I've only posted once on these forums and that was before 4th edition was released. My opinion about 4th edition went from good to bad and back again several times before it actually came out, and I still haven't been able to play it. I'm used to being the guy running games, and even though I'm looking for a good fantasy setting, I haven't had the guts to get into 4th edition yet. Why? Miniatures. I really don't like them. In rpgs, in my opinion, the scene should be set in the mind's eye, not on a grid map.
But I'm writing because I'm still curious about the new Realms, having played it since the 2nd edition of Ad&d. So I was hoping to get some answers.
First, can the new D&D and the Realms be played without the use of miniatures? We did so in 3.5, but is there any way of doing it in 4th edition without loosing much of the fun in the game?
Second, about the Realms in general, one thing that bothered me in 3.5 was the heaps of novels and stories set in the Realms, and while some people might disagree, but I felt that you had to read these to be "up to date" on what was going on in the world. Has this changed? I know it's still early, but what are the feelings people have? Are there still über-NPC going around being the movers and shakers, while the PCs are still spectators?
Third, in the Player's Handbook, the elves seem to live a lot shorter than in the previous edition. The setting, such as it was in 3.5, had elves living to over 900 years or more, if I remember correctly. Has this changed in the new edition, or do they still live long lives. If not, wouldn't this mess up with some of the history of the setting focused on elves?
And last, what is this new continent appearing across the sea? Returned-Abeir or something like that? How is this used? What kind of setting is it?
That was all for now. I really hope for some good answers that can convince me to get back to the Realms.
Cheers,
Eirik
First, can the new D&D and the Realms be played without the use of miniatures? We did so in 3.5, but is there any way of doing it in 4th edition without loosing much of the fun in the game?
I'm pretty sure it can be played without miniatures, although WotC's products tend to be "mini-centric" nowadays.
Second, about the Realms in general, one thing that bothered me in 3.5 was the heaps of novels and stories set in the Realms, and while some people might disagree, but I felt that you had to read these to be "up to date" on what was going on in the world. Has this changed? I know it's still early, but what are the feelings people have? Are there still über-NPC going around being the movers and shakers, while the PCs are still spectators?
I never had the impression that PCs in the Realms were merely spectators.
I don't agree with the premise of this question, but I'll just say that Realms novels are still being made, and they are still "canon".
Third, in the Player's Handbook, the elves seem to live a lot shorter than in the previous edition. The setting, such as it was in 3.5, had elves living to over 900 years or more, if I remember correctly. Has this changed in the new edition, or do they still live long lives. If not, wouldn't this mess up with some of the history of the setting focused on elves?
Eh, I don't know. It's possible that elves in the Realms are going to keep their old lifespans. Ask Rich Baker?
And last, what is this new continent appearing across the sea? Returned-Abeir or something like that? How is this used? What kind of setting is it?
Your questions can be answered by looking through the new FRCG.
You folks have any theories? Just brainstorming here but maybe Mystra was connected somehow to other gods or their equivalents on the other planes and the effects propigated through them...
I have a question as well. How did Mystra's death affect anything on other planes? I'm not exactly clear why it would. I know the out of character, real world reason why the planar orientation changed but I don't see the connection to the goddess of magic's death. The in-character explanation seems to be lacking here...I don't think this makes logical sense as stands.
-Because they wanted it to. Really, that's all.
2. New novels will still be coming out. So far, they haven't be RSE, but you never know. The Living Forgotten Realms (RPGA sanctioned events) look like they will affect how the new Realms will look, and that will be controlled by the players of these modules.
3. I haven't read the Player's Guide yet, so I can't comment on age caps. Given the severity of the Spellplague, it's possible many elves 100 years or older were killed off by the year 1479, so it ay make the point moot.
I have a question as well. How did Mystra's death affect anything on other planes? I'm not exactly clear why it would. I know the out of character, real world reason why the planar orientation changed but I don't see the connection to the goddess of magic's death. The in-character explanation seems to be lacking here...I don't think this makes logical sense as stands.
If you consider the outer planes to be magical, then the death of the magic goddess would indeed mess things up royally.
