering the state of Mulmaster leading out of Cloak and Dagger, heading into 3rd/3.5 edition, can you touch on the choice not to include or gloss over Mulmaster's possible influence/part in the events covered in this trilogy.

Thank you much,

Aulnil

---

Reply author: Purple Dragon Knight
Replied on: 20 Jul 2007 00:49:51
Message:

Rich, Eric tells me you might have answers about the following:

Do you know who did the "In Faerun" entries for Monster Manual V? and do you know who wrote the vampire section? I have both Realms and vampire stat block questions for that book.

(the vamp question is easy: why does the vamps' slam atk and dmg bonuses the same as their magic weapons' bonus?)

---

Reply author: acro
Replied on: 14 Aug 2007 01:23:09
Message:

Well met Richard, I am currently working my way through the last mythal trilogy. It is very good so far, and the part I like the most is when Araevin takes the Nightstar and learns that he is related to the dlardrageths, by some obscure marriage.

---

Reply author: Delzounblood
Replied on: 15 Aug 2007 22:21:35
Message:

Rich,

Which books follow on from your damn good The Shadow Stone ?

I seem to have missed any info on this!

Delz

---

Reply author: Skeptic
Replied on: 20 Aug 2007 22:33:58
Message:

Hi M. Baker,

I just want to say that the clan Hulmaster and Aesperus were major characters in a 2e campaign I ran years ago, I'm eager to see what are your plan for them in your new trilogy.

---

Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 22 Aug 2007 18:18:07
Message:

Sorry for the slow reply, I haven't been around here in a few weeks.

I'd imagine that at least a few of the surviving Riders of Mistledale were present during the final siege. Possibly some small number of folks from Harrowdale or Featherdale too, but I don't know if I would count any of those as soldiers.

I think there's still plenty of undiscovered vaults (and dangers) in Myth Drannor. The Shades didn't get it all. They hardly made a dent.

Yes.

No immediate plans on the Word of Potency or the ritual. I saw the Word as a low-grade epic spell whose principal purpose was to "wrap" a non-epic spell and make it much more likely to bust spell resistance and harder to save against. I have no other details that that, really.

I would guess that the Waymeet was responsible for maybe as many as 25 or 30 percent of the random gates around Faerun.

quote:

---

Originally posted by althen artren

Hello Rich, I have some questions about Last Mythral.

Shadowdale, Daggerdale, Deepingdale soldiers were all involved in the siege of Myth Drannor. Archendale did not. Were any other dales soldiers present in the final siege?

I have the idea of Myth Drannor not taxing its citizens for a little bit and living off the treasures claimed by the returning elves as they clear out and reclaim the city Did the Shades clean stuff out in return of the Archwizards or is there still enough treasure around to enrich many kingdoms.

After the end of the novels, is there still a sizable infernal population running around in Cormanthor to justify random encounters?

Will the Word of Potency or the Ritual to Summon Revered Ones reach print anytime soon? Are there any discussions for a sourcebook or at least updates such as whether or not Sembia withdrew from the Southern Dales?

Also, can you give us a rough % of the gates that are now broken across the Realms with the destruction of the Fhoeldin Durr?

---

---

Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 22 Aug 2007 18:19:31
Message:

Sorry, I've never done a sequel to The Shadow Stone. The next book I wrote after that one was City of Ravens, though. You might check that one out next!

quote:

---

Originally posted by Delzounblood

Rich,

Which books follow on from your damn good The Shadow Stone ?

I seem to have missed any info on this!

Delz

---

---

Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 22 Aug 2007 18:25:16
Message:

I've taken a few liberties with the backstory on Hulburg and Aesperus, since it really was *very* thin in existing FR lore. I think most people will like what I've done. For example, Aesperus now has a nickname: The King in Copper. The lich rivets his bones together with metal bands. He was the wizard-king of a small, short-lived realm known as Thentur which stretched from Thentia to Sulasspryn (forgive me if I got that city wrong, it's the one east of Hulburg and I don't have my references right here). Thentur lasted less than a century and collapsed around 1100 DR or so.

Anyway, you'll see more on this in Swordmage -- or possibly a Realmslore article or two in Dragon online.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Skeptic


Hi M. Baker,

I just want to say that the clan Hulmaster and Aesperus were major characters in a 2e campaign I ran years ago, I'm eager to see what are your plan for them in your new trilogy.

---

---

Reply author: KnightErrantJR
Replied on: 07 Sep 2007 03:23:50
Message:

Hey Rich,


This really isn't a question, per se, but I read about your wife on your blog over at WOTC's site, and I just wanted to say that my prayers are with you both, and that while I'm sad that she was diagnosed, I am glad that she was diagnosed early, and that she seemed to have the situation taken care of quickly.

Best regards to you and your wife.

---

Reply author: The Red Walker
Replied on: 07 Sep 2007 21:29:36
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by KnightErrantJR

Hey Rich,


This really isn't a question, per se, but I read about your wife on your blog over at WOTC's site, and I just wanted to say that my prayers are with you both, and that while I'm sad that she was diagnosed, I am glad that she was diagnosed early, and that she seemed to have the situation taken care of quickly.

Best regards to you and your wife.

---

Our thoughts and prayers are with you as well Richard.

---

Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 10 Sep 2007 05:39:28
Message:

Thanks for your concern. Right now everything looks 100% A-OK. Odds of recurrence are less than 5%. We'll be watchful, but it looks like we don't have to be terribly worried right now. Call it a scary near-miss.

quote:

---

Originally posted by KnightErrantJR

Hey Rich,


This really isn't a question, per se, but I read about your wife on your blog over at WOTC's site, and I just wanted to say that my prayers are with you both, and that while I'm sad that she was diagnosed, I am glad that she was diagnosed early, and that she seemed to have the situation taken care of quickly.

Best regards to you and your wife.

---

---

Reply author: Ergdusch
Replied on: 13 Sep 2007 10:17:58
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by RichardBaker

quote:

---

Originally posted by Delzounblood

Rich,

Which books follow on from your damn good The Shadow Stone ?

I seem to have missed any info on this!

Delz

---

Sorry, I've never done a sequel to The Shadow Stone. The next book I wrote after that one was City of Ravens, though. You might check that one out next!

---

Hello Mr. Baker!

In the recent past we have seen series like 'the cities', 'the fighters' & 'the wizards', now in progress are 'the dungeons' & 'the citadels'. Do you happen to know if the series in which your book
'The Shadow Stone' was published in, the series 'The Adventurers' IIRC, will be continued in the future? Just wondering....

Best regards, Ergdusch

---

Reply author: Trailstalker
Replied on: 18 Sep 2007 11:20:54
Message:

Mr. Baker

I've liked all the stories I've read by you, especially "The Last Mythal" series, and your short story "The Bladesinger's Lesson".

Will we be seeing more of Daried Morvaeril in the future?

---

Reply author: Bruce Donohue
Replied on: 20 Sep 2007 03:41:01
Message:

Hello Richard,

I was wondering if you have or can give us any more information in regards to your mention at Gen Con about the 'Spellplague'. What is it exactly, why would it effect every corner of Toril, and does it diminish both Mystra, Azuth,and Shar? Could it not be better suited to be a regional thing instead in order to avoid mishaps like those had with the Shadow Weave?

Will there be a lengthy explanation as to he origin, the cause, the source, the effects, how to slow its progression, its symptoms, please say that the answer this time around to such a possible Realms Shattering Event will not be the whimsically answer: "Because it has always been there, it just was not noticeable before", like the wonderful explanation we were given in regards to the Shadow Weave?

This is my opinion but I hope via the boards, via the emails, via the letters that this time fan imput has been taken into account unlike the last time where the general populace of fans was rather insulted by the Shadow Weave explanation and how the issues where handled. I can understand the possible wanting to demonstrate and to cater to the potential new client/consumer, but what about the die hard fan/client/consumer that has been purchasing items for many years and is the main source of product sales/revenue. Will their targetability be taken into account, or do we simply consider them dust to be brushed under the rug as has been very much voiced on the official WOTC forums (to state one example the suggestion of polls)?

---

Reply author: The Red Walker
Replied on: 20 Sep 2007 12:39:07
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Bruce Donohue

Hello Richard,

I was wondering if you have or can give us any more information in regards to your mention at Gen Con about the 'Spellplague'. What is it exactly, why would it effect every corner of Toril, and does it diminish both Mystra, Azuth,and Shar? Could it not be better suited to be a regional thing instead in order to avoid mishaps like those had with the Shadow Weave?

Will there be a lengthy explanation as to he origin, the cause, the source, the effects, how to slow its progression, its symptoms, please say that the answer this time around to such a possible Realms Shattering Event will not be the whimsically answer: "Because it has always been there, it just was not noticeable before", like the wonderful explanation we were given in regards to the Shadow Weave?

This is my opinion but I hope via the boards, via the emails, via the letters that this time fan imput has been taken into account unlike the last time where the general populace of fans was rather insulted by the Shadow Weave explanation and how the issues where handled. I can understand the possible wanting to demonstrate and to cater to the potential new client/consumer, but what about the die hard fan/client/consumer that has been purchasing items for many years and is the main source of product sales/revenue. Will their targetability be taken into account, or do we simply consider them dust to be brushed under the rug as has been very much voiced on the official WOTC forums (to state one example the suggestion of polls)?

---

Well Met Bruce!!

Until Rich answers I would suggest you read this scroll where your questions are being discussed:

Time of Troubles 2.0

And here is a quick summary from Grand History of the Realms:

In 1385 DR, With help from Shar, Cyric murders Mystra in Dweomerheart, destroying the plane and Savras, as well as sending Azuth and Velsharoon into the Astral plane.

Magic bursts from the bonds of the Weave. Thousands of mages are driven insane or destroyed, and the very substance of the world becomes mutable beneath the veils of azure fire that dance across the sky.

Cyric is imprisoned on his home plane for 1000 years by Tyr, Lathander, and Sune for his crimes. This event is what is known as the Spellplague.

Apparently many planes are "shifted" or destroyed. The book states that only the greater gods can protect their respective planes from the destruction. This implies that some of the lesser [and intermediate] gods might not make it.

The last sentence of the book says that the Weave is destroyed and the "old world" ends and a new one begins. What that means is anybody's guess.

edit: link added

---

Reply author: The Red Walker
Replied on: 20 Sep 2007 12:47:26
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Red Walker

quote:

---

Originally posted by Bruce Donohue

Hello Richard,

I was wondering if you have or can give us any more information in regards to your mention at Gen Con about the 'Spellplague'. What is it exactly, why would it effect every corner of Toril, and does it diminish both Mystra, Azuth,and Shar? Could it not be better suited to be a regional thing instead in order to avoid mishaps like those had with the Shadow Weave?

Will there be a lengthy explanation as to he origin, the cause, the source, the effects, how to slow its progression, its symptoms, please say that the answer this time around to such a possible Realms Shattering Event will not be the whimsically answer: "Because it has always been there, it just was not noticeable before", like the wonderful explanation we were given in regards to the Shadow Weave?

This is my opinion but I hope via the boards, via the emails, via the letters that this time fan imput has been taken into account unlike the last time where the general populace of fans was rather insulted by the Shadow Weave explanation and how the issues where handled. I can understand the possible wanting to demonstrate and to cater to the potential new client/consumer, but what about the die hard fan/client/consumer that has been purchasing items for many years and is the main source of product sales/revenue. Will their targetability be taken into account, or do we simply consider them dust to be brushed under the rug as has been very much voiced on the official WOTC forums (to state one example the suggestion of polls)?

---

Well Met Bruce!!

Until Rich answers I would suggest you read this scroll where your questions are being discussed:

Time of Troubles 2.0

And here is a quick summary from Grand History of the Realms:

In 1385 DR, With help from Shar, Cyric murders Mystra in Dweomerheart, destroying the plane and Savras, as well as sending Azuth and Velsharoon into the Astral plane.

Magic bursts from the bonds of the Weave. Thousands of mages are driven insane or destroyed, and the very substance of the world becomes mutable beneath the veils of azure fire that dance across the sky.

Cyric is imprisoned on his home plane for 1000 years by Tyr, Lathander, and Sune for his crimes. This event is what is known as the Spellplague.

Apparently many planes are "shifted" or destroyed. The book states that only the greater gods can protect their respective planes from the destruction. This implies that some of the lesser [and intermediate] gods might not make it.

The last sentence of the book says that the Weave is destroyed and the "old world" ends and a new one begins. What that means is anybody's guess.

---

---

Reply author: Bruce Donohue
Replied on: 20 Sep 2007 14:34:34
Message:

I wonder, if this situation will be handled like others have been when WOTC asked their fan base on their official forum for the imput, but greatly limited the method and ways for the fan base to respond, plus tell us, sorry we don't care what suggestions you bring, we have a established one way and that is it.

Yes this news is very disturbing to people such as myself that have loved and supported the Realms for over decade (minimum). Where I have been a consumer in a plethora of ways, where my dollars' worth of support has had far more reaching implications than I am sorry to say it the little newbie that trods into the Realms for the first time. In my humble opinion WOTC forgot who the main staple of their audiance and dollar power reliability has been: us. The ones that they are giving the distinct impression in not so many words, that we are Dinos. I simply do not understand this logic and I would care for an explination.

If the line was not making money because of us "Dinos", then how could we see such influx of products being developped on the Realms? Why would it be considered the Flagstone of WOTC's gaming products.

If this is a gamble in a marketing strategy, I sincerely in my opinion think that the strategem employed was flawed. Not enough energy was truly considered in who is the real audiance and the true buying power that ensures the fisability and future of the line that is slated to changed. There is nothing wrong with change, but when it is done in a manner that is truly half-calked, that is where I digress.

Much in this move as well as to rippling after-shocks the major changes that will incur, also have a few flaws in the design mechanisms in place. The rules that have been so called cannonized as to the destruction of this and of that beyond the scope of just Mystra but other Gods, doesn't hold ground. The fact that Mystra is a link to Toril for many of these Gods, and many of them operated in other worlds as well. Their destruction shouldn't be possible if only to explain that maybe this particular aspect of the God that is linked to this world is destroyed or their aspect to this world, that being Toril, is temporarily lost. Take the example in your own cannon when you had the Mulhorandi Gods situation. Their access to Toril was blocked but the essence of the God was not destroyed.

Sidenote of interest, does that mean we are going to see a greater influx or adaptation that brings about more psionics into the Realms? After all it relies on no overpower, no deity, but is limited only to the inner strength and individual capacity of the person? I think Richard, you mentioned that psionics had no corrolation with the Weave when that long past debate was originally brought up.

---

Reply author: Bakra
Replied on: 24 Sep 2007 14:19:38
Message:

Hey Rich,

Is it possible you could tell us the word count range for the new FRCS book? Not counting the title page nor the table of contents of course.

---

Reply author: Trailstalker
Replied on: 07 Oct 2007 06:31:21
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Trailstalker

Mr. Baker

I've liked all the stories I've read by you, especially "The Last Mythal" series, and your short story "The Bladesinger's Lesson".

Will we be seeing more of Daried Morvaeril in the future?

---

Bump.

---

Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 08 Oct 2007 20:57:16
Message:

Sorry, haven't stopped by in a while.

Yes, in fact Daried Selsherryn (he was related to Morvaeril, but his name was Selsherryn) appears in the prologue of "Swordmage." He doesn't really appear in the story after that point, but I'm toying with the idea of featuring him prominently in the third book of the trilogy. No promises, though.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Trailstalker

quote:

---

Originally posted by Trailstalker

Mr. Baker

I've liked all the stories I've read by you, especially "The Last Mythal" series, and your short story "The Bladesinger's Lesson".

Will we be seeing more of Daried Morvaeril in the future?

---

Bump.

---

---

Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 08 Oct 2007 20:59:12
Message:

This is a rough guess, but I think it'll be around 180,000.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Bakra

Hey Rich,

Is it possible you could tell us the word count range for the new FRCS book? Not counting the title page nor the table of contents of course.

---

---

Reply author: Wooly Rupert
Replied on: 08 Oct 2007 21:50:10
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by RichardBaker

This is a rough guess, but I think it'll be around 180,000.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Bakra

Hey Rich,

Is it possible you could tell us the word count range for the new FRCS book? Not counting the title page nor the table of contents of course.

---

---

Is that more, less, or the same as the 3E FRCS?

---

Reply author: Kentinal
Replied on: 08 Oct 2007 22:06:22
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wooly Rupert



Is that more, less, or the same as the 3E FRCS?

---

The default appears to be 250 words per page. Doubled spaced for edit ease.

400 hundred pages will equal 100,000 words on average (in draft, fewer pages in final print). White space and images would tend to increase page count, compressed text and/or smaller font size reduce page count.

The default lenght of a word was and still likely is five characters.

