Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Mula 07-26-05, 06:16 PM	Power of Faerūn (http://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/ASIN/0786939109/qid%3D1122398276/sr%3D1-1/ref%3Dsr%5F1%5F2%5F1/702-0468411-4031266) Great authors, Greenwood and Boyd! I wonder if it should be Powers of Faerūn, though.
Slime Lord 07-26-05, 06:23 PM	Dude. No front picture. What's the fun in that?
Mula 07-26-05, 06:27 PM	Dude. It's coming out in 2006. Too early for a cover pic, I suppose. I wonder what it's about, though. Could it be psionics in FR? There is a Complete Psionics coming out in April 06, however.
GothicDan 07-26-05, 06:41 PM	I think an FR book on psionics would be too crunch-heavy for Ed Greenwood, especially considering he doesn't know (or at least is not an expert in) 3E rules, as far as I know.
Dargoth 07-26-05, 06:52 PM	Dude. It's coming out in 2006. Too early for a cover pic, I suppose. I wonder what it's about, though. Could it be psionics in FR? There is a Complete Psionics coming out in April 06, however. The title did made me think that to but given that Psionics arent very common in the realms I doubt it. The other thing I thought it might be is a relgious book like Prayers of Faithful. Others have suggested that its Faithes and Pantheons 3.5 but I doubt that.
HVulpes 07-26-05, 06:52 PM	Guesses By HVulpes 1) Perhaps a book on Religion in the realms, either with the Gods (Which I think is unlikely, but possible) or with those who worship them. Like Complete Divine or the old Clerics and Fighters of the Realms book. Perhaps with some PrClasses for other gods, some relics of the gods of Faerun, Priest aspects by region, or such. 2)The neutral version of Champions of Ruins and Valor. 3)A combo book of the Hero and Villain's Lorebooks. Focusing on the major players of Faerun or those that have appeared in fiction. (People have been crying out for such a book for a while and it would update the 3.0 characters like Fzoul and Drizzt to 3.5.) 4) A new book involving magic in the realms. Just some starting of guesses. I do doubt it's a Psionic book. Especially with the Complete Psionic comming out. Possible, but unlikely to have dueling books coming out.
Darrian 07-26-05, 06:55 PM	Maybe it is a 3.5 update of the Epic Level Handbook focusing on Faerun and it's NPC's Whatever it is, I am interrested. Darrian (Maybe they will make Elminster more powerful)
Demetrios 07-26-05, 07:00 PM	Interesting! Let the speculation begin! "Power" as in psionic powers - with psionics always having been downplayed a bit in the setting, I'm not sure that there's enough stuff to go into a 160-page book. "Power" as in power groups - well, we've just had Champions of Ruin and Champions of Valor is on its way. Those cover a lot of the power groups in the Realms between them. Sure, the neutral groups are left out, but surely something like Champions of Balance would be a better title, and one that would follow the pattern? "Power" as in something that powers the Realms - a book on the Weave and magic in the Realms? We've already had Magic of Faerun, but that was a long time back. If this is the case, I could see psionic stuff forming a section, making the title doubly appropriate... "Power" as in deities - Hmmm, Boyd always has been the "deity" guy for the setting, and it certainly would be interesting to update F&P with less avatar stats and more background information on churches in the setting. Throw in a full set of "Initiate" feats, some good PrCs, and bring back a lot of the monstrous deities and I think we would have a winner... "Power" as in... something totally different and unexpected? Then again, this could just be a "filler" title, with nothing to do with what the actual title will be. It does seem terribly generic...
GothicDan 07-26-05, 07:11 PM	I'm going to toss in my lot with the idea that it's a cleric book, like the 2E Prayers from the Faithful or the like. Because in Faerun, Arcane magic is known as The Art, and Divine magic is known as The Power.
