Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Paradisio 11-14-06, 02:46 AM	Ok, I decided I might host a D&D game soon and with my increasingly limited schedule I would pick up a campaign setting instead of toiling away on my own. I really don't want to work on old settings or deal with massive changes, and most of the local players don't really like Eberron. So I decided Forgotten Realms would be the best fit. I already have the core book, and I figured on my upcoming vacation I would take a few other books to get familiar with the setting. I'm just wondering, what should those books be? I figured I could afford about 3 of them at this time. I realize one will inevitably be "the area where the game is set" unfortunately, I really don't know what that would be, but I would appreciate any suggestions.
Ateth_Istarlin 11-14-06, 03:21 AM	I would suggest - 1) Silver Marches 2) Magic of Faerun 3) Lost Empires of Faerun definitely the best RFR products out!:D
Jiggawha 11-14-06, 03:59 AM	I recommend Waterdeep
Paradisio 11-15-06, 11:41 PM	I'll check out the books reccomended, I picked up the Dark Elf Novel Trilogy today, and I have been quite impressed thusfar. I kinda expected to be... well, bad to be honest. Anyways, can anyone offer me some suggestions on starting regions? The core campaign book is a bit overwhelming for someone inexperienced with the setting like myself.
Paix 11-16-06, 08:28 AM	Wizards have made available for free, Volo's Guides which are regional books. They are 2e, but they contain minimal mechanics, (mainly NPC descriptions and a few magic items), the bulk of the books dedicated to exploring in detail various regions of faerun. You can download and read through them, then decide which area sparks your interest. Based on that, you can choose to get an updated 3e regional supplement. Each area offers a variety of themes. If you enjoy the more undeveloped feel, wild frontier type, Dalelands, Moonsea or the North would fit. A more urban campaign can be had in Waterdeep. Urban play with a an arabian feel and desert like trekking in Calimshan or an evil themed campaign in Thay and so on. But look through the guides and decide with the other players the general feel of the campaign, at least in the beginning. That will make the decision easier.
Paradisio 11-20-06, 02:34 AM	OK, well I got all the books the first post recommended; what should I get next?
'Arry 11-20-06, 02:17 PM	Could you please tell me where I could find the Volos Guides, I never did manage to get them all when they first came out.
bondious 11-20-06, 03:35 PM	OK, well I got all the books the first post recommended; what should I get next? Do you have the Player's Guide to Faerun? It's a good one by itself, and has a lot of the 3.5 updates from the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting. Myself, I like doing games in North and Western Heartlands areas. There's a lot of "raw frontier" for me to put pretty much whatever I want in, along with some of the "established" places like Waterdeep, Silverymoon, etc. Usually a good mix. I also like the Cormyr/Dalelands/Sembia area. The Dalelands are great for those "wilderness adventures", though a couple of powerful NPC's are within (Elminster and Storm Silverhand) as possible guides and dangers lurk (like the surface drow and Myth Drannar). And to the south you have Sembia, a collection of city-states that form a confederation run by merchant lords, and Cormyr west of that which is the quintessential "European-like", generally benevolent monarchy, a dynasty spaning a millennium and more. The relations and contrasts between the three, along with interference from darker powers like the Zhentarim (located in the Moonsea towards the north and Darkhold west of Cormyr) and the Shades (located north in the Anauroch desert), not to mention Westgate and the Pirate Isles, I've always liked. Anyhow, since you said you bought the Silver Marches book, I'd say start there. Silverymoon is a good "base of operations" for a good-aligned group, offering protection from the harsh outside wilds and still having the capability to offer up some intrique, and it's close to other (and different) places to offer variety.
Kin-Kaal V'ryce 11-20-06, 06:12 PM	Could you please tell me where I could find the Volos Guides, I never did manage to get them all when they first came out. here you go. http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/downloads
Faraer 11-20-06, 06:47 PM	Not all the Volo's ESDs are available as free downloads. The others can be bought from Paizo.com: Volo's Guide to Waterdeep (http://paizo.com/store/brand/forgottenRealms/roleplayingGames/2ndEdition/v5748btpy7mk7) and Volo's Guide to the Sword Coast (http://paizo.com/store/brand/forgottenRealms/roleplayingGames/2ndEdition/v5748btpy7mk6). Any village or small town in the Heartlands or the Sword Coast North would be a good starting place. Although the FRCS presents all its regions evenly, that's the core Realms on which the most love and work has been bestowed.
