Ok, i'm done now. You may all go about your business.
I miss Bruenor
No clear evidence that he's dead yet
Though old King Bruenor has passed away, the symbol of Clan Battlehammer (a foaming beer mug) remains the realm’s standard. Mithral Hall’s underground expanse lies beneath Fourpeak Mountain south of the Spine of the World.
I liked the Dwarf King, but found him a bit too broad minded at times.
Drizzt was good during his first trilogy. I liked him better when he was a psychotic, gleeful killer.
Bruenor's kinda cool. Not so much as Pwent, but still good.
Catti-Brie is boring. The character doesn't have all that much to her (IMHO)
Regis is even worse.
Entreri is frikkin awesome.
Jarlaxle is even better.
Drizzt was good during his first trilogy. I liked him better when he was a psychotic, gleeful killer.
Me too!:P
Mithral Hall’s underground expanse lies beneath Fourpeak Mountain south of the Spine of the World.
"Fourpeak Mountain?" I don't recall ever hearing that name (and, I have read all the Drizzt novels except The Pirate King).
I always use him in my games as a Guide for Player characters exploring the North and a contact.
Sure, it was a bit contrived, but apparently a lot of people liked it.I actually think Regis has been an interesting character.
Me too!:P
"Fourpeak Mountain?" I don't recall ever hearing that name (and, I have read all the Drizzt novels except The Pirate King).
It was near the end of Streams of Silver. Bruenor had taken the potion of remembrance and after coaxing from Drizzt mumble"Fourthpeak high into Keepers Dale" or Something similar.
I stand corrected on Bruenors death.
The "Hunter" was the only aspect of Drizzt i didnt like
@Rinon: The reason that i don't like Regis is b/c of how RAS makes him utterly useless, but immune to just about everything bad that happens. I like his personality, though. He has made me chuckle a few times. So I guess I'd actually put him as "OK, but could use work."
And I repeat, Entreri and Jarlaxle are badass.
It was near the end of Streams of Silver. Bruenor had taken the potion of remembrance and after coaxing from Drizzt mumble"Fourthpeak high into Keepers Dale" or Something similar.
All right, thanks for letting me know.
Regis Hmmm in my opinion the wisest of all the companions
I think a lot of fans are just annoyed he's cooler than most player character concepts.
@Drizztmanchild: I thought by the hunter, you meant the one from the Hunter's Blades trilogy.
Regis Hmmm in my opinion the wisest of all the companions
In some ways, he is--he definitely strikes me as the most worldly of the companions.
Well, Drizzt does have some interesting insights at times. And if players are so annoyed by the fact that Drizzt is pretty cool, they should just make a cooler character. See it as a challenge and such, y'know.
@Drizztmanchild: I thought by the hunter, you meant the one from the Hunter's Blades trilogy.
Nah. The one from "Exile". He's learned how to focus that rage to where he's not just killing with abandon.
BTW, I have to agree with an earlier post I saw (either here or at the 'Keep) where the poster said that he believes the best 'order' to read the books in is the Icewind Dale trilogy, then the Dark Elf trilogy, the original published order. It just makes more sense in my head that way, since DE seemed to be him 'putting his story down' after people really began to notice him with the Mithral Hall companions.
The Hunter is that side of personality of Drizzt that is the Barbarian Rage. He first came out after he was exiled from Menzoberranzan into the wilds and he used the rage to survive. Now he only slips into it either in battle or times of great distress.
BTW, I have to agree with an earlier post I saw (either here or at the 'Keep) where the poster said that he believes the best 'order' to read the books in is the Icewind Dale trilogy, then the Dark Elf trilogy, the original published order. It just makes more sense in my head that way, since DE seemed to be him 'putting his story down' after people really began to notice him with the Mithral Hall companions.
Good point. Its how I read them( but then I was forced to read them that way)
I just finished The Pirate King recently and I have to say that I'm happy Drizzt is less self-absorbed now than in previous series. Also, knowing what I knew of Luskan from the 4e description and the Intro of The Orc King, it's cool to see how things actually went down and it's given me a better idea on how to use Luskan with the new edition.
I like the Pirate King because it was like watching a slow moving train wreck. Deudermont can't run the city effectively because Luskan is a city of pure naked evil and unless he wiped out the Pirates, there was no way of redeeming the city. Even then, Luskan survives on evil.
Drizzt could kill monsters just fine but there was nothing he could do to make the city a nicer place to be. Oddly, he should have told Jarlaxle to take over the city. He'd probably have done a decent job.
I like the Pirate King because it was like watching a slow moving train wreck. Deudermont can't run the city effectively because Luskan is a city of pure naked evil and unless he wiped out the Pirates, there was no way of redeeming the city. Even then, Luskan survives on evil.
Drizzt could kill monsters just fine but there was nothing he could do to make the city a nicer place to be. Oddly, he should have told Jarlaxle to take over the city. He'd probably have done a decent job.
