[FR] Rich Baker and Gwen Kestrel Underdark Chat Transcript

[BrooklynKnight]

Forgotten Realms Underdark and Players Guide to the Forgotten Realms chat with Rich Baker and Gwendolyn Kestrel



[20:47] * GwendolynKestrel has joined #Forgottenrealms

[20:47] * ArthurQ sets mode: +o GwendolynKestrel

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[20:48] -Dargoth- gday Rich

[20:48] -ArthurQ- Welcome to the chatroom Gwendolyn and Rich!

[20:48] -GwendolynKestrel- Pleasure to be here.

[20:48] -RichBaker- Hi folks!

[20:48] -ArthurQ- We're going to start the official chat in about 10 minutes...

[20:48] -Selvarin- *nod sto Rich n' Gwen*

[20:48] -RichBaker- Okey-dokey.

[20:48] -ArthurQ- so, feel free to freechat till then.

[20:48] -enrious- Any reading material while we wait?

[20:49] -ArthurQ- heh.

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[20:49] -ArthurQ- buy Underdark, you'll have reading material

[20:49] -enrious- Coffee? Cookies?

[20:49] -ArthurQ- :-D

[20:49] -ArthurQ- roasted rothe is over there

[20:49] * ArthurQ points at a corner

[20:49] -enrious- heh

[20:49] -enrious- I can't remember the last time I've read a FR book

[20:49] -Selvarin- Got mine, laminated (the book, not the coffee).

[20:49] * Cthulhu_Lunatic eats pizza

[20:49] -RichBaker- Recognize a few of you folks from the FR message boards --

Dargoth, Selvarin.

[20:49] -Alex_Knight- Mmmm... dinner.

[20:49] -Garen- *cough*

[20:50] -ArthurQ- If anyone wants to que a question before the chat begins send it to

Garen right now.

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[20:50] -ArthurQ- one question for now, then after the chat starts you may send more.

[20:50] -enrious- btw, where are the FR boards? The WotC ones?

[20:50] * Benkk_Axecleft is sometimes also known as NiTessine.

[20:50] -Keioto- Im not too much of an FR fan... I just like the races, prc's,

monsters...

[20:50] -Selvarin- Yep, Rich, figired 'd try this out and see how it goes. It's been a

while since I'md engaged in any game chat. on here, that is.

[20:50] -ArthurQ- enrious: yes

[20:50] -enrious- k

[20:50] -RichBaker- Cool, thanks for stopping by.

[20:50] -Duloth- Hmm.

[20:50] -TRS_Chris- I just picked up forgotten realms "news feed" on my site... I'm

really glad WOTC XMLed their news, that's nice

[20:51] -enrious- That is sweet. I think I'm going to have to yoink their news feed

as well.

[20:51] -Arrak- thanks for comming out. I appreciate that companies are accepting IRC

as a real place to chat.

[20:51] -Alex_Knight- Heh. Website? What are those?

[20:51] -Dargoth- Hey Rich have noticed how many times the "Ask Rich Baker thread" has

been viewed?

[20:51] -Dargoth- 23474

[20:51] -RichBaker- I've got the message boards marked on my favorite places bar,

don't recall the exact address. You can poke around wizards.com and find it, though.

[20:52] -ArthurQ- I'm suprised they havnt turned that thread into a Web Feature.

[20:52] -Garen- http://boards1.wizards.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=9

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[20:52] -RichBaker- Yeah, I did notice. 23,000, sheesh!

[20:52] -Garen- Apparently, you're the man to ask.

[20:52] -Selvarin- It's because yer special, Rich.

[20:52] -Garen- Speaking of which:

[20:52] -Garen- [1]Attention:[1] The queue is now open. To place a question on the queue

for the chat, please send a private message to Garen.

[20:52] -ArthurQ- 8 minutes till we moderate the room

[20:52] -Alex_Knight- Yay Drowcraft!

[20:53] * Alex_Knight coughs.

[20:53] -ArthurQ- heh

[20:53] -Alex_Knight- I'm disappointed though. None of my Realm fan customers came

into work today.

[20:53] * Keioto tugs on Arty for voice or ops

[20:53] -Keioto- Ill be quiet

[20:53] -Keioto- I promise

[20:53] -Cthulhu_Lunatic- then why have it?

[20:53] -Michael_Morris- Everyone here?

[20:54] -TRS_Chris- Enrious: You seen how Dee got it set up? www.twinrose.net/rdfnews/

wotc.php ... Turned out very nice

[20:54] -Michael_Morris- And what is Rich and Gwen's screen names?

[20:54] -RichBaker- Mine is self-explanatory, I hope.

[20:54] -ArthurQ- One second i have a customer at work.

[20:54] -GwendolynKestrel- I'm here as me.

[20:54] -enrious- That is well done.

[20:54] -Michael_Morris- Ha.. K, Art opped you guys.. Ok.

[20:55] -Michael_Morris- Well, when everyone's ready I'll lock done to mod mode

[20:55] -enrious- I hope that tonight there's going to be some sort of "why you should

buy" for those of us not up on FR?

[20:55] * Michael_Morris is tonight's jailer in case anyone misbehaves.

[20:55] -TRS_Chris- Sniff... I'm getting censored!

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[20:55] -Selvarin- That's easier, they put more crunch in every FR bite.

[20:55] -RichBaker- PM: Well, here's the best and only sales pitch I like to make...

[20:55] * Michael_Morris is now known as Master_of_Pain

[20:56] -RichBaker- Go down to your FLGS, pick a FR book off the shelf, and leaf

through it.

[20:56] -RichBaker- If you like what you see, give it a shot.

[20:56] -Dargoth- Michael Morris is a Cleric of Loviator so behave!!

[20:56] -RichBaker- If you don't, don't buy it.

