#dnd tip for DMs/writers: think in terms of "small, cool things." Any empty dungeon room? Add a small, cool thing. Introducing an NPC? No need for a novel-sized backstory. Just think of that NPC's small, cool thing. Vorpal sword in every hoard? Try a small, cool thing instead.
— Shawn Merwin @ PAXU (almost) (@shawnmerwin) November 1, 2018
DnD
“Seen any weird critters, hereabouts?”
1)
“Seen any weird critters, hereabouts?”
“No…why?”
“I’m a knight, see? And we’re supposed to be hunting this Questing Beast…”
“What? Never heard of it! What does it look like?”
“My questions, exactly! So the King has all of us…#epic fantasy— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 11, 2018
3)
……blundering about the realm, waving our swords and getting into the gods alone know what trouble, not knowing what we’re doing or where we should be headed—gah!”
“‘Gah’? Aren’t you used to all that, yet? You must be new at…#epic fantasy knighting it. Well, welcome to the governance of kings!”
“You seem…overly cynical. If not traitorous.”
“DEFINITELY new at knighting it. Well, happy hunting! Try not to…#epic fantasy— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 11, 2018
4)
…stick your sword into too many loyal citizens, will you? The King’ll need SOMEONE to pay his taxes…”#epic fantasy— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 11, 2018
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When you walk outside your home, what part of Forgotten Realms do you feel like you “are in” at that moment?
I have 4 and a half acres in the country, 4 wooded, nigh Lake Ontario…so to me, it feels like the Cormyr shore near the Sembian border…or the southernmost Dales, verging into Sembia, or near Secomber, or the northern side of the mountains that form the northern border of Amn.
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 16, 2018
I have 4 and a half acres in the country, 4 wooded, nigh Lake Ontario…so to me, it feels like the Cormyr shore near the Sembian border…or the southernmost Dales, verging into Sembia, or near Secomber, or the northern side of the mountains that form the northern border of Amn.
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 16, 2018
Hm … interesting answers, Ed. So you kinda envision Lake Ontario as the far west arm of the Sea of Fallen Stars? And you’re somewhere between Westgate & Urmlaspyr?
Thx for your insights, Ed! I’m sure you get a lot of ?’s about the FR’s corollaries to our world’s geography Heh. I do. And I wince hard at folks who want to draw direct parallels between this or that real-world culture or historical culture or Hollywood version of historical culture, and lands or regions in the Realms. But Lake Ontario, aside from being freshwater and not salt, and…
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 17, 2018
…a tad colder than the Dragonmere, would be a fairly close equivalent. And I'd be somewhere between Moonever and Urlmaspyr. NOT a direct locational analogy, but the same type of temperate mixed woodland, with weather extremes moderated by close proximity to a large water body.
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 17, 2018
Okay, it’s official, I’m placing you, Ed G., on the onskirts of Moonever, Cormyr within my FR World. I’m now reading about the town in your ’95 book, Volo’s G. to Cormyr. Oyster merchants & netweavers. Interesting lore! I love finding new villages in the F.R. Thank you again, Ed! Heh. A pleasure! Drop by whenever you're near Moonever, and I'll have warm broth, cold ale, and little cakes ready. ;}
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 18, 2018
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Zoltar Sage Advice on Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica book!
HEROEs!
I’m so happy to share with all of you this very little news about me and my love to D&D
(ops “I CRIED”, my fault, english is not my first language)
I cryed.
After 30yrs I found my name on a D&D book
I playtested #Ravnica and was not so simple but I was so excited for this “bridge” to another gaming world
So happy that my first sign was on @0Generic0 book!
Thanks @Onnatryx and my players with all my heart and dice ❤️🎲 pic.twitter.com/OmmJzQMSZy— Zoltar SageAdvice (@SageAdviceDnD) November 27, 2018
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“Swordcaptain, I think you’d better see this.”
1)
“Swordcaptain, I think you’d better see this.”
“Why? Are you of the opinion I’ve not met my daily quota of witnessed appalling horrors yet? Or has Jarrock finally learned to lace his boots?”
“No, sir. To both, sir.”
“THANK you.”#epic fantasy— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 3, 2018
3)
…“It’s just here, sir. If you look between these trees, out over the valley.”
“Flying entwined, the circlings…yes, definitely: two dragons, mating. A sign, just as definitely, but I’m not a priest. So…#epic fantasyI can’t cleverly tell you what it means.”
“That’s all right, Swordcaptain. To the likes of us, it just means baby dragons despoiling the realm, that we’ll sooner or later have to slay. Likely sooner.”#epic fantasy— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 3, 2018
4)
“Rorvar, I’m promoting you. Unlike, say, Harl, you’ve demonstrated an understanding of our role here in the Watch. And the proper cynicism, too.”#epic fantasy— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 3, 2018
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D&D Basic Rules revised November 2018 with amazing images by Richard Whitters!
D&D's essential rules are available for free in the D&D Basic Rules PDF. We've now combined the rules into a single PDF, added some illustrations, and applied all relevant updates, bringing the rules fully up to date. You can download the PDF here: https://t.co/biKx4nxMFL #DnD pic.twitter.com/6hd4Fq2kCl
— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) November 26, 2018
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One of my players is a Cleric of Mask who pretends to be a cleric of Waukeen…
One of my players for an upcoming W:DH campaign is a Cleric of Mask who pretends to be a cleric of Waukeen and seeks to gain money to buy his way into the Gray Ribbon. Any cool ways I could incorporate this particular faction in the story? Information on how they are? I'll pen you a lore reply as soon as I can. Some I can do faster than others, despite when they arrive in my lap, because I know exactly where the lore is to answer with. Hang on!