Nah Jarlaxle doesn't bring order to things.Thrives on creating chaos in order to make profits. Similiar to this guy
i like drizzt.
but i have a question, the new prints with the covers by todd lockwood, are they "updated" with the new info on drizzt? i had heard those new books are infact not just copies. they fix his age. they fix other inconsistancies. but i don't know if thats true.
help?
It was kinda fun meeting Drizzt (and later, his friends) in the Baldur's Gate games.
They had excellent stuff once you had killed them and grabbed it. Always quite worth it actually, especially because before ToB there weren't many good magic scimitars around.
It was kinda fun meeting Drizzt (and later, his friends) in the Baldur's Gate games.
I like Drizzt....but in Baldurs Gate, I really really really wanted to kick him in the head....Minsc too....gawdsawfully annoying folk.
What? Heresy! Minsc is awesome! One of the best characters in the game! I hated that stupid winged elf, though. Constantly whining! Gah! (I only kept her b/c she was a good backup healer and arcane caster)
Robe of Vecna made Aerie, the afformentioned winged elf, a very effective healer. The cast time reduction on Heal was very nice imho
I liked Aerie though. She seemed sweet, if a little bit whiney.
SHE RUNS OFF, CRYING! Blah blah blah, I wish I had my wings, I'm so ugly blah blah blah. I do like how the characters in that game argue with each other. She got so mad at the Half-Elf Druid b/c I was hitting on her instead. :D
Sorry I meant Homeland.
Crystal Shard was Drizzt's first novel. Homeland was the fourth novel starring Drizzt and written with the focus on Drizzt because he had become so popular from the Icewind Dale trilogy.
Keep the faith(Drizzt still has about 5 or 600 years left to change and evolved)
The Crystal Shard is a rather peculiar novel to consider the best of the Drizzt series.
Just out of curiosity (as I'm not going to "defend" that novel) why do you say that?
Just out of curiosity (as I'm not going to "defend" that novel) why do you say that?
I consider the Crystal Shard to be the most unpolished of the Drizzt novels because the character of Drizzt hadn't been fully developed at this point. It's an extremely enjoyable fantasy novel that actually bothers to resolve it's plotline by the end of it, but it's mostly about the hack n' slash. I consider Streams of Silver and the Halflings Gem to be much superior.
As for my opinion of the Drizzt Do'Urden novels, I tend to view them in the context of a Wendy's Hamburger with Fries. The Drizzt Do'Urden novels are enjoyable and filling, but not anything you'd say "this is the greatest fantasy novel ever." I personally don't require something like that from them, instead I am just happy to have an enjoyable set of characters that I can sit down and read about.
Really, the books are best viewed in light of a television series rather than a book. The character development is somewhat slow but the work is about the individual episodes rather than any grandiose arc. Drizzt exists to fight threat every week and reap the rewards of such a journey. I personally like it.
I consider the Crystal Shard to be the most unpolished of the Drizzt novels because the character of Drizzt hadn't been fully developed at this point.
-I tend to dislike older books and sources because of this same reason.
I consider the Crystal Shard to be the most unpolished of the Drizzt novels because the character of Drizzt hadn't been fully developed at this point. It's an extremely enjoyable fantasy novel that actually bothers to resolve it's plotline by the end of it, but it's mostly about the hack n' slash. I consider Streams of Silver and the Halflings Gem to be much superior.
I agree, they are superior...although not that much superior.
Thanks for sharing your opinion. I will say, though, that many (if not most? if not all?) the Drizzt novels are "mostly about the hack 'n slash."
The only Drizzt novels I've honestly disliked are the Spine of the World which is technically a Wulfgar novel and the Pirate King. Fundamentally, the Pirate King is just too dark and depressing a story for me to terribly enjoy all that much. I prefer Drizzt works to be somewhat light and airy.
One quality that I do like about Bob Salvatore's writing though, is the fact that he's not afraid of leaving the world as he found it. After so many ridiculous novels where the entire world is altered for the actions of our heroes, mostly Bob just goes with the flow and I appreciate that.
If I have one major complaint about his writing is that too many of his villains seem to be lightweights.
All in all, how would you rate the book? I was extremely dissapointed with The Orc King, and I'm not sure if I'm going to try any more of RAS's books. (at least for the realms)
What disappointed you about the Orc King? I thought it was one of Salvatore's Better books and the best ending possible to the Obould Trilogy.
Honestly. The Pirate King is more Deudermont's story than anyone else. It's a story about how he risks everything in order to try and cleanse the City of Lusken of Piracy, only to find himself thwarted by a people who don't want to be saved.
Drizzt is his chronicler, not an active participant.
I never really liked Obould - and the ending seemed like it was forced to me. It gets kind of annoying how there are goody-goody drow everywhere now. (Tos'un or whatever his name is) I also disliked how some characters that just got offed for no apparent reason, like that one elf chick (name escapes me at the moment) that Drizzt worked with in The Hunter's Blades trilogy.
Ah, thanks for the response, charles.
