Questions for our Q&A Live Stream with R.A. Salvatore on 9/22 at 5PM PDT!

strumslinger · September 2015

Well met, adventurers! On Tuesday, September 22, R.A. Salvatore, the author of some of the most acclaimed Dungeons & Dragons novels and the creator of Drizzt Do’Urden, will join us for a community live stream!

We're gathering questions to ask him during the stream, so ask away! They don't have to be Neverwinter-centric at all; any questions are welcome.

http://www.arcgames.com/en/games/xbox/neverwinter/news/detail/9555613

Our Q/A is now live with R.A. Salvatore! Come join us here!

kreatyve · September 2015

I asked this on one of his AMA's on Reddit, but he wasn't able to answer the question - so I ask in a different way, Mr. Salvatore, have you seen Jarlaxle in Neverwinter yet, and what do you think of how he looks in the game? Personally, he doesn't match the description I had in my mind from reading your books.

Thank you so much for helping out with the quests for the game, and for also writing the books.

P.S. Would you be willing to play some D&D, maybe be a DM, for an online table top game with me and some friends?

lemonchill · September 2015

here is a question for R.A. Salvatore:

are cryptic giving you all the free creativity and space to actually make something unique for next module?

hopefully this question will not be censored.

p.s loved your work at kingdom of amalur. wonderful action mmo. addictive too

s1lv3rdrgnforum · September 2015

Mr. Salvatore,

The Underdark has pretty much always been your kingdom in the Forgotten Realms, what we imagine and how we approach the setting is largely based on your writing. Neverwinter Online is uniquely in the position to add your heavily influenced content into a graphical setting that allows us to explore the Underdark in far more impactful ways. I have several questions. First, is this the end of the Forgotten Realms? This seems like a crowning achievement for one of FR's most successful authors and the setting itself has gotten declining attention in the past 5-6 years. Is it time for something new? Kingdoms of Amalur didnt quite "breakout" into the same level of success as FR has had for so many years but it was refreshing and was fun to play. Bioware moved on from Neverwinter Nights to create Dragon Age, which they have put a lot of effort into creating a setting much like the Forgotten Realms and it seems to be very successful. (2nd Question) Are Wizards of the Coast and yourself working to create "the next big thing"? (3rd, 4th and 5th Question) Back to the Underdark, how heavily are you influencing the content going into the "Underdark" module? Can Cryptic Software effectively capture your creativity and inspiration in the Neverwinter Online setting? While compromise is almost always a necessity, how much more detailed will this upcoming module be "lore wise" in comparison with the rest of the game?

As a fan of your work for many years, I look forward to experiencing a new story, in a new module for a great game. I hope as a longtime player of Neverwinter that the current economic issues plagueing the game will be overcome and put behind us before the new module is released so that proper attention and focus can be directed at experiencing the content rather than grinding through it in an exausted pursuit of currency.

Good day to you

Unknown · September 2015

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obsiddia · September 2015

As with a lot of people here: "I have all your books!"

Could you please enter the game as Drizzt and play PvP or
a dungeon? Someone somewhere will always remember
fighting with the 'real thing'.

Thank you

iandarksword · September 2015

Hi Bob!
Part of the core Dungeons and Dragons experience is creating your own unique stories and sharing them with others through Role Play. As you may know, Neverwinter is unique for having the Foundry, an editor in which we as players can create adventures for our peers. Being an author and game designer, how important do you feel it is for players to have the capability to share their stories and campaigns with others in an online atmosphere?

bkthomson · September 2015

Question: Has there been a plot or story element you had to abandon based on even too far fetched for your novels or that readers would go ballistic over? If so, would you care to elaborate?

dodgo · September 2015

From the botom of my

Thankyou for writing the books. The have effected my life deeply

1. I heard you were

wizards moved the milleue 100 years into the future and killed off most of yours and ed greenwoods characters. is this true?

2. do you like psionicists? have you ever written about one?

Unknown · September 2015

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yozh8866 · September 2015

Mr. Salvatore,
Greetings and thank you for the hours of pleasure you have provided through your writing.

