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!)

 

[Derren]

I'm sorry but a reboot would be better than trying to do some corny fix it job which really cheapens the whole lot.

I guess WotC it too worried to lose the fans they have left who obviously like the spellplague too.

 

[Sailor Moon]

I guess WotC it too worried to lose the fans they have left who obviously like the spellplague too.

So they would rather hang on to the minority than bring back the majority.

 

[Derren]

So they would rather hang on to the minority than bring back the majority.

They want to hang on to the minority and bring back the majority (or part of them).

 

[Sailor Moon]

They want to hang on to the minority and bring back the majority (or part of them).

Well I can tell you that it won't happen. Most FR fans would not be happy with anything short of a reboot. Go and check out the Candlekeep forums and you will see what I'm talking about.

 

[aramis erak]

Well I can tell you that it won't happen. Most FR fans would not be happy with anything short of a reboot. Go and check out the Candlekeep forums and you will see what I'm talking about.

Since they've said it ain't gonna happen, it's time to move on. Their fan base is far beyond the player base (and the player base is big), having to appease a lot more non-gamer or videogamer DL fans.

In other words, a retcon would probably cost them more novel sales than it would make up for in the much more expensive per unit sold RPG line.

 

[AmerginLiath]

(One also cannot look at a self-selected group on a message board as representative of the larger fanbase, anymore than than one can use the idiosyncrasies of those posting online regarding politics, culture, sports, etc. as demonstrative of the total beliefs of those involved with the subject in the wider world. Even go from one online community to another regarding any D&D milieu – setting or edition – and you'll discover vast differences of "settled opinion" each claiming to represent common knowledge.)

 

[Morrus]

(One also cannot look at a self-selected group on a message board as representative of the larger fanbase, anymore than than one can use the idiosyncrasies of those posting online regarding politics, culture, sports, etc. as demonstrative of the total beliefs of those involved with the subject in the wider world. Even go from one online community to another regarding any D&D milieu – setting or edition – and you'll discover vast differences of "settled opinion" each claiming to represent common knowledge.)

In 2014, you'd be surprised how representative online communities of any hobby or interest can be, especially if their size forms a statistically significant sample of a tiny niche market. It ain't the 90s any more!

 

[Queer Venger]

It would have made sense to have the ToD storyline in Krynn. But lets be honest, FR is their best selling, primary and now default setting so of course it would be the location of their launch adventures. And why dragons? Personally I think because dragons sell (WotC said something like books about dragons selling vastly better than books about other things during 3E) and WotC wanted to give the new edition launch as much traction as possible.

I agree with this. WotC has to be smart about setting their launch module in FR, not just for marketing reasons, but accessibility. While ToD harkens to the War of the Lance it has to incorporate iconic elements that Dragonlance as yet does not achieve. Almost everyone has heard of halflings (even Tolkien fans), but not Kender. Dragonlance encompassed over 13 modules, ToD has 2 larger ones. Dragonlance is essentially a closed world, FR is open and more high fantasy, so wider appeal.

Well I can tell you that it won't happen. Most FR fans would not be happy with anything short of a reboot. Go and check out the Candlekeep forums and you will see what I'm talking about.

I think Im not the only DM here who is doing this. Ive set my campaigns (Lost Mine and now ToD) in DR 1373. I am ignoring most of what was pumped into the FR with 4e. Even (and when) an official FR campaign book is released, this will be my default start date for 5e.

It is a multiverse after all, one with multiple Forgotten Realms, (akin to the TV show Fringe). Maybe all that nonsense from 4e happened in one of the alternate FR's, but not the official one

Since they've said it ain't gonna happen, it's time to move on. Their fan base is far beyond the player base (and the player base is big), having to appease a lot more non-gamer or videogamer DL fans.


In other words, a retcon would probably cost them more novel sales than it would make up for in the much more expensive per unit sold RPG line.

Well lets wait and see how successful Star Wars VII will be, afterall, its been officially announced that EU has been thrown into the trashcan.

 

[DMZ2112]

Well I can tell you that it won't happen. Most FR fans would not be happy with anything short of a reboot. Go and check out the Candlekeep forums and you will see what I'm talking about.

Then most FR fans can run their campaigns before/during/after the Time of Troubles, using the material they already own. They don't have to buy new books; new players don't have to pay hardcover prices for 30-year-old setting fluff; interested players can buy the new stuff; everybody wins.

 

[Scrivener of Doom]

What bothers me was the fact that the Spellplague and the 100 year jump destroyed a LOT of fan favorites so I don't see why they would be worried about it now. To be honest, I would bet anything that the pre-Spellplague fans far out number the Spellplague ones so I don't see where the big worry is. I'm sorry but a reboot would be better than trying to do some corny fix it job which really cheapens the whole lot.

Again, R A Salvatore's novels make more money than any other FR product and are (arguably) the most valuable part of the FR IP so he is essentially calling the shots on this. He doesn't want a reboot that will cast the turgid dreck of his novels adrift and so there is not going to be a reboot.

In 2014, you'd be surprised how representative online communities of any hobby or interest can be, especially if their size forms a statistically significant sample of a tiny niche market. It ain't the 90s any more!

I like it when people actually know what they are talking about.