D&D 4E Chris Perkins on Forgotten Realms 4e

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There is a quote in this thread that says :the designers, have no better idea about how to handle an edition change than to repeat the Avatar Crisis, only bigger:

And I stand by it. The rationales for this setting change – explain the rules changes, reduce the number of gods – are the same rationales given for the Avatar Crisis. The mechanism – Mystra and a bunch of other deities get killed – is the same. The out-of-character actions are a repeat, too – Tyr and Helm dueling over Tymora is as stupid as Storm Silverhand trying to get Midnight and Adon hanged without evidence.

As far as the record of the design team, well, I don't doubt their goodwill, or their love, or their mechanics ability, only their storytelling competence. And my doubts are not based on just what we've heard recently about 4e, but the last ten years or so of "development" of the setting. For example, in Chris Perkin's entry, I see a promise that they aren't going to destroy Cormyr. I'm wondering how; did Hasbro invent a time machine that will let them go back and stop Death of the Dragon from being published?

So, you know, I'm already one of those people who isn't going stick with 3.x FR products, because I'm already busy sticking with 1e and early 2e FR products. I bought the 3e FRCS, full of hope that with the new edition they'd euthanize the progression of RSEs; I was disappointed. I don't have hopee this time.

 

[BlackMoria]

These are designers that have been providing us with strong rulesets and (while controversial) some interesting new ideas. They LOVE D&D just like we do, and they LOVE the realms, like the fans do. They aren't out to steal money or to screw with anyone.

Perhaps there wouldn't be so much angst if the designers were Rich Baker, Eric Boyd, Steven Schend and Sean K Reynolds among others.

The 4e Design Team is Rob Heinsoo, Bruce Cordell, Chris Simms and Logan Bonner. Ed Greenwood has be contracted for 50,000 words but doesn't have vote in the decision making. Rich Baker is not on the project (but his speaking up put the bulleye on him for some of the vitrol)

Rob Heinsoo is a old hand at the FR.

Bruce Cordell is a very talented designer but is a relatively newcomer to doing FR products. Whether he 'gets' the Realms or not, I don't know.

Chris and Logan are new guys. By his own admission, Logan says he doesn't know much about the FR but his role is the mechanics guy, so that is probably fine.

So an analogy - if this was the starting lineup for baseball team, a number of fans have doubts that that this roster will get the team to the World Series. Maybe they can. Maybe they can't.

I think if the roster had Rich Baker, Steven Schend and Sean K Reynolds on it, there may not be the amount of angst out there about the changes. Of course, this is an impossibility since Steven and Sean have long left WOTC but I wonder why Rich wasn't put in the bullpen.

 

[SPECTRE666]

That is the discounted price, After the introductory period is over I will raise the price to $29.95.

In early 2008 I will release version 1.5 and you'll have to buy a new one.

Have you guys thought of a "mastran must be stopped!!!" shirt? I would buy it, and then brag about wearing it when I troll the Realms Forums!

 

[mhacdebhandia]

As I said on the WotC boards:

You're so clever.

 

[RodneyThompson]

Perhaps there wouldn't be so much angst if the designers were Rich Baker, Eric Boyd, Steven Schend and Sean K Reynolds among others.

The 4e Design Team is Rob Heinsoo, Bruce Cordell, Chris Simms and Logan Bonner. Ed Greenwood has be contracted for 50,000 words but doesn't have vote in the decision making. Rich Baker is not on the project (but his speaking up put the bulleye on him for some of the vitrol)

Not to interrupt the conversation, but I think you might have some confusion between "designers of 4E" and "designers of the new FRCS." And who those people are. I know Rich Baker is a designer of 4E, and the FRCS. Ed Greenwood is definitely working on the FRCS as well, as has been announced. It doesn't get much more authoritative than Ed.

Not to mention that list is woefully small if you're talking about general 4E designers. I don't know whether or not I'm allowed to say who is designing what (still a little fuzzy on what is considered kosher as far as revealing stuff about upcoming books, at least on the D&D side of the fence) but there are a lot more people involved in both books than you've mentioned there.Not to mention that author credits are not always a good barometer of love or proficiency with a campaign setting; I've never written a Forgotten Realms book, but I consider myself well-versed in the setting (having run FR throughout all of second edition and kept up with it in 3rd).

I think this was kind of the thing that Chris Perkins was trying to get at in his blog: the decisions being made aren't being made by one new designer, or even a handful. It's a team effort, and yes, that team includes guys like Rich and Ed Greenwood (and maybe others; I'm not one of them, though). People might disagree with those decisions, but there's certainly no reason to believe that they're being made by people who are ignorant of the Realms, or even by people who are less than extremely knowledgeable about it.

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

I'm wondering how; did Hasbro invent a time machine that will let them go back and stop Death of the Dragon from being published?

Hasbro's corporate arms are as deep and evil as the Umbrella Corporation. Sheesh. Who doesn't know that. Of course they invented a time machine.

Or else, there was a hint in the Unsolved Mysteries in the last print Dragon Magazine. Something about time warping uber FR elves.

 

[Uzzy]

I don't think anyone has said that all FR fans are upset to the point of soiling themselves. Most are civil, expressing their frustration and concern in a constructive way, but you must admit that there are some that are really going over the top. I have seen quotes, even here on tame EnWorld that says things like :the sky is not falling. It has already fallen:

Fair enough. I think some of the posts, particularly on the FR boards are silly. But it's a small minority, and we shouldn't concentrate on them.

There are even people that honestly believe that the designers and creators of the Realms, who are BIG fans, are incompetent, or have proven that they have no worthy ability nor the right to update the Realms to fit with the new rules.

I go on the evidence I've seen. So far I've seen their efforts at destroying parts of the Realms, along with the gods. I think the plot behind these events are ludicrous. I think the reasons given for why these events happened are ludicrous. Given that they have been working on it for 2 years, I would have hoped they could tell us something that they have created for the new Realms. Heck, maybe even an article or two. It would have given us something positive to look at, rather then just 'Destruction, Death etc'

As it is, they can't even tell us the date that the new FRCG is going to be set. Which is highly disappointing.

 

[Tharen the Damned]

That is the discounted price, After the introductory period is over I will raise the price to $29.95.

In early 2008 I will release version 1.5 and you'll have to buy a new one.

Der Mr. Rouse, I wear T-shirts since 30years and I simply love them. Now I see your announcement of a New Edition and of course have a lot of questions:

I am a little bit frightened that you destroy the T-shirtness as we know them with your new edition. Wll T-Shirts still be T-Shirts or will they be like trousers?

Will you release supplementary T-Shirts?

Will they be Core and we have to wear them to be offical?

Can I still use my old 1.0 T-Shirt with the release of the 1.5 one?

Can I use the T-Shirts online?

 

[catsclaw227]

I go on the evidence I've seen. So far I've seen their efforts at destroying parts of the Realms, along with the gods. I think the plot behind these events are ludicrous. I think the reasons given for why these events happened are ludicrous. Given that they have been working on it for 2 years, I would have hoped they could tell us something that they have created for the new Realms. Heck, maybe even an article or two. It would have given us something positive to look at, rather then just 'Destruction, Death etc'

As it is, they can't even tell us the date that the new FRCG is going to be set. Which is highly disappointing.

I understand it is frustrating that they haven't shown anything, but I think that it's a bit too early at this point. I'll bet that come Dec/Jan, there will be enough nuggets to get all the old school FR fans something to cheer about.

 

[Piratecat]

You're so clever.

I'm pretty sure you could express yourself while being less rude. Next time, please do so.