Demetrios 07-26-05, 07:17 PM	Eric, if you happen to be reading this, and it is a "deity book", make sure at the very least you revise that chart of the monstrous deities from the back of F&P. Not only would it be nice to have at least a few more deities added (*cough*Bahamut*cough*), but the favored weapons listed in that chart are totally screwed up! Unless you really think sahuagin can effectively use greataxes underwater...
Darrian 07-26-05, 07:20 PM	That would be awesome. The campaign that I am currently running involves bringing Bahamut to the Forgotten Realms. Serendipity! Darrian
Demetrios 07-26-05, 07:25 PM	That would be awesome. The campaign that I am currently running involves bringing Bahamut to the Forgotten Realms. Serendipity! Darrian Eric's been sneaking in monstrous deities originally "culled" in F&P for quite some time now. He got quite a few back in in Serpent Kingdoms and even snuck in a couple of references in City of Splendors. If this does turn out to be a "deity book", I wouldn't doubt that he would make every attempt to get some more of them back in through the doorway. And I would be shocked if Bahamut weren't near (or even at) the top of the list of deities to be let back in...
Zevox 07-26-05, 07:33 PM	Hmm... the most likely sounding ideas are the Psionics and Clerical ones. Psionics are always referred to as "Psionic Powers" and, as Dan said, divine magic in Faerūn is known as "The Power". I'm hoping for the Clerical/Deity book. Some more info on the Gods of the Realms is always nice (though that may be because my favorite character classes are Paladin and Cleric...). Zevox
ClobberinTime 07-26-05, 11:48 PM	I bet its an campaign type building book with details on how and what the chosen are allowed to do and why, and networks of spies, influences, and why there isn't more direct military conflict etc...
Shemeska the Marauder 07-27-05, 03:02 AM	I'm going to toss in my lot with the idea that it's a cleric book, like the 2E Prayers from the Faithful or the like. Because in Faerun, Arcane magic is known as The Art, and Divine magic is known as The Power. Bingo. That's my bet for what the book is going to be about. Secondary to that guess, it's plausible as a group of non evil/good organizations in the Realms. I'm hoping for a religion book, but given who the authors are, I think I'm going to be happy.
Darrian 07-27-05, 07:26 AM	Clobberintime brings up a good question, "why isn't there more direct military conflict?" I have been wondering that for a long time. I believe the conflict in Unther-Muhorand is the only ongoing military conflict in Faerun. Does anyone have any idea why Faerun is such a peaceful place on a national scale? I think wars provide some great roleplaying and adventure oppurtunities for PC's. The change brought about by wars serves to make the campaign world more dynamic. Possible conflicts: Amn vs Tethyr Halrua vs Dambrath Sembia vs Cormyr Darrian (Let's start a war)
Belissaire 07-27-05, 08:44 AM	I don't know about the title, Power of Faerun, it's too general... It could be a working title. Bel
GothicDan 07-27-05, 11:13 AM	Clobberintime brings up a good question, "why isn't there more direct military conflict?" I have been wondering that for a long time. I believe the conflict in Unther-Muhorand is the only ongoing military conflict in Faerun. Does anyone have any idea why Faerun is such a peaceful place on a national scale? I think wars provide some great roleplaying and adventure oppurtunities for PC's. The change brought about by wars serves to make the campaign world more dynamic. Because Ed Greenwood specifically set up conditions in Faerun so that it would be based more on the conflicts of individual groups/organizations. There's a reason why there are so many powerful NPCs and such out there, you know. It's in great part because all of Faerun is constantly fighting just to be at a standstill - otherwise it would be like World War 2, or perhaps even more appropriate, the Cold War. There are dozens of groups/NPCs across Faerun that could blow small portions of the world off the map. No one (not even most of the evil people) want to risk that. That being said, there still has been a significant number of wars going on in Faerun. Two of the most recent have been the Phaerimn invasion with the Return of Shade, which allied many of the western nations against them, the war on Evermeet by the combined forces of Lolth and the Gods of Fury, and the new war going in with the Last Mythal series. Thay used to be in constant states of war with Aglarond and Rashemen, but they've seen that in their current state, it wasn't very lucrative for them. So, in terms of wars, Faerun is rather much like our modern Earth, due to the blow-us-all-up potential that its high magic level gives. In the past hundred years, we haven't seen nearly as many wars or skirmishes as the world saw before the advent of the nuclear bomb. Faerun wasn't meant to be a world constantly at war, like Krynn or Middle Earth. Moreso, it was meant to be a hotbed of intrigue, politics, espionage, and trade.
