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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
 Posted - 26 Mar 2008 : 00:49:19
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I compiled this about two weeks ago and posted it over at WotC, but I figure I should post it here as well. It is a reference to every 100% fact we have been told about the new Realms, and I tried to keep conjecture to a bare minimum. Mind you, the following DOES contain spoilers to some novels, so be forewarned!
Also, this is NOT a discussion thread, so please keep comments to a minimum. If you need to ask where a certain piece of information is from, that is fine, but please DON'T SHOOT THE MESSENGER! 
Disclaimer: This information is based on the last known condition of each entry, and could change as of 1479 DR: 4th Edition.
Regions
Faerûn Proper:
Aglarond - Something happens to the Simbul (missing), Portal to Feywild in the Yuirwood, otherwise unknown
Akanûl - New nation of Genasi in Chondath, Airspur is capital
Altumbel - Unknown
Amn - Almost no changes, except for loss of Maztican colonies
Anauroch - Shade Empire asserts more control, desert begins to recede
Baldur's Gate - City has grown exponentially, a major interacial metropolis
Border Kingdoms - Unknown
Calimshan - Unknown
Chessenta - Western portion same as Chondath, replaced with Abeiran land of Shyr, a kingdom of Genasi
Chondath - Becomes the 'Changing Lands', with Earthmotes and morphing terrain. Chondath's free-floating earthmotes have been claimed by Air gensai and call their nation Akanûl. The capital is called Airspur. According to the LFR writing director they are having trouble along the border with Tymanther.
.. Chondalwood - a confusion of ravines and floating junglemotes, some sailing free, others webbed to lower jungle regions by thick vines and vegetation.
Chult - broken off from continent, most likely an island chain
Cormanthor - Kingdom of Elves
Cormyr - grows into an empire, and extends control east and south
.. Helmlands - Still Wild Magic, but it has grown and is filled with "towering Redwoods"*
.. Farsea Swamp - Swamps have become one, and are filled with Batrachi ruins
.. Hullack Forest - Claimed by the Eldreth Veluuthra (?!)
.. Realm of Wailing Fog - A mist-shrouded region between the Thunderpeaks and Hullack Forest
.. Thunderpeaks - It appears Mountains of Glass now connect the northern part of the range with the southern
Dalelands - Still exist, but somehow seperate within the confines of Cormanthor
Damara - Unknown (possible tie to Bahamut)
Dambrath - Unknown; disruption of the Underdark Drow
Dragon Coast - Unknown
Elturgard - A new political entity to the west of Cormyr
Erlkazar - Unknown, attacked by 'flying fortress' sometime between 3e-4e
Evermeet - Unknown, but something is definately happening here (NDAs mentioned)
Great Dale - Unknown
Great Rift - Still there, but has suffered somewhat
Halruaa - Gone, massive magical backlash destroys the region, but some survive and become mercenaries
Hartsvale - Unknown, but changes in giants means changes here, most likely
High Forest - Unknown
High Moor - Unknown as of 1479 DR, but most likely a 'city' will be there 
Hordelands - Unknown, still no word on the fairly new Kingdom of Yaïmmunahar
Impiltur - Unknown
Lake of Mists (Raumathari) - Unknown
Lake of Steam - Unknown
Lantan - Unknown
Lapaliiya - Unknown, but MAJOR changes to the south and east mean big changes here
Luiren - Nothing yet, but expect 'something' to allow the Hin to become more 4e-ish
Luskan - Obliterated... AGAIN (may be back by 1479, though)
Many Arrows - Orcs still around, and still suffering 'growing pains' a century later
Moonsea - Unknown, but Zhents still active
Moonshaes - Broken into smaller Human Kingdoms, Fey return
Mulhorand - Nothing specific, but something major
Murghôm - Nothing specific, but it is getting a lot more attention in 4e (two pages!)
