Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Uzzy 12-04-07, 09:06 PM	With thanks to Thalmin, over at EnWorld. Couple of items of immense interest to us Realms fans. August Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide A D&D Campaing Setting by Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims and Philip Athans Welcome to Faerūn, a land of amazing magic, terrifying monsters, ancient ruins, and hidden wonders. The world has changed since the Spellplague, and from this arcane crucible have emerged shining kingdoms, tyrannical empires, mighty heroes, and monster-infested dungeons. The Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide presents a world of untold adventure, a land of a thousand stories shaped by the deeds of adventurers the likes of which Faerūn has never seen before. This product includes everything a Dungeon Master needs to run a D&D campaign in the Forgotten Realms setting, as well as elements that DMs can incorporate into their own D&D campaigns. The book provides background information on the lands of Faerūn, a fully detailed town in which to start a campaign, adventure seeds, new monsters, ready-to-play non-player characters, and a full-color poster map of Faerūn. August 19, 2008 Hardcover 288 pages (plus 1 poster map) $39.95 Swordmage Blades of the Moonsea, Book I A Forgotten Realms Novel by Richard Baker May 6, 2008 Hardcover 352 pages $24.95 A Reader's Guide to R.A.Salvatore's The Legend of Drizzt A Forgotten Realms Illustrated Guide illustrated by Todd Lockwood August 5, 2008 Hardcover 160 pages $24.95 The Sword Never Sleeps The Knights of Myth Drannor, Book III A Forgotten Realms Novel by Ed Greenwood August 5, 2008 Hardcover 352 pages $25.95
18DELTA 12-04-07, 09:24 PM	Yeah its FR in bite size pieces!:rolleyes:
MerrikCale 12-04-07, 09:24 PM	Here were my first reactions: "I wonder what the town is in the new FRCS?, Daggerford perhaps?" "I didn't know Baker sold enough books to merit hardcovers" "That Drizzt guide does sound interesting, I wonder if others will follow"
Dark Wizard 12-04-07, 10:07 PM	"I didn't know Baker sold enough books to merit hardcovers" I think he has a NY Times Bestselling credential from one part of the War of the Spider Queen series. No doubt his Last Mythal series did pretty well also. --- A thought on the blurb from the FRCG. First thing that raised an eyebrow, the novel line editor has a cover credit. I really hope this isn't a sign that the novels really do take overwhelming precedence over the game setting rather than a more mutual relationship with shared continuity. The actual text of the blurb does little to interest me and I'm not even speaking about dislike of the Spellplague. What about the Spellplague makes this version of FR worth getting? What does it say that will draw in this supposedly new fan base that WotC wants? How does this magical crucible differ from the half dozen other magical mishaps that turned people away from the setting already? If they were making the Spellplague as a event for freeing up the setting, they really should make it a selling point so people know this FR is now more open to new players, less encumbered by years of lore, and all that stuff.
MarkusTay63 12-04-07, 10:59 PM	288 pages (plus 1 poster map) $39.95Pretty skimpy for $40... I'll pass.
Lord Karsus 12-04-07, 11:46 PM	A Reader's Guide to R.A.Salvatore's The Legend of Drizzt A Forgotten Realms Illustrated Guide illustrated by Todd Lockwood August 5, 2008 Hardcover 160 pages $24.95 -Intriguing... -I hope that all these hardcover novels aren't the new trend. $25 is too much for a book, and I hate waiting months for softcovers to be released. Notice how the Greenwood book is a dollar more...
18DELTA 12-05-07, 01:49 AM	WotC is becoming a bunch of Highwaymen!;) :P
MarkusTay63 12-05-07, 03:29 AM	The only books I ever bought in hardcover were the Harry Potter ones, but they were worth it. There's a least one there I won't even buy in paperback... or take out of the library... :rolleyes:
Stigger 12-05-07, 07:07 AM	I'll probably get the new Knights book in hardcover... that's about it though.
