Book Ideas, Anyone?

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So, I have been toying around with a novel idea for a while now, but I wanted some input as to what people would like to see in it. I also am having creative difficulties.

Anyways, I want to do a book about the Duergar, mostly because noone else has (that I know about). The problem is, I don't want this to be some kind of Drizzt ripoff - so what kinds of things would you all like to see in a new character?? Maybe more of a struggle with internal evil, or an evil character struggling with internal good (hmm - could be interesting).

[ November 03, 2002, 10:59: Message edited by: Taluntain ]

 

That depends where it is set. Make up a new world and have the story of why the duergar and the dwarves fought, seperated ect. That way there is no possibility of a Drizzt rip-off.

 

I have one, and since I'll probably never find the time to sit down and write it...I'll let you in on my idea:

Write something from an Orc or Goblin or Troll point of view. Or from the point of view of some powerful monster like a dragon or something.

I've always thought it is cool to see it from the other guys perspective!

Plus, if I ever write a book it will be about the Roman Army during the time of Trajan or Augustus.

 

You know, the orc idea had crossed my mind - maybe give "their side of life"... Not bad - I think that I will play around with that one.

 

The evil side has been portrayed in a book about dracoians set in the DragonLance series

 

About your duergar, maybe making him evil, but either too evil to fit in, in Duergar society, or not evil enough...ie he zealously goes out and hacks svirfneblin to bits, but detests the thought of slavery, or torture, etc.
Or maybe make him live in a Duergar city that's gone good, and he wants to make it normal (ie. evil).
If you want to read a book written from the bad guys' perspective, to get some ideas maybe? read "Crucible: the Trial of Cyric the Mad" by Troy Denning. But beware for bad writing...(Troy Denning is not, IMO, a good author).

 

Thanks - I read The Trial of Cyric... a few months ago, and it did give me some ideas - although the history of the dwarves sounds cool too.

 

You're gonna dedicate the book to Sorcerers' Place, right?

Do you really think that Duergar see themselves as evil? Like Nazi Germany, my guess would be that they have a solid world-view that supports their actions as either "just" or "necessary".

Why not write a book where a Duergar philosopher in Candledeep is trying to explain that worldview to a gathered group of scholars from the other races and lands. Using examples from history, personal experiences and the tenents of his faith, he would try to prove that the Duergar worldview is as valid as any other, and not deserving of the negative stigma attached to it.

 

Consider this link , although the end result may end up in the Dwarven version of Drizzt.

 

A Duergar rebelion, maybe evil dwarves, the remnant of what a group that surrendered to the 'good' duergar after some war and are going to rebel against them, or something.
OK, I've gotta get over my obsession with rebelions

 

Maybe you could write about a duergar clan fighting some other race (other dwarves, svirfneblin, maybe even drow).
I myself have been toying with the idea of writing about a half-orc that hates orcs, and his moral dilemmas.

 

Wow - thanks Math, not too bad - I may have to play around with that one a bit. I have some background info on dwarves and duergar origins (D&D and FR handbooks, etc.) but does anyone know where I might find more??

And oh yes, when this turns into something, SP is absolutely on the dedication, especially anyone who provides "extra helpful" help!!

 

Taluntain is right, you could, however make it about a group of dueger raiders trpped in the surface world.

 

Details, details ....

Why not make the scholar half-duergar ... a duergar could have raped a woman during a raid.

He's in Candledeep studying philosophy, and starts to discover his roots.

Kinda like a dwarven Kunta-Kin-kay!

 

I had an idea about six months ago for a duergar who guided surfacers down to trade with duergar settlements - kind of a black market thing. Anyways, he accidentally interrupts some kind of twisted derro plot against the surface and it kind of goes from there - he is exiled against his will (not like a certain drow we know) and then there would be some internal strife stuff (I never made it that far). Unfortunately, I stopped working on it a while back - little more than a prologue and some intro materiel - and haven't done much since... I think that i like the dwarf/duergar breakup, though. I will play around with some ideas and see what happens.

EDIT: I put a preview in Creativity Surge.

Take a gander...

[ November 10, 2002, 23:32: Message edited by: Falstaff ]