BladeDrinker 07-27-05, 12:15 PM	I don't know about the title, Power of Faerun, it's too general... It could be a working title. Bel Yep. It's probably a placeholder name.
ClobberinTime 07-27-05, 12:44 PM	Heck for all we know its a module, aren't they supposed to start doing them again??? What we really need (no don't freak out) is if they are going to be serious about the new cosmology is a detailed book about the new planes. The probably drug Ed into it to give it some legitimacy. Also it makes sense from the 'power' angle.
Kuje31 07-27-05, 01:13 PM	July 17, 2005: Hello, all. Ed gives swift reply to Dargoth’s questions: 1)Ed is Power of Faerun a book on psionics in the realms? 2)Ed is Power of Faerun a book on FR religion? Let me state this, categorically and upon oath: I’m not aware of ever having written, or being about to write, a book entitled “Power of Faerun.” I cannot speculate as to what a tome would contain with any more insight than any of you reasonable citizens. It is within the bounds of possibility - - nay, reasonable probability - - m’luds, that someone who bears a passing resemblance to an upstanding bough of the family tree of Logan, together with your good and voluble servant, have collaborated our divers talents (such as they are) in the production of Realmslore intended for the printed page, to whit public circulation of same. By now all of you should be heartily familiar with Non-Disclosure Agreements and all that they entail, and I must warn you that I shall not entertain an endless series of ever-more-pointed questions designed to lay bear that which should now remain mysterious. However, to answer thy specific questions, questor Dargoth: 1. No. 2. No. With the usual caveat that any screed bearing the names Boyd and Greenwood tends to cover many topics in passing, and may include mentions of both of the above. M’luds, I’ll try thy indulgences no farther. If I may? Yes, same again, thanks. Don’t bother with the glass, just the bottle, thanks... So saith Ed. So let the wild speculation veer from this book being “all about” either psionics or religion. love to all, THO
GothicDan 07-27-05, 01:52 PM	Haha. Amazon lied. :D
Sammael_the_Chosen 07-27-05, 04:05 PM	Can someone please translate what Ed said there for us poor non-native English speakers?
BlackMoria 07-27-05, 04:53 PM	Can someone please translate what Ed said there for us poor non-native English speakers? In a nutshell, Ed says he is under a NDA (Non Disclosure Agreement) and will not entertain any further questions as to what Power of Faerun is. He did say that the guess of a psionics books or a religion book is wrong. Leaving it to the rest of us of speculate further without him commenting further on the subject. There....the abridged version
maynardjkeenan 07-27-05, 05:20 PM	Just because he said it was about neither, doesn't mean it can be about both.. :) I doubt it is about divine or psionics though...
jim9311 07-27-05, 09:15 PM	the hell with what it's about. If there is truly a new book coming out from Boyd and Greenwood, isn't that enough.
Mr. Wilson 07-27-05, 09:54 PM	the hell with what it's about. If there is truly a new book coming out from Boyd and Greenwood, isn't that enough. That's pretty much my opinion on the matter. :D
Alac Luin 07-27-05, 09:57 PM	The Lords Alliance is embarking on a joint venture to discover, manipulate electrical service on Toril. This public service will be called Power of Faerun, or POF. Of course this will not fill an entire tome, and it will detail the divergent companies that spring up due to de- regulation, such as ITE (Iron Throne Electricity) An an evil company “Fenron” that gets caught manipulating electricity trade, as turns out Fenron is a front for the Zhents. If it must be said, this is all in jest. :D
Tiernee 07-27-05, 10:38 PM	but the favored weapons listed in that chart are totally screwed up! Unless you really think sahuagin can effectively use greataxes underwater... I don't know what you're trying to say. My 7Cleric/10DweomerKeeper of Mystra is thrilled with her shuriken that really only serve to make holes in pockets. Fortunately bags of holding are impervious to the pokey bits. I'd love more info on the giant deities as well, since my character has some...apologizing to do. Let's just say 'We were sent by an evil lich to kill you <pause>' is not the best way to introduce yourself to a Cloud Giant....though I still think I ought to have been able to finish the sentence with 'but I'm going to make sure we don't' Ahem...since I finished reading the rest, I don't think a 'no' answer to two very broad questions is justification enough to rule out any topic for the book.
