Post/Author/DateTime	Post
cjb2010 11-12-06, 11:00 AM	Hi, I am new to the Forgotten Realms world and I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice as to where to begin my collection, or where the timeline begins and what books to read from. I currently have only played Baldurs gate one, and that was a few years back, really enjoyed it, got lost playing the second one however. I figured now that I have some free time I could start reading the books. Any help you can give would be great. Thanks in Advance
Lord Karsus 11-12-06, 01:47 PM	-As for a timeline, download the "Grand History of the Realms". Don't remember the exact site, but I'm sure someone who has it will help me out. -As to what to read...I can't tell you what to read without being biased. Maybe pick up the Anthology books (Realms of Magic, Realms of the Elves, Realms of the Underdark, and so on). They're filled with short stories that will allow you to "explore the Realms". Then, you can pick up novels on whoever/whatever interests you. -Hanging out and contributing to this boards is a sure way to increase you knowledge of the Realms. I mean, where else are you going to find a 15+ page argument about the hypothetical situation if the City of Shade somehow became involved in a war with Evermeet? :D -And of course, there are all of the sourcebooks you need, with the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting being number one.
Faraer 11-12-06, 02:45 PM	The 2001 Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting is the most thorough introduction, but for the best concise summary of the core of what the Realms is about, I would read the original Forgotten Realms Campaign Set (available as a download here (http://paizo.com/store/downloads/wizardsOfTheCoast/aDAndD1/forgottenRealms/v5748btpy7mcw)) and either Swords of Eveningstar or Spellfire -- novels which show you what this world is like, in the moment, close-up.
Old Sage 11-12-06, 07:04 PM	-As for a timeline, download the "Grand History of the Realms". Don't remember the exact site, but I'm sure someone who has it will help me out.'Tis stored at Candlekeep:- http://candlekeep.com/downloads/grandhistory.zip
Lord Karsus 11-12-06, 07:06 PM	-Thank you... -And, that reminds me. Candlekeep is another great place to learn about the Realms and all of the goings-ons.
cjb2010 11-13-06, 03:41 AM	Cool, Thanks for your help
Kin-Kaal V'ryce 11-13-06, 05:58 AM	I have to agree with Karsus. One of the best ways to get a good feel for the Realms is to pick up some of the anthology books. Lots of short stories written by different authors taking place in multiple locations will give you a pretty good overview of the setting and its inhabitants. The old Harpers series is also a good start. Those stories, like those in the anthologies are spread all over the Realms and focus on different aspects of the setting. After that, it kind of depends on what in the Realms interests you the most. Are you interested in elves in general? read Evermeet: Island of the Elves by Elaine Cunningham. Interested in just the Drow? Read the Dark Elf trilogy by R.A. Salvatore. Interested in Elminster? Read all the Elminster books by Ed Greenwood (personally I would read everything written by him. He did create the Realms in the first place and has probably the clearest view of what the setting really is). If you want to take the original route and learn about the Realms the way many of us older Realms players did, read the books in the original order they were released in. Start with the Moonshae trilogy by Doug Niles, then the Icewind Dale trilogy by Salvatore. Also pick up Azure Bonds by Jeff Grubb and Kate Novak, Spellfire by Ed Greenwood, and Pool of Radiance by James Ward and Jane Cooper Hong. Then pick up the Avatar trilogy by Richard Awlinson (or as we know them now, Scott Ciencen, James Lowder and Troy Denning). Those are pretty much the original novels that started it all.
Ramenth 11-13-06, 09:05 PM	If you want to jump into mildly current plots, but have no idea who the people mentioned are, start with the Shade War, and then read Year of Rogue Dragons, and then the Last Mythal. All good reads.
Strider_of_Harrodale 11-16-06, 08:49 PM	IF you can find some of the older Forgotten Realms books, (TSR put out lots more than Wizzards does...) and you'd like to get into the entire Real History, I recommend starting with the Avatar Trilogy. It will give you a good background on the Gods.....Then (Good Luck) Try to get the Harpers Series...(There are 16 of these)) Most of these have now been regrouped by wizards into other series. Then for a good set of reading...Get into Drizzt and read Icewind Dale Trilogy. This came out way before the other Dark Elf Series but You'll like them. He gives you a good baseline on being a Ranger. (Don't think that type of character is pucked by folks these dayz...If you want Wizard Stuff, Read about Elminster, the Grand Sage of Shadowdale. Have a great time and welcome to the only D&D Realm around longer that Dragonlance...
Lord Karsus 11-17-06, 12:12 AM	Have a great time and welcome to the only D&D Realm around longer that Dragonlance... -Officially, the Realms have been around for about twenty years now. But, Ed, of course, had the Realms laid out and populated long before he submitted the setting to TSR.
Old Sage 11-17-06, 10:11 AM	'Tis been in Ed's mind since 1967, in fact.