Having said that, like the tread title says, what are you looking forward to the most? Personally for me I'd say the following (in no order):
-Netheril. Is it nearly completely restored? How are the shades coping with magic changing?
-The aboleth kingdom. Sounds cool; I dont even know anything about it, but I can already sense that it will have amazing adventuring possibilities.
-Exploring the earthmotes. I like the way those sound. I can totally see the adventurers having to make their way to an earthmote that has an ancient temple or something, possibly with the interior of the earthmote hollowed out for some floating underdark adventures...
Theres plenty more, but I'd like to hear some of yours.
I want to know everything, and then some.
Information on the Empire of Shade/Sembia is a close second, followed by information about Myth Drannor.
How have the elves adapted to the loss of Mystra? Is Correlon taking an active role in informing the elves about how to deal with magic now?
Do the elves have advantages in magic that other nations/races do not? Are the secrets of how to wield magic found in the Fey Wild?
Sooooooo many adventure possibilities to be had. All we need are a few of the setting’s new secrets laid bare before us to get the adventures going.
You can probably guess before I say it: CORMYR!
I want to know everything, and then some.
Information on the Empire of Shade/Sembia is a close second, followed by information about Myth Drannor.
How have the elves adapted to the loss of Mystra? Is Correlon taking an active role in informing the elves about how to deal with magic now?
Do the elves have advantages in magic that other nations/races do not? Are the secrets of how to wield magic found in the Fey Wild?
Sooooooo many adventure possibilities to be had. All we need are a few of the setting’s new secrets laid bare before us to get the adventures going.
Good questions, all.
I'm also curious about Calimshan...
However I really cant wait to get my hands on the books so I know what has changed, I plan to start a game soon but alot of what I do will be stalling until the book arrives... arrgghh why couldnt they have this book ready soon, I really feel sorry for those Eberron fans out there, what are they going to do to your setting...
The New: The dragonborn area and what replaced Maztica (yay).
The South. Hey, what can I say, I want to know about what goes on in the most acient kingdoms.
Kara-Tur. Okay, it's pointless to hope that 4e would bring me something that hasn't happened since 1st, but I can dream can't I?
And i'll say that the history jump does help me with gettign palyers in who are intimidated by the depth of the setting. They love it, but they are scared to screw something up and don't want to play for that reason. I look at this as a sort of Ultimates reset that will let them build some really nice characters.
some hot looking air genasi. Blue is in
-Besides the crunch of the setting, I'm looking forward to see how they've advanced the Silver Marches
-How Thay has handled the new magic and still kept their power as the Weave failed
-The new Zhentarim (gotta love mercs)
-everything about Waterdeep
-what deities are still around and what impact they might have
-how WotC is going to handle NPCs
and those are just starting questions :D
Kara-Tur. Okay, it's pointless to hope that 4e would bring me something that hasn't happened since 1st, but I can dream can't I?
-This is what the Kara-Tur Re-Dux is for.
I want to see how they handle Bane. I hope they turn him into less of a tool and more of a strong, dark god that people would worship if they lived in a hard inhospitable land filled with nasties and enemies all around them. Perhaps he has aqcuired some of Helm's Protection Portfolios somehow? I always felt that many Zhents were not really evil they just htought the ends justified the means and a hard land needed to be run by a hard religion.
Thats an interesting viewpoint, and one I hadn't thought of before (although I would say that most if not all of the higher ranked Zhents were evil, even if all of their subordinates were not).
Talking about the gods, I want to know the deal with Lathander/Aumanator, details of Cyric's imprisonment, and how is Torm handling the transition to a GG (thanks Greenknight!(I think that's who it was...)).
I want to see the new stuff Ed apparently wrote up.
-Somewhere I read (might have been MT that told me), that he's involved in the writing of the new "Abeir" stuff. That, and a lot of what he wrote isn't being used right now, in the FRCG.
What Ed wrote about was the new land taking the place of Maztica. I was upset because I thought they cut his Anchorome material from the book, but apparently he never wrote it.
Sadly, AFAIK, Ed's only allowed to play with 'toys' outside of Faerûn proper now. I guess thats only fair... the other kids broke ALL of HIS toys.
