D&D 4E 4e campaign settings in multiple books?

[Sammael]

I believe someone mentioned something about comprehension?

Which part of passing familiarity was not clear? Did I claim that he had to read the Elaine Cunningham novels to be able to do a write-up for the elven crownblades? (incidentally, I have read a grand total of THREE FR novels in my life, and I have more than a passing familiarity with the setting; novels are simply not required).

And the very notion of an exclusive rules designer who doesn't have anything to do with the story is mind-boggling to me. I am a DM myself, not a writer or game designer, but I damn well know how to write a short piece of interactive fiction and to design and balance rules elements - that's what a DM's job is. It takes little skill, else there wouldn't be so many people doing it. And sure, some DMs are better at one at the expense of other, but I can't imagine someone working for WotC would limit himself/herself to just one aspect of the game.

 

[Rechan]

However, if your rules guy doesn't know what the setting HAS in it, that can cause rules problems.

Prime example: The Warshaper (Complete Warrior). It's a combat focused PrC that revolves around a character who can change shape for combat. The limits are: BAB +4 and some specific requirements (Must have Wildshape OR be able to cast Polymorph OR have a shapechanger Subtype, etc).

Thing is, Eberron has Changelings, which have a Shapechanger subtype. So a Changeling Fighter 4 can qualify for the PrC. It would hurt a wizard or druid who have to sacrifice uses of their Wildshape/spellcasting, but not a Fighter.

 

[Aloïsius]

In my opinion, a person writing ANY sort of material for a setting MUST have at least passing familiarity with the said setting and be willing to do independent research. The attitude displayed by the aforementioned designer is, to me, very disturbing.

I've never really gotten into FR, but the story they were talking about set up some pretty interesting conflicts and incorporated some of the more prominent elements of 4E (races that got promoted, for example) in cool ways. I'm really looking forward to FR now. I don't know that much about FR in general, but the story team will tell me what mechanics they need, so it's not a big deal.

What do you need more ?

 

[Zimri]

I believe someone mentioned something about comprehension?

Which part of passing familiarity was not clear? Did I claim that he had to read the Elaine Cunningham novels to be able to do a write-up for the elven crownblades? (incidentally, I have read a grand total of THREE FR novels in my life, and I have more than a passing familiarity with the setting; novels are simply not required).

And the very notion of an exclusive rules designer who doesn't have anything to do with the story is mind-boggling to me. I am a DM myself, not a writer or game designer, but I damn well know how to write a short piece of interactive fiction and to design and balance rules elements - that's what a DM's job is. It takes little skill, else there wouldn't be so many people doing it. And sure, some DMs are better at one at the expense of other, but I can't imagine someone working for WotC would limit himself/herself to just one aspect of the game.

Does one need to know the layout and time zone of every military installation to be able to write a general operations manual that includes the line "when dismissed from morning duties proceed to the mess hall" Would one need to know where every soldier is barracksed to include "when dismissed from evening duties proceed to your barracks and go to sleep"

He writes the rules they need, they take the rules and fluff them up. If he submits something that doesn't fit fluff wise I am sure they attach a memo and send it back.

 

[TwoSix]

In my opinion, a person writing ANY sort of material for a setting MUST have at least passing familiarity with the said setting and be willing to do independent research. The attitude displayed by the aforementioned designer is, to me, very disturbing.

Wasn't the whole point of Logan's post that he was just at a FR meeting? Seems to me to be a good place to pick up a passing familiarity with said setting.

 

[Jhaelen]

One setting a year, one Players Guide, One Monster Manual, One Dungeon Masters Guide....


Hmmm...

Players Handbook II - Forgotten Realms
Dungeon Master's Guide II - Forgotten Realms
Monster Manual II - Forgotten Realms

Players Handbook III - Eberron
Dungeon Master's Guide III - Eberron
Monster Manual III - Eberron

Can't work that way. Isn't FR supposed to be the setting of the first year, i.e. being published in the same year when PHB1, DMG1, and MM1 come out?

Maybe we'll get a boxed set

 

[Scott_Rouse]

I believe someone mentioned something about comprehension?

Which part of passing familiarity was not clear? Did I claim that he had to read the Elaine Cunningham novels to be able to do a write-up for the elven crownblades? (incidentally, I have read a grand total of THREE FR novels in my life, and I have more than a passing familiarity with the setting; novels are simply not required).

And the very notion of an exclusive rules designer who doesn't have anything to do with the story is mind-boggling to me. I am a DM myself, not a writer or game designer, but I damn well know how to write a short piece of interactive fiction and to design and balance rules elements - that's what a DM's job is. It takes little skill, else there wouldn't be so many people doing it. And sure, some DMs are better at one at the expense of other, but I can't imagine someone working for WotC would limit himself/herself to just one aspect of the game.

I have to say you are over reacting a tad bit here. Go back and read the post. Logan is a very talented young member of the R&D team but he is not doing this thing in a vacuum. He is working on portion of the book and not writing the whole thing. The FRCG is in very capable hands with leads like like Rich B. and Bruce C.. Ed Greenwood is contributing 50,000 words and the book gets edited so it's not like we are going to accidentally add a Warforged or something.

 

[Fate Lawson]

. . . so it's not like we are going to accidentally add a Warforged or something.

Which of course doesn't preclude you from intentionally adding Warforged.