Anyway, I finally decided to take a much-needed sanity break from grad school work and catch up on all the FR things I've been missing these past few years. And after reading some of the novels/supplements I was
Absolutely.
Freaking.
Shocked.
Instead of repeating threads that may have already run their course on this site and boring the hell out of everyone, I would appreciate it if someone could point me to any threads that correspond to the following questions about the History of the Realms book. If there aren't any, please answer the questions if you can.
Main question: Why are they destroying the Realms? (Okay, so this may be a little melodramatic, but only a little)
It seems like they're breaking their own rules toward the end (the Cyric/Mystra thing). Am I reading it wrong or have I totally forgotten the rules (which is very likely, lol)?
If I want a world with limited magic, I'll play Eberron. Are they making FR more like that setting?
Are all of these very sad (in both senses of the word) changes all because of 4ED (which is kind of how it seems, but I am really out of the loop, so ...)
What is the 'Countdown to the Realms' thing I've occasionally seen mentioned?
Will I wake up tomorrow and realize that 4ED is just a horrible, horrible nightmare? (One can only hope ...)
Me
Main question: Why are they destroying the Realms? (Okay, so this may be a little melodramatic, but only a little)
-Everyone has their own opinions. Personally speaking, I am of the opinion that WotC wanted sales to increase (mind you, this does not mean that sales were necessarily bad to begin with), so they made changes to the setting with many of the "loudest" criticisms thrown against it in mind, to attract those who, because of those details, did not like the setting, believing (correctly or incorrectly) that those who normally liked the setting would continue to do so.
What is the 'Countdown to the Realms' thing I've occasionally seen mentioned?
-They are a series of articles in WotC's online DRAGON magazine that discuss some of the changes being made to the Forgotten Realms. You can view them by going to the WotC website and logging in (the same information as the boards log in).
Will I wake up tomorrow and realize that 4ED is just a horrible, horrible nightmare? (One can only hope ...)
-No. You might just like it, though. Probably not, given the tone of your post, but who knows?
Granted, I've only skimmed the 4ED rule books, and haven't made a decision on them yet. I was mainly referring to the setting changes.
But after reading the Countdown to the Realms articles I feel like a dumbass. And deservedly so. Well, that's what I get for jumping to conclusions :embarrass
Thanks again
Me
Main question: Why are they destroying the Realms? (Okay, so this may be a little melodramatic, but only a little)
Because the current team wanted to leave their 'mark' on the Realms, and truly felt they could improve upon it.
It seems like they're breaking their own rules toward the end (the Cyric/Mystra thing). Am I reading it wrong or have I totally forgotten the rules (which is very likely, lol)?
Its called a 'Retcon', and everything you thought you knew is no longer valid.
If I want a world with limited magic, I'll play Eberron. Are they making FR more like that setting?
No, Eberron is getting hosed too (but to a much lesser extent). They are not 'limiting' magic, just 'resetting' it so that the level of magic in FR isn't as high as it used to be. Eventually it will be just as pervasive as it was in former editions, with the help of the Living Realms and PCs.
Are all of these very sad (in both senses of the word) changes all because of 4ED (which is kind of how it seems, but I am really out of the loop, so ...)
Correct - FR became the 4e guinea pig.
What is the 'Countdown to the Realms' thing I've occasionally seen mentioned?
Karsus answered this, but here are the links -
Year of the Ageless One
Magic in the Forgotten Realms
The Wailing Years
Remember to sign in first - you use the same account name and password as here.
Will I wake up tomorrow and realize that 4ED is just a horrible, horrible nightmare? (One can only hope ...)
We were all hoping that, for a little while.
I suggest you wait until August before making a final decision... you never know. See what others are saying (screaming?) about it and then decide.
But after reading the Countdown to the Realms articles I feel like a dumbass. And deservedly so. Well, that's what I get for jumping to conclusions :embarrass
-After reading the Countdown to the Realms articles, I think everyone felt some kind of..."interesting" emotion, though self-shame wasn't one I felt. ;)
-Mind you, things are that drastic. It is a "brave new world".
Its called a 'Retcon', and everything you thought you knew is no longer valid.
DC Comics are masters of it. I sure hope someone in a few years decides. Hey, this spellplague thing was dumb lets get the setting back to about 1385 or so.
1st Question: They aren’t destroying the Realms. They are simply advancing the timeline. Are their big changes in the works? Absolutely! But even so there is still much in the Realms that was there before and that we all know and love.
2nd Question: Not quite sure what you mean by rules. But allow me to say this: WotC apparently forgot the lessons learned during the Time of Troubles/transition from 1st Edition D&D to 2nd Edition AD&D.
