Someone in Germany received the book (it's been released there apparently), and they've posted a very spoiler-heavy thread detailing the fate of Eilistraee, Qilue, Cavatina, the Lady Penitent, and in fact the goodly members of the drow race.
It's possible that it's not true, but it has the ring of what WotC's been doing lately.
If true, I imagine a lot of people (particularly fans of Eilistraee and the "goodly" drow) will be quite angry.
Here at WotC: http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=1038413
I should be getting the book from Amazon in a few days and will be able to confirm if it's true or if it's a spoof (that is, assuming the June 3rd release date is correct for the US).
"Highlights" (very heavy spoilers):
According to the spoiler-poster:
Eilistraee is said to die, as part of her "plan" to transform the good dark elves into brown-skinned elves. She's killed by the Crescent Blade.
Qilue, Cavatina, and the Lady Penitent all die. Qilue's soul is destroyed in the process - as the Lady Penitent kills her.
Corellon shows up, takes up the "fight" apparently for the now brown-skinned elves, but doesn't take Lolth to task on the killing of their children.
Again - I'm just repeating what the spoiler-poster said, I have no verification of these details. They may not be true.
Spotted it Saturday in a Books-A-Million, so June 3rd isn't quite accurate. The store's in Hanover, Maryland, just so you know it's state-side. Didn't pick it up since I have it on order with Amazon, so I can't confirm or deny anything, but I DID spot it.
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Ugh. If it's true of course.
Oh well, I pick and choose canon anyway. Ellistraee will always be the primary elven deity in my homebrew.
EDIT - Here's another spoiler-heavy thread in English.
Someone in Germany received the book (it's been released there apparently), and they've posted a very spoiler-heavy thread detailing the fate of Eilistraee, Qilue, Cavatina, the Lady Penitent, and in fact the goodly members of the drow race.
It's possible that it's not true, but it has the ring of what WotC's been doing lately.
If true, I imagine a lot of people (particularly fans of Eilistraee and the "goodly" drow) will be quite angry.
Here at WotC: http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=1038413
I should be getting the book from Amazon in a few days and will be able to confirm if it's true or if it's a spoof (that is, assuming the June 3rd release date is correct for the US).
"Highlights" (very heavy spoilers):
** spoiler omitted **
Well, I got through it today. Here's the results . . .
What a way to end the trilogy.
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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Wow,
Just. Wow.
I mean after all the work that had been done to defluff the followers of Eilistraee and make them CHAOTIC good DROW to have it all destroyed, poof hurts me.
And of Correllian really takes a "sucks to be them" attitude to his childrens' deaths.
I've loved Lisa Smedman's work. This is the one I'm going to have to pass on, since I don't think even the quality of her work can save that plot and pacing.
Wow,
Just. Wow.
I mean after all the work that had been done to defluff the followers of Eilistraee and make them CHAOTIC good DROW to have it all destroyed, poof hurts me.
And of Correllian really takes a "sucks to be them" attitude to his childrens' deaths.
I've loved Lisa Smedman's work. This is the one I'm going to have to pass on, since I don't think even the quality of her work can save that plot and pacing.
Don't take my post as the authority on the pacing. It's just the way I put it together. All the key events occur near the end, true, but the buildup isn't bad.
Still don't like the result, though.
Just finished up Storms of the Dead yesterday and I didn't like some of the hints from that book as to the direction things were headed. Now, in this thread, I see some of my fears realized.
Why do this? Is this a cleaning up of the drow pantheon for 4E? If so, my future FR fiction purchases are going to be slim to none. I'm just not interested in the direction they're going, story-wise...
Well, I got through it today. Here's the results . . .
Thanks Lathiira, for letting us know. No kidding... what a way to end the trilogy. :(
I've loved Lisa Smedman's work. This is the one I'm going to have to pass on, since I don't think even the quality of her work can save that plot and pacing.
I know, I love Lisa Smedman's work too. She probably was told to write in specific plot points in the 4E effort, so I don't blame her one bit. But it's a tragedy that it has to end this way.
Thanks Lathiira, for letting us know. No kidding... what a way to end the trilogy. :(
Well, I got through it today. Here's the results . . .
Sorry about the way this turned out for you, Laeknir.
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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I've loved Lisa Smedman's work. This is the one I'm going to have to pass on, since I don't think even the quality of her work can save that plot and pacing.I know, I love Lisa Smedman's work too. She probably was told to write in specific plot points in the 4E effort, so I don't blame her one bit. But it's a tragedy that it has to end this way.