---

Reply author: Aewrik
Replied on: 08 Oct 2007 22:54:26
Message:

I think that's more than 3e FRCS, since they've alot to explain/update in the 4e FRCS.
Unless, of course they're disregarding old lore and create completely new lore because the destruction of the Weave completely ruined the (old) realms as they were.

I have a question, though: will the "wizardly implements" (orb, staff, rod) be used in the new FR? Will the orders described in the link below have formed in the realms?
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/drdd/20070917a

---

Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 09 Oct 2007 20:38:00
Message:

It's less. The new book is 288 pages instead of 320, and we're going for an airier, more readable format -- probably closer to 750 words per page, as opposed to the 900+ of the 3e FRCS.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wooly Rupert

quote:

---

Originally posted by RichardBaker

This is a rough guess, but I think it'll be around 180,000.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Bakra

Hey Rich,

Is it possible you could tell us the word count range for the new FRCS book? Not counting the title page nor the table of contents of course.

---

---

Is that more, less, or the same as the 3E FRCS?

---

---

Reply author: Razz
Replied on: 11 Oct 2007 19:24:02
Message:

So less pages and info but for the same price?

Sad. But we let them do that to us, after all, we're the "dupes" that keep falling prey to the addiction that is "D&D". And that's what WotC is relying on us for, those of us that say "NO NEVER!" are going to walk into a store and buy a 4E book anyway...because of that addiction.

And WotC grins evilly the entire time...*sigh*

---

Reply author: inexorable
Replied on: 11 Oct 2007 20:55:21
Message:

Mr. Baker,

First off, sorry about your Phillies, but I feel the same way about my Yankees. I was hoping for Yankees/Phillies World Series as my dad is a Phils fan.

Secondly I wanted to state that Cyric is perhaps my favorite character/entity/being in the Forgotten Realms. I mean, what was it, the third book of the avatar trilogy Cyric was slaughtering a group of halflings near some river... and right there I knew I was going to like this guy. So I'm loving the death of mystra at his hands, as I never really cared for her nor her chosen, and I look forward to reading more about the Black Sun. Speaking of which...

"1. It's an appropriate (if grim) finish to the story of Cyric's betrayal begun in the Time of Troubles series. Time to move on and tell new stories about Cyric."

You were quoted stating the above elsewhere on this forum and, as I've stated, having an interest in Cyric, is there any other information you can give? Are there going to be any novels?

Lastly I just want to say that I've read a lot of disparaging comments about your efforts and I think not only is it unfair but ignorant. I, and I'm sure plenty of others, really like what is going on with the coming 4E change over for the realms... one request though... actually two... anyway you can have mask and bane killed off too?

Thanks

---

Reply author: ElaineCunningham
Replied on: 17 Oct 2007 12:18:26
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Razz

So less pages and info but for the same price?

Sad. But we let them do that to us, after all, we're the "dupes" that keep falling prey to the addiction that is "D&D". And that's what WotC is relying on us for, those of us that say "NO NEVER!" are going to walk into a store and buy a 4E book anyway...because of that addiction.

And WotC grins evilly the entire time...*sigh*

---

I think a concern for a readable font size and a layout is a good thing. A thick tome stuffed with mouse-type information is of little value to me. I was disappointed to have to set aside Marcy Rockwell's Eberron book because the type was teeny--too small for me to read without eyestrain. Granted, most of the Realms readers are younger and have better vision, but there's a lot to be said for the esthetics of a book, as well as the information.

---

Reply author: Charles Phipps
Replied on: 17 Oct 2007 15:24:40
Message:

I'm very psyched about your new stuff Richard. Don't let the naysayers get you down, they're a minority I'm sure.

But my question is "How do you see Cyric"? What made you think he'd be the perfect character to pull off what he did?

---

Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 18 Oct 2007 02:03:07
Message:

Thanks for the kind words! At this point it seems to be the same six or seven naysayers hitting me over and over again, so there's no point getting worked up about it.

As far as how I see Cyric... I guess I see him as a bit of a tool, to be honest. I think Shar provided the real brainpower behind the plot to do in Mystra, and found the perfect accomplice in Cyric. Now, maybe Cyric's clever enough to *let* Shar think he can be manipulated, and he's really playing a deeper game with a longer view--but somehow I don't really think so. I think Cyric is still in his "spoiled brat" phase of deity-hood, and hasn't really learned to think like a deity yet. So overall Shar gets what she wants (no Mystra) and Cyric's the guy who takes the fall (imprisoned in his home plane).

We've got a couple of novels on the way in another author's series that may shed some more light on this, and other divine imbroglios.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Charles Phipps

I'm very psyched about your new stuff Richard. Don't let the naysayers get you down, they're a minority I'm sure.

But my question is "How do you see Cyric"? What made you think he'd be the perfect character to pull off what he did?

---

---

Reply author: Jamallo Kreen
Replied on: 18 Oct 2007 02:13:18
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Razz

So less pages and info but for the same price?

Sad. But we let them do that to us, after all, we're the "dupes" that keep falling prey to the addiction that is "D&D". And that's what WotC is relying on us for, those of us that say "NO NEVER!" are going to walk into a store and buy a 4E book anyway...because of that addiction.

And WotC grins evilly the entire time...*sigh*

---

Not I, Razz. I shall say, "NO NEVER!" if I don't think it's worth the money. I'll wait two years and buy it dirt cheap on eBay or Amazon.

Sorry, Mr. B, but that is my attitude and it's not likely to change unless the book is so utterly magnificent that I would be embarassed not to own it. Consider that a challenge, if you will.

---

Reply author: Charles Phipps
Replied on: 18 Oct 2007 02:45:14
Message:

Darn, that's a bit disappointing actually. I had been hoping that we'd be seeing a more dangerous and intelligent Cyric for 4E. Oh well, I suppose it's become a part of Cyric's character that he's really just a ******* with no redeeming qualities.

Such a shame that his portfolio is wasted on him. I suppose I'll just be content he got one over on the Triad.

Couple of more questions that I hope you might give us a clue on. For obvious reasons, I'm restricting my questions to the stuff already revealed in Guide to the History of the Realms as I'm sure you're not allowed to reveal anything else.

A LOT of questions here if you don't mind discussing the Triad breakup.

1. Why Helm?

I was curious why you chose the God of Guardianship for the breakup of the Triad. Still, he was the only LN member of said organization. I was curious what made you choose him over Siamorphe or Torm.

Could you suggest who'll be picking up the slack with his portfolio?

2. Will we see an increased role for Siamorphe?

She seems to be moving into a more prominent place because of the events of the breakup there. It's just interesting because we've lost a major female god and there's ample room for a LG female Goddess.

3. Any reason you chose the romance angle?

It was very Tristan and Isolde and a nice way to illustrate that the gods are tools of their portfolios while also very "human.'

4. Why Breakup the Triad?

Hope you don't mind so many questions.

---

Reply author: Brenigin
Replied on: 18 Oct 2007 10:25:45
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by RichardBaker



As far as how I see Cyric... I guess I see him as a bit of a tool, to be honest.

---

Oh man that made me laugh...on first reading, I didn't realise you meant 'tool' as in 'implement'. I thought you meant more in the following sense, courtesy of urbandictionary.com:

quote:

---

Tool

A person, typically male, who says or does things that cause you to give them a 'what-are-you-even-doing- here' look. The 'what-are-you-even-doing- here' look is classified by a glare in the tool's direction and is usually accompanied by muttering of how big of a tool they are. The tool is usually someone who is unwelcome but no one has the b*lls to tell them to get lost. The tool is always making comments that are out-of-place, out-of-line or just plain stupid. The tool is always trying too hard to fit in, and because of this, never will. However, the tool is useful because you can use them for things; money, rides, etc.

---

Unless that's exactly what you meant...

---

Reply author: ShepherdGunn
Replied on: 18 Oct 2007 10:51:32
Message:

Mr. Baker,

Just wanted to say that my interest has been peaked in regards to the new FRCS materials. I hope that it continues the tradition and love that so many have put into it.

First off, I also see Cyric as still the "brat" among the gods. He's not the clever manipulator that Loki is supposed to me. I mean, honestly, the guy proofread his book and forced himself to believe his own press! Tool in any sense of the word is the least that can be used to describe this guy.

My main question is, I know that they are ~strongly~ encouraging starting characters in the new setting, but if Mystra's dead, and there's no more Weave, does that mean there's no more magic? Or did the Weave become more like an "Ocean" of magic, flooding everything and leaving no shadow? Also... if magic is so radically different how can there be ANY "wizards"? I can understand sorcerers, warlocks, and the like, with their innate magic, but "studied casters" would be impossible, wouldn't they?

Just my 'ponderances.

---

Reply author: Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Replied on: 18 Oct 2007 18:22:36
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Charles Phipps
2. Will we see an increased role for Siamorphe?

She seems to be moving into a more prominent place because of the events of the breakup there. It's just interesting because we've lost a major female god and there's ample room for a LG female Goddess.

---

Siamorphe is LN.

---

Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 18 Oct 2007 20:14:37
Message:

I meant "tool" in both senses of the word, I think... Cyric is some ways is the ultimate munchkin. I can almost see him shouting "pwned u!" when he takes down Mystra. Maybe I'm not giving him much credit, but I think it's kinda interesting that there's a major deity who has no respect for/sense of "the rules" for how deities should act. Cyric might grow into a Loki someday when he starts learning to delay self-gratification and take the long view. But for now, he's far more petty and dangerous than a greater deity really has a right to be.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Brenigin

quote:

---

Originally posted by RichardBaker



As far as how I see Cyric... I guess I see him as a bit of a tool, to be honest.

---

Oh man that made me laugh...on first reading, I didn't realise you meant 'tool' as in 'implement'. I thought you meant more in the following sense, courtesy of urbandictionary.com:

quote:

---

Tool

A person, typically male, who says or does things that cause you to give them a 'what-are-you-even-doing- here' look. The 'what-are-you-even-doing- here' look is classified by a glare in the tool's direction and is usually accompanied by muttering of how big of a tool they are. The tool is usually someone who is unwelcome but no one has the b*lls to tell them to get lost. The tool is always making comments that are out-of-place, out-of-line or just plain stupid. The tool is always trying too hard to fit in, and because of this, never will. However, the tool is useful because you can use them for things; money, rides, etc.

---

Unless that's exactly what you meant...

---

---

Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 18 Oct 2007 20:19:51
Message:

I'm afraid I can't answer those questions quite yet. We have a couple of things in the works that explain the Triad story more, but it's too early for me to let anything slip right now.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Charles Phipps

Couple of more questions that I hope you might give us a clue on. For obvious reasons, I'm restricting my questions to the stuff already revealed in Guide to the History of the Realms as I'm sure you're not allowed to reveal anything else.

A LOT of questions here if you don't mind discussing the Triad breakup.

1. Why Helm?

I was curious why you chose the God of Guardianship for the breakup of the Triad. Still, he was the only LN member of said organization. I was curious what made you choose him over Siamorphe or Torm.

Could you suggest who'll be picking up the slack with his portfolio?

2. Will we see an increased role for Siamorphe?

She seems to be moving into a more prominent place because of the events of the breakup there. It's just interesting because we've lost a major female god and there's ample room for a LG female Goddess.

3. Any reason you chose the romance angle?

It was very Tristan and Isolde and a nice way to illustrate that the gods are tools of their portfolios while also very "human.'

4. Why Breakup the Triad?

Hope you don't mind so many questions.

---

---

Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 18 Oct 2007 20:24:15
Message:

There's a subtlety to the Weave that I think folks are overlooking: The Weave isn't "magic." Raw magic exists in the cosmos, sorta like a crazy type of potential energy locked up in the world all around you. The Weave is actually an interface, an operating system, by which you can tap the dormant raw power of magic to do things. So what happens when the Weave is destroyed? People have to learn new ways of accessing that arcane potential in the world around them.

That's the way I look at it, anyway.

quote:

---

Originally posted by ShepherdGunn

Mr. Baker,

My main question is, I know that they are ~strongly~ encouraging starting characters in the new setting, but if Mystra's dead, and there's no more Weave, does that mean there's no more magic? Or did the Weave become more like an "Ocean" of magic, flooding everything and leaving no shadow? Also... if magic is so radically different how can there be ANY "wizards"? I can understand sorcerers, warlocks, and the like, with their innate magic, but "studied casters" would be impossible, wouldn't they?

Just my 'ponderances.

---

---

Reply author: Skeptic
Replied on: 18 Oct 2007 20:24:31
Message:

Hi,

How long we still have to wait before we know in which year will be set the new FRCG ?

---

Reply author: Skeptic
Replied on: 18 Oct 2007 20:26:06
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by RichardBaker

There's a subtlety to the Weave that I think folks are overlooking: The Weave isn't "magic." Raw magic exists in the cosmos, sorta like a crazy type of potential energy locked up in the world all around you. The Weave is actually an interface, an operating system, by which you can tap the dormant raw power of magic to do things. So what happens when the Weave is destroyed? People have to learn new ways of accessing that arcane potential in the world around them.

That's the way I look at it, anyway.

---

It seems to me that's also the way Ed have talked about it here.

---

Reply author: Charles Phipps
Replied on: 18 Oct 2007 20:38:45
Message:

Gotcha Richard.

Do you have any gods that are your favorite or whom you'd like to write more on/expand on?

---

Reply author: inexorable
Replied on: 19 Oct 2007 00:33:50
Message:

Thanks for the response about Cyric Mr. Baker and I look forward to reading more about him.

As an aside, I guess your opinion of Cyric has changed then as I recall you being quoted as saying he would be more ruthless, calculating, and subtle as the setting moved forward... adjectives I never would have associated with the term ultimate munchkin or tool (although TOOL is a great band).

---

Reply author: Jamallo Kreen
Replied on: 20 Oct 2007 19:44:06
Message:

Well met!

Instead of whining or complaining today, I have a question about the Netherese Arcanist class: if an arcane spellcaster already has Epic spells based upon seeds which are part of what will become his banned category (variation or mentalism, for example), does he lose the ability to cast those spells upon becoming a Netherese Arcanist and selecting those seeds as banned to him, or does he retain all of his current Epic spells but lose the ability to create new ones from his banned seeds?

---

Reply author: Charles Phipps
Replied on: 20 Oct 2007 22:06:29
Message:

Will we see what happened to Khel's Moonstars after the death of the Archmage in future realms products?

Or is that plot sorta dropped?

---

Reply author: krocha
Replied on: 21 Oct 2007 01:53:51
Message:

Hello Mr. Baker,

I was wondering of you could divulge Geran Hulmaster's race from your upcoming book Swordmage?

---

Reply author: ShepherdGunn
Replied on: 22 Oct 2007 10:17:40
Message:

Thanks for the response Mr. Baker. I see what you're saying with the Weave. It'll definitely be interesting to see how this all works out.

I can kinda see Cyric sitting there yelling as the other gods punish him yelling," No! You can't do this to me! I iz L33T!!!" and wearing a T-shirt that reads "I ganked Mystra, and all I got was sent to my room!"

---

Reply author: Foxhelm
Replied on: 22 Oct 2007 14:51:22
Message:

Mr. Baker--

I asked this question in the designers thread on the Wizards board, but it may have been overlooked, so I am reposting it here.
In relation to your comment of the way the gods are to become...

With the major deities with minor demi-powers linked to them, would those who have a strong link to the demi-powers might have special powers or feats related to those demi-powers?

I'm not sure this would be in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide, but it would be a good question to ask for the faith book for Fourth Edition. To expand the abilities and rolls of Cleric of the Realms. Just like I expect there to be a magic book to expand the roles of Wizards and update more spells.

One thought would be some like having the choice of choosing one or more domains from the leader deity and/or the demi-power, if domains were to remain.

Also would this be linked with the new order of the planes with Major deities creating the planes and lesser powers making their home in these planes?

Thanks and have a nice day...

---

Reply author: Foxhelm
Replied on: 22 Oct 2007 14:54:05
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Charles Phipps

Will we see what happened to Khel's Moonstars after the death of the Archmage in future realms products?

Or is that plot sorta dropped?

---

This topic might be better asked of Steven Schend as he has a large part to play with Khelben's Moonstars. I believe they currently under the new Blackstaff who can continue to look like the Arunsen at will and hold his knowledge. So they should still be in the game, and my have a part to play in Steven's next book... Blackstaff Tower.

---

Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 23 Oct 2007 19:03:27
Message:

Sure. He's human.

quote:

---

Originally posted by krocha

Hello Mr. Baker,

I was wondering of you could divulge Geran Hulmaster's race from your upcoming book Swordmage?

