Another Chris Perkins Interview - 4th Edition Realms

[The Ubbergeek]

FR stopped being FR sometime around the conversion from 2E to 3E. Hell, some might argue it stopped being FR when the Time of Troubles came along (1E to 2E). All I can say is, I hope 4E can capture even a part of the 1E feel. The feel of wonder and amazement of a truely magical world that gives one a sense of being transported somewhere else. Kinda like the 1st time most of us saw The Fellowship of the Ring on the big screen.

I say 'bullock'....

Why it is not FR anymore? because you guys say so? Why it is not good anymore, why we can't have the awe, wonder and fun? I have it, am I wrong?

This is subjective and mean and close-minded.

 

[Mortellan]

I think more than some uber-NPCs are being jettisoned. So are the uber-book collections that most fans 'need' to play FR. For all I know this may get me to play FR again(havent played since 1e) if I have a chance to start over with the awe and wonder and not have to care what I missed out on for 2 editions.

I anticipate a big timeline jump and a big map makeover, because I'm sure most of the ancient realms like Netheril etc. took at least a century to become 'forgotten' and buried enough to qualify for a good ruin-dungeon crawl.

 

[ZombieRoboNinja]

Drizz't isn't a problem because he's like a level 16 fighter. Powerful, sure, but not a lot more so than a lot of those giants wandering around the mountainside (before Drizz't kneecaps them at least). Same with his buddies. It's not like if you screw something up a thousand miles away Drizz't can jet in to save the day for you.

Elminster and the other mages ARE problems, because in FR probably more than any other setting, mages are ridiculously powerful compared to everyone else. They're like the friggin' Justice League. Any time a bad guy worth mentioning does more than cough, the DM has to justify why they're not there to take care of it.

BUT it seems like Mystra's kicking the bucket, so presumably all her mage-priest-demigods like Elminster are gonna take a severe power hit at minimum. Thus, Elminster can stay alive without remaining his current PC-overshadowing self.

And as long as I'm making people in this thread hate me, how the heck can FR talk about its "sense of history" when the technology level has been maybe 13th-century European for thousands of years now? Elminster was using a crossbow way back in his childhood, and it looks like there hasn't been a single new invention since... that god of invention must be slacking.

 

[EATherrian]

What stood out for me was "mechanics for new races"...

Can we start speculating on FR Mystery Races? I'm putting my money on Orc and Half-Vampire.

I'm voting for Chosen and Drizztians.

 

[delericho]

2. It IS Forgotten Realms.

It's like saying Earth is not Earth anymore as a game setting by the aliens after the horrors of WW1 and 2 (the world lost more innocence and all...).

As far as I am aware, the laws of physics (magic) didn't change in the aftermath of the World Wars. The stars (planes) didn't drastically change their alignment.

Both of these are being done to the new Forgotten Realms. So, one could argue that the changes to the setting are far more fundamental and drastic to the changes to this world caused by the World Wars.

It's also worth noting that truth can be stranger than fiction, because fiction has to make sense. Which of course justifies the existence of RSEs, as they explain all the changes to the rules of the game in the context of the world... but it also means that the authors have to be careful not to make the changes too drastic or arbitrary, and it means that the underlying themes in play in the setting should be kept constant (where such is not a requirement of the real world, obviously).

 

[Steely Dan]

So, will Drizzt now be working the streets of Calimport as rough trade?

 

[JoeGKushner]

*Shrugs* As a GROUP, maybe, then... note however that even epic guys can't be everwhere in the whole world.

Culling the ranks, if there is a problem, will HELP, that's sure.

So your assumption then is that the new novels are not going to try and make a new Drizzit? Not going to try and make some hero that will be on the New York Times Bestsellers list and have special events on it's 20 year anniversay?

Or that such a hero is going to be an incompetent boob waiting for the PC's to come along and set things right?

Not me. WoTC will be firing will all guns to make new novels that are marketable best sellers with built in sequels and that will lead once again to uber NPCs doing all the cool things. In cannon at least.

 

[The Ubbergeek]

Actually... Maybe there won't be a big hero.

Like, a tale on a random Joe on the countryside. Or a 'swat team'.

You don't always need a big vip for success.

Even in novels as of now, the NPC don't do everything, and you know it. They can't, and wouldn't. There is also a sense of Greyhawkian balence to the realms, even if it,s rarely uthered.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Actually... Maybe there won't be a big hero.

Like, a tale on a random Joe on the countryside. Or a 'swat team'.

You don't always need a big vip for success.

Even in novels as of now, the NPC don't do everything, and you know it. They can't, and wouldn't. There is also a sense of Greyhawkian balence to the realms, even if it,s rarely uthered.

You keep saying "I know it." Then I must ask again why WoTC is killing off so many major NPCs? Especially since they're only be replacing them in time.

The simpliest solution to me would be to just make the novels non-canon. Heck, I remember a time when WoTC said that Sembia was off limits and was the GM and player's to mess with.

 

[The Ubbergeek]

You keep saying "I know it." Then I must ask again why WoTC is killing off so many major NPCs? Especially since they're only be replacing them in time.

The simpliest solution to me would be to just make the novels non-canon. Heck, I remember a time when WoTC said that Sembia was off limits and was the GM and player's to mess with.

-Dramatic effect

-In case I am wrong