Post/Author/DateTime	Post
KDSN 11-07-05, 05:56 AM	In my gaming group Im the player that has played the longest. I remember 2nd edition FR. Oh the wonders of Undermountain. When I ran my own campaign, I ran it horribly, I admitt. I devoured the books like anyone. But now in the age of Eberron I want to show my players what makes FR so unique. Honestly, it has been so long Im forgetting myself. So basically Im asking what are the essential elements that make a good FR campaign? What are the elements that define FR? What does every FR campaign require to be FR? I'll start. 1. I believe an essential element of FR was the Pantheon. There were so many unique and wonderful dieties. They are always meddling in the affairs of mortals and people in the world are devoted to thier dieties path. Religions are everywhere in FR.
Braean"Tindertwig"Kulenov 11-07-05, 09:48 AM	One thing I'd say for one is the amount of literature out there on the happenings of Faerun wrote by some good authors and not so hot authors. This builds a history that is unsurpassed by other campaign books out there (with some of the exceptions of Dragon Lance). But in game mechanics form, I'd have to say the diversity in the races helps alot. Where something like greyhawk may have 2 or so of every race, FR has like 6 for each race making for some interesting characters. The weave makes FR essential since its a different idea of how spellcasting works that gives FR that original feel. If i didnt have class soon id probably think up a dozen of essentials for ya. And on a final note, I've been playing for a long time too and also remember the 2nd edition FR and the haphazards Ive had in game design over the last 13 years.
theAlastorian 11-07-05, 12:52 PM	Ed and Bob. That's what makes FR FR for me. ^^ Seriously though, the Realms are all about cultural diversity and historical fullness. No other setting has ever come close to the depth of history that FR has. Not even Dragonlance has as much.
KDSN 11-08-05, 12:32 AM	Those are excellent points. I guess the root of my question is how do you portrait these elements of the Realms to players who have absolutely no experience in the Realms?
Majorafire77 11-08-05, 03:19 PM	While I use FR for my high-fantasy fix, I must say that compared to Eberron (my primary setting), I don't think that FR has anything really unique. Many campaign settings have many gods like FR does; the fact that FR has a lot of history is simply because it's been out for a long time (just like DL, if I may add). FR may be a good setting, but it's not unique, and there are some major problems with it (which I won't get into here for now).
Deep Dragon 11-14-05, 05:27 PM	#2: The relation of Fantasy locales to their real life counterparts (whether designed that way on purpose or not) adds a flavor to the FR and helps in RPing in each different region of Faerun ex: Cormyr = France Moonshaes = Celts N Moonshaes = Vikings Rashemen = Russia Mulhorand = Egypt Damara = Holy Roman Germany etc
KDSN 12-03-05, 01:22 AM	#2: The relation of Fantasy locales to their real life counterparts (whether designed that way on purpose or not) adds a flavor to the FR and helps in RPing in each different region of Faerun ex: Cormyr = France Moonshaes = Celts N Moonshaes = Vikings Rashemen = Russia Mulhorand = Egypt Damara = Holy Roman Germany etc I never really actually realized they were that close. But now that I think about it is true. That would be a good idea from a campaign in the realms basing it of these coutries historical relationships.
Tseramed 12-03-05, 02:59 PM	I started DMing a game for 3 players who never played in the Forgotten Realms ( let alone D&D itself) and two whom I played a lot before with. I must admit it's quite hard to define the exclusivity of the realms of makes them so unique. I like the races system and my players were bright enough to use it in a good way and they are starting to understand the meaning of the races and how to role play them etc. In every game I play with them I try to make them feel the history and I almost always have something happening that they hear about while they are adventuring. The many personalities of the realms are pretty important for me. Just check out the villains, Manshoon, Fzoul, Halaster etc... and the good ones, Elminster, The simbul, Storm Silverhand etc... They give a savor to the realms and make the setting lively. Probably another point that I like is that you have just everything you are looking for in the Forgotten realms. Want medieval fantastic classic adventure? Dalelands or Cormyr. Want some bronze age, egyptian style action? Mulhorand is for you. Want some exotic locations and strange foe to battle? Chult or Maztica. Looking for a technological approach? Lantan or meabe Halruaa. ( why not an airship battle between lantan and Halruaa? that would be something to remember).