Narfell - Unknown
Narjara - it's still around in 1479, and it's a significant problem for some of the nearby lands
Nelanther - Unknown
Nimbral - Unknown
Pelvuria - Unknown
Rashemen - Unknown, but WILL be effected by Thay's condition
Raurin - Although Darkvision alludes to a return of the Imaskari to the surface, still an unknown in 4e
Samarach - seperated from mainland, possibly destroyed
Savage Frontier - Relatively Untouched, like Swordcoast
Sea of Fallen Stars - Water Level has gone down, large portions drained into the Glimmer Sea below
Sembia - Controlled by the Empire of Netheril (Shades)
Semphar - Unknown
Sespech - becomes the Plaguewrought Lands, where folks can gain 'Spellscars'
Shaar, The - Split by a HUGE rift leading into the Underdark
Shaareach - Missing; last seen 2nd edition
Shining Lands - Unknown
Silver Marches - Still exists (called Luruar again), otherwise unknown (Drizzt mentions it)
Songfarla - Unknown, may not be detailed until Gnomes become PC race
Sossal - Unknown
Swordcoast - Relatively untouched
Sothillisian Empire - Capital Murannheim (former Murann) - last report had them allying with Amnish forces against the Tlincallis of Oaxatupa
Tashalar - If survived, an island
Tethyr - Almost no changes
Tharsult - Unknown
Thay - Becomes a spectacularly high mountain, making it an even more distant (epic?) 'adventure area'
Thesk - Unknown
Thindol - Seperated From Mainland, possibly destroyed
Threskel - Unknown, but Tchazzar had designs on it
Tunlands - Swamps have become one, and are filled with Batrachi ruins
Turmish - Becomes xenophobic, lots of 'pilgrims' travelling through to the Plaguelands
Ulgarth - Unknown
Underchasm - a continent-sized pit stretching from the Shaar to the Inner Sea
Underdark - More accessable
Unther - GONE, has become the Dragonborn Kingdom Tymanther
Utter East - Unknown
Vassa - Ruled by warlocks tied to a mysterious primordial entity - "Warlock Knights of Vassa"
Vast, The - Unknown
Veldorn - Nothing, as usual
Vilhon Reach - becomes the 'Vilhon Wilds', Jaamdath Cities exposed
Waterdeep - Statues do some damage, otherwise unknown (but appears to be Okay)
Other lands and Realmspace:
Abeir - Another 'world', that at one time was 'closer' to Toril
Anchorome - Will be getting some much-needed coverage by Ed Greenwood
Kara-Tur - Still there, but mostly ignored
Katashaka - Unknown
Malatra - Unknown
Maztica - Completely gone and replaced with something else
Myrmidune - Unknown
Osse - Unknown
Selûne - The illusion hiding the moon's habitability has failed
Zakhara - Still there, but completely ignored
The Sphere - Condition of other worlds and 'The March' unknown
The Divine
The Gods:
Amaunator - Replaces Lathander in 4e
Azuth - Last seen "reeling into the Astral Plane"
Bane - Goes (Hard)core
Bahamut - Will have a greater rellevancy in 4e FR
Cyric - Imprisoned
Deep Duerra - Slain by Clangeddin
Eilistaree - absorbs Vhaeraun, killed by Lolth
Ghaunadaur - Lloth attempted to kill, but it turned out to be an elder deity of unknown origin
Gorm Gulthyn - Dead
Gruumsh - merging with Talos (I think)
Haela Brightaxe - Dead
Helm - Dead, killed by Tyr over Tymora
Ilmater - Becomes Jack Tripper, and moves into Brightwater (:P)
Laduguer - Killed by Moradin
Lathander - gone, most likey becomes Aumanator
Lolth - Becomes Greater Power
Mystra - Dead, murdered by Cyric
Nobanion - Exarch Druid, but subject to change
Savras - Dead
Selûne - re-absorbs her portion of Mystra, considered the same power as Sehanine Moonbow in 4e
Selvetarm - absorbed by Lloth (GHotR)
Shar - Still around and causing trouble
Siamorph - Move to Brightwaters
Sune - Definately still around, and given the 1384 events in GHotR, quite possibly rising in influence
Set - Rise in power, possibly god of Mulhorand or Thay
Tiamet - Becomes more 'Center Stage' then in the past
Torm - rising in power and influence in 4e
Tyr - role greatly diminished in 4e
Velsharoon - Last seen "reeling into the Astral Plane"
Vhaeraun - absorbed by Eilistraee
The Realms:
City of Brass - More focus on it, located in the Elemental Maelstrom now
Demonweb Pits - Its own plane now
Dweomer Heart - Gone
Elemental Maelstrom - Combination of the Elemental Planes and the Abyss
Faerie - New information indicates that this is a seperate plane within FR's Cosmology (no longer sure about it's connections to the Feywild)
Far Realms - tied more closely to the Cosmology, may be major story-line
Feywild - Realm of Faerie (the Fey) in Core, unsure in FR (but present)
Great Tree - Not entirely gone, but new (core) Cosmology taking root