---

---

Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 23 Oct 2007 19:06:56
Message:

I think it's most likely we would do this by some mechanic like the Initiate feats. For example, if you were playing a dwarf cleric of Moradin, there might be a "Favored of Clangeddin" feat signifying a special affinity for Clangeddin. But I'll have to wait and see exactly how it works out, since the mechanics team is just getting started on the FR books for 2008. (Most of our work up to this point has been story work.)

quote:

---

Originally posted by Foxhelm

Mr. Baker--

I asked this question in the designers thread on the Wizards board, but it may have been overlooked, so I am reposting it here.
In relation to your comment of the way the gods are to become...

With the major deities with minor demi-powers linked to them, would those who have a strong link to the demi-powers might have special powers or feats related to those demi-powers?

I'm not sure this would be in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide, but it would be a good question to ask for the faith book for Fourth Edition. To expand the abilities and rolls of Cleric of the Realms. Just like I expect there to be a magic book to expand the roles of Wizards and update more spells.

One thought would be some like having the choice of choosing one or more domains from the leader deity and/or the demi-power, if domains were to remain.

Also would this be linked with the new order of the planes with Major deities creating the planes and lesser powers making their home in these planes?

Thanks and have a nice day...

---

---

Reply author: sleyvas
Replied on: 23 Oct 2007 21:50:45
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by RichardBaker

There's a subtlety to the Weave that I think folks are overlooking: The Weave isn't "magic." Raw magic exists in the cosmos, sorta like a crazy type of potential energy locked up in the world all around you. The Weave is actually an interface, an operating system, by which you can tap the dormant raw power of magic to do things. So what happens when the Weave is destroyed? People have to learn new ways of accessing that arcane potential in the world around them.

That's the way I look at it, anyway.

quote:

---

Originally posted by ShepherdGunn

<snip>.

---

---

This leads though into a little bit of a question that I've asked elsewhere. Hopefully you can provide some insight as to where you guys are taking it. There are weave based magic items and shadow weave based magic items according to the current rules. This to me says that all magic items would lose their dweomers at first glance (kind of like how a mythallar based magic item doesn't function outside the presence of a mythallar). Will this mean that all historical magic items have now lost their dweomers? Will you instead say that weave based items still function because they have a connection to this universal magical principle, whereas shadow weave items are gimped? What about spell functions for magic items, since pretty much all spells are going to be redone (so an item that cast Y spell, will it lose said functionality.... or do you plan on doing a rework)? What about effects protecting areas (teleport wards, traps, etc....)? What about a basic +1 sword... or a +1 sword with shock... or a +3 sword with shock and spell storing...
I know you can't go into great detail, but an idea of where things are going here would be of interest to me... as it really could have some drastic impact to the campaign world once things start being added up.

Phillip aka Sleyvas

---

Reply author: Dalor Darden
Replied on: 24 Oct 2007 00:37:09
Message:

I thought the weave was just the method that caster's used to tap the magic already in place? Of course, that has been proven false in such times as the Fall of Netheril...

---

Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 24 Oct 2007 21:01:36
Message:

That's a good question. I think that use-activated magic items such as magic swords, cloaks, boots, etc., survive the transition and operate normally -- for the most part. Permanent access to magic was "installed" in these devices when they were created, so that even though the Weave was used in their making, it's no longer needed in their continuing operation. On the other hand, I could imagine that spell trigger items such as wands or staffs created pre-Spellplague might no longer work.

I'll forward this one along to the rest of the brain trust. We'll want to make sure we don't forget to address this.

quote:

---

Originally posted by sleyvas

This leads though into a little bit of a question that I've asked elsewhere. Hopefully you can provide some insight as to where you guys are taking it. There are weave based magic items and shadow weave based magic items according to the current rules. This to me says that all magic items would lose their dweomers at first glance (kind of like how a mythallar based magic item doesn't function outside the presence of a mythallar). Will this mean that all historical magic items have now lost their dweomers? Will you instead say that weave based items still function because they have a connection to this universal magical principle, whereas shadow weave items are gimped? What about spell functions for magic items, since pretty much all spells are going to be redone (so an item that cast Y spell, will it lose said functionality.... or do you plan on doing a rework)? What about effects protecting areas (teleport wards, traps, etc....)? What about a basic +1 sword... or a +1 sword with shock... or a +3 sword with shock and spell storing...
I know you can't go into great detail, but an idea of where things are going here would be of interest to me... as it really could have some drastic impact to the campaign world once things start being added up.

Phillip aka Sleyvas

---

---

Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 24 Oct 2007 21:11:05
Message:

Short answer: No, not especially.

Longer answer: I certainly have deities that I think are neater than others, but there aren't many I'd like to write fiction about. It's hard to write about extremely powerful people (hey, I wrote Last Mythal, so I know). In terms of expanding on them in game terms, well, yeah, I'd like to see more info on cool rules bits for a deity--feats, spells, prestige classes, magic items that all support the story of the deity and carry real resonance for PC clerics of that deity.

I'd like to see Lathander get a little rehabilitated, since I think that he's regarded as not quite as positive an influence as he ought to be (he's sort of like the sun elves in that regard). And I dig Selune too, just 'cause I think she's a great part of the whole setting--sort of the quintessential Realms deity, in my mind.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Charles Phipps

Gotcha Richard.

Do you have any gods that are your favorite or whom you'd like to write more on/expand on?

---

---

Reply author: Purple Dragon Knight
Replied on: 25 Oct 2007 20:40:18
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by RichardBaker

I'd like to see Lathander get a little rehabilitated, since I think that he's regarded as not quite as positive an influence as he ought to be (he's sort of like the sun elves in that regard). And I dig Selune too, just 'cause I think she's a great part of the whole setting--sort of the quintessential Realms deity, in my mind.

---

Ah... the rehabilitation of Lathander. A hard one that is. That whole Dawn Cataclysm thing put a damper on his usually joyous mood. I hear he now avoids big shot magazine editors whenever he can!

---

Reply author: Hawkins
Replied on: 27 Oct 2007 00:48:00
Message:

Rich, I just got finished reading The Bladesinger's Lesson in Realms of the Elves, and thoroughly enjoyed it except for one thing: The Fey'ri were allied with devils. Why did you choose to have them allied with devils when the lore surrounding the Fey'ri clearly states that they are Planetouched from their alliance and relations with demons?

---

Reply author: alexye
Replied on: 30 Oct 2007 14:45:42
Message:

Dear Rich,

A simple question: Will Manshoon be in the 4e iteration of the Forgotten Realms?

Personally I feel that he is THE iconic manipulator villain bar none. I was rather disappointed that he was displaced by Fzoul in the C&D developments. I also felt that the 2e Inner Circle with its power sharing was particularly strong on "flavour". Unlike the Red Wizards you had distinct groupings - e.g. Zhent wizards, Banites and beholders and the intrigue of the Zhentarim was augmented by their obvious interdependances despite their mutual loathing.

I would like to see some of that returned to 4e, at the very least Manshoon restored to a starring role in the FR halls of villainy!

Thank you so much for reading!

---

Reply author: Wooly Rupert
Replied on: 30 Oct 2007 15:14:32
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by alexye

Dear Rich,

A simple question: Will Manshoon be in the 4e iteration of the Forgotten Realms?

Personally I feel that he is THE iconic manipulator villain bar none. I was rather disappointed that he was displaced by Fzoul in the C&D developments.

---

He wasn't really displaced -- he was moved to a different arena, and then the advent of 3E left that plot point behind.

---

Reply author: Charles Phipps
Replied on: 08 Nov 2007 00:26:33
Message:

Hey, Richard, will we ever see a "Forgotten Realms: Manual of the Planes"?

---

Reply author: Kheris
Replied on: 08 Nov 2007 15:49:22
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Charles Phipps

Hey, Richard, will we ever see a "Forgotten Realms: Manual of the Planes"?

---

I love this idea... Even a series of Dragon articles could help flesh these places out nicely

I'm also seeing one for Deities... A column called Lifestyles of the Divine and Worshiped. Narrated by Volo, of course

All kidding aside, thanks very much for the Last Mythal series, I found it simply wonderful!

Edited for a mis-click

---

Reply author: Charles Phipps
Replied on: 09 Nov 2007 01:43:41
Message:

Yeah, I did a review in the Novels section.

http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=10220

---

Reply author: Mandras
Replied on: 09 Nov 2007 08:13:33
Message:

Hello Richard,

Some questions about the Cyric if I may:

What does the imprisonment of Cyric into his homeplane really mean?

Is Cyric totally cut off from the realms?

Does Cyric have contact with his believers (do the Cyricists receive spells, omens and dreams from their god)?

Does Cyric see, hear or know what happens in the Realms?

Can Cyric "whisper" to Faerunians?

I believe some of that may be covered with NDA-s, but please give us at least some hints or Your personal opinions about that topic...

Best Regards,

Mandras

---

Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 10 Nov 2007 22:29:27
Message:

Weird, I thought I replied to this one...

Sarya Dlardrageth struck her alliance with Malkizid, who is an *exiled* archdevil. He took a good number of lesser devils with him, so most of the devils you see in the story belong to that faction.

quote:

---

Originally posted by HawkinstheDM

Rich, I just got finished reading The Bladesinger's Lesson in Realms of the Elves, and thoroughly enjoyed it except for one thing: The Fey'ri were allied with devils. Why did you choose to have them allied with devils when the lore surrounding the Fey'ri clearly states that they are Planetouched from their alliance and relations with demons?

---

---

Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 10 Nov 2007 22:30:49
Message:

Yes, Manshoon remains in 4e Realms, but I'm not at liberty to reveal the specifics yet.

quote:

---

Originally posted by alexye

Dear Rich,

A simple question: Will Manshoon be in the 4e iteration of the Forgotten Realms?

Personally I feel that he is THE iconic manipulator villain bar none. I was rather disappointed that he was displaced by Fzoul in the C&D developments. I also felt that the 2e Inner Circle with its power sharing was particularly strong on "flavour". Unlike the Red Wizards you had distinct groupings - e.g. Zhent wizards, Banites and beholders and the intrigue of the Zhentarim was augmented by their obvious interdependances despite their mutual loathing.

I would like to see some of that returned to 4e, at the very least Manshoon restored to a starring role in the FR halls of villainy!

Thank you so much for reading!

---

---

Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 10 Nov 2007 22:32:08
Message:

Probably not, to be honest. But I think it's a great notion for a series of D&D Insider or Dragon articles at some point in the future.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Charles Phipps

Hey, Richard, will we ever see a "Forgotten Realms: Manual of the Planes"?

---

---

Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 10 Nov 2007 22:37:08
Message:

I don't really know yet, to be honest. The Grand History blurb is about as much as I know for sure. I think Chris Sims is writing the deity material for the 4e Campaign Guide, and he'll be taking the first crack at those details.

Off the top of my head, I think it's a light house arrest, and Cyric can keep up on things pretty well through his intermediaries (proxies, dark angels, whatever). But I'm waiting to see what Chris comes up with.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Mandras

Hello Richard,

Some questions about the Cyric if I may:

What does the imprisonment of Cyric into his homeplane really mean?

Is Cyric totally cut off from the realms?

Does Cyric have contact with his believers (do the Cyricists receive spells, omens and dreams from their god)?

Does Cyric see, hear or know what happens in the Realms?

Can Cyric "whisper" to Faerunians?

I believe some of that may be covered with NDA-s, but please give us at least some hints or Your personal opinions about that topic...

Best Regards,

Mandras

---

---

Reply author: Mandras
Replied on: 11 Nov 2007 12:34:12
Message:

Thanks for Your reply Richard.

Does mr Sims visit these forums?

Best Regards,

Mandras.

---

Reply author: althen artren
Replied on: 11 Nov 2007 19:38:07
Message:

Hey Rich,

Can you expound on what you would write into a elven nobility house. I find myself needing to draw up a certain powerful elven nobility estate and I find I cannot figure out all the rooms, corridors, and extravagence to put in it. Any ideas on furniture, artwork, servants, etc, would be appreciated.

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Reply author: imis999
Replied on: 11 Nov 2007 21:29:17
Message:

How come Chris Sims doesn't have a thread since he seems to have alot of influence over the future of FR? The worrisome thing is that he seems to feel the deep canon of FR is a bad thing.

---

Reply author: Wooly Rupert
Replied on: 11 Nov 2007 21:34:44
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by imis999

How come Chris Sims doesn't have a thread since he seems to have alot of influence over the future of FR? The worrisome thing is that he seems to feel the deep canon of FR is a bad thing.

---

If he was to visit us and consent to a Q&A thread, then he would have a dedicated thread. But I don't know that he has ever visited us.

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Reply author: Charles Phipps
Replied on: 13 Nov 2007 02:21:04
Message:

Richard, what do you see the "mission statement" of 4E realms to be?

As in, what during your tenure, do you want to focus on more than anything?

A more organic realms? One that has more detailed society, or what?

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Reply author: Daviot
Replied on: 16 Nov 2007 16:35:17
Message:

I have a question for you, Mr. Baker, based on Shadowdale: Scouring of the Land:

We know that Elminster has been whisked elsewhere as of Nightal 1374, and that he isn't present for the events in Shadowdale in Hammer of 1375.

Though my players have come up with colorful explanations of where El went ("Raspberry Heaven", Sune's Domain, a demi-plane with the ever-popular Calishite dancing girls), are you at liberty to disclose either where he went or, more importantly, when he returns to Faerūn, presumably some time in 1375? The latter is something I'd like to work in to one of my campaigns.

Thanks in advance, and thanks for giving the world The Last Mythal trilogy.

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Reply author: Charles Phipps
Replied on: 16 Nov 2007 18:35:08
Message:

I hope it's something innocuous like a Cub's game.

:-)

"I CAN'T LEAVE YOU PEOPLE ALONE FOR FIVE MINUTES, CAN I!?"

He's like if America's Nuclear Arsenal wandered off on his own whenever he feels like it.

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Reply author: Daviot
Replied on: 16 Nov 2007 20:37:54
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Charles Phipps
He's like if America's Nuclear Arsenal wandered off on his own whenever he feels like it.

---

Yes, but try finding a nuclear arsenal with more amused mirth, wry grins, and sardonic retorts. Ye'd...err...you'd be hard-pressed, indeed.

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Reply author: Foxhelm
Replied on: 21 Nov 2007 16:53:40
Message:

Rich, I was wondering if you could leak more about Finder Wyvernspur and his Clergy in Fourth Edition at this time.

Also with the question of fey and Centaurs, I have a few suggestion I would like to share. I was wondering if you could break centaurs in half with Ixion centaurs being a darker version of the more Chiron based Centaurs of traditional D&D.

Something similar could be done with Satyr with Fauns being a less wild version of the creatures.

Just some thought which may or may not interest you. Thanks.

Foxhelm

---

Reply author: IngoDjan
Replied on: 26 Nov 2007 20:05:17
Message:

Hello Richard Baker!

You said the Cwm is a place like Mount Rainier. So, what“s the place you think looks like Vale of the Lost Voice?

Thanx!

Ingo Djan

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Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 26 Nov 2007 21:01:53
Message:

To the best of my knowledge, no, Chris doesn't stop by here. Keep in mind, there are a lot of websites out there to keep an eye on. All of us in WotC R&D keep an eye on the Wizards site, most of us also watch ENWorld, and a few of us watch one or two other sites. For example, I'd like to keep up on Monte Cook's site, Bob Salvatore's site, and a half-dozen others, but there's only so much time in the day I can devote to web-surfing.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Mandras

Thanks for Your reply Richard.

Does mr Sims visit these forums?

Best Regards,

Mandras.

---

---

Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 26 Nov 2007 21:15:58
Message:

Well, 3rd Edition was my tenure. I was the creative director for FR for several years, and primary in-house FR designer/developer for a couple of years after that. (We downsized several years back, so I went from having a team to run to just being pretty much me.) For a couple of years now I've been only occasionally involved in FR game product. For example, I didn't have anything to do with Champions of Valor, Serpent Kingdoms, Power of Faerun, Moonsea, or Champions of Ruin. But I've been working on novels throughout that time (the Last Mythal, and now my new series Blades of the Moonsea), and I got to pitch in a bit on Cormyr and Shadowdale.

In other words, I'm not *the* guy on 4e Realms. I'm *one* of the guys. I spearheaded the original revision team, but since that time I've been working on core D&D and other projects. Bruce Cordell, Ed Stark, Chris Sims, Rob Heinsoo, Logan Bonner, and a couple more folks have had a little more to do with the actual creation of the upcoming 4th Edition Realms products (although I advise and kibbitz plenty). I think that's a good thing, because I think it's important for us to cultivate new FR authorities here in house, and the Realms flourishes when it's got talented new voices contributing.

That said, What's the mission statement? I'd say something like this:
Create a new edition of the setting that's fresh, current, in step with the state of D&D, and relevant to a whole new generation of readers and D&D players. Keep the best parts of what's gone before, and allow not-so-good parts to fade away. Make sure that old FR hands will find exciting new things to explore and new stories to tell, so that they can fall in love with the setting all over again.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Charles Phipps

Richard, what do you see the "mission statement" of 4E realms to be?