I never really liked Obould - and the ending seemed like it was forced to me. It gets kind of annoying how there are goody-goody drow everywhere now. (Tos'un or whatever his name is) I also disliked how some characters that just got offed for no apparent reason, like that one elf chick (name escapes me at the moment) that Drizzt worked with in The Hunter's Blades trilogy.
Yes, I think she was eliminated solely because every fan realized she was a bout a x1000 times better match for Drizzt than Cattie Brie. But really, one Drow redemption because he realizes he has a better life with him than if he doesn't go with them is more like "Redeemed to the Side of Neutrality."
But yes, I actually had a lot of trouble with the ending myself. Still, I've come to accept Orcs arent 100% chaotic evil and that works for me.
Innovindal death seemed right to me somehow. Drizzt didn't need another love interest and there was really no where for her character to go. So an honorable death was fine with me
The only Drizzt novels I've honestly disliked are the Spine of the World which is technically a Wulfgar novel...
I actually really liked that novel--even (no, especially) the "romance novel" parts.
...and the Pirate King. Fundamentally, the Pirate King is just too dark and depressing a story for me to terribly enjoy all that much. I prefer Drizzt works to be somewhat light and airy.
So do I, which is why I'm reluctant to even read TPK.
One quality that I do like about Bob Salvatore's writing though, is the fact that he's not afraid of leaving the world as he found it. After so many ridiculous novels where the entire world is altered for the actions of our heroes, mostly Bob just goes with the flow and I appreciate that.
Same here.
I would have to say that the Pirate King wasn't really a "hack n slash" novel for drizzt(a first).
Good to know, but see above.
Innovindal death seemed right to me somehow. Drizzt didn't need another love interest and there was really no where for her character to go. So an honorable death was fine with me
I disagree. I thought Innovindil would have made an interesting match for Drizzt, and killing off a character just because you can't figure out what to do with them is sloppy writing. Her death scene struck me as very forced.
...and the Pirate King. Fundamentally, the Pirate King is just too dark and depressing a story for me to terribly enjoy all that much. I prefer Drizzt works to be somewhat light and airy.
So do I, which is why I'm reluctant to even read TPK.
Aye, it was a bit dark and depressing but we knew from the Prologue of The Orc King that Luskan fell and reading the FRPG and FRCG of 4e, I got a little more detail as to it's destruction. The Pirate King completely tells the whole damn tale but there are some hearty moments. Yet, even as I concluded the book, for me there was some sort of vindication from learning Luskan's fate 100 years later. A sort of Ha-ha, nay-nay feeling and it really brings to light the quote "Watch out what you ask for, you just might get it." All in all a good read and I'm improving my previous grade of C to a B+.
So an honorable death was fine with me
-Eh...I wouldn't really call that an "honorable" death.
RAS doesn't kill off all his side characters. I just don't think he likes having too many. Like most authors
I don't know dying while fighting for a good cause always seems honorable to me. Even if she was ambushed. Drizzt and Innovindil ending up together would just seem to cliche to me.
Maybe, but IMO it would have been no more "cliche" than Drizzt pairing up with a girl who grew up with him as a friend.
As far as the Pirate King being a little dark well RAS is building up to the Spellplague.
I agree, but unfortunately that leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
I don't know dying while fighting for a good cause always seems honorable to me.
-Dying while fighting for a cause you believe in is an honorable death. In that sense, she did indeed die with honor. The means in which she died, though, wasn't particularly "honorable", though. It's akin to being a soldier, and dying while falling out of a helicopter, before you actually get a chance to do what you've been training to do. It's a "foul", to use the basketball term. If, in real life, there were such things as "do overs", that would certainly be a time when someone should get one.
Ultimately, I feel most for Captain Deudermont. If he'd continued hunting Pirates his entire life then he'd have died a great hero and an inspiration for the whole of Faerun to follow his example. Instead, he's likely to be remembered mostly for his failed governorship of the worst city in the world.
It was a governorship he didn't want and reluctantly took. He did his best against overwhelming odds and Jarlaxle did prevent Drizzt from helping him with that rhyming dwarf.
OOH! Athrogate is in it? Awesome! That character is frakking hilarious!
:fight!:TPK? Where else is that?
Heh heh(laughing the laugh like he gets the joke but everyone knows he doesn't)
TPK also stands for Total Party Kill. Something really evil DM's do to a group of adventurers... :evillaugh
TPK also stands for Total Party Kill. Something really evil DM's do to a group of adventurers... :evillaugh
Ah since ii haven't played in a while guess that's why I didn't know. We used to call the Dm an @#$% if that were to happen thanks
Ah since ii haven't played in a while guess that's why I didn't know. We used to call the Dm an @#$% if that were to happen thanks
-Yeah. Sorry, I didn't see your post there, or else I would have responded. Though I haven't read it, The Pirate King features a lot of characters dying, and a main character dying, and all of that, so when I noticed it's abbreviation...
-Hmm...I just realized that the abbreviation for The Pirate King is "TPK". Coincidence?
I noticed that too.
Wonder if RAS did it on purpose or not.