Sources for FRCS? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Sources for FRCS? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
ManyShadesofGrey
10-16-03, 01:31 AM I just started using FRCS and realize that there is alot of info not in the CS that you guys talk about in the boards. Are there any PDF's or books that you guys would recommend to get more info on: The Underdark, Cormyr, The Dalelands, Baldurs Gate, Drizzt, and Elminster of Shadowdale. Just picking up FR i feel not as prepared as I'd like and could use the sources.
BTW: How do you pronounce Drizzt?
Kuje31
10-16-03, 01:45 AM Well there's at least 14 years worth of sourcebooks and novels, so a lot of it does not show up in the FRCS. FR has at least about 120+ novels and 120+ sourcebooks in the last 14 years, not including stuff printed in Dragon before 1987.....

Some of the old sourcebooks can be found on the link below as free products.

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/downloads
ManyShadesofGrey
10-16-03, 01:48 AM Whew, that's alot of info. Any favorite novels or sources that are still in print or on pdf?
Kuje31
10-16-03, 01:58 AM Hmm fav novels, well to many to list. Elaine's novels, and R.A's, and Ed's and the Sembia series, and many novels that are long out of print.

Sourcebooks, well again to many to name really. I prefer the old sourcebooks from 2e and 1e then the 3e ones, but Silver Marches isn't to bad, even with the errors in it.

If you want a novel or a sourcebook list, let me know and I can send you the files I use to keep track of my novels and sourcebooks. :)
Mirtek
10-16-03, 07:59 AM Originally posted by Kuje31
FR has at least about 120+ novels
AFAIK at least 170+ and even this number is already old, it could be close to 200 by now
Descended
10-16-03, 11:46 AM I'm working on my first FR campaign, as well, so I'll give you the advice of someone not too far further into the process than you are.

The FRCS is enough to give you the general geographical, societal, and political overviews, as well as most of the Realms specific canon PrCs. What you are missing are the story and backplot elements that are available from so many other sources. I'm working on a two player campaign set in Cormyr (more precisely, Cormyr's southern and western borders), and the old resources in the first section of this web page, http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/downloads , have held lots of ideas, most of which have been filed away in my little brain, and some of which clarified or inspired the main backplots of my campaign.
Faraer
10-16-03, 12:01 PM Some highlights of published Realmslore, with the subjects you asked for in brackets:

Free downloads: Lands of Intrigue, Cormanthyr, all Volo's Guides (Cormyr, the Dales).

ESDs from rpgnow.com: City of Splendors, The Ruins of Undermountain, The Ruins of Myth Drannor, The Seven Sisters, Faiths & Avatars/Powers & Pantheons/Demihuman Deities, Secrets of the Magister, Drizzt Do'Urden's Guide to the Underdark (Underdark), the other Volo's Guides (Baldur's Gate in ...the Sword Coast), FR11 Dwarves Deep, FOR4 The Code of the Harpers, Empires of the Shining Sea, FRQ1 Haunted Halls of Eveningstar (low-level adventure set in Cormyr).

Novels on your chosen subjects: Spellfire and the Shadow of the Avatar trilogy (Dalelands, Elminster), Cormyr: A Novel (Cormyr), Icewind Dale and Dark Elf trilogies (Drizzt, Underdark), Elminster series (Elminster), Realms of the Underdark (