As in, what during your tenure, do you want to focus on more than anything?

A more organic realms? One that has more detailed society, or what?

---

---

Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 26 Nov 2007 21:24:37
Message:

I imagine Cormanthor looks and feels a little like the woods in the Virginia mountains. I went to school at Virginia Tech, in Blacksburg. About fifteen or twenty miles away there was a mountain called Dragon's Tooth with a trail to the top. You'd get on top, and you could see all sorts of farmlands in the rolling hills below. Maybe it's something like that, but less mountainous.

quote:

---

Originally posted by IngoDjan

Hello Richard Baker!

You said the Cwm is a place like Mount Rainier. So, what“s the place you think looks like Vale of the Lost Voice?

Thanx!

Ingo Djan

---

---

Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 26 Nov 2007 21:26:49
Message:

Sorry, can't say anything about Finder yet.

I think our basic idea is that centaurs, like many fey, are unaligned. Unaligned means you're not signed up for good, evil, or whatever. But you might have "personality" ranging from violent and ill-tempered to helpful and compassionate. So different centaurs might run the gamut from things you fight to things that help you out.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Foxhelm

Rich, I was wondering if you could leak more about Finder Wyvernspur and his Clergy in Fourth Edition at this time.

Also with the question of fey and Centaurs, I have a few suggestion I would like to share. I was wondering if you could break centaurs in half with Ixion centaurs being a darker version of the more Chiron based Centaurs of traditional D&D.

Something similar could be done with Satyr with Fauns being a less wild version of the creatures.

Just some thought which may or may not interest you. Thanks.

Foxhelm

---

---

Reply author: IngoDjan
Replied on: 03 Dec 2007 01:47:09
Message:

Hi Baker!

Yet about Vale of the Lost Voices appearance!

Do you think is really possible charge in that old forest? What was the image you think when writing the battle in Vale of the Lost Voice?

Thanks again!

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Reply author: The Hooded One
Replied on: 03 Dec 2007 02:14:01
Message:

"I imagine Cormanthor looks and feels a little like the woods in the Virginia mountains."
YES!!! Ed described it to me exactly the same way. Great minds think EXACTLY alike.

love,
THO

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Reply author: Penknight
Replied on: 04 Dec 2007 01:02:10
Message:

Hello Mr. Baker. If someone wanted to play as a Justice Archon, what would the stat adjustments be, please? Thanks!!

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Reply author: Jamallo Kreen
Replied on: 08 Dec 2007 01:30:29
Message:

Well met!

I have a few questions about Condemnation. (POSSIBLE SPOILERS!)

First, did you get your inspiration for Halisstra's thoughts about Ched Nasad on page 2 from Biblical laments for fallen cities?

Second, should we think of Hallistra as a Cleric/Bard only, or is her arcane casting ability from some Drowish prestige class?

Third, did the writers of the Spider Queen series get to read the actual books preceding theirs, or only synopses? The writing style in the first three books is very different, one from another, and it is plain that one is reading a new author within the first couple of pages of each book, so it seems as though there was no direct contact with other writers's books. I've also noticed that there are a few differences which make be stylistic, but which might also be due to not having the complete text of the preceding book ready to hand. Since I just started Condemnation this week, fresh after reading Book II, I can call to mind two differences regarding Danifae: you usually call her a "maid-in-waiting" instead of a "battle captive," and in your book there seems to be a belief that since she's unarmed, she should stay that way (at least until page 85, or so), whereas she had been swinging a morning star during the fall of Ched Nasad. I had the opportunity to read that and go immediately to your book, so I was reading the events almost in real time, and the difference was plain to me because of it. Perhaps you would be kind enough to share your thoughts on indivual styles in multiple-authored series ... ?

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Reply author: Jamallo Kreen
Replied on: 13 Dec 2007 22:41:28
Message:

I add a fourth question, which someone else can probably answer: what was that amazing spell Pharaun cast to locate House Jalre? The description was terrific, but I didn't recognize it at all.

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Reply author: IngoDjan
Replied on: 13 Dec 2007 23:02:09
Message:

Already order my book. Gift set!
They are coming soon. I“m anxious to start read!

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Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 17 Dec 2007 04:26:59
Message:

It's the spell vision, dressed up a bit for storytelling reasons. And thank you!

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jamallo Kreen

I add a fourth question, which someone else can probably answer: what was that amazing spell Pharaun cast to locate House Jalre? The description was terrific, but I didn't recognize it at all.

---

---

Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 17 Dec 2007 04:33:01
Message:

Laments: No, not specifically. But I wouldn't be surprised if something was hanging around in the back of my mind and slipped out when I wasn't looking.

Second, I'd think of Halisstra as a cleric/bard. Close enough.

Third... in general we got to read first drafts, but not final drafts. Sometimes books changed a lot between first and final drafts, so some relatively minor errors crept in because of that -- for example, the question of whether Danifae should be armed or not was likely that sort of version error.

Now, here's my heretical thought on different author styles: I actually think it's a strength of War of the Spider Queen. Everybody writes best in his or her own "voice," and we're not really trying to pretend that we're all the same writer. Drastic differences in tone would be bad (changing it to comic fantasy, for example) but if the voice varies, well, that's a way to figure out which authors you like better than others.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jamallo Kreen

Well met!

I have a few questions about Condemnation. (POSSIBLE SPOILERS!)

First, did you get your inspiration for Halisstra's thoughts about Ched Nasad on page 2 from Biblical laments for fallen cities?

Second, should we think of Hallistra as a Cleric/Bard only, or is her arcane casting ability from some Drowish prestige class?

Third, did the writers of the Spider Queen series get to read the actual books preceding theirs, or only synopses? The writing style in the first three books is very different, one from another, and it is plain that one is reading a new author within the first couple of pages of each book, so it seems as though there was no direct contact with other writers's books. I've also noticed that there are a few differences which make be stylistic, but which might also be due to not having the complete text of the preceding book ready to hand. Since I just started Condemnation this week, fresh after reading Book II, I can call to mind two differences regarding Danifae: you usually call her a "maid-in-waiting" instead of a "battle captive," and in your book there seems to be a belief that since she's unarmed, she should stay that way (at least until page 85, or so), whereas she had been swinging a morning star during the fall of Ched Nasad. I had the opportunity to read that and go immediately to your book, so I was reading the events almost in real time, and the difference was plain to me because of it. Perhaps you would be kind enough to share your thoughts on indivual styles in multiple-authored series ... ?

---

---

Reply author: Jamallo Kreen
Replied on: 17 Dec 2007 18:36:12
Message:

Well, I'm enjoying it so far. During our last game session I read Lisa Smedman's description of Jeggred's daddy to my players since they were in the process of dealing with a very unhappy glabrezu who'd been shut up in an iron bottle for an inderminate length of time.

(Side note: the Company of the Red Spear is now hiring Assistant Quartermasters. The surviving successful candidate must have a minimum of curiosity. Apply at the Stone Tower, Golden Way, Thesk.)

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Reply author: Ozzalum
Replied on: 17 Dec 2007 21:55:15
Message:

Mr. Baker,

You noted elsewhere on the forums that you used the opening book of the Last Mythal Series to discuss some real world issues that were taking place at the time. How common is this in DnD novels? Another example I remember is Lisa Smedman's interesting discussion of abortion in her House of Serpents books.

Science fiction and fantasy literature is typically an excellent avenue to discuss these sorts of things since the author is free to take things to extremes. (Is abortion ok? What if the offspring is really a demon?) However, I expect most people think of DnD novels as diversionary fun reading so I am wondering how much you try to work in some of the deeper commentary or discussion.

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Reply author: Daviot
Replied on: 17 Dec 2007 23:37:19
Message:

And not to pester you too much, Mr. Baker, but do you have a non-NDA estimate as to when(/where/how) Elminster returns to Faerūn after the events of the Shadowdale campaign book?

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Reply author: Wooly Rupert
Replied on: 18 Dec 2007 23:44:22
Message:

Rich, the below part was quoted elsewhere, and I thought I'd ask about it.

quote:

---

I doubt it. I think that Mystra's death likely brings an end to most of the special abilities conferred by her on the Chosen.

---

I'm failing to understand the logic, here.

I don't recall Baneliches being negatively affected by Bane's death... Mystra's Chosen contain part of her essence, true, but it's an independent part. If they survived the Time of Troubles, I don't see that the death of another Mystra is going to seriously impact them.

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Reply author: The Red Walker
Replied on: 19 Dec 2007 00:25:27
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wooly Rupert

Rich, the below part was quoted elsewhere, and I thought I'd ask about it.

quote:

---

I doubt it. I think that Mystra's death likely brings an end to most of the special abilities conferred by her on the Chosen.

---

I'm failing to understand the logic, here.

I don't recall Baneliches being negatively affected by Bane's death... Mystra's Chosen contain part of her essence, true, but it's an independent part. If they survived the Time of Troubles, I don't see that the death of another Mystra is going to seriously impact them.

---

Thats how I had it figured out as well Wooly. I guess I will have to just cross my fingers.

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Reply author: imis999
Replied on: 19 Dec 2007 03:05:19
Message:

*as a joke*

Baneliches?? What's that?

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Reply author: Charles Phipps
Replied on: 29 Jan 2008 21:23:35
Message:

Hey Richard;

1. As the lead guy, can you tell us (retroactively) whether King Gareth of Damara fell from Paladin status for the events in The Sellswords by R.A. Salvatore?

2. Will we find out what happened to major (but probably now defunct) Tyr/Helm organizations like the Knights of Samular or characters who depended on them like The Open lord of Waterdeep?

Or is this past information, more or less low priority due to the "fresh start" of the Time Skip?

---

Reply author: Lady Fellshot
Replied on: 30 Jan 2008 06:56:07
Message:

Mayhap this question has been asked and answered already, but when was Saelethil Dlardregeth alive? Forsaken House says something about him studying the magic of Aryvaandar firsthand. I don't need anything specific, just a circa date.

Thank you in advance ^.^

---

Reply author: Charles Phipps
Replied on: 31 Jan 2008 11:28:40
Message:

Hey, Richard, do you think there's a place for Interloper deities at all in the Realms or would you rather replace them all with Realms specific gods?

(Oghma with Deneir or Finder, The Mulhorandi and Unther out, etc)

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Reply author: tauster
Replied on: 01 Feb 2008 10:07:19
Message:

Hi Rich,

I'm right now reading Ed Gentry's "Neversfall" novel (which is great, but for my taste lacks a bit of "realms-feeling", at least in the first 150 pages) and just finished Bruce R. Cordell's excellent "Darkvision" and "Stardeep". The same here: great novels, but they don't really feel "realmsian".

Of course it has to do with the fact that all three stories play in the margins or border areas of the realms, some of which are thitherto not really explored (I suspect that Veldorn is even explored in detail for the first time in "Neversfall"). What I really like is that with these border areas getting explored by writers different from the "old guard" like Ed Greenwood, Steven Schend or Elaine Cunningham (to name just a few), these areas are portrayed as having a different style, a different tone, or "feel" than the areas that usually get all the attention (waterdeep, silver marshes, heartlands).

What confuses me (yep, NOW I come to the point of my question! *grin*) is that I read a statement from you (but I don't remember where exactly) that the 4E realms will concentrate back on the "most realmsian" areas - and when I read the ads for future novels (the Citadel series, for example) as well as the three novels I mentioned above, many of them concentrate on areas that will probably NOT see much attention in terms of gamebooks and adventures.

Do I get something wrong here? I mean, I love that these novels explore the realm's margins and I love that these lands actually feel different from the Dales or Cormyr or the Moonsea, but why going two oppositional strategies with novels and gamebooks?

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Reply author: Pierre-Luc
Replied on: 01 Feb 2008 19:34:59
Message:

Mr. Baker, I'd like to know if there's a Realms-equivalent of the Shadowfell ? Thank you in advance.

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Reply author: Hawkins
Replied on: 01 Feb 2008 20:37:04
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Pierre-Luc

Mr. Baker, I'd like to know if there's a Realms-equivalent of the Shadowfell ? Thank you in advance.

---

In the WotC forums, Rich stated that the Realms will be adopting the Core cosmology, plus a few Realms-specific bits and pieces.

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Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 04 Feb 2008 19:58:04
Message:

Oooh, guess I haven't checked back here in a while... sorry for the long delay.

I think of the Chosen's special abilities in relation to the Weave as something that either a) Mystra specifically grants when needed; or b) Chosen use the Weave itself to accomplish. In either case, the death of Mystra and end of the Weave would keep the Chosen from employing silver fire or some of those spell-like abilities again. You might say they no longer have "administrator" privileges on the use of arcane magic in the world. They've got to learn how to wield arcane magic sans the Weave, just like anybody else (although some are brilliant archmages and probably figure out workarounds pretty fast).

Something like a banelich doesn't continuously draw on Bane's power (as far as I know); once made, it's the way it is.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wooly Rupert

Rich, the below part was quoted elsewhere, and I thought I'd ask about it.

quote:

---

I doubt it. I think that Mystra's death likely brings an end to most of the special abilities conferred by her on the Chosen.

---

I'm failing to understand the logic, here.

I don't recall Baneliches being negatively affected by Bane's death... Mystra's Chosen contain part of her essence, true, but it's an independent part. If they survived the Time of Troubles, I don't see that the death of another Mystra is going to seriously impact them.

---

---

Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 04 Feb 2008 20:02:53
Message:

I'm really not "the lead guy" these days, and haven't been for several years now... especially as concerns something going on in our novel line, especially in a Salvatore book. I presume that Bob knows what he's doing, so you'd have to ask him about that.

As far as the Knights go, I don't think their fate is specifically addressed in the new FR Campaign Guide. I don't remember seeing anything about it. So for the moment it's a bit like Schroedinger's Cat; until we "open the box" by actually publishing something about it, all possibilities are equally likely.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Charles Phipps

Hey Richard;

1. As the lead guy, can you tell us (retroactively) whether King Gareth of Damara fell from Paladin status for the events in The Sellswords by R.A. Salvatore?

2. Will we find out what happened to major (but probably now defunct) Tyr/Helm organizations like the Knights of Samular or characters who depended on them like The Open lord of Waterdeep?

Or is this past information, more or less low priority due to the "fresh start" of the Time Skip?

---

---

Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 04 Feb 2008 20:05:07
Message:

Hi, Lady Fellshot --

I might have exaggerated with the "firsthand" remark. I sure thought of Saelethil as going back to the time of Siluvanede, probably not much older than Sarya herself.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Lady Fellshot

Mayhap this question has been asked and answered already, but when was Saelethil Dlardregeth alive? Forsaken House says something about him studying the magic of Aryvaandar firsthand. I don't need anything specific, just a circa date.

Thank you in advance ^.^

---

---

Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 04 Feb 2008 20:10:36
Message:

I really don't have anything against interloper gods in general, although I can understand why the information we've released so far might make it look that way. Oghma doesn't bother me... nor does Tyr, really. Certainly Tiamat is an "interloper deity" too, but we wouldn't mess with the Queen of Evil Dragons. And, for that matter, Corellon, Lolth, Moradin, etc., are interlopers in that they're not original and unique to Realms, but instead imported from other D&D sources. Their interloper-ness isn't that important to the setting, and they fit in the Realms just fine.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Charles Phipps

Hey, Richard, do you think there's a place for Interloper deities at all in the Realms or would you rather replace them all with Realms specific gods?

(Oghma with Deneir or Finder, The Mulhorandi and Unther out, etc)

---

---

Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 04 Feb 2008 20:15:52
Message:

Yes. What we used to call the Plane of Shadow, we now call the Shadowfell. I expect that mages in the Realms would probably still refer to it by the old name, and most things that used to be there you'd still find there post-Spellplague, but for the sake of consistency with the core game we'll just call it the Shadowfell in the Realms too.

(As it so happens, the depiction of the plane of Shadow in my novel "The Shadow Stone" is a pretty good preview for how the Shadowfell looks and feels... a bit of convergent evolution, nothing that was really my specific doing.)

quote:

---

Originally posted by Pierre-Luc

Mr. Baker, I'd like to know if there's a Realms-equivalent of the Shadowfell ? Thank you in advance.

---

---

Reply author: Wooly Rupert
Replied on: 04 Feb 2008 20:43:12
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by RichardBaker

Oooh, guess I haven't checked back here in a while... sorry for the long delay.

I think of the Chosen's special abilities in relation to the Weave as something that either a) Mystra specifically grants when needed; or b) Chosen use the Weave itself to accomplish. In either case, the death of Mystra and end of the Weave would keep the Chosen from employing silver fire or some of those spell-like abilities again. You might say they no longer have "administrator" privileges on the use of arcane magic in the world. They've got to learn how to wield arcane magic sans the Weave, just like anybody else (although some are brilliant archmages and probably figure out workarounds pretty fast).

