'Event' Sourcebooks? [Archive] - Wizards Community

'Event' Sourcebooks? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
SJE
02-23-05, 06:55 AM Traditionally FR 3.x books are either adventures or sourcebooks on groups or areas. But the timeline seems to have some big events impacting on it that cross these boundaries- primarily I'm thinking the Year of Rogue Dragons.

Now 'cos I havent read the novels, I'm not entirely sure what it entails other than a premature Dragon Rage. But i would dearly like to buy a single book that covered the whole phenomena, identified key players, described pivotal locations\battles\twists along with all the other crunchy bits that players might like (a Dragonslayer PrC, some magic items, spells etc)

Now this isnt quite an adventure because the outcome is fairly well defined in advance- more it describes the events and allows the GM to insert the PC's into the bits that interest him.

Now other games have been known to do this- Vampire's Gehenna book, L5R Time of the Void, even FR sorta did this with the Avatar Crises back in the 80's (via the mods).

Good/bad idea?

SJE
CzarGarrett
02-23-05, 10:10 AM Good idea definately.

Viable? I doubt it. There are so many events and stuff in FR that could use a sourcebook or something with greater detail, that its too much to handle.
SJE
02-23-05, 11:57 AM Well I'm thinking the major Events - the Return of Shade, Resurrection of Bane, Dragon Rage & the Avatar Crisis come to mind.

What is the skinny on the Year of Rogue Dragons? The latest releases havent mentioned it yet? (I avoid the novels like the plague)

Thx.

SJE
Barmoz
02-23-05, 12:20 PM The novels usually take place a year or two ahead of the "game" timeline I believe, so I wouldn't expect to see the dragon rage in game materials yet.
Moscone
02-24-05, 06:56 AM Actually, the novels have been pretty good about keeping up with the timeline. The exception is the Last Mythal series. Rich Baker didn't want his series overlapping with Year of Rogue Dragons, so his series takes place the following year.

I think event books would be a really cool idea, but honestly, I can only see them covering the events in Dragon and Dungeon magazines. They seem to focus on region-specific books or race/class books; which isn't a bad thing. I like having stuff printed in Dragon and Dungeon, the way I see it, they're sourcebooks you pay $10 instead of $30 or $50 for.

And whoever you were I read above, said you avoid the novels like the plague, I must say you're really missing out. Besides the stories being so darned entertaining, I find myself putting the book down when I finish a chapter because it sparked a cool idea that needs to be jotted down immediately. Another sourcebook for $10.
Faraer
02-24-05, 02:50 PM If these were additions to the schedule, sure. But they'd probably take the place of other sourcebooks -- and devoting a greater share of the publishing resources to a few major novel plots would not be good, with all Ed's millions of words waiting to be published. I would also have to explain more often that no, those events are not the only or even the most important things going on in the Realms...

Avoiding the novels will deprive you of large amounts of Realmslore that's to be found nowhere else, from whole nations otherwise not covered in detail to such things as Hand of Fire's long-awaited presentation of a caravan journey.
SJE
02-24-05, 06:48 PM I cannot discuss the novels without breaking the mods policy on the Novels Issue, so I suggest we move on.

To rephrase slightly- Is there any non-novel source for the whole Dragon Rage thing yet? A Dragon article? Web thing? Obscure mention in the latest releases?

Thx.

SJE
Darth K'Trava
02-24-05, 07:51 PM As far as I know, there's not "official" source material for the Dragon Rage events. Basically it's where most dragons lose some of their "sensibilities" and start acting more like "barbarians" when they rage. They still think for themselves to a certain extent but act more irrational than usual. They're more snappish and reckless than normal but keep their usual dragon abilities.
bobsan
02-25-05, 03:07 PM OK. I, unfortunately, am not up to date on Realmslore through Novelization. So this talk of dragon rage eludes me a bit.

Can someone explain what this is without getting into a discussion of novels?

If not, can someone PM me what novels are involved in this incident?

