Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Butterface 12-06-07, 11:18 PM	I started a thread over on the RPGA boards asking what people thought about Living FR story arcs becoming canon Realms material, and have gotten a few interesting responses. You can read the whole thread here: http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?p=14520366#post14520366 Noteably: Well...speaking as one of the aforementioned Writing Directors... There was no direct FR test for the writing directors. The closest thing we had was a question asking us to take a piece of lore (our choice) and design an adventure synopsis around it. I suspect though that all of us, including the other admin titles as well, applied in the first place because we're such fans of the setting. The reason I applied to be a Writing Director was the chance to help mold the setting I've enjoyed for the past decade. Do I expect to see my storylines made into novels? Not really (oh, but the chance though!). It's the chance to guide the story of my assigned little corner of the Realms for the next decade that makes me excited to be a member of this project. I don't have any more information than any of you have right now - and that's not the NDA talking. However, I suspect the new campaign will be set around a century from current time. Drizzt will be there, as shown already. I think Elminster will be there too, since he is Ed Greenwood incarnate, but drastically altered. I suspect he'll be even more withdrawn - either on the Material Plane as a distant observer, or perhaps on the Outer Planes (after all, they need a new god(dess) of magic, right?). There are numerous threads here debating and calling for certain regions for certain RW locations - pointless; the Spellplague will change things so radically that you might not recognize your favorite locale. However, some things will have to remain familiar - otherwise, why call it the Realms at all? The challenge for the Directors and the authors under us will be to connect the past of the Realms and all its beloved organizations, locations, and lore to the new present. We have to bring the old-timers and the newcomers to the table alike, and make them all fall in love with the Realms again. Personally, I accept the challenge. Scott Horn Writing Director Southeast USA Thoughts? Anyone plan on trying out the Living FR campaign when it starts up?
Faraer 12-06-07, 11:27 PM	I'd rather there wasn't an ongoing timeline of any kind. Coordinating novels and sourcebooks has proved challenging enough; what advantage would there be to 'canonizing' Living Realms events, except to make the players feel important? None is suggested on the thread. It worked out badly with Living City, and the Southeast USA Writing Director thinking 'Elminster . . . is Ed Greenwood incarnate' doesn't inspire a lot more confidence.
Dark Wizard 12-06-07, 11:39 PM	To his credit, he did add, "...but drastically altered." That is a lot more than many who have said a similar line usually point out. Overall his response seems straightforward. He seems to be a fan of the Realms, that's good. While some areas have to be altered by order of WotC, he realizes that some aspects should remain the same, that's good too. Not a bad response given what he's given.
Faraer 12-06-07, 11:41 PM	You're right, it's just irritating to hear untruths like that put about by people in positions of responsibility.
Kenzuki 12-07-07, 08:10 AM	Dear god....they are making Elminster a god??:eek: *beats head against wall repeatedly*
Butterface 12-07-07, 09:28 AM	Dear god....they are making Elminster a god??:eek: *beats head against wall repeatedly* Uhh, a little misunderstanding. . . Scott Horn doesn't actually work for WotC or have any authority over what happens in 4E. . . he's a volunteer that will be writing adventures and directing overall story arcs for the Southeast US region in the upcoming Living FR game. I'm pretty sure he was just guessing as to Elminster's role in 4E. And yes, if they make Elminster a god, direct me to said wall as well!
Butterface 12-07-07, 09:32 AM	You're right, it's just irritating to hear untruths like that put about by people in positions of responsibility. Is it really that untrue to say that Elminster is Ed Greenwood incarnate, albeit drastically altered? I know that I've read many a Dragon article and sourcebook entry where Ed Greenwood has used the voice of Elminster as his narrator, often speaking directly to the reader. But anyway, back to the topic at hand, Living FR, any takers out there from these boards?
Lord Karsus 12-07-07, 01:34 PM	-Well, if it's anything, the old online FR game, Green Regent, wasn't canon. So... Is it really that untrue to say that Elminster is Ed Greenwood incarnate, albeit drastically altered? -Of course not. Whales are like birds, albeit drastically altered.
Butterface 12-07-07, 01:50 PM	So LK, are you going to try Living FR? I will probably keep running my 3.5 FR home game, and try 4E via the Living FR adventures. I do think that it's good that the writing directors they're hiring for Living FR are fans of the setting and like to play in FR. I've rarely said anything against the designers for 4E FR, but I have to admit I was discouraged to hear that none of them are even playing in an FR game. . . I think this Living FR game will be a great opportunity for those who are big fans of the setting and want to break into the game designer scene. These living games take tons of volunteers writing adventures to function properly, and so it's much easier for an up and coming author to get spotlighted here than say, in Dragon magazine.