First, can the new D&D and the Realms be played without the use of miniatures? We did so in 3.5, but is there any way of doing it in 4th edition without loosing much of the fun in the game?
Second, about the Realms in general, one thing that bothered me in 3.5 was the heaps of novels and stories set in the Realms, and while some people might disagree, but I felt that you had to read these to be "up to date" on what was going on in the world. Has this changed? I know it's still early, but what are the feelings people have? Are there still über-NPC going around being the movers and shakers, while the PCs are still spectators?
Third, in the Player's Handbook, the elves seem to live a lot shorter than in the previous edition. The setting, such as it was in 3.5, had elves living to over 900 years or more, if I remember correctly. Has this changed in the new edition, or do they still live long lives. If not, wouldn't this mess up with some of the history of the setting focused on elves?
And last, what is this new continent appearing across the sea? Returned-Abeir or something like that? How is this used? What kind of setting is it?
1) Yes
2) Although I never really thought that the NPC's stole the limelight, the 4E FR designers have listened to the fans that did, and as such, there are much less "uber-NPC's" running around now as most have either died of natural causes (Alustriel, Wulfgar), been killed off in some way (Storm Silverhand, Qilue), or went 'Mad' (Elminster). So, No, you don't have to worry about it as of now.
3) Rich baker already stated that Elves in Faerun DON'T correspond to the ones in the PHB insomuch as aging is concerned and age the same as they always did, so, No.
4) Abeir is Toril's sister world and during the spellplague parts of it switched with Toril. One of these parts is Returned-Abeir. It is a land of dragons, dragonborn, and genasi for the most part, with a scattering of humans and dwarves. Dragons rule nations here and FYI none other than Ed Greenwood wrote most of it.
Hope that helps:D
Teo
1) Yes
2) Although I never really thought that the NPC's stole the limelight, the 4E FR designers have listened to the fans that did, and as such, there are much less "uber-NPC's" running around now as most have either died of natural causes (Alustriel, Wulfgar), been killed off in some way (Storm Silverhand, Qilue), or went 'Mad' (Elminster). So, No, you don't have to worry about it as of now.
I would just like to point out that Storm Silverhand hasn't been confirmed as dead.
I have a question as well. How did Mystra's death affect anything on other planes? I'm not exactly clear why it would. I know the out of character, real world reason why the planar orientation changed but I don't see the connection to the goddess of magic's death. The in-character explanation seems to be lacking here...I don't think this makes logical sense as stands.
You folks have any theories? Just brainstorming here but maybe Mystra was connected somehow to other gods or their equivalents on the other planes and the effects propigated through them...-Because they wanted it to. Really, that's all.
According to the FRCS; when Cyric killed Mystra, the entire plane of Dweomerheart exploded and the resulting Spellplague ravaged the cosmos.
Bel
According to the FRCS; when Cyric killed Mystra, the entire plane of Dweomerheart exploded and the resulting Spellplague ravaged the cosmos.
Bel
-Which, as Hobbit said, "I don't see the connection to the goddess of magic's death. The in-character explanation seems to be lacking here.". Mystra has died before, and a relayering of the planar structure of Realmspace did not follow.
According to the Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide, Toril and Abeir were in cosmic alignment at the moment of Mystra's murder by Cyric. This exacerbated the effect of the unraveling of magic and the destruction of Dweomerheart such that it affected all things on a planar scale.
Therefore Mystril and Mystra’s prior deaths (at the hands of Karsus the Arcanist and the god Helm) must have occurred when Toril was not in alignment with Abeir.
First, can the new D&D and the Realms be played without the use of miniatures?
I would not recommend it. As others have said (and as I’ve experienced firsthand by running the 4E rules) too much of 4E’s mechanics rely on knowing relative position and location.
Second, about the Realms in general, ... , but I felt that you had to read these to be "up to date" on what was going on in the world. Has this changed?
Yes it has.
Yes, thankfully, it has.
That is, all the old lore is still there (the 4E Realms are built 99.9% on the idea that all that came before happened), but now we have 100 setting years gone by with which to build a sense of separation.