Thanks!
Moscone
02-26-05, 03:47 AM The Year of Rogue Dragons in the new campaign year (1373 DR), and an ancient prophecy says that all dragons in the world will succumb to a madness and cause them to rampage- problem is, this one's supposed to last much longer than the previous rage, and no telling when it's going to end. This includes metallic dragons (and even oriental dragons as well).
Meanwhile a villain from the past is offering the dragons a way out of the Rage as long as they agree to become dracoliches under his control.

I left it vague, and other parts out on purpose for those who haven't read the books in the series yet, and for those not done the latest book yet.
Anyway, the series is Year of Rogue Dragons, Book I: The Rage, Book II: The Rite, and Realms of the Dragons anthology are out. You owe it to yourself to read this series... Richard Lee Byers keeps the series interesting.
A lot of potential for a good ongoing FR campaign, but I suggest reading this series so you at least have the backdrop to go by.
BrianCritchley
02-26-05, 08:02 PM having played in a game that has these event source books here are my thoughts.

the good:
it keeps things intresting and keeps the setting from going stale, and ensures that lots of new material coems out instead of rehashes of old.

the bad:
it tebnds to mean a LOT of changes meaning a less then stable setting

the Ugly:
useally it seems that each big event has to be bigger and badder then the next one.. which can get kinda ugly
Ladern
03-02-05, 05:30 PM I think its a great idea, im starting a campaing in the year of the rogue dragons, and i have added several things from the novel, but my problem is when i try to figure out whats happening around Toril. A Dracorage is a mayor event that can destroy a single kingdom in a tenday so i supose somehting is happening around.

I would like to know if any kingdom falls. (If i was a powerful ancient Wizard that has a serious grudge against the biggest city of the realms and i have an army of n-number of Old and Older dracoliches i will start the plotting to raze the city).

MAybe it would be a good idea to make a post with the news of the realm. Something not as detailed as the novels but enought to give DM a notion about whats happening.

Saddly i live in a foreing country and i cant buy Dragon magazine, does anyone knows if i can suscribe or another form to obtain it?
Tamsar
03-02-05, 07:26 PM The below link will take you directly to the publishers subscription page for Dragon Magazine.

