Some people in Canada have recieved the 4E FRCG early! - Page 3

JeffB · 12th August 2008, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rounser

Who gives a tinker's cuss about the gods. Honestly, why are people so obsessed with FR's soap opera of the gods? It's definitely the least interesting part of the setting, yet it's most of people seem to talk about on REALMS-L and other places.

4E FR comes out, and the first thing talked about is what gods are in? Sheesh. The soap opera goes on.

Agreed. I've never been able to understand or relate to this segment of the Realms fanbase. I guess some just see the setting as more of a "playground" for fiction and backstory than a campaign setting for the PCs :shrug:

As a DM, in past Realms campaigns, I've used only a handful of Gods, or rather their church/followers as antagonists-Bane mostly, Myrkul, etc. Then again, I'm pretty firmly in the 1E Realms material (pre TOT) camp.

I'll take a look-see at the new book, but so far it seems like alot more of the same ol-same ol thats been going on for the past 20 years (real time)

Falstaff · 12th August 2008, 02:57 PM

FR Maps.

Are there more maps drawn like the Cormyr map in Dragon's Cormyr article?

I am hoping all of the Realms are mapped that way.

Celtavian · 12th August 2008, 04:52 PM

They just ruined a few of my favorite characters. No Shaundakul, Lathander, or Mystra. Isn't that lovely.

The Little Raven · 12th August 2008, 05:05 PM

Fzoul Chembryl and Obould Many-Arrows are now Exarchs? Interesting.

jadrax · 12th August 2008, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Little Raven

Fzoul Chembryl

They wanted to make the Realms less convoluted and they left him in?

SPECTRE666 · 12th August 2008, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falstaff

FR Maps.

Are there more maps drawn like the Cormyr map in Dragon's Cormyr article?

I am hoping all of the Realms are mapped that way.

-Nope the maps are like the Excerpts maps. I hear that the poster map in the back is better.

SPECTRE

Ghaerdon Fain · 13th August 2008, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPECTRE666

-Nope the maps are like the Excerpts maps. I hear that the poster map in the back is better.

SPECTRE

Bummer, the thing I liked the most about 3E FR was the maps (shallow for sure). Oh well I guess I too have a reason to be a hater

. Can't wait to get it though.

carmachu · 13th August 2008, 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

Your bashing of all D&D non-great wheel/Planescape cosmologies is getting really dull.

I have been a great wheel fan since 1987 and a Planescape fan since 1994, but that doesn't mean that any D&D cosmology that deviates from that is crap.

That's why no one is commiserating with you, because you just come off as a child who has thrown his toys out of the pram.

In this case, I think its warranted. The God shake up makes no sense to even someon like myself as a casual observer to the realms. It does appear less of a clean up and more of an imposition of the new 4e cosmology.....Asmodeus taking Azuths stuff? come on....

(Psi)SeveredHead · 13th August 2008, 03:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jadrax

They wanted to make the Realms less convoluted and they left him in?

The Realms will still need good villains.

Chembryl was, IIRC, one of the few competennt villains in the settings. Villains weren't necessarily incompetent, but many were, and the rest simply couldn't match the super competent NPC heroes.

Semah G Noj · 13th August 2008, 04:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carmachu

.....Asmodeus taking Azuths stuff? come on....

I think it's awesome, personally.

Keefe the Thief · 13th August 2008, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carmachu

In this case, I think its warranted. The God shake up makes no sense to even someon like myself as a casual observer to the realms. It does appear less of a clean up and more of an imposition of the new 4e cosmology.....Asmodeus taking Azuths stuff? come on....

Time of upheaval, patron goddess of god dies, Archdevil thinks "carpe diem", catches him in weakened form and sacrifices his tortured body to gain immortal powers.
Sounds absolutely straightforward to me.

And the structure and doings of the gods in FR were always pretty random. Still remember the time when Cyric thought: "Hmm, they should worship me more in Zhentil Keep. You know what? I´ll send an army against the keep and rescue them in the last instance, and i´ll be their hero!!111!"

Steely Dan · 13th August 2008, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carmachu

The God shake up makes no sense to even someon like myself as a casual observer to the realms.

Did you casually observe the clumsy 1st Ed to 2nd Ed Time of Troubles transition? *shudders*

questing gm · 13th August 2008, 10:17 AM

I can't access the link because the WoTC's board keep failing.
Now I'm hungry for more info.....grrr......

Steely Dan · 13th August 2008, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by questing gm

I can't access the link because the WoTC's board keep failing.

Yeah, I don't know what the hell is going on over there lately – yesterday they were down between 10:00am and 3:00pm, UK time.

And what is the deal with having to keep logging back on every 3 seconds on these boards?

Derren · 13th August 2008, 12:55 PM

The board is back up, but who knows for long.

Here a small summary:

Orbakh is the only surviving Manshoon clone and leads the Zenths (mainly consisting out of Cyric guys now) from Stormwatch.
The Zenths fight the Yakuza.
Mask is gone, but his exact faith is not mentioned.
Elmi went from superhero back to being a passive sage and lives in a farmhouse.
Cyric is still imprisoned and gets more insane. His clerics are not affected by all this.
Currently no known chosen in the Realms.
Deities have spheres again instead of portfolios
Obould has the "Warrior" sphere.
Fzoul has the "Service to Evil" sphere (divine butler?).
Jarlaxle is a lvl 21 elite skirmisher.
The Sea of Falling Stars is nearly gone.
No Psionics.
Shar is Shadow based now instead of Darkness.
Hoar likely serves Bane.
Abeir = World ruled by dragons and Primordials. Toril = FR we know. Was split apart by Ao when deities and Primordials fought. Now merged again.
Red Wizards are a pure organization now (no connection to any country) and only a shadow of their former selves.
Thay is destroyed and full of undead. Tam tried a ritual to make him stronger than the gods, failed and now wants to break out of former Thay and try again.
The Cult of the Dragon is still there.
Every deity not on the list is unavailable, but their exact fates is not always stated (for example Mask).
Evermeet got transported into the Feywild.
A echo of Evermeet remains on Abeir-Toril (looks like a copy)
Everything on Sumbrar (dragons, soldiers, spelljammers) got destroyed.
Luskan & Neverwinter are destroyed.
Baldurs Gate has grow really huge, likely the biggest city on Faerun now.
Halruaa went "BOOM".
Phlan was likely destroyed.
Szass Tam is lvl 30 and the highest level statted thing in the book (full stat block).
The SImbul is still around somewhere in the Dalelands
The 12 Shade princes and the enclave still exists.
The Baneites´made a deal with the Phaerim to controll the Dalelands.
The Shades heard from that deal and destroyed Zhentil Keep. After that the Baneites fled, leaving the Cyric guys in charge.
The goal of the new Zenths is freeing Cyric from his prison.
Exarch = Demigod = ~Demigod Epic Destiny
Tiamat serves Bane.
Loviatar is banes consort.
Velsharoon was destroyed.
Dambrath still exists.
Lurien was destroyed and now forms the Gulf of Lurien.
Masks's realm still exists. His former chosen visit from time to time and it is rumoured that it is filled with treasure.