warlockco 07-28-05, 01:42 AM	The Lords Alliance is embarking on a joint venture to discover, manipulate electrical service on Toril. This public service will be called Power of Faerun, or POF. Of course this will not fill an entire tome, and it will detail the divergent companies that spring up due to de- regulation, such as ITE (Iron Throne Electricity) An an evil company “Fenron” that gets caught manipulating electricity trade, as turns out Fenron is a front for the Zhents. If it must be said, this is all in jest. :D :rofl:
The ShapeLess One 07-28-05, 10:04 AM	The Lords Alliance is embarking on a joint venture to discover, manipulate electrical service on Toril. This public service will be called Power of Faerun, or POF. Of course this will not fill an entire tome, and it will detail the divergent companies that spring up due to de- regulation, such as ITE (Iron Throne Electricity) An an evil company “Fenron” that gets caught manipulating electricity trade, as turns out Fenron is a front for the Zhents. If it must be said, this is all in jest. :D lol. :invasion: i got a really good laugh out of that.
Jonathan Strange 07-28-05, 09:25 PM	I hope it's an updated Magic of Faerun (hardcover this time.) Perhaps it'll end all the crazy Weave vs. Shadow Weave arguements, update some info, go into more Initiates of, detail more Chosens (ugh), more deity specific spells and organizations. Just all things magical, arcane or divine. Who knows. Power is such a vague term. Perhaps it's a huge smokescreen for it's true title, Empires of Kara-Tur. (keep dreaming)
Zevox 07-29-05, 12:40 AM	Someone over on the minis forums provided a link to this (http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=141849) thread over on EN World for its inclusion of info on a minis expansion, but it also includes a brief description of this book. For those too lazy to check the thread themselves, here it is: Power of Faerun Ed Greenwood and Eric L. Boyd A new guidebook for high-level play in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting. Power of Faerun is a comprehensive guidebook to playing high-level heroes and running high-level campaigns in the Forgotten Realms. This supplement introduces new options to players and Dungeon Masters as well as guidelines for starting a temple, running a guild, leading an army, serving the crown, and participating in political intrigues. 160 page hardcover, $29.95 Seems we were all way off base. Zevox
Gray Richardson 07-29-05, 12:43 AM	Sort of an Epic Level Handbook for Faerūn? Sounds like a lot of fun! I'll buy that!
Darrian 07-29-05, 12:47 AM	Guess I was right. I cannot wait, I LOVE high level games. Darrian (so damn happy)
Tiernee 07-29-05, 12:59 AM	That's awesome. Now I'm going to have to really work to fit that seminar at GenCon Indy into my schedule.
Preternatural 07-29-05, 01:09 AM	Maybe they'll finally update some NPC stats, answer some questions. Maybe set the rules straight when applying Epic play to the Realms (Wizard 15/Archmage 5/Epic Wizard 5 or is it Wizard 20/Arm 5, which is valid, or is it some sort of variant option. Eventhough the former is incorrect I believe.)