Oh, I hope I didn't come across as condemning her work sight unseen. I don't think CJ Moore could save this from utter sutpidity.
As to Quile being the 'least favourite' sister. I thought she was the most interesting when written by Ed, Elaine, or Lisa. She's the most alien in mindset, being a Drow, and twice chosen. I was/am hoping to see Ed pen a story where she's torn between her goddesses. (Like, Mystra wants the big magical artifact destroyed, while Eilestrae sees it as the redemption of the drow)
Ugh, just Ugh, the fantasy campaign that really snatched me up for D&D seems to be going horribly downhill. That and they're offing some of my favorite gods. Granted I have little sympathy for any fate that befalls the elves (they shattered the realms after all, they have it coming :-P) but the flavor of my favorite setting is starting to taste foul. Thank the powers that be for Pathfinder.
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Can't say that I am surprised. This is small stuff compared to the spellplague. WotC seems intent on taking the meta-plot exactly where the fans don't want it to go. They want to fire the fans of the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting and all of the novels and RPG products that go with it in the slim hopes that those who don't like the setting will start buying FR stuff like crazy. I say we fire them, and let them do without our disposable income.
Can't say that I am surprised. This is small stuff compared to the spellplague. WotC seems intent on taking the meta-plot exactly where the fans don't want it to go. They want to fire the fans of the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting and all of the novels and RPG products that go with it in the slim hopes that those who don't like the setting will start buying FR stuff like crazy. I say we fire them, and let them do without our disposable income.
You may well be right about this. Up front disclosure: I can't stand FR. I think it's a complete mess. When I heard about the spellplague and the fact they're basically blown up the setting, I thought I might give it a look.
That said, I think WotC has done an extreme disservice to fans of the FR setting. Even though I wasn't one of them, I don't think this is a cool way to treat your customers. So I'm torn on even looking into it because I don't want to support this type of behavior by the company, even though I'd probably like FR a lot better now.
You may well be right about this. Up front disclosure: I can't stand FR. I think it's a complete mess. When I heard about the spellplague and the fact they're basically blown up the setting, I thought I might give it a look.
That said, I think WotC has done an extreme disservice to fans of the FR setting. Even though I wasn't one of them, I don't think this is a cool way to treat your customers. So I'm torn on even looking into it because I don't want to support this type of behavior by the company, even though I'd probably like FR a lot better now.
I think you're absolutely correct, WotC did an extreme disservice to the fans of the FR setting. It was a horrible way to treat their customers, many of whom (like me) have followed the setting and purchased nearly everything FR for over 20 years. Still, I have no doubt that the Warcrafty spin they've put on FR will encourage people to buy it - even if they have no plans to use it. It's a shame, but they'll likely be rewarded for pissing off their customer base for FR.
Still, I have no doubt that the Warcrafty spin they've put on FR will encourage people to buy it - even if they have no plans to use it. It's a shame, but they'll likely be rewarded for pissing off their customer base for FR.
Did they Wowify it? That rules me out of buying any FR products then. I don't know much about the changes except vaguely that spellplague basically resets the setting and that the loyal customers of FR have a right to be upset about WotC destroying something they've put years of time and money into.
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Did they Wowify it? That rules me out of buying any FR products then. I don't know much about the changes except vaguely that spellplague basically resets the setting and that the loyal customers of FR have a right to be upset about WotC destroying something they've put years of time and money into.
Depends on if you feel the 4E is "wow-like." If so, then you may not like it either. The changes were rather.. harsh. Many NPC's who could not be killed through time alone have been "helped along." Geographic changes are rampant, deities have been slaughtered wholesale or demoted.
I can't claim to be a 20 year collector of the series, but I'm just a couple of books away from a complete 3.x FR collection. I'm... less than enthusiastic about the changes.
Golarion will my new setting of choice once I get my greedy little paws on the new book. But give the FR books a once over, you may like what you see.
Still, I have no doubt that the Warcrafty spin they've put on FR will encourage people to buy it - even if they have no plans to use it. It's a shame, but they'll likely be rewarded for pissing off their customer base for FR.Did they Wowify it? That rules me out of buying any FR products then. I don't know much about the changes except vaguely that spellplague basically resets the setting and that the loyal customers of FR have a right to be upset about WotC destroying something they've put years of time and money into.
