Why is Forgotten Realms the first setting?

[JoeGKushner]

With the info that tielflings and dragonborn both breed true and both have ancient empires, along with numerous other changes, why do you think WoTC made the Forgotten Realms the first published setting? It's taken some interesting... changes to get FR to accomidate some of the various ideas of 4e and I can't see that setting coming out without more vast swathes of changes.

Why not a brand new setting that brings all the new elements into it's core roots from the ground up? It's like even WoTC decided it would be too much trouble to come up with a setting that strayed so far from previous editions and said, "You know, we can just shoe horn this popular setting into some of the ideas here."

Or am I way off base?

 

[jensun]

Because settings take huge amounts of developer time and FR still has huge areas which nothing has ever been done with which can be used to drop new stuff in to.

The more difficult insertion will be in to Greyhawk assuming it continues to exist as a setting at all.

 

[Fifth Element]

With the info that tielflings and dragonborn both breed true and both have ancient empires, along with numerous other changes, why do you think WoTC made the Forgotten Realms the first published setting? It's taken some interesting... changes to get FR to accomidate some of the various ideas of 4e and I can't see that setting coming out without more vast swathes of changes.

Why not a brand new setting that brings all the new elements into it's core roots from the ground up? It's like even WoTC decided it would be too much trouble to come up with a setting that strayed so far from previous editions and said, "You know, we can just shoe horn this popular setting into some of the ideas here."

Or am I way off base?

I'm sure part of it is a business decision. There are a lot of FR fans, so they want to get a FR book out quickly to keep them satisfied.

Developing a new setting is a risky, time-consuming business. They may have already decided it will be years before they release a new setting, so as not to oversaturate the market like TSR did (allegedly).

 

[Sammael]

I'm sure part of it is a business decision. There are a lot of FR fans, so they want to get a FR book out quickly to keep them satisfied.

Only, judging from the critical reception on FR-oriented forums, there are few FR fans interested in the "New Realms" WotC is brewing for 4E.

 

[Lord Fyre]

I think that it was also done to bring Ed Greenwood (with his existing fan base) back to the dev team.

 

[Fifth Element]

Only, judging from the critical reception on FR-oriented forums, there are few FR fans interested in the "New Realms" WotC is brewing for 4E.

With the usual caveats for judging fan reaction based on negative posts on an internet message board, perhaps WotC is relying on the collector-type fans to provide a minimum number of sales, and hope sufficient other FR fans switch to 4E when it comes out.

 

[Atlatl Jones]

I see a few reasons.

1) It's a very popular setting, and it's quite well established. It also hasn't had a setting core book since the beginning of 3.0, 8 years ago. So some of it could just be a business decision, since a FR corebook would be a much better immediate seller than a new setting.

2) Because it's so popular, and it takes some tweaking to fit the 4e changes into it, it's better to change the setting right away to fit the changes. If you wait a while, the FR setting will fracture, with each different GM and novelist trying to fit in the new stuff in his own idiosyncratic way.

3) It's easier. It would take a lot more work to create a compelling new setting that it would be to update an old classic.

 

[JoeGKushner]

I see a few reasons.

1) It's a very popular setting, and it's quite well established. It also hasn't had a setting core book since the beginning of 3.0, 8 years ago. So some of it could just be a business decision, since a FR corebook would be a much better immediate seller than a new setting.

Agreed.

2) Because it's so popular, and it takes some tweaking to fit the 4e changes into it, it's better to change the setting right away to fit the changes. If you wait a while, the FR setting will fracture, with each different GM and novelist trying to fit in the new stuff in his own idiosyncratic way.

This is the most worriesome. If I were in charge of 4e, I'd want to showcase how adaptable the 4e rule set is by showing standard 'classic' fantasy such as FR and GH without smashing them into the new mold, as well as showcasing the new rules, ideas, mythology, etc.... in it's own setting.

3) It's easier. It would take a lot more work to create a compelling new setting that it would be to update an old classic.

And I thnk this too is true.

 

[Ranger REG]

With the info that tielflings and dragonborn both breed true and both have ancient empires, along with numerous other changes, why do you think WoTC made the Forgotten Realms the first published setting? It's taken some interesting... changes to get FR to accomidate some of the various ideas of 4e and I can't see that setting coming out without more vast swathes of changes.

I can't either, which is why I'm going against the grain when it comes to 4e.

Why not a brand new setting that brings all the new elements into it's core roots from the ground up? It's like even WoTC decided it would be too much trouble to come up with a setting that strayed so far from previous editions and said, "You know, we can just shoe horn this popular setting into some of the ideas here."

Or am I way off base?

Forgotten Realms have long been associated with Dungeons & Dragons regardless of what edition you're using. It's their Big Mac to their McDonalds, their Mickey Mouse to their Disneylands.

Guess FR still has a big fanbase through 3e (3.0e/3.5e), despite the introduction of Eberron.

Should WotC ignore their current fanbase in search of a new one? Not profitable, especially if you're to expect profit to come within the first three months of a new product sales (they have bills to pay).

 

[jdrakeh]

I suspect it's because the FR brand sells consistently better than all other D&D settings.