You can't sell books indefinitely if all they say is, "and then stuff went back to normal." And incremental changes are really hard to do, since they make the canonical status of the setting unclear to anyone who doesn't follow every single incremental change as it happens. Large, gameworld changing events allow you to take a previous static status quo and replace it with a new, also static status quo, all in one shot.
A successful "Realms-Shaking-Event"?
- Thread starter GSHamster
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Cyronax
Explorer
As an a non-D&D example: The just-concluded and polarizing 'Ultimatum' crisis/event/cross-over in Marvel Comic's Ultimate universe (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultimatum_(Ultimate_Marvel)). I thought the nerd rage fueled by that comic limited series and the Forgotten Realms' RSE were very similar, IMO.
Therefore, I don't think by definition a reboot or an RSE (or whatever we want to call it) can be undertaken without creating controversy and dividing a fan base.
All that said, I think a D&D example of a successful RSE would be one that was designed from the get go to fully incorporate the contributions of the PCs. The weakness of the Realms' Time of Troubles and the Spellplague were that they felt sooooo heavy-handed and focused on a tiny group of gods.
Whereas the Greyhawk Wars and the Last War (the prelude to the Eberron campaign timeline) were huge international events that could easily and realistically draw PCs of any level into. So they essentially became great and inclusive plot devices, which further developed the settings.
The Spellplague (and Marvel's Ultimatum, etc.) are just big disasters that were full of editorial sloppiness that robbed settings' of a lot of developmental opportunities.
C.I.D.
Therefore, I don't think by definition a reboot or an RSE (or whatever we want to call it) can be undertaken without creating controversy and dividing a fan base.
All that said, I think a D&D example of a successful RSE would be one that was designed from the get go to fully incorporate the contributions of the PCs. The weakness of the Realms' Time of Troubles and the Spellplague were that they felt sooooo heavy-handed and focused on a tiny group of gods.
Whereas the Greyhawk Wars and the Last War (the prelude to the Eberron campaign timeline) were huge international events that could easily and realistically draw PCs of any level into. So they essentially became great and inclusive plot devices, which further developed the settings.
The Spellplague (and Marvel's Ultimatum, etc.) are just big disasters that were full of editorial sloppiness that robbed settings' of a lot of developmental opportunities.
C.I.D.
I was a fan of the original 1E AD&D Forgotten Realms back in 1987-88 when it mainly consisted of the FR campaign setting "grey box" and the first 6 FR supplement books. (I don't remember any 1E AD&D FR modules being that memorable back then. The 1988 module based on the Pool of Radiance video game was kinda mediocre). Back then, FR was really great for playing in a "sandbox" world.
By the time the "Time of Troubles" came along in 1989, that was the demarcation line which signaled the beginning of the end of FR as a cool "sandbox" setting. In hindsight, the "Time of Troubles" and the introduction of 2E AD&D was the start of a huge proliferation of box sets, supplements, modules, novels, etc ... and also when the FR "canon lawyers" started to appear.
So for me, the "Time of Troubles" was not a problem with the setting in and of itself. The problems as I perceived them, had more to do with stuff happening around and outside of the setting, such as the first appearance of "canon lawyers" and the proliferation of so many supplement books.
Here's some blog posts which describes a similar sentiment as mine.
The Society of Torch, Pole and Rope: The Undeveloped Realms
The Society of Torch, Pole and Rope: The Time of Troubles
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Fifth Element
Legend
Whenever there are nerds involved, a significant proportion of the fans will react badly to the change. Any change, really.
catsclaw227
First Post
Wasn't the Pool of Radiance video game based upon a module? Or was it a novel?
I don't remember which came first: the video game or the module.
Perhaps they were both developed simultaneously.
kitsune9
Adventurer
I agree. Dorkrage is always something of epic proportions in these kinds of hobbies.
I'm no comic book guy, but to my understanding, and to use a non-D&D example, Crisis on Infinite Earths was both successful and very well received.
Cyronax
Explorer
As (typically Marvel) comics guy, I'd have to agree about the Crisis of the Infinite Earths.
Retconning/rebooting/RSEs in a general RPG way, though works best when the players themselves have some input or impetus.
C.I.D.
*SPITS out pepsi*
Yoy OWE me a monitor Prof
Crisis is LOUDLY hated on dcboards and comic sites like comicbookresources.com, sure it was Successful, YES. Popular, Hell no (ask a DC gan what they think of the original Crisis and Huntress/Hawkman/Powergirl....)
My opinion is that every media property needs a reset after a while otherwise it becomes too lore heavy for any non-hardcore fans. Pandering to the base is never a good thing.
That said, Trek actually seemed to pull off the "reboot" trick
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