[20:56] -TRS_Chris- Yeah, I hafta agree, I like the FR stuff that's out.. but I like

open content, too, I get so torn

[20:56] -enrious- I liked the FR books for the fluff less so than the crunch.

[20:56] * Master_of_Pain cracks his scourge.

[20:56] -Dargoth- lol

[20:56] -RichBaker- We're proud of the product, and we think it's good stuff for most

any game.

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[20:56] -enrious- I loved Silver Marches

[20:56] * Bynw sets mode: -q Bynw

[20:56] * Bynw sets mode: -o Bynw

[20:56] -enrious- Hmm...I liked the fluff more than the crunch.

[20:57] -enrious- My above was confusing.

[20:57] -ArthurQ- 4 min to go.

[20:57] -Alex_Knight- I'd love to see more material on the Moonsea area, since my

first Realms encounter was the old SSI Gold Box series...

[20:57] -Selvarin- There's enough of both. And we get enough fluff (history, etc.)

without um...without getting bogged down in sub-atomic minutae.

[20:57] -GwendolynKestrel- It's got lots of flavor, but lots of stuff to USE, as well.

[20:57] -TRS_Chris- Getting a nice dose of FR tonight, listening to RA on Mortality

plus this

[20:57] -enrious- Mind you, I think the FR crunch has mostly been well done. But I've

played since the grey box days...I liked the FR fluff.

[20:57] -RichBaker- Yeah, I'd love to do a "Unapproachable East" for the Moonsea.

[20:57] -enrious- The attention to detail.

[20:57] -Garen- [1]Attention:[1] The queue is now open. To add a comment or place a

question on the queue for the chat, please send a private message to Garen.

[20:58] -Dargoth- how about a 288 page one Rich?

[20:58] -Selvarin- I'd like to see an old Caldwell cover for a Moonsea supplement if

it ever comes out.

[20:58] -Master_of_Pain- My only complaint about FR (and WotC stuff in general) is

that it isn't in the OGL, so I can't use it in my public materials. But that I

realize isn't you guy's call.

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[20:58] -ArthurQ- 2 min

[20:58] -Master_of_Pain- Who's logging?

[20:59] -enrious- I am, if no one else is.

[20:59] -ArthurQ- I think i am, but on this laptop i cant be sure.

[20:59] -Cthulhu_Lunatic- I auto log

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[20:59] -Alex_Knight- I should log.

[20:59] -Master_of_Pain- I mean, other than me

[20:59] -enrious- I auto log as well.

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[20:59] -Garen- Welcome to our newcomers!

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[20:59] -Selvarin- Can't have all the goodies OGL'd, need to protect the proprietary

material.

[20:59] -TRS_Chris- I think he meant 'crunch' ...

[20:59] -RichBaker- Hey, let me ask a writer question: If I call something a "cwmb",

do you know what I'm talking about?

[21:00] -ArthurQ- comb?

[21:00] -Selvarin- Can't/Won't/mention Bunnies?-

[21:00] -Alex_Knight- And what's with good Illithids all of a sudden?

[21:00] -RichBaker- I used the term in a manuscript draft I'm working on.

[21:00] -Alex_Knight- Come with manual buddy?

[21:00] -RichBaker- It's a word for a high mountain valley.

[21:00] -RayFerret- Can't wipe my butt.

[21:00] -Benkk_Axecleft- Welsh?

[21:00] -ArthurQ- ok

[21:00] -RichBaker- Ray, you win.

[21:00] -ArthurQ- I'm about to moderate the room.

[21:00] -Selvarin- A good illithid? I've seen one or two LN's.

[21:00] -RayFerret- yay!

[21:00] -Dargoth- ewww

[21:00] -RichBaker- Yeah, it's Welsh.

[21:00] -ArthurQ- its 9pm

[21:01] -Alex_Knight- BoED.

[21:01] * Master_of_Pain sets mode: +m

[21:01] -Master_of_Pain- That would be my cue then

[21:01] -ArthurQ- [1]Welcome to #ForgottenRealms and an Official Chat with Rich

Baker and GwendolynKestrel from Wizards of the Coast.

[21:01] -ArthurQ- [1]Please forward all questions to Garen who will que them and

forward them to me.

[21:02] -ArthurQ- [1]The primary topic is Underdark, additional topics are the

Players Guide to Forgotten Realms and Serpent Kingdoms (if Rich can answer

anything heheh)

[21:02] -ArthurQ- [1]Please do not private message our guests during the chat.

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[21:03] -ArthurQ- So to get the ball rolling, i have a question prepared.

[21:03] -RichBaker- Shoot!

[21:03] -ArthurQ- Oh, when you're done type -done- so i know to ask the next one.

[21:03] -ArthurQ- "Drowcraft has been the subject of much contraversy since it was

removed for 3rd edition. Years ago Sean K Reynolds explained the reasoning for its

removal, yet its remained a much contested topic. You've returned drowcraft to 3e in

Underdark. Could you give us some insight into that design decision. The reasoning

for it and how you decided opon its implimentation."

[21:04] -RichBaker- I'll get this one...

[21:04] -RichBaker- The reason we returned drowcraft is because we figured out a

pretty decent mechanical implementation for it...

[21:05] -RichBaker- By specifying that you *can* keep the sword protected from the

sunlight indefinitely by keeping it in a case...

[21:05] -RichBaker- What we're saying is that you can use the sword in the exact same

environment the drow can. Save it for your next Underdark adventrue, then break it

out and have fun.

[21:06] -RichBaker- Also, the fact that it is phrased as a +2 luck bonus at the cost

of a +2 enhancement bonus...

[21:06] -RichBaker- makes it mechanically interesting, because now you've got a sword

that works very, very well with greater magic weapon...