http://paizo.com/dragon/products/subscriptions/v5748btpy72tl

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
SJE 02-23-05, 06:55 AM	Traditionally FR 3.x books are either adventures or sourcebooks on groups or areas. But the timeline seems to have some big events impacting on it that cross these boundaries- primarily I'm thinking the Year of Rogue Dragons. Now 'cos I havent read the novels, I'm not entirely sure what it entails other than a premature Dragon Rage. But i would dearly like to buy a single book that covered the whole phenomena, identified key players, described pivotal locations\battles\twists along with all the other crunchy bits that players might like (a Dragonslayer PrC, some magic items, spells etc) Now this isnt quite an adventure because the outcome is fairly well defined in advance- more it describes the events and allows the GM to insert the PC's into the bits that interest him. Now other games have been known to do this- Vampire's Gehenna book, L5R Time of the Void, even FR sorta did this with the Avatar Crises back in the 80's (via the mods). Good/bad idea? SJE
CzarGarrett 02-23-05, 10:10 AM	Good idea definately. Viable? I doubt it. There are so many events and stuff in FR that could use a sourcebook or something with greater detail, that its too much to handle.
SJE 02-23-05, 11:57 AM	Well I'm thinking the major Events - the Return of Shade, Resurrection of Bane, Dragon Rage & the Avatar Crisis come to mind. What is the skinny on the Year of Rogue Dragons? The latest releases havent mentioned it yet? (I avoid the novels like the plague) Thx. SJE
Barmoz 02-23-05, 12:20 PM	The novels usually take place a year or two ahead of the "game" timeline I believe, so I wouldn't expect to see the dragon rage in game materials yet.
Moscone 02-24-05, 06:56 AM	Actually, the novels have been pretty good about keeping up with the timeline. The exception is the Last Mythal series. Rich Baker didn't want his series overlapping with Year of Rogue Dragons, so his series takes place the following year. I think event books would be a really cool idea, but honestly, I can only see them covering the events in Dragon and Dungeon magazines. They seem to focus on region-specific books or race/class books; which isn't a bad thing. I like having stuff printed in Dragon and Dungeon, the way I see it, they're sourcebooks you pay $10 instead of $30 or $50 for. And whoever you were I read above, said you avoid the novels like the plague, I must say you're really missing out. Besides the stories being so darned entertaining, I find myself putting the book down when I finish a chapter because it sparked a cool idea that needs to be jotted down immediately. Another sourcebook for $10.
Faraer 02-24-05, 02:50 PM	If these were additions to the schedule, sure. But they'd probably take the place of other sourcebooks -- and devoting a greater share of the publishing resources to a few major novel plots would not be good, with all Ed's millions of words waiting to be published. I would also have to explain more often that no, those events are not the only or even the most important things going on in the Realms... Avoiding the novels will deprive you of large amounts of Realmslore that's to be found nowhere else, from whole nations otherwise not covered in detail to such things as Hand of Fire's long-awaited presentation of a caravan journey.
SJE 02-24-05, 06:48 PM	I cannot discuss the novels without breaking the mods policy on the Novels Issue, so I suggest we move on. To rephrase slightly- Is there any non-novel source for the whole Dragon Rage thing yet? A Dragon article? Web thing? Obscure mention in the latest releases? Thx. SJE
Darth K'Trava 02-24-05, 07:51 PM	As far as I know, there's not "official" source material for the Dragon Rage events. Basically it's where most dragons lose some of their "sensibilities" and start acting more like "barbarians" when they rage. They still think for themselves to a certain extent but act more irrational than usual. They're more snappish and reckless than normal but keep their usual dragon abilities.
bobsan 02-25-05, 03:07 PM	OK. I, unfortunately, am not up to date on Realmslore through Novelization. So this talk of dragon rage eludes me a bit. Can someone explain what this is without getting into a discussion of novels? If not, can someone PM me what novels are involved in this incident? Thanks!
Moscone 02-26-05, 03:47 AM	The Year of Rogue Dragons in the new campaign year (1373 DR), and an ancient prophecy says that all dragons in the world will succumb to a madness and cause them to rampage- problem is, this one's supposed to last much longer than the previous rage, and no telling when it's going to end. This includes metallic dragons (and even oriental dragons as well). Meanwhile a villain from the past is offering the dragons a way out of the Rage as long as they agree to become dracoliches under his control. I left it vague, and other parts out on purpose for those who haven't read the books in the series yet, and for those not done the latest book yet. Anyway, the series is Year of Rogue Dragons, Book I: The Rage, Book II: The Rite, and Realms of the Dragons anthology are out. You owe it to yourself to read this series... Richard Lee Byers keeps the series interesting. A lot of potential for a good ongoing FR campaign, but I suggest reading this series so you at least have the backdrop to go by.
BrianCritchley 02-26-05, 08:02 PM	having played in a game that has these event source books here are my thoughts. the good: it keeps things intresting and keeps the setting from going stale, and ensures that lots of new material coems out instead of rehashes of old. the bad: it tebnds to mean a LOT of changes meaning a less then stable setting the Ugly: useally it seems that each big event has to be bigger and badder then the next one.. which can get kinda ugly
Ladern 03-02-05, 05:30 PM	I think its a great idea, im starting a campaing in the year of the rogue dragons, and i have added several things from the novel, but my problem is when i try to figure out whats happening around Toril. A Dracorage is a mayor event that can destroy a single kingdom in a tenday so i supose somehting is happening around. I would like to know if any kingdom falls. (If i was a powerful ancient Wizard that has a serious grudge against the biggest city of the realms and i have an army of n-number of Old and Older dracoliches i will start the plotting to raze the city). MAybe it would be a good idea to make a post with the news of the realm. Something not as detailed as the novels but enought to give DM a notion about whats happening. Saddly i live in a foreing country and i cant buy Dragon magazine, does anyone knows if i can suscribe or another form to obtain it?
Tamsar 03-02-05, 07:26 PM	The below link will take you directly to the publishers subscription page for Dragon Magazine. http://paizo.com/dragon/products/subscriptions/v5748btpy72tl