Lord Karsus 12-07-07, 02:04 PM	So LK, are you going to try Living FR? I will probably keep running my 3.5 FR home game, and try 4E via the Living FR adventures. -Truthfully, I don't even know what 'Living' games are. They're just "official" WotC online campaign? -Either way, I'm not interested in playing 4e, or dedicating the time to play in an online campaign.
Fingoldfin 12-07-07, 03:09 PM	So LK, are you going to try Living FR? I will probably keep running my 3.5 FR home game, and try 4E via the Living FR adventures. I do think that it's good that the writing directors they're hiring for Living FR are fans of the setting and like to play in FR. I've rarely said anything against the designers for 4E FR, but I have to admit I was discouraged to hear that none of them are even playing in an FR game. . . I think this Living FR game will be a great opportunity for those who are big fans of the setting and want to break into the game designer scene. These living games take tons of volunteers writing adventures to function properly, and so it's much easier for an up and coming author to get spotlighted here than say, in Dragon magazine. The Living Realms idea is interesting and appeals to me a little. The problem is I hate the vast majority of the changes to the FR setting and don't want to have anything to do with 4e Realms. I also hate the changes to the magic system in 4e. If WotC hadn't killed my favorite god, trashed my favorite setting, and retconed away my favorite character class then I would give it a try.:( I know you are really excited to be a part of the living Realms. I am glad to see that people who love the Realms will be in the living games. I hope you have a lot of fun.:)
johnkretzer 12-07-07, 04:23 PM	I am sure you know my opinion about the RPGA by now. It is not for me...though I might give it a try again to see how it is (if there has been changes). Also I find the chance to write adventure for other people...to be interesting. But this is my problem with the RPGA living FR game being treated as canon souce. Why the RPGA players should be treated better then those who aren't RPGA members? I mean I play in a living game that has been around a lot longer then the RPGA(I think...). Has had lots of players play in it. Why should RPGA members have a greater influence then say any other game? There is another point...though I'll admitt ignorance here so it might be wrong so I'll ask. Can a non-RPGA member access the adventures and such? Why does the events of the RPGA should be held in higher regard then say my own game?
Lord Karsus 12-07-07, 04:51 PM	Why does the events of the RPGA should be held in higher regard then say my own game? -Cause they're "official"?
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 12-07-07, 06:23 PM	...the Southeast USA Writing Director thinking 'Elminster . . . is Ed Greenwood incarnate' doesn't inspire a lot more confidence. I was thinking the exact same thing. Also, I already love the Realms setting, I don't need to "fall in love with it all over again." That phrase is getting really annoying.
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 12-07-07, 06:30 PM	The Living Realms idea is interesting and appeals to me a little. The problem is I hate the vast majority of the changes to the FR setting and don't want to have anything to do with 4e Realms. Same here. So no, I have no particular plans to try out the Living Forgotten Realms campaign.
Butterface 12-07-07, 07:18 PM	Same here. So no, I have no particular plans to try out the Living Forgotten Realms campaign. Aw, that's too bad. :( I'd love to randomly sit down at a gaming table with you guys at Gencon in Indy, or DDXP in Arlington. And John, I don't think that the RPGA players are special in any way over regular home games. But, if I wanted to give the players a voice in the overall story of a campaign setting, how would one do that? It's not feasible to get input from private campaigns all over the world, contacting individuals for information on what's going on in their Realms game. And just think about the multitude of continuity differences from home game to home game, and the various house rules that make each home game a unique experience. But, if you have a campaign that is experienced all over the world, and the same continuity and rules are applied on a broad basis, and a means to assimilate all the information coming from these games. . . that's possibly a way to go about letting fans shape the game. I'm not saying that it should be done, I'm just saying that if it was to be done, the RPGA would probably be the fairest way to do that. You can not download the adventures if you are not a member of the RPGA, but membership is free, and so are the downloads. Not everyone likes adventure mods, and that's cool. I do, however, and it's hard for me to not like tons of free adventures written by volunteers and up and coming RPG authors. :) @ LK: Very little of RPGA play is online, although with 4E and D&DI I imagine we'll be seeing more online play than ever. Probably about 70% of RPGA play is done at home at the table just like your regular home game, 29% is at game shops or conventions, and 1% is online play. (Don't ask me where I'm getting these stats, because I'm making them up. But that's my gut feeling!) I know that some online games happen because I see them organizing every great once and a while over at the RPGA boards. I've never played D&D over the internet, but one of the big things they're pushing in 4E is this whole game table thing, with online play capabilities. I have friends spread out all over the country, and I will probably try to run a Living FR gaming session or two on the Game Table just to see how it works. I'll probably have a spot or two at the "virtual" table if anyone around here is interested, or want to see what some of these adventures are like. BUT, that's still a long ways off from now, much like everything else these days.