I had an interest in Ed's Anchorome, but not in whatever is taking Maztica's place, so that alone made me go from buying it, to just reading it in the bookstore (the Ed parts - I have no interest in anything written by the "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse").
some hot looking air genasi. Blue is in
Didn't you get the memo?
Blue doesn't exist anymore - all the cool people are calling it Cerulean now. :P
I do have kind of a morbid curiousity but I likely will not buy the Campaign Book. I am interested to see how they convert the rules and apply them to 4e in the Players Guide things like genasi and bladesingers
Ditto
'Morbid curiousity' is certainly apt in this regard.
It's an exciting time!
I thought this thread was suppose to be free of these posts?
I thought this thread was suppose to be free of these posts?
Only the power of the ignore list will protect you in times like these, son.
Anyway, my expectations are simple. I look forward to using Elminster primarily as a sage, with a nigh-endless sea of wisdom as his main weapon. I love using sages as a DM, especially if they are NOT powerful . Surviving and getting rich in a dangerous world using only wisdom, knowledge and cunning is awesome.
-Somewhere I read (might have been MT that told me), that he's involved in the writing of the new "Abeir" stuff. That, and a lot of what he wrote isn't being used right now, in the FRCG.
I've read the same thing. If I like what "Abeir" is, I'll likely rename it and use it in a different context.
Waterdeep and the north. I love the high forest and Silverymoon too. I also want to see how much influence the Elves/Eladrin have gained over the last 100 years, given that there are at least 3 new elvish kingdoms (High Forest, Myth Drannor and the one from Blackstaff)
I just would like to point out that the modern City of Hope is not solely (or even primarily) an "elven" place.
Didn't you get the memo?
Blue doesn't exist anymore - all the cool people are calling it Cerulean now. :P
Ummm.... my given name is Blue and I didn't get that memo, it would have been nice to know I don't exist anymore... :|
Also curious as to the status of Evermeet.
-It's still there, but there's an NDA, apparently, which some take to mean that something will be happening there.
Its the Eladrin's Kingdom on Toril now, is all. I thought worse was going to happen, but I've caught wind that the only thing that's changed was the names (of the race) and the backstory has been further fleshed-out form Elaine's original.
I had a feeling it was going bye-bye for awhile, but really not much has happened other then a mild facelift.
They probably had Queen Amluiral fall down a flight of stairs or something to get rid of her, though.
Can't keep her around - she was high-level NPC and possibly a Chosen of the whole Seldarine.
Perhaps the new ruler of Evermeet is a sun elf due to some politcal maneuvering of house Durothil and co.
I don't know. Is it such a great crime to simply lower the power of those NPC:s considered too powerful?
Not everyone agrees that they are "too powerful".
I for one wouldn't mind if they were simply toned down. Or not represented with stats at all.
I'm with you on that last bit.
Well the ones that did die (Khelben, Halaster, Qilue, Sylune) all met with meaningful deaths. Personally I see nothing wrong with them dying that way.
Where do I read of their deaths? Or was that announced somewhere in that mile long Q&A thread?
Not everyone agrees that they are "too powerful".
I see. That way, killing them pleases everyone. ;)
Well the ones that did die (Khelben, Halaster, Qilue, Sylune) all met with meaningful deaths. Personally I see nothing wrong with them dying that way.
-Halaster and Sylûne, not so much. Especially in Halaster's case. Sylûne...Meh.
Where do I read of their deaths? Or was that announced somewhere in that mile long Q&A thread?
-Khelben's death can be read in the novel Blackstaff.
-Halaster's death is mentioned at the beginning of the Return to Undermountain adventure, and is made Forgotten Realms canon in AGHotR.
Qilue's death can be read in the novel Ascension of the Last.
-Sylûne's death is mentioned in the Shadowdale adventure (I believe).
I see. That way, killing them pleases everyone. ;)
I, uh, don't get the joke.
-Halaster and Sylûne, not so much. Especially in Halaster's case. Sylûne...Meh.
Heck, I won't even concede that Qilue's death was "meaningful", although it's obvious that it was intended to be.
