4th Ed. Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting - what the.....

[XXsiriusXX]

2.)I thought that the Grayhawk setting became the core info for the 3rd edition update.

3.)What is Pathfinder?

Thanks for pointing out Pathfinder to me, I have only had to the chance to look over the classes but I like what I see especially the paladin class. Now it's worth playing past level 5.

[lionrampant]

If they simply left Forgotten Realms alone, and started up a whole new setting, a lot of those Forgotten Realms players would have just stuck with the previous version of D&D, rather than updating (or so they likely feared).

And yet, becauce WotC gave the Realms a face-lift using dynamite instead of scalpels, a lot of those Forgotten Realms players are just sticking with the previous version of D&D rather than updating, anyway.

The only evidence I have is anecdotal, but from what I can see, people who really like playing in the (old) Realms are refusing to go 4e, specifically because 4e bulldozed the (old) Realms. Same for people who really like playing in Greyhawk. And Mystara. And Planescape.

In fact, among the players I know, only the people who prefer adventures set in Ebberon are going 4e. Players who want to have adventures in any other setting are sticking with old-school D&D. (Or, in increasing numbers, going Pathfinder.)

Which makes it ironic that they bothered to update FR to the new edition, and the end result might very much be what they had hoped to avoid.  Ah, well, such is the risk in putting a new edition of what is supposedly the same game, even though it really feels (to me and my friends, at least) like a different game, mechanically.  I'd like to see WotC come up with a completely new campaign setting with 4th edition elements as the foundation, rather than jurry-rigging settings for other systems in to place.

[Tangential]

There is also a strong and growing community of people who simply use 4e mechanics, while rejecting the PoL style and instead retaining old flavour for the FR setting.

[XXsiriusXX]

If they simply left Forgotten Realms alone, and started up a whole new setting, a lot of those Forgotten Realms players would have just stuck with the previous version of D&D, rather than updating (or so they likely feared).

And yet, becauce WotC gave the Realms a face-lift using dynamite instead of scalpels, a lot of those Forgotten Realms players are just sticking with the previous version of D&D rather than updating, anyway.

The only evidence I have is anecdotal, but from what I can see, people who really like playing in the (old) Realms are refusing to go 4e, specifically because 4e bulldozed the (old) Realms. Same for people who really like playing in Greyhawk. And Mystara. And Planescape.

In fact, among the players I know, only the people who prefer adventures set in Ebberon are going 4e. Players who want to have adventures in any other setting are sticking with old-school D&D. (Or, in increasing numbers, going Pathfinder.)

Which makes it ironic that they bothered to update FR to the new edition, and the end result might very much be what they had hoped to avoid.  Ah, well, such is the risk in putting a new edition of what is supposedly the same game, even though it really feels (to me and my friends, at least) like a different game, mechanically.  I'd like to see WotC come up with a completely new campaign setting with 4th edition elements as the foundation, rather than jurry-rigging settings for other systems in to place.

Mechanically, the same can be said about the switch from 2nd to 3rd/3.5.

[lionrampant]

You are correct, sir.  Any time there is a new edition that includes even moderate changes to underlying mechanics, this problem can occur.

[Elemental_Elf]

I took the time to look over the new Campaign Setting book and I have to say, I like the ideas and where the designers decided to go, especially Abeir (one of my settings actually utilizes a similar concept).

The biggest problem I have is that they decided to go for, as Mike Mearls said on the Podcast, Breadth rather than Depth. It feels a little wonky to produce such a top level skim of a campaign setting that is as deep and unique as FR is. It just feels like there's a general lack of explanation contained in each country/region's wrote up. I mean 2 Pages, large font and a big map doesn't really make for a good description.

This problem is even more exacerbated by the fact that WotC will be moving on to Eberron and not producing any more FR books beyond adventures. Personally, I dislike the new approach.

[XXsiriusXX]

This problem is even more exacerbated by the fact that WotC will be moving on to Eberron and not producing any more FR books beyond adventures. Personally, I dislike the new approach.

I was not aware of this. It seems like a rather odd business strategy, why would the company practically discontinue a successful product line for the systems new incarnation? It makes sense to me to produce 4.0 compliant books for FR, but then again I don't know FR sales figures, initial production cost for a book, and etc.  

[Elemental_Elf]

This problem is even more exacerbated by the fact that WotC will be moving on to Eberron and not producing any more FR books beyond adventures. Personally, I dislike the new approach.

I was not aware of this. It seems like a rather odd business strategy, why would the company practically discontinue a successful product line for the systems new incarnation? It makes sense to me to produce 4.0 compliant books for FR, but then again I don't know FR sales figures, initial production cost for a book, and etc.  

IIRC, WotC has changed its policy with Campaign Books, they went from great support to virtually none. WotC wants to focus on the 'D&D Core' brand and not periphery products like campaign settings. The reason is that, by any measure, Campaign settings are niche products that appeal to a much smaller percentage of players compared to things like 'Arcane Power' and the 'Player's Handbook II.' WotC still recognizes that there IS a market for those niche products, so they throw us a bone in the form of a Player's Guide, a DM's Guide and a few adventures. Every year will feature a different setting (2008/early 2009 - FR; 2009/early 2010 - Eberron; etc.).

If you need proof, look at 2009's release schedule: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/dndlist&brand=All&year=2009&tablesort=1  Notice, the only  FR products being released are novels and the only Eberron products are the 2 books I mentioned + some adventures.

Having said all of this, remember you may still find articles pertaining to campaign settings in Dragon magazine but that will on a month to month basis.