| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Plaguescarred |
Posted - 06 Aug 2013 : 21:57:15
The video from The Sundering Authors/Story Summit was released today http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eE58PnuF1nU |
| 30 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| BlackAce |
Posted - 11 Aug 2013 : 02:44:14
TBH, I doubt 5th/Next will do much to bring me back into the Realms full time. The killer issues with 4th for me were always that it was the biggest and worst RSE of them all, happening at a time when I had grown utterly sick of RSEs. Then the time jump, which disenfranchised my home campaign from current lore. Essentially, what was happening '100 years hence' had zero utility to my campaign.
Unfortunately, no matter how shiny the wrapping is, The Sundering is still basically an RSE 100 years hence. It can't really fix what was broken. :/ |
| Therise |
Posted - 10 Aug 2013 : 15:38:47
quote:
Originally posted by Lord Bane
Jokes aside, gnomes can be fun, especially when they follow Gond and come up with all sorts of weird inventions 
Hand cannons and flying attack drones. The latter disguised as harmless forest creatures, no doubt.
Don't underestimate them! I have no doubt that Lantan is hidden behind a defensive forcefield / cloaking canopy, and the little mad scientists are twirling their long, waxed mustachios even now.
|
| Lord Bane |
Posted - 10 Aug 2013 : 11:46:28
Jokes aside, gnomes can be fun, especially when they follow Gond and come up with all sorts of weird inventions |
| The Arcanamach |
Posted - 09 Aug 2013 : 23:13:08
OMG Markustay and Therise...all this speculation is driving me CRAZY! I need answers from WotC NOW!
Both of your theories have a great deal of merit and they make SENSE. My main worry (as I've stated many times now) is that the upcoming events wont have a SENSIBLE rationale. Your theories give them just that. |
| silverwolfer |
Posted - 09 Aug 2013 : 21:11:16
god if bane says gnomes are evil, they must be vile archtypes |
| BEAST |
Posted - 09 Aug 2013 : 20:46:02
quote:
Originally posted by Lord Bane
But... but.. but... gnomes are evil! Are you not aware of their vile scheme to take over the multiverse while they pretend to be all harmless?
And try to sell you travel packages? 
http://www.neotravel.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/travelocity-gnome.jpg |
| Lord Bane |
Posted - 09 Aug 2013 : 20:39:34
But... but.. but... gnomes are evil! Are you not aware of their vile scheme to take over the multiverse while they pretend to be all harmless? Never trust a gnome! |
| silverwolfer |
Posted - 09 Aug 2013 : 20:07:20
<-< am really tired of elves and humans, I want dwarves and gnomes to save the day. |
| Mournblade |
Posted - 09 Aug 2013 : 18:32:55
quote:
Originally posted by Therise
Markus, I think you're on the right track, but...
It really depends on perspective and the "thing" that's being sundered. What exactly was it that was sundered the first time around?
From the perspective of mortals, with their limited vision and insight, they typically see the Sundering as the sundering of the world - the sundering of the massive single continent, originally. In the current case, the sundering (driving apart) of the two worlds. But was the world sundered? Or was something else sundered and everything we've seen just been after-effects?
The original break-apart of the giant continent, the much later arrival of a chunk of Arvandor, the much, much later Spellplague and the moving around of various planes, all of those are - I think - after-effects of the thing that was actually sundered.
According to the newly revealed history, AO created Abeir and set it apart from Toril because of the conflict between the gods (Estelar) and the Titans (primordials). In order for things not to cross over and the war to keep continuing, AO probably created some kind of barrier or energy field that kept Abeir phased or apart... something on that order.
That barrier, IMO, is THE thing that was Sundered. Everything else has been an after-effect as the worlds moved "closer" together. But it isn't just Abeir that was moving closer, it was also the feywild (or whatever you want to call it) and the shadowfel. Multiple "realities" AND Abeir have been on a collision course with Toril ever since the original sundering of that barrier... whatever it was. This would also, I think, explain why Fareun/Toril has had so many portals and "thin gateways" where people can accidentally traverse great distances or even walk between worlds.