Lord Toast 12-05-07, 09:08 AM	-Intriguing... -I hope that all these hardcover novels aren't the new trend. $25 is too much for a book, and I hate waiting months for softcovers to be released. Notice how the Greenwood book is a dollar more... Lord Karsus, You could order the book from Amazon and get a nice discount. Or go to the nearest bookstore chain an enroll in their club program which gives a minimum of 10% off; also when new hardcovers debut at these bookstores they will have a discounted sticker on them ranging from 20-30% off to encourage the first week sales. And if you are a club member then the 10% will be added to this sticker discount, so a person can get anywhere from 30%-40% off the price of a new hardcover book. And this isn’t counting the mail out/e-mail coupons which said bookstore chain sends their customers. If you support your local gaming store some of them do have student discounts or even a book club program of some kind you just need to ask. Or just wait until it comes out in paperback . And the above can be applied to the 4th edtion of the PHB/DMG/MM/FRCG
Lord Toast 12-05-07, 09:15 AM	Pretty skimpy for $40... I'll pass. Skimpy compared to the 3e FRCS book which cost 40 bucks or skimpy compared to the 4e PHB a 35 dollar book? Either way it is only 32 pages less than the books listed above. And you could take my advice about bargain hunting that I gave Lord Karsus if you want to save money.
Bluenose 12-05-07, 09:35 AM	With thanks to Thalmin, over at EnWorld. Couple of items of immense interest to us Realms fans. August Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide A D&D Campaing Setting by Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims and Philip Athans Welcome to Faerūn, a land of amazing magic, terrifying monsters, ancient ruins, and hidden wonders. The world has changed since the Spellplague, and from this arcane crucible have emerged shining kingdoms, tyrannical empires, mighty heroes, and monster-infested dungeons. The Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide presents a world of untold adventure, a land of a thousand stories shaped by the deeds of adventurers the likes of which Faerūn has never seen before. This product includes everything a Dungeon Master needs to run a D&D campaign in the Forgotten Realms setting, as well as elements that DMs can incorporate into their own D&D campaigns. The book provides background information on the lands of Faerūn, a fully detailed town in which to start a campaign, adventure seeds, new monsters, ready-to-play non-player characters, and a full-color poster map of Faerūn. August 19, 2008 Hardcover 288 pages (plus 1 poster map) $39.95 That's a little shorter than the 3E FRCS. Though it looks like there's nothing about character creation in there, probably that will be in the Player's Guide that's been mentioned for later 2008. Three hardback novels means I won't be buying any. I'll wait for the paperbacks or skip entirely in one case.
Lord Karsus 12-05-07, 10:18 AM	Lord Karsus, You could order the book from Amazon and get a nice discount. Or go to the nearest bookstore chain an enroll in their club program which gives a minimum of 10% off; also when new hardcovers debut at these bookstores they will have a discounted sticker on them ranging from 20-30% off to encourage the first week sales. And if you are a club member then the 10% will be added to this sticker discount, so a person can get anywhere from 30%-40% off the price of a new hardcover book. And this isn’t counting the mail out/e-mail coupons which said bookstore chain sends their customers. If you support your local gaming store some of them do have student discounts or even a book club program of some kind you just need to ask. -It's still more expensive in hardcover. Or just wait until it comes out in paperback . -That's what I'm forced to do, sadly...
Alediran 12-05-07, 10:42 AM	The small text introducing the 4ed FR hit on my nerves and made me feel like I had diarrea.
18DELTA 12-05-07, 11:37 AM	The small text introducing the 4ed FR hit on my nerves and made me feel like I had diarrea. :eek: :rofl: :twitch: :blink: :gah: :eek:
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 12-05-07, 12:46 PM	A Reader's Guide to R.A.Salvatore's The Legend of Drizzt A Forgotten Realms Illustrated Guide illustrated by Todd Lockwood August 5, 2008 Hardcover 160 pages $24.95 Another Drizzt book...what a huge surprise that is.
MerrikCale 12-05-07, 02:55 PM	Another Drizzt book...what a huge surprise that is. You can't blame them for that. Drizzt is their biggest seller.