[21:06] -RichBaker- So, the short answer is: We thought of a good way to do it that

doesn't seem to unduly screw the players, so we put it back. /ga

[21:07] -Garen- First off, for our visitors, a CWMB is a hollow, as in a small

valley...

[21:07] -Garen- Secondly, my question:

[21:07] -Garen- As a fan of Realmslore, what can I expect to find in the Underdark

book beyond new game material?

[21:08] -RichBaker- (I'll let Gwen get this one.)

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[21:09] -GwendolynKestrel- A glorious section on geography. All of the major points

(and many of the minor) of interest are discussed. You'll find the Glimmersea and

other big locals as well as small ones.

[21:09] -GwendolynKestrel- Rich created a superb 2-page map as well, to help you place

where things are in relationship to each other.

[21:10] -GwendolynKestrel- There's lots of information on the environment(s) found in

the different layers of the Underdark and how they influence the lives and

livelihoods of the races that reside there./ga

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[21:11] -ArthurQ- adding on to what garen said really quickly. I find it strange that

skullport is mentioned, yet is missing from the map and has no entry. Why is this?

[21:11] -RichBaker- That corner of the North is so crowded on the map, I didn't try to

squeeze in the icon.

[21:12] -RichBaker- And its description really belongs with Waterdeep.

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[21:12] -Garen- [For our new guests: Welcome to our chat with Gwen Kestrel and Rich

Baker. The queue is open, so please send me a private message to add your question.]

[21:12] -RichBaker- We wanted to tell you about a lot of new places, and tended to

favor those over old places that have been extensively detailed elsewhere. /ga

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[21:13] -Garen- Selvarin's question question regards Lluirth Dreier (in the Underdark

book): Why was the material in Eric boyd's article on the city not used even in a

basic form?

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[21:14] -RichBaker- That was my call. First, I wasn't aware of the article until

pretty late in the process...

[21:14] -RichBaker- Second, we don't always feel beholden to bring everything from

previous material forward...

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[21:15] -RichBaker- So, I compared the "competing" versions of Llurth Dreir, and

decided to go with the one we'd generated here. I'm sorry to contradict a Poly

article, but there it is. /ga

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[21:16] -ArthurQ- Dargoth: Will the material cut from The Players guide to Faerun be

released as Web enhancements?

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[21:16] -GwendolynKestrel- There's already one up.

[21:16] -GwendolynKestrel- Oops. Reference was referring to Underdark.

[21:16] -GwendolynKestrel- PGtF will have a lovely web enhancement. An update of all

the Monstrous Compendium critters, plus another one.

[21:17] -GwendolynKestrel- There was so much good material written for the book, it

will be bursting the seams of the 192 pages. With some very good bits left over.

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[21:18] -Garen- [The Queue is getting a little thin, guys. Send me those questions!]

[21:18] -GwendolynKestrel- The other web enhancement isn't fully decide./ga

[21:18] -Garen- I'm pretty sure this one's just for Rich: Alex_Knight would like to

know, how close is the Neverwinter Nights team to the FR team? A lot of info shared,

or is it rather closed?

[21:19] -RichBaker- That's a tough one...

[21:19] -RichBaker- We have a coordinator of licensing, who works with our brand team

to ensure that our licensees are staying true to our brand...

[21:20] -ArthurQ- Wouldnt that be Rich Redman?

[21:20] -RichBaker- But us folks in R&D are busy creating new D&D product, and we just

don't have the time to interface directly with the NN team.

[21:20] -RichBaker- We do look over proposals as Rich Redman requests, and he does

talk to us all the time about what our licensees are up to...

[21:21] -RichBaker- But I can't say that we really work R&D to R&D with the

Neverwinter Nights folks. /ga

[21:21] -ArthurQ- King Sloth is curious: since the North is so well documented, what

are the plans, if any , for the South? Lurien, The Shaar, The Great Rift, etc?

[21:22] -RichBaker- I think you'll be pleased by what we've got planned, but I just

can't say more than that right now.

[21:22] -RichBaker- ga

 

[BrooklynKnight]

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[21:23] -ArthurQ- Arthur wants to know.. What is the current projected release date

for Serpent Kingdoms.

[21:23] * ENGuest is now known as Wil_Upchurch

[21:24] -RichBaker- Can't say. Won't tell you. Neener, neener, neener.

[21:24] -ArthurQ- awww

[21:24] -ArthurQ- Not even which quarter?

[21:24] -ArthurQ- moving along. hehe

[21:24] -ArthurQ- Enrious wants to know whether there will be additional maps for

Underdark available as web enhancements.

[21:24] -RichBaker- (We can't give out details about anything that's not in a catalog

now, and Serpent Kingdoms isn't in our 1st quarter catalog. ga

[21:24] -ArthurQ- ah

[21:25] -ArthurQ- reposting real quick..

[21:25] -ArthurQ- Enrious wants to know whether there will be additional maps for

Underdark available as web enhancements.

[21:25] -RichBaker- Sorry, we're thinking...

[21:25] -ArthurQ- ah

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[21:27] -RichBaker- OK, now we've checked -- no, we don't have specific plans to make

more available, but if one of our web article authors does more with the Underdark,

then I suppose more maps could be added. ga

[21:27] -ArthurQ- Dargoth wants to know: Will we see write ups for the Monk and

Paladin orders either in PGTF or in some future product (SKRs Deitys dos and Donts

article introduce alot of orders that werent detailed in the FRC).

[21:28] -GwendolynKestrel- We don't deal with organizations much in the PtGF. We'd

certainly love to do so in the future. /ga

[21:29] -ArthurQ- Selvarin has noticed that drow population figures keep getting

trimmed a little with each revision. Is this part of a design decision that they

were unrealistically big to begin with?

