The Sundering has launched...

[Feeroper]

I have been a realms fan for a very long time, and unlike alot of people here, I have enjoyed the changing nature of the realms and the RSE's. When 4e hit and the Spellplague, I actually really liked it. I thought it took alot of guts to do, and stick with. Obviously in the end it was received very poorly and Im sure if they could go back in time they wouldnt have done it, but i think the realms are all the better for it. Its kept it fresh and interesting.

Im really excited about the Sundering, and although it clearly is an excuse to bring the realms back to its former state, Im very glad they didnt decide to pretend the Spellplague didnt happen. They are sticking to their guns and trudging on. This is what makes the Realms great I think, it feels like it is alive, not static.

I also like more static settings like Golarion, but I find the problem with them is that they do get stale, and you dont get alot of good interplay between stories as they are not assumned to have happened. Alot of people prefer that, and thats fine obviously, but for me, I prefer to have a more organic setting.

Sometimes I think that some of the vitriol towards the setting is more to do with it being WotC as they are sort of public enemy #1 to alot of gamers. I remember before the Spellplague all the harsh criticism re: having too many ultrapowerful NPCs and too many places very detailed by the novel line (however Spellplague was a much harsher reaction, especially combined with the backlash from 4e). Regardless though, Im really excited for The Sundering, and cant wait to see what is going to happen.

 

[Feeroper]

Sorry, accidental double post.

 

[JRRNeiklot]

I think you are vastly overestimating the contributions of D&D to the success of the Baldurs Gate video games.

I know I picked up the BG series simply because it was a D&D game using the 2nd edition ruleset. I still play through the infinity engine games because it's the only way to get an AD&D fix on the computer. The gold box games are a bit dated and I'm too spoiled by modern interfaces. The forgotten realms logo didn't make a bit of difference. It was AD&D! on the computer again finally! That's all that mattered.

 

[Wicht]

I also like more static settings like Golarion, but I find the problem with them is that they do get stale, and you dont get alot of good interplay between stories as they are not assumned to have happened.

The beginning of the Shattered Star adventure path says different. It very much takes place after the events of preceding APs. In fact, my kids, who played through the entirety of Rise of the Runelords were very enthused in tying their new heroes in with their old heroes in some way, so that the world proceeds apace.

 

[Wicht]

Granted, Golarion is more static than say the Realms, but there is some change in future storylines based on events in old story lines, but they are telling the world's history through the APs, which I kind-of like, personally.

 

[YRUSirius]

Which WotC is trying now too with their Sundering AP.

-YRUSirius

 

[Wicht]

I appreciate, actually, that WotC is now taking some leads from Paizo. I found out today that the recently published WotC adventure, Murder in Baldur's Gate, is being released with Pathfinder compatible stats able to be downloaded to run the adventure using Pathfinder, which pleases me. If WotC keeps publishing Pathfinder compatible adventure material, I will most certainly give their adventures a look-see.

 

[Echohawk]

I found out today that the recently published WotC adventure, Murder in Baldur's Gate, is being released with Pathfinder compatible stats able to be downloaded to run the adventure using Pathfinder, which pleases me.

The product page for Murder in Baldur's Gate includes downloads for using the adventure with 3.5e, 4e and D&D Next rules -- these are mostly monster and NPC stat blocks. That means it isn't properly Pathfinder compatible, but 3.5e compatible, which is nearly-but-not-quite the same thing.

 

[thewok]

First... The Sundering isn't a true "reboot" or "remake"... because the setting is not going back in time. The timeline is advancing just as it always has. So it is still post-hundred-year-jump, post-Spellplague.

Just wanted to echo what Defcon is saying here: there is no retcon. A retcon would mean that WotC is going back into the Forgotten Realms and changing the history. That is not happening. The history of the Forgotten Realms will move forward. The Many-Arrows kingdom was formed, the Spellplague happened, Abeir and Toril merged, Neverwinter was destroyed by a primordial, and so on. Pick up The Companions and see that it picks up after The Last Threshold. Not-really-spoilers follow:

Spoiler

Cattie-Brie, Bruenor and Regis choose to be reborn so they can be with Drizzt again, not because Drizzt is that awesome (though Cattie-Brie does love him still), but because Mielikki says that he needs them. Wulfgar, however, declines this opportunity and continues on to his reward at Tempus' side. So, the Companions of the Hall will be reformed, but in a post-Spellplague world, and not by going back in time and saying that nothing happened.

Sword and Laser had a pretty good interview with Salvatore about the Sundering from the time The Last Threshold released. They went into the difference between how the writers were treated in the lead-up to 4E and now. it was not pretty back then.

I have to say that I really enjoyed the Neverwinter saga. I enjoy the Dahlia character, and I like Ambergris a lot. I'm hoping to see them in the future.

Back to the point of IP: everything belongs to Wizards of the Coast. Salvatore created Drizzt, but WotC owns the character. It's the same with Baldur's Gate. Bioware really brought it to the forefront of the Forgotten Realms, at least until they did Neverwinter Nights, where Neverwinter took the spotlight. Even so, WotC is the owner of that IP. Star Wars is the same way: Timothy Zahn created an excellent character in Grand Admiral Thrawn, but that character, from the mere fact that he appeared in an official Star Wars novel, became the property of Lucasfilm Ltd. (who sold everything to Disney).

 

[Feeroper]

The beginning of the Shattered Star adventure path says different. It very much takes place after the events of preceding APs. In fact, my kids, who played through the entirety of Rise of the Runelords were very enthused in tying their new heroes in with their old heroes in some way, so that the world proceeds apace.

I know Shatered Star had that as a concept and I was very excited to see it, but didnt think it went far enough. James Jacobs has since stated that was a one time experiment, and that it is one of the least successful AP's (sorry I dont have a cite, it was comments he was making on their forums). Every AP since has reverted ot the "no other AP/module/story has happened" stance. They are very adament about not advancing the story beyond just moving up the date every year. There is nothing wrond with doing it that way, and in fact it is that way by design, I just find that to me, it gets stale and I prefer a more organic breathing world. The upcomming Wrath of the Rightous AP has the potential to deal with some very world altering events with the Worldwound, and I'd be disappointed if there werent some kind of consequence in the world going forward as a result. However, I do enjoy Golarion overall, its just that, in my opinion, it doesnt have that same dynamic and living feel that FR has. Dont get me wrong though, I do love Golarion, it definetly has some quality stories and great module writing from Paizo and you can easily get lost in the stories of the world.

But alas, this isnt a Golarion thread, my apologies for derailing a bit here, and my thanks to you Wicht for not ripping my head off in your reply.