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 12-05-07, 03:16 PM	You can't blame them for that. Drizzt is their biggest seller. I'm not blaming them, but I still find the Drizzt line as a whole to be pretty redundant.
MarkusTay63 12-05-07, 04:54 PM	Skimpy compared to the 3e FRCS book which cost 40 bucks or skimpy compared to the 4e PHB a 35 dollar book? Either way it is only 32 pages less than the books listed above. And you could take my advice about bargain hunting that I gave Lord Karsus if you want to save money.Regardless, it was over 300 pages. If we willinglly pay this price for this tome -and 288 pages to cover the entire planet (they are going global this time out) is positively ridiculous - we will be inviting an even SMALLER book when 5e hits (and they have already stated it WILL). There couldn't possibly be enough info on any one particular area to actually be able to run a game there. The individual entries in the 3e FRCS were adequate, but a smaller tome that has to cover ALL the changes, including to the map, history, and cosmology plus cover the entire world (not just Faerūn) is just plain ludicrous. OTHER settings have MUCH larger books - Warcraft, Iron Kingdoms, Arcana Evolved - just to name a few. Those sources were EXCELLENT - why can't WotC, the MAKERS of D&D, produce books of the same quality as 3rd party companies? They should be the industry LEADERS, not falling sadly behind the curve. :(
Stigger 12-05-07, 05:00 PM	Quality versus quantity? Okay, I'm reaching there...
Fabius Maximus 12-05-07, 06:50 PM	Quality versus quantity? Okay, I'm reaching there... I think they want to leave a lot of stuff for the DMs to develop on their own. Leaving out stuff doesn't have to be bad per se.
MerrikCale 12-05-07, 09:25 PM	I'm not blaming them, but I still find the Drizzt line as a whole to be pretty redundant. no more redundant than, say, elminster stories
Dark Wizard 12-05-07, 09:47 PM	I think Drizzt stories have a bit more output than Elminster stories (ok, try a lot), so in a sense more of the character has been revealed, there is a greater chance for retreading.
Fingoldfin 12-05-07, 11:05 PM	I agree with MarkusTay on this one. The reductions in page count cause lore and flavor to get thrown out the window. In recent years when they have to choose between more 'crunch' or more 'fluff' they seem to always choose 'crunch.' With all the changes that WotC has to explain I don't think 288 pages is adequate. Oh well, I wasn't planing to buy it anyway.:P
Lord Karsus 12-06-07, 08:25 AM	Another Drizzt book...what a huge surprise that is. -It doesn't sound as much as a book as it does a book of artwork, which is always nice. Something to flip through at the bookstore, look at all the nice pictures, but not actually buy. -Which gives me an interesting idea. How's this for a product?: The Visual Guide to the Forgotten Realms
Alediran 12-06-07, 08:33 AM	-It doesn't sound as much as a book as it does a book of artwork, which is always nice. Something to flip through at the bookstore, look at all the nice pictures, but not actually buy. -Which gives me an interesting idea. How's this for a product?: The Visual Guide to the Forgotten Realms If it has good art of the most important cities, places and people it could actually be an interesting product. Of course, it would require quality, something that is lacking in WoTC's art department at this moment.
msatran 12-06-07, 09:40 AM	Wow. They're really working hard to please no one at all. What was wrong with READING BOOKS? You know, that's really my primary complaint. They're redesigning the setting so that people don't need to read? Hey, wait a minute, aren't they publishing rulebooks and sourcebooks which people already read? The thing that I hate most about this whole thing is that people are lazy, don't want to read, and don't want to bother. The joy of uncovering the lore in FR is READING it. Appealing to a wider audience obviously means removing any sort of ability to do that.
Alediran 12-06-07, 09:45 AM	The thing that I hate most about this whole thing is that people are lazy, don't want to read, and don't want to bother. The joy of uncovering the lore in FR is READING it. Appealing to a wider audience obviously means removing any sort of ability to do that. To show my contempt for that decision I'm reading everything I can about hermeticism because it's interesting, it gives the same thrill when I discovered some obscure reference in a FR book and it's hard to read, meaning that I'm superior to people who can't understand it :D
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 12-06-07, 10:48 AM	-It doesn't sound as much as a book as it does a book of artwork, which is always nice. Something to flip through at the bookstore, look at all the nice pictures, but not actually buy. -Which gives me an interesting idea. How's this for a product?: The Visual Guide to the Forgotten Realms I'd rather have that than a visual guide to the Drizzt books. And I agree with Dark Wizard's comments about the Drizzt novels.