Shemeska the Marauder 07-29-05, 01:10 AM	Someone over on the minis forums provided a link to this (http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=141849) thread over on EN World for its inclusion of info on a minis expansion, but it also includes a brief description of this book. For those too lazy to check the thread themselves, here it is: Seems we were all way off base. Zevox If it's an ELH for FR, and is patterned off of the ELH, than they just lost a sale. The brief description of the book sounds promising, but if it's largely epic feats, epic spells, etc and more crunch than fluff, they won't get a sale. However, that said, given who is writing it, I have high expectations that they wouldn't make a book of just mindless crunch. We'll see and I'll at least give the book a serious look.
Mr. Wilson 07-29-05, 01:30 AM	I can't imagine those two are going to be on the "crunch" end of the scale. I'm sure there will be the required 5 PrC's and handful of feats and magic spells, but I'd stake my left arm on it being mostly "fluff".
Gray Richardson 07-29-05, 01:52 AM	The fact that Eric Boyd and Ed Greenwood are the writers guarantees my purchase! Something tells me that the book wont be crunch heavy or fluff light with those two authoring. I can only hope that high level campaigns in Faerūn might in some way touch on the planes or cosmic entities, so maybe we will get some great new planar lore. And with those two exploring things like starting a temple, running a guild, leading an army, serving the crown and dabbling in political intrigue, that sounds like they are focused on the thing that makes FR so great: fascinating lore and opportunities for player interaction and great role-playing! :)
warlockco 07-29-05, 01:54 AM	Can't wait to get my little paws on it.
Sammael_the_Chosen 07-29-05, 02:45 AM	Excellent. The PCs in my long-term campaign should be level 17 or so when the book comes out, so this may be the first time I've actually bought a book and used it right away in the game.
Jonathan Strange 07-29-05, 03:36 AM	What a TEASE! I'm running 21st level guys right now. Damn. Well, I guess they'll only be 22nd by the time this comes out. Can't wait!!!!
BrianCritchley 07-29-05, 04:03 AM	hmm high level games in faerun eh? good my gaming group is 10th=-11th level and leveling FAST
Bocklin 07-29-05, 04:32 AM	woops, should read the thread before posting. <clip> (please delete)
Lord Zeb 07-29-05, 07:51 AM	Someone over on the minis forums provided a link to this (http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=141849) thread over on EN World for its inclusion of info on a minis expansion, but it also includes a brief description of this book. For those too lazy to check the thread themselves, here it is: Seems we were all way off base. Zevox Sweet - thanks for that info. Hmmm, high level FR supplement... drool :w00t:
The ShapeLess One 07-29-05, 01:08 PM	I think that this will be a great buy.
Herr Doktor 07-30-05, 01:33 AM	I am hoping rather than being entirely devoted to epic level material the book focuses more on the high-levels BEFORE epic. I am certainly fine if they include a smattering of epic goodies (though I almost never use any epic stuff in my campaign) as they have done in other recent books, but I hope it focuses more on the RP aspects of high-level play, not necessarily epic, level 11+ play. With Ed on board, I am sure it'll be worth the purchase...
Jonathan Strange 07-30-05, 02:34 AM	I'm sure it will. Either way, I'm sure it'll rock!
Lhuhikwdwoo 07-30-05, 08:33 PM	hmmm to me it does sound a probable blend of dm advice, npc/organisation stats, and, crossing my fingers here, an attept to put out an partial adaption of the birthright rules for 3.5 in the realms to see how many bite.
GothicDan 07-30-05, 08:38 PM	Just curious... Why might this book be about birthrite rules for 3.5? Neither Ed or Eric had any involvement in Birthrite as far as I know...
Lhuhikwdwoo 07-30-05, 10:51 PM	the part about creating various organisation. Birthright was to date the only effort to make groups like guilds and churches more than a semi detailed background to leech from.
BrianCritchley 07-30-05, 11:36 PM	the part about creating various organisation. Birthright was to date the only effort to make groups like guilds and churches more than a semi detailed background to leech from. they started that already with the "favored in guild" feat
GothicDan 07-31-05, 09:08 AM	Err.. Did you read the Villain's Lorebook, Cloak and Dagger, etc. 2E FR books that detailed organizations in great detail?