Yes, they certainly did WoW-ify it, although much of the Wow-ness relates to 4E and not just the Realms setting. That said, 4E FR will have floating island chunks in various regions (far more than the floating inverted mountains used by Netheril). One area has had its mountains replaced with glass mountains (so say reports). One entire region has supposedly been entirely replaced with new terrain and all new inhabitants (dragon-born, or walking dragon-men), with the old nation transposed to another planet (and apparently gone forever). Some nations have been blown up (Halruaa), and others untouched, by a tremendous armageddon-level event where the goddess of magic was killed (and her energies exploded all throughout the planes, re-ordering and destroying many things); and there will be no god or goddess of magic in the new era. Those kinds of things. Oh, and they advanced the timeline 100 years so to make sure everyone's PC characters (and pesky NPCs, since there were too many "named" NPCs to keep track of) are all dead now - and there will be no rules to play through that 100-year time period, but there will be handy time portals if you absolutely *must* translate your PC into the new statting system.
More generally, magic has been re-done generally in 4E, such that one has "encounter" powers, "daily" powers, and "any time you want" powers (true of all characters, not just magic). Mages lost a lot of their versatility and have become "controllers" where certain powers are expected to be used in fights (like, "use your area-of-effect power NOW"), but other drastic changes to other classes have re-defined their roles also. Fights have been re-ordered into WoW-like "boss" fights (who may or may not have lots of minions, like dozens of skeletons)... but have no fear, "controller" role characters can use their AoE powers on such minions (assuming they're rounded up appropriately) and destroyed instantly - because minions have 1 hp. And magic items are all pretty much level-dependent or you can't use them.
Have I left anything out? Probably... It's all very, very different.
-Yeah as someone who loves the Realms. I could really care less about the 4Gotten Realms. I am watching what is going on with a morbid curiosity. Its like rubber necking a car wreck on the highway.
True that... a really long, drawn out car wreck that takes place over weeks rather than seconds. And poor Rich Baker is getting the brunt of the fans' displeasure.
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32
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Just... amazing. Just absolutely amazing. So all the "good drow" now get heavy brown skin? Wow, that is offensive on so many levels, that is not even funny anymore.
Sure, it makes "Black skin? Pointy Eary? Nuke it!" more valid than before. But honestly, at least some chance of ambiguity - coupled with the fact that usually, that chance was not taken - made for a more interesting setup. I think they just wasted a lot of potential for a stricter return to "color coded for your convenience". Not that i necessarily liked Eilistraee - too much fanboy-pleasing nudity cult. But i would certainly have hoped they take a different route than that.
I thought that the second book in that line was dumb (I mean, if you could kill a god with a spell that erased his name from all memory, I'm sure the elves would have come up with that thing about 25000 years before - and they wouldn't have hesitated using it on everyone they didn't like too much, i.e. everyone except most of the Seldarine. The elves have never shown restraint with their high magic.), but this takes the cake. Very 4e-Realms.
In a way I'm glad, though: It makes my complete abandonment of everything wizards/hasbro only easier (since I used to collect the FR novels and have all of them up until around that drizzt book).
Did I say "Hooray for Golarion" yet today? Well, never hurts to say it again!
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True that... a really long, drawn out car wreck that takes place over weeks rather than seconds. And poor Rich Baker is getting the brunt of the fans' displeasure.-Yeah as someone who loves the Realms. I could really care less about the 4Gotten Realms. I am watching what is going on with a morbid curiosity. Its like rubber necking a car wreck on the highway.
You want me to feel sorry for Richard Baker? Sorry. That's not going to happen. He has shown absolutely no remorse for being the chief achitect of the destruction of the Realms. I know he's not the only one to bring the spellplague about, but he was very antagonistic to the fans that expressed their displeasure for what they are doing to the Realms. The arrogance he has shown is very unprofessional and fills me wiht disgust.
You want me to feel sorry for Richard Baker? Sorry. That's not going to happen. He has shown absolutely no remorse for being the chief achitect of the destruction of the Realms. I know he's not the only one to bring the spellplague about, but he was very antagonistic to the fans that expressed their displeasure for what they are doing to the Realms. The arrogance he has shown is very unprofessional and fills me wiht disgust.
Technically, I think Chris Perkins is responsible for the team that made all of these changes, and Rich Baker was only one of the major players. That doesn't absolve him of responsibility, but it does shift it.
At least you guys got a novel and some campaign books out of the deal, even if it isn't what you ultimately wanted.
