WotC's Chris Perkins Talks Realms & Sundering

Den of Geek has a lengthy interview with Chris Perkins about the Forgotten Realms and The Sundering. He also very briefly touches on other settings, indicating that WotC hopes that other worlds will be covered in the future if the right story comes along. On past controversial changes to settings, he says "Our guiding principle is to embrace the past and not pass judgment or rewrite history. We’d rather let the fans tell us what they like about the Realms and focus on those elements going forward." (thanks to MerricB for the scoop!)

 

[JeffB]

At this point, I do not need any more FR setting core books. In the past I have re wrote the ToT and 3e changes to the Realms, and eventually just gave up. I went 10 years DR prior to OGB (PoR timeline) and add the bits I like from FRA, 2e,3e, 4e, EGttFR, as well as a healthy Wilderlands influence. Its made my life easier, and I enjoy the setting far more than any official version.

 

[aramis erak]

Keep in mind: Setting Books sell beyond the RPGers, to some extent. So we're likely to see one, but it's also likely to be 75+% fluff.

 

[Irennan]

That's what I'm hoping for. A mostly fluff FRCS would be warmly welcomed (by me, at least).

 

[Selvarin]

A fluff book is fine. I'm well past the point where I absolutely had to have the 'official' (whatever that meant) stats for Larloch or whoever. The old model of handling things is done. WotC is going to release materials when they can but in a way that it doesn't kill the business model. I think publishing FR adventures and putting choice bits in there about changes, etc., work well enough. Instead of just an adventure you get a mini-update or fleshing-out of someplace you may not have considered playing before.

Just a little walk down Memory Lane for a moment...

I remember when I purchased the Forgotten Realms boxed set. There was a booklet about the Hall of Heroes or some such, with a contact address for questions/requests. I went through the sourcebook and wrote down EVERYTHING aside from Cormyr and the Dalelands, put it in a letter. Three pages worth.


OK, enough walking.

 

[Scrivener of Doom]

Scrivener do you have links to anything about Kobold not getting the information they asked for?

It's here: http://www.thetomeshow.com/e/when-k...d-press-tyranny-of-dragons-panel-gencon-2014/

 

[Jeremy E Grenemyer]

Another of the brothers James has weighed in at Candlekeep:

Somewhere along the line, someone got really defensive about Realmslore gurus. I don't know what happenstance caused it, but there is a distinct distrust of the circle.

WotC, care to comment?

 

[Scrivener of Doom]

I suspect the large corporate mentality of their parent has something to do with that mindset.

A BSD comes into the room at WotC: "What do you mean you guys aren't the experts on this IP? We're the owners. That means we're the experts!" And a chorus of "harrumphs" - fans of Blazing Saddles know what I mean - follows the BSD as he exits out of the room basking in his power and awesomeness....

(I'll just mention - again - that I use the 4E Realms and have grown to really like them so the following comments are more about looking at building the value of the IP and not simply about what I want for my home game.)

The reality is, the post-Spellplague Realms are too far past where the true experts in Realmslore are really at. If you go to Candlekeep you will see that all the genuine experts there are still in the 1370s era, Ed included. That's where the lore exists. That's where the detail exists.

Whatever support FR is going to receive beyond Paizo-inspired adventure paths a couple of times a year is simply not going to be able to compete with the sheer volume of existing lore and existing campaign and adventure ideas that you can find in places such as Candlekeep and, of course, all the FR products released before 4E.

Sure, let RAS write his turgid dreck in the post-Sundering era - ditto for Ed and the other couple of authors who still seem to have a writing future with WotC - but roll the clock back on the tabletop RPG to, say, 1375 DR. I think (subjective, gut feeling, non-authoritative) that's what most fans would prefer plus Candlekeep would be leading a serious cheer squad for WotC for having realised the error of their ways.

RAS and his young fans get what they want and everyone else gets a FR with tonnes of support today.