ClobberinTime 07-31-05, 06:32 PM	Yes, but neither of them detailed how many followers you get, how much you gotta pay to keep them around, etc... etc... I am a total Epic Junkie and looking forward to it. Complete Psionics, Epic FR and a new module, well WoTC must have read my mind to collect my favourite material types.
GothicDan 07-31-05, 07:12 PM	I'm so confused. It's an organization, not a Feat or a PrC... Unless we're talking about something else? You guys just seem like you're talking about followers and hirelings.
Razz 07-31-05, 07:31 PM	Be careful about calling crunch "mindless". There are DMs (like myself) and players (like mine) that want more crunch and less fluff. Now, we agree on a perfect balance of fluff and crunch when it comes to Forgotten Realms products, but an overabundance of fluff with almost no crunch makes for a very poor game (in our case). Besides, we've been waiting for more epic material to come out for FR, and hopefully this will be it. My player's highest-level group is on hold, due to a lack of how to properly run them in an FR campaign (Human Paladin 7/Fighter 2/Cavalier 10/Divine Champion 5/Divine Emissary 3 of Helm, Human Cleric 24/Divine Disciple 5 of Helm, Moon Elf Psychic Warrior 17/Ancestral Avenger 10 of Shevarash, Aasimar Monk 17/Student of the Dragon 10 of Ilmater, and Half-Moon Elf Conjurer 20/Loremaster 2/Cosmic Descryer 7 of Mystra). Yes, quite more than a handful, if you ask me. :(
WraithCaller 07-31-05, 07:46 PM	Umm... if it's going to be about epic-level stuff, than why didn't they say 'A new guidebook for epic-level play in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting.' instead of 'A new guidebook for high-level play in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting.' Maybe I'm just being overly-critical...
GothicDan 08-01-05, 07:52 AM	Razz, who was calling crunch mindless? I apologize if someone said this and I missed it, it's simply that you stated it after my message, which thus defaults to the reference post. That being said - crunch isn't mindless. Crunch can take a lot of thought. Just not the kind of thought that I want in my FR game. ;) I really can't see how an overabundance of fluff can lead to a very poor roleplaying game, myself. In the first campaign I ever played in, it was almost pure fluff. The DM had a BA in Shakespearean Drama. We would go entire sessions without rolling a single die. Ah, the good 'ol days...
ClobberinTime 08-01-05, 06:29 PM	Maybe it covers levels 15 to 25. I bet it has things like reputation points, dealing directly with deities, how far you can push the chosen of mystra, etc.....
Preternatural 08-01-05, 07:53 PM	Something like the DMG II for FR perhaps. It sounds like it shares a few features.
Sancus 08-02-05, 05:23 PM	Razz, who was calling crunch mindless? Shemeska did, not you =) I really can't see how an overabundance of fluff can lead to a very poor roleplaying game, myself. In the first campaign I ever played in, it was almost pure fluff. The DM had a BA in Shakespearean Drama. We would go entire sessions without rolling a single die. Some of us want to play a game more than be engaged in story writing. It's just a difference in play style, really, but I'd personally find a game like that terribly boring.
Upper_Krust 08-02-05, 07:10 PM	Hey WraithCaller! :) Umm... if it's going to be about epic-level stuff, than why didn't they say 'A new guidebook for epic-level play in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting.' instead of 'A new guidebook for high-level play in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting.' Maybe I'm just being overly-critical... Well if the book was going to contain both high-level and epic level material and you could only pick one term you would have to pick high-level. High-level can segue into epic, but not vice versa. Also the press release probably outlines the focus of the majority of the book, so I doubt epic elements will dominate, although I fully expect ther to be some. I think the book will contain some epic material because the Realms cater for so many epic NPCs that any book addressing high level issues will invariably have to deal with them at some stage. But I would also guess that most of the book will address more ambiguous high-level topics that don't require a specified level, such as wars, ruling lands, politics. At least thats what I can glean from the press release. :cool: