question: so if a Warlock made a pact with The Traveler, what would the most fitting patron type be?
Or is that in your upcoming book? There’s no absolute answer. Archfey generally fits, but I could see a case for GOO or others.
— Keith Baker (@HellcowKeith) February 17, 2020
@TheEdVerse What were your thoughts on rumors on guns being added into the norm of Forgotten realms novels? I like the medieval flavor and dependence of magic.
When I play as a DM I just tweak the lore to make sure gunpowder is harder to maintain hehe
— Ted Imperius (@Xjandinast) April 14, 2020
1)
I wrote a Firearms article, and a sequel, for Dragon magazine back in the day to nudge the idea of guns in the Realms into the “very impractical” category (as an editorial assignment, as they were already in the game; a wizard 2)
…of Greyhawk had a ‘boom wand’ in the Gary Gygax/Jim Ward/Rob Kuntz play sessions, way back when). Gunpowder doesn’t work in the Realms (doesn’t explosively ignite, so can’t propel bullets). Instead, the Realms has something…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) April 15, 2020
3)
…called “smoke powder” (which many gamers over the years have confused with sorts of gunpowder called “smokeless powder” or “smokepowder”). This was an idea borrowed, with Roger’s permission, from Roger Zelazny: in his…#Realmslore 4)
…Chronicles of Amber, gunpowder doesn’t work in Amber. Instead, what in the shadow known as Earth is known as jewelers’ rouge can be used in firearms. And yes, it is hard to obtain, making any firearm a “rare and preciously firing”…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) April 15, 2020
5)
…weapon. ALL firearms in the Realms are single-shots, not automatic or semi-automatic. And every time they’re fired, there’s a chance the weapon will explode, endangering the being firing it more than any target. This keeps 6)
…the focus on magic and medieval-flavour weapons.
Not that any of this is a new notion in fantasy. H. Beam Piper’s classic LORD KALVAN OF OTHERWHEN focuses on a gunpowder theocracy on an alternate-timeline Earth, and what…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) April 15, 2020
7)
…happens when a modern-times Pennsylvania state trooper who knows how to make gunpowder winds up in that ‘otherwhen.’#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) April 15, 2020
Nope. Compressing a fireball causes it to "go off" (explode), right there and then. (Usually 'goodbye caster.') If you want to hurl multiple mini-fireballs, use the Melf's Minute Meteors spell. ;}#Realmslore
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) April 16, 2020
Does it happens with the Firearms from Lantan too? Yes, the firearms Lantan sells are just as prone to blowing up as any others. (They keep the better ones for themselves.) And are single-shot, though they do sell double-barreled guns (and have their own with up to 5 barrels) allowing fast firing ere reloading.#Realmslore
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) April 16, 2020
Are the Batrachi somehow related to the Slaad or the kuo-toa? I always felt like there could be a great opportunity to use them as these sort of ancient “Lovecraftian” elder ones who just mostly died off.
— Leslie Courtney (@LeslieCourtne14) March 31, 2020
1)
I agree, a great opportunity for an elder ones role.
As Eric Boyd and I wrote in SERPENT KINGDOMS, a few sages of the Realms correctly believed that most of the Batrachi escaped to Limbo, and over time became the slaadi, a 2)
…handful remained in the swamps of Toril but likely went extinct before the 1300s DR, and (see SERPENT KINGDOMS and POWERS & PANTHEONS) the Batrachi created or were the ancestors of many shapeshifting, amphibious, and piscine…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) March 31, 2020
3)
…Faerûnian races, including the bullywugs, doppelgangers, kopru (see the 3e MONSTER MANUAL II), kuo-toa, locathah, sivs, and tako.#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) March 31, 2020
Greetings and salutations! I’ve a burning question from the Shining South – what is the state of Underhome now that Underchasm is filled post 2nd Sundering?
By iron – lower evils sealed away,
Might Deep Lords give Underhome a new day?
Abundant thanks!Dwarves have fought and reclaimed it, and are rebuilding (re-tunnelling and relining and shoring up, after all the collapses) despite persistent attacks from the Underdark. So Underhome lives! (But it's adventure time!)#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) April 26, 2020
Hmm, wonder if @Dan_Dillon_1 knows, but does Emboldening Bond work similar to Bless? Do you declare you’re using the d4 before or after the roll?
Seems modeled after Bless, so we’re rolling with that ruling for now – rolling with the check at time you decide to use it. Wording’s a little vague since you can only use it 1/turn, I’d go with you can see the roll then decide to use your Bond .
— Dan Dillon (@Dan_Dillon_1) May 22, 2020
You gain a +1 bonus to Armor Class. – I am looking for a clarification on what this means, do you gain a +1 on top of the armor you wear or just a +1 bonus for attaching armor to your body regarding the Warforged and Integrated Protection? I’m not sure what the distinction is between those. Can you rephrase?
— Dan Dillon (@Dan_Dillon_1) April 26, 2020
If I add scale mail to my body would I get the AC 14+dex (2 cap) +1 for intergraded protection or would it be just a +1 to my ac regardless of the type of armor attached to my body? Integrated Protection gives you a +1 bonus to AC, whatever your AC happens to be, full stop.
You can then also wear armor you’re proficient with by incorporating it into your body.
— Dan Dillon (@Dan_Dillon_1) April 26, 2020
Hi @TheEdVerse ,
Hi Ed, I've heard of Iltyr the "Blind but All Seeing" as a beholder cult that preceeded worship of Tyr in Cormyr. I'm also aware of the Xraunrarr as a beholder group trying to infiltrate and control parts of Cormyr's society. Are the two linked in any way?
— FR Alt Dimensions (@FRAltDimensions) March 8, 2020
1)
No, they’re competitors. The Xraunrarr repeatedly tries to manipulate the Cult of the All-Seeing (which is what they call themselves these days), and the Cult resents it and tries to harm Xraunrarr members. The Xraunrarr 2)
…adopted the usual attitude of superior disdain most beholders do towards “foolish” humans, but this has recently been shaken by the realization, in the wake of Cult attacks on Xraunrarr members, that the Cult knew where…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) March 8, 2020
4)
Several merchant cabals and minor noble families are under the sway of either beholder group, but it’s up to the DM which ones.#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) March 8, 2020
4)
Several merchant cabals and minor noble families are under the sway of either beholder group, but it’s up to the DM which ones.#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) March 8, 2020
It's so funny that evil alignment beholders worship a good alignment deity. What is the cult's dogma and how do Tyr and his priests think of this cult?
— coolguy (@coolguy73360922) March 9, 2020
1)
Cult beholders worship Iltyr because they define “justice” as what they want it to be.
Bringing law and order to society, so that everyone obeys them, as they see themselves as rightfully atop the pecking order and not making errors.
So if the Cult prevails, 2)
…they'll assume their "rightful" place atop society, served by humans and other "lesser creatures," and this will be accepted, so they'll not have to concern themselves with revolts, violence against them, and so on.
Other Tyrrans want adherence to justice, …#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) March 9, 2020
3)
…and so will (sighingly) accept those who do it for their own self-interested reasons, just so long as they do it.@Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) March 9, 2020