Great Wheel - No longer the 'center of the Universe', but still accessable
Nine Hells - Relatively unchanged
Palace of the Four Suns - New Godly Domain for Amaunator
Shadowfell - The Plane of Shadows combined with the Negeative Energy Plane
Sigil - Still exists, but changes Unknown
Bloodwar - No longer paramount to Demons & Devils, 'Loths become Demons
Dramatis Personae
People:
Blackstaff Arunson - Sacrificed himself to save others, most definately permanently dead
Bruenor Battlehammer - Dead
Drizzt - Alive and more 'angsty' then ever
Elminster - Still alive but nearly insane
Fzoul - Unknown (I think)
Halaster - 'Dead', soul shattered
Khelben Arunson - the real one is still living in GH, AFAIK
Manshoon - At least one of him is still alive
Qilué Veladorn - Dead
Seven Sisters - Syluné definately gone, others most likely
Simbul - "Missing"
Srinshee - Nothing for certain, but NDAs mentioned seem to imply she will be receiving some sort of 'update' come 4e
Szass Tam - In charge of Thay now (very Sauron-like)
Vangerdahast - Alive, but very different
Zalaznar Crinios - Becomes a very mean tree (Darktree Treant) and follower of Malar
Organizations/Groups:
Bregan D'aerthe - Unknown
Casin Cu Calas - new, anti-Orc terrorist group for 4e
Cult of the Dragon - Sammaster Dead, although cult may continue operation
Eldreth Veluuthra - Operating out of the Hullack Forest now
Emerald Enclave - pretty much gone
Harpers - still around
Heralds - Unknown
Iron Throne - Power shattered, at least four leaders assasinated, existance in 1479 doubtful
Moonstars - re-absorbed back into the Harpers
Obould's Horde - Becomes the Kingdom Of Dark Arrows
Order of Blue Fire - A group of 'experimenters' located in the Spellscarred Lands
Pirates - Unknown, although the 'Fallen Stars' variety may be hard-pressed for sailable waters
Red Wizards - still around but changed (and also many split-off with the Enclaves)
Rundeen - Unknown
Sorority of the Silver Fire - Unknown if Sammaster's death affected this organization's goals
Thayan Enclaves - No longer Thaymart, they have become a seperate mercantile group, and are considered expatriates
Twisted Rune - Unknown
Uthgardt - Still around, but wandering further west
Zhents - Still around
Magic
Spell Schools - Gone
Dead Magic Zones - Still around
Mage Sigils - Mage Sigils did not make it into the new FRCG, but they still exist, and are powered by whatever deity you like (official answer)
Shadow Weave - absorbed back into the Shadowfell (only 90% sure about that one)
Weave - Gone, replaced by the 'Arcane Power Source'
Wild Magic Zones - even more prevalent then before
Power Sources - take the place of spell schools, Spheres, divine patrons, etc
Cerulean - is the new 'Blue'
Races
Aboleth - Have some sort of Kingdom (Abolethic Sovereignty) and shake things up
Dragons - Color has little to do with alignment in 4e
Drow - Seperate Race Now, playable with no LA
Dwarves - reunited with their Dark brethren
Elves - become divided into the Eladrin and Wood Elves
Fey'ri - Not a playable race from the outset
Genasi - Playable race from their own Abeiran region of Shyr (eastern Chessenta), create nation (Akanûl) in Chondath
Giants - become more 'Elemental'
Giant Space Hamsters - (thankfully) Unknown
Gnomes - considered 'monsters' ATM, not a PCR at the outset
Halflings - Unknown, but become 'Swamplings' in core
Illithid - have awar with the Dwarves, otherwise unknown
LéShay - Fey Creator Race, or at least a part of it
Orcs - Have their own Kingdom, become more 'civilized'
Phaerimm - Nearly completely wiped out
Shadar-Kai - Fey race living in the Shadowfell
Sharn - Many become 'something else', but as of now there are still plenty left
Tieflings - Playable race with their own Kingdom (not sure where yet)
Classes
Basics: All classes now derive abilities from a 'Power Source', even the Fighter (Martial Power Source). All classes will be able to choose a 'weapon of choice' - for magical types this will be some sort of 'Spell Foci' that gives bonuses. You will have three levels of abilities - At Will, per encounter, and per day. Also, classes will have three tiers - Heroic (1-10), paragon (11-20), and Exarch (21-30), and encounters will be built around the tier level. The following is just a VERY brief list of what we know - for the full disclosure on the classs, please refer to all the Infomation gathered over at Enworld on this subject (and many others concerning the 4e mechanics). I've tried to keep this FR-only, and Enworld has really been doing a bang-up job keeping track of the other stuff.