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 12, 2018
1/10) In Waterdeep, the Gray Ribbon is officially absent, and in truth maintains a VERY low profile: spying more than anything else. Past Open Lords (Piergeiron in particular) and the current one (Laeral) have moved swiftly and…#Realmslore https://t.co/QBOUZbdAUp
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 13, 2018
2/10)
…ruthlessly to smash even small thieving cabals (the policy being: “There will be no more thieving guilds in Waterdeep. Period.”) and they have been aided in this by the Blackstaff (no matter who it is at the time), …#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 13, 2018
3/10)
Elminster, Mirt, The Serpent (Elaith Craulnobur), and many Waterdhavians who have connections among fences and smugglers. In other words, they have been thorough and effective. The Watch can’t stop thievery in the Deep, …#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 13, 2018
4/10)
…but they can sure by all the Watching Gods stamp out any thieving organizations (including street gangs of above a certain strength and reach). The lawful guilds of the city all enthusiastically aid in this, as do the…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 13, 2018
5/10)
…nobles, because EVERYONE stands to lose if there’s an effective thieves’ guild operating and rooted in the Deep. The Xanathar survives and succeeds in small part by being “too deep down” to effectively eradicate, and in…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 13, 2018
6/10)
…and in large part by maintaining iron discipline that prevents the Xanathar’s operatives from becoming so big a nuisance that they need to be eliminated, no matter the cost.
The Circle of the Gray Ribbon may be many…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 13, 2018
7/10)
…things, but “stupid” isn’t one of them. Seeing that there’s “no room” in Waterdeep to establish any presence beyond a religious one, they instead treat the Deep as a “viewing gallery” where all they do is watch. Watch… #Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 13, 2018
8/10)
…like hawks. Seeing who owns what, who does what, and who deals with whom. They pounce well away from Waterdeep, using the information gained from spying in Waterdeep, but do nothing except worship Mask (in secret chapels…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 13, 2018
9/10)
…in secret chapels in cellars, attics, and the like) in Waterdeep. So, your cleric is on his own in anything he does to gain coin in the Deep, but will be watched and judged continuously, by more than three spies at all…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 13, 2018
10/10)
…times. The Circle will strongly disapprove of anything that brings unwanted attention to the clergy of Mask or the Circle, but otherwise will merely appraise his performance as a thief, swindler, and (gasp) legit trader.#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 13, 2018
My guess: Neverwinter or Baldurs Gate.
But i imagine they have a mutually beneficial relationship with the Knights of the Shield in trading information And both of those guesses would be correct. Luskan, too. And "right out in the open" in Scornubel.
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 13, 2018
Sooo, What about…. Less-than-savory clerics/paladins? Death domain, oathbreakers, or those in servitude of, say a newly revived members of the Dark Seldarine? Basically “Behave and you’ll have no problems but, we’re watching you.” ? Exactly. Waterdeep is a tolerant crossroads trading city, "where coin is king." If you're not disturbing the peace openly, generally folk will look the other way.
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 13, 2018
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Could you provide some insight on on ancient Waterdeep
@TheEdVerse Great Sage, I was wondering if you could provide some insight on on ancient waterdeep, like when the Shoons (Specifically the 3rd and 4th were in power)
— Pastor Plague (@PastorPlague) November 3, 2018
1/6) The best QUICK overview can be found on p7 of the 3e City of Splendors: WATERDEEP tome penned by Eric Boyd. The short answer is: there was no city of Waterdeep at this time.
During the reigns of the third and fourth Shoons, … https://t.co/HFOQpUqLQJ— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 3, 2018
2/6) the plateau above Deepwater Harbor, and the harbor shore, were being farmed by Illuskans who’d spread from the city of Tavaray (at the mouth of the River Delimbiyr). Earlier, they’d come from Ruathym, fleeing civil strife there.
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 3, 2018
3/6) Halaster Blackcloak and his apprentices arrived in 168 DR and built a tower, Halaster’s Hold, at the heart of the plateau. It also became known as Blackcloak Hold, and the latter name clung to the settlement that grew up around it, …
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 3, 2018
4/6) …among the farms. Halaster built the hold as his base from which to wrest what’s now known as Undermountain from the drow, and he and the Seven (his apprentices) were busy doing so until well after the end of Shoon IV’s reign…
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 3, 2018
5/6) … (the Seven “went below” in 307 DR). So while the Shoons were, ah, “flourishing” (not a word most of their subjects would have agreed with), what would become Waterdeep was an increasingly productive and prosperous farming…
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 3, 2018
6/6) … community trading with Tavaray (mainly overland, by mule-train). Orcs and hobgoblins lurked, but the drow and the elves of Ardeepforest kept them largely at bay, and once Halaster was in residence, he kept the drow at bay.
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 3, 2018
Afterword: If you want “Waterdeep” to exist as a name (a town), you need to be at 900 DR or later, which is well after the last Shoon achieved lichdom, faked his own murder, and went into hiding.
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 3, 2018
You're very welcome. Always happy to talk Realmslore!
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) November 4, 2018