Khelben's death is the only one in the list that I could accept.
Heck, I won't even concede that Qilue's death was "meaningful", although it's obvious that it was intended to be.
Khelben's death is the only one in the list that I could accept.
-Agreed.
-It's still there, but there's an NDA, apparently, which some take to mean that something will be happening there.
Wouldnt surprise me if it's got something to do with the Feywild.
Well technically Evermeet was displaced in all editions. Nothing wrong with it existing in both the Feywild and Faerun simultaneously, in fact it would be pretty close to current canon I think.
That's what I was thinking actually. In the 4th Ed Core "setting" (if you could call it that) there are several examples givin of elf and eladrin (more eladrin I think) cities that are kinda half in the world and half in the Feywild. Others seem to stay in the Feywild during the day and at twilight appear in the world. Or alternate by seasons.
I could see WotC doing something like that with Evermeet, which would be cool with me.
I really do wonder, with all the faerie coming back, will we get more on the lythari? Or maybe find out more about Tintageer?
I think that's a distinct possibility.
I hope the Shadowthieves still are a force to reckoned with in most of the cities on the Swordcoast and have wiped out the Xanathors allowing renewed Shadowthief schemes in Waterdeep.
I love the Shadow Thieves.
Had a great time with them in BG:SoA too.
Also interested in hearing about the Moonshae Isles and their connection with the Feywild.
Lastly, I want to hear about the 'Returned Abeir' sections.
Bel
- Living Forgotten Realms (Can't wait til this starts)
- 4E Realms Epic Destinies and Paragon Paths
- New class powers to be found in the FRPG
- Drow and Genasi PC races (More the latter then the former. I've no plans on ever playing a Drow)
- Torm as a Greater God :D
I'm looking forward to...
- Living Forgotten Realms (Can't wait til this starts)
- 4E Realms Epic Destinies and Paragon Paths
- New class powers to be found in the FRPG
- Drow and Genasi PC races (More the latter then the former. I've no plans on ever playing a Drow)
- Torm as a Greater God :D
Yeah, thanks for that! Tyr got on my nerves.
I'd like to see who was demoted from Demigod to Exarch now too.
I really do wonder, with all the faerie coming back, will we get more on the lythari? Or maybe find out more about Tintageer?
-Doubtful, on both points. Especially the latter.
I was thinking... what about all those poor people who had begun to enjoy Maztican coffee and chocolate, imagine if the main source for those in our world just disappeared...
-A lot of angry people...
Then we would go back to tea
-Better hope Kara-Tur is still around.
Sylune had already died once for Shadowdale. This time she died for both Shadowdale and Mystra. Saving the place you dedicated your life to from destruction is meaningful.
Let me put it this way: all the deaths we are taking about, save Khelben's, reek of an out-setting agenda behind them other than "good storytelling."
I'm not saying there was no such agenda behind Khelben's death (as it was WotC's idea, not Mr. Schend's--I know that because Mr. Schend said so on CK), it's just that it didn't seem nearly so obvious.
Let me put it this way: all the deaths we are taking about, save Khelben's, reek of an out-setting agenda behind them other than "good storytelling."
-Especially Halaster's. The in-game explanation, I have come to accept, and even like. The..."timing" of it, and the exact way it happened (the intro text in a core adventure), though? Nah...
I want it all, in my hands, like yesterday.
I just hope we get our hands on the FR Campaign Guide before the Secrets of the Realms seminar. I want that book in my hands before I start firing off questions to Rich and (presumably) Ed.
:evillaugh
So was the Dark Ages...
Oh, quit whining and make me more maps!;p I need one of Cormyr, 1369! Preferably Nightal, Uktar will do if you can't do any better;p
I'm looking forward to...
- Drow and Genasi PC races (More the latter then the former. I've no plans on ever playing a Drow)
Weren't they always?
18DELTA ;)
Oh, quit whining and make me more maps!;p I need one of Cormyr, 1369! Preferably Nightal, Uktar will do if you can't do any better;p
I wrote that so long ago, I had to go back and see what it was in reference to.
Me and my one-liners...