[21:29] -RichBaker- All our population figures from 2E were kinda weird.

[21:30] -RichBaker- We're trying to get them in hand. /ga

[21:30] -ArthurQ- so thats why you're killing all the drow in these wars lol :-D

[21:30] -Master_of_Pain- Akin to McCellan's estimates of the size of the Confederate

army eh

[21:31] -ArthurQ- Curugul wants to know if there's any word on how spellcasting

prodigy will be changed in players guide to Faerun.

[21:31] -RichBaker- Makes it easy to explain in your campaign, anyway! /ga

[21:31] * ArthurQ points to the new question with a grin

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[21:33] -ArthurQ- are you guys thinking again?

[21:33] -GwendolynKestrel- There will be a new version in PGtF. You'll have to wait

to read it, though. /ga

[21:33] -RichBaker- Sorry, I missed the question, now I see it.

[21:34] -ArthurQ- lol

[21:34] -RichBaker- Basically, we're killing the DC add, but you get the bonus spells

as if you're 2 points higher.

[21:34] -RichBaker- It's a nerf, we know it. /ga

[21:34] -ArthurQ- Veander asks: Do you know if there is there going to be anything

done to expand on Skullport? Or if it's mentioned in the Underdark book?

[21:35] * Benkk_Axecleft is now known as NiTessine

[21:35] -RichBaker- We touched on that already -- sorry, no Skullport in Underdark.

[21:36] -RichBaker- However, we hope to get back to Waterdeep in the not-too-distant

future, and when we do, we'll tackle Skullport as well. ga

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[21:36] -ArthurQ- 0o0o!

[21:36] -ArthurQ- wonderfull!

[21:36] -ArthurQ- "Will we see an Intiate of Auril feat that would allow people to use

Thomas Costas Frost Maiden spells?" asks Dargoth.

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[21:37] -RichBaker- Not in the Player's Guide, I'm afraid. But I expect that there

will be a proliferation of "Initiate of..." feats after Player's Guide, and a lot of

the other deities will be covered. ga

[21:38] -RichBaker- Say, someone ask Gwen about her brilliant race and class design

work in Underdark. ga

[21:38] -ArthurQ- ok..

[21:38] -GwendolynKestrel- Why thank you, I'd love to respond. I looked for

underutilized areas to explore.

[21:39] -ArthurQ- Gwen: why dont you give us some insight into some of the new races..

like the Deep Imiskari (my new favorites) and the slyth or Sloth...dmamit i forgot

what they are called...

[21:39] -GwendolynKestrel- For races, I created the slyth (for one example) that's

able to assume an amorphous form (akin to Gaseous Form without the flying).

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[21:40] -GwendolynKestrel- Creating a race with a lot of flavor and uniqueness means

trying to balance fun, new abilities with playability. Rich Baker did a superlative

job of development, reining me in when I went too far and pushing me further when I

didn't go far enough.

[21:40] -GwendolynKestrel- Deep Imaskari was one of Bruce's brilliances. A humanlike

race cut off from the aboveworld seems very Underdark.

[21:41] -ArthurQ- Can you give us an example of how you went to far? (sorry to

interrupt).

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necessary to tell more than he knows." -Dwight D. Eisenhower)

[21:41] -GwendolynKestrel- Exotic Armor Proficiency. My original version wasn't as

clean and playable.

[21:42] -GwendolynKestrel- /ga

[21:42] -ArthurQ- Another from Sloth: It seems to me slowly but surely WoTC is redoing

the old 2nd ed. supplements and revamping them for 3.5. DotU=Underdark, Savage

Frontiers=Silvery Marches, etc...? Or is it just me?

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[21:43] -RichBaker- Yes, we do revisit the areas that are most popular with the fans...

[21:43] -RichBaker- The successes of the book line definitely affect that....

[21:43] -RichBaker- The North and the Underdark are signature features of the Realms

thanks to Bob Salvatore's books...

[21:43] -RichBaker- and folks want to know what they're like in 3rd Edition....

[21:44] -RichBaker- However, I think you'll find that Serpent Kingdoms is going to

break ground we've never touched before....

[21:44] -RichBaker- You'll find out all kinds of things we've never set down in type...

[21:44] -RichBaker- And, of course, Underdark itself features dozens and dozens of new

places beneath Faerun...

[21:45] -RichBaker- Like the domains outside of Old Shanatar and the Northdark, and

many of the interesting features on that map.

[21:45] -RichBaker- So, we try not to recycle too much, and try to blend old and new

where we can. /ga

[21:45] -ArthurQ- Actually, bob salvator is on mortality radio right now...as we

speak. I have terrible timing, i know.

[21:45] -ArthurQ- According to Cunning_Linguist, Wizards.com tells us that the

Players Guide has a chapter of “options” for Epic Play. Does this mean that official

printing will try to avoid using epic feats and stats for NPCs? (Epic NPCs have few

epic feats right now, will this continue?)

[21:46] -RichBaker- We'll probably continue our recent trend from Races of Faerun of

looking for good places to drop in a little epic here and there, as appropriate. We

want to reward those folks who are most seriously invested in our game, after all.

/ga

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[21:47] -GwendolynKestrel- We have about 10 epic feats in the book with FR application.

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[21:47] -ArthurQ- anything else gwen?

[21:48] -GwendolynKestrel- Sorry. /ga

[21:48] -ArthurQ- its ok

[21:48] -ArthurQ- Can Alex_Knight know what PrC's are going to be updated (If any...)

in the new FRPG?

[21:49] -GwendolynKestrel- Let's leave that for a PGtF chat. Everything from the FRCS

is a good start. /ga

[21:49] -ArthurQ- hah! thinking ahead! this is why i love you guys!