Something like a banelich doesn't continuously draw on Bane's power (as far as I know); once made, it's the way it is.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wooly Rupert

Rich, the below part was quoted elsewhere, and I thought I'd ask about it.

quote:

---

I doubt it. I think that Mystra's death likely brings an end to most of the special abilities conferred by her on the Chosen.

---

I'm failing to understand the logic, here.

I don't recall Baneliches being negatively affected by Bane's death... Mystra's Chosen contain part of her essence, true, but it's an independent part. If they survived the Time of Troubles, I don't see that the death of another Mystra is going to seriously impact them.

---

---

Yeah, but here's the thing: The Chosen don't just have better access to the Weave -- they carry some of Mystra's divine essence. That's the source of their abilities. It should be noted that this divine essence even lets them do things like destroy dead magic areas.

We know that the Chosen have survived the death of the previous Mystra. And from baneliches, we know that the death of a deity does not affect entities carrying some of that deity's essence.

So basically, in canon, there is no reason to assume that the death of Mystra will have all that dramatic an impact on her Chosen. Since that appears to not be the case, here, I'm confused.

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Reply author: crazedventurers
Replied on: 04 Feb 2008 21:26:41
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by RichardBaker
I think of the Chosen's special abilities in relation to the Weave as something that either a) Mystra specifically grants when needed; or b) Chosen use the Weave itself to accomplish.

---

This is not how I recall it Rich.

Mystra grants her Chosen abilites and power, once granted she cannot take them back. It is theirs, it is part of them. She can give them other powers if she wishes to later. They can also voluntarily give up some of that power back to her, they cannot be forced by anyone or any God to do so. So they don't have or need 'administrator privileges' they have the power already. Else why would fallen Chosen (like Sammaster) still be extremely powerful and need to God to actually harm him?

Re the weave: if Elminster is immune to poison what has the Weave got anything to do with that? He is simply immune, his immunity is not being drawn from the Weave.

Your explanations don't seem to fit with previous lore about this?

Just wondering

Damian

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Reply author: chance87
Replied on: 09 Feb 2008 17:55:45
Message:

Yes, I seem to recall that Mystra was unable to revoke Sammaster's abilities for the most part...I was thinking that he could no longer access the 'silver fire'. Think it's in Code of the Harpers, but it's buried :(

quote:

---

Originally posted by crazedventurers

This is not how I recall it Rich.

Mystra grants her Chosen abilites and power, once granted she cannot take them back. It is theirs, it is part of them. She can give them other powers if she wishes to later. They can also voluntarily give up some of that power back to her, they cannot be forced by anyone or any God to do so. So they don't have or need 'administrator privileges' they have the power already. Else why would fallen Chosen (like Sammaster) still be extremely powerful and need to God to actually harm him?

Re the weave: if Elminster is immune to poison what has the Weave got anything to do with that? He is simply immune, his immunity is not being drawn from the Weave.

Your explanations don't seem to fit with previous lore about this?

Just wondering

Damian

---

---

Reply author: Wooly Rupert
Replied on: 09 Feb 2008 18:12:26
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by chance87

Yes, I seem to recall that Mystra was unable to revoke Sammaster's abilities for the most part...I was thinking that he could no longer access the 'silver fire'. Think it's in Code of the Harpers, but it's buried :(

---

She couldn't take back the power herself without destroying it. She had to rely on Azuth to actually do it. Ed once spoke on this, in reply to a question of mine:

quote:

---

Ed’s reply does indeed “imply that once a being becomes a Chosen, Mystra can't reclaim from that person her own essence.” You point out that “that's exactly what is described as having happened to Sammaster: thru Azuth, Mystra's essence was removed from Sammaster.”
EXACTLY. Sammaster’s silver fire was taken through the actions of Azuth, another deity.
Mystra can forcibly wrest her divine essence (the silver fire) directly from a mortal, but in doing so loses it forever, weakening herself (it does not ‘find its way back to her’ in the normal way, but is GONE). So she won’t do it.
That doesn’t stop Azuth, working with her, from doing it (she’d probably fight any other deity trying it on a mortal located on Toril, and win by using the Weave against them).

---

So it's not the Weave, it's divine essence that the Chosen have. And once they have it, it's theirs -- it would take a deity to remove it, and they'd need Mystra's blessing to do so.

BTW, Chance, you can download Cult of the Dragon for free; it's one of the many freebies on the Wizards downloads page.

(I don't get to post that link so much, any more... )

---

Reply author: Charles Phipps
Replied on: 15 Feb 2008 17:10:17
Message:

Hey, Richard.

Will you be explaining what happened to the Triadic Knights?

My poor players and their long-lived player characters are curious how this group will go due to their membership.

Also, will there be any talk about how to "move player characters" up 100 years or will the default assumption be that everyone is expected to have made new characters?

---

Reply author: Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Replied on: 15 Feb 2008 23:32:25
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Charles Phipps


Also, will there be any talk about how to "move player characters" up 100 years or will the default assumption be that everyone is expected to have made new characters?

---

I'm not Rich, but Brian James said somewhere that the FRCG will contain ideas on how to move characters into the future for the 4E Realms campaign.

---

Reply author: GS
Replied on: 28 Feb 2008 18:18:33
Message:

Hello Richard,

I just saw that your upcoming book The Swordmage will be a hardcover version. Good for you! You are a great writer, and product designer, and you deserve being published in hardcover. Also, I'm withholding any negative judgment until I have the new FR campaign setting in my hands. That being said, the Prismatic Mountains mentioned in the new sneak peak on the Wizards web-page seems a bit over the top. I have no problems with you guys moving the the setting into high fantasy (or something), but I beg you to refrain to add something spectacular just for the sake of it (much like the monsters and prestige classes in 3E). Otherwise, keep up the good work and I am looking forward to the first book.

One question: Is the book still scheduled for a May release or has it been moved? If it has, do you know when it will be released instead?

---

Reply author: IngoDjan
Replied on: 29 Feb 2008 01:02:12
Message:

I“m already got my Last Mythal book and I“m reading right now!

---

Reply author: Brian R. James
Replied on: 29 Feb 2008 04:33:58
Message:

Reread Chapter 11 in the novel Shadowdale, GS. Nothing is ever added 'just for the sake of it'.

quote:

---

Originally posted by GS

That being said, the Prismatic Mountains mentioned in the new sneak peak on the Wizards web-page seems a bit over the top. I have no problems with you guys moving the the setting into high fantasy (or something), but I beg you to refrain to add something spectacular just for the sake of it

---

---

Reply author: Jamallo Kreen
Replied on: 29 Feb 2008 13:13:00
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wooly Rupert

quote:

---

Originally posted by RichardBaker

---

Yeah, but here's the thing: The Chosen don't just have better access to the Weave -- they carry some of Mystra's divine essence. That's the source of their abilities. It should be noted that this divine essence even lets them do things like destroy dead magic areas.

We know that the Chosen have survived the death of the previous Mystra. And from baneliches, we know that the death of a deity does not affect entities carrying some of that deity's essence.

So basically, in canon, there is no reason to assume that the death of Mystra will have all that dramatic an impact on her Chosen. Since that appears to not be the case, here, I'm confused.

---

Hasbro owns all of the canon, and it is aimed at us! Stop trying to think in terms of anything Ed Greenwood created. This new thing, slouching out of Bethlehem, bears no resemblance to Ed Greenwood's "Forgotten Realms," and Realmsian logic breaks down when trying to deal with it.

---

Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 04 Mar 2008 22:00:35
Message:

Thanks, GS! Yes, Swordmage is still coming out in May.

Regarding the Prismatic Mountains, I think Brian's already addressed the question. It's a logical explanation for an otherwise very odd and hitherto unexplained event in Time of Troubles. However, we edited the article to un-mention the mountains until we decide we're sure we want them. So the Prismatic Mountains currently exist in the Schroedinger's Cat state of uncertainty, both there and not there until we look again...

quote:

---

Originally posted by GS

Hello Richard,

I just saw that your upcoming book The Swordmage will be a hardcover version. Good for you! You are a great writer, and product designer, and you deserve being published in hardcover. Also, I'm withholding any negative judgment until I have the new FR campaign setting in my hands. That being said, the Prismatic Mountains mentioned in the new sneak peak on the Wizards web-page seems a bit over the top. I have no problems with you guys moving the the setting into high fantasy (or something), but I beg you to refrain to add something spectacular just for the sake of it (much like the monsters and prestige classes in 3E). Otherwise, keep up the good work and I am looking forward to the first book.

One question: Is the book still scheduled for a May release or has it been moved? If it has, do you know when it will be released instead?

---

---

Reply author: ShadezofDis
Replied on: 04 Mar 2008 23:39:44
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
So basically, in canon, there is no reason to assume that the death of Mystra will have all that dramatic an impact on her Chosen. Since that appears to not be the case, here, I'm confused.

---

Well, I can certainly see how Mystra's death would have great impact upon them. Perhaps not upon the divine essence (though I can certainly see how that could work) they carry, but upon them certainly.

Further, if the fate of the Chosen isn't set in stone yet it could just be that the divine essence acts as a sort of lightning rod for the Spellplague.

I'd also assume that some Chosen would have a bit of an easier time dealing with "Weaveless magic" since they're more familiar with raw magic (in spellfire form at least) than most other beings in FR.

---

Reply author: Wooly Rupert
Replied on: 05 Mar 2008 00:14:47
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by ShadezofDis

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
So basically, in canon, there is no reason to assume that the death of Mystra will have all that dramatic an impact on her Chosen. Since that appears to not be the case, here, I'm confused.

---

Well, I can certainly see how Mystra's death would have great impact upon them. Perhaps not upon the divine essence (though I can certainly see how that could work) they carry, but upon them certainly.

Further, if the fate of the Chosen isn't set in stone yet it could just be that the divine essence acts as a sort of lightning rod for the Spellplague.

I'd also assume that some Chosen would have a bit of an easier time dealing with "Weaveless magic" since they're more familiar with raw magic (in spellfire form at least) than most other beings in FR.

---

Well, yeah, I can see the impact of having lost their goddess -- but only on an emotional level. As I pointed out earlier, the Chosen survived the death of their deity once, with no ill effects, and we have evidence that in the Realms, divine essence carried by a mortal remains, no matter what happens to the source of that essence.

What I'm saying is, essentially, that there is no readily apparent reason that the Chosen shouldn't be around post-Sellplague.

And as for the lightning rod idea -- the same logic would apply to areas of very strong magic, like certain mythal-protected or heavily warded cities. And yet, it's already been stated that the Sellplague flowed around those areas. So even what's already been stated would imply that the Chosen would be left relatively untouched.

---

Reply author: ShadezofDis
Replied on: 05 Mar 2008 03:55:06
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Well, yeah, I can see the impact of having lost their goddess -- but only on an emotional level. As I pointed out earlier, the Chosen survived the death of their deity once, with no ill effects, and we have evidence that in the Realms, divine essence carried by a mortal remains, no matter what happens to the source of that essence.

---

Well, it's not like we've done double-blind studies or anything. I understand, and mostly agree, with what you are saying but I don't think we have a precedent of significant weight. For all we know this type of deific assassination could burn through all traces of Silver Fire in the Great Tree. (I don't find that likely, but it could easily be some type of corruption that poisons those with Silver Fire. Well, not easily, but about as easy as killing a Greater Goddess in her home.)

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wooly RupertWhat I'm saying is, essentially, that there is no readily apparent reason that the Chosen shouldn't be around post-Sellplague.

---

Well, I came up with the above off the top of my head. I mean, I don't see why Elminster would still be around but none of the others (at least a couple survivors) but I don't know much about the events surrounding Mystra's death. Nor of the events that happen immediately after.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wooly RupertAnd as for the lightning rod idea -- the same logic would apply to areas of very strong magic, like certain mythal-protected or heavily warded cities. And yet, it's already been stated that the Sellplague flowed around those areas. So even what's already been stated would imply that the Chosen would be left relatively untouched.

---

I think there's a difference between holding the Silver Fire and a Mythal. I'm 99% sure but I don't know if there's some lore that states "Mythals have something to do with Silver Fire" I mean, it strains credibility, but it doesn't break it. Just think of it as a Divine Beltans Burning Blood(I hope I got that right), it's just that some of the blood is outside her "body".

---

Reply author: Wooly Rupert
Replied on: 05 Mar 2008 05:22:13
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by ShadezofDis

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Well, yeah, I can see the impact of having lost their goddess -- but only on an emotional level. As I pointed out earlier, the Chosen survived the death of their deity once, with no ill effects, and we have evidence that in the Realms, divine essence carried by a mortal remains, no matter what happens to the source of that essence.

---

Well, it's not like we've done double-blind studies or anything. I understand, and mostly agree, with what you are saying but I don't think we have a precedent of significant weight. For all we know this type of deific assassination could burn through all traces of Silver Fire in the Great Tree. (I don't find that likely, but it could easily be some type of corruption that poisons those with Silver Fire. Well, not easily, but about as easy as killing a Greater Goddess in her home.)

---

I think the death of Bane, and the fact that the baneliches weren't effected, is a good precedent, even if the death of Mystra 1.0 during the ToT isn't.

quote:

---

Originally posted by ShadezofDis

I think there's a difference between holding the Silver Fire and a Mythal. I'm 99% sure but I don't know if there's some lore that states "Mythals have something to do with Silver Fire" I mean, it strains credibility, but it doesn't break it. Just think of it as a Divine Beltans Burning Blood(I hope I got that right), it's just that some of the blood is outside her "body".

---

Oh, I'll agree that there is a difference betwixt silver fire and mythals. But both are, in a sense, serious concentrations of magic -- which wards away the Sellplague.

Seriously, the warding away is what strains credibility for me. We have worlds merging, gods lost to the Astral, planes shifting around, and a whole mess of other changes due to the Sellplague. Most of this stuff is far beyond what any deity could do. And yet, strong concentrations of mortal magic ward away the Sellplague...

---

Reply author: ShadezofDis
Replied on: 05 Mar 2008 15:37:23
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I think the death of Bane, and the fact that the baneliches weren't effected, is a good precedent, even if the death of Mystra 1.0 during the ToT isn't.

---

Well, are you talking of Bane dying in the ToT? Because that's totally different from Mystra's assassination. Since Bane was killed by Torm while in psuedo-mortal form I can see more than enough differences to make the comparison shakey at best.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Oh, I'll agree that there is a difference betwixt silver fire and mythals. But both are, in a sense, serious concentrations of magic -- which wards away the Sellplague.

---

Well, mythals, as far as I understand, use the weave (which sorta makes me wonder how they survived the collapse of the weave...)

But I'll not really consider that at the moment since my Mythal knowledge is a bit sparse.

Anyhow, here's another idea on why the Chosen would be particularly messed up by Mystra's death.

Mystra is the Weave, the Weave is Mystra.
Thus, Mystra's essence is the Weave.
When Mystra died the Weave almost totally collapsed, it didn't totally collapse because of the Chosen (since they are, partially, the weave). However, this wasn't very helpful because the instant the Weave fell upon the Chosen they were mostly crushed by the Weave. Perhaps Azuth stepped in to rescue some of them (take Mystra's essence from them in order to save their lives) but he couldn't save them all.

It's shoddy, but that's just the result of thinking about this for a couple of days and going off memory.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wooly RupertSeriously, the warding away is what strains credibility for me. We have worlds merging, gods lost to the Astral, planes shifting around, and a whole mess of other changes due to the Sellplague. Most of this stuff is far beyond what any deity could do. And yet, strong concentrations of mortal magic ward away the Sellplague...

---

I understand, I mean, I'm ok with the Spellplague "dodging" strong concentrations of mortal magic but what I find pretty impossible to believe is that the concentrations would even be there. The Weave dropped and that would imply to me that enchantments sustained by the Weave would drop. Unless the "Chosen as pillars of the Weave" theory could be played with enough to be believable. But I'm not even sure I can monkey around with it enough to make sense.

Yes, I'm a monkey business expert.

---

Reply author: Kheris
Replied on: 06 Mar 2008 18:00:52
Message:

Well, unless I'm mistaken, Elminster is badly wounded (nearly killed) when Sharran agents break into his tower looking for an artifact during the Cormyr/Shadowdale/Anauroch adventure path. If memory serves, he was contingencied into a demiplane/pocket dimension/whathaveyou. This may be the sole reason he survives the Spellplague, as he may not be around for it (in fairness I've never fully read the books, so for all I know he's back by the end of the 3rd book, rendering this moot).