I think I've been hangin' around with Merricale too much. :P
Anyway, I did 99% of the research for a Cormyr map (including oodles of great input from Ed himself), but then I never actually started it - I got sidetracked, like usual. I should do it soon, otherwise I am going to forget everything I was doing with it...
... like I did with the Elven Netbook project. :embarrass
-The FRCG is going to be released on August 19th, right? So......
18DELTA ;)
-So...?
I should do it soon, otherwise I am going to forget everything I was doing with it...
... like I did with the Elven Netbook project. :embarrass
-Good idea. ;)
Chris Tulach (the RPGA Content Manager), has promised a special treat for LFR folks, and by default, this will extend to all FR fans.
Joe
P.S. By the by, I think anyone whose perception was poisoned by a bad previous experience with the RPGA will be pleasantly surprised at how professional and unrestrictive its campaigns are now. Give LFR a go...
I believe WotC will release the FR Campaign Guide early at Gen Con, as they've released other products early at previous Gen Cons.
The Secrets of the Realms Seminar is on the 16th and is only half-booked (less than 50 of 100 possible seats filled and online registration closed).
Like before there will be plenty of walk-ins, so the extra seats that are available should all be filled by the time the seminar starts.
With the FRCG in hand, we can pepper Rich, Ed and anyone else brave enough to attend with hard questions. If we're lucky, Ed will tease us with bits of info we're not supposed to know and maybe draw some worried looks from whomever is assigned as Ed’s "WotC minder" this time around.
My questions will be centered around the utility of the rules in bringing the all the cool varieties of magic in the Realms to life at the gaming table. If the FRCG doesn’t help me do that, WotC will get an earful at the seminar.
I hope some of you can attend.
-But, if the book is released August 19th, and this convention thing is August 14th through the 17th...The dates aren't overlapping.
"...this convention thing..."???
Where have you been all these years? It's Gen Con man!
The best four days of gaming. Literally!
You're a lot closer to Indianapolis than I am. You. Should. Attend.
Bring Rinon and we can bury hatchets with food and drink! I'll buy the first round and drag msatran along by his nose hairs to join us at The Ram (the bloody best place to eat, drink and be totally surrounded by cool gamer movies and people of similar tastes).
Last year I spent a good part of Sunday drinking and eating at the main bar. I think Evil Dead (??) was playing on the main movie screen? There were all sorts of gamers just hanging out and winding down from the Con. Cool posters and gamer stuff were hanging from the walls.
-That said, Indiana is a far away place, and hopefully I'll be starting a new job by then, meaning I'll have 0 vacation days in the academy.
I will just have to enjoy it for the both of us.
;)
-The FRCG is going to be released on August 19th, right? So......
18DELTA ;)
I'll be in Panama City Beach that day. For a whole week, in fact. Ah well.:P
Karsus!
"...this convention thing..."???
Where have you been all these years? It's Gen Con man!
The best four days of gaming. Literally!
You're a lot closer to Indianapolis than I am. You. Should. Attend.
Bring Rinon and we can bury hatchets with food and drink! I'll buy the first round and drag msatran along by his nose hairs to join us at The Ram (the bloody best place to eat, drink and be totally surrounded by cool gamer movies and people of similar tastes).
I'd love to come, but it's not possible for me this time. Thanks anyway, though.
Ah well. It was worth a shot.
I will just have to enjoy it for the both of us.
;)
-If you are enjoying it for both of us, you're going to have to punch someone for me. That's what I might have done, in theory. Probably not, but it sounds good.
thats around then. Too bad though, Pittsburgh is only like 6 hours away Weird... those places make me go a little psycho too... tried one once in SF years ago and nearly decked a guy just for saying hello. Left soon afterwards oddly enough. Good thing the ticket was free.
Me too.... I'll PM why to you both
-Heh. No, he didn't, but I just read that, and thought of that, and...
Otherwise, he gets to burry the hatchet (so to speak) in you and he buys himself a beer for the doing of it.
OMG I'm totally imagining an axe fight in front of the Ram in Indianapolis.
"I will buy the first round!" (swings axe).
"No, I will!" (attempts to parry axe chop and disarm attacker).
LOLZ