Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Faradan 05-24-06, 03:29 PM	Hello Everyone, In the near future I am looking to start up my first D&D 3.5 game using the Forgotten Realms as a setting. I decided upon the Realms not really because I have anything against Eberron (it seems pretty cool), but because I want to have a more 'traditional' D&D setting to work with to help ease in the majority of my players who have never played D&D before. However, I have a problem. When it comes to setting books besides the main Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting, I have no idea what to get. To be honest, this has what has kept me from running D&D games over the past few years--the options can be a bit overwhelming. So what FR books would you suggest (besides the main campaign book of course) that would get me started on the right foot? Any essentials? Keep in mind that you will be replying to someone who has been away from all things D&D for quite a few years, and who has never really been all that familiar with the Forgotten Realms to begin with (Dragonlance used to be my chosen setting). P.S. I already have all three 3.5 core books, so I'm good to go in that regard, this is mainly asking about FR-specific books. Thanks!
Ripe 05-24-06, 05:22 PM	I would suggest you get following books: Player's Guide to Faerun [to update FRCS to 3.5, since all the core books you use are 3.5] Races of Faerun [for indepth descriptions of various sub-races available in Faerun] Magic of Faerun [for many unique, Faerunian magic items and spells] Monster Compendium: Monsters of Faerun [for unique Faerunian monsters, 3.5 update for it can be found here (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20040313a)] Other than those you may get some of the following depending on your tastes: Faiths and Pantheons [for additional description of Faerun deities] Lords of Darkness [for description of Faerun's bad guys] Champions of Ruin [how to run bad guy's] Champions of Valor [how to run good guy's] Power of Faerun [how to run kingdoms, armies and such] Also if you find you like some region of Faerun more than others you may want to get regional book that cover that region. So far published are: Underdark Serpent Kingdoms [Yuan-ti, Lizardfolk, Naga City of Splendors: Waterdeep Unaprochable East [Thay, Aglarond, Rashemen, Great Dale, Thesk] Silver Marches Shining South [Dambrath, Halruaa, Luiren, Shining Lands, Shaar, Great Rift] Lost Empires of Faerun [for ancient realms] Moonsea [comming out next month] Now, since getting all those books is rather expensive, you may want to download some of the 2nd edition sourcebooks that WotC made available for free on their download page here (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/downloads) since the lore presented there is still valid [it may be updated to curent timeline but those event are considered history in today's Realms].
j_gunder 05-25-06, 03:58 AM	If getting the most bang for your buck is what you are after, I have the following suggestions: Avoid the Player's Guide to Faerun. Borrow one from a friend or go to a bookstore if you really need to know what an updated divine seeker or incantantrix is, or if you are really huge on regional feats. If you're going to pay $30 for a book, it might as well be the Races of Faerun book or Magic of Faerun, both which are full of all sorts of Realms goodiness. Lords of Darkness is a great, great book...it is an excellent resource to help you design Realms-specific bad guys and piece them into existing organisations. I use it all the time, way more than Champions of Ruin. If you plan on running an area-specific campaign, like a campaign set solely in the Underdark, than I would pick up whichever one you choose...the area-specific books are pretty good, all-around. I've had lots of success running things out of Shining South and the Unapproachable East...the others, less so. Lost Empires is fun for fluff, but the few new mechanics it introduces are too specific to be of general use or completely game-breaking (greenbound summoning, anyone?). Unless you want to know the stats for Auril's avatar, I see no reason to purchase Faiths and Pantheons unless you really need to have all the FR books. Most of that information is already in the FRCS (download the free web enhancement for the rest of the deities), and if a few are missing, well...they're probably halfling or gnome gods nobody's ever heard of. As for the rest, the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting (which you have, I know you said that already) is the best book by far and away, and you can easily avoid spending money on a host of other books with the rules that appear within. You can find just about every spell and feat and prestige class from the other books online for free...just use that information to supplement what you choose to buy. I, personally, have purchased every 3.0/3.5 Forgotten Realms supplement, and looking back on it, regret it greatly. I could have saved a lot of money by following my own advice, and I can't even tell you the last time I opened my copy of the Underdark or Serpent Kingdoms...it was fun to read through once, but never grabbed me the way Lords of Darkness or the FRCS did. The Player's Guide and Champions of Valor/Ruin made me want to cry...there were a few nuggets in each, but not enough to make me not regret the purchase. Powers of Faerun is supposed to be great--I haven't purchased it yet. Just my thoughts, which are what you asked for. Not trying to offend anyone by flaming their favorite FR books, just trying to tell the guy which ones gave me the best mileage. One more caveat--some of the newer books, like the Champions of Ruin/Valor, draw a lot of feats and classes from non-FR books such as the Book of Vile Deeds and Book of Exalted Deeds, as well as some books from the Complete series...if it bothers you (it bothered the heck out of me), make sure you check that little box in the beginning of each book that states what supplements they draw from. A lot of the older stuff didn't do any of that, but then again, a lot of the older stuff is pre-3.5...something I have never had a problem dealing with, and sometimes (harper mage, for instance) I prefer the old stuff over the revisions. Cheers.
Ranger REG 05-25-06, 05:57 AM	So what FR books would you suggest (besides the main campaign book of course) that would get me started on the right foot? Any essentials? Keep in mind that you will be replying to someone who has been away from all things D&D for quite a few years, and who has never really been all that familiar with the Forgotten Realms to begin with (Dragonlance used to be my chosen setting). P.S. I already have all three 3.5 core books, so I'm good to go in that regard, this is mainly asking about FR-specific books. If you're playing 3.5e, then get Player's Guide to Faerun. The title is a misnomer, it's actually a 3.5e rules update for FRCS and the other 3.0e compatible FR products. Everything else is just extras.
Cthulhu 05-27-06, 11:52 PM	Outside of the FRCS I can't solidly recommend any of the other books mentioned so far unless your specifically interested in that subject. The FRCS is a great buy and covers everything a new group would want to know. If your worried about 3.5 compatibility issues get the Player's Guide. As the Impeccable Strategist says,"Remember the basics".
The_Declaration 06-18-06, 08:48 PM	I think J_Gunder is giving you excellent suggestions. If I were you I'd start with Silver Marches, it's a great place to start gaming, and the quality of the book is definitely above average. Then it depends on what you're looking for, but generally speaking: Lords of Darkness, Races of Faerūn, Magic of Faerūn, Lost Empires of Faerūn, Power of Faerūn and Shining South are my favourite reads from the collection. Players Guide To Faerūn can be pretty useful, but it's something you'll enjoy reading.
Ulitharid 06-18-06, 09:11 PM	Obviously, the FRCS is a true gem amongst the FR products... as for other books of interest? as many have said, its more relative to where/what you're kind of planning for a campaign and then purchase books around that... though off the top of my head, some great supplements include: Lords of Darkness Silver Marches Lost Empires of Faerun Magic of Faerun Power of Faerun... and of course, PGTF if you require the 3.5 updates for the FRCS