As far as Mythals are concerned, one explanation may be that the enchantments are so tightly and carefully crafted that the chaos of the Spellplague (the mutating effects mentioned in articles, and a certain novel, hint at this being akin to the Warhammer Fantasy "Winds of Chaos" with corrupting/mutating effects) simply can't disrupt them in any noticeable or meaningful way. We also lack any detail on the condition of the various Mythals, or Evermeet, for that matter. For all we know, the Mythal-warded areas may appear unharmed because the Mythals largely burned out by countering or dampening the effects of the Spellplague.

---

Reply author: Wooly Rupert
Replied on: 06 Mar 2008 18:45:12
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Kheris

Well, unless I'm mistaken, Elminster is badly wounded (nearly killed) when Sharran agents break into his tower looking for an artifact during the Cormyr/Shadowdale/Anauroch adventure path. If memory serves, he was contingencied into a demiplane/pocket dimension/whathaveyou. This may be the sole reason he survives the Spellplague, as he may not be around for it (in fairness I've never fully read the books, so for all I know he's back by the end of the 3rd book, rendering this moot).

As far as Mythals are concerned, one explanation may be that the enchantments are so tightly and carefully crafted that the chaos of the Spellplague (the mutating effects mentioned in articles, and a certain novel, hint at this being akin to the Warhammer Fantasy "Winds of Chaos" with corrupting/mutating effects) simply can't disrupt them in any noticeable or meaningful way. We also lack any detail on the condition of the various Mythals, or Evermeet, for that matter. For all we know, the Mythal-warded areas may appear unharmed because the Mythals largely burned out by countering or dampening the effects of the Spellplague.

---

It's flat-out stated that the Sellplague flowed around those areas. "Places guarded by powerful, persistent magical wards were largely unharmed; the Spellplague flowed around mythals and other such mighty enchantments." http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/drfe/20080111a

And either way, we still have a magical effect that does things the gods couldn't do, and yet it is affected by mortal magic.

---

Reply author: Kheris
Replied on: 06 Mar 2008 18:57:58
Message:

Hmm... Forgot about that line of text, I'm glad you pointed it out so I can alter the course of my brainstorming/theorizing.

New theory:

Must've been platypi. Only something with a pouch, duckbill, and venomous barbs could alter or abate the Spellplague.

PS: Mr. Baker, if you could drop a tiny hint we would appreciate it

---

Reply author: ShadezofDis
Replied on: 06 Mar 2008 20:05:24
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wooly RupertAnd either way, we still have a magical effect that does things the gods couldn't do, and yet it is affected by mortal magic.

---

Which, if it's (said mortal magic) dependent upon the weave, shouldn't actually be there, unless I'm missing something.

---

Reply author: krocha
Replied on: 20 Apr 2008 22:54:27
Message:

Hey Mr. Baker,

Any word on if the Fey'ri will make it into 4e and if so will they be PC playable (at least at some level, possibly like a Monster Manual PC playable race?)

Thanks...

---

Reply author: Dalor Darden
Replied on: 22 Apr 2008 05:54:44
Message:

Hey Rich,

Can you give us any additional information related to your "Tribes of Thar" article and the map included concerning:

Bone Tower

Rosestone Abbey

Wailing Tower

Thanks for your time!

---

Reply author: sfdragon
Replied on: 24 Apr 2008 04:30:29
Message:

did malkazid kick the bucker permanently when that place collapsed ?

---

Reply author: BARDOBARBAROS
Replied on: 07 May 2008 19:27:17
Message:

The release of Swordmage in Hardcover version is a very positive thing !!! I hope Wizards will continue publishing in Hardcover all the upcoming novels of R.baker!!

---

Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 08 May 2008 20:15:39
Message:

Sorry for the long delay, haven't been by in a while!

I expect there are still a few fey'ri skulking about in the world, but I don't think we've gotten to a monster description for them yet (and I know we haven't done a PC-playable version). So, not yet, but we haven't deliberately excised them from the setting. We just haven't talked about them yet.

quote:

---

Originally posted by krocha

Hey Mr. Baker,

Any word on if the Fey'ri will make it into 4e and if so will they be PC playable (at least at some level, possibly like a Monster Manual PC playable race?)

Thanks...

---

---

Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 08 May 2008 20:22:23
Message:

One of the things I did for my Blades of the Moonsea series is fill in a lot of pretty blank history for some of the northern shore cities--Thentia, Hulburg, and Sulasspryn. I also revisited some of the lore from the old 2e Moonsea product and decided to give it a little bit of a fresh take. For example, I came up with the idea that the lich Aesperus was not a defender of Hulburg entombed under the town, as previously reported, but was instead a would-be tyrant who forged his own little kingdom in the area back around 1050 DR or so. This kingdom was known as Thentur (capital Thentia). Aesperus held the area as an ever-nastier necromancer king until the clerics of Lathander organized a rebellion against his tyrannical rule and led the people of the kingdom in deposing him. Rosestone Abbey is an old Lathanderite temple dating back to those days, now home to a small order of Amaunatorian friars. The Wailing Tower was Aesperus's final fortress, a small castle in the foothills of the Galena Mountains northeast of Hulburg.

How's that? There's more to the story in my novel Swordmage!

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dalor Darden

Hey Rich,

Can you give us any additional information related to your "Tribes of Thar" article and the map included concerning:

Bone Tower

Rosestone Abbey

Wailing Tower

Thanks for your time!

---

---

Reply author: RichardBaker
Replied on: 08 May 2008 20:24:27
Message:

I don't think so, but I think he was very badly wounded and thrown into a dimensional vortex that he might not escape for centuries. In other words, I don't have any plans to write about him again, but if someone else wanted to, I wouldn't say no...

quote:

---

Originally posted by sfdragon

did malkazid kick the bucker permanently when that place collapsed ?

---

---

Reply author: Dalor Darden
Replied on: 09 May 2008 01:21:09
Message:

Excellent! Look forward to the book.

quote:

---

Originally posted by RichardBaker

One of the things I did for my Blades of the Moonsea series is fill in a lot of pretty blank history for some of the northern shore cities--Thentia, Hulburg, and Sulasspryn. I also revisited some of the lore from the old 2e Moonsea product and decided to give it a little bit of a fresh take. For example, I came up with the idea that the lich Aesperus was not a defender of Hulburg entombed under the town, as previously reported, but was instead a would-be tyrant who forged his own little kingdom in the area back around 1050 DR or so. This kingdom was known as Thentur (capital Thentia). Aesperus held the area as an ever-nastier necromancer king until the clerics of Lathander organized a rebellion against his tyrannical rule and led the people of the kingdom in deposing him. Rosestone Abbey is an old Lathanderite temple dating back to those days, now home to a small order of Amaunatorian friars. The Wailing Tower was Aesperus's final fortress, a small castle in the foothills of the Galena Mountains northeast of Hulburg.

How's that? There's more to the story in my novel Swordmage!

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dalor Darden

Hey Rich,

Can you give us any additional information related to your "Tribes of Thar" article and the map included concerning:

Bone Tower

Rosestone Abbey

Wailing Tower

Thanks for your time!

---

---

---

Reply author: Afetbinttuzani
Replied on: 10 May 2008 14:58:40
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
It's flat-out stated that the Sellplague flowed around those areas.

---

I think you may have serendipitously happened upon what truly ails Realms these days.
Afet

---

Reply author: Karzak
Replied on: 10 May 2008 15:32:04
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Afetbinttuzani

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
It's flat-out stated that the Sellplague flowed around those areas.

---

I think you may have serendipitously happened upon what truly ails Realms these days.
Afet

---

That? Wooly intentionally spells it that way, I'm pretty sure.

---

Reply author: Afetbinttuzani
Replied on: 10 May 2008 16:06:00
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Karzak

quote:

---

Originally posted by Afetbinttuzani

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
It's flat-out stated that the Sellplague flowed around those areas.

---

I think you may have serendipitously happened upon what truly ails Realms these days.
Afet

---

That? Wooly intentionally spells it that way, I'm pretty sure.

---

Perhaps your right, and he does sell it that way on purpose. But if he does spell the word sell that way intentionally, his spelling the word sell is inconsistent, so that it does not appear to be an intentional selling of the word spell.
Afet

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Reply author: Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Replied on: 10 May 2008 21:53:43
Message:

He does spell it that way on purpose. It's become something of an in-joke here.

---

Reply author: GS
Replied on: 22 May 2008 23:41:02
Message:

Ricardo, you fiend!

Great book, I enjoyed it 'muchly'. The annoying thing about reading these books is the wait for the next one. I am very curious as to how and where you are taking the characters/plot next. Swordmage is in many ways a "stand alone" book, which is also interesting. Very "whole", even if it does leave much to be explored.

Great Read

- GS

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Reply author: Fillow
Replied on: 10 Jun 2008 21:12:53
Message:

Hi Richard,

as a beginning, I'd like to thank you for Swordmage. I wont judge the novel by itself nor "suck up to anyone". I just want to tell you that this novel is the first FR novel I read in English (I'm French !) and I really love it.
Thanks a lot.
I was also afraid of the first post-Spellplague novel but I'm reassured !

But that's not the aim of my post (I'm just hoping you'll read it !)
So :
About the Changelands, I saw (in Swordmage) that it was parts of (returned?) Abeir which came out of the grounds of Toril to join the both "continents"... or something like that...
Did I understand in the good way ?

Thanks for reading Richard.

---

Reply author: dracon
Replied on: 16 Jul 2008 04:36:05
Message:

Just wanted to say that I picked up Swordmage yesterday, and after few chapters I can't put it down. It's really top notch. I love the characters and the setting. Very recently ran a campaign in Hulburg so I was delighted to see you flesh out the city. I'll certainly be looking forward to the rest of the 'Blades of the Moonsea' series.

---

Reply author: Trailstalker
Replied on: 19 Jul 2008 18:42:07
Message:

Rich

Just a quick line to let you know that I thought Swordmage was outstanding, and I'm really looking forward to more. It was also nice to see an old friend in the beginning, if only for a moment!

Keep up with the great work!

---

Reply author: althen artren
Replied on: 08 Aug 2008 17:14:29
Message:

Spells Stilled, Rich:

I am constructing an essay on Myth Drannor. I am making
a list of Powers exuded by the Tree of Souls in 1380DR, and would
an expert guess on the caster level of spell effects given off
by the Tree. I am guessing around 45.

Also, what is the construction material for the Starsoul Shrine?
Simple granite, marble, materials created through the one
High Magic Ritual, pertified wood?

Also, would Telshurr have the aryvandaar ritual that construct the blue crystal in their towers, or was that more of a Level 4-9 spell?

---

Reply author: Foxhelm
Replied on: 24 Sep 2008 01:27:02
Message:

This question was missed on the Wiz site, so I decided to post it.

Okay in the switch from 3 ed to 4 ed many gods were eliminated. Yet in 2 ed and 3 ed it was possible to resurrect dead gods, is this still possible for 4 ed?
Could I create a super-awesome-cool adventure were I bring back Helm or my favourite Finder (I can see why Finder might have not made it and how you didn't have the final draft when you answer my questions on him, but it stilled hurt to hear he's gone after you said he was an Exarch)?

(And would a donation to the Game Designers Retirement Fund help to make it cannon? Or would just a two story keg of beer be needed to do that?)

---

Reply author: Razz
Replied on: 22 Jan 2009 16:29:19
Message:

Ok, big question. Are the new elven deities in Dragon Magazine #251 official elven deities in the Realms? I assume their worship was strong during the time the elves ruled Faerun, but have increasingly been forgotten over time. Or is this one of those things (like the Double Diamond novels) that isn't seen as official FR canon?

Thanks.

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Reply author: Wooly Rupert
Replied on: 22 Jan 2009 18:16:04
Message:

It may be a good idea to take questions to Rich over to his WotC thread. He's not visited this site in a few months, and it's been even longer since he posted here.

---

Reply author: The Sage
Replied on: 22 Jan 2009 23:44:52
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wooly Rupert

It may be a good idea to take questions to Rich over to his WotC thread. He's not visited this site in a few months, and it's been even longer since he posted here.

---

Agreed. I actually forgot to state that in my reply to Razz earlier.

'Tis probably best, since Rich has said that he wouldn't be as focused on answering questions here anymore. Instead, preferring to focus just on answering questions about the Realms on the Wizards boards.

---

Reply author: Penknight
Replied on: 15 Feb 2009 00:24:50
Message:

I have a couple of questions about your short story in Realms of the Elves. The ice spell that Daried's friend casts at the enemy and the spell that allowed Daried to reflect an enemy's spell at another foe... what were they?

---

Reply author: Sebastrd
Replied on: 01 Mar 2009 19:50:01
Message:

I just have a quick question regarding Lorosfyr.

What do you imagine is the source of madness lurking at the bottom of that terrifying place?

I've been reading a lot of H. P. Lovecraft and Lords of Madness, and I ran across the reference in Underdark while reading up on aberration settlements.

---

Reply author: Wooly Rupert
Replied on: 11 Mar 2009 22:55:41
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sebastrd


What do you imagine is the source of madness lurking at the bottom of that terrifying place?

---

It's a never-ending concert of every boyband and novelty act that's ever existed, with that accursed Titanic tune played every three songs -- as it was when the movie was in theaters.

---

Reply author: Afetbinttuzani
Replied on: 17 Mar 2009 19:31:05
Message:

Hi, Richard.

I have a question about something mentioned in the 4E FRPG. In the "Deities of Toril" section, under the description of Selūne, it says that her followers:
"Seek out creatures who bear the curse of lycan-thropy, curing those who hope to end their affliction and destroying those who have suc-cumbed to the beast within" (p. 152).

This implies that lycanthropy is a curable affliction, whereas the 4E Monster Manual indicates that it is "hereditary" and cannot be contracted by infection. Do priestesses of Selūne have some extraordinary means of removing lycanthropy?

---

Reply author: Ashe Ravenheart
Replied on: 17 Mar 2009 19:35:38
Message:

Afetbinttuzani, you might want to post your question here

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Sage

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wooly Rupert

It may be a good idea to take questions to Rich over to his WotC thread. He's not visited this site in a few months, and it's been even longer since he posted here.

---

Agreed. I actually forgot to state that in my reply to Razz earlier.

'Tis probably best, since Rich has said that he wouldn't be as focused on answering questions here anymore. Instead, preferring to focus just on answering questions about the Realms on the Wizards boards.

---

---

Reply author: Afetbinttuzani
Replied on: 17 Mar 2009 19:45:42
Message:

Thanks, Ashe.

---

Reply author: IngoDjan
Replied on: 19 Mar 2009 21:00:57
Message:

Hello RB.

Well, I would like to thank you for your works. I've just read complete Last Mythal and I enjoy this much. Read this also help me in my game table, creating histories and giving my players more depth in elven character (There is 2 in my table).
This made me thoughtful of buy more novels. I'm planing to buy the books that tells Elminster history at amazon.com. The problem is that with the ship rate and the exchange Dolar/Real it's almost 5 times expenser for us in Brazil.
For last, I“m very sorry for my friends that can“t understand english. Here in Brazil, only Salvatore's Icewind Dale trilogy is translated, but many people like me could read more FR novels in english. And then, when rarely they do, they keep reading all Salvatore's or Greenwood novels, and just after more than 20 books they start reading other authors. For me was different, 'cause I love Avatar Trilogy and read this first.
My point is, I want made others autors of FR books, like you and Elaine, knowed here in Brazil. I want to start a association of FR books fans and I“m was wondering if you could send some message to brazilians, to persuade then to read your book. Maybe, with this, more people will buy your books, the market will grow up and maybe, the editors could translate some others books to the portuguese.

Thank“s a lot!

---

Reply author: The Sage
Replied on: 19 Mar 2009 23:06:20
Message:

Ingo, in the interests of Rich seeing your post, you might want to consider shifting it over to the Wizards boards. As you can see from my and Ashe's posts above, Mr Baker isn't as active here at Candlekeep as he used to be.

---

Reply author: IngoDjan
Replied on: 20 Mar 2009 00:09:18
Message:

Oh! Thanks!

---

Reply author: Fillow
Replied on: 09 Jun 2009 15:10:40
Message:

I just wondered if Rich had a homepage, a blog or a website.

---

Reply author: The Sage
Replied on: 09 Jun 2009 16:52:51
Message:

Well, he's got a Staff Blog over at WotC.

---

Reply author: Fillow
Replied on: 09 Jun 2009 17:42:34
Message:

So easy !
Thanks again Sage

---

Reply author: Purple Dragon Knight
Replied on: 22 Jun 2009 05:03:11
Message:

Is Mr. Baker still involved with the Realms or even at WotC? his last post was May 2008...

PS: which perhaps beg the question that questions should be asked on other author threads or even addressed internally... perhaps it's time for a "Question for the Sage" thread or somethin'...