The Weave may not have been just about controlling magic, but also may have been a "patch" to keep a lot of seriously insane reality-thinning effects from happening all the time. Regular crossovers to the Far Realms would've been really bad, as would a lot of regular crossovers with the lower planes. So the Weave is both a method of encouraging use of magic, but it's also been a "patch" to keep serious bad things from crossing over into Toril.
In order for the Elves to pull a chunk of Arvandor into Toril, they had to sunder that barrier separating all the different realities that touched Toril. And we're told that Corellon and Angharradh "helped" in some way... perhaps to push that chunk of Arvandor through the shattered barrier, or perhaps to mop up the damage after the first epic casting.
But mortals... we hear "sundering" and we think about what we can see: Toril. We think the sundering was about the sundering of our world's giant continent.
If AO hadn't created Abeir, a "barrier" would not have been necessary. If the barrier had not been shattered, perhaps the Weave itself would not have been necessary as a "patch". And since AO is not re-creating the barrier this time but moving the realities (and worlds) apart, the Weave will still be needed. This time, AO is doing something different, additional perhaps, instead of restoring the barrier.
Just a theory, of course. 
I like the theory!
|
| Therise |
Posted - 09 Aug 2013 : 15:41:46
Markus, I think you're on the right track, but...
It really depends on perspective and the "thing" that's being sundered. What exactly was it that was sundered the first time around?
From the perspective of mortals, with their limited vision and insight, they typically see the Sundering as the sundering of the world - the sundering of the massive single continent, originally. In the current case, the sundering (driving apart) of the two worlds. But was the world sundered? Or was something else sundered and everything we've seen just been after-effects?
The original break-apart of the giant continent, the much later arrival of a chunk of Arvandor, the much, much later Spellplague and the moving around of various planes, all of those are - I think - after-effects of the thing that was actually sundered.
According to the newly revealed history, AO created Abeir and set it apart from Toril because of the conflict between the gods (Estelar) and the Titans (primordials). In order for things not to cross over and the war to keep continuing, AO probably created some kind of barrier or energy field that kept Abeir phased or apart... something on that order.
That barrier, IMO, is THE thing that was Sundered. Everything else has been an after-effect as the worlds moved "closer" together. But it isn't just Abeir that was moving closer, it was also the feywild (or whatever you want to call it) and the shadowfel. Multiple "realities" AND Abeir have been on a collision course with Toril ever since the original sundering of that barrier... whatever it was. This would also, I think, explain why Fareun/Toril has had so many portals and "thin gateways" where people can accidentally traverse great distances or even walk between worlds.
The Weave may not have been just about controlling magic, but also may have been a "patch" to keep a lot of seriously insane reality-thinning effects from happening all the time. Regular crossovers to the Far Realms would've been really bad, as would a lot of regular crossovers with the lower planes. So the Weave is both a method of encouraging use of magic, but it's also been a "patch" to keep serious bad things from crossing over into Toril.
In order for the Elves to pull a chunk of Arvandor into Toril, they had to sunder that barrier separating all the different realities that touched Toril. And we're told that Corellon and Angharradh "helped" in some way... perhaps to push that chunk of Arvandor through the shattered barrier, or perhaps to mop up the damage after the first epic casting.
But mortals... we hear "sundering" and we think about what we can see: Toril. We think the sundering was about the sundering of our world's giant continent.
If AO hadn't created Abeir, a "barrier" would not have been necessary. If the barrier had not been shattered, perhaps the Weave itself would not have been necessary as a "patch". And since AO is not re-creating the barrier this time but moving the realities (and worlds) apart, the Weave will still be needed. This time, AO is doing something different, additional perhaps, instead of restoring the barrier.
Just a theory, of course.
|
| Markustay |
Posted - 09 Aug 2013 : 13:08:22
Not related to the OP directly...
