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

[lukelightning]

I far prefer the Armin Tamzarian method of applying changes to settings/plots/etc. In other words, you pretend that the new change has always been there and it was never different.

 

[JamesM]

I far prefer the Armin Tamzarian method of applying changes to settings/plots/etc. In other words, you pretend that the new change has always been there and it was never different.

Agreed.

I also don't understand how, logically, the claim can be made that the Realms has to account for the changes to the way magic works under 4E while Eberron doesn't.

 

[Turjan]

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.

I can't see that, either. It has the further advantage that they will be able to make another clean sweep 5 years from now, with exactly the same rationale .

 

[Sundragon2012]

I am a huge fan of fantasy role-playing and fantasy fiction, but True Believers(tm) are a scary, scary, crew.

I think the FR fans who are actually having near nervous breakdowns because of the proposed 4e FR changes are suffering from Ineedtogetalife psychosis. This rare mental affliction which effects mostly RPing gamers, Star Trek fans, comic book aficionados and related others is caused by social withdrawl, limited to non-existant interaction with the opposite gender, primarily living vicariously through fictional characters, and a severe vitamin D deficiency caused by never leaving their mother's basement.

A very specialized form of this psychosis manifests in some as the ability to speak fluent Klingon and Quenya (elven tongue from LoTR) though this only manifests in advanced and some would argue terminal cases of the illness.


Sundragon

 

[Thaumaturge]

I also don't understand how, logically, the claim can be made that the Realms has to account for the changes to the way magic works under 4E while Eberron doesn't.

[speculation]
I think the difference lies in the great disparity of accumulated history of the two worlds. FR has been around and accumulating history for roughly 22 (RL) years; Eberron has been around for 5. There is likely more concern about continuity with 22 years of history than with 5.
[/speculation]

Also, remember they have much more lead time left with Eberron than with FR. The FR ship has sailed, while they can still take input and adjust the design of Eberron.

Thaumaturge.

 

[JamesM]

I think the FR fans who are actually having near nervous breakdowns because of the proposed 4e FR changes are suffering from Ineedtogetalife psychosis. This rare mental affliction which effects mostly RPing gamers, Star Trek fans, comic book aficionados and related others is caused by social withdrawl, limited to non-existant interaction with the opposite gender, primarily living vicariously through fictional characters, and a severe vitamin D deficiency caused by never leaving their mother's basement.

I haven't seen evidence that anyone is suffering a nervous breakdown over the changes to the Realms. What I have seen is people who've enjoyed a particular creative work concerned that its current stewards aren't thinking through the decisions they've made or are acting in a way that will impact the enjoyment people have had in this particular creative work.

You may not share these concerns, but I see no reason to belittle them.

 

[Thaumaturge]

I haven't seen evidence that anyone is suffering a nervous breakdown over the changes to the Realms. What I have seen is people who've enjoyed a particular creative work concerned that its current stewards aren't thinking through the decisions they've made or are acting in a way that will impact the enjoyment people have had in this particular creative work.

I agree many people have been rational and merely "concerned". However, if you haven't read the link posted by Spectre, then you should. It is evidence of at least one person having a breakdown.

Thaumaturge.

 

[JamesM]

[speculation]
I think the difference lies in the great disparity of accumulated history of the two worlds. FR has been around and accumulating history for roughly 22 (RL) years; Eberron has been around for 5. There is likely more concern about continuity with 22 years of history than with 5.
[/speculation]

That's fine and it's not an invalid concern on WotC's part, but I noticed that Chris Perkins didn't list this as an explanation for what's being done to the Realms. Instead, we get all sorts of other explanations, right down to the implication that these changes will make the Realms more like the Realms than they ever were before. I hope I can be forgiven for being deeply skeptical.

 

[lukelightning]

these changes will make the Realms more like the Realms than they ever were before. I hope I can be forgiven for being deeply skeptical.

I can see how the per-encounter mechanics of 4e could lead to that. Generally stories in novels don't dwell on things like "I'm out of spells for the day, I have to rest overnight before I can fight Blackdoom the Dark." And has Elminster ever said "I could get past this door, but I didn't prepare knock today. Let's try again tomorrow."?

 

[Sundragon2012]

I haven't seen evidence that anyone is suffering a nervous breakdown over the changes to the Realms. What I have seen is people who've enjoyed a particular creative work concerned that its current stewards aren't thinking through the decisions they've made or are acting in a way that will impact the enjoyment people have had in this particular creative work.

You may not share these concerns, but I see no reason to belittle them.

Oh lighten up.

I was a huge Dragonlance fan and was disappointed and even a little saddened when TSR destroyed the setting with the SAGA system and the 5th age (later redeemed somewhat by Weis and Hickman) but I wasn't about to come unglued about it and claim that "TSR must be stopped!!!!! ARRGGGHHH!!!!"

I am a fan of FR but some of the crap on the WoTC boards about 4e itself and 4e FR is nuts. There is rage, silly conspiracy theories, and sky is falling nonsense being written constantly. Its partly obsessive fandom and the internet's capacity to bring out the idiot in people.

It is ridiculous. The fact is that hard-core fandom is obsessive not just about FR but about anything. There is nothing crazier than a rabid Elvis fan.

So please lighten up a bit.


Sundragon