Look im not claiming to know more than the next guy about ne city but 2 b honest in the newest dragon issue i cant say i like Ed's writing...i mean how much does a perosn need 2 knwo about a specific city...if you want my opinion (which im sure tons of u guys r alrdy sayin 'psh wats this dumb nuts know')the space in which it was written could have been much better used for something else that followed the whole water theme of the issue...in fact i would like to not c this type of thing in further issues....as i said above...how much do u need 2 knwo about sum city....isnt half the idea of the D&D game to imagine wat is there and not have every last detail dictated to u unless it's in an adventure describing a room....ok i just had 2 put my 2 cents in....
I can't say I agree. While FR does suffer from being over detailed in places, this article is providing additional detail for a city which will doubtless be welcomed by FR fans.
I've always found Ed Greenwood's non-fiction very readable.
I would appreciate some effort at punctuation and losing the text message style spelling.
I myself agree. He needs to look at ditching everything that isn't absolutely neccessary to understand the setting. A good gaming article has all of the details that are neccessary to get a good game running without anything irrelevent. Writing is like people: Leaner is healthier. Trim that fat.
You know I'd honestly I might take this post and commentary a bit more seriously than I am if it were posted to us without the use of the leet speech. But because of its style I'd have to say that Ed's, albeit verbose and lengthly, writing is top notch compared to this. Personally I don't see anything wrong with Ed's writing but I also find Shakespeare to be a fairly easy read.
eye ken speel gude 2!
When I thought of entering the "Maiden of Pain" novel contest a few years back, I tried to read an assortment of FR novels as research. I'm not surprised when my entry wasn't selected because I really don't like FR novels. Or Greyhawk novels. Heck, even the Planescape and Birthright novels didn't do it for me, and those are my favorite settings.
It's not Greenwood's writing that turns me off, I just don't like D&D novels. The style that gets published is not one I enjoy.
-Amber S.
I don't particularly like his short stories, and I've never read his novels, but I really like his descriptions of Realms locations. They are very evocative, and full of fun ideas. I use the ones I like and don't use the ones I don't like--perfect! His Volo's Guide books are wonderful.
When I thought of entering the "Maiden of Pain" novel contest a few years back, I tried to read an assortment of FR novels as research. I'm not surprised when my entry wasn't selected because I really don't like FR novels. Or Greyhawk novels. Heck, even the Planescape and Birthright novels didn't do it for me, and those are my favorite settings.
It's not Greenwood's writing that turns me off, I just don't like D&D novels. The style that gets published is not one I enjoy.
-Amber S.
Yes to all of the above, including the contest I didn't win either. :) We'll have to swap ideas someday.
As for Ed's writing style in both short and long form, well, it's hard to argue with someone who invented the most popular fantasy RPG world at the hieght of the hobby and who's got a "Best Of" anthology coming out in a few weeks. Cheers to Ed. Here's hoping we who would like to follow in his footsteps are as successful.
GGG
I'm all for that, GGG. Out of curiousity, did you do anything with what you'd written after you got your "thanks but no thanks" photocopy? I kept writing and finished "my" MoP a few months ago, and just finished revising and de-D&D-ing it with hopes of finding a publisher someday. Just curious...
Also if you want to chat, shoot me an email (medesha@yahoo.com). Or just ping me; I'm usually on AOL Instant Messenger as Mediesha. Note the stupid "i"...I'm still annoyed that someone else took the name Medesha. Bah.
-Amber S.
I'm really glad Ed Greenwood is still writing articles for Dragon. I have always loved his work and hope to see much more of him in print. I fondly remember the old articles in Dragon before the Forgotten Realms came out. I wished I had a DM with that great imagination...I wish I had that great imagination.
When the Realms came out as an official campaign setting I lapped it up like a newborn kitten with a saucer full of warm milk.
Keep it up Mr. Greenwood!!!
*Smiles* I read anything I can that has good ole' Ed Greenwood with his opinions on the FR/D&D world and in spending my time at work (on third shift no less) I happenstanced upon with interview with ED. Its older yes but still portrays a few good sentiments that I think should be highly thought about in D&D both as players and as DM's.
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Castle/2566/ed-interview.htm
Note to DM's. If you think your campaign is going slow there's a section in it where his players took over a DECADE to get to 7 or 9th level. *laughs* Now that's some HARDCORE roleplaying.
-Jason
You know I'd honestly I might take this post and commentary a bit more seriously than I am if it were posted to us without the use of the leet speech. But because of its style I'd have to say that Ed's, albeit verbose and lengthly, writing is top notch compared to this. Personally I don't see anything wrong with Ed's writing but I also find Shakespeare to be a fairly easy read.
Sorry about the l33t writing ^_^. Is this better?