Just like the 3rd edition version you had lots of good information and great artwork. A great full color map. All together a great book except one great flaw.
Where you went wrong is no MAPS of the cities or towns. Almost everyone gamer I know tells me that the FR 3rd and especially the 4th edition settings are "fairly useless" because of no detail of the cities and towns. I have a 2nd edition AD&D FR book that had the towns mapped out and briefly described a few high points. My question is why didn't you make simple maps of the cities and towns? Could WotC come out with a book of maps of the current FR cities and towns for the NEW FR?
they also stated that watderdeep has not changed much in its layout from the last publishing.
and any maps of anything would be in the lfr which you'd have to sign up to get.
My question is why didn't you make simple maps of the cities and towns? Could WotC come out with a book of maps of the current FR cities and towns for the NEW FR?
-Given that about 20 years +/- had passed since the 2e FRCS and the 3e FRSC, majority of the world hadn't changed. If, in a past book, a map of Waterdeep was printed, why bother reprinting it again, when the a new book is printed, when nothing really changed? Would you want to buy a $30.00 book that was filled with maps (and information, being that information stems from what's on the map, and vice-versa) that were already in books that you already have?
-Also, the FRCS is, more or less, an all-encompassing encyclopedia of the setting, to give the buyer the most information about Faerûn. Like, say, Encyclopedia Britannica, I can look up a subject, and basically get an overview about it, but if I want more in-depth information, I'm going to have to go to a source that covers things in more detail. The FRCS has only a basic overview of the Underdark? For more detail, I'll have to go to Underdark. The FRCS has only a basic overview of Waterdeep? For more detail, I'll have to go to City of Splendors: Waterdeep. The FRCS has only a basic overview of Rashemen? For more detail, I'll have to go to Utter East. And so on...
-Two things to keep in mind.
-Now, concerning the FRCG, you have the same thing going. It's supposed to be an encyclopedic overview of the setting, and as such, you can only go into so much detail, so you have room for everything else. I wouldn't want a book that claims to be an (mostly) all-encompassing guide, that is mostly about...Waterdeep, with nice maps, and all of that other stuff, and then quickly glosses over everything else. The problem with the FRCG, though, is that, because 104 years have passed- and with turmoil and disaster, none the less- it's a given that there's been a lot of change, nearly everywhere. Compare Manhattan in 1905 to Manhattan in 2009. Because the FRCG purposely doesn't go into too, too much detail, it's a Catch-22: They should, but they shouldn't, they can, but they can't, all at the same time.
Forgoten Realms Campaign Setting 2 out of 10 rating.
Just like the 3rd edition version you had lots of good information and great artwork. A great full color map. All together a great book except one great flaw.
Where you went wrong is no MAPS of the cities or towns. Almost everyone gamer I know tells me that the FR 3rd and especially the 4th edition settings are "fairly useless" because of no detail of the cities and towns. I have a 2nd edition AD&D FR book that had the towns mapped out and briefly described a few high points. My question is why didn't you make simple maps of the cities and towns? Could WotC come out with a book of maps of the current FR cities and towns for the NEW FR?
8 points off for not having city maps? Seems a tad harsh to me. I would've loved maps for every town or city too, but I don't mind creating my own based on source information, novel descriptions, and my imagination.
As for the book idea, that sounds like a neat idea, but I doubt WOTC will do it. Although, if they were to break their "three books apiece" set-up, your idea is one I would gladly champion.
I think he was generous in rating the FR campaign book. It was terrible. Maps were just a small part of it. I can understand the whole being vauge thing for gms but they went way overboard in it. There is so little substance to most of the book it was sad. Take the cover price knock it in half and it MIGHT be worth the content in it.
-The FRCS is generally cited by many as one of WotC's best products during the 3e era.
I think he was generous in rating the FR campaign book. It was terrible. Maps were just a small part of it.
Which is why I said 8 points off for maps alone is overkill to me.
I thought the 3eFRCS was a masterpiece, and I don't recall any town maps in that either. Off the top of my head, I can't think of any setting-books that have town-maps.
Those usually appear in other supplements, or adventures.