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I just finished this the other day, and I must say that, although I LOVE W&H and everything they write, I was a bit disappointed with the outcome of this novel. Now granted, none of this is really that big of a deal, but I would expect more time to be given to editing a book by these two spectacular authors (or any professional author for that matter) and for WotC.
Some of you know me from these boards and know that I worked with Dragonhelm and Rooks on the "War of the Darklance" setting with them; part of that was the editing/proofreading of the work. I'm a big stickler for grammar/spelling and continuity and I expect a higher level of commitment when I pay around $20 for a book (hell, even if I pay $6-$7 for a book). I hate reading along and sentences don't make sense, so you have to go back and decipher what was really supposed to be said because the original sentence was changed but a word or phrase wasn't. This has become more and more evident in almost every Wizards book I've read lately and it's quite horrible IMO.
There were several inconsistencies in the storyline that drove me nuts; there are two that jump to mind right away. First, the fact that Tas gave Rabbitslayer to Tika when she left Skullcap, she uses it to kill the Drac, then later Tas finds it in his pouches, puts it away and then it's gone again. I know it's an enchanted weapon, and Tas can't lose it, but the fact that it returns and then is gone again got me.
Second, when the Thanes were standing there in the Temple awaiting the return of the Hammer - the story reads that there are four Thanes standing there (Hylar, Daewar, Klar, Klar) <-- see the repeat? They use the names of the Thanes for the first three (I know, here I am complaining about an inconsistency, and I don't even have the names of the three guys I'm referring to, sorry) then state "Klar" like it was a name. I went back a few chapters to verify if there could have been four Thanes standing there, but I accounted for everyone and there were only three there - maddening.
Anyway, as I said, these are minor complaints and don't add up to anything to take away from the storyline at all. I love that W&H have gone back to fill us in on some of the "off-screen" story and I loved the book immensely; this stuff was just stuck in my craw and I needed to vent. Thanks, and again, this is just IMO
Theiwar was Realgar
Daeger escapes me too
Aghar was Highbulph (don't know if this was a typo of Highbulp or should have been with the "h")
I remember the thane name shuffle two [I just typed two instead of too ... ugh, long day] ... it did kind of stand out.
edit 2: btw, I got mine free ... at the public library
Wasnt the Hylar's name Hornfel?
Yes, thanks, looked it up this weenend.
edit 2: btw, I got mine free ... at the public library
Yeah, but I collect the DL books, so it doesn't behoove me to check them out and return them. I'm a bit obsessed with the collecting, actually (but not as bad as Brimstone, whom I haven't seen around here in a while, anyone heard from him?).
Yeah, but I collect the DL books, so it doesn't behoove me to check them out and return them. I'm a bit obsessed with the collecting, actually (but not as bad as Brimstone, whom I haven't seen around here in a while, anyone heard from him?).
We all hang out over on Dragonlanceforums.com, Rath.
Cheers,
Cam
I noticed those two as well ... I wonder if the return of rabbit slayer was author fiat vs game mechanics (b/c if you read the dagger's stats, willfully giving it away is the only way to get 'rid' of it ... iirc).
Margaret has basically said that Rabbitslayer will always return to Tas. I know that slightly contradicts with prior gaming materials, but the way I view it is that Rabbitslayer formed such a strong bond with Tas that it always comes back to him. Either that, or the dagger knew that it was on loan. ;)
Yeah, but I collect the DL books, so it doesn't behoove me to check them out and return them. I'm a bit obsessed with the collecting, actually (but not as bad as Brimstone, whom I haven't seen around here in a while, anyone heard from him?).
Brim has been pretty busy of late with his work. He tends to only post here and not on the DL Forums that much. Easier to keep up on, according to him.
How ya been doin', my man?
How ya been doin', my man?
Pretty much the same, busy at work and with the kiddo/family, she's already almost 1 1/2; time flies. Thanks for asking. :D
Guess I need to give you and Brim a call so we can all catch up. Talk to you soon.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wolf72
I noticed those two as well ... I wonder if the return of rabbit slayer was author fiat vs game mechanics (b/c if you read the dagger's stats, willfully giving it away is the only way to get 'rid' of it ... iirc).
Margaret has basically said that Rabbitslayer will always return to Tas. I know that slightly contradicts with prior gaming materials, but the way I view it is that Rabbitslayer formed such a strong bond with Tas that it always comes back to him. Either that, or the dagger knew that it was on loan.
One could always say that the dagger is an intellegent magical item even though according to game stats it isn't.