Shike 12-06-05, 10:54 PM	I'd have to say I like the fact that there is mountains of information about the realms. Some may call me un-creative, Me, I don't have the time to create my own world. I like the mechanics, and I like the "Feel" that the realms information brings.
Jandar the Druid 12-07-05, 09:24 AM	I'd have to say I like the fact that there is mountains of information about the realms. Some may call me un-creative, Me, I don't have the time to create my own world. I like the mechanics, and I like the "Feel" that the realms information brings. Even when being creative in the realms it's good to have all that information. With as much background material as it is, it's easy to go even deeper in your own creations, and create the feeling of FR in them too.
Muddman 12-07-05, 11:21 PM	While I use FR for my high-fantasy fix, I must say that compared to Eberron (my primary setting), I don't think that FR has anything really unique. Many campaign settings have many gods like FR does; the fact that FR has a lot of history is simply because it's been out for a long time (just like DL, if I may add). FR may be a good setting, but it's not unique, and there are some major problems with it (which I won't get into here for now). Hey, I like Eberron as much as the next guy but don't hate on FR. It came up with the entire drow society, a myriad of memorable NPCs (I can't name one memorable Eberron NPC and I've been playing it for 6 months!) and easily the best series of story lines in any D+D campaign world. I like DL, but I never liked it as a game world. In fact it stunk as a game world. Keeping track of the moons, limiting magic to crippling levels and dragons every 10 feet didn't help either. Some of the NPCs were cool, but the kender were annoying as anything I've seen in D+D I like Eberron, got alot going for it, very new and very fresh (and the best monster additions since 3.5 came out, they put it all together really well!), but time will tell if its a long lasting product. One thing that bothers the heck out of me is that they have all these things that are easily epic in stature (lightning rails, living constructs, Mountains the size of everest shaped to be portraits) but it makes it very clear that once you're tenth level you're about the strongest guy on the block? Too much of a contradiction there (sorry, I'm a crappy speller) Eberron is also not varied enough for my taste, FR's got a little bit of everything, from EL 1/2 to EL 42 with all sorts of flavors in between: celtic, french, egyption, even some oriental with Kara-tur so nearby. Just my opinion
GothicDan 12-08-05, 12:16 AM	I like the fact that Faerun and its cultures evolved independently from real-life counterparts, and that any similarities drawn between Faerunian cultures/cities/etc. with real-life ones are merely coincidence. No matter what anyone else thinks. ;)
BrianCritchley 12-08-05, 01:22 AM	I like the fact that Faerun and its cultures evolved independently from real-life counterparts, and that any similarities drawn between Faerunian cultures/cities/etc. with real-life ones are merely coincidence. No matter what anyone else thinks. ;) Agreed GD, people who go out of their way to define a nation or region as being equal to a real nation annoy me. it's especially bad when the WRITERS buy this clap trap and begin to activly take that mentality towards said nation. and no I've not seen any FR writers do that, but I have seen it happen in other P&P game worlds.
Jandar the Druid 12-08-05, 07:57 AM	Agreed GD, people who go out of their way to define a nation or region as being equal to a real nation annoy me. it's especially bad when the WRITERS buy this clap trap and begin to activly take that mentality towards said nation. and no I've not seen any FR writers do that, but I have seen it happen in other P&P game worlds. I agree too. The nations in the realms can be compared to the ones in the real world, but they are not the same. Similarities in culture do exist, but most of the Realms nations are too different from the real cultures to be a copy. Deep Dragon mentioned Cormyr as an example for being like France, Rashemen as Russia and Damara as the Holy Roman Germany. I do not agree with these conclusions, and I know many people also disagree with them. (I only use this disagreement as an example, not to start another discussion.) The fact that many people can disagree about wich real-life cultures to compare FR-cultures to shows us that they are not that like at all.
