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Therise
Master of Realmslore
1272 Posts |
 Posted - 08 Aug 2013 : 17:24:52
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I just finished Salvatore's new book, the Companions.
It was so incredibly good, I have very few words. It was everything that a heroic fantasy novel should be.
For a long time now, I've been really sad about what happened and completely dubious about the future of the Realms. I wasn't sure that it could be "fixed" in any significant way.
But after reading this book, I can honestly say that I have renewed hope for the Realms. And I think I understand what the current design team is doing. They can't change the past, and for many reasons it wouldn't make sense to do so. But they can rebuild what was lost, brick by brick. It's slow work, but worth it.
So that's what they're doing. And it's really, really good.
That's all. 
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Female, 40-year DM of a homebrew-evolved 1E Realms, including a few added tidbits of 2E and 3E lore; played originally in AD&D, then in Rolemaster. Be a DM for your kids and grandkids, gaming is excellent for families! |
Edited by - Therise on 08 Aug 2013 17:27:28
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11695 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2013 : 17:33:56
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| Just wondering, how caught up do I need to be on the 4th edition stuff by Salvatore before I read this? |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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Therise
Master of Realmslore
1272 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2013 : 17:40:55
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quote:
Originally posted by sleyvas
Just wondering, how caught up do I need to be on the 4th edition stuff by Salvatore before I read this?
This is a hard question, really, but honestly I'd say it's important to get caught up on all of his recent novels.
There are many things, I think, that just might not make sense without having the background.
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Female, 40-year DM of a homebrew-evolved 1E Realms, including a few added tidbits of 2E and 3E lore; played originally in AD&D, then in Rolemaster. Be a DM for your kids and grandkids, gaming is excellent for families! |
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silverwolfer
Senior Scribe
789 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2013 : 18:06:26
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The neverwinter trio, you will need to read, but I don't think you will need to read the one with all the king titles in it.
Everything else like luskan and the like, you can gleen from a quick google search and wiki input. |
Edited by - silverwolfer on 08 Aug 2013 18:07:18 |
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Mournblade
Master of Realmslore
USA
1287 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2013 : 18:10:50
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quote:
Originally posted by Therise
I just finished Salvatore's new book, the Companions.
It was so incredibly good, I have very few words. It was everything that a heroic fantasy novel should be.
For a long time now, I've been really sad about what happened and completely dubious about the future of the Realms. I wasn't sure that it could be "fixed" in any significant way.
But after reading this book, I can honestly say that I have renewed hope for the Realms. And I think I understand what the current design team is doing. They can't change the past, and for many reasons it wouldn't make sense to do so. But they can rebuild what was lost, brick by brick. It's slow work, but worth it.
So that's what they're doing. And it's really, really good.
That's all.
This has been my understanding. I am purposely reading this book slow, I am savoring it, but all the while I realize where it may not be 1365 DR again, they will bring the realms back to what the fans of the realms wanted.
The change to the spell plague was unnecessary and unwanted, I think on a large scale. Realms activity dropped significantly from what i can tell.
This is a good way to allow the history of the spellplague to remain and bring the realms back to what the fans really want.
I think I might be able to get Murder in Baldur's Gate tomorrow as well because since we are such an ENCOUNTERS heavy store we are on the early release list. I have been enthusiastic for the realms agains since last GENCON.
I have also had the privelidge of meeting RA Salvatore at several book signings, and got candid conversations on the realms. That is why I took the position of "just you wait and see how awesome it will be," with skeptical realms fans.
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A wizard is Never late Frodo Baggins. Nor is he Early. A wizard arrives precisely when he means to... |
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Madpig
Learned Scribe
Finland
148 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2013 : 18:23:13
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quote:
Originally posted by sleyvas
Just wondering, how caught up do I need to be on the 4th edition stuff by Salvatore before I read this?
I think you could read all the aforementioned King books and books 1 & 4 of neverwinter saga. Books 2 & 3 were quite dissapointing and unneccessary. |
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Hawkins
Great Reader
USA
2131 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2013 : 18:36:45
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| Just wondering, do others think that you can get by with just books 1 & 4 of the Neverwinter Saga? Or is there too much connective tissue in books 2 & 3, even if they were disappointing? |
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)
* Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Reference Document (PFRPG OGL Rules)
* The Hypertext d20 SRD (3.5 OGL Rules)
* 3.5 D&D Archives
My game design work:
* Heroes of the Jade Oath (PFRPG, conversion; Rite Publishing)
* Compendium Arcanum Volume 1: Cantrips & Orisons (PFRPG, designer; d20pfsrd.com Publishing)
* Compendium Arcanum Volume 2: 1st-Level Spells (PFRPG, designer; d20pfsrd.com Publishing)
* Martial Arts Guidebook (forthcoming) (PFRPG, designer; Rite Publishing)
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Merrith
Learned Scribe
135 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2013 : 18:41:04
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quote:
Originally posted by Hawkins
Just wondering, do others think that you can get by with just books 1 & 4 of the Neverwinter Saga? Or is there too much connective tissue in books 2 & 3, even if they were disappointing?
