The Realms WILL Be Updated!

WotC's Chris Perkins and Mike Mearls both mentioned the possibility of Forgotten Realms updates on Twitter today. A chap called Montgomery Headstrom tweeted at both of them - to Perkins he said "I don't understand why you guys did the Sundering if you weren't going to update the Realms. Can you clarify that for me?" and the Mearls he said "if WOTC isn't interested in updating the realms would corporate allow kickstarter drive to let Ed Greenwood do it?" Both replied to his his comments, confirming that they do, in fact, intend to update the Realms. Thanks to Adrian for the scoop.

Montgomery: if WOTC isn't interested in updating the realms would corporate allow kickstarter drive to let Ed Greenwood do it?
Mike Mearls: who sez we aren't interested in updating it?

Montgomery: I don't understand why you guys did the Sundering if you weren't going to update the Realms. Can you clarify that for me?
Chris Perkins: The Sundering allowed us to bring back things that the setting had lost over the years. We ARE updating the Realms.

 

[DMZ2112]

I think alot of people would be excited about a new approach if WOTC could be clear on what that means.

I really feel they have. It's crystal clear to me and has been for most of the last year.

 

[HobbitFan]

I really feel they have. It's crystal clear to me and has been for most of the last year.

Could you outline it then because I honestly have no idea.

 

[DMZ2112]

Could you outline it then because I honestly have no idea.

They're doing it right now. There are no secrets. They're updating the Forgotten Realms through hardback adventure paths and organized play events, and when they move on to the next setting, they'll do the same there.

Maybe you could ask a specific question and I will try to answer it? I honestly do not understand why everyone doesn't see what I see, so it is hard for me to explain something that is for me self-evident.

 

[HobbitFan]

How can they be updating the Realms via organized play? Players and Dms not in organized play don't have access to those adventures. If they are using those as a means of presenting updates that's a very odd choice.

And the adventure hardbacks? There's honestly not much setting information there of much use beyond the adventure path.
Again, odd choice.

If that IS the mode of presenting an update...that's a pretty ineffectual, sloppy job of doing it.
I see threads all the time and fans in person at gaming stores who have nothing but questions about this strategy, if it is one...

 

[Agamon]

I decided early on (during the last days of the playtest), that I would be setting my game in the 3e era FR (circa 1372 DR). As everything is pretty much going back to the way it was, current material fits in almost perfectly.

Even if one wanted to set it during the current day, the 3e FRCS can be used for geographical information. It really isn't that difficult, and the pdf is pretty cheap on DTRPG.

I wouldn't count out a new FRCS eventually. I would not be surprised if "we ARE updating the Realms" means both that they are being updated in the adventure hardbacks and a new setting book is being worked on.

 

[Tyranthraxus]

Hobbotfan: I disagree: I learn a fair bit about Neverwinter, Triboar, Red Larch, the Dessarin Valley, Yartar and so on within Prince of the Apocalypse hardback. Sure its not a huge amount but its enough to keep me interested.

 

[HobbitFan]

Hobbotfan: I disagree: I learn a fair bit about Neverwinter, Triboar, Red Larch, the Dessarin Valley, Yartar and so on within Prince of the Apocalypse hardback. Sure its not a huge amount but its enough to keep me interested.

Oh I agree that there's a good amount of detail on the Dessarin valley and on Red Larch. Problem is it has little value beyond the Princes of Apocalypse plot. There aren't any interesting plot hooks leading elsewhere nor interesting NPCs or events, locations to spark them. It;s pretty good serviceable stuff but it's all in service to the main storyline and that's it. Unless I'm missing something...

I have to disagree on Neverwinter. Neither Tyranny of Dragons books nor this one tell you anything of value about Neverwinter or Waterdeep really.

 

[DMZ2112]

Okay, quick caveat: I said I understood what Wizards was doing. I did not say that I think they are executing their plan /well/.

How can they be updating the Realms via organized play? Players and Dms not in organized play don't have access to those adventures. If they are using those as a means of presenting updates that's a very odd choice.

Nevertheless, this is nothing new for the hobby or even for D&D in particular. Organized play has always had a storyline, it's just never been /the/ storyline before. Storyline events at conventions are a pretty well established phenomenon.

There are descriptions of all of the adventures at dndadventurersleague.com, and if you want the details I can't believe security is /that/ tight.

I will say that I'm a little disappointed that we haven't seen a Tyranny of Dragons wrap-up video or something, but considering that there also hasn't been a Elemental Evil launch video, I guess the Tyranny video was more of a D&D5 promotion than a Tyranny promotion. Oh well.

And the adventure hardbacks? There's honestly not much setting information there of much use beyond the adventure path.
Again, odd choice.

I could not agree more. I am all about local detail replacing the traditional 10,000-foot view of a campaign setting guide, but if the adventure paths are also going to serve as setting updates that local detail needs to be relevant to the setting. Princes of the Apocalypse really pats itself on the back for being portable to any setting, but the net result is that its locales are bland as all get out.

Wizards needs to figure out that ignoring setting specific detail is easy for a homebrew dungeon master. Creating it is a lot harder for those dungeon masters with an interest in Faerun.

If that IS the mode of presenting an update...that's a pretty ineffectual, sloppy job of doing it.

I expect them to spill a few drinks before getting the mix right.

I see threads all the time and fans in person at gaming stores who have nothing but questions about this strategy, if it is one...

I've been explaining D&D meta to clueless fans (and employees!) at hobby shops since 2005. This is not a 5th Edition phenomenon. :\

 

[Shasarak]

How can they be updating the Realms via organized play? Players and Dms not in organized play don't have access to those adventures. If they are using those as a means of presenting updates that's a very odd choice.

And the adventure hardbacks? There's honestly not much setting information there of much use beyond the adventure path.
Again, odd choice.

If that IS the mode of presenting an update...that's a pretty ineffectual, sloppy job of doing it.
I see threads all the time and fans in person at gaming stores who have nothing but questions about this strategy, if it is one...

Well, Chris Perkins did say that they were reintroducing Settings in ways that surprise people.

 

[Queer Venger]

I decided early on (during the last days of the playtest), that I would be setting my game in the 3e era FR (circa 1372 DR). As everything is pretty much going back to the way it was, current material fits in almost perfectly.

Even if one wanted to set it during the current day, the 3e FRCS can be used for geographical information. It really isn't that difficult, and the pdf is pretty cheap on DTRPG.

I wouldn't count out a new FRCS eventually. I would not be surprised if "we ARE updating the Realms" means both that they are being updated in the adventure hardbacks and a new setting book is being worked on.

this is also what I'm doing, but I'm setting my 5e stories in 1373 DR. I'm even going to set ToD and EE in this time period.