I would like to have had the crunch for 4E included, think I will pass. They're only doing no crunch because of 5E.
I'm not saying edition books are neutral. I'm saying it's BS that wizards only puts them out when it's convenient for them to start pushing their new system. If they want edition neutral books, MAKE A FREAKING ENTIRE LINE OF THEM. I don't see how you can possibly argue FOR wizards when they are completely giving the middle finger to their 4th edition fans in a very blatant way. Don't like the 4th edition material? Don't use it. How can anything MORE to the book, be bad when you can just ignore it? I do it all the time with other system's books.
There is no way I would have bought this book if it was full of 4e crunch. The Forgotten Realms needs to take a systems neutral stance at this point. I think it a wise decision.
Though it is systems neutral it still had information for the plague realms time period. It had relevant sections to each time period, and described what was happening in Menzo, and with the drow houses for each of them where relevant.
The lack of 4e crunch is a strength of this book, and shows a lot of promise for the sundering and 5e Forgotten Realms.
I'm saying it's BS that wizards only puts them out when it's convenient for them to start pushing their new system. If they want edition neutral books, MAKE A FREAKING ENTIRE LINE OF THEM.
I don't see how you can possibly argue FOR wizards when they are completely giving the middle finger to their 4th edition fans in a very blatant way. Don't like the 4th edition material? Don't use it. How can anything MORE to the book, be bad when you can just ignore it? I do it all the time with other system's books.
While true, this is a blatant disregard of 4th edition, in prep for 5th edition. If they would like edition less books then they need to make a LINE of them, not just when it's convenient because their efforts are focused on the next edition. I guaranteeing you we won't see any edition less books when 5th edition comes out. May I point out to you the edition less eberron book (adventurer's handbook or whatever it was called) Yeah...
Don't give me that "you can use it for whatever you want". I'd be all for this if it wasnt basically a big slap in the face to 4th edition consumers. I understand why they did it business wise, but what a way to treat your 4th edition customers. There's NO reason that all of this material couldn't have been supplemented with 4th edition crunch, they just do not want to support the system any more ... clearly.
I'm not impartial at all (contributed a little to the book, my older brother was the lead designer, and I designed the drow treachery cards) but I think this book will be of value to anyone that wants to revisit Menzoberranzan.
After all is said and done, WotC is trying to earn money. If 4e crunch books are not earning money in a meaningful way (sustainability, branding, etc...) they need to adapt and move on. I actively design for WotC and even I was getting fatigued by the sheer amount of feats, powers, and abilities in the game. If you're interested in that aspect of the game, Dragon magazine still provides it.
Hi Matt!
I totally agree, the magazines should hold most of the crunch and the books should be setting neutral.
Any chance of you telling us if the book going to be out in digital form in the near future? I stoped buying printed books five years ago and I'm interested in buying this one.
Warder
I'm not saying edition books are neutral. I'm saying it's BS that wizards only puts them out when it's convenient for them to start pushing their new system. If they want edition neutral books, MAKE A FREAKING ENTIRE LINE OF THEM. I don't see how you can possibly argue FOR wizards when they are completely giving the middle finger to their 4th edition fans in a very blatant way. Don't like the 4th edition material? Don't use it. How can anything MORE to the book, be bad when you can just ignore it? I do it all the time with other system's books.