Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 JohnLynch Feb 19, 2009 1:00:46	Why isn't the Weekend in the Realms mod accessible as a mod to download? I understand wanting to drive people to conventions/retail stores/events (such as the SPEC1-2 mod does), but it'd be nice to be able to play it afterwards because you couldn't make it (possibly because you didn't know about LFR at the time, or couldn't get time off work, etc). I think a time-delay (such as with SPEC1-2) achieves encouraging people to go to the event. 6-12 months delay would certainly be enough incentive, without punishing players who couldn't play it. Plus I think its a good mod so the more people that can play it the better ;)
#2 kinevon Feb 19, 2009 2:27:33	WEEK1-1 to WEEK1-3 was a very special event, and the modules were only available, and will only be playable/reportable for LFR on October 24-26, 2008. Best I can advise you is to check with your LFGS and any local GMs who ran it to see if they still have a copy of it available. But it still won't be legal as an LFR module anymore. Maybe for just a GM point for home play, but not for LFR XP, GP or bundles.
#3 JohnLynch Feb 19, 2009 2:43:17	WEEK1-1 to WEEK1-3 was a very special event, and the modules were only available, and will only be playable/reportable for LFR on October 24-26, 2008. Understood. My question is why? I hypothesised a possible reason (and also posted my own thoughts on this reason), but was wondering if it was known why?
#4 starbog Feb 19, 2009 3:05:08	Understood. My question is why? I hypothesised a possible reason (and also posted my own thoughts on this reason), but was wondering if it was known why? Because it was too rubbish to be ever available again with a straight face?
#5 _metz_ Feb 19, 2009 5:32:26	Because it was too rubbish to be ever available again with a straight face? hahahahahahahahahahahaahahahahahahahahahaahahahahahahahaha... ahem.... Should be more serious now...
#6 JohnLynch Feb 19, 2009 5:51:31	It was terrible. Well I liked it :P John: I have a copy if you would like one. I'll give it to you on Saturday. Naaah. Not much point ;) I was just wondering why this one specific mod isn't playable.
#7 _metz_ Feb 19, 2009 6:06:53	Well I liked it :P Well a lot of effort was put in both at Penrith, and at Blacktown on 'improving' it...
#8 Dragon9 Feb 19, 2009 7:01:59	Understood. My question is why? I hypothesised a possible reason (and also posted my own thoughts on this reason), but was wondering if it was known why? Because it was a special one time event to promote LFR in retail settings. It was basically a Worldwide D&D Gameday but exclusively for LFR. It went over well enough that they are considering doing it again in the future and possibly 2x a year IIRC.
#9 Solodan Feb 23, 2009 21:43:13	That'd be sweet!
#10 arin12 Feb 24, 2009 10:59:22	It can be easy to see this as a punishment for newer players or players who just couldn't make it that day. The intent, however, is the reverse - a reward for older players and players who could. I VERY much enjoy that "special" sense that comes from having that little edge, that experience that seems so much more special because it's shared with so few. Too often, organized campaigns lose some of their specialness because of all the repitition - what does it matter if I recovered the Sacred Chalice of Eternity when everyone else in the world can claim the same? Truthfully, I wish there was /more/ exclusivity in LFR content. Because those disappointed newer players could be offered the simple consolation that there's always another special mod right around the corner, and that someday they'll get to be the veterans with the special stuff that new players envy.
#11 telvin3d Feb 24, 2009 11:43:13	Also, these types of events provide an 'in' for new players. WEEK was certainly structured to bring in new players. By making it an event, it helps being people in to see what is going on and to give it a shot.
#12 Dragon9 Feb 25, 2009 7:37:44	Also, these types of events provide an 'in' for new players. WEEK was certainly structured to bring in new players. By making it an event, it helps being people in to see what is going on and to give it a shot. Exactly. It's intended purpose, as being run like a WWGD (What Would a Gnome Do?), was to bring new players into LFR.
#13 JohnLynch Feb 25, 2009 8:29:19	Exactly. It's intended purpose, as being run like a WWGD (What Would a Gnome Do?), was to bring new players into LFR. Seems odd to me that in order to fulfil this purpose, its required that no-one ever play the mod ever again.
#14 _metz_ Feb 25, 2009 8:48:33	Seems odd to me that in order to fulfil this purpose, its required that no-one ever play the mod ever again. Well John, think of it this way, would you rather NOT have worldwide games days? This way we get more mods, special events, and reasons for folks to play games at games day/con style settings. Seems good to me, but I miss the old LG con scene...
#15 Dragon9 Feb 25, 2009 10:25:23	Seems odd to me that in order to fulfil this purpose, its required that no-one ever play the mod ever again. How is this any different than any other WWGD mod?
#16 bhale187 Feb 25, 2009 11:12:21	Were the WEEK modules part of the LFR campaign, or just like the game day modules that are just for the fun of it?