As far as this book by itself...you might be able to just get by with 1 & 4. Although you won't understand much at all how they got to 4 from 1 without 2 and 3, and depending on how the story goes forward it might be very important to read 2 and 3 as well.
As always, it never hurts to read all of them, but this isn't the typical "Drizzt" book, that's for sure. Not to give out any spoilers but it fills in some time gaps in different spots from different points of view, and ends up meeting up (time wise) with the end of the 4th Neverwinter book once you finish it up. |
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silverwolfer
Senior Scribe
789 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2013 : 18:43:23
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| If your tight on money , as well go slow, from what I understand public libariys have sort of stopped carrying Forgotten realms books besides the avatar seris and various RAS novels. |
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Lilianviaten
Senior Scribe
489 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2013 : 18:55:29
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| On the one hand, they have a set of fantastic authors writing the Sundering novels. And it seems that WOTC has taken their job very seriously for 5e. That gives me hope. On the other hand, I think too many fans just want an instant reset, which would be boring and lame. Bringing back every dead god and changing everything back to 2e doesn't excite me. The realms should be a changing world. I think too many fans want their favorite NPCs to never die, and their favorite kingdoms to never fall. In the long run, that's dull. But we'll see how it goes. As long as changes are explained in an interesting way, I'm good. |
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Irennan
Great Reader
Italy
3802 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2013 : 19:17:21
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| I highly doubt that they are going to revert the Realms to 2e. Many removed gods and nuked lands will be restored, but it is right IMO: the removal of some of those things was just as lame as you think their return would be, and the flavor and depth they added was replaced with nothing, resulting in a diminished setting. So yeah, while a full reset wouldn't be an attractive option because it'd turn away a non neglectable part of their customer, restoring valid elements and characters would be just good and a no brainer, if they wanted their old customers back. |
Mathematics is the art of giving the same name to different things. |
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The Arcanamach
Master of Realmslore
1842 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2013 : 20:04:31
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| Well, they nuked what I considered interesting AND uniquely Realmsian cultures (Halruaa anyone?) and, frankly, I want them back. I know that may be too much to ask (restoring an area as large as Halruaa may not be possible without creating a strange story line to do it) so I am hoping for the next best thing...that some actually survived the nuking of those areas and that they return somehow, albeit forced to settle in a new area. We shall see. I remain hopefully optimistic...but I'm ready for the worst. Like I've said before, I've gone my own way since the advent of 4e and I'm not sure I will truly return for 5e. Cheers. |
I have a dream that one day, all game worlds will exist as one. |
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Veritas
Learned Scribe
209 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2013 : 20:09:22
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| I agree with the OP, and WoTC got the right man and the right book to lead in to the new Realms. If the following titles are even half as strong, this can be one RSE I can be content with. |
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sfdragon
Great Reader
2285 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2013 : 21:30:32
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neverwinter saga is no trilogy it is 4 books total. personally I'm finding the last one boring.
I do hope companions is better |
why is being a wizard like being a drow? both are likely to find a dagger in the back from a rival or one looking to further his own goals, fame and power
My FR fan fiction
Magister's GAmbit
http://steelfiredragon.deviantart.com/gallery/33539234 |
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silverwolfer
Senior Scribe
789 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2013 : 21:41:56
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| 5 RSE to bind them, 1 RSE to rule them all. |
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Therise
Master of Realmslore
1272 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2013 : 21:42:03
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quote:
Originally posted by The Arcanamach
Well, they nuked what I considered interesting AND uniquely Realmsian cultures (Halruaa anyone?) and, frankly, I want them back. I know that may be too much to ask (restoring an area as large as Halruaa may not be possible without creating a strange story line to do it) so I am hoping for the next best thing...that some actually survived the nuking of those areas and that they return somehow, albeit forced to settle in a new area. We shall see. I remain hopefully optimistic...but I'm ready for the worst. Like I've said before, I've gone my own way since the advent of 4e and I'm not sure I will truly return for 5e. Cheers.
I absolutely want Halruaa back also, in some form.
It was an incredible waste, and insulting to fans of the novels set there, to just simply wipe it from the map.
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Female, 40-year DM of a homebrew-evolved 1E Realms, including a few added tidbits of 2E and 3E lore; played originally in AD&D, then in Rolemaster. Be a DM for your kids and grandkids, gaming is excellent for families! |
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Hawkins
Great Reader
USA
2131 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2013 : 22:32:14
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quote:
Originally posted by Therise
I absolutely want Halruaa back also, in some form.