MarkusTay63 12-06-07, 12:22 PM	What next? 'Pop-up' sourcebooks? I think they went a bit far with a pictures-only FR book. Well, at least their core audience will now be up to the standards of their creativity. :rolleyes:
Lord Karsus 12-06-07, 12:56 PM	If it has good art of the most important cities, places and people it could actually be an interesting product. Of course, it would require quality, something that is lacking in WoTC's art department at this moment. -Were it the ideal world, I'd have Lockwood doing the artwork. I am constantly very pleased with all of the artwork he contributes. What next? 'Pop-up' sourcebooks? -Awesome idea. Should I start development, or should you?
Alediran 12-06-07, 01:48 PM	-Awesome idea. Should I start development, or should you? I could do if, after all I'm doing a web for the true realms loremasters.
MerrikCale 12-06-07, 03:16 PM	-The Visual Guide to the Forgotten Realms I would love that
Lord Karsus 12-06-07, 05:45 PM	I could do if, after all I'm doing a web for the true realms loremasters. -Uh, a Pop-Up Guide was kinda a joke. ;)
Stigger 12-06-07, 06:24 PM	Can't quite decide how I feel about Lockwood, some days I love his stuff, other days I don't really care for it much. Given the choice though, DiTerlizzi would be my first choice of artist for pretty much anything... or maybe Ted Naifeh, but that was mostly for his work on Gloomcookie.
Faraer 12-06-07, 06:45 PM	If it has good art of the most important cities, places and people it could actually be an interesting product. Of course, it would require quality, something that is lacking in WoTC's art department at this moment.More than quality in the sense of front-rank draftsmanship and colour, I'd hope for an art editor with a coherent sense of how the setting looks and the need to show places and not just pin-ups and action scenes, and a few artists who've read some of the books. If we're naming artists, I don't thing any have done better for the Realms than Valerie Valusek and Ned Dameron. Outside the former and current pool, I love the way Wandering Star's Robert E. Howard editions have kept going the early-twentieth-century tradition of illustrated books, using artists like Gary Gianni and Jim & Ruth Keegan.
Dark Wizard 12-06-07, 10:13 PM	More than quality in the sense of front-rank draftsmanship and colour, I'd hope for an art editor with a coherent sense of how the setting looks and the need to show places and not just pin-ups and action scenes, and a few artists who've read some of the books. I've been hoping for a long time for the FR books to have some semblance of a coherent art direction. It is not the fault of the artists, Eberron shares many of the same artists, but they still managed to pull off a certain look. It seems FR books just get a piece with a random style here or there that fits somewhat with the description. As for pin-ups and action pieces, even those I feel are poorly implemented. I'd be up for a Visual Guide to the Realms. Thought it better consist of high-quality mind-blowing eye-candy with a diverse mix of NPCs portraits (with backgrounds), scenery, landscapes, locations, structures, heraldry and symbols, flavorful in-game style maps, scenes of life, etc. As I've said before, the WoW fan art gallery puts the majority of official FR art to utter shame in terms of quality, quantity and diversity in subject and style.
Hanali-in-Love 12-06-07, 10:57 PM	4Ed or $Ed makes me and most the people I know and game with here in Paris want to stop playing d&d for good. We're pretty happy with our 3 & 3.5Ed's. and see no reason for any of this rubbish that is 4Ed. The game designers are simply and splendidly, idiots and morons for thinking us consumers so stupid as to think we need this new change. Sorry for my english.