[21:49] -Garen- There are quite a few PGtF questions.

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[21:49] * ArtQ-Sleeping sets mode: +q ArtQ-Sleeping

[21:50] -RichBaker- I know, you guys are wearing us out with 'em! ga

[21:50] -ArthurQ- c'mon kids ask more underdark stuff

[21:50] * SiriusBlack has left #Forgottenrealms

[21:50] -Garen- Okay:

[21:50] -Garen- Dargoth asks: Will future regional supplements have longer mini

modules than those found in Underdark?

[21:50] -ArthurQ- Selvarin also noticed that in 'Underdark' the sunless lands below

are being given a slightly more 'dark faeryland' approach, at least with the

inclusion of the gloaming and gloura. Will there be more of it in the future? (P.S.

The deep diviner is one of my fave PrCs in the book, besides the revised

arachnemancer.)

[21:50] -ArthurQ- GAH

[21:50] * ArthurQ thwaps garen

[21:50] -GwendolynKestrel- I'm thrilled that I'm managing editing PGtF, otherwise I'd

feel quite left out. Ask some Underdark stuff. /ga

[21:50] * Garen gets thwapped.

[21:51] -ArthurQ- ok, 2 questions on the table lol. let us know when you're done with

both.

[21:51] -RichBaker- I'll get the first one, Gwen has the second...

[21:51] -RichBaker- Dargoth: Hard to say. I liked the mini-adventures from Silver

Marches and Underdark, so I want to keep doing them. Exactly how long they are will

just depend on what region we

[21:52] -RichBaker- re talking about and how much space we have. ga

[21:52] -GwendolynKestrel- 2nd Question: "Dark Faeryland": You bet. Just looking at

the new art in the updated Monster Manual shows a much darker approach to fey in

general. While the gloaming isn't fey, it does have a feel akin to it. The

Underdark isn't a land of pretty unicorns and butterfly-dippled fields. It's dark,

it's nasty. Its residents are likewise darker and more sinister. ...

[21:53] -ArthurQ- sounds like the allyways of newyork at night.

[21:53] -GwendolynKestrel- The gloura was Rich's adaptation of a "deep fey" and

"devious fey" combo I created. It's a great way of showing how a creature type like

fey functions in that environment. (oh, please read "dippled" as "dappled", Rich is

teasing me about it.) /ga

[21:54] -Garen- How exactly does one "dipple?"...

[21:54] -Garen- Anyway, a more general question:

[21:54] -ArthurQ- for a second there i thought gwen was talking about the wrong book

[21:54] -ArthurQ- heheh

[21:54] * ArthurQ nudges her.

[21:54] -GwendolynKestrel- It takes a unicorn and a butterfly and a field ... Nah,

that's it.

[21:54] -GwendolynKestrel- /ga

 

[BrooklynKnight]

[21:54] -Garen- Garen speaks: There are many authors out there that are interested in

adding depth to the Realms, but don't seem to be able to convince the only existing

outlet for those thoughts- namely Dragon magazine- to print their work, usually for

a lack of new game material in the pieces they submit. Are there any plans to open

things up for those that want to add their voices to the setting, but don't have the

channels to do so at present?

[21:55] -ArthurQ- Like for example, web articles?

[21:56] -ArthurQ- Garen i think you killed them.

[21:56] -RichBaker- Sorry, that's not our call. Our web producers have all they can

handle right now, and much as they'd love to indulge folks who want to microdetail

every corner of the Realms, they just can't. ga

[21:56] -GwendolynKestrel- Sorry for the delay. Rich and I were thinking hard about

this tough question. You're right, there isn't much. Dragon (and maybe Dungeon)

are the best bets. The web does publish some FR stuff, but doesn't take open

submissions. /ga

[21:57] -RichBaker- (Sorry, we were thinking again. It's slow and it hurts. ga)

[21:57] -ArthurQ- see, garen almost killed them

[21:57] * Master_of_Pain salts his rack.

[21:57] -GwendolynKestrel- (Bleeding ink.) /ga

[21:57] * Master_of_Pain revels in the torture.

[21:58] -ArthurQ- Well, Rich, before i get to some more questions, I'd like to

respectfully request that at some point the Brass finds a way to let authors take a

greater part. We're in no rush, but it would be nice to be considered. *bows*

[21:58] -ArthurQ- here is another question, albight a strange one.

[21:58] -ArthurQ- Talath would like to know if they like eggrolls.

[21:58] -ArthurQ- err

[21:58] -GwendolynKestrel- True. Rich and I will talk with the web master. /ga

[21:58] -ArthurQ- Talath would like to know if you like Eggrolls.

[21:58] * Keioto has quit IRC (User has been mind-ripped)

[21:59] * Keioto has joined #Forgottenrealms

[21:59] -RichBaker- Uhh... yeah, I like eggrolls. Sure. ga

[21:59] -GwendolynKestrel- Hmm. Yummy, but I'm on the Atkins diet. Too many carbs at

this stage. ga

[21:59] * ArthurQ doesnt get it...

[21:59] * ArthurQ thinks that Gwen doesnt need a diet, she looked wonderfull at Gencon.

[21:59] -ArthurQ- -Dargoth- Do either Rich or Gwen have any plans to write FR modules

for Dungeon magazine?

[22:00] -Garen- I'm telling Strong Bad! Err. Andy!

[22:00] -NiTessine- The eggroll thing was Talath's traditional line at #dnd3e

moderated chats. He asks it every time.

[22:00] -RichBaker- I just published a huge one in #101, Prison of the Firebringer.

[22:00] -ArthurQ- That was nice...

[22:00] -RichBaker- I'd like to do some more, but right now I'm snowed under with

working on The Last Mythal.

[22:01] -NiTessine- Everybody is muted...