Mostly Confirmed for the PHB
Cleric - No longer confined to just a 'healer' role, can be different alignment from their god
Fighter - Book of Nine Swords is good indication where they're going with this
Paladin - Any Alignment now
Ranger - A 'Striker' type, ranged attacks
Rogue - Another Striker, relying on 'sneaky' abilites to strike
Warlock - Must make pacts to get powers, abilites depend on what the pacts were made to (Demonic, fey, etc)
Warlord - A leader type
Wizard - Makes things go 'boom', mental spells down-played (for psionicists)
Future possibilities
Bard - PHB2
Druid - Good possibility PHB2
Monk - Unknown, may be leaving this open for a 4e OA book
Sorceror - Unknown, but NOT being folded into wizard
Swordmage - confirmed for FRPG
Swordsage - Another possibility for PHB2, maybe the Psionics book
Psionicist - Will be in the 4e Psionics book, release timed to coincide with Eberron 4e
*According to the FR Errata here at CK, Redwoods are NOT native to the Realms! The Forest of Wyrms list them for that wood, but they were brought in from elsewhere originally. Ergo, Redwoods ARE probably native to Abeir, and have been 'sneaking in' for years. ;)
Anyone wishing to help out is MOST welcome - I will be updating this each time something new is released.
--- Mark
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"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Edited by - Markustay on 11 Jun 2008 21:36:55
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Fillow
Master of Realmslore
France
1608 Posts |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 26 Mar 2008 : 17:35:04
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Thats what I've been doing at WotC too.
Added to the Drow entry, and added in the Fey'ri, Genasi, and Tiefling entries.
Added in entries for Samarach and Thindol (both of which wind up at 'Ground Zero' when Halrua goes 'BOOM' and Chult becomes seprate). Also modified the Lapaliya entry to account for that. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Edited by - Markustay on 26 Mar 2008 17:46:26 |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2008 : 19:38:57
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Thanks to Bakra, new information on Chondath, and a new nation called Akanûl. Also added a seperate entry for the Simbul now.
It seems to conflict with what I had for the Genasi - perhaps each type of Genasi will get their own Kingdom?  I suppose that would make sense.
Does anyone know anything about the Power Sources and/or Warlocks? I wasn't planning on adding anything about classes, because that is not FR-specific, but now that Rich has releasesed some info about the Swordmage I would like to add in a categoory for Classes.
Unfortunely, I've mostly been following the FR lore-changes, and not the mechanics, so ANY help with that would be appreciated.
Maybe I should head on over to Enworld... |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Edited by - Markustay on 27 Mar 2008 19:46:32 |
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BARDOBARBAROS
Senior Scribe
Greece
581 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2008 : 19:52:01
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| Thanks for the info Markustay... |
BARDOBARBAROS DOES NOT KILL.
HE DECAPITATES!!!
"The city changes, but the fools within it remain always the same" (Edwin Odesseiron- Baldur's gate 2) |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 28 Mar 2008 : 20:17:40
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| Modified both the Thay and Genasi entries, to better fit with new information. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Fillow
Master of Realmslore
France
1608 Posts |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2008 : 00:30:04
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quote:
Originally posted by Fillow
BUt what about Bruenor ?
He probably came to the conclusion about Bruenor based on the prologue of The Orc King (which doesn't state that Bruenor is dead, but strongly implies it). |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2008 : 03:48:34
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| Updated Tethyr and Amn, based on some stuff RB said (not much), and also the Great Tree and Mage Sigils. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Fillow
Master of Realmslore
France
1608 Posts |
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Matthus
Senior Scribe
Germany
393 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2008 : 12:38:38
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Sorry I can't resist :
If you ever knows more about them, please let us immediately know 
Giant Space Hamsters - (thankfully) Unknown
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36782 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2008 : 12:47:16
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quote:
Originally posted by Matthus
Sorry I can't resist :
If you ever knows more about them, please let us immediately know
Giant Space Hamsters - (thankfully) Unknown
Giant Space Hamsters will never die! And due to the Sellplague, there's now a nation of them living near what used to be the Great Rift. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2008 : 15:42:55
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quote:
Originally posted by Fillow
Thanks to you Rinonalyrna.
