contacting FR creators [Archive] - Wizards Community

contacting FR creators [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
The Vanguard
07-03-04, 11:58 PM Hi I would like to contact the creators of Forgotten Realms setting, the reason is very simple since FR started as Ed Greenwood's personal D&D world in which he played with his gaming friends.

Also I fifured out that most of the other official D&D worlds like Greyhawk, and Dragonlance start as personal D&D worlds, and by word of mouth they got popular.

I need there help in creating my own D@D setting which I hope will become popular and some day official.
Cunning Linguist
07-04-04, 09:20 AM Originally posted by The Vanguard
Hi I would like to contact the creators of Forgotten Realms setting, the reason is very simple since FR started as Ed Greenwood's personal D&D world in which he played with his gaming friends.

Also I fifured out that most of the other official D&D worlds like Greyhawk, and Dragonlance start as personal D&D worlds, and by word of mouth they got popular.

I need there help in creating my own D@D setting which I hope will become popular and some day official.

Thats not how the D&D worlds got started. Word of mouth never had anything to do with it. Get a copy of Dragon #315 to see how each world got started.

As for getting ahold of Ed Greenwood and asking him about your setting.. Thats like me, getting ahold of Tarantino, and asking him about my filmscript, and how he would change it.
The Vanguard
07-04-04, 03:05 PM Ed Greenwood doesn't have E-Mail, also does anyone here know were I can get my hands on Dragon 315?. I was inspired to create my own D&D world when I read the D&D comic that was given away on Free Comic Day,
Cunning Linguist
07-04-04, 04:05 PM You can order backissues of Dragon from Paizo (http://www.paizo.com/) and Ed does have a email, but its not public.
Brenigin
07-05-04, 03:00 AM Hi Vanguard,

Ed Greenwood had been detailing the Realms for years, playing in it in his home games, and writing articles for Dragon magazine about it for many years before it was published.

Greyhawk was invented by some of the original creators of the Dungeons and Dragons game, while (I think) Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman were established in the industry when they created the Dragonlance setting.

When Wizards did an open call for a new setting last year (the winner was Eberron) they recieved thousands upon thousands of proposals.

My point is, there is nothing wrong with creating your own world, but you aren't the only one doing it. And many of those people, like you, would like to pick the brains of people like Ed Greenwood. But if they all got the chance, the poor guy would never get any rest.

If I were you, I'd make your world, let it grow, maybe put together a website to show it off to the world. Throw your ideas around on the message boards here, or at EnWorld, or at a bunch of other sites. Take on board the feedback from your fellow gamers and game fans first before you think about going after "the big guys" for help.

That way, should you ever get the chance to show your world to them, it will have had time to grow and mature.

A lot of the established game designers have websites where they discuss the trials and tribulations of the industry. Check those out too.
ender
07-05-04, 04:21 AM Actually, though Ed doesn't have an email address, he does have a dedicated thread over at Candlekeep.com. We've all been picking his brains for over forty pages now, and I can tell you that he is unfailingly gracious and astoundingly patient--and he seems te enjoy discussion of other people's ideas as much as his own. I would check it out.
KingDes
07-05-04, 01:21 PM use your imagination. you'll be fine.
just start small, and make it grow from there. you cant create an entire world in a day. As your campain moves along, keep adding details and events. Your not limited at all. which is the benifit of haveing your own world.
the downside, is that you've got a lot of work to do.
keep in concideration of gods, or God.
and an ecology. it doesnt really have to be that complicated for a home campain, but its not really gonna hurt anything.
I'd love to get ahold of greenwood and creators as well, cuz i'd love to be an FR novelists/Short story guy...but i also know its not gonna happen.

anyway, do your best, i'm sure it'll be fine.
Alac Luin
07-05-04, 07:18 PM Actually, Ed has given advise on world creation on that other site mentioned ealyer.

Download this,
EDIT: Link was broken, use address found in posts below, in Kuje31's sig.

Read it, somwhere in this, Ed gave his advice, or at least describe how he did it with the realms.
The Vanguard
07-05-04, 08:17 PM That link didn't work, could please give me one that does.
Gray Richardson
07-05-04, 11:28 PM May I recommend that you try going to a convention? Something like Gencon or another gaming convention where game designers will be. Go to some panels, ask questions. You can also meet the game designers just hanging out around the convention.