This allows DMs to make 100% full use of all the history and lore that they want from the countless fallen lands and kingdoms of the setting, without also straddling them with the dearth of Realmslore produced for the Realms of the 1300’s.
I know it's still early, but what are the feelings people have? Are there still über-NPC going around being the movers and shakers, while the PCs are still spectators?
The Chosen of Mystra have either died or otherwise been minimized in the 4E Realms. Other über-NPCs still exist, but they’re mostly bad guys and well within striking distance of Paragon or Epic Level characters.
I don’t like to see the Chosen removed, myself, but it’s a theme I plan to explore in my 4E Realms game, regardless. Should be interesting, if not fun.
The setting, such as it was in 3.5, had elves living to over 900 years or more, if I remember correctly. Has this changed in the new edition, ... ?
I don’t believe it has. I don’t have my 4E Player’s Handbook in front of me, but I do have a copy of Wizards Presents: Races and Classes. It suggests an elf can easily wander for something like 200 years and return to find their great-grandfather/mother still alive and well (ref. page 36).
And last, what is this new continent appearing across the sea? Returned-Abeir or something like that? How is this used? What kind of setting is it?
Returned-Abeir is a section of continent from the planet Abeir that merged with Toril in the calamitous aftermath of the Spellplague.
The continent is horseshoe shaped, covering some 900 square miles of territory, dominated by mountains along its U-shaped northern territory (where the lands of Fimbrul and Relmaur can be found).
It’s eastern leg opens up into a wide plain and the evil realm of Skelkor, then an east-west run of mountains bisect the leg. South of these mountains, the forested and human controlled land of Eskorn (once known as Eskornamundyr) dominates the remainder of the eastern leg of the continent.
The western leg features a question mark-shaped run of mountains that separates the forested lands of Melabrauth and the Dusk Ports (to the east) from the intrigue-laden realm of Gontal (to the west).
Abeir is a land ruled long by dragons and where no deity has ever held sway. The Blue Breath of Change (Abeirian term for the Spellplague) helped to shatter the rule of Dragons, leaving the people of Abeir in control of their own fates.
Players and Realms DMs that have long adventured in the Realms can use returned Abeir as a new place to send their characters and run adventures, well and truly free of lore. For those who like to build on the framework of the Realms, Returned Abeir is a foundation readymade to build upon.
It is my hope you find these answers useful. Regardless, I anticipate you will find some fun yet in the 4E Realms and stick around to talk with us.
Axe High, I go,
-M.
However, I'm curious about the tools that will be provided in the D&D Insider. If my group could have, say, a computer screen at the end of the table with the battle map and miniatures on it, that would work much better. If this works as good as I hope it will, I think I'll get back into the Realms. I like the rules and all, and a battle map, if not misused, might speed things up.
Again, thanks for the answers, folks.
I guess it's time to stash those 3.5 books up in the attic. Eirik
This allows DMs to make 100% full use of all the history and lore that they want from the countless fallen lands and kingdoms of the setting, without also straddling them with the dearth of Realmslore produced for the Realms of the 1300’s.
Dearth = scarcity.
According to the Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide, Toril and Abeir were in cosmic alignment at the moment of Mystra's murder by Cyric. This exacerbated the effect of the unraveling of magic and the destruction of Dweomerheart such that it affected all things on a planar scale.
-Which, as was said, doesn't make too much sense.
Thanks for all the answers. I really want to get back into the Realms, but the fact that the 4th edition is so based on miniatures holds me back for the time being.
-You don't have to use miniatures. You don't have to use anything.
DM "But you attacked the hobgoblin behind you last turn!" type of confusion go mini-less.
Bel
I did get the Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide and Player's Guide though, and I really like what they've done with the place.
Can't find any info on elven lifespans yet, though. :/
Cheers,
Eirik
-Which, as was said, doesn't make too much sense.
To you, no doubt.
I don't see the problem myself.
:whatsthis
As you once told me, it's not supposed to make sense! :D
LK,
As you once told me, it's not supposed to make sense! :D
-Well, it should make sense, but we shouldn't trouble ourselves over it when it inevitably doesn't make sense. To clear that up.