Wasn't he already told to be dead once before ? When he fought the dragon in Mitrhil Hall ?
I did not read the Orc King, so do RAS let the possibility it happens once more ?
You're welcome. However, I did forget to mention (and it bears mentioning here) that the information we learn about the post-Spellplague Realms in that novel is conveyed through Drizzt, an unreliable narrator. He could be wrong about things, including Bruenor's death. For all we know, Bruenor went evil and somehow acquired lichdom without Drizzt knowing. *shrug* |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
Edited by - Rinonalyrna Fathomlin on 31 Mar 2008 15:43:18 |
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Aravine
Senior Scribe
USA
608 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2008 : 16:00:18
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| The red wizards were high and mighty before. now..., um, well they are certainly high... |
The brave don't live forever,the cautious don't live at all |
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Hawkins
Great Reader
USA
2131 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2008 : 16:04:39
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quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
You're welcome. However, I did forget to mention (and it bears mentioning here) that the information we learn about the post-Spellplague Realms in that novel is conveyed through Drizzt, an unreliable narrator. He could be wrong about things, including Bruenor's death. For all we know, Bruenor went evil and somehow acquired lichdom without Drizzt knowing. *shrug*
Um, normally I agree with you, but I highly doubt that Drizzt could be considered an "unreliable source" on any of the companions other than Wulgar (considering that he headed back to Icewind Dale, and may have never been seen again). Now, on events, people, nations outside of his sphere of influence, I totally agree with you that Drizzt could easily be considered an "unreliable source." |
Errant d20 Designer - My Blog (last updated January 06, 2016)
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l33td0ggy
Acolyte
25 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2008 : 16:11:46
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| drizzt has twice assumed bruener was dead. he's assumed wulfgar was dead. he's assumed enteri was dead. he's defonately unreliabel. |
i have no sig. |
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Hawkins
Great Reader
USA
2131 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2008 : 17:18:25
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quote:
Originally posted by l33td0ggy
drizzt has twice assumed bruener was dead. he's assumed wulfgar was dead. he's assumed enteri was dead. he's defonately unreliabel.
He had reasonable reasons to believe they were dead in all of those situations, but point taken. I also would like to point out that Bruenor was getting on in the years during the Orc King, so he could easily have died of old age. As well as Cattie-Brie and Regis. It will be interesting if we see anything of Wulfgar's legacy in Icewind Dale in the new edition of the setting. Anyways, I think that we should try not to clutter this thread too much with chatter, so I we might want to take similar conversations over to the 4e FR scroll. |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2008 : 20:18:09
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Update -
Modified Lathander (since I wasn't 100% on that)
Added a entry for Amaunator, Lathander's replacement
Added faerie, because Rich mentions it as a new plane within the 'Great tree' Cosmology (now I'm totally confused)
Modified feywild, to account for the Faerie info
Added Amaunator's Realm, - the Palace of the Four Suns (intriguing) |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2008 : 20:22:26
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quote:
Originally posted by HawkinstheDM
Um, normally I agree with you, but I highly doubt that Drizzt could be considered an "unreliable source" on any of the companions other than Wulgar (considering that he headed back to Icewind Dale, and may have never been seen again). Now, on events, people, nations outside of his sphere of influence, I totally agree with you that Drizzt could easily be considered an "unreliable source."
Heh, normally I'd agree that someone is a reliable source regarding their own friends, however (as has been mentioned already) Drizzt has an established track record of thinking friends are dead when they really aren't. Just as his friends have track records of thinking he is dead, when he isn't.
That's what happens when the "I think my friends are dead" plot device is used more than once. |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2008 : 20:23:46
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
Added faerie, because Rich mentions it as a new plane within the 'Great tree' Cosmology (now I'm totally confused)
Modified feywild, to account for the Faerie info
Are you sure that the "Faerie" Rich was talking about was not the Feywild? |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2008 : 20:33:20
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quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
However, I did forget to mention (and it bears mentioning here) that the information we learn about the post-Spellplague Realms in that novel is conveyed through Drizzt, an unreliable narrator.