It was an incredible waste, and insulting to fans of the novels set there, to just simply wipe it from the map.
I agree, that was one of the most confusing decisions of the 4e design team. |
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)
* Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Reference Document (PFRPG OGL Rules)
* The Hypertext d20 SRD (3.5 OGL Rules)
* 3.5 D&D Archives
My game design work:
* Heroes of the Jade Oath (PFRPG, conversion; Rite Publishing)
* Compendium Arcanum Volume 1: Cantrips & Orisons (PFRPG, designer; d20pfsrd.com Publishing)
* Compendium Arcanum Volume 2: 1st-Level Spells (PFRPG, designer; d20pfsrd.com Publishing)
* Martial Arts Guidebook (forthcoming) (PFRPG, designer; Rite Publishing)
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silverwolfer
Senior Scribe
789 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2013 : 22:40:17
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| Am going to toss this out, as it is a really unoknown feat, but FAith of the heratic in power of faerun, is a really FUN feat to have as a cleric. |
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Mournblade
Master of Realmslore
USA
1287 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2013 : 23:45:41
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I thought the thing that made the neverwinter books good was Artemis and Efferon.
I could have really done without Dalia the Emo Fighter. I just wanted her to die in every book.
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A wizard is Never late Frodo Baggins. Nor is he Early. A wizard arrives precisely when he means to... |
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Dark Wizard
Senior Scribe
USA
830 Posts |
Posted - 09 Aug 2013 : 00:31:46
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The good reviews, the Sundering hype, and the nice cover art is working me over. Plus I saw the book for cheap on Amazon while picking up some other stuff. I'll probably also get Murder in Baldur's Gate given the neat map in there.
Also looks like I'll have someone to pick up the Ghosts of Dragonspear Castle for me at Gen Con. |
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The Arcanamach
Master of Realmslore
1842 Posts |
Posted - 09 Aug 2013 : 02:07:39
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| Just got my copy of The Companions a few minutes ago. I have to finish another book first but I can't wait to read it. |
I have a dream that one day, all game worlds will exist as one. |
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silverwolfer
Senior Scribe
789 Posts |
Posted - 09 Aug 2013 : 03:04:29
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| am reading vendom in her vains right now, OMG I WANT MOREEEEE from this author. |
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Kris the Grey
Senior Scribe
USA
422 Posts |
Posted - 09 Aug 2013 : 03:35:09
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Therise,
I must say, I am 50% of the way though the novel and I couldn't agree with you more. This is some of the best stuff since the 2E era. Here here. |
Kris the Grey - Member in Good Standing of the Watchful Order of Magists and Protectors, the Arcane Guild of Silverymoon, and the Connecticut Bar Association |
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Mystic Lemur
Seeker
58 Posts |
Posted - 09 Aug 2013 : 06:16:58
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Interesting that they aren't doing a reboot because it would "invalidate" the work of authors who have written in the post-spellplague setting. They didn't give much thought to "invalidating" the decades of work put into the old realms. I can only hope that means they've learned from their mistakes.
I wouldn't say my faith is restored, more like cautiously optimistic.
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"What mattered our lives now, when our world had been torn from us? Folk wept, or drank, or stood staring out over the land, wondering what new horror each dawn would bring." -A review of the FRCG ;) |
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Thieran
Learned Scribe
Germany
293 Posts |
Posted - 09 Aug 2013 : 13:35:59
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quote:
Originally posted by Dark Wizard
Also looks like I'll have someone to pick up the Ghosts of Dragonspear Castle for me at Gen Con.
That was my plan as well, but then I missed the purchase deadline... |
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Mournblade
Master of Realmslore
USA
1287 Posts |
Posted - 09 Aug 2013 : 18:39:41
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quote:
Originally posted by Mystic Lemur
Interesting that they aren't doing a reboot because it would "invalidate" the work of authors who have written in the post-spellplague setting. They didn't give much thought to "invalidating" the decades of work put into the old realms. I can only hope that means they've learned from their mistakes.
I wouldn't say my faith is restored, more like cautiously optimistic.
No work of a previous author was invalidated with the plague realms. If they did a reboot (As I would have liked) they would have invalidated some good work. See where the 4e realms were really poorly thought out and hamfisted, alot of the work by authors and developers AFTER the release have been good to read.
Since those authors put that good work into it (unlike the basic FR Campaign setting which was poorly thought out and just serving the gamist vision of the 4e developers) the material should be respected. The novels written, the dragon DDI articles are good stuff and well thought out. The writers deserve the respect of having their work preserved. They were given a mucky canvas to work with, and they still produced good art from it.
