Baalzebul is back to normal (And other new lore discoveries.)

[Kendra Lawrence]

I disagree (though I am not saying what goes on at an individual table is irrelevant), but to each their own. Some people don't care about the fluff or what happens with it, others do.

 

[Parmandur]

I disagree (though I am not saying what goes on at an individual table is irrelevant), but to each their own. Some people don't care about the fluff or what happens with it, others do.

This is true, but even among people who like fluff, not everyone will be bothered by changes from book to book. Don't like the new fluff? Use the old fluff, or mix and match.

 

[Kendra Lawrence]

True, and people will probably stick with what they like, but they still may be upset about the change (or happy about it), because it affects the "official" setting, so whether you choose to add, ignore, mix and match or not, it doesn't change the fact that the official setting has been affected, whether you like what was done or not.

For example, I hated when Eilistraee and Vhaeraun were removed from FR in 4E, and I kept them in my world, but that didn't change the fact that in the actual FR setting, they weren't there anymore, which meant they weren't in the source books or the novels (as at the time there were still novels).

So yeah, you can take whatever you want from a setting, or ignore something you don't like, but that doesn't change that in the established/official (whatever you want to call it) setting is affected, and sometimes something you love about the setting has been altered. Sure, you could continue playing in the previous edition(s), but you still know the most recent edition has changed. And again, that will matter to some, and to others, it won't. But for those who do care about it, they are going to want to discuss the fluff lol, whether they are happy or upset about it.

And when I say official, I mean the established setting(s) contained within these sourcebooks, with their established races, histories, gods, regions, etc

 

[gyor]

And, upon further reading, here's an exact quote on the matter from the book:

"Perhaps because of each community’s particular outlook or because the gods frequently use illusory guises, several diverse ideas exist about the membership of the pantheon. In some communities, the gods are thought to be all male or all female; in some they are animals, or constructs made by Garl Glittergold. Some gnomes say Garl has five allies, while others tally eleven."

So, yeah, it really doesn't change things in the end, and for all intents and purposes, if they're all male in the Forgotten Realms, that's just how the matter lies in the setting...

My favourite is they are all Constructs created by Gnarl, the first sci fi pantheon of D&D

 

[Demetrios1453]

My favourite is they are all Constructs created by Gnarl, the first sci fi pantheon of D&D

*Gnome cleric prays to Garl for a spell, but is not getting a response*

Cleric: "Garl, what is going on? Have I failed you in some way?"

Garl: "Oh, wait, sorry, Segojan Earthcaller was on the blink again and I had to initiate emergency repairs. Tightened a few screws, replaced some springs, and oiled up some gears, and he's as good as new! Now, sorry, what were you needing?"

 

[Mouseferatu]

"lessergod.exe has stopped working. Would you like to send Garl an error report?"

 

[Demetrios1453]

"lessergod.exe has stopped working. Would you like to send Garl an error report?"

You know that all Garl will have you do is unplug your god and then plug him back in again...

 

[JacktheRabbit]

Yeah, pretty much. Discussions about "at my table" are more relevant, and these books are meant as toolboxes to facilitate that, nothing less, nothing more.

Exactly, they are professionally done suggestion boxes, nothing more. Take what you want, have no regrets. Or something like that as the quote goes.

 

[Hexmage-EN]

It's funny to me that a lot of people expected this book to detail Sigil because of its focus on interplanar threats and travel, and then it mentions the city by name a couple of times, explains nothing about it, but includes a monster which has an ability in its statblock that explicitly teleports itself and several other creatures (but not enough to bring the whole party) to Sigil. This ignores that new players likely have no idea what Sigil is.

"Okay, you failed the save, so you're in Sigil now"

"What's Sigil?"

*shrug*

 

[Demetrios1453]

It's funny to me that a lot of people expected this book to detail Sigil because of its focus on interplanar threats and travel, and then it mentions the city by name a couple of times, explains nothing about it, but includes a monster which has an ability in its statblock that explicitly teleports itself and several other creatures (but not enough to bring the whole party) to Sigil. This ignores that new players likely have no idea what Sigil is.

"Okay, you failed the save, so you're in Sigil now"

"What's Sigil?"

*shrug*

It is mentioned, described, and even illustrated in the DMG, you know.