More precisely, the Realms fan based (when put to a poll) made it clear they didn’t want that kind of a fiasco overtaking the Realms as a result of Third Edition. I can't imagine why WotC would figure this consensus opinion wouldn't still apply when 4E came out.
Throw in the dissatisfaction with the similar methods WotC used on Dragonlance (and to a lesser degree Greyhawk) and it makes you wonder just how the concept of the Spellplague got approved.
3rd Question: The Realms are in fact not being made “less magical” or “like Eberron”. Don’t let the Negative Nellies trick you there.
4th Question: Yeah, it’s in part because of 4E’s appearance on the horizon that the Spellplague has come to the Realms. That said, I don’t believe WotC should have taken the approach they did. I believe they could have advanced the timeline 100 years or so and given themselves plenty of time to make changes to the setting without first blowing magic and Mystra up.
5th Question: See previous answers. It’s the same method they used when the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting came out just after the release of 3rd Edition D&D.
6th Question: Nope, sorry to say it will still be here when you wake up.
But all is not lost.
So far (for me at least) playing Dungeons and Dragons in the 4E Realms is just about the same as playing in the 3E Realms. Only difference I’ve found is in the rules set. ;)
:D
Don’t worry Only Me, things are not as bad as they seem.
1st Question: They aren’t destroying the Realms. They are simply advancing the timeline.
And introducing the RSE known as the Spellplague. You say yourself that they could have just advanced the timeline but left out the Spellplague (and I would agree).
Are their big changes in the works? Absolutely! But even so there is still much in the Realms that was there before and that we all know and love.
True. Whether or not what's there makes it worth sticking to the canon Realms is for each person to decide.
In any case I agree that there's no need for despair. You don't have change YOUR Realms if you dislike the official changes.
(...) But allow me to say this: WotC apparently forgot the lessons learned during the Time of Troubles/transition from 1st Edition D&D to 2nd Edition AD&D. (...)
QFT. This particular set of RSEs is even sloppier and dumber than the ToT fiasco. I don't think anyone really believed that to be possible, but the spellplague proves otherwise.
-Spellplague:1
-4Gotten Realms:0
18DELTA :P
In any case I agree that there's no need for despair. You don't have change YOUR Realms if you dislike the official changes.
Unfortunately, Great Lady, those of us whose primary interest (through lack of time, or other constraint) is in the novels are not afforded this option. Although I must salute your, almost permanently, positive voice on these threads!
[Side Note: In my first post, I would like to thank all of those (from all sides of these debates) who have kept me quite seriously amused since I joined after hearing the 4E rumours! ;) ]
Of that, I approve. In fact, I approve of about 90% of the reasons behind some of the changes (though not necessarily the changes themselves).
-I'm the exact opposite: I would rather see/have the Spellplague (Death of Mystra) than the advancement of the timeline by +/- 100 years.
Agreed – I plan on using everything in the GHotR AS IS, but I will flesh-out the stories between the various god-squabbles (three separate ones), and have the Campaign begin in 1390.
I see absolutely NO reason for the time shift, except to destroy my own personal feelings of entitlement, which I am very happy with, thank you very much. :P
QFT. This particular set of RSEs is even sloppier and dumber than the ToT fiasco. I don't think anyone really believed that to be possible, but the spellplague proves otherwise.
Who'd have thought that the current team could cause us to wax nostalgic about the ToT? :D
Will wonders never cease?
-I'm the exact opposite: I would rather see/have the Spellplague (Death of Mystra) than the advancement of the timeline by +/- 100 years.
I would rather have seen neither, to be honest, but at least moving the timeline forward would not prelude a more organic development of the setting.
Unfortunately, Great Lady, those of us whose primary interest (through lack of time, or other constraint) is in the novels are not afforded this option. Although I must salute your, almost permanently, positive voice on these threads!
Well, thank you!
I appreciate that.I see absolutely NO reason for the time shift, except to destroy my own personal feelings of entitlement, which I am very happy with, thank you very much. :P
-The "official" story is to give DMs and players the same "leverage", in that players won't know more about the setting than DMs. Of course, this is entirely untrue. Asides for previous information, which becomes history that is still relevant, a DM doesn't read a particular entry that a player does, and Boom! You're in the same situation.
Who'd have thought that the current team could cause us to wax nostalgic about the ToT? :D
Will wonders never cease?
-Hey, I liked the Time of Troubles. A interesting premise, at least.
I would rather have seen neither, to be honest, but at least moving the timeline forward would not prelude a more organic development of the setting.
-I agree. Neither would have been the best case scenario.
I would rather have seen neither, to be honest, but at least moving the timeline forward would not prelude a more organic development of the setting.
I much much much prefer the Spellplague over the useless time jump