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AdamBridger
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
118 Posts |
 Posted - 13 Aug 2011 : 16:59:27
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quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
Many scribes here (I suppose) are aware of my aversion to fighter-centered novels. I sampled some before (not FR), and learned my lesson well.
What's your opinion on swordmages? They tend to strike a balance between magic and combat and can make for more interesting reading at times compared to pure combat. |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 13 Aug 2011 : 17:28:03
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quote:
Originally posted by AdamBridger
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
Many scribes here (I suppose) are aware of my aversion to fighter-centered novels. I sampled some before (not FR), and learned my lesson well.
What's your opinion on swordmages? They tend to strike a balance between magic and combat and can make for more interesting reading at times compared to pure combat.
They're okay, but they don't really interest me that much. Magic can do anything that swords are designed to accomplish, and a whole lot more. I make certain exceptions, though, depending primarily on the author, character development, setting, and association with some of my favorite characters. Just like Aoth, though strictly speaking he's not a swordmage. But, other than his impressive repertoire of spells, he also uses his sharp-ended staff as a regular weapon, and is deadly good with it. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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AdamBridger
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
118 Posts |
Posted - 13 Aug 2011 : 17:53:08
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| Also in The Brotherhood Of The Griffon Series there are strong supporting mage characters such as Jhesrhi and the newly recruited mages of The Brotherhood that offer a different perspective to the more combat oriented characters. |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 13 Aug 2011 : 18:05:34
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Jhesrhi is one of my favorites. Her background is depressing. One would think that upon reaching adulthood she could have become a broken shell, or a blood-thirsty rouge. I like how she turned out to be: a level-headed wizard with great affinity to elemental magic.
Speaking of The Brotherhood of the Griffon series, I'm reconsidering to pick up where I left off. (I was discouraged by too much focus given to dragonborn at the middle part of Whisper of Venom) |
Every beginning has an end. |
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AdamBridger
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
118 Posts |
Posted - 14 Aug 2011 : 11:47:18
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quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
Speaking of The Brotherhood of the Griffon series, I'm reconsidering to pick up where I left off. (I was discouraged by too much focus given to dragonborn at the middle part of Whisper of Venom)
I would definitely recommend finishing the series. The third book The Spectral Blaze focuses quite a bit on Jhesrhi as her loyalties are torn. The new young mages also feature more heavily as characters in the third book. |
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Brimstone
Great Reader
USA
3286 Posts |
Posted - 14 Aug 2011 : 12:29:59
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| Crystal Shard. |
"These things also I have observed: that knowledge of our world is
to be nurtured like a precious flower, for it is the most precious
thing we have. Wherefore guard the word written and heed
words unwritten and set them down ere they fade . . . Learn
then, well, the arts of reading, writing, and listening true, and they
will lead you to the greatest art of all: understanding."
Alaundo of Candlekeep |
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Joran Nobleheart
Senior Scribe
USA
495 Posts |
Posted - 14 Aug 2011 : 14:29:23
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My first Realms book was Elfshadow, and reading that book, meeting the characters there, made me fall in love with the Realms. I knew then I had to read more by this amazing author, and that I had to make a character in my friend's campaign.  |
Paladinic Ethos
Saint Joran Nobleheart |
Edited by - Joran Nobleheart on 14 Aug 2011 14:30:25 |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 14 Aug 2011 : 15:10:20
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In terms of book cover, the very first that captured my attention was Salvatore's Road of the Patriarch. It was quite impressive. (The blurb, on the other hand, is another story.) |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Clad In Shadows
Learned Scribe
Canada
158 Posts |
Posted - 15 Aug 2011 : 22:43:55
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Streams Of Silver
Yes, my first FR book was the middle book of a trilogy. I ended up reading well into Legacy Of The Drow before I was able to track down a copy of The Crystal Shard to read. I've also read Song Of The Sauriels without having read the previous 2 books. Such are the trials of living in a tiny rural town in Newfoundland.
Moving to a city, and having access to the internet have largely negated that issue. But some of those early books are hard (and expensive) to find now. |
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Lady Shadowflame
Learned Scribe
115 Posts |
Posted - 16 Aug 2011 : 07:58:33
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My first was Crystal Shard; found it in the high school library, enjoyed it... didn't know anything about the Realms back then.
And then I sort of forgot about it a few years, before finding more of those books and going 'oh, hey, more about that Drizzt guy, I liked him.'
They got me interested in other, less good-guy drow, so I started branching out, and then somehow along the way I wound up with loads of Realms books and a persistent fascination. |
Save a lizard... Ride a drow.
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Hawkins
Great Reader
USA
2131 Posts |
Posted - 16 Aug 2011 : 16:38:58
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quote:
Originally posted by Clad In Shadows
Streams Of Silver
Yes, my first FR book was the middle book of a trilogy.
That is okay. After reading Darkwalker on Moonshea, I actually ended up skipping Dark Wizards because my local library did not have a copy (there wasn't even a copy to special request it from another library in the same system). That made Darkwell a bit confusing at the beginning. To this day, I still haven't read it. I own all three, but still need to go back an re-read them (and read Dark Wizards for the first time). I should try to remember to do that after I am done re-reading the entire Shannara series. |
Errant d20 Designer - My Blog (last updated January 06, 2016)
One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back. --Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
"Mmm, not the darkness," Myrin murmured. "Don't cast it there." --Erik Scott de Bie, Shadowbane
* My character sheets (PFRPG, 3.5, and AE versions; not viewable in Internet Explorer)
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My game design work:
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* Martial Arts Guidebook (forthcoming) (PFRPG, designer; Rite Publishing)
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skychrome
Senior Scribe
713 Posts |
Posted - 21 Aug 2011 : 16:53:13
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| The Black Bouquet. Liked the cover and thought "give it a shot". |
"You make an intriguing offer, one that is very tempting. It would seem that I have little alternative than to answer thusly: DISINTEGRATE!" Vaarsuvius, Order of the Stick 625 |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 25 Aug 2011 : 03:54:20
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| Mine was Streams of Silver. I loved the original cover art on it by Caldwell. This book also introduced me to my favorite character! :) |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
Amazon "KindleUnlimited" Free Trial: http://amzn.to/2AJ4yD2
Try Audible and Get 2 Free Audio Books! https://amzn.to/2IgBede |
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Faraer
Great Reader
3308 Posts |
Posted - 25 Aug 2011 : 15:11:30
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| Spellfire, in 1990 or 1991. I was only distantly aware of the novel line at first, not yet regularly reading Dragon, but eager for more of what was in the Campaign Set -- it was like finding a treasury. |
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phranctoast
Learned Scribe
USA
151 Posts |
Posted - 25 Aug 2011 : 16:36:49
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Thousand Orcs.
Then I went back and read everything in order. |
Currently reading: Spider and Stone by Jaleigh Johnson: Sequel to Mistshore |
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First Forgotten Realms Book