Hence my Disclaimer - this entire list is based on what information we know, which may or may not be the full truth of things.
That being said, I would have to agree that Bruenor's 'demise' was left somewhat ambiguous. I also note that two others were left 'open-ended' like that. According to the sources, the people of Aglarond only know that the Simbul is missing - we have NO IDEA what happened to her. Also, if you read the GHotR, they specifically go out of their way to mention that Alusair has an argument with her nephew and "is last seen heading for the Stonelands". Very ambiguous, to say the least.
These are all examples of what I call "Soap-Opera empty-cemetary syndrome" (yeah, I know, it needs a shorter name). If you notice, anytime anyone dies in a SO, they never recover the body! I jokingly tell my sister (a Soap Opera hound) that I want the job of the Grave-digger in Port Charles (General Hospital) because the guy never has to do anything!
Soap Opera's do this explicitly so they can always bring a character back if they want, and it appears that WotC has learned this time-honored tradition of 'cheesy' writing so that certain people we know and have grown foundof can be brought back if there is enough of a demand for them.
Now, that being said, would I like to Alusair brought back in 4e? Damn right I would! the Steel Princess was one of my favorite characters in the Realms. I have a feeling she found herself in one of those nasty 'suspended animation' traps (you know, like Elminster got caught in for a century in that novel).
Hmmmm.... a canon reference to something that can keep someone around for a hundred years... my, my... isn't THAT useful?
BTW, I don't mind discussing the things I post in the FAQ, because sometimes it helps me to better 'refine' the entries. What I DON'T WANT is more 4e bashing - lord knows we have enough of that going on all over the net. So, opinions are more then welcome when discussing the information here, but please don't post things like "Well that just sucks", because that is not helpful in putting together this FAQ.
Thanks --- Mark |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Edited by - Markustay on 31 Mar 2008 20:34:01 |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2008 : 20:54:14
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quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Are you sure that the "Faerie" Rich was talking about was not the Feywild?
As far as I can tell, both the Feywild and the Shadowfel are transitive planes, and are also both 'cotermonious'(sp?) to Abeir-Toril. that means they overlap, and you can travel through one, and come out somewhere else in your starting plane.
Rich's statement makes FR faerie (he didn't capitilize it, don't know if thats relevant) makes it sound much more like one of the Godly Domains, floating in the Astral in FR's private Cosmology. That, in turn, doesn't sound like the way the Feywild has been described elsewhere. Also, the Feywild in that article was called 'Faerie', but that might only apply to the Core Cosmology (which is starting to sound once again like it's completely seperate from FR). Since the Fey have an impotrtant (undisclosed) role in FR's lore, they might very well have their own plane of faerie within FR's astral, which in turn is connected to the geater realm of the Feywild. I have no idea how any of that is going to work, but since FR is the 'birthplace' of the Fey race, we may see 'something more' regarding them in FR then what the rest of the multiverse (other settings) is getting.
Pure Opinion:
I think a lot of this stuff is going to be left 'open ended' for DMs to flesh out. I believe we will see something to the effect -
"Are the Nine Hells of Faerûn the same as the one's for Greyhawk? they are if you want them to be. If you want YOUR FR to be a seperate, undiluted setting, then keep the planes seperate. If, however, you prefer a more 'multiversal' approach in your games, then by all means, allow that all the planes are the same from one sphere to the next".
They are steering away from 'nailing stuff down', because it has gotten them in trouble in the past, plus it fits in better with their new design concept, which is really D&D's original concept - YOUR world works any way YOU want it to.
I was going through some of the entries in the MM4 and MM5 yesterday (both books written with 4e in mind), and you can gleen quite a bit about how 4e will be presented to us by reading them. A lot of stuff is left exactly as I have stated above - it's left to the DMs to decide. One entry in particular I found amusing (It was the Illithids of Thoon) - It says that the Illithids take as long "garnering Quintessence" as the DM needs it to, and works at the speed of his plot. No hard rules for it - very '1st edition', IMHO. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Edited by - Markustay on 31 Mar 2008 20:55:40 |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2008 : 22:03:38
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Added a small section on Classes - didn't want to get too much into the 4e mechanics, but some of it, like the Swordmage, is FR relevant.