They are usually very personable and may give you tips and advice. IF you make a good connection someone might tell you ways to submit articles to various game magazines or publishers.

The best way to become a successful game designer is to get a job (either directly or as a freelancer) with an established company. Like any writer this will entail you submitting lots of stuff and getting your name and your work out there. It doesn't hurt to make as many friends in the industry as you can. It also helps if you are a self-promoter, not shy and not afraid to hype yourself at any opportunity.

Another way would be to self publish or start your own company. More easily done these days with the internet and the open gaming license. You can create PDF's that you can sell with minimal publishing expense. You will have to be creative not only about putting out a good product but also about making people aware of you and your products. It's a very competitive marketplace.

Cream will always rise to the top. You have to be a good writer (and/or artist) and create quality stuff. Be persistent and stick to your guns, and someday it may happen for you.
Alac Luin
07-06-04, 06:50 PM Originally posted by The Vanguard
That link didn't work, could please give me one that does.

Sorry, it's all I have.
It's a free site I believe, and these things happen from time to time.
Try agien in a few days.
look for any post by member Kuje31, it's the site listed in his Signature in case there is any changes.
Kuje31
07-06-04, 07:23 PM Originally posted by Alac Luin
Sorry, it's all I have.
It's a free site I believe, and these things happen from time to time.
Try agien in a few days.
look for any post by member Kuje31, it's the site listed in his Signature in case there is any changes.

Hmmm odd, but he can find the same link in my FR FAQ here on the FR boards..... Or he can cut and paste it out of my sig. :)
Alac Luin
07-06-04, 07:39 PM Originally posted by Kuje31
Hmmm odd, but he can find the same link in my FR FAQ here on the FR boards..... Or he can cut and paste it out of my sig. :)

I just tryed my own link, geocities is the one that says page unavailable.
Even though it is exactly the same, I tried the cut and paste into navigation bar, and that worked. go figure. :shrug:
Kuje31
07-06-04, 07:59 PM Originally posted by Alac Luin
I just tryed my own link, geocities is the one that says page unavailable.
Even though it is exactly the same, I tried the cut and paste into navigation bar, and that worked. go figure. :shrug:

Yeah strange that your link isn't working..... But my site is still up and it works if you cut and paste the link from my sig or click the one in my FAQ.....