18DELTA 12-07-07, 12:31 AM	What next? 'Pop-up' sourcebooks? I think they went a bit far with a pictures-only FR book. Well, at least their core audience will now be up to the standards of their creativity. :rolleyes: That is so great! All the 13 year old little boys, would just sit for hours enthralled by the art work!:rolleyes: Who am I fooling I would probably sit for hours entranced by the art work!:P ;)
MerrikCale 12-07-07, 12:41 PM	That is so great! All the 13 year old little boys, would just sit for hours enthralled by the art work!:rolleyes: Who am I fooling I would probably sit for hours entranced by the art work!:P ;) 13? seems a tad old for pop-up books. Of course, this 37 yeard old would love it
Lord Karsus 12-07-07, 01:06 PM	13? seems a tad old for pop-up books. Of course, this 37 yeard old would love it -Hey, I recently bought a Boba Fett pop-up book, so...:shifty:
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 12-07-07, 05:47 PM	-Hey, I recently bought a Boba Fett pop-up book, so...:shifty: And there's a pop-up book about sexual positions (really).:)
MerrikCale 12-07-07, 10:10 PM	And there's a pop-up book about sexual positions (really).:) now this is my kind of gal
Lord Karsus 12-08-07, 10:34 AM	And there's a pop-up book about sexual positions (really).:) now this is my kind of gal :rofl:
Alediran 12-08-07, 02:38 PM	Well, she is actually a follower of Sune, it's not surprising.
msatran 12-08-07, 02:51 PM	My favorite thing is still not even FR. It's that they expect us to understand the rules well enough to play the D+D open at Gencon in 4E after only 3 months.
Lord Karsus 12-08-07, 02:54 PM	-Well, 4e, as far as I understand it, isn't a whole new system change (as 2e to 3e was), but is simply a "continuation" of 3e. So, the basics are already down pat. I think 3 months is a legitimate amount of time to learn the "nuonces".
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 12-08-07, 09:37 PM	Well, she is actually a follower of Sune, it's not surprising. :rofl:
MerrikCale 12-08-07, 10:46 PM	Well, she is actually a follower of Sune, it's not surprising. true enough
MarkusTay63 12-09-07, 01:13 AM	I already have the first 'pop-up' planned - when you 'bend-over' the little Storm Silverhand, Elminster's tongue hangs out. -Well, 4e, as far as I understand it, isn't a whole new system change (as 2e to 3e was), but is simply a "continuation" of 3e. So, the basics are already down pat. I think 3 months is a legitimate amount of time to learn the "nuonces".What they did was take everything that was bad in 3e and gather it together in one cohesive whole. :P Just kidding, I'm sure they left some of the 'good' stuff in. ;) But I do understand what msatran is saying, though - from what I've seen of the playtesting blogs some of the new terminology is very confusing. Probably because they changed the meanings of older terms, rather then just create new ones (from what I gather). I can't wait until someone tries to run a non-LG Pally in one of my games. :devil:
18DELTA 12-09-07, 01:20 AM	And there's a pop-up book about sexual positions (really).:) :embarrass :blush: :thinks: :bow: :D
MarkusTay63 12-09-07, 02:25 AM	The title of this thread makes me think of an FR "Swimsuit Issue". :D I mean, why not? Marvel comics did it.... (http://www.spiderfan.org/comics/title/marvel_swimsuit_special.html)
Dark Wizard 12-09-07, 03:03 AM	Probably not going to fly in 4E FR even if they considered it. I mean, they aren't going to exactly have many well known characters left to feature. Although I hear Mrs. Cormyrean farmer with pitchfork #2 is a looker. :P
MarkusTay63 12-09-07, 03:18 AM	Actually, she is probably a moldering old skeleton by the time 4e FR starts... But a 'cheescake' artbook for the 'old' FR world would probably sell very well. They should get artists like Larry Elmore and Boris Vallejo to do it. I know I'd buy it. :D
DreamStalker 12-09-07, 03:41 AM	Realms of Swimwear Hardcover 253 pages $39.95US/$15.95 Canadian A fully illustrated coffee table sized book featuring the hottest artist of the day working with the hottest models of the yester Realms. See all of the drow, solars and illithids in their skimpiest of outfits along with all of the iconic Forgotten Realms Heros and Villians at their most sultry. Cover art: Aumvor the Undying in speedo by Brom.