The idea of morality and comparative morality has always played a central part in your plots. Do you plan to add any ethical questions and aspects to the forthcoming Neverwinter quest line? And can you tell us anything about your forthcoming books?

dragoness10 · September 2015

Considering the claims of so many to be "Do'Urden" or however they wish to misspell it how might you follow this into an explanation of a semi-cult worshipping of the hero, or simply something along the lines of "it's the Dhaerow equivalent of a Mr. Smith"?

Ice Drow and Snow Elves wish to know.

kitkathd · September 2015

As a successful writer, what would you have for advice to someone who is also looking to breakout as a writer and become as well known as you in the fantasy genre?

Unknown · September 2015

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myxmyk · September 2015

Hi Mr. Salvatore

Im one of your million fans here at Philippines. Just wanna ask if there will a Chance that there will be a movie of Drizzt.

Thanks!

hadestemplar · September 2015

Dear R.A. Salvatore>

I wonder, well after u played or watched how game looks like, have u get any inspiration for new novel writing, or even planing to write new chapters for Dungeons & Dragons.
Next question is what character u like most in Dungeon & Dragons, I mean if u had chance to become, which one u would like to be

Best regards SW: Hades

atroxmortis · September 2015

A question for Mr. Salvatore.

But first of the usual fan *SQEEE*

I have read many of your books and continually return for a reread and now that I have found them on Audible as well I can even listen to them while I work double joy there.

Anyhoo. I was wondering, is there a chance we will ever see more to Cadderly and the Bouldershoulder brothers? Oh and Danica and the kids as well

I did so enjoy the Cleric quintet series. Those brothers made me smile ever so much with their crazy, yet awfully efficient orc bashing skills.

Thanks from a fan in Denmark and hope to see more good reads/listens from you in the future.

P.S; Hope there will be a Q&A posted of this as I will likely not be able to attend the actual event due to time zones and all that bugger.

dandare · September 2015

My question will be short, but I'm genuinely interested

In upcoming content for Dungeons and Dragons we can see recurring appearance of Demogorgon. Those who know D&D know him as one of more interestingly looking Lords of Demons. Those who played Baldurs Gate II recall him as one of hardest enemies to slay in a 'fair fight'.

Now: we all know that due to Asmodeus acquiring godhood and pretty much 'taking care' of demons the whole hell suddenly became lawful and for instance: no one in the Neverwinter Online never met a demon.

I always though loved the aspect of neverending Devils vs Demons war and all it was bringing to the story. So with Demogorgon (a Prince of Demons whose aspect is none other than "Demonkind") are we to expect the war in hell to reignite

? And if it happens: could you share with us a little on the story behind ?

With best regards - Little Woodelf Dragonslayer Sylain.

bioshrike · September 2015

Here are my questions:

1. How close is the visual style of Neverwinter to how you imagined the D&D world to look?
2. What challenges does the video game medium pose, vs what you can accomplish in your writings?
3. How much input did you have regarding the specific look of any signature characters/places/items that you created and are being added to Neverwinter?
4. Was it difficult to implement your original characters in such a way that they weren't able to solve a problem/situation on their own, and needed to call on the player character for help?

Thanks!

zebular · September 2015

More of a comment rather than a question:

Thank you for all you have done, Mr. Salvatore, to help bring the imagination of the Realms into existence for fans of the Realms. If it wasn't for Homeland and all your other works pertaining to the Drow and the Underdark, I do not think I would have been so hooked upon the Realms as I am today. While works by Ed Greenwood continue to be my favorite sources of Realms Knowledge (I am a glutton for anything Mystra-related), your works played an integral part in shaping the type of Realms Fan that I am today. Because of your works, the Drow and the Underdark remain some of the most favored aspects of the Realms to me. So, with that, I thank you and look forward to what you have in store for us.

teatew · September 2015

I wont ask about all the nerf's since that is a sore subject but I would like to know if its possible to add a Monk class in the game with feign death as a viable skill, I know we only get a total of 3+2+2 abilities to hot key, 3 encounters, 2 at wills and 2 dailies but wouldn't it be fun to play a monk and do the old dead body flop?