I included a link there to where I got all of my information - Enworld has been keeping a very close eye on all the 4e info, and I though it best to just link to their FAQ, rather then repeat the immense amount of information they have gathered here. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Brian R. James
Forgotten Realms Game Designer
USA
1098 Posts |
Posted - 01 Apr 2008 : 00:03:11
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| Just to clear up any confusion, Faerie and the Feywild are one and the same. |
Brian R. James - Freelance Game Designer
Follow me on Twitter @brianrjames |
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4686 Posts |
Posted - 01 Apr 2008 : 00:58:09
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quote:
Originally posted by Brian R. James
Just to clear up any confusion, Faerie and the Feywild are one and the same.
Joy, two words meaning the same thing. I thought 3.5 tried to fix the problem of the same word having different meanings and that only one word was used as a drecripter. |
"Small beings can have small wisdom," the dragon said. "And small wise beings are better than small fools. Listen: Wisdom is caring for afterwards."
"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon |
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Brian R. James
Forgotten Realms Game Designer
USA
1098 Posts |
Posted - 01 Apr 2008 : 01:06:57
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| Ok, to be even clearer....You're only going to see it called Feywild in 4E sources. Rich was just pointing out that the plane was called Faerie in earlier editions. |
Brian R. James - Freelance Game Designer
Follow me on Twitter @brianrjames |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 01 Apr 2008 : 04:33:16
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So, in the new setting, will the people of Toril be referring to it as Faerie, or as the feywild?
Added the Srinshee thanks to The Hooded One |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4686 Posts |
Posted - 01 Apr 2008 : 05:25:20
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
So, in the new setting, will the people of Toril be referring to it as Faerie, or as the feywild?
Added the Srinshee thanks to The Hooded One
By implication, Faerie was always feywild, a retcon? *shrugs* I am almost getting to the point I do not care. |
"Small beings can have small wisdom," the dragon said. "And small wise beings are better than small fools. Listen: Wisdom is caring for afterwards."
"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 01 Apr 2008 : 06:00:44
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If thats true, then thats an incredibly stupid reason for a retcon. How simple would it have been to say Faerie was a specific region within the Feywild?
Sometimes I think they change stuff just for the sake of changing stuff.
Sorry - I'm breaking my own rules about using this thread for comentary.  |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Brian R. James
Forgotten Realms Game Designer
USA
1098 Posts |
Posted - 01 Apr 2008 : 14:38:00
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| Guys, learn to pick your battles. There are plenty of valid reasons for Realms fans to be worked up, but this isn't one of them. In every way but name, it is exactly the same place. Faerie is not a region within the Feywild; it *is* the Feywild. Just as the Astral Plane is now called the Astral Sea, Plane of Shadow is now Shadowfell, etc... |
Brian R. James - Freelance Game Designer
Follow me on Twitter @brianrjames |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 02 Apr 2008 : 04:38:27
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Not fighting it, just to trying to wrap my mind around it. I thought it was the same place, but then certain things were said to make me think differently.
For some reason, I was picturing the Feywild as a transitive plane, like the Astral, Ethereal, and Shadow (which became the Shadowfel). Now Rich describes it as a plane within FR's cosmology.
its a subtle difference, but it is important if you look at D&D in a multiversal fashion. I thought the Feywild was part of the 'Macroverse'. all those parts of the Universe that connect all the other parts - it was, quite literally, universal. I like that very much, especially because it is now in many ways the Shadowfel's opposite, and I KNOW thats how the plane of Shadow use to work - it connected to ALL Primes.
Now we seem to be getting back to one of the few things that really bothered me in 3e - the lack of inter-connectivity that we used to have with 2e (which I blame 100% on Eberron's 'unique' cosmology). I was hoping we were going to be moving away fromt that 'isolationist' type of setting, and getting back to "the good stuff".
If they really are going to say that each world has its own Feywild in 4e, then I think they've completely dropped the ball on one of the coolest concepts they've come out with in awhile. I don't think Faerie should be IN the Great tree (how'd we get that back all of a sudden?), it should be beyond it. To me, thats like putting Ravenloft within FR's cosmology, which just doesn't work.
I'm sarting to go very far afield here from my original plan for this thread, but it doesn't help when we get conflicting information.
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"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Edited by - Markustay on 02 Apr 2008 19:17:35 |
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4e FR FAQ