LucyWanabe 12-08-05, 07:57 AM	I've seen it, too. They do something like: Calimshan=Saudi Arabia! Chult=Africa! Amn=Spain! It's easy to do, but I agree that you shouldn't slap real-world labels on the realms. Anyway, I love the realms because of the variety of information available, the many many gods, the high magic, the variety of races to choose from for your characters, and just the sheer massiveness of the setting. You could have an entire campaign that takes place in only one area...ah, but there's more out there! Let's start a new campaign... Always fresh possibilities for new things to crop up. That, and FR is very customizable. Don't like that NPC being the X of Y? Replace him with somebody else. No demigod of Time? Create one! And don't get me started on how you can customize the planes...arrr! :cool:
GothicDan 12-08-05, 09:42 AM	Calimshan=Saudi Arabia! Chult=Africa! Amn=Spain! Calimshan: This is partly true, but that is because Calimshan was settled by genies who brought human slaves with them. Being that genies are tied mythologically with Arabian myths, it would thus be entirely logical for said slaves to have been of such heritage. Cult: How so? The people who live there are simply logically suited to their environment. Certain types of environments biologically and sociologically make the people within them tend towards certain appearances, social structures, etc. Also, there aren't any dinosaurs running around in Africa anymore, and Chult's deities aren't particularly inspired by any specific African ones that I know of. Amn: It only became Spain after TSR forced it to be Spain by introducing Maztica for it to conquer and pillage and subjugate. Otherwise there is nothing about it that links it particularly to Spain culturally or historically. And thanks for your support, Brian and Jandar. In particular, Jandar, I agree with you - I do not see such real-life cultural reflections in particular with those nations you mentioned. If forced to, I could draw analogies between various nations on Faerun and various ones in the real world, existent or vanished, from all over the world. This only goes to show that such a hypothesis is no more valid than trying to purposefully find symbolism in writing that was not meant to contain it.
LucyWanabe 12-08-05, 10:10 AM	I'm not saying that's how they are, I was simply saying that that's how some FR players have viewed those lands. Me, myself, I only say that I like this place or that place in the realms, but don't compare it to something real-world. ;)
sidekick 12-09-05, 07:34 AM	Well, having spent about the 8 years playing and Dming in the FR I've got to say that I love Faerun. The thing I like about it the most is that it is soo easy to DM in. You've got cities, cultures, adventure hooks, NPCs everything meticulously outlined. Its also got enough places that are not so well defined (Cold Lands, the South) that you can play with without feeling sacriligeous. I miss the Realms, however at the moment I'm completely sapped of FR creativity. I'm currently Dming an Eberron campaign and I'm loving exploring the place with my group. [This is in no way an Eberron is better than FR post: they're different and at the moment Eberron is right for me!] The other great thing I love about the Realms is that wherever you look you can find the remnants of the party that created it. Its a developed homebrew - the most famous homebrew in the word! The Knights of Myth Dranor have shaped and influenced a setting in ways I can only hope my group will one day get the opportunity to do! Its got the history, the support for any type of game and any type of character and a kickarse Pantheon - oh Hoar & Helm how I love thee. SERVE NO-ONE BUT BANE. all class ---------- I will say that I have been dissastisfied with the Realms books of recent. I haven't really considered them worth buying since PgtF - now that is a classy book. all up - the FRCS is my favourite D&D book, and if I'm every bored at home - chances are I'm reading through it.
Lord Karsus 12-14-05, 12:56 AM	In my opinion, the best draw to the Forgotten Realms has got to be the rich history. The rise and fall of great and haughty magocracy of Netheril, and the relics it left behind. The tragedies of the Crown Wars, the Fall of Myth Drannor and the Elven Retreat. After that, I'd say that the Realms has the best assortment of NPC's- Karsus, Amauril, Drizzt, Elminster, Szass Tam, Larloch, Jarlaxle, Mirt the Moneylender, Gromph- the list goes on. Finally, I say that the extreme detail that can be found in every corner of the Realms. Give a round of applause to Ed Greenwood, and all of the other author's who have helped shaped the Realms.