Dark Sun has been my favourite setting for years and years, and the last thing I got for it was a couple of crappy Dragon and Dungeon articles. Not only did those articles go against almost EVERYTHING that made Athas different, they also advanced the timeline as well (can't remember how long).
I can't remember who wrote the articles, but Paizo published them and edited them (IIRC), so its not just WotC that has done this kind of thing before. And I'm not trying to defend WotC, I'm just saying that even the best companies (like Paizo) can make mistakes at times and they can't please everybody.
So...This means that Drizz't DoUrden is now brown? WTF!
All in all, I knew that this book was going to piss me off. I just had no idea that it was going to be to this extent. This whole thing has been a joke.
Damn, I hope this doesn't mean bad things for the last book of the Twightlight War Trilogy.
You and me both. Since the end of that trilogy will most likely be the last FR book I buy. (And even then I'm thinking about buying it used on Amazon so that WotC isn't getting any more money out of me.)
Creative Director
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At least you guys got a novel and some campaign books out of the deal, even if it isn't what you ultimately wanted.
Dark Sun has been my favourite setting for years and years, and the last thing I got for it was a couple of crappy Dragon and Dungeon articles. Not only did those articles go against almost EVERYTHING that made Athas different, they also advanced the timeline as well (can't remember how long).
I can't remember who wrote the articles, but Paizo published them and edited them (IIRC), so its not just WotC that has done this kind of thing before. And I'm not trying to defend WotC, I'm just saying that even the best companies (like Paizo) can make mistakes at times and they can't please everybody.
Interesting that you brought that up. When we ran the Dark Sun material in Dragon and Dungeon, the fan reaction was INCREDIBLY educational to me. The content we ran in Dungeon was, I felt, less disruptive than the content we ran in Dragon, and the adventure and monsters and gazetteer were done in the spirit of the setting. But the Dragon half of things was, in my opinion, a failure as a conversion of a setting. Yet at the same point, it was incredibly educational and informative to me, at least, and proved to me that if you're going to do something with an established setting... do it for the fans. Don't use it as an attempt to win MORE fans into the setting by turning it into something it's not. You'd be wiser to spend your efforts and resources just letting the old setting go and focusing your energy on creating a NEW setting that plays to the strengths and needs of what you want to do.
I'm so glad I no longer read WotC novels or any of the 4E gaming crap they've published since they've announced their conversion to their latest edition. The Forgotten Realms looks like a dragon and its treasure tash after its been slain, gutted for spell components, and looted.
Wizards, you've lost a customer. Hi Paizo. Like my money?
Interesting that you brought that up. When we ran the Dark Sun material in Dragon and Dungeon, the fan reaction was INCREDIBLY educational to me. The content we ran in Dungeon was, I felt, less disruptive than the content we ran in Dragon, and the adventure and monsters and gazetteer were done in the spirit of the setting. But the Dragon half of things was, in my opinion, a failure as a conversion of a setting. Yet at the same point, it was incredibly educational and informative to me, at least, and proved to me that if you're going to do something with an established setting... do it for the fans. Don't use it as an attempt to win MORE fans into the setting by turning it into something it's not. You'd be wiser to spend your efforts and resources just letting the old setting go and focusing your energy on creating a NEW setting that plays to the strengths and needs of what you want to do.
Thanks for the reply James. As a previous subscriber to those magazines I did get a good opportunity to read them through and I agree that the Dungeon stuff was a lot better than the Dragon articles.
And I am definately in agreement that a game company needs to treat campaign settings, old or new, with a great deal of care. WotC clearly hasn't done this with FR, but I know next to nothing about that setting so I won't proceed any further into that. I was kinda shocked when I saw the Dark Sun articles but ultimately, there were some good parts that I could take away for use in my 3.5 Dark Sun games. Perhaps the Realms fans can do the same with these new products?
I'm also a very picky reader when it comes to fantasy novels, and besides the Dark Sun novels (which were good for their time) I've been reading George R. R. Martin, Glen Cook, and Robert E. Howard almost exclusively. Salvatore isn't bad, but his books are a tad on the predictable side.
I've been reading George R. R. Martin, Glen Cook, and Robert E. Howard almost exclusively. Salvatore isn't bad, but his books are a tad on the predictable side.
If you're reading these you need to pick up Steven Erikson's books. Gardens of the Moon is the first one, I think.
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Technically, I think Chris Perkins is responsible for the team that made all of these changes, and Rich Baker was only one of the major players. That doesn't absolve him of responsibility, but it does shift it.
