[UPDATED] The Archmage (aka Ed Greenwood) Returns to the Forgotten Realms

The Archmage? Is this some black metal band?

 

[Kramodlog]

True... but we also both know that pure sales are not their going concern these past couple of years.

I didn't get WotC's email telling me their pure sales are not going to concern them.

If sales were all that mattered, they would have produced all this Realms stuff themselves these past two years instead of holding off on anything and then opening the doors to other people now doing it.

That is just one of many possible reasons to explain our current events.

So I truly think a splintered-off Realms timeline set up by the Ed Greenwood Company is one of WotC's lesser concerns about this whole thing.

Oh, but I do not think there will be a split. I mentioned competing events. Two timelines competing
(whether they like it or not) to be the "official" timeline for fans. Not two timelines. And of course, I believe Ed will win without contest because he has authoritah(!).

 

[duncansalazar]

And the good part is Ed is back indeed. Can't hardly wait for new FR material.

 

[EthanSental]

Or maybe read Morrus' post - Ed is going to go into unused portions with new stories so it appears it might not interact with WoTC published material....Mirt goes to a little detailed place / neglected locale.....hence it won't tread on WoTC's campaign storyline so little impact on the canon discussion.

UPDATE FROM MORRUS -- Ed dropped me a quick note to say "Let's call them Mirt "stories" rather than "novellas." MUCH shorter than novels, is the plan. Mirt goes to a little-detailed place. Mirt stories, NOT novels, end of the year. Mirt goes to a neglected Realms locale in a story, Volo's Guide to same spot, plus game adventure".

 

[Xavian Starsider]

No one over Candlekeep, or possibly anywhere, will disagree with you on that. However WotC/Ed's lore obviously ''dictate'' canon of the published version of the Realms.

A fair point. In my mind I rationalize it that Greenwood's vision is the canon of Faerun as a fantasy world but not for Forgotten Realms the campaign world, which is based on but not confined by the former.

 

[Irennan]

Or maybe read Morrus' post - Ed is going to go into unused portions with new stories so it appears it might not interact with WoTC published material....Mirt goes to a little detailed place / neglected locale.....hence it won't tread on WoTC's campaign storyline so little impact on the canon discussion.

UPDATE FROM MORRUS -- Ed dropped me a quick note to say "Let's call them Mirt "stories" rather than "novellas." MUCH shorter than novels, is the plan. Mirt goes to a little-detailed place. Mirt stories, NOT novels, end of the year. Mirt goes to a neglected Realms locale in a story, Volo's Guide to same spot, plus game adventure".

I know, but since the FR is WotC's IP, we can't exclude that they could be interested in how it will be portrayed (since the new lore will be ''official'', unless they step in and establish a different lore), even if it's not about their current playground (the Sword Coast).

A fair point. In my mind I rationalize it that Greenwood's vision is the canon of Faerun as a fantasy world but not for Forgotten Realms the campaign world, which is based on but not confined by the former.

Yes, I see what you mean (even if the campaign world also has a ''default'' version, that which you buy, that can be customized to suit your needs).

 

[Eltab]

What locales people want to read from Mr. Greenwood?

- Rashemen and interaction with the nations around (besides Thay).
- Why have no telthors &c ever expanded beyond the borders of Rashemen? Ashanath would be a reasonable place for them.
- Demons of the Rawlinswood/Dunwood
- the Druids of the Forest of Lethyr
- History (how old IS Mirt?): Narfell's borderlands. What would a skirmish of the Narfell / Raumathar wars look like?
- The Citadel of Conjurors and nearby Impiltur

- Jhammdath / Vilhon Reach
- Repopulating the Vilhon and the Shaar, post-Sundering

- Imperial Cormyr in the background, focus on the villages / towns / trade cities near the border
- Nathan (Shou nation south of Dragon Reach)
- Pirates on the Sea of Falling Stars, and why the various nations cannot build a Navy /Marines that wipes them out long-term

- How does Unther keep any other Powers from arising in its huge hinterland (Chessenta)?

- Classic Netherese culture. What did they do all day besides invent new 10th-level spells?
- A post-Fall of Netheril story about the survivors, the Dwarven and Elven kingdoms nearby

- Pseudo-Vikings of the Sword Coast !

 

[Barachiel]

So it says the DmG is open but...where's the site to enter? I personally want in just for Ed's work, to finally start seeing more Realmslore is a miracle. Especially since places that have longed needed covering will potentially get that treatment.

 

[Barachiel]

I see people requesting regions already covered. I personally want regions that's barely covered, if at all, or needs updated coverage:

Sossal, Lantan, Unther, Semphar, Mulhorand, High Ice, Veldorn, Jungles of Chult

I also prefer to have updates to other continents: Maztica, Zhakara, Kara-Tur

Also wish to see info on new places we only heard of in name: Katashka, Osse, Anchorome

 

[Demetrios1453]

It's also in Ed's contract that anything he says/writes about the FR is considered canon, unless contradicted by WotC. However, if Ed writes in the current 5e era, I think that there might be some agreements with WotC.

I'm finding much of this thread rather funny - as if people think that Ed and WotC are on the outs and are purposely going to set up competing canons. Instead of, you know, actually communicating with each other and coordinating things, which of course would be the reasonable thing to do. But I guess that's too boring and logical for some people around here...

And if there's one place that hasn't been covered yet, it's Lantan. That would be an excellent place to cover in this sort of thing...

 

[Goemoe]

Hopefully Keith Baker will do such things for Eberron as well. I would love to see 5E Eberron stuff from him on the Dungeon Master's Guild platform.