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
The Vanguard 07-03-04, 11:58 PM	Hi I would like to contact the creators of Forgotten Realms setting, the reason is very simple since FR started as Ed Greenwood's personal D&D world in which he played with his gaming friends. Also I fifured out that most of the other official D&D worlds like Greyhawk, and Dragonlance start as personal D&D worlds, and by word of mouth they got popular. I need there help in creating my own D@D setting which I hope will become popular and some day official.
Cunning Linguist 07-04-04, 09:20 AM	Originally posted by The Vanguard Hi I would like to contact the creators of Forgotten Realms setting, the reason is very simple since FR started as Ed Greenwood's personal D&D world in which he played with his gaming friends. Also I fifured out that most of the other official D&D worlds like Greyhawk, and Dragonlance start as personal D&D worlds, and by word of mouth they got popular. I need there help in creating my own D@D setting which I hope will become popular and some day official. Thats not how the D&D worlds got started. Word of mouth never had anything to do with it. Get a copy of Dragon #315 to see how each world got started. As for getting ahold of Ed Greenwood and asking him about your setting.. Thats like me, getting ahold of Tarantino, and asking him about my filmscript, and how he would change it.
The Vanguard 07-04-04, 03:05 PM	Ed Greenwood doesn't have E-Mail, also does anyone here know were I can get my hands on Dragon 315?. I was inspired to create my own D&D world when I read the D&D comic that was given away on Free Comic Day,
Cunning Linguist 07-04-04, 04:05 PM	You can order backissues of Dragon from Paizo (http://www.paizo.com/) and Ed does have a email, but its not public.
Brenigin 07-05-04, 03:00 AM	Hi Vanguard, Ed Greenwood had been detailing the Realms for years, playing in it in his home games, and writing articles for Dragon magazine about it for many years before it was published. Greyhawk was invented by some of the original creators of the Dungeons and Dragons game, while (I think) Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman were established in the industry when they created the Dragonlance setting. When Wizards did an open call for a new setting last year (the winner was Eberron) they recieved thousands upon thousands of proposals. My point is, there is nothing wrong with creating your own world, but you aren't the only one doing it. And many of those people, like you, would like to pick the brains of people like Ed Greenwood. But if they all got the chance, the poor guy would never get any rest. If I were you, I'd make your world, let it grow, maybe put together a website to show it off to the world. Throw your ideas around on the message boards here, or at EnWorld, or at a bunch of other sites. Take on board the feedback from your fellow gamers and game fans first before you think about going after "the big guys" for help. That way, should you ever get the chance to show your world to them, it will have had time to grow and mature. A lot of the established game designers have websites where they discuss the trials and tribulations of the industry. Check those out too.
ender 07-05-04, 04:21 AM	Actually, though Ed doesn't have an email address, he does have a dedicated thread over at Candlekeep.com. We've all been picking his brains for over forty pages now, and I can tell you that he is unfailingly gracious and astoundingly patient--and he seems te enjoy discussion of other people's ideas as much as his own. I would check it out.
KingDes 07-05-04, 01:21 PM	use your imagination. you'll be fine. just start small, and make it grow from there. you cant create an entire world in a day. As your campain moves along, keep adding details and events. Your not limited at all. which is the benifit of haveing your own world. the downside, is that you've got a lot of work to do. keep in concideration of gods, or God. and an ecology. it doesnt really have to be that complicated for a home campain, but its not really gonna hurt anything. I'd love to get ahold of greenwood and creators as well, cuz i'd love to be an FR novelists/Short story guy...but i also know its not gonna happen. anyway, do your best, i'm sure it'll be fine.
Alac Luin 07-05-04, 07:18 PM	Actually, Ed has given advise on world creation on that other site mentioned ealyer. Download this, EDIT: Link was broken, use address found in posts below, in Kuje31's sig. Read it, somwhere in this, Ed gave his advice, or at least describe how he did it with the realms.
The Vanguard 07-05-04, 08:17 PM	That link didn't work, could please give me one that does.
Gray Richardson 07-05-04, 11:28 PM	May I recommend that you try going to a convention? Something like Gencon or another gaming convention where game designers will be. Go to some panels, ask questions. You can also meet the game designers just hanging out around the convention. They are usually very personable and may give you tips and advice. IF you make a good connection someone might tell you ways to submit articles to various game magazines or publishers. The best way to become a successful game designer is to get a job (either directly or as a freelancer) with an established company. Like any writer this will entail you submitting lots of stuff and getting your name and your work out there. It doesn't hurt to make as many friends in the industry as you can. It also helps if you are a self-promoter, not shy and not afraid to hype yourself at any opportunity. Another way would be to self publish or start your own company. More easily done these days with the internet and the open gaming license. You can create PDF's that you can sell with minimal publishing expense. You will have to be creative not only about putting out a good product but also about making people aware of you and your products. It's a very competitive marketplace. Cream will always rise to the top. You have to be a good writer (and/or artist) and create quality stuff. Be persistent and stick to your guns, and someday it may happen for you.
Alac Luin 07-06-04, 06:50 PM	Originally posted by The Vanguard That link didn't work, could please give me one that does. Sorry, it's all I have. It's a free site I believe, and these things happen from time to time. Try agien in a few days. look for any post by member Kuje31, it's the site listed in his Signature in case there is any changes.
Kuje31 07-06-04, 07:23 PM	Originally posted by Alac Luin Sorry, it's all I have. It's a free site I believe, and these things happen from time to time. Try agien in a few days. look for any post by member Kuje31, it's the site listed in his Signature in case there is any changes. Hmmm odd, but he can find the same link in my FR FAQ here on the FR boards..... Or he can cut and paste it out of my sig. :)
Alac Luin 07-06-04, 07:39 PM	Originally posted by Kuje31 Hmmm odd, but he can find the same link in my FR FAQ here on the FR boards..... Or he can cut and paste it out of my sig. :) I just tryed my own link, geocities is the one that says page unavailable. Even though it is exactly the same, I tried the cut and paste into navigation bar, and that worked. go figure. :shrug:
Kuje31 07-06-04, 07:59 PM	Originally posted by Alac Luin I just tryed my own link, geocities is the one that says page unavailable. Even though it is exactly the same, I tried the cut and paste into navigation bar, and that worked. go figure. :shrug: Yeah strange that your link isn't working..... But my site is still up and it works if you cut and paste the link from my sig or click the one in my FAQ.....