-Chris Perkins MUST be stopped. Rich has been fielding alot of questions on the ASK THREAD. Now its one big Troll hangout.
18DELTA
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Creative Director
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Thanks for the reply James. As a previous subscriber to those magazines I did get a good opportunity to read them through and I agree that the Dungeon stuff was a lot better than the Dragon articles.
And I am definately in agreement that a game company needs to treat campaign settings, old or new, with a great deal of care. WotC clearly hasn't done this with FR, but I know next to nothing about that setting so I won't proceed any further into that. I was kinda shocked when I saw the Dark Sun articles but ultimately, there were some good parts that I could take away for use in my 3.5 Dark Sun games. Perhaps the Realms fans can do the same with these new products?
Thanks! The whole Dark Sun fiasco is actually an excellent example of how two different editors working on two different magazines can influence similar topics into vastly different ways. All of the Dark Sun material was written by the same author, so this is an interesting example of how the editorial process works. Sometimes, the editors have to take risks and make predictions on what the readers want, and sometimes the choices they make end up being the wrong ones. As long as those choices don't sink the proverbial ship, they're great learning experiences at the very least. And again, I'm absolutely not trying to cast blame at Dragon's Editor-in-Chief at the time (who was then and remains today one of my best friends); being there at the time the decisions were being made... they DID seem to be the right ones. The goal was to try to make Dark Sun more of a place where ANYONE who likes D&D can play, rather than just a place where Dark Sun fans can play. What I learned from that is, basically, while Dark Sun uses the D&D engine, it's not D&D. D&D fans HAVE their settings. Dark Sun fans just have Dark Sun, so it makes no sense to try to make it into a place for everyone.
As for the new 4th Edition incarnation of the Forgotten Realms... I'm a pretty huge FR fan, and it's frustrating to me to see what I think are the same tactical errors we made with Dark Sun being repeated with the Forgotten Realms. Time will tell, of course, if those choices were right or wrong, but my gut tells me that fans of the Forgotten Realms are fans BECAUSE of the various elements that make it different from the rest of D&D. Rebuilding the Forgotten Realms to appease those who aren't fans seems backwards and self-destructive. But then again... Eilistraee is (I won't say was!) my favorite FR deity, so what do I know?
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Just... amazing. Just absolutely amazing. So all the "good drow" now get heavy brown skin? Wow, that is offensive on so many levels, that is not even funny anymore.
I agree.
Its worse actually..
Here's a quote from the Candlekeep Forum
4.The idea that the dark elves were originally brown, not black, seems offensive to me. It's like, ”while we were good we were brown, but when we got cursed and became evil we became black”. I hope the Reverend Jeremiah Wright doesn't hear about that gem...
Is Don Imus a consultant?
I wasn't happy with the Realms as it was, but this has all struck me as going in exactly the wrong direction to go with it.
(Of course, what I would have had them do is reset the campaign setting clock to 1357 DR and prohibited timeline advancement in either RPG products or novels. RPG products would then all detail the world of 1357 DR, while novels could be set at any time prior to that date. And all non-core Realms material -- the Old Empires, Zakhara, Maztica, and Kara-Tur -- would have been subject to radical revision, not least by making the Faerunian Pantheon global.)
(Yes, I can hear all your screams.)
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Elves, color coded for your convenience. Will Drizzt also become brown? You know, a marketing ploy could also be part of it, by the elves getting a human racial color they are now able to make a Drizzt movie without putting too much in make up or cgi. Drizzt can now be played by .... Wesley Snipes :p
Blade 5: Drizzt's Legacy
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32
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Something just occurred to me regarding "Brown nonevil Drow." If this is really Corellons doing, he just graduated from "Heartless Bastard" to "Just plain stupid".
So Drow who start abandoning their racially-mandated cruelty and evil now start changing color? So anyone in their vicinity who has any doubts whatsover can just light a match and check? Well, it makes for less converts. But this can't really be how they spin this, right? I mean... i would not put much past them anymore. Please tell me there is another explanation.
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I've been reading George R. R. Martin, Glen Cook, and Robert E. Howard almost exclusively. Salvatore isn't bad, but his books are a tad on the predictable side.If you're reading these you need to pick up Steven Erikson's books. Gardens of the Moon is the first one, I think.
Steerpike is right. Steven Eriksons "Malazan Book of the Fallen" series reads like the lovechild of A Song of ice and Fire and The Black Company books.