[22:01] -RichBaker- I don't expect to get back to Dungeon for many moons, I fear. ga

[22:01] -ArthurQ- Is that a novel or a trilogy?

[22:01] -GwendolynKestrel- I can take care of myself, thank you Garen. I don't have

immediate plans to do so. One of the things that my dear Strong Bad, er Andy, would

enjoy is for me to take on a little less freelance. It's appealing, though.

[22:01] * Keioto has quit IRC

[22:01] -GwendolynKestrel- I'm tempted to write an Underdark-focused module, but it

would have been better timing to have it out now. /ga

[22:02] -RichBaker- The Last Mythal is a trilogy. The first book is "The Forsaken

House", which will be out next summer. ga

[22:02] -ArthurQ- I'm out of que questions, but earlier someone wanted to know about

FR and the Dragonomicon. What can FR fans expect from that book?

[22:03] -GwendolynKestrel- It's useful in any setting. I don't think there's specific

FR-stuff, but it's all stuff that would be useful in FR. /ga

[22:04] -Master_of_Pain- Ok, I, your unfriendly neighborhood Cleric of Loviatar, have

a question: How involved is Ed these days? Did he contribute anything to the

Player's Guide or to Underdark. And how much of that filing cabinet of his is still

untouched?

[22:04] -RichBaker- I'm afraid I've got to run. My daughter's having her Fall Family

Fun Night at school, and I don't want to be too late. Thanks, everybody, for

dropping by and being interested. You can find me lurking at the Ask Richard Baker

thread on the WotC FR boards, if you've got something I didn't get to. Goodnight,

all! ga

[22:05] -Master_of_Pain- Ok Rich. I understand

[22:05] * RichBaker has quit IRC (Quit: Disconnecting)

[22:05] -ArthurQ- Thanks for coming rich!

[22:05] -ArthurQ- gah.

[22:05] -ArthurQ- -_-

[22:05] -GwendolynKestrel- While Ed didn't play a significant role in PGtF, he is one

of the authors of Serpent Kingdoms. Expect to see his stuff.

[22:05] -GwendolynKestrel- I should go soon, too. I'll take a couple more questions,

then scoot. /ga

[22:06] -ArthurQ- well durn

[22:06] -ArthurQ- I cant wait for Elminsters Daughter.

[22:06] -GwendolynKestrel- Ah, one of Ed's. Sounds much like her father.

[22:06] * King_Sloth has quit IRC (Quit: Disconnecting)

[22:07] -ArthurQ- Do you have any plans to write a novel for FR at any point?

[22:07] -GwendolynKestrel- No. My writing drives are focused on game product.

[22:07] -ArthurQ- heh

[22:08] -ArthurQ- Selvarin asked: When working on Underdark, did anyone look over the

Night Below boxed set? The 'magic flux' points remind me superficially of the nodes

in UD, albeit much more developed.

[22:08] -GwendolynKestrel- Well, Bruce did the nodes, and I'm not sure what he used

for inspiration. I certainly looked over much (perhaps even all?) of the previously

published game material ...

[22:09] -GwendolynKestrel- so I could draw out classic ideas and items. Hence, the

driftdisk and lurker.

[22:09] -GwendolynKestrel- /ga

[22:09] -ArthurQ- With Draconomican, Complete Fighter and Unearthed Arcana coming out

in the next few months, the question has to be asked. Has Andy Colins left work in

the last 12 months

[22:09] -ArthurQ- (that ws from garen)

[22:09] -ArthurQ- I keep hearing rumors they have him chained in the basment and you

have to bring him food on a tray.

[22:09] -GwendolynKestrel- Yes, he does go to an occassional movie or gaming event.

.

[22:10] -ArthurQ- guess not!

[22:10] -ArthurQ- :-D

[22:10] -Garen- (No, it was passed along from Dargoth.)

[22:10] -ArthurQ- Ok, Since i'm out of questions. I'm going to unmoderate the room. If

gwen can stay a bit longer everyone can shmooze with her a bit. If thats ok with you.

[22:10] -GwendolynKestrel- I've been an editor on both Draconomicon and Unearthed

Arcana as well as writing for Underdark and some other upcoming product, so my work

days are long, too. /ga

[22:10] * ArthurQ sets mode: -m

[22:10] -Dargoth- heheh

[22:10] -Garen- Incoming!

[22:11] -ArthurQ- DUCK!

[22:11] -GwendolynKestrel- Sure! I won't reveal company secret stuff, though. /ga

[22:11] -ArthurQ- its ok.

[22:11] -Talath- no? damn

[22:11] * Master_of_Pain is now known as Michael_Morris

[22:11] -Talath- can you tell us anything about karsus's avatar?

[22:11] -Dargoth- Gwen: Whats are the chances of us getting an FR Manual of the Planes?

[22:11] -Talath- i would settle even just for an approx. level you need to be to cast

it

[22:11] -ArthurQ- Dargoth: thats included in the PGtFR

[22:12] * Juggler is now known as GettingFood

[22:12] -GwendolynKestrel- The spell's been cut from PGtF. Might be in another future

product. No guarantees. /ga

[22:12] -Talath- NOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[22:12] -Dargoth- *Was hoping for something bigger*

[22:12] -Garen- Umm, W00T!

[22:12] -Talath- damnit Wizards of the Coast

[22:12] -Talath- you keep tearing out my heart and handing it to orcus on a gold

platter

[22:12] -GwendolynKestrel- Well PGtF has a lovely, large section on Cosmology of FR.

It's kinda a mini-MoTP.

[22:12] * GettingFood has left #Forgottenrealms

[22:12] -Dargoth- how many pages roughly?