---

Reply author: The Sage
Replied on: 22 Jun 2009 05:23:10
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Purple Dragon Knight

Is Mr. Baker still involved with the Realms or even at WotC? his last post was May 2008...

---

He still posts on the Wizards boards. But he hasn't been back to Candlekeep since August '08. And he made it clear just before that time that he was intent on just focusing on comments/questions made over at WotC. Thus, his current state of silence here at Candlekeep.

---

Reply author: Purple Dragon Knight
Replied on: 22 Jun 2009 20:02:11
Message:

Hmm... weird.

---

Reply author: Fillow
Replied on: 22 Jun 2009 21:29:06
Message:

Is there a specific reason for this ?

---

Reply author: althen artren
Replied on: 22 Jun 2009 21:49:01
Message:

Well, maybe he didn't like all the author bashing that happened here.
Most likely the higher are keeping a close leash on him.
Sometimes the anti-4ed discussion here get a little heated.

---

Reply author: sfdragon
Replied on: 22 Jun 2009 23:00:25
Message:

they get heated anywhere.

---

Reply author: The Sage
Replied on: 23 Jun 2009 01:28:29
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Fillow

Is there a specific reason for this ?

---

Mostly, it had to do with Rich being unable to keep up with questions made both here and at WotC. His work at Wizards was increasing at the time he made the decision to leave these halls, and he, rightly so, thought it best to dedicate himself just to one online venue for questions about the Realms and its development.

---

Reply author: Fillow
Replied on: 24 Jun 2009 05:13:47
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Sage

Mostly, it had to do with Rich being unable to keep up with questions made both here and at WotC. His work at Wizards was increasing at the time he made the decision to leave these halls, and he, rightly so, thought it best to dedicate himself just to one online venue for questions about the Realms and its development.

---

Allright.
So, we could go on asking him question here in CK and do as THO do about Ed's questions if one scribe of us does the "copy/paste" action from CK to Gleemax threads and reversely...

So, next question for Richard please !... Who has one ?

---

Reply author: The Sage
Replied on: 24 Jun 2009 05:51:30
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Fillow

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Sage

Mostly, it had to do with Rich being unable to keep up with questions made both here and at WotC. His work at Wizards was increasing at the time he made the decision to leave these halls, and he, rightly so, thought it best to dedicate himself just to one online venue for questions about the Realms and its development.

---

Allright.
So, we could go on asking him question here in CK and do as THO do about Ed's questions if one scribe of us does the "copy/paste" action from CK to Gleemax threads and reversely...

---

I suppose that's possible.

While it would really just be easier for scribes with questions for Rich to post them over at WotC, some members of Candlekeep don't have Wizards accounts. Thus, if they don't have Gleemax accounts, these scribes could post their queries here and ask any other scribes who, like myself, have Wizards accounts to relay their queries for them.

---

Reply author: ogonczyk
Replied on: 07 Mar 2010 00:28:41
Message:

I have a question to mister Baker. Does Sarya Dladrageth get involved in a sexual intercourse with the demon Malkizid in the Final Gate? thanks for the answer!

---

Reply author: The Sage
Replied on: 07 Mar 2010 00:40:38
Message:

ogonczyk, please note the following re: Rich Baker's participation here at Candlekeep:-

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Sage

quote:

---

Originally posted by Fillow

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Sage

Mostly, it had to do with Rich being unable to keep up with questions made both here and at WotC. His work at Wizards was increasing at the time he made the decision to leave these halls, and he, rightly so, thought it best to dedicate himself just to one online venue for questions about the Realms and its development.

---

Allright.
So, we could go on asking him question here in CK and do as THO do about Ed's questions if one scribe of us does the "copy/paste" action from CK to Gleemax threads and reversely...

---

I suppose that's possible.

While it would really just be easier for scribes with questions for Rich to post them over at WotC, some members of Candlekeep don't have Wizards accounts. Thus, if they don't have Gleemax accounts, these scribes could post their queries here and ask any other scribes who, like myself, have Wizards accounts to relay their queries for them.

---

---

Reply author: Dalor Darden
Replied on: 13 Aug 2010 07:01:46
Message:

Hiya!

I have a question concerning the Kur-Tharsu (Ogre Magi) of the lands of Thar.

In your article concerning Thar titled "The Tribes of Thar" you write that Kur-Tharsu means "Overlords of Thar"

Could you break down what the pieces of that mean? For instance, does Kur mean "Overlord" in Giantish, or King...or...?

I would greatly appreciate it!

---

Reply author: The Sage
Replied on: 13 Aug 2010 08:10:49
Message:

Dalor, please see my and Wooly's quoted post below.

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Sage

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wooly Rupert

It may be a good idea to take questions to Rich over to his WotC thread. He's not visited this site in a few months, and it's been even longer since he posted here.

---

Agreed. I actually forgot to state that in my reply to Razz earlier.

'Tis probably best, since Rich has said that he wouldn't be as focused on answering questions here any more. Instead, preferring to focus just on answering questions about the Realms on the Wizards boards.

---

---

Reply author: Dalor Darden
Replied on: 13 Aug 2010 10:35:43
Message:

A pity that.

I had hoped to get an answer here...I'll email him and post his answer here if he replies.

---

Reply author: Brimstone
Replied on: 13 Aug 2010 13:30:57
Message:

Rich hasn't answered a question on the Wizard forums in about six months...

---

Reply author: Rhewtani
Replied on: 21 Jan 2011 17:44:01
Message:

So, someday he might see this ...

Rich:

What decisions, adjustments, and/or retcons did you make to Aesperus to handle your use of him in Swordmage versus his write up in the old Moonsea supplement?

---

Reply author: Brimstone
Replied on: 22 Jan 2011 00:44:09
Message:

If you have a WotC account you might want to PM him. He will reply to his PM's. At least he has replied to mine.

There is also the WotC Bookclub...

---

Reply author: The Sage
Replied on: 22 Jan 2011 01:01:16
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Brimstone

If you have a WotC account you might want to PM him. He will reply to his PM's. At least he has replied to mine.

There is also the WotC Bookclub...

---

Indeed. His account here shows very little activity over the last lot of years. Better luck at Wizards, I think.

---

Reply author: The Red Walker
Replied on: 16 Feb 2011 01:40:09
Message:

A new Jack Ravenwild novel in the works? It looks like it according to his wotc blog.....
This would sure be a good time for Rich to pop in here and get some love!

---

Reply author: Aryalómė
Replied on: 18 Feb 2011 03:08:22
Message:

The Last Mythal trilogy is my favorite book series!! For one, it is about te Eladrin/Elves of FR. The other bg reason os that ot also deals wth the Ruar-Tel-Quessir!! My favorite race!!! So, my question fr Richard Baker is hat does he know of any OFFICIAL Star Elf cities i Sildeyuir?

---

Reply author: The Sage
Replied on: 18 Feb 2011 03:23:15
Message:

Tradwitch, please see my and Wooly's quoted post below:-

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Sage

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wooly Rupert

It may be a good idea to take questions to Rich over to his WotC thread. He's not visited this site in a few months, and it's been even longer since he posted here.

---

Agreed. I actually forgot to state that in my reply to Razz earlier.

'Tis probably best, since Rich has said that he wouldn't be as focused on answering questions here any more. Instead, preferring to focus just on answering questions about the Realms on the Wizards boards.

---

---

Reply author: skychrome
Replied on: 20 Feb 2011 14:10:52
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Red Walker

A new Jack Ravenwild novel in the works? It looks like it according to his wotc blog.....
This would sure be a good time for Rich to pop in here and get some love!

---

Red Walker, do you by chance have the link to that bit of information? I scrolled over his blog but didn't see that part and I am terribly interested in this!

---

Reply author: Elfinblade
Replied on: 20 Feb 2011 21:53:45
Message:

skychrome, this is taken from the novels section.

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Red Walker

Very cool, Rich's wotc blog ...check the jan 25th entry:

http://community.wizards.com/wotc_richbaker/blog/


This is very good news......if you put me into a corner, I would have to rank jack a top 5 FR novel character. If it happens......great move by wotc.(man have I wanted to be able to say something like that for a loooonnngnnggg time!)

---

Januar 25th entry, just a tiny mention of the possibility :)

---

Reply author: skychrome
Replied on: 20 Feb 2011 23:21:31
Message:

Thanks Elfinblade, found it! Absolutely aweseome, as he already wrote chapter 2, then this is more than a mere posibility!

---

Reply author: Dalor Darden
Replied on: 24 Feb 2011 02:04:49
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dalor Darden

Hiya!

I have a question concerning the Kur-Tharsu (Ogre Magi) of the lands of Thar.

In your article concerning Thar titled "The Tribes of Thar" you write that Kur-Tharsu means "Overlords of Thar"

Could you break down what the pieces of that mean? For instance, does Kur mean "Overlord" in Giantish, or King...or...?

I would greatly appreciate it!

---

To which Rich answered:

quote:

---

Regrettably we don't have any kind of lexicon of Giantish, so treat this as a very informal answer... I would say "Kur" means lord or master, and "Tharsu" naturally describes "things or people Tharish." Maybe the better translation is "masters of the Thars," meaning the tribes/peoples of Thar, as opposed to "masters of Thar" meaning the land.

For that matter, possibly kur is a plural, and the singular would be kar or kir.

So, all in all: Pick an answer you like, and have fun with it!

---

So there ya have it!

---

Reply author: Zireael
Replied on: 05 Mar 2011 13:07:14
Message:

Where should I head if I want to ask Rich a question over at Wizards forums?

---

Reply author: The Sage
Replied on: 05 Mar 2011 14:12:18
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Zireael

Where should I head if I want to ask Rich a question over at Wizards forums?

---

Last I heard, Rich's personal thread over on the Wizards boards had been closed -- partly because his work schedule just wasn't allowing him enough time to answer questions with any real degree of frequency.

I suppose you could just post a general question on the board, with a header address to Rich. Maybe that'll get his attention?

To be honest, I really don't know. It's been a long while since I've been regularly active over there, so Rich's answering technique may have changed again.

---

Reply author: Dalor Darden
Replied on: 05 Mar 2011 21:27:40
Message:

I sent him a personal message and he got back to me in just a couple of days.

That was the only time I'd PMd him there...I used to annoy the hell out of him about Birthright though; so he may just be used to me. LOL

---

Reply author: Matt James
Replied on: 14 Dec 2011 22:26:20
Message:

Rich was laid off by WotC today. Cheers to his 20+ years and may he have many more.

---

Reply author: Bakra
Replied on: 14 Dec 2011 22:34:22
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Matt James

Rich was laid off by WotC today. Cheers to his 20+ years and may he have many more.

---

I really don't like the month of December.

---

Reply author: Hawkins
Replied on: 14 Dec 2011 22:34:26
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Matt James

Rich was laid off by WotC today. Cheers to his 20+ years and may he have many more.

---

Sad news!

---

Reply author: skychrome
Replied on: 15 Dec 2011 00:38:03
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Matt James

Rich was laid off by WotC today. Cheers to his 20+ years and may he have many more.

---

Whatever may be the reason for that, it is not that we are not already used to such news lately from WotC.
I hope this does not affect his upcoming Prince of Ravens novel!
And man...isn“t this nice one week before Christmas...

---

Reply author: The Sage
Replied on: 15 Dec 2011 01:13:38
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Matt James

Rich was laid off by WotC today. Cheers to his 20+ years and may he have many more.

---

Though I may not have always agreed with some of his developmental choices regarding the Realms, I often found myself admiring his designer-traits and his ability to carry forth with new and alternate setting ideas.

He will be missed.

---

Reply author: Ashe Ravenheart
Replied on: 15 Dec 2011 04:32:08
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Sage

quote:

---

Originally posted by Matt James

Rich was laid off by WotC today. Cheers to his 20+ years and may he have many more.

---

Though I may not have always agreed with some of his developmental choices regarding the Realms, I often found myself admiring his designer-traits and his ability to carry forth with new and alternate setting ideas.

He will be missed.

---

Agreed, Sage. Even if things developed differently than I wanted, he is still a great designer and writer. Best of luck!

---

Reply author: Zireael
Replied on: 15 Dec 2011 12:27:33
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by skychrome

quote:

---

Originally posted by Matt James

Rich was laid off by WotC today. Cheers to his 20+ years and may he have many more.

---

Whatever may be the reason for that, it is not that we are not already used to such news lately from WotC.
I hope this does not affect his upcoming Prince of Ravens novel!
And man...isn“t this nice one week before Christmas...

---

Rich's farewell message quoted on EN World says he'll continue working on Prince of Ravens....

A sad day, indeed.

---

Reply author: Ayrik
Replied on: 15 Dec 2011 14:46:49
Message:

Rich was instrumental in bringing us a ton of stuff. Some of my faves:
(2E) Planescape Monstrous Compendium, The Will and the Way
(3E) Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting, Magic of Faerūn, Unapproachable East, Lords of Darkness
(3.5E) Lost Empires of Faerūn, Tome of Battle, Underdark*

* Well, okay, I confess I didn't really like this last one, not at all in fact, but popularity demands inclusion. 8/9 is still an excellent grade.

You are always welcome to visit Candlekeep, Sir Baker, as often as you like. Your contributions have vastly exceeded the usual entrance fees, though I hope you don't mind if we reassign your nice vacant apartment to some other worthy (and opportunistic) scribe.

Perhaps you'll join the Paizo team, win-win I say. Regardless, best luck in whatever ye choose to do.

---

Reply author: Dennis
Replied on: 15 Dec 2011 15:02:30
Message:

But he still gets to write more FR novels after Prince of Ravens, right? At the very least, I hope he could pen a trilogy detailing the new adventures of Aeron Morieth.

---

Reply author: Wooly Rupert
Replied on: 15 Dec 2011 19:16:21
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dennis


But he still gets to write more FR novels after Prince of Ravens, right? At the very least, I hope he could pen a trilogy detailing the new adventures of Aeron Morieth.

---

Being an employee for WotC/TSR has never been a requirement for novel writers. I don't think it likely that we'll see more of Aeron Morieth, though. He's not been one of the more popular characters, and absent some method of surviving the Sellplague and the timejump, he'll not be around in the 4E Realms. With FR, there has been a notable reluctance to have novels set in anything other than the here-and-now.

---

Reply author: althen artren
Replied on: 05 Jan 2012 19:17:15
Message:

So would Rich be willing to once again answer lore questions
from us as he no longer a employee of the MAN?

---

Reply author: Markustay
Replied on: 05 Jan 2012 23:13:58
Message:

Being an employee of TSR/WotC/Hasbro has never been a reason why someone would not participate here.

That was an odd thought.

On the other hand, it may have been suggested that 'in-house' guys don't hang around here, for legal reasons. For instance, if they came up with an idea that was very similar to one that was discussed here earlier, they could be accused of stealing the idea (although ideas can't be copyrighted - only actual written material, and it would only be a problem if 'lifted' verbatim).

For much the same reason that professional musicians can't really listen to, and offer opinions on, the un-published music of others.

But I think he just got tired of the Grognardize - it got pretty bad during the "Rich Baker must be stopped!" campaign. That was like blaming Einstein for the Atom Bomb.

---

Reply author: althen artren
Replied on: 05 Jan 2012 23:52:33
Message:

Yeah, I was under the impression that current employees
were encouraged not to be here. Just an impression I got.

---

Reply author: The Sage
Replied on: 06 Jan 2012 00:04:12
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by althen artren

Yeah, I was under the impression that current employees
were encouraged not to be here. Just an impression I got.

---

I'm curious as to how you came by that impression?

---

Reply author: Wooly Rupert
Replied on: 06 Jan 2012 04:21:44
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Markustay

Being an employee of TSR/WotC/Hasbro has never been a reason why someone would not participate here.

That was an odd thought.

On the other hand, it may have been suggested that 'in-house' guys don't hang around here, for legal reasons. For instance, if they came up with an idea that was very similar to one that was discussed here earlier, they could be accused of stealing the idea (although ideas can't be copyrighted - only actual written material, and it would only be a problem if 'lifted' verbatim).

For much the same reason that professional musicians can't really listen to, and offer opinions on, the un-published music of others.

But I think he just got tired of the Grognardize - it got pretty bad during the "Rich Baker must be stopped!" campaign. That was like blaming Einstein for the Atom Bomb.

---

Actually, I think it was mostly an issue of time -- he was doing the same thing on the WotC forums, as I understand it, and that was on top of his normal duties.

Somewhere on the WotC site, I once saw either a picture or a video interview of some WotC staffer who had a "Rich Baker must be stopped!" sign at his desk. I think if his co-workers were joking about it, it must not have been that big a deal to him.

---

Reply author: The Sage
Replied on: 06 Jan 2012 05:24:53
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wooly Rupert

Actually, I think it was mostly an issue of time -- he was doing the same thing on the WotC forums, as I understand it, and that was on top of his normal duties.