Braekor Dragonfang 12-18-05, 05:14 PM	Calimshan: This is partly true, but that is because Calimshan was settled by genies who brought human slaves with them. Being that genies are tied mythologically with Arabian myths, it would thus be entirely logical for said slaves to have been of such heritage. Cult: How so? The people who live there are simply logically suited to their environment. Certain types of environments biologically and sociologically make the people within them tend towards certain appearances, social structures, etc. Also, there aren't any dinosaurs running around in Africa anymore, and Chult's deities aren't particularly inspired by any specific African ones that I know of. Amn: It only became Spain after TSR forced it to be Spain by introducing Maztica for it to conquer and pillage and subjugate. Otherwise there is nothing about it that links it particularly to Spain culturally or historically. And thanks for your support, Brian and Jandar. In particular, Jandar, I agree with you - I do not see such real-life cultural reflections in particular with those nations you mentioned. If forced to, I could draw analogies between various nations on Faerun and various ones in the real world, existent or vanished, from all over the world. This only goes to show that such a hypothesis is no more valid than trying to purposefully find symbolism in writing that was not meant to contain it. actually chult seems more central american than anything else, but in any case it's just the culure, not the RL area. Personally I've recently picked up both settings, but FR seems more unique to me, probably because I've just started pouring through all the realms material.
Detrusor 12-18-05, 09:33 PM	Back to the initial question - I think itīs hard to find something entirely unique, essentially and characterizing for FR, because itīs so broad and huge and all-encompassing, itīs got everything to offer, but you might find most any aspect in some other setting as well. Besides Geography and Pantheons, especially if your players are not well informed on the FR themselves, itīs nice to have them interact (not hunt and kill!) with some of the many unique personalities of the Realms. Iīd for example use Ashemmi and Sememmon as mysterious powerful NPCīs casually to support my PCīs in dire need and later ask for a "small task" in return. They are good aligned and donīt have no clue whom they are really helping and to what sinister ends (theyīre helping them to build up and maintain control of an evil cabal of homebrew making). Another remarkable feature for higher level PCīs (at least 10th) are the portals, the FR support online is more than I need so far. Finally, and easy to introduce with the right NPC and some portals, pit them against one (or more) of the fancy organizations (Zhentarim, ...) jm2c
KDSN 06-27-06, 09:10 AM	After reading all your posts I have realized I have never lost the feel of the Realms. While right now I'm running in a homebrew world, it is much like the Realms in style. Over the course of my campaign I have detailed a unique and rich history for my players and world. The world is always active and changing even if the players are not there to participate. While i feel that is not the only thing I loved about FR it was the thing that kept me coming back. It was the fact that one society was built on top of another society, and the history was always there. Nothing in the world just is, or just happens their is always a reason. Discovery of that history was what made it fun.
Teh_username 06-27-06, 01:44 PM	To be honest, the thing that drew me to the Realms in the first place is that the various subraces all have a history and culture all their own (tied with the history and culture of their race) that makes sense, instead of just being "member of race A with min/maxed stat bonuses".
GoldLeader13 06-27-06, 05:11 PM	Iconic organizations, characters, and locales make FR unique to me. Organizations like the Harpers, Church of Bane, Red Wizards of Thay, Cult of the Dragon, etc. Characters like Khelben Blackstaff, Bruenor Battlehammer, Drizzt Do'Urden, Elminster of Shadowdale, etc. Locations like Baldur's Gate, Waterdeep and Undermountain, Menzoberanzen, Silverymoon, Hellgate Keep, etc. Plus, the large and intricate pantheon of the Forgotten Realms, and its strong, direct involvement with the people of Toril.
Tobus Neth 06-27-06, 09:38 PM	Inns. The names of inn's and taverns in the realms alone are a cornerstone of the forgotten realms, due to unique names and magical themed or innkeeper is a golddragon disguised etc. Helborden's Happy house of mead the inn of the Gnarled wizard Xorloc's fuzzywuzzy inn of comfort The Slutty sprite tavern