Originally posted by dragonhelm
One could always say that the dagger is an intellegent magical item even though according to game stats it isn't.
so basically because the author/dm said so ... I'm cool with that (those were the days, DM's had near absolute authority to change what they wanted).
Rath: I know the hurt on that ... I ended up mailing home 4 rather large boxes of books when I got out of the army ... and two more in my car. After that I realized I had no where to store them and the used book store became my friend.
...(those were the days, DM's had near absolute authority to change what they wanted)...
Wait... When did they stop having that? I never got the memo. ;)
Rath: I know the hurt on that ... I ended up mailing home 4 rather large boxes of books when I got out of the army ... and two more in my car. After that I realized I had no where to store them and the used book store became my friend.
Yeah, I thought I had a lot when I moved from Philly to Texas (Navy transfer, it's amazing what you find when the military moves you LOLOL); but then we moved to a new house back in February and I couldn't believe the amount of books I'd collected in 6 years at the last house. I've got a chest full of books, 2 book cases (paperbacks stacked two deep on the shelves) and at least 2 large boxes full of DL and FR books. I've since cut back on FR, but will probably never stop with DL (that would be a sin).
Wait... When did they stop having that? I never got the memo. ;)
*wolf passes cv a note with some paw prints on it*
[translate]now everything can be found online and people are more informed ... ignorant players can be the best[/translate]
[translate]now everything can be found online and people are more informed ... ignorant players can be the best[/translate]
*looks around to make sure nobody's looking, scrawls on the other side of the note*
I guess you need to get creative. Half our gaming group occasionally GM, or have GMed, so it would have been the same problem in previous editions. You just can't rely on monster capabilities surprising the players to be the root of the game's fun.
Or, you can just change the monsters. Either way.
Wait... When did they stop having that? I never got the memo.
What you don't have the 3.5 PHB, DMG, MM?
Back in the day dms pretty much just made stuff up, rules, monsters treasure. With the way D&D (and rpgs in general) are today there is a rule somewhere for just about everything and the player who knows where to find it.
Back in the day dms pretty much just made stuff up, rules, monsters treasure. With the way D&D (and rpgs in general) are today there is a rule somewhere for just about everything and the player who knows where to find it.
Clark's point is that there are still DMs that don't necessarily need a rule for everything. He and I both run our D&D campaigns fairly fast and loose. I make sure that nobody gets gypped on their character sheet for choosing something for which a rule does exist and for which their character has been designed to make use of, but despite the sheer amount of rules content in my brain, I would say I only use about 30% of it at the gaming table.
Cheers,
Cam
*looks around to make sure nobody's looking, scrawls on the other side of the note*
I guess you need to get creative. Half our gaming group occasionally GM, or have GMed, so it would have been the same problem in previous editions. You just can't rely on monster capabilities surprising the players to be the root of the game's fun.
Or, you can just change the monsters. Either way.
to true ... I read to much on the boards and am probably having a reaction to some of the topics.
(My group is all in their 30's now ... and we've gotten to the point where we just listen to the DM anyway ... and we have problems staying awake past 10pm
)Editing wasn't the best, which was a change from prior MW/TH novels. Moreso than usual, I found the use of the English language a bit, um, tedious. It reminded me of Gary Gygax and his bizarre use of the language that can make reading frustrating. Plain english please! I don't need to know how great of an author you are.
Both of those points I can get over. But the thing I absolutely grew to loathe by the end of the story was the whole "digging your nails into your palms" thing. First it was Tika, then it was someone else, then it was Raistlin, then it was one of the draconians. C'mon, enough already! I dunno which one of the authors does this in real life, but it's not common and every other character doesn't need to do it. Find another way to express apprehension/anger/frustration/whatever.
If the Chronicles gets 5 stars out of 5, Dwarven Depths gets a solid 3. I'm more looking forward to the next book b/c I always felt shortchanged that the events in Icewall weren't described.
Hey, does anybody know if "Dragons of the Dwarven Depths" is out in paperback yet? I want to get it, but all my other DragonLance books are in paperback, and I'm very **** retentive (I know that sounds funny). Thanks!
Due out in May, here's the link to Amazon...
Dwarven Depths in paperback
The next book is scheduled for release in July isnt it?
Yes, I believe Dragons of yje Highlord Skies is due in July, just like Dragons of the Hourglass Mage will be out in July 2008
The next book is scheduled for release in July isnt it?
Yes, just to confirm LR's post, July 10th to be exact.