Monks can be all 3 styles, its proven in most games. A healers, dps and even a tank. I know its probably very close to the paladin but paladins use heavy armor and shields/maces, although monks can use maces I think if they studied some sort of kung fu and had an epic questable weapon (okay stealing from my EQ days idea) a weapon that would use a few professionals to make the material and achieve inner peace and create the ultimate fists weapons with ying and yang symbols swirling around

tantivetyrell · September 2015

Have you written for the type of format the Neverwinter Game uses before? And how was it translated to the game?

reiwulf · September 2015

Id love to know if lore and an actual story will be important again for the underdark module. Please make it so we dont run mindless quests and make it so theres a main story that we feel is important to the expansion.

oliboyph · September 2015

Is there an chance of a collaboration with Elain Cunningham for a Drizzt Do'Urden vs. Arilyn Moonblade book?

Unknown · September 2015

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ambisinisterr · September 2015

1. You have stated many times you wish to explore the orgin stories of Jarlaxle and Zaknafein. Have you had any luck talking WotC into giving us both what we want?

2. You left a lot of open ended storylines for Entreri following The Companions. Is there any chance we will see him in a main character role in the near future (perhaps alongside a certain opportunistic drow?

3. We recently discovered the Forgotten Realms is going to be the setting for a higher quality (we hope) D&D movie! Do you know if they are going to do a book translation or if it will be a new story? If it is the lattter do you know if any of the current fan favorite authors have been consulted to write it?

4. Can you believe in less than two weeks it will be 16 years since you killed the walking carpet?

5. Have you been enjoying writing in the realms more since the Sundering? To me it felt like you didn't enjoy writing in the realms after the spellplague until The Companions.

6. Years ago you and others responsible for the licensing worked with Museum Replicas to create Twinkle and Icingdeath replicas. Is this something you think could be done again as many I suspect many, such as myself, are still interested?

7. While we know Cattie-brie is a Chosen of Mielikki the nature of her abilities as a Chosen have been, to me, really unclear. Could you explain what you imagine her powers are at this time and the reasoning for removing her shapeshifting ability during the Sundering?

8. Not that I am a major fan of alignment but if Jack the Gnome's robes are Robes of the Archmagi and are black then why is it that Cattie-Brie is able to seemingly gain the benefits?

9. You have long said First Edition is your favorite Edition. Has Fifth Edition tempted you to change that opinion?

10. Wubba Wubba?

11. Thank you for Jacoby Ellsbury but can you please take Stephen Drew back? (Andy wanted questions so blame him for this one!)

Unknown · September 2015

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ambisinisterr · September 2015

Guys

clonkyo1 said:
- Regis "taking" Entreri's dagger and knew how to "use" it to heal himself by, basically, pure instinct.
- Drizzt magic swords collected while helping Wulfgar fight vs a DRAGON (Which, BTW, were blinded by "orb of darkness" that all drows can cast "for free"... Which is senseless), etc.

I can answer these few examples, actually.

1. First, most weapons are generally simple. It really doesn't take a ton of knowledge to use so more often than not they will work on instinct. To use various effects on command especially for more complicated matters is likely more difficult but depending on the effect it might not even be that unlikely.

So Regis picking up the dagger and stabbing a living creature and likely having "I'm dying" running through his mind could be enough of a trigger as there was never any mention of a physical button or motion to activate the vampiric effect.

2. Drizzt got Icingdeath AFTER the fight with the dragon Icingdeath. He had to break it out of a layer of ice that crusted the dragon's hoard. That asside it is important to remember that the crystal shard was written in 1988 and used first edition rules. I am hardly an expert on first edition but the monster manual says dragons have excellent eyesight but not truesight.

"All dragons see equally well in daylight or darkness (infravision 60'). They have excellent sight, smell and hearing. Because of their keen senses all dragons are able to detect hidden or invisible creatures within a 1" per age level"

As such darkness could have effected the dragon as near as I can tell.

Additionally as far as I know he didn't just decide to grant those racial abilities to drow so it is not like he decided to make them "gods."

deathbeez · September 2015

I hope I can make it with my crazy work schedule.
This guy is a legend.

reiwulf · September 2015

Will we actually meet Drizzt and Artemis? I have no idea if they are supposed to be alive or not.

sabiwen · September 2015

I just finished your new book "Archmage" and was impressed. Being 40 years old, your books make me feel like a kid again every time I read them. Thank you.

What's at the top of the list of stories you haven't gotten to write yet?

Questions for our Q&amp;A Live Stream with R.A. Salvatore on 9/22 at 5PM PDT!

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Questions for our Q&A Live Stream with R.A. Salvatore on 9/22 at 5PM PDT!