Butterface 12-07-07, 07:21 PM	I was thinking the exact same thing. Also, I already love the Realms setting, I don't need to "fall in love with it all over again." That phrase is getting really annoying. Agreed, although I don't think you love the 4E Realms setting, and that's where the challenge lies. And oh what a challenge that is. :)
Butterface 12-07-07, 07:27 PM	You guys have never suspected that Elminster might just be Ed Greenwood's ego personified in the Realms? I mean, I know the guy has his own history, goals, etc., but I have to admit that the thought has crossed my mind a time or two. Elminster does seem to be Ed's favorite character, throughout the history of the setting. :) And, when I open up my old Pages from the Mages sourcebook from 2nd ed, it's just funny to have Elminster narrating, nay, speaking directly to the reader, almost as if that fourth wall is being broken down. I don't know how many articles I've read where El was using that same voice. I definitely am no Greenwood expert, but that's kind of always been the impression that I've gotten!
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 12-07-07, 07:54 PM	Aw, that's too bad. :( I'd love to randomly sit down at a gaming table with you guys at Gencon in Indy, or DDXP in Arlington. All right, I have to admit, if I got the chance to actually do such a thing, I would.:) I'd love to play a game with the folks around here.
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 12-07-07, 07:57 PM	You guys have never suspected that Elminster might just be Ed Greenwood's ego personified in the Realms? I mean, I know the guy has his own history, goals, etc., but I have to admit that the thought has crossed my mind a time or two. Elminster does seem to be Ed's favorite character, throughout the history of the setting. :) And, when I open up my old Pages from the Mages sourcebook from 2nd ed, it's just funny to have Elminster narrating, nay, speaking directly to the reader, almost as if that fourth wall is being broken down. I don't know how many articles I've read where El was using that same voice. I definitely am no Greenwood expert, but that's kind of always been the impression that I've gotten! I have no doubt that there's a little bit of Ed Greenwood in all the characters he creates. But Ed has said more than once that Elminster is NOT his alter ego, as some people like to think (in the sense that Ed lives vicariously through the character). That's why it's disheartening to hear a writer of LFR refer to Elminster as, basically, Ed Greenwood's FR self AND to imply that he'll always be around because of that.
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 12-07-07, 08:00 PM	Agreed, although I don't think you love the 4E Realms setting, and that's where the challenge lies. And oh what a challenge that is. :) Yes indeed.:) Seriously, it could turn out that I'll love the 4E FR setting, but with so much of what I like about the setting being "squashed", it seems unlikely. I *am* open to liking certain parts of it though--I was impressed with the recent (fan-driven!) developments regarding Torm, as well as Rich saying that the focus will no longer be on RSEs.
johnkretzer 12-08-07, 03:50 AM	And John, I don't think that the RPGA players are special in any way over regular home games. But, if I wanted to give the players a voice in the overall story of a campaign setting, how would one do that? It's not feasible to get input from private campaigns all over the world, contacting individuals for information on what's going on in their Realms game. And just think about the multitude of continuity differences from home game to home game, and the various house rules that make each home game a unique experience. But, if you have a campaign that is experienced all over the world, and the same continuity and rules are applied on a broad basis, and a means to assimilate all the information coming from these games. . . that's possibly a way to go about letting fans shape the game. I'm not saying that it should be done, I'm just saying that if it was to be done, the RPGA would probably be the fairest way to do that. You can not download the adventures if you are not a member of the RPGA, but membership is free, and so are the downloads. Not everyone likes adventure mods, and that's cool. I do, however, and it's hard for me to not like tons of free adventures written by volunteers and up and coming RPG authors. :) That is why the Realms changes should be slower pace...smaller in scope...etc. Then it will remain useful for everyone. I don't want to the official Realms to be based on any game. There are to many variables involved you will end up alienating a certain percentage of players with every change you do. I mean you might disagree with me...but can you atleast see my side of the issue? I am not against the RPGA adventures having a effect in favor the games I play in..I am against any game at all having a effect. But mmm...maybe I'll stick my foot back in and join the RPGA....heck meeting new gamers is always a good thing.