Something occurred to me on the way to work yesterday; -339 DR is referred to as The Year of Sundered Webs. 
Not shattered, not eradicated... nope... SUNDERED. That usually means something was 'split in two'. I've seen hints in other lore that that is when Shar 'stole' back her missing half of magical power (which created Mystryl), but somehow I managed to miss the biggest clue, hiding in plain sight.
So I was thinking about this, and also the Spellplague (which was a ToT on steroids) - all of these seem like 'Sundering events': Points in time when the initial 'Sunderization' became unstable, and physical matter and energy got swapped between worlds.
We also know the Elves tapped into the initial sundering when they cast their high magic ritual, thus creating Evermeet retroactively. That means the world that should have been got altered by the Elves - everything that had happened up until the point they cast that ritual got 'rewritten'.
Perhaps the Sundering will restore Toril to its 'un-elfified' version - the one Ao meant to happen. All the badness seems linked to the Elves.
It would be one helluva way to provide an in-story reset (a'la Star Trek, but unlike that movie, tied to past lore). And, of course, this 'might have been' Toril would be much closer to Ed's original version.
What does this have to do with Mystra and the Weave? Everything - Elves have very deep connections to magic. When the Weave was created, it was supposed to keep the two worlds apart, but the Elves weakened it when they tapped into it... everything that has happened is their fault.
Just more of my theorizing... YMV. |
| Dark Wizard |
Posted - 07 Aug 2013 : 19:04:22
And at Penny Arcade Report: http://penny-arcade.com/report/article/wizards-of-the-coast-is-about-to-start-a-massive-global-game-of-dd-to-resha |
| Bladewind |
Posted - 07 Aug 2013 : 17:07:33
[Ahem... I meant to post in the murder for Baldurs Gate thread, but I had to many windows open, can I move it somehow or are Mods needed for that?]
I'm a big fan of Baldurs Gate. But I have always shyied away from having it as a starting location for campaigns because of the lack of lore. Most of it was NDA or from the CRPG so it had a nebulous canon status. I like how they finally will provide a high production quality product detailing my favorite city in the realms!
As for Adon. I agree with Therise and I never liked the idea of a novelization of a CRPG, I prefer open plot hooks to be dealt with vagueliy, like the way the grand history did mention the events but left the actors unnamed.
Bhaal is a good deity to let return because his CRPG fanbase: a strategic move from a marketing perspective. It might be fun to explore the darker sides of his clergy, as the TSR days of 'conduct' are over. I hope there is less focus on actual gods, and more time is devoted to the action of clergies. And oh boy, Bhaalites can be a conflicting and interesting bunch. |
| Bakra |
Posted - 07 Aug 2013 : 14:13:40
quote:
Originally posted by Plaguescarred
There is also lots of interviews and announcements on the web released yesterday
CNBC http://www.cnbc.com/id/100942206
IGN http://ca.ign.com/articles/2013/08/06/dungeons-dragons-arena-of-war-revealed
IGN http://talkgeek.net/community/threads/massive-year-long-dungeons-dragons-event-detailed.27485/
Forbes http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2013/08/06/wizards-of-the-coast-launches-the-sundering/
And this one from ICv2: http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/26417.html |
| Plaguescarred |
Posted - 07 Aug 2013 : 12:33:42
There is also lots of interviews and announcements on the web released yesterday
CNBC http://www.cnbc.com/id/100942206
IGN http://ca.ign.com/articles/2013/08/06/dungeons-dragons-arena-of-war-revealed
IGN http://talkgeek.net/community/threads/massive-year-long-dungeons-dragons-event-detailed.27485/
Forbes http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2013/08/06/wizards-of-the-coast-launches-the-sundering/ |
| Plaguescarred |
Posted - 07 Aug 2013 : 12:29:06
Realms Shaking Event |
| Lord Bane |
Posted - 07 Aug 2013 : 12:25:41
Realm(s) Shaking Event |
| ElfBane |
Posted - 07 Aug 2013 : 12:20:26
quote:
Originally posted by Hawkins
Even though this is an RSE,
What does RSE mean? Thanx! |
| ksu_bond |
Posted - 07 Aug 2013 : 05:48:58
This is the only relevant link I could find, so I'm not sure if this was what you were meaning...
