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Swordmage Novel

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
tancread
Dec 10, 2008 9:42:26 I just finished Rich Baker's Swordmage novel and enjoyed. It did leave me with some questions however. I am new to the Forgotten Realms so please forgive my ignorance if any of this is common knowledge.

* Are Swordmages new? Were they around in the old editions or are they part of the new 4e Realms?

* Warlords of Vassa, again are they new or part of the the old realms? In the book they are pretty distinctive and tough, but not very bright really, is that historical?

The book is a your run of the mill fantasy novel, fine popcorn reading but it won't change your life or stick with you very hard. Some nice twists, but a bit of villain confusion and if you buy the book from the jacket description you may be disappointed. Comparing this one to the new Blackstaff Tower book also set in the new 4e realms I think Swordmage is the better one, but only just. Both books feature heroes who are of the modern reluctant hero sort who seem mostly to react to the story around them, but the Swordmage character gets about four pages of trying to break out of that before falling right back into it. Neither book is awful, but in neither case do I desire a prestige hardback version of the book. Next up I have a pile of classic FR books, I will see how they compare to the modern ones.
#2
lord_karsus
Dec 10, 2008 10:24:07
* Are Swordmages new? Were they around in the old editions or are they part of the new 4e Realms?

-The specific class itself, yes. Multiclass Fighter-Magicians are nothing new to the setting, to D&D, or to fantasy in general, though.

* Warlords of Vassa, again are they new or part of the the old realms? In the book they are pretty distinctive and tough, but not very bright really, is that historical?

-The Warlock Knights of Vaasa "serve" and are empowered by Telos, some sort of entity that fell from the sky. This happened after the "traditional" Forgotten Realms "ended", sometime after 1,385 DR.
#3
Bluenose
Dec 10, 2008 10:34:33
I just finished Rich Baker's Swordmage novel and enjoyed. It did leave me with some questions however. I am new to the Forgotten Realms so please forgive my ignorance if any of this is common knowledge.

* Are Swordmages new? Were they around in the old editions or are they part of the new 4e Realms?

* Warlords of Vassa, again are they new or part of the the old realms? In the book they are pretty distinctive and tough, but not very bright really, is that historical?

The book is a your run of the mill fantasy novel, fine popcorn reading but it won't change your life or stick with you very hard. Some nice twists, but a bit of villain confusion and if you buy the book from the jacket description you may be disappointed. Comparing this one to the new Blackstaff Tower book also set in the new 4e realms I think Swordmage is the better one, but only just. Both books feature heroes who are of the modern reluctant hero sort who seem mostly to react to the story around them, but the Swordmage character gets about four pages of trying to break out of that before falling right back into it. Neither book is awful, but in neither case do I desire a prestige hardback version of the book. Next up I have a pile of classic FR books, I will see how they compare to the modern ones.

Swordmages are new to 4th edition. While there are a few similarities with various warrior-mage combinations from older editions, they do a lot of things that previous versions couldn't while not having some of the abilities that the older w-m had. Most notably the Swordmage really is a warrior who uses magic to enhance their fighting skill, where previously that wasn't necessarily the case.

Warlock Knights are new. Vaasa has always produced been a pretty nasty area, previously having been the home of a rather powerful servant of the Demon-Prince of Undeath.
#4
blackmasque
Dec 11, 2008 21:42:48 Swordmages are like Elf Bladesingers. They were mostly wizards that could fight and used their magic to buff themselves.
#5
tancread
Dec 12, 2008 11:15:15 Thanks guys, I had assumed that Swordmages were a FR cornerstone, like Artificers are in Ebberon. I was confused in the book when no one seemed to know what he was doing.
#6
lord_karsus
Dec 12, 2008 11:54:26 -The actual novel Swordmage came out before the D&D class.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 tancread Dec 10, 2008 9:42:26	I just finished Rich Baker's Swordmage novel and enjoyed. It did leave me with some questions however. I am new to the Forgotten Realms so please forgive my ignorance if any of this is common knowledge. * Are Swordmages new? Were they around in the old editions or are they part of the new 4e Realms? * Warlords of Vassa, again are they new or part of the the old realms? In the book they are pretty distinctive and tough, but not very bright really, is that historical? The book is a your run of the mill fantasy novel, fine popcorn reading but it won't change your life or stick with you very hard. Some nice twists, but a bit of villain confusion and if you buy the book from the jacket description you may be disappointed. Comparing this one to the new Blackstaff Tower book also set in the new 4e realms I think Swordmage is the better one, but only just. Both books feature heroes who are of the modern reluctant hero sort who seem mostly to react to the story around them, but the Swordmage character gets about four pages of trying to break out of that before falling right back into it. Neither book is awful, but in neither case do I desire a prestige hardback version of the book. Next up I have a pile of classic FR books, I will see how they compare to the modern ones.
#2 lord_karsus Dec 10, 2008 10:24:07	* Are Swordmages new? Were they around in the old editions or are they part of the new 4e Realms? -The specific class itself, yes. Multiclass Fighter-Magicians are nothing new to the setting, to D&D, or to fantasy in general, though. * Warlords of Vassa, again are they new or part of the the old realms? In the book they are pretty distinctive and tough, but not very bright really, is that historical? -The Warlock Knights of Vaasa "serve" and are empowered by Telos, some sort of entity that fell from the sky. This happened after the "traditional" Forgotten Realms "ended", sometime after 1,385 DR.
#3 Bluenose Dec 10, 2008 10:34:33	I just finished Rich Baker's Swordmage novel and enjoyed. It did leave me with some questions however. I am new to the Forgotten Realms so please forgive my ignorance if any of this is common knowledge. * Are Swordmages new? Were they around in the old editions or are they part of the new 4e Realms? * Warlords of Vassa, again are they new or part of the the old realms? In the book they are pretty distinctive and tough, but not very bright really, is that historical? The book is a your run of the mill fantasy novel, fine popcorn reading but it won't change your life or stick with you very hard. Some nice twists, but a bit of villain confusion and if you buy the book from the jacket description you may be disappointed. Comparing this one to the new Blackstaff Tower book also set in the new 4e realms I think Swordmage is the better one, but only just. Both books feature heroes who are of the modern reluctant hero sort who seem mostly to react to the story around them, but the Swordmage character gets about four pages of trying to break out of that before falling right back into it. Neither book is awful, but in neither case do I desire a prestige hardback version of the book. Next up I have a pile of classic FR books, I will see how they compare to the modern ones. Swordmages are new to 4th edition. While there are a few similarities with various warrior-mage combinations from older editions, they do a lot of things that previous versions couldn't while not having some of the abilities that the older w-m had. Most notably the Swordmage really is a warrior who uses magic to enhance their fighting skill, where previously that wasn't necessarily the case. Warlock Knights are new. Vaasa has always produced been a pretty nasty area, previously having been the home of a rather powerful servant of the Demon-Prince of Undeath.
#4 blackmasque Dec 11, 2008 21:42:48	Swordmages are like Elf Bladesingers. They were mostly wizards that could fight and used their magic to buff themselves.
#5 tancread Dec 12, 2008 11:15:15	Thanks guys, I had assumed that Swordmages were a FR cornerstone, like Artificers are in Ebberon. I was confused in the book when no one seemed to know what he was doing.
#6 lord_karsus Dec 12, 2008 11:54:26	-The actual novel Swordmage came out before the D&D class.