[22:12] -Selvarin- Just a quickie: Underdark is a pretty good supplement, congrats to

all who worked on it. Keep it up. Later Gwendolyn, y'all. *poink*

[22:12] -ArthurQ- Gwen: we BEG, BEG that the spell either be placed in. OR come out as

a web enhancment!

[22:13] * Selvarin has quit IRC (Quit: Disconnecting)

[22:13] -Talath- oh sure, bane bhaal and myrkul can become gods just by playing a game

[22:13] -GwendolynKestrel- Hey, there's only so much space in the book. I can't

possibly make sure everything, but everything's in it. It takes time. And if I

"keep tearing out [your] heart ..." just be glad you've obviously got regeneration!

/ga

[22:13] -Talath- but give us a spell to make ourselves gods and oh no, it has to be cut

[22:13] -GwendolynKestrel- Thanks, Selvarin!

[22:14] -Talath- well, not you specifically

[22:14] -ArthurQ- we need to get rich to post an updated table of contents then

[22:14] -Talath- just the company as a whole tears it out

[22:14] * johnsemlak has joined #Forgottenrealms

[22:14] -GwendolynKestrel- Ah, Talath. I'm sorry. I'll recommend it as a web

enhancement. /ga

[22:14] -Alex_Knight- Gwen: What's the hardest part of writing for FR?

[22:14] -Talath- hehehe, that'd be cool, thanks

[22:14] -Dargoth- GWEN: Any chance of us seeing longer FR books ie like Draconomicon?

[22:15] -Alex_Knight- And WotC as a whole... ;-)

[22:15] * Bynw has left #Forgottenrealms

[22:15] -TRS_Chris- Oh! We can talk again.

[22:15] * LadyIslay has joined #Forgottenrealms

[22:15] -Garen- Dargoth's concern is that FR books seem to be 192 (or within one MU),

while Draconomicon is a whopping 288 (which is 150% the size).

[22:15] -GwendolynKestrel- The density and complexity of the setting. I don't want to

retread old ground or contradict what's gone before without putting in lots of

thought. Creating a new aspect means fitting it sensibly in to an existing whole.

Pretty fun. /ga

[22:16] -GwendolynKestrel- Well, that's a brand decision. I won't justify it, but

merely ask you to think about the fact that everyone can use dragons, not every

consumer has the love of FR that's shared in this forum.

[22:17] -Cunning_Linguist- What kind of ratio is there between sales of FR stuff and

"General stuff" not counting the 3 Core books?

[22:17] -Dargoth- what about for the more popular areas lie Waterdeep or the Dalelands?

[22:17] -Dargoth- like

[22:17] -GwendolynKestrel- All writers (and all companies) want to make sure their

work goes to a wide audience. We appreciate FR and support it, but it is a smaller

audience, not sure by how much.

[22:18] * Sutekh has joined #Forgottenrealms

[22:18] * LadyIslay has left #Forgottenrealms

[22:18] * ArthurQ things Gwen is getting boxed in *chuckle*

[22:18] -GwendolynKestrel- I'm not sure of the upcoming products beyond Serpent

Kingdoms, so I can't address Dalelands or Waterdeep. We are continuing to support

the line, with affection and consistency, as a company. /ga

[22:18] -TRS_Chris- Interesting putting what is said in here together with what R.A.

is syaing on Mortality ..

[22:19] -Talath- so is serpent kingdoms in FR, stand alone, or no talky talky because

its not allowed?

[22:19] -GwendolynKestrel- I look forward to hearing R.A.'s talk in archive. /ga

[22:19] -Garen- It's definitely FR.

[22:19] -Talath- ok

[22:19] -GwendolynKestrel- Talath, not sure what you mean by no talky talky? /ga

[22:19] -Talath- NDA and such

[22:19] -GwendolynKestrel- Serpent Kingdoms is FR-set. It's got the full flavor of

the world.

[22:20] -Cunning_Linguist- Will there be a Wizard product in the lines of Elministers

Ecologies? (best TSR box that came out btw)

[22:20] -Talath- interesting

[22:20] -ArthurQ- Talath: Nothing about Serpent Kingdoms can bet mentioned because its

not been officially announced in WOTC's Catalog

[22:20] -GwendolynKestrel- NDA-wise, I can talk about some things in general terms.

No currently announced Elminster's Ecologies. /ga

[22:20] -Dargoth- GWEN: What do you think of Domain based Outsiders

[22:20] -ArthurQ- hence Rich wasnt even able to give us a release month

[22:20] -Talath- yeah, i know, but she answered my question, so yeah

[22:21] -Dargoth- like those found in the Disolution novel

[22:21] -GwendolynKestrel- True, but Rich mentioned it, so I feel at liberty to

confirm it's existence, but not details like contents or projected release date /ga

[22:21] -GwendolynKestrel- Domain-based Ousiders ...

[22:21] -Dargoth- ie in the First WOSQ novel

[22:21] -Dargoth- there was demon that was based around evil

[22:22] -Dargoth- a demon that was based around spiders

[22:22] -GwendolynKestrel- Cool concept. You've intrigued me. I haven't honestly read

the WoSQ novel, but the concept sounds interesting. /ga

[22:22] -Dargoth- they where basicly diffrent serveants of Lolth

[22:22] -GwendolynKestrel- Would make a good starting place for creating a new monster

or a new domain. /ga.

[22:23] -Talath- what is your opinion of the new weapon size rules for 3.5?

[22:23] -GwendolynKestrel- In my opinion, I like them. I think the advantages

outweigh the disadvantages. ...

[22:24] -TRS_Chris- As a programmer, I can't say how much more I love them lol

[22:24] -Talath- lol chris

[22:24] -Michael_Morris- Hmm

[22:24] -Alex_Knight- ?

[22:24] -Michael_Morris- I don't like them that much.

