D&D 5E Asmodeus in 5E Faerun

[Irennan]

@Alzrius I tried to search over the internt for a more offcial post, but I just found other people claiming the same thing. However, according to this post: http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=12185&whichpage=1#257750 the contract and its terms were explained at a GenCon seminar by Ed and TSR employees (yeah it isn't what you're looking for, but it is quite interesting, so I decided to point it out).

The contract -however- exists, as confirmed in this article: http://www.enworld.org/forum/content.php?404-Ryan-Dancey-Acquiring-TSR#.VX3l3fntmkov , by Ryan Dancey.

Personally, I trust THO to speak truth about Ed, but if you want to check whether the contract establishes that Ed's word is canon, you could just send him a message via twitter (https://twitter.com/TheEdVerse), linking him THO's post (http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=17833&whichpage=1#422069) and asking him if what she said is true.

 

[Alzrius]

@Alzrius I tried to search over the internt for a more offcial post, but I just found other people claiming the same thing. However, according to this post: http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=12185&whichpage=1#257750 the contract and its terms were explained at a GenCon seminar by Ed and TSR employees (yeah it isn't what you're looking for, but it is quite interesting, so I decided to point it out).

The contract -however- exists, as confirmed in this article: http://www.enworld.org/forum/content.php?404-Ryan-Dancey-Acquiring-TSR#.VX3l3fntmkov , by Ryan Dancey.

Personally, I trust THO to speak truth about Ed, but if you want to check whether the contract establishes that Ed's word is canon, you could just send him a message via twitter (https://twitter.com/TheEdVerse), linking him THO's post (http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=17833&whichpage=1#422069) and asking him if what she said is true.

Thanks for looking into that; I appreciate the research and citations you've listed, both here and in previous posts.

The post on the Candlekeep forum is by another forum member, talking about a nonspecific seminar at Gen Con (no mention of which Gen Con), "long ago." In other words, it's hearsay, and not really useful for establishing anything.

Now, the bit by Ryan Dancey is more interesting, but again it's fairly light on the specifics. I have no doubt that there is some sort of contract between Ed Greenwood and TSR (and, later, WotC) - they purchased his intellectual property, after all! But once again, there's nothing there that specifies anything with regards to "everything Ed ever says or does about the Realms is canon, published material notwithstanding."

As it stands, this seems to be one of those things that everyone "knows" to be true, but can't seem to verify when trying to track it down and figure out if the facts back up the claim. The closest thing we have so far is THO's assurance, which, as I've noted, doesn't seem to satisfy the burden of proof. Still, it's worth asking Ed about (though I'm loathe to sign up for any social media platform).

 

[Irennan]

Even if the post said which GenCon, it wouldn't be really useful, since it goes back to when TSR was still a thing. I doubt that they recorded seminars and put them online back them.

I'm not keen on asking Ed personally, because I'd feel bad to doubt a friend that he trusts to speak for him, but twitter is really harmless and it's a place to ask quick questions or share quick updates.

 

[Alzrius]

Even if the post said which GenCon, it wouldn't be really useful, since it goes back to when TSR was still a thing. I doubt that they recorded seminars and put them online back them.

Which sort of makes the entire notation pointless, then.

I'm not keen on asking Ed personally, because I'd feel bad to doubt a friend that he trusts to speak for him, but twitter is really harmless and it's a place to ask quick questions or share quick updates.

As a personal rule, I don't use social media. I'll find a different outlet (or maybe just bend my own rule).

 

[Scrivener of Doom]

Alzrius, if you go to ***Ed's*** website, he has a page for The Hooded One and refers to the fact that she speaks for him at Candlekeep. Anyway, what Irennan has been telling you has been an accepted fact in the Realms fanbase for a couple of decades. If his responses aren't satisfying you then maybe stop asking and start researching. The material is all there online even if you haven't read it yet.

 

[Alzrius]

Alzrius, if you go to ***Ed's*** website, he has a page for The Hooded One and refers to the fact that she speaks for him at Candlekeep.

That was established a few posts back. Likewise, that's not the main point; the main point is about Ed's contract establishing that anything he says or writes is canon (unless a published material contradicts it).

Anyway, what Irennan has been telling you has been an accepted fact in the Realms fanbase for a couple of decades.

What makes something a fact isn't that it's accepted by a fanbase, regardless of how long it's accepted for.

If his responses aren't satisfying you then maybe stop asking and start researching. The material is all there online even if you haven't read it yet.

The material is not all there online, unless you've found a page that gets into the specifics of that particular contractual stipulation. (That's leaving aside that burdens of proof are on the person asserting something is true, rather than the one questioning those assertions.)

 

[Irennan]

Which sort of makes the entire notation pointless, then.

Not really. I said that it isn't what you're looking for, but it is indeed interesting that this whole fact has been discussed publicly by Ed and TSR employees. So (as I said) I linked the reply because I thought that it was something of interest.

 

[Alzrius]

Not really. I said that it isn't what you're looking for, but it is indeed interesting that this whole fact has been discussed publicly by Ed and TSR employees. So (as I said) I linked the reply because I thought that it was something of interest.

It is interesting, but at the end of the day gives us no new (verifiable) information, except that this particular factoid has been around for a long time. Again, I don't doubt that Ed has a contract with WotC regarding the IP ownership of the Realms. It's the clause about "anything he says/writes is canon" that I'd like more (reliable) information regarding.

 

[Irennan]

It is interesting, but at the end of the day gives us no new (verifiable) information, except that this particular factoid has been around for a long time. Again, I don't doubt that Ed has a contract with WotC regarding the IP ownership of the Realms. It's the clause about "anything he says/writes is canon" that I'd like more (reliable) information regarding.

I see. As I said, if you don't want to use social media, you could make an account over Candlekeep and ask here: http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=19841&whichpage=1. THO will be the one to deliver you Ed's word (even if she hasn't been online for more than 1 month now, so you may have to wait), but, since it is now clear that she actually speaks on Ed's behalf, I guess that what she says when delivering Ed's answers can be considered reliable info for your purpose.

 

[Alzrius]

I see. As I said, if you don't want to use social media, you could make an account over Candlekeep and ask here: http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=19841&whichpage=1. THO will be the one to deliver you Ed's word (even if she hasn't been online for more than 1 month now, so you may have to wait), but, since it is now clear that she actually speaks on Ed's behalf, I guess that what she says when delivering Ed's answers can be considered reliable info for your purpose.

That, or I could try something more direct, like an email, or try to catch him at another convention, etc.

As a rule, I prefer the most direct forms of communication possible, even if those are usually eschewed in favor of social media these days.