Lord Karsus 12-08-07, 10:25 AM	@ LK: Very little of RPGA play is online, although with 4E and D&DI I imagine we'll be seeing more online play than ever. Probably about 70% of RPGA play is done at home at the table just like your regular home game, 29% is at game shops or conventions, and 1% is online play. (Don't ask me where I'm getting these stats, because I'm making them up. But that's my gut feeling!) I know that some online games happen because I see them organizing every great once and a while over at the RPGA boards. -Oh. Well, still, I have no interest, as I know no other FR players that live close enough around me, nor am I interested in legitimizing the 4e Realms in my own mind by playing a game there. But Ed has said more than once that Elminster is NOT his alter ego, as some people like to think (in the sense that Ed lives vicariously through the character). -He could be lying. ;)
Butterface 12-08-07, 10:36 AM	I mean you might disagree with me...but can you atleast see my side of the issue? I am not against the RPGA adventures having a effect in favor the games I play in..I am against any game at all having a effect. Yes, of course I can see your point. In fact, I'm not sold on the idea that the major story arcs for Living FR should be canon; that's why I started the original thread over on the RPGA boards. Overall, even though I think it's cool to be a part of a campaign that will have some aspects of it canonized, it's probably better for the Realms to start having a little less "canon" material. I've always thought having all the novels be canon was awfully risky.
johnkretzer 12-08-07, 02:50 PM	Yes, of course I can see your point. In fact, I'm not sold on the idea that the major story arcs for Living FR should be canon; that's why I started the original thread over on the RPGA boards. Overall, even though I think it's cool to be a part of a campaign that will have some aspects of it canonized, it's probably better for the Realms to start having a little less "canon" material. I've always thought having all the novels be canon was awfully risky. Ok...sometimes I have trouble articulating my points. The thing is that waaayyyy too many gamers now put too much stock in canon. Each game in my opinion has it's own canon that is related to a degree to the official canon. The official canon acts like a building block that every game rest on. Sure you can add to it and have it grow slowly and most people structures will remain steady...but when you alter it in a very fast and destructive manner(which is why I dislike all of the changes so far) you'll cause almost every game built on it to collapse. By the way I would like to say I am more concern over the effect on canon the novels have then RPGA will have...atleast the RPGA does though the game and not author fiat. But it still concerns me.
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 12-08-07, 09:36 PM	-He could be lying. ;) I prefer to give Ed the benefit of the doubt.:)
Lord Karsus 12-08-07, 10:04 PM	I prefer to give Ed the benefit of the doubt.:) -Eh. In my own opinion, if he didn't want to be associated with Elminster so much, he would have changed things about the character, or himself (the character more likely, obviously!).
Faraer 12-08-07, 10:20 PM	He cares more about his creations' integrity than appeasing lies . . .
Lord Karsus 12-08-07, 10:23 PM	He cares too much about the integrity of his creations to change them to appease lies -"Beneath every mistruth lies a grain of truth".
MatteBlack 12-08-07, 11:49 PM	I There is another point...though I'll admitt ignorance here so it might be wrong so I'll ask. Can a non-RPGA member access the adventures and such? Ultimately, you need to be a member to get access to the adventures through proper channels but, becoming and staying a member is free and pretty painless. In order to download adventures at current, you need to sign a membership form/card and pass a fairly easy open-book DM certification test. RPGA Living Style games aren't for everyone. I am a fan but, would say a well-run DM-written home campaign will always be best because it can cater specifically to the preferences of those at the table better. The upsides being in the longevity/stability of the campaigns, their sense of community, the portability of the characters and the access to generally well-formed adventures. There is also the potential to help shape the Realms through play but, what the exact impact of that is hard to guage.