---

Rich Baker confirmed, around the time that he stopped posting here, that his increased workload with Wizards was eating away at the free time he would usually spend either here or on other non-Wizards' sites. That, and the fact that it was making it harder for him to keep track of discussions he could reply to in-between lengthy bouts of absenteeism.

So to simplify things, he opted just to concentrate on what was asked on the Wizards' boards. And encouraged his fans here to post over there -- when relevant -- and freely return here with his replies to queries passed over by scribes of both sites.

---

Reply author: Brimstone
Replied on: 06 Jan 2012 05:55:04
Message:

Here is his new blog

---

Reply author: althen artren
Replied on: 06 Jan 2012 21:41:58
Message:

well, it seemed that he even stopped answering questions
at the WoTC forums as well. A shame, there were still
things in his brain I wanted to pick over.

---

Reply author: Brian R. James
Replied on: 10 May 2012 02:59:53
Message:

Fans of Rich Baker may be interested to know that he was signed on to write for the Pathfinder Online project - http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1675907842/pathfinder-online-technology-demo

---

Reply author: Dalor Darden
Replied on: 10 May 2012 03:25:23
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Brian R. James

Fans of Rich Baker may be interested to know that he was signed on to write for the Pathfinder Online project - http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1675907842/pathfinder-online-technology-demo

---

I'm happy...I am glad to see he landed in a good spot!

---

Reply author: Matt James
Replied on: 06 Sep 2012 21:49:32
Message:

I'm going to ask Rich if he will come back to CK now that he has long been removed from WotC. If he does, I ask that no one dog-pile him! :)

---

Reply author: The Sage
Replied on: 07 Sep 2012 01:10:07
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Matt James

I'm going to ask Rich if he will come back to CK now that he has long been removed from WotC. If he does, I ask that no one dog-pile him! :)

---

I sent word to Rich a few months back, though I've yet to receive a response.

Maybe you'll have better luck?

---

Reply author: Markustay
Replied on: 07 Sep 2012 02:31:36
Message:

I'd love to see Rich Baker post here again. His decorum during the worst of the anti-4e backlash was commendable. It made me ashamed of the way some of us (at the WotC forums) were behaving. I count him a gentleman and a scholar.

He supported a back-and-forth open dialogue with the fans long before it became fashionable.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Matt James

I'm going to ask Rich if he will come back to CK now that he has long been removed from WotC. If he does, I ask that no one dog-pile him! :)

---

He's not my type.

But I'm open-minded, so whatever floats your boat.

---

Reply author: Dark Wizard
Replied on: 07 Sep 2012 03:32:41
Message:

He has a (relatively) new Realms book out. That's something to talk about.

---

Reply author: CorellonsDevout
Replied on: 07 Sep 2012 04:33:39
Message:

What is it? I believe the last thing I read of his was Blades of the Moonsea trilogy. I loved the Last Mythal books, and BotM.

---

Reply author: Brimstone
Replied on: 07 Sep 2012 06:31:15
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by CorellonsDevout

What is it? I believe the last thing I read of his was Blades of the Moonsea trilogy. I loved the Last Mythal books, and BotM.

---

Prince of Ravens

It's an ebook.

---

Reply author: CorellonsDevout
Replied on: 07 Sep 2012 06:34:42
Message:

Oh, wow, haha, my bad. I read that one, but I totally spaced that it was by him ^^; the writing style seemed different too, but not in a bad way.

---

Reply author: Eli the Tanner
Replied on: 02 Jun 2013 17:54:07
Message:

Any word on Rich's return to Candlekeep yet? I know a few of you sent him messages.

---

Reply author: The Sage
Replied on: 03 Jun 2013 02:41:00
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eli the Tanner

Any word on Rich's return to Candlekeep yet? I know a few of you sent him messages.

---

Nothing as of yet.

---

Reply author: Naeryndam
Replied on: 26 Aug 2014 23:05:35
Message:

I just received this response from Mr. Baker on his personal website, so I figured I'd share it with you all:

Hi Mr. Baker!

Is there any chance we'll get to see more of Araevin or Geran Hulmaster? They are probably my two favorite Forgotten Realms characters and I'd love to read more about them!


Reply
Richard Baker- August 25, 2014 at 5:30 PM

I have half an idea for a potential follow-up to Blades of the Moonsea. Geran ends the series in an interesting place, and I'd like to revisit the character sometime. But I have no immediate plans to knock out another Geran book (or Araevin book, for that matter) -- it's up to Wizards whether more books fit into their Realms plans. But thank you for the compliment! I'm pretty proud of both series.

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Reply author: Cards77
Replied on: 31 Oct 2014 01:03:57
Message:

quote:

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Originally posted by RichardBaker

It's spelled cwm or cwmb, and pronounced KOOM. It's a high, relatively level area. You might also think of it as a pass, vale, or cirque. I've hiked around Mount Rainier a fair amount since moving out to Washington a few years back, so I was thinking of places like Spray Park or Seattle Park or Burroughs Mountain when I was envisioning the battle at Evereska's western gate.

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Is this serious? These areas were already defined in "Return of the Archwizards" and the events in Evereska were they not?

I mean you're one of my favorite authors, hands down, and I thought the book was excellent, but this has to be one of the worst word choices ever. I'm not sure why you would choose a word that essentially know one knows what it means, and assumes it's a horrible typo error.

It really breaks up the book, it's distracting and takes away from the great writing. It was sad to see.

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Reply author: Jeremy Grenemyer
Replied on: 31 Oct 2014 02:11:20
Message:

I pointed this out on the Realms-L mailing list some years back. I was embarassed to learn it was a word and not a typo. I do not fault Rich for using it, but myself for not doing my homework before airing a complaint.

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Reply author: Wooly Rupert
Replied on: 31 Oct 2014 03:29:56
Message:

I had to look that word up, too, when I first saw it in the book.

It's not the first time I've disagreed with a particular word choice, in a Realms novel... It's obviously a valid word, but it's not one I'd ever seen, anywhere else, before or after. It is my opinion that a less obscure word should have been used.

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Reply author: Dalor Darden
Replied on: 31 Oct 2014 05:30:43
Message:

Having as many Welsh ancestors (Edwards and Price mostly) as Irish, the word was known to me. I don't think another word should have been used at all...expanding the knowledge of people is what authors are all about if you ask me.

Should we refer to tacos by a better word? How about we call them folded flatbread and meat?

English by its very nature and origins sprang from a multitude of languages...and Welsh was one of the very first to contribute to many "English" words. I think its fair to say that using the word Cwm was a good idea...anyone that looked it up is unlikely to forget what it means now eh?

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Reply author: xaeyruudh
Replied on: 31 Oct 2014 05:38:10
Message:

I kinda wish Realms novels used more obscure words, and more sophisticated characters/plots. It was too easy to stop reading Realms novels entirely for a while when one took a direction I didn't like, for the simple reason that they felt dumbed down. (That's not a criticism of anyone in particular, particularly not anyone who's currently writing for Wizards.) It's not necessary or desirable for every book to read like Shakespeare, but I learned a lot of new words and ideas back in the day from reading Gary's rulebooks and adventures. I like books that encourage us to learn something new. It's not a terrible thing to need a dictionary occasionally when reading, or for kids (and adults) to acquire new vocabulary from reading a fantasy novel.

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Reply author: Dalor Darden
Replied on: 31 Oct 2014 05:44:15
Message:

Here are a few other Welsh words that are used by English:

Dad (yep...if you wondered where that came from).

Coracle (nice little water rigs!)

Flannel (I wear it all the time!)

Penguin (means white head...one of the things toe heads are called where I'm from: "You little Penguin!" although I didn't understand until I was older and learned that the welsh is pen gwyn)

Dolmen (seen any nice stone tables lately?)

Paw (yes, every time you look at your kitty or puppy...thank the Welsh)

Bow (welsh I think is bwa)

Iron (many similar Gaelic words...Welsh being the closest and being "hearn" so I'm giving the Irish this one with "iarun")

That's all I can remember right now...

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Reply author: Wooly Rupert
Replied on: 31 Oct 2014 11:53:50
Message:

quote:

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Originally posted by xaeyruudh

I kinda wish Realms novels used more obscure words, and more sophisticated characters/plots. It was too easy to stop reading Realms novels entirely for a while when one took a direction I didn't like, for the simple reason that they felt dumbed down. (That's not a criticism of anyone in particular, particularly not anyone who's currently writing for Wizards.) It's not necessary or desirable for every book to read like Shakespeare, but I learned a lot of new words and ideas back in the day from reading Gary's rulebooks and adventures. I like books that encourage us to learn something new. It's not a terrible thing to need a dictionary occasionally when reading, or for kids (and adults) to acquire new vocabulary from reading a fantasy novel.

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It's not that I have problems learning words from books; indeed, I think my vocabulary is much stronger for my reading.

But I would debate whether or not learning "cwm" has done anything for my vocabulary. As I said, I had never seen that word before reading those books, and this is the first time I've seen it since. It's not a word that lends itself to conversation; I can't picture using it unless I'm discussing terrain features with a geologist or person of Welsh descent.

To me, it come across like a word that was used just for the sake of using it. I'm not saying that's what the author did, but I'm sure we've all known people that deliberately use words unfamiliar to others, to showcase their intelligence. That's what it felt like, to me.

Plus, for most of us, the word looks like a typo. One of the basic rules of the English language is that words have vowels -- and cwm does not. Seeing an unknown word and apparent typo pulls a reader out of the story -- it makes someone put down their book and reach for a dictionary.

And that's why I object to the use of the word -- it stands out so prominently that it breaks the flow of the story, and takes me out of what I am reading. In my opinion, words should keep a reader immersed in the story -- using words that kick them out should be avoided.

I had a similar objection to Richard Lee Byers's use of the word "translate" in the Rogue Dragon books. Yes, it does mean "teleport" and was thus used correctly. And I was already familiar with that usage of it... But for years, in just about everything I've read (Harry Potter being the only real exception), translocation was described as teleportation. So seeing another word used -- even though it was correct -- threw me off, especially when that word has another, more common meaning that is entirely different. The word, again, drew attention to itself and thus broke the flow of the story.

So that's my thing: use whatever words are appropriate, but don't use words that draw the reader's attention away from the story. Keep the narrative flowing.

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Reply author: Markustay
Replied on: 31 Oct 2014 13:26:01
Message:

This is funny, because I read something just yesterday by a designer I truly respect and admire, and was stymied that he used an odd word choice, when I could think of at least three simpler words that conveyed the same thing. What I think this may be is a case of 'over-writing' - not sure if I coined that just now, or if it is a known phenomena. I'm probably (very) guilty of it myself.

I almost think its something a writer does to show how clever he/she is - I have to wonder if they compare notes on how many words they make their readers look-up (and damn you, L. Ron Hubbard! Damn you to hell! )

quote:

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Originally posted by Naeryndam

I just received this response from Mr. Baker on his personal website, so I figured I'd share it with you all:

Hi Mr. Baker!

Is there any chance we'll get to see more of Araevin or Geran Hulmaster? They are probably my two favorite Forgotten Realms characters and I'd love to read more about them!


Reply
Richard Baker- August 25, 2014 at 5:30 PM

I have half an idea for a potential follow-up to Blades of the Moonsea. Geran ends the series in an interesting place, and I'd like to revisit the character sometime. But I have no immediate plans to knock out another Geran book (or Araevin book, for that matter) -- it's up to Wizards whether more books fit into their Realms plans. But thank you for the compliment! I'm pretty proud of both series.

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All I have to say about this is this: Rich Baker is the ONLY FR author to have written a 4th edition novel series that felt like it belong in The Realms... or, at least, MY (our?) Realms. You could take the Bladess of the Moonsea series and plunk it down in the 1e/2e/3e eras with almost no problems - the 4e changes were barely addressed and treated as an afterthought. Kudos for that.

The other authors - several I adore as FR designers - I think became too restricted by the changes. In some cases it was because the series itself had to address those changes (Ed's books), but in others, I almost felt like they were trying too hard... like we were having our noses rubbed in Spellplague (even when there was no reason to bring it up). Sadly, I feel the Sundering novels also went that way... "Hey, this is a great manuscript you handed me a few years back - can you put the word 'Sundering' in it somewhere, in at least three places, and we can pretend its about something else? Because then we're good to go!" Yup - that is EXACTLY how I picture those conversations going.

So, anyway, my point is that Rich wrote the only 4e novels I actually enjoyed. I didn't read them all, but mostly because I didn't want to, and that was because they tried too hard to be about a world I was not a fan of. I don't agree with a lot of his design decisions, but I think he is a terrific author, because he made me enjoy his stories, DESPITE when they were set.

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Reply author: Cards77
Replied on: 14 Nov 2014 02:39:52
Message:

Like I said Rich is one of THE BEST authors hands down. I can't think of another author who portrays elves as well as he does. His books just ooze great elfi-ness and really make me FEEL how elves are different, and special. I think that's a major achievement, as 'properly" portraying elves is to me at least, a task of great difficulty.

As for the "cwm", I'm fairly stymied myself that an editor worth her/his salt let that one go.

I would like to mention however that in my most recent issue of National Geographic, I was surprised to see that "the Western Cwm" is apparently a real place on Everest. I wonder if the author may have "borrowed" some of the features of Everest for the novel.

Of course I still think the word is quite a silly and confounding choice which serves to kill my immersion, and continues to do so into the 2nd book.

Otherwise fantastic trilogy.

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Reply author: xaeyruudh
Replied on: 14 Nov 2014 19:50:19
Message:

quote:

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Originally posted by Wooly Rupert

To me, it come across like a word that was used just for the sake of using it. I'm not saying that's what the author did, but I'm sure we've all known people that deliberately use words unfamiliar to others, to showcase their intelligence. That's what it felt like, to me.

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Sorry, I didn't see this until now. Good points all, and I completely agree. Realms authors should (be allowed to) step up their game, but not in the cherrypicking words to make banal sound fresh way.

I think it would be fascinating and frustrating to see exactly how much freedom authors are given in writing novels for WotC, and what points they're restricted on. I have a feeling it would be depressing for aspiring authors. They probably need a pretty thick skin before even going into the process.

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Reply author: Artemas Entreri
Replied on: 02 Apr 2015 03:25:20
Message:

So I just finished Avenger and am dying to know if there will be a follow up novel in the near future detailing Vaasa's plans 10 years down the road from where this book ends.

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Reply author: Duneth Despana
Replied on: 24 Jul 2015 12:16:57
Message:

do the simple diamond-shaped brooches of those who stood guard over Nar Kerymhoarth, the Nameless Dungeon, have any magical properties? Thanks in advance.

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Reply author: Cards77
Replied on: 14 Sep 2016 17:54:04
Message:

Who exactly is or what is The Pale Sybil? Will anything else ever be written about her? She seems like an incredibly interesting character that likely has a long and equally interesting history. Can you tell us anything more about her? Has anyone ever statted her out for 3/3.5? Thanks.

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Reply author: Deepening Moon
Replied on: 18 Jun 2017 12:04:20
Message:

Hello Mr. Baker,
first I want to thank you for writing the Last Mythal Trilogy. One of the best Forgotten Realms Book / Trilogy that I’ve read... The story of the Trilogy inspired me to design an adventure for my group. So I would like to know more about the weapons and armor of the Fey’ri.
In your books you state, that the arms and armors are of fine quality and elven workmanship, and from the Vyshaan armories in the Nameless Dungeon. Also the daemonfey are described as “dressed in armor of scarlet and gold”. Can you tell me more about these types of ancient armor? Are there mostly chainshirts, chainmails, plate mails or some other kind similar maybe to the hoplite armor (the armor of the classic Greek warrior described in the 2nd Edition Book Combat & Tactics)? What do you think?
What Materials were used by the Vyshaan armorers: mithral, elven steel, bronze? In his book “The Summoning” Troy Denning gives the following description of an Aryvandaaran tomb: "Their bejeweled weapons and gold-trimmed armor were lying untouched beneath a thick layer of dust. By their amber skin and ornate bronze armor, Galaeron knew these to be Aryvandaaran nobles, high lords of the aggressive Vyshaan clan." Are the armors from the Nameless Dungeon quite the same material?
Do some of the armors have the qualities of Elven Chain? Or what other magical qualities do they have? Is there maybe a family crest on some of the armors or weapons and how does it look?
I would like to know more about this!
Thank you very much!

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Reply author: Cards77
Replied on: 01 Nov 2018 20:18:13
Message:

Hi Rich, can you tell us what exactly was the fate of the Company of the Riven Orb?

We have been enjoying Prison of the Firebringer immensely!

Thank you so much for all your hard work. It's been a joy sharing your different works with my family both in and out of game.

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