[22:24] -GwendolynKestrel- Of course, it's nice to just have standard-size weapons so

that a halfling can use a shortsword as a longsword, but it makes more sense to me

that each size creature would make things to suit them. ...

[22:24] -GwendolynKestrel- It harmonizes well with the different size monks' unarmed

strikes.

[22:24] -TRS_Chris- They're so much cleaner. "A dagger is a small wepaon, except in

the hands of a halfling, then it's tiny" ... ugh ... That's the kinda thing you hate

trying to ptu into computer-code.

[22:25] -GwendolynKestrel- It also makes it pretty clear how much more deadly big

creatures are than little ones.

[22:25] -Michael_Morris- To be honest, I prefer "A dagger is a dagger. It deals 1d4."

[22:25] -GwendolynKestrel- No worries about "Is this a light weapon?" Here, you take

it and it is. I agree M_M. /ga

[22:25] -TRS_Chris- Not when a GI Joe Doll sized sprite stabs you with his dagger

[22:26] -Dargoth- GWEN: Are the other 2 unannounced FR books for 2004 Regional Sups?

[22:26] -Cunning_Linguist- But a Mace used by a ogre should deal more damage then

damage then if a halfling hit you with it.

[22:26] -Alex_Knight- Or a house sized Giant cleaves you in two with his 'dagger'.

[22:26] -GwendolynKestrel- C-L. That ogre has a much greater str. /ga

[22:26] -Cunning_Linguist- true, but he also has hight, and the pure force of a long

swing.

[22:27] -Michael_Morris- The ogre has a different sized mace than a halfling.

[22:27] -GwendolynKestrel- Dargoth: Don't know what I can say, so I'll be quiet.

You'll hear soon enough, I'm sure. /ga

[22:27] -Dargoth- Rich let out that there would be 3 or 4 FR books next year

[22:27] * ArthurQ starts batting people away from Gwen with a giant maul

[22:27] -GwendolynKestrel- Giants, etc. Look at the later chapters of the MM. They

show appropriate Str for different creatures. It works well. /ga

[22:27] -ArthurQ- ok ok ok

[22:27] -ArthurQ- let the lady breath.

[22:27] -Talath- hey art, what size is that maul?

[22:27] -Talath- medium, large, huge?

[22:28] -Dargoth- and seeing how neither Serpent Kingdoms or PGTF are Regional sups, I

figure the other 2 are

[22:28] -GwendolynKestrel- Dargoth: Your persistence will get my admiration, but no

answers. :-( /ga

[22:28] -ArthurQ- Huge.

[22:28] -ArthurQ- Gwen, care to walk over to Mortality radio now?

[22:28] -Garen- Serpent Kingdoms is a regional supplement. Sorta.

[22:28] -Cunning_Linguist- Serpent Kingdom sounds like a Regional sup..

[22:28] -Garen- The "region" just isn't all in one place.

[22:29] -Dargoth- Arthur! MorriS!! Turn on the Subliminal messages!!

[22:29] -Alex_Knight- Yuan-Ti, three... four... ::coughs::

[22:29] -TRS_Chris- I'm sure we'll all find out .. when we find out

[22:29] -GwendolynKestrel- Guess so. Arthur, I haven't been keeping up with the

Mortality discussion, and I should be scooting home. I've kept Andy hanging around

for an hour and a half. /ga

[22:29] -Dargoth- Rich classed SK as a general book with some regional stuff

[22:29] * ArthurQ shocks Dargoth with the oply mallet of shocking

[22:30] -ArthurQ- Still there Gwen?

[22:30] -GwendolynKestrel- It has been a pleasure, gentlefolk, but I'll be leaving

presently. /ga

[22:30] * shinies-sc has joined #Forgottenrealms

[22:30] -shinies-sc- hey all

[22:30] -TRS_Chris- Have a good one, Gwen .. See ya at SoCal.

[22:30] -Alex_Knight- G'Night! Thanks for coming by!

[22:30] -Garen- Take care, Gwen.

[22:30] -Dargoth- Chult, Hloldth and that place next door to Chult will be detailed in

SK

[22:30] -Talath- have a good night and take care thanks again

[22:30] * Helm has quit IRC (Quit: -Hank Scorpio- "Homer, what's your least-favorite

country: Italy or France?" -Homer- "France." -Hank Scorpio- "Heh! Nobody ever says

Italy.")

[22:30] -GwendolynKestrel- Thanks! /ga

[22:30] -TRS_Chris- Come by the booth for a book signing

[22:30] -Dargoth- cya Gwen

[22:31] -Talath- LOL Helm, that was a great episode

[22:31] -ArthurQ- I hope she didnt ping out.

[22:31] -Sutekh- Helm was here? Damn.. wonder if he is still smarting over being

wacked in Maztica

[22:31] -GwendolynKestrel- Nope, still here. /ga

[22:31] -ArthurQ- Aw.

[22:31] * Cunning_Linguist has quit IRC (Quit: Disconnecting)

[22:31] -ArthurQ- Gwen: Thanks for coming!

[22:31] -shinies-sc- hey anyone here in a campaign running tonight?

[22:31] -Dargoth- we got a far bit of SK info out of Eric Boyd

[22:31] -GwendolynKestrel- Good night, all. /ga

[22:31] * GwendolynKestrel has quit IRC (Quit: Disconnecting)

 

[BrooklynKnight]

hope you guys enjoy it.

 

[Piratecat]

Some interesting stuff there. Thank you.

 

[BrooklynKnight]

I have more chats that i'm arranging to do with my good friend garen there.

Menace Manual, Book of Exhalted Deeds, and a Dragonomicon Chat. Dont forget my chat tommomrw for Path of the Magi with SKR and other authors.

As i schedule and finalize more chats you guys i'll know.