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

[Scholar & Brutalman]

Oh fandom, how I love thee.

To Wizards, losing some of these fans is a feature.

 

[EricNoah]

With fans like us (generally), who needs enemies?

 

[JamesM]

(3) In 4E FR, the PCs matter. The PCs are the ones accomplishing the truly heroic quests. There aren't a bunch of high-level NPCs running around who can step in to clean up the PCs' messes or do things the PCs can't.

(4) FR novels will remain part of the FR canon. As with previous editions, DMs are free (even encouraged) to run FR campaigns that ignore canonical elements that don't suit their individual campaigns.

Am I the only one who sees these two statements as working at cross purposes? The reason the Realms gets the (partially undeserved) reputation for being a setting where the PCs don't matter is because of the FR novels, where "high-level NPCs run around" and do impressive things. Now maybe the 4E era novels will concentrate on "low-level" stories without Realms-wide significance, but I doubt it. Otherwise, I don't see how these two statements can be reconciled.

 

[delericho]

Good blog entry, that. One key thing that interests me:

Two years ago, Ed and Bob expressed some initial concern about advancing the FR timeline; however, they quickly realized that the change gave them the "space" to tell more interesting stories, reveal some new characters, and write about some new places in the world.

I would be very interested to know just how far the timeline is being advanced. Is it the 10 years of the "Grand History of the Realms", the 100 years of "The Orc King"'s introduction, or somewhere in between? Obviously, this will make a significant difference to the shape of the new Realms - if they're moving forward a century then that immediately kills off (almost) all the named humans, half-elves, halflings and orcs. If it's only a decade, then most of them will still be around in some form.

 

[BadMojo]

Now maybe the 4E era novels will concentrate on "low-level" stories without Realms-wide significance, but I doubt it. Otherwise, I don't see how these two statements can be reconciled.

I'm hoping this is the case. I'd love to see smaller scale novels, just like in Eberron. I'd imagine most authors would like this too. Less Realms baggage to deal with a probably a lighter editorial hand when you're dealing with smaller scale stories.

Of course, I don't expect the Drizzt novels to stop any time soon. That would be financial suicide.

 

[JamesM]

I'm hoping this is the case. I'd love to see smaller scale novels, just like in Eberron. I'd imagine most authors would like this too. Less Realms baggage to deal with a probably a lighter editorial hand when you're dealing with smaller scale stories.

Of course, I don't expect the Drizzt novels to stop any time soon. That would be financial suicide.

Indeed. The perception problem the Realms possesses is a self-inflicted wound, owing to the popularity of the FR novels and the way WotC (and TSR before it) insists on making epic events with overly powerful characters the be-all and end-all of the setting. They do this, of course, because such events and characters are likely good for selling novels even if they adversely affect the RPG end of things. Unless we see a total reversal in the way the Realms is novelized, won't this trend just start again, even after all the 4E changes? I can't see WotC abandoning a winning formula for their novels just to make the Realms more accessible as a gaming setting -- unless it wasn't as popular with novel readers as I'm assuming.

 

[SPECTRE666]

Oh fandom, how I love thee.

Yeah you should see Rich Bakers response to that "Good Grief". After that post is when the rest of the WotC Overlords started talking about the Realms. Cause yes Rich has gotten a good pasting on the WotC boards.

Chris Perkins must be stopped!!! ​

 

[Desdichado]

From now on, "Person XYZ must be stopped!" will be my new catchphrase I'll use it even in situations where it doesn't make any sense.

 

[SPECTRE666]

From now on, "Person XYZ must be stopped!" will be my new catchphrase I'll use it even in situations where it doesn't make any sense.

ROFL!!!

 

[TwoSix]

From now on, "Person XYZ must be stopped!" will be my new catchphrase I'll use it even in situations where it doesn't make any sense.

Hobo must be stopped!