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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Tharen the Damned" data-source="post: 3763842" data-attributes="member: 17091">Apocalypse in the Realms?Well, aside from the few hints in Salvatores Book, there might be some other, more technical and financial reasons:1) 4th Edition will be a new Edition not an update. The designers more than once stated, that it is very difficult to transfer PCs from 3x to 4th. It would be equally difficult to transport the hundreds of major and lesser NPCs over from 3rd and give a reason, why their abilities are now different then they were before (eg. Obould will most likely be a Monster without class levels and therfore different to the Obould we see now).It is easier to kill off most of the Iconics and start only with a few well loved (and cheesy) NPCs like Drizzt and Elminster.2) As was said before, the Realms are mostly explored and many products from all editions cover the same ground (the North, Waterdeep and Undermountain for example). Cleaning the slate and starting with new empires and organisations give stuff for many new Books. A 100 year time jump gives enough history and background for these new cities, empires and organisations. 10 years or less would not be enough time for the Realms to develop significantly new structures.3) New Players and DMs. Just look at the endless supply of Books for the Realms. As a new Player or DM the richness and deepness of the Setting can overawe.Cleaning up the Realms and starting anew with a big timejump gives newbees  an incetive to jump the train. Suddenly the old published material is only OPTIONAL and not any more assumed canon.Even if this may irk many of the older fans, IMO from a selling point of view an apocalypse in the Realms makes sense.</blockquote>

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