DreamStalker 12-09-07, 12:47 AM	I could be remembering wrong here, but hasn't Ed Greenwood said the reason why he is always writing Elminster is that is what he is requested to write? I know he puts a lot himself into his characters. I think it has been since first edition the writing jobs he has been contracted for have largely specifically called for Elminster as a narrator, that if he decided everything he wrote commercially that there would have been a larger variety of narrator characters for the Realms. Sometimes characters are written not for being the best representative but for being famously linked. Drizzt was the the Guide to the Underdark (I loved that book) even though he wasn't all that well travelled in the Underdark. Yet he was famous and everyone would recognize him and clearly see the link. I think this is the case for the FR. When people see Ed Greenwood as a writer they expect Elminster. Hmm, the Living RPGA having an effect on canon could be interesting if done correctly. I loved how L5R used tournaments to affect the storyline. Having a yearly RSE determined by player input would seem a bit over the top. Having smaller more regional events determined by play could be done right. Such as determining who wins a war. A faith spreading into a new area or losing ground in an old. I think those would be better focuses than RSE for the "major plot points" during a production cycle anyway.
18DELTA 12-09-07, 01:24 AM	So how does one join the RPGA? I would like to give it a go.:)
MatteBlack 12-09-07, 01:29 AM	The impact on the Realms would need to be handled with alot of care but, how cool would it be to see the players of the living campaign restore one of recently downsized gods through their performance in a given story arc. Maybe even be given choice of which of a few they bring back depending on how they handle critical adventure encounters.
MatteBlack 12-09-07, 01:38 AM	So how does one join the RPGA? I would like to give it a go.:) http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=629833 This should be a good start. If you can hit a local con or gamestore that holds RPGA games you can save yourself a wait for the application.
MarkusTay63 12-09-07, 02:23 AM	A valid point has been made here, though. Events in official Living games will become FR canon lore, but these types of adventures don't represent the settting or players very well AT ALL. Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't people have to have 'official' characters to play in the con events - a person would never develop the love for a character that was just printed up and handed to him as he would for one he hand-crafted and played for years in his home game. The atmosphere is completely different in this type of tournament-style play, and RPing barely enters into it. I'm not sure if the RPGA Living Campaigns are run differently, and people get to use their own personal characters, but if they do that seems to open a huge door to the 'egomaniacs' who want to bend FR lore around themselves. The possibilities for abuse are endless, and very scarey considering that some of this might end up in future sourcebooks. Of course, that only matters if you plan on buying 4e FR sourcebooks.
Reneshat 12-09-07, 02:38 AM	Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't people have to have 'official' characters to play in the con events Okay, I will correct you. In the Living Campaigns "official" characters only means that you build your character based on the campaign standards. For example, that means 28 point buy, access to certain classes and feats, and some rules that eliminate the random factor from HP and gold. You still develop your own character, you build him up, often times more slowly than you would in a home campaign, and everything else that comes along with it. You might not be able to choose Super-Ninja-Psion prestige class, but that doesn't mean you don't get to make your own character. Edit: 28 point buy and limited options from all the books is the current Living Greyhawk rules, and have no correlation on the Living Forgotten Realms rules seeing how we don't even know how to make characters for 4ed yet.
MarkusTay63 12-09-07, 02:40 AM	Ahhh... thanks for the info. Way too much 'hand-tying' for my taste, and I HATE point-buy - far to 'equalizing' to be realistic. I understand the need for it in these official-type campaigns, though.
DreamStalker 12-09-07, 02:49 AM	Those are exactly the sort of issues that have to be accounted for such an endeavor to work. A designer has to determine most outcomes in advance. If this happens in x%^ of campaigns, this will happen in the setting. If not, then this will happen in the setting. Some of these scenarios could be announced. Others could be "secret." Some can be a list of choices that players vote on in some way. IE going into an adventure you represent such and such ideal/character/object/whatever and if you succeed or fail at such and such goal your vote counts in that way. Regardless, a certain amount of restraint needs to be played. With restraint, care and the appropriate amount of application such a function can work wonderfully. With laziness, overuse and disregard of sensible possibilities it can be a tremendous drag. So without knowing the structure of how the RPGA will determine Realms affecting events, there is no way to judge how appropriate this is. I haven't looked into it and for I know this canonizing of of RPGA material could simply be you sign over the rights of anything they see you doing. Thus allowing them to write any of your material they want into the setting. Ooh, his is a cool character. Ah, like how she handled that encounter.:whatsthis
18DELTA 12-09-07, 12:20 PM	http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=629833 This should be a good start. If you can hit a local con or gamestore that holds RPGA games you can save yourself a wait for the application. Thanks! :tiphat: :)
Lord Karsus 12-09-07, 12:45 PM	I'm not sure if the RPGA Living Campaigns are run differently, and people get to use their own personal characters, but if they do that seems to open a huge door to the 'egomaniacs' who want to bend FR lore around themselves. The possibilities for abuse are endless, and very scarey considering that some of this might end up in future sourcebooks. -If all this took place in a undeveloped area, like, say, one of the Border Kingdoms, I don't really think this would be much of an issue, so long as there is a sound DM running the game.