 

[Selvarin]

Honestly, I don't mind the time jump. Doesn't bother me. I can tolerate the Shar-killing-Mystra-and-now-She's-back bit, etc. I can bring back what I want, more or less, even keep a select few 4E things, albeit not many (a few land nodes, spell motes, or whatever they're called). All the previous lore is still usable, biggest difference is most of the pre-4E NPCs are gone. Oh well, make 'em up or retcon a few from the past. I recall reading an article or two where this was considered an advantage for the authors, that instead of having to deal with a mountain of reference manuals or realms gurus the slate had been wiped somewhat.

Or...oh Hell. Just make up some explanation for how the Shar-wrecked future of the Realms was magically retconned, so we're still 100 years ahead but most of that stuff never happened. Yeah, think I'll go with that. (I'll pretend Erevis Cale and his antics, along with the Lathander's rebirth, flipped the switch the other way. Yep, that'll do. I don't need any other big explanations.)

*sigh*

Segue back to the books for a moment...it would be nice to see a few more 'friends of the Realms' back in print on the Realms, such as Elaine Cunningham. I'd like to see what Arilyn, Elaith, Elaith's daughter, and Liriel are up to after all this Sundering business winds down. Doubt it'll ever happen, but it would be nice.

 

[Jeremy E Grenemyer]

The reality is, the post-Spellplague Realms are too far past where the true experts in Realmslore are really at. If you go to Candlekeep you will see that all the genuine experts there are still in the 1370s era, Ed included.

Hold on a second: not all that you're saying here is true.

If you go to Candlekeep today and ask Ed Greenwood a question about the post-Spellplague Realms, you might just get an answer about the post-Spellplague Realms the very same day.

The same can be said if you ask Brian Cortijo a question at Candlekeep.

That, and Ed's been writing extensively about the post-Spellplague Realms since 4E was released, in both novels, regular Dragon and Dungeon articles, free articles on the WotC website, and at Candlekeep. That’s years of work.

Yes, some lore lords of the Realms have stuck to the pre-Spellplague Realms. For example, George Krashos just gifted the scribes of Candlekeep with a High History of Impiltur (it's a fantastic read, too), and he's said he isn't looking to go past the Spellplague, because the era of time he's interested in is what he considers the sweet spot.

So yeah, some are sticking to the pre-Plague Realms, but some are not.

Whatever support FR is going to receive beyond Paizo-inspired adventure paths a couple of times a year is simply not going to be able to compete with the sheer volume of existing lore and existing campaign and adventure ideas that you can find in places such as Candlekeep and, of course, all the FR products released before 4E.

First, I write stuff for the post-Spellplague Realms and post it to Candlekeep. I also collect Realmslore in my areas of interest, and I include the post-Spellplague Realmslore. Other people are doing the same with their regions of interest.

Second, I don’t think we’re there yet in terms of writing off the production of new Realmslore, because WotC hasn’t even released a 5E Realms campaign guide yet. Once they do that, and once they start producing sourcebooks, and once we have an idea about how well the recently released adventures have done, then we can gauge people’s interest in the new material.

I see your point about the availability of older material, but in looking at the responses of people on this and the other FR thread here at EN World what I see is people saying “I already have all the material I need” and not “I’m new to the setting but I’m only going to use the old stuff.” New people are coming to D&D all the time. The new Realms may just grab their attention and keep them.

RAS and his young fans get what they want and everyone else gets a FR with tonnes of support today.

I'm a fan of Salvatore too, and I turned forty this year, so not every fan is a "young" fan.

Granted I don't buy all of his novels, but lately he's been hitting one home run after another. Some of his books I have dog-eared and filled with bookmarks, because there are passages in them worth reading again and again.

There's no denying his (positive, in my not so humble opinion) influence on the Realms.

Not looking to get all fanboy on you here; just trying to demonstrate that pigeonholing authors doesn’t give an accurate reflection of what’s going on and who their fanbase is.

 

[gyor]

I don't think there is an expert on the post Sundering realms, too little of it has been written.