FR Update at WotC-Year of the Ageless One

[Arnwyn]

The fact that NOT ONE SINGLE POSTER on this thread has set a campaign in the Mulhorand speaks for itself. If something isn't getting used, it's time to go with something else, rather than keep it in just because. That thinking gave us gnomes for thirty years.

Oh, heavens, I have. Others have posted as much. Though I didn't realize posting such a thing was a requirement in this thread (hint: it isn't).

Of course, the debate still rages with gnomes.

Why? Why keep material that people don't use? No one seems to answer this. Unther was underutilized. Gnomes and bards rarely saw play. Why make something that no one likes interesting instead of trying something new that maybe lots of people find interesting?

Because people do use it - but that's been answered already. It's not a mutually exclusive decision, either.

 

[The Grumpy Celt]

According to Answers.com, Hyperbole is "A figure of speech in which exaggeration is used for emphasis or effect, as in I could sleep for a year or This book weighs a ton."

According to Wikipedia, "In show business and in the political arena, hyperbole (known as hype or media hype) is the practice of spending money on public relations, or expending political commentary in an attempt to bolster public interest in (for example) a movie, television show, performing artist, politician, or proposed public policy."

I don't think my comments about Thay or Unther qualify. But WotC is using hyperbole to support Realms 4th Ed.

 

[Steely Dan]

According to Answers.com, Hyperbole is "A figure of speech in which exaggeration is used for emphasis or effect, as in I could sleep for a year or This book weighs a ton."

I for one would like the words hyperbole, fallacy and straw-man banned from message boards.

 

[Badkarmaboy]

According to Answers.com, Hyperbole is "A figure of speech in which exaggeration is used for emphasis or effect, as in I could sleep for a year or This book weighs a ton."

According to Wikipedia, "In show business and in the political arena, hyperbole (known as hype or media hype) is the practice of spending money on public relations, or expending political commentary in an attempt to bolster public interest in (for example) a movie, television show, performing artist, politician, or proposed public policy."

I don't think my comments about Thay or Unther qualify. But WotC is using hyperbole to support Realms 4th Ed.

It was the whole "The new setting does not advance this plot, it shoot this plot between the eyes" thing that seemed hyperbolic. I'd say that's an exaggeration used for emphasis.

And yes, they are using hyperbole to sell the new Realms, no doubt.

 

[frankthedm]

Salvatore's latest novel, "The Orc King" placed Drizzt in this new future Forgotten Realms timeline during the prologue and epilogue of the book. So yes, he will still be around and kicking in the future.

Go pick up the novel if you want to know more!

Nope! Knowing that Drizzle lives to the epiloge tells me this "Orc king" failed to do his duty.

 

[Raloc]

It all feels like poorly thought out, “New Coke” kind of deal.

I just wanted to point out, New Coke was a brilliant strategy. They bring out "New Coke" that they know everyone will hate, act like nothing's wrong for a while, then revert to their perfectly fine old Coke, at which point all the fanatics snap it up like crazy.

 

[Imban]

Hm, they could explain the absence of gnomes as in "sucked of to an alternate material plane"

The same they did to half-orcs, gnomes, aasimar, Unther?

Half-orcs have been stated as specifically slated to exist in 4e because there are too many important half-orc NPCs in FR and heck, one of the Dragonmarked Houses in Eberron is made of half-orcs. Gnomes are the same way, and they've said that something like Aasimar will be coming back, tied to the 4e conception of celestials.

"Suddenly all gnomes across the ENTIRE REALMS die! Especially the one you're playing!" is one of the sloppiest possible ways to handle an edition change, and one of the easiest (and very understandable) ways to get your fanbase to hate it.

 

[IanB]

There are very few settings where dropping an entire country, full of odd people, in via a magical event is appropriate and not lousy worldbuilding; but Forgotten Realms is one of those. That's how, in the FR history, at least elves, orcs and the ancestors of the Mulhorandi people have gotten to Toril. There is an established precedent of exactly this kind of a thing happening, again and again.

I'm really not sure I can accept that having a history of lousy worldbuilding choices excuses continuing to make them.

 

[lvl20dm]

While we may not have a full write-up (lots of racial feats and powers) for gnomes, they have said that they will be included with the MM with some guides on how to use them as PC's. Bards will be supported - the design team has said this a number of times. They might even be in the PHB (they have not confirmed number or type of classes yet).

I have seen no indication that Thay did not go into a full-on civil war or that, after 100 years, it isn't still engaged in one. All we know about Thay is that it suffered significant geographical alterations and that Tam is still around. Perhaps hostilities were forestalled by the Spellplague, but now Thay is more fractured than ever. We simply don't know.

Though apparently this means there is something wrong with me (and the people I play with), I am thinking I will probably play a dragonborn as my first PC. I like monstrous races - many people do - and now we have a one that is playable out of the PHB.

 

[Badkarmaboy]

While we may not have a full write-up (lots of racial feats and powers) for gnomes, they have said that they will be included with the MM with some guides on how to use them as PC's. Bards will be supported - the design team has said this a number of times. They might even be in the PHB (they have not confirmed number or type of classes yet).

I have seen no indication that Thay did not go into a full-on civil war or that, after 100 years, it isn't still engaged in one. All we know about Thay is that it suffered significant geographical alterations and that Tam is still around. Perhaps hostilities were forestalled by the Spellplague, but now Thay is more fractured than ever. We simply don't know.

Though apparently this means there is something wrong with me (and the people I play with), I am thinking I will probably play a dragonborn as my first PC. I like monstrous races - many people do - and now we have a one that is playable out of the PHB.

You're ok. I don't think anyone can be wrong for what race they choose to play as.