Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Tidrec 11-24-05, 05:57 PM	I've run into a date conflict between a Forgotten Realms novel (City of Splendors) and the new City of Splendors sourcebook. Rather than get into the specifics and create a possible spoiler, I'd like to know what WOTC generally considers to be "canon" in such circumstances? The sourcebook, which went to press first, or the novel?
Darth_Azalin 11-24-05, 06:01 PM	Well lets just say its much like Vegas.. What happens in novels stays in novels... Most times things in novels never get stated out in canon or offical rules.. So you are in your own premise here unless you use http://www.candlekeep.com/ and the infomation in the site as the offical text..
Gray Richardson 11-24-05, 07:28 PM	Generally the rule is that the later published source is the most canon. Although I believe sourcebooks are supposed to be given a little more weight over novels as far as canon goes, for the reason that authors are given a little artistic leeway and are not held to as rigorous an editing and rules vetting standard as the sourcebooks. But then again, you are talking Ed Greenwood, the father of the Realms who wrote City of Splendors the novel... He knows his stuff and when it comes to the Realms, what he writes pretty much trumps everyone else. But then again Eric Boyd wrote the CoS sourcebook, and there may not be any other designer who researches his stuff more painstakingly and thoroughly than Eric... Maybe there is no conflict at all, maybe it just seems like there is one that can easily be explained away. ;) With out knowing the particulars it's hard to say. I would take your specific example and ask Ed or Eric over on Candlekeep.com.
Krash 11-24-05, 11:25 PM	The answer is both. Tell me what the conflict is and I may be able to give you the fix. -- George Krashos
Ltlconf 11-26-05, 03:55 AM	Hello Folks, Having run into this problem before...Do whatever you think makes you campaign works and to Hades with canon if need be. If it clashes with the fun, cut it out, add to it, or just make something up whole cloth. My campaign departed form canon ten years ago and is practically a alternate universe! I've whacked Lolth, killed half the Waterdeep Council (and had the city sink into near anarchy for five years), had a Comyrian War of the Roses, discovered an African style continent (a big one), have a cold war going between the Dales and Sembia, the Zhents far more competent, Amn building an Empire in both Maztica and the Western Heartlands (and thus a new confederacy forming in the Heartlands to fight back), Calimshan and Tethyr fighting gnolls to their east. You get the idea. How far you go is up to you. Canon is a guide, not a strait jacket. Even Ed says as much!
Zanan 11-26-05, 09:02 AM	First ... the WizO's are the WizO's and as such responsible for law and order on the boards. They might be gamers too, but if you want official answers, you have to ask either the Wizards' custserv or go over to Candlekeep and ask the designers / authors directly. As has been said, both sources count as canon and the more up to date books tend to beat the older ones. Generally, anything not updated stays as it is, even if the source is AD&D. That is, the flair and background text is valid, while the in-game stats will obviously change.
ORC_Paradox 12-02-05, 04:54 PM	Personally, I'd go with the sourcebook.
LucyWanabe 12-02-05, 09:31 PM	I'm more of a "what works for the current campaign" sort. ;)