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Message: <blockquote data-quote="FourthBear" data-source="post: 3828977" data-attributes="member: 55846">It's an interesting theory, but I must admit I find it hard to credit.  I mean, do you *really* think that the WotC execs would look at the Realms books and think anything other than "how can we sell more of these?"  Why should the execs care how confusing or numerous the books are, as long as they're still selling?  I mean, there's no sign of the Realms novels slowing down.I feel the following is more likely.  Sales of the RPG books slacking off and the team told that unless they go up, they're axing the Realms RPG line.  It's the novels that make the big bucks, anyway (just like in Dragonlance).  The RPG book team decides that in order to revive the line, they'll couple it with the roll-out of 4e and create a Big Event.  Just like in comics, Big Events tend to stimulate sales (I'm none too fond of most of them, but this cannot be denied).  Several of the Realms designers have always been bothered by some of the criticisms pointed at the Realms, including the powerful NPCs and the crowd of redundant deities.  So they decide that since the Avatar Trilogy set a precedent (and didn't impact sales negatively), they can have a similar event for 4e.  They get together with the novel writers (note that the statements that they all got together in 2005, when the D&D team began 4e work in earnest).  They talk to the writers and get some consensus on the changes.  They begin planning them out and come up with a plan for the novel and RPG lines.  They get some ideas that they've always wanted to do in the Realms and some areas of the Realms that they don't feel add too much to the setting.No real nefarious schemes or backroom politics needed.  Just a combination of financial necessity, an opportunity (4e) and the usual impulse of writers to want to change things around and run all over the fresh snow.</blockquote>

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