Lord Karsus 12-09-07, 10:03 AM	Although I hear Mrs. Cormyrean farmer with pitchfork #2 is a looker. :P -Hey, you don't talk about the wife of Cormyrin Farmer with Pitchfork #2 like that! Have some respect!
MerrikCale 12-09-07, 03:23 PM	The title of this thread makes me think of an FR "Swimsuit Issue". :D I mean, why not? Marvel comics did it.... (http://www.spiderfan.org/comics/title/marvel_swimsuit_special.html) so did Top Cow and Wildstorm I believe
Suin Bahhar 12-09-07, 06:10 PM	Realms of Swimwear Hardcover 253 pages $39.95US/$15.95 Canadian A fully illustrated coffee table sized book featuring the hottest artist of the day working with the hottest models of the yester Realms. See all of the drow, solars and illithids in their skimpiest of outfits along with all of the iconic Forgotten Realms Heros and Villians at their most sultry.I'd buy that! Cover art: Aumvor the Undying in speedo by BromAck! :yuck:
MarkusTay63 12-11-07, 09:51 PM	I guess my idea wasn't as original or far-fetched as I thought - I saw THIS (http://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Pop-Up-Guide-Galaxy/dp/0439882826) at Borders today. I'd still like to see the Swimsuit issue though, with it's eagerly anticipated sequal - "Seven Sisters Gone Wild" :P I think Aumvor in a Speedo would be... interesting...
MerrikCale 12-11-07, 10:55 PM	I guess my idea wasn't as original or far-fetched as I thought - I saw THIS (http://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Pop-Up-Guide-Galaxy/dp/0439882826) at Borders today. There's a Narnia one as well. In fairness though, Star Wars and Narnia attract a young audience. My 5 year old loves Star Wars and has for at least 2 years. He knows nothing about Faerun
Lord Karsus 12-11-07, 11:33 PM	I guess my idea wasn't as original or far-fetched as I thought - I saw THIS (http://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Pop-Up-Guide-Galaxy/dp/0439882826) at Borders today. -Great, so we get to see Darth Vader's lightsaber "pop-up". :rolleyes: I'd still like to see the Swimsuit issue though, with it's eagerly anticipated sequal - "Seven Sisters Gone Wild" :P -Would that be "pop-up" as well? :P There's a Narnia one as well. In fairness though, Star Wars and Narnia attract a young audience. My 5 year old loves Star Wars and has for at least 2 years. He knows nothing about Faerun -What a crappy parent. -Nah, I'm just joking with you. If your kid is a Star Wars fan, then you've done him/her alright in my book. :)
MarkusTay63 12-13-07, 11:27 PM	My kids are all hooked on the Pirates movies - how does THAT reflect on me? They just want to run people through, take their gold, and kiss 'pretty wenches'. :D
Stigger 12-14-07, 12:31 AM	Sounds like you're doing a fine job to me Markus.. can't think of many higher goals in life than to kiss pretty wenches. *adopts the most solemn of solemn faces* :D
Lord Karsus 12-14-07, 12:32 AM	My kids are all hooked on the Pirates movies - how does THAT reflect on me? -Poorly? Good? They just want to run people through, take their gold, and kiss 'pretty wenches'. :D -Well, that's better than some other things.
Alediran 12-14-07, 06:59 AM	-Well, that's better than some other things. At least they don't try to kill everybody :D
MarkusTay63 12-14-07, 09:36 AM	My little ones dressed as Jack Sparrow and Davey Jones for Halloween - it was pretty cool. :D As long as the Ten year old doesn't start drinbking Rum I guess I can live with a bunch of little Pirates. :P
Lord Karsus 12-14-07, 12:00 PM	At least they don't try to kill everybody :D -That's what I was thinking. At least there is no pillaging...
MarkusTay63 12-15-07, 12:32 AM	And I know they won't be shooting up any schools - they are pretty well-adjusted (better then I was at their ages). And besides, you can't really 'shoot-up' a school with a rapier. ;)