http://www.amazon.com/The-Companions-Sundering-Book/dp/0786963719/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375850870&sr=8-1&keywords=the+companions |
| silverwolfer |
Posted - 07 Aug 2013 : 05:22:51
*share a link to the amazon...I can't find it...* |
| Kris the Grey |
Posted - 07 Aug 2013 : 05:06:39
I just cracked into my Amazon delivered copy of 'The Companions' (book one in the series) and I have to say, I'm liking what I've read so far. RAS's love for these particular characters really shines through. It has a very 'glory days of 2E joy' feel to it.
Color me optimistic on the Sundering so far... |
| SirUrza |
Posted - 07 Aug 2013 : 04:53:08
quote:
Originally posted by silverwolfer
Hasbro I think gave Wiz a set of money and said " If this does not work consider yourself put on notice "
Let's face it, the reaction was positive, pre or post 4e Realms release. They turned a lot of people away from it, when I guess what they were trying to do was make the haters like it. When they looked toward Eberron, the Eberron fan base pretty much said "Don't you dare!" to them and they listened. We won't even talk about Dragonlance.
I can't blame them for trying to bring back the feel of the old Realms, but there's only so much they can "fix" with a RSE. With a few exceptions, the old Realms is gone because of the timeline jump. |
| silverwolfer |
Posted - 07 Aug 2013 : 04:20:14
Hasbro I think gave Wiz a set of money and said " If this does not work consider yourself put on notice "
|
| Dark Wizard |
Posted - 07 Aug 2013 : 03:08:49
The enthusiasm of the authors going into this is good. Relying on an even bigger RSE to change things once again is dubious, it sounds complex and convoluted, but that's probably why they need six novels. I'm willing to give the RSE to end all RSEs (another) shot. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 07 Aug 2013 : 02:45:51
quote:
Originally posted by Hawkins
Even though this is an RSE, I am looking forward to it because it is the writers who are making the decisions this time, and not the vision of (what I perceived to be) only one man. Plus, the focus seems to be healing the rifts caused by the Spellplague, rather than "shaking it up and making it different" to try and lure in new readers.
I think there's still an element of "shaking it up and making it different" -- at least, that's what I got from the "Sundering" trailer. But it was worded in a way that made me think that it would be respectful to most of what came before... including the changes wrought by the Spellplague.
My only real hope at present, given what little we know of the Sundering event, is that the new elements introduced in 4e, won't be hastily withdrawn without some kind of grounding in the lore. That would just make it seem like the whole Spellplague never actually happened.
Instead, I'd prefer the Sundering to take what we know of the Spellplague event, and shape it into something that works with the 5e Realms firmament in the, I guess, post-Sundering setting. |
| SirUrza |
Posted - 07 Aug 2013 : 02:34:56
Yeah... I love that the 2nd edition map is the one taped to the wall at the meeting. :) |
| silverwolfer |
Posted - 07 Aug 2013 : 01:21:41
We ducktaped the rift, should help keep all those pesty plot holes from happening. |
| Hawkins |
Posted - 07 Aug 2013 : 01:12:59
Even though this is an RSE, I am looking forward to it because it is the writers who are making the decisions this time, and not the vision of (what I perceived to be) only one man. Plus, the focus seems to be healing the rifts caused by the Spellplague, rather than "shaking it up and making it different" to try and lure in new readers. |
| Rils |
Posted - 06 Aug 2013 : 23:26:49
I foresee a popular soundbite being:
Bob Salvatore: "My goal for this year is to grab readers by the collar and say... 'It's not what you think.'" |
| Lord Bane |
Posted - 06 Aug 2013 : 22:06:40
They basicly talk about the process of creating the Sundering, how exited they are about it and roughly what people can expect: change. |
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