Butterface 12-09-07, 03:52 PM	I'm not sure if the RPGA Living Campaigns are run differently, and people get to use their own personal characters, but if they do that seems to open a huge door to the 'egomaniacs' who want to bend FR lore around themselves. The possibilities for abuse are endless, and very scarey considering that some of this might end up in future sourcebooks. I'd tend to agree with you more if they were talking about having every Living FR adventure become canon material - but as it is the discussions seems to be going more in the direction of making major story arcs only canon. I imagine those major story arcs are going to go through the wringer (they've promised collaboration between the RPGA content manager and 3 Living FR Global Admins, FR authors, and FR designers) before they ever see the light of day. One aspect of Living FR that they've teased us with is the possibility of interaction with FR novels - experiencing events in them, and possibly even vice versa (a Living FR storyline becoming novelized). This is all very much guesswork at this point, as the campaign staff was just recently chosen. I don't know if they've even began work on the campaign yet.
Butterface 12-09-07, 04:12 PM	-If all this took place in a undeveloped area, like, say, one of the Border Kingdoms, I don't really think this would be much of an issue, so long as there is a sound DM running the game. It's not really going to work like that. I'll try to briefly describe what I know about the organization of the campaign and its regions. Keep in mind that very little info has come out still about Living FR, so some of it I'm guessing on. Here's a link that also might be useful in explaining: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=rpga/news/20070905a For example, I live in Arkansas, which in Living FR, is considered the Southwest US Region, consisting of Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Lousiana. At the convention DDXP in February, they will announce what Realms region is associated with my real world region (I'm hoping for somewhere in the Amn, Tethyr, Calimshan area). For my region there were three admins chosen - An event manager, a point of contact, and a writing director. These people are volunteers that were chosen for these positions by applying along with thousands of others that wanted the "job." There are many, many people who will volunteer to write adventures for the Southwest US region, but the Writing Director will oversee what actually comes out, and direct the storyline for our region. There are twelve regions globally - each region has its 3 admins, and then there are three Global Admins that oversee the campaign and report directly to the content manager of the RPGA. So, there isn't a single DM in any region (whether he's good or not) that would be determining storylines for an area. It's a multi-leveled, nearly entirely volunteer effort by fans. Clear as mud? :) Here's a list of the Admins if anyone is interested: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=rpga/news/20071116a
MatteBlack 12-09-07, 06:36 PM	The overwhelming majority of my RPGA experience comes from Living Greyhawk but, I beleive it's format is fairly popular and unlikely to see drastic changes beyond it's end, re-organization and transfer to the Realms. I can't say for certain what we will see in LFR but, I think what I will say below is likely to be applicable to LFR. -Most books specific to the campaign or D&D in general eventually trickle into the allowable character rules unless they really don't fit the campaign format, are more of an NPC option or very notably unbalanced against the ruleset. -Impact on the campaign world will be based on many, many tables of play in a given module or series of modules. While as few as 50 or so players might have an impact via an "interactive" module, it would likely only decide the fate of one battle or event within a regional war or the like. Generally, the impact will be based on the actions of hundreds of players for regional activity and thousands to effect "core" events. -Impact on the campaign will generally be limited to eventualities that are considered ahead of time by the given organizational bodies. -Some players may end up adopting a pre-written "quickplay" character that they started with but, they are a definite minority and all advancement is in the hands of players. Many players grow very attached to their characters that may well have been the product of alot of investment of time, travel and rules research. -The need to satisfy so many different types of players means that customization to individual playstyles will almost always pale compared to a well run home campaign. Despite this, I feel the living format has other strengths that make it equally appealing. -A standard set of rules and adventures amongst a large number of players make some aspects similar to MMOs for good and bad.
Lord Karsus 12-10-07, 10:25 AM	For example, I live in Arkansas, which in Living FR, is considered the Southwest US Region, consisting of Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Lousiana. At the convention DDXP in February, they will announce what Realms region is associated with my real world region (I'm hoping for somewhere in the Amn, Tethyr, Calimshan area). -Oh, that's dumb (but at the same time, effective)!