Grim and Gritty military Fantasy with lots of High Magic. A cast of thousands. Beloved Characters die frequently. A deep, well thought out history that slowly unveils throughout the books. A plot that will span 10 books (and no more than 10 books!).As much as I love G.R.R. Martin, in contrast to him, Steven Erikson delivers the Books on time and not 1-2 years later.
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32
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Don't take my post as the authority on the pacing. It's just the way I put it together. All the key events occur near the end, true, but the buildup isn't bad.
Still don't like the result, though.
That just sucks to the extreme... I was annoyed no end when Drow Gods started dropping like flies so this is just wrong on so many levels.
I'm so glad I no longer read WotC novels.
Wizards, you've lost a customer. Hi Paizo. Like my money?
I agree. I've got a lot of TSR/WotC D&D Novels, some good , some bad, but this whole way they are taking things is very unappealing to me. I am gonna finish up the couple of FR Trilogies I am reading (Drow, Undead & Empyrian Odyssey) and then I'm done unfortunately. I will probably cave and get the next Drizzt Trilogy, but if I am unhappy with that, it will be my last I'm afraid.
Paizo, you really need to start doing some Pathfinder Novels now to pick up the slack left by Wizards. I hear Mike has some freelancing time on his hands now. I would be mega keen for a McArtor Pathfinder Novel. ;)
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So...This means that Drizz't DoUrden is now brown? WTF!
How now brown Drow?
Anywho, I was the worst ever Realms fanboi, dragging my gaming group into the setting when Ed was still writing articles in Dragon magazine like 'The Merry month of... Mirtul?' and the Dales region was the only part of the Realms even mapped out (and scantily at that).
Kicking and screaming I dragged them from Greyhawk, and they humored me. Then the Time of Troubles came along, and with the reboot, I found that the writers were no longer supporting some fairly notable chunks of the Realms I was using (the priesthood of Lleira were major patrons to my adventuring party, sponsoring them on an endless series of seemingly-nonsensical quests, as suggested by Ed in one of his write-ups of Waterdeep).
I lost the fire to play in the setting after that metaplot-heavy upheavel, which, in retrospect, was chickenfeed compared to what today's Realms fans have to deal with, and my gaming group, with nary an 'I told you so,' welcomed me back to Greyhawk-centric gaming (interrupted by the occasional Al-Qadim, Spelljammer, Dragonlance and / or Kara-Tur set campaigns.)
I feel bad for this generation of Realms fans.
I may not love every single part of the Realms, and there are chunks I would like to take a flamethrower to, but, typically, those are the parts WotC has chosen to KEEP, while tossing out a fair number of babies amongst the bathwater.
if you're going to do something with an established setting... do it for the fans. Don't use it as an attempt to win MORE fans into the setting by turning it into something it's not. You'd be wiser to spend your efforts and resources just letting the old setting go and focusing your energy on creating a NEW setting that plays to the strengths and needs of what you want to do.
Good lesson. If only wizards had enrolled.
What I learned from that is, basically, while Dark Sun uses the D&D engine, it's not D&D. D&D fans HAVE their settings. Dark Sun fans just have Dark Sun, so it makes no sense to try to make it into a place for everyone.
Exactly. While I never got into Dark Sun, I absolutely agree with the sentiment
but my gut tells me that fans of the Forgotten Realms are fans BECAUSE of the various elements that make it different from the rest of D&D. Rebuilding the Forgotten Realms to appease those who aren't fans seems backwards and self-destructive.
I was a FR fan and I can confirm that in my case, this is true. Instead of making something new and staying loyal to their fans, they did it bass ackwards and made the Realm 100% Vanilla 4e so more new people would buy into it.
The problem is that the Realms were pretty unique in a lot of ways, but not any more. While those who didn't like those parts could have easily been satisfied with another setting, those who loved them now have nothing.
But then again... Eilistraee is (I won't say was!) my favorite FR deity, so what do I know?
Vhaeraun here, so it's pretty close (them being Twins and all that).
I think they've fired a lot of loyal and free-spending actual fans in order to get some potential fans who might be as loose with their wallet or very minimalistic in their spending.
I might remember things wrong, or see them in the wrong context, but I think that the serious spenders and collectors usually contribute the bulk of the profit, despite being a minority (Lisa mentioned a study she commisioned when she worked at WotC).
Driving these people off to get new fans, who might find that they don't like the new stuff after all, or who will only buy core material, or who won't bother with reading novels, seems not like a smart move to me.