Paradisio 11-20-06, 08:13 PM	Do you have the Player's Guide to Faerun? It's a good one by itself, and has a lot of the 3.5 updates from the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting. Yes, that was my thought for the next purchase. Is it true that it is out of print? Because I saw some local stores with 1 in stock, and if they are, I'm going to have to be sure and snatch them up, pronto.
Paradisio 11-22-06, 07:07 PM	Well, I picked up City of Splendors: Waterdeep today, since I didn't find a copy of PGTF on my way home; and I thought it would give me more insight into an urban style campaign, and I figure in all likelihood I'm going to be running a campaign in the North, so a visit to Waterdeep shouldn't be out of the question. Anyways, I seriously doubt I'll manage my way through all of these books over the vacation, but the game isn't starting for another month or so; so no rush.
Faraer 11-22-06, 07:26 PM	The so-called Player's Guide is only a priority if you must have the exact latest 3.5 versions of Realms feats, spells, etc. Otherwise, there are many more informative and useful books.
The Simbul 11-22-06, 07:57 PM	Player's Guide to Faerun should probably be the last book you purchase, especially if you are not big on Prestige Classes (which are an optional rule, and always subject to DM approval anyways), of if your PCs are entirely built around their regional feats or spellpower. Despite the pressure that a player/DM "must-have the official/current/revised rules, I think the book isnt worth it unless you can get it at a very low reduced/used price.
MerrikCale 11-22-06, 09:01 PM	I would suggest - 1) Silver Marches 2) Magic of Faerun 3) Lost Empires of Faerun definitely the best RFR products out!:D I like these three plus Lords of Darkness, Races of Faerun, and Faiths & Pantheons.
Old Sage 11-22-06, 09:06 PM	However, Faiths & Pantheons isn't the most complete source available on the FR deities. If you're interested in purchasing a more thorough analysis of the various deities and pantheons at play in the Realms, I would recommend you look for the 2e sources -- Faiths & Avatars, Powers & Pantheons, and Demihuman Deities.
wesleytj 11-22-06, 10:30 PM	I would start, of course, with the main FR campaign book, then Magic of Faerun. After that, I'd read the main campaign book, decide broadly where you're going to run your campaign, and then pick up some relevant source books. In other words, if you're thinking of running an adventure in Chult, maybe Serpent Kingdoms would make a lot of sense.
MerrikCale 11-23-06, 10:26 PM	However, Faiths & Pantheons isn't the most complete source available on the FR deities. If you're interested in purchasing a more thorough analysis of the various deities and pantheons at play in the Realms, I would recommend you look for the 2e sources -- Faiths & Avatars, Powers & Pantheons, and Demihuman Deities. I agree they are better.
Paradisio 11-28-06, 12:58 AM	Is there somewhere perhaps that outlines the best supplements for each area? Geography wise, I mean. Sticking solely to 3rd edition material would seem like a bad idea with some of the rather meager outlines of some areas just in the core book. I was kinda interested in the "north," but not just the silver marches; the areas to the east as well (past the desert.)
Mathas 12-04-06, 02:06 PM	Well if your interested in the Eastern lands past the Anauroch..I reccomned getting "The Unapproachable East". In it you will find details and area maps on Thay, Aglarond, The Great Dale, and a few others.
wesleytj 12-04-06, 02:12 PM	Is there somewhere perhaps that outlines the best supplements for each area? Geography wise, I mean. Sticking solely to 3rd edition material would seem like a bad idea with some of the rather meager outlines of some areas just in the core book. I was kinda interested in the "north," but not just the silver marches; the areas to the east as well (past the desert.) That would be a really handy little chart... somewhere that shows what books contain references to given areas, both in 2nd ed and 3rd... I don't know of the existence of one but it would be great. some are pretty easy...I mean if you want to know about the Shaar, you'd want Shining South and so on.