I'm prolly a month late on this one...but I'm just now getting caught up.
Note the bottom panels for Eberron goodness
There's even a picture floating around somewhere of Rich strangling Keith at GenCon...
Same reason they have Dungeon and Dragon submissions as a short summary rather than a full article submission really.
Anyway so far as we know Rich's submission hasn't seen the light of day, he no longer owns the exclusive rights to it so he can't produce it on his own and insofar Wizards hasn't released his setting. Its possible they've used elements in Eberron or elsewhere, but we don't know.
Wizard bought the settings
For money? Or did they just take it as part of the competition?
If Wizards ever produces something similar even if the writer who produced the similar content wasn't influanced by the submission, Wizards finds itself in an actionable position.
Plus by buying it they stop competition from being able to use it.
A shame they took a setting that was obviously quite good, and locked it up so it would never see the light of day again
For money? Or did they just take it as part of the competition?
yeah 2nd and i believe 3rd place received cash.
*kicks something undeserving*
For money? Or did they just take it as part of the competition?
Rich got a humorously large cheque for his efforts, just like Keith.
I'd surmise that them buying the second and third place settings was motivated, at least somewhat, by reasons other than keeping competitors off the marketplace.
-It kept the competition going in the last round. The three knew they'd get paid for their work so it was worth investing their time to go for the big prize.
-Other ideas could be harvested from the settings. (James Wyatt mentioned Rich's setting had a culture of undead elves. I'm not sure if that means it was an uncanny similarity or if they lifted the idea of the Aereni from it.)
-If (Eris forbid) Keith gets hit by a bus, they've still got the original vision of two other settings to draw upon.
So even though Rich has written for Eberron Sourcebooks and Keith has done articles on the Giant in the Playground site Rich still takes the occational jab at Eberron, the setting that beat his.
There's even a picture floating around somewhere of Rich strangling Keith at GenCon...
You say that as if he was bitter, but he's no more jabby at Eberron then he is at encumberance rules or bards. Heck, Keith even wrote an article for him.
And that photo of Rich strangling, Keith?
On Keith's website.
It kept the competition going in the last round. The three knew they'd get paid for their work so it was worth investing their time to go for the big prize.
More than that, for the freelance RPG market, $20,000 for a single project is a huge amount of money. Bear in mind that the first RPG piece I had published paid a penny a word. There's no question that it SUCKS that Rich can't even talk about his setting - but we all knew the risks, and it was excellent pay.
James Wyatt mentioned Rich's setting had a culture of undead elves. I'm not sure if that means it was an uncanny similarity or if they lifted the idea of the Aereni from it.
It's possible that exposure to Rich's setting caused one of the other designers to say "Hey, maybe the elves could have some sort of undead thing going on." However, as the person who actually developed the Tairnadal/Aereni history and the concept of the Undying Court, I can say that *I* haven't seen Rich's setting. He's not allowed to tell me anything about it, but what I gather is that while he certainly has an elven culture in which undead play an important role, it's different in tone from Aerenal.
Personally, I hope they do decide to publish Rich's setting at some point, since I think he's a brilliant designer and I'd love to see it.
And as for Eberron and OotS, you should check out Start Of Darkness if you haven't (the print book).
But I love Eberron and I'm glad it won. It's one of the most original settings I've seen.
I'm glad you think so! Of course...
I'd hate to see more old hat junk win money in a contest.
Bear in mind that Rich's setting beat out 11,997 others. And it WASN'T OotS, which is really poking fun at core D&D ideas. From the (very) little I know, I'm confident it's not old hat junk.
It... wasn't great. In my opinion. But I play many RTS', so maybe my standards are high. But yeah. Very... not great.
Anyway so far as we know Rich's submission hasn't seen the light of day, he no longer owns the exclusive rights to it so he can't produce it on his own and insofar Wizards hasn't released his setting. Its possible they've used elements in Eberron or elsewhere, but we don't know.
Perhaps after the known settings are published in 4e, it's going to get a year?
I'm glad you think so! Of course...
Bear in mind that Rich's setting beat out 11,997 others. And it WASN'T OotS, which is really poking fun at core D&D ideas. From the (very) little I know, I'm confident it's not old hat junk.
I'm interested in seeing how the new races will fit into Eberron but I'm sure you remember the doomsayers saying their roles would be completley changed? I don't think Gnomes will all of a sudden disapear from Khorvaire and run and hide and live under trees with the Fey.
I can see how Dragonborn can fit easily. Those Dragon Isles would work well. Eladarin? Not so sure but I KNOW Eberron has a Feywild, I DID read your Dreaming Dark books after all:-p. Tiefling aren't a problem ethier. Drooam, Demon Wastes and I think Lhazhar Principalities too were said to have Tieflings. Maybe a Infernal Fleet to Match the Divine Fleet eh?
Though I perfer my Tieflings as sexy bad-boy types, kinda like Spike in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.(cut to scene of large three ring binder being put in crate and stored in a large warehouse)
I feel confident that we will eventually all be able to enjoy Rich's campaign setting one day. Right now Wizards is having it checked out by Top Men. Who are they? I can only tell you that they are Top .. Men...
(cut to scene of large three ring binder being put in crate and stored in a large warehouse)
It will be found by ARTIFICER JONES! "It belongs in Morgrave Museum!" "So do you Artificer Jones!":P
It will be found by ARTIFICER JONES! "It belongs in Morgrave Museum!" "So do you Artificer Jones!":P
But now in 4e, his son who he never knew about is the adventurer.
But now in 4e, his son who he never knew about is the adventurer.
Nevar! In 4th Ed AND D&D for that matter it's easy to stay young, turn back the clock or never suffer from age modifiers. Son, schmun who needs a knockoff. :P