#17 KarmaInferno Feb 25, 2009 11:46:34	Technically, yes they were. If you wanted a set of adventures to show off a generic dungeon crawl 4E combat grind for 12 hours, the WEEK adventures were great. If you wanted to show off, y'know, the Forgotten Realms, which is kinda the whole point of Weekend in the Realms, well, they failed miserably. -karma
#18 bhale187 Feb 25, 2009 12:54:39	Technically, yes they were. If you wanted a set of adventures to show off a generic dungeon crawl 4E combat grind for 12 hours, the WEEK adventures were great. If you wanted to show off, y'know, the Forgotten Realms, which is kinda the whole point of Weekend in the Realms, well, they failed miserably. -karma Good to know, thanks
#19 kinevon Feb 25, 2009 16:27:52	Adventure Description An attack on a diplomatic mission results in the kidnapping of an eladrin Princess Eldara, and it happens on the PCs’ watch! Now they need to find both her and a stolen magic relic before war breaks out in Cormyr. The trail of the villain has more twists than a snake’s shadow, and its leads farther than anyone would expect. A Living Forgotten Realms three round special adventure set in Cormyr for characters levels 1-4. This adventure is available only as a part of the Weekend in the Realms special event, October 24-26, 2008. Beneath Haunted Halls is a Forgotten Realms adventure for four-six characters of low level (1-4). The adventure has several decision points, but mostly consists of linear encounters that allow new players to try out their characters’ abilities and learn the game. That said, keep in mind how many encounters the players are going to play through. If they’re going to stop at the end of one of the first two parts, feel free to allow their actions to tell the story. Give them a final victory or defeat even if the adventure’s story would normally continue. Adventure Background The Spellplague wreaked havoc across the Realms—in ways both large and small—and Cormyr was no exception. The northern reaches of that country brushed against the Feywild. To this day the barrier between the Forest Kingdom and that twilit plane is often merely a veil that parts on the whim of fate. Fey are known to inhabit the King’s Forest, and the people of the town of Eveningstar, to the forest’s north, believe the strange creatures have spread across the countryside. Offerings of bowls of milk or pots of honey are a common sight on the stoops of farmhouses. Hunters and other travelers of the wilderness leave gifts of tiny bottles of spirits at their campsites in hopes of appeasing any of the “fair folk” whom they might have inadvertently offended. Recently, a far more troublesome incursion from the Feywild occurred. Hundreds of moon elves (eladrin) appeared and laid claim to the portion of King’s Forest near Eveningstar. The basis of their claim laid in the fact that none used the woodland, and that it was the location the Feywild had placed them when their village was pulled into the world. Yet the King’s Forest has been a royal hunting preserve for hundreds of years. The king could not allow such a brazen theft of his lands. Skirmishes between the two forces left many dead, and all-out war seemed inevitable. Yet with the help of negotiators from the eladrin nation of Myth Drannor, the king’s men and the lord of the eladrin reached an accord. The eladrin would have safe passage to Myth Drannor. In exchange, the eladrin lord’s daughter would join the Royal Court for a period of seven years, during which she could learn much of the world and of the ways of humanity. For their aid in reaching a peaceful result, King Foril bestowed upon the moon elf negotiators a gift for Myth Drannor: the diadem of dreams. This jeweled circlet was worn by a half-elven member of the Mages-Regal, secretive spellcasters who schemed against the crown a century ago. An elven work of unknown origin rumored to have power over portals, the diadem’s return to ancestral hands is highly anticipated. As chartered adventurers traveling through the region in the same direction, the PCs were conscripted as caravan guards for the retinue carrying the eladrin Princess Eldara. It’s traveling from the northern reaches of the forest along the High Road to Eveningstar, where she is due to receive a royal welcome and escort to Suzail. Among the peasants, there’s even a romantic rumor that Princess Eldara is to be married to a member of the royal family. Read aloud or summarize the adventure background to prepare the players for the adventure. Once they understand their characters’ motivation for traveling on the High Road, the game can begin. Start by reading through the description of Exterior 1 and progress through the adventure from there. Doesn't realy give information that the war would put the Realms at risk of unleashing Netheril's ambitions, since a war between Cormyr and Myth Drannor would drain off the needed resources both nations' have guarding the Netheril borders with them.
#20 JohnLynch Feb 25, 2009 18:33:48	Well John, think of it this way, would you rather NOT have worldwide games days? How is this any different than any other WWGD mod? Here's the question in another way: Why does a WWGD have to have the mod unavailable for all eternity after the WWGD? I don't mind it, I just don't understand it.
#21 Solodan Feb 25, 2009 19:37:26	I would have to agree if it was a great mod, but it isn't. It is a LOT of combat pushed into about 8 hours without something that is all that interesting to back it up. Compare to SPEC1-1, which also has a ton of combat, but also happens to be chock full of LFR lore, sticks you in the middle of something relatively over your head, has some creative skill challenges and combats. They released that one to the general public after some time has passed since Gencon. I don't miss the ability to run WEEK1-1 etc. Maybe future ones I might.
#22 _metz_ Feb 25, 2009 23:05:34	Here's the question in another way: Why does a WWGD have to have the mod unavailable for all eternity after the WWGD? I don't mind it, I just don't understand it. It is special and unique as a result of it. Remove that, and you just have another module that folks will play at home, instead of all the fun of turning up to a special games day. It's a good way for independent games players to meet up and discover other groups. I'd like to point out John, that we started gaming with you because Micky told me about you coming to Worldwide Games day and recommended you when we were looking for players. If it was just another ordinary mod, you may have done it at home with other gamers - I know we would have. Coincidence much?
#23 JohnLynch Feb 26, 2009 5:52:38	It is special and unique as a result of it. Remove that, and you just have another module that folks will play at home, instead of all the fun of turning up to a special games day. Fair enough. Although I do think that waiting 12 or even 18 months would achieve the same result (is anyone really going to wait 18 months to play a mod they could have otherwise played?) I'd like to point out John, that we started gaming with you because Micky told me about you coming to Worldwide Games day and recommended you when we were looking for players. If it was just another ordinary mod, you may have done it at home with other gamers - I know we would have. Coincidence much? Heh. I only found out about the Penrith games because the Australian dollar fell and so I was looking to see if Australian stores were cheaper then Amazon for D&D books. Had the Australian dollar stayed strong, I wouldn't have found out about the Penrith games. For me the fact it happened to be a WWGD was irrelevant ;)