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A wizard is Never late Frodo Baggins. Nor is he Early. A wizard arrives precisely when he means to... |
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The Arcanamach
Master of Realmslore
1842 Posts |
Posted - 09 Aug 2013 : 23:16:49
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I will (grudgingly) agree with Mournblade...but I don't have to like it!  |
I have a dream that one day, all game worlds will exist as one. |
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Therise
Master of Realmslore
1272 Posts |
Posted - 10 Aug 2013 : 01:35:23
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I figure it's just time to move past all the 4E hullaballoo. I hated 4E with a passion, I sent my message, and apparently they understood most of my feelings (and a lot of other fans' feelings) on that particular issue.
I would -still- prefer a complete reset to the end of 1E, where people could continue to ignore the Time of Troubles and all the subsequent nonsense. If they did that, it really wouldn't un-publish anything that prior authors have done. People were still paid, some things were liked and others disliked.
But it's exhausting and pointless to keep begging for that kind of reset when they've clearly chosen this path. I look at it like this: if it succeeds and they do end up wiping out all the things I hated from 4E, good enough. If it fails horribly, eventually I'll get my complete re-set. Depending on how much they "tone down" or outright remove of the 4E stuff, I -might- be able to use or re-frame a lot of the new material for my own use.
There's no reason, after all, for me to adopt any of the history, events, or other things I don't like - as long as the new material is sufficiently "returned in spirit" to what we all used to love. I can still have my Realms, which never had a ToT, a Spellplague, or a Timejump, ignore all the 4E stuff I hate like Abeir, earthmotes, and the Abolethic Sovereignty, and then just choose bits and pieces of the new material that I do like. Just like I did with a lot of the late 2E and 3E material.
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Female, 40-year DM of a homebrew-evolved 1E Realms, including a few added tidbits of 2E and 3E lore; played originally in AD&D, then in Rolemaster. Be a DM for your kids and grandkids, gaming is excellent for families! |
Edited by - Therise on 10 Aug 2013 01:56:32 |
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The Arcanamach
Master of Realmslore
1842 Posts |
Posted - 10 Aug 2013 : 03:51:56
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| Ok, I AM NOT LOOKING FOR ANY SPOILERS but, for anyone who has finished The Companions I would like to know something: Is there any indication in the book that the map found on the inside cover is true/accurate? If so then all I can say is WOOT WOOT (well, at least partially). |
I have a dream that one day, all game worlds will exist as one. |
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Jeremy Grenemyer
Great Reader
USA
2717 Posts |
Posted - 10 Aug 2013 : 04:05:00
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quote:
Originally posted by Mournblade
Since those authors put that good work into it (unlike the basic FR Campaign setting which was poorly thought out and just serving the gamist vision of the 4e developers) the material should be respected. The novels written, the dragon DDI articles are good stuff and well thought out. The writers deserve the respect of having their work preserved.
Agreed. This is very refreshing to read too.
I hope the tentative faith some are feeling towards the Realms in the wake of Salvatore's latest will grow into full-on confidence as they take in each book in the series.
Should that confidence lead anyone to purchase a DDI subscription, I hope they'll remember they're buying access to all previous DDI content as well, for which there's a lost of Realms material that's been produced over the last four or five years that is of high quality, that fits the Realms properly and that can be easily added to a Realms game set in any era. |
Look for me and my content at EN World (user name: sanishiver). |
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Mournblade
Master of Realmslore
USA
1287 Posts |
Posted - 10 Aug 2013 : 04:36:01
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quote:
Originally posted by Jeremy Grenemyer
quote:
Originally posted by Mournblade
Since those authors put that good work into it (unlike the basic FR Campaign setting which was poorly thought out and just serving the gamist vision of the 4e developers) the material should be respected. The novels written, the dragon DDI articles are good stuff and well thought out. The writers deserve the respect of having their work preserved.
Agreed. This is very refreshing to read too.
I hope the tentative faith some are feeling towards the Realms in the wake of Salvatore's latest will grow into full-on confidence as they take in each book in the series.
Should that confidence lead anyone to purchase a DDI subscription, I hope they'll remember they're buying access to all previous DDI content as well, for which there's a lost of Realms material that's been produced over the last four or five years that is of high quality, that fits the Realms properly and that can be easily added to a Realms game set in any era.
I cancelled my DDI early in 2009. THen on here I think it was Matt James or Erik Scot Debrie who challenged me to go onto DDI and read the FR articles and honestly say they were poor quality. Well I did, and I read almost ALL of the FR articles, and they were ALL good. Even the earlier ones I won't use like Vaasa.
Alot of the DDI FR items I have used in my 1375 realms campaign, especially the article on the SHARN.
The articles are good enough that I am willing to pay $10 a month for a good realms article every three.
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A wizard is Never late Frodo Baggins. Nor is he Early. A wizard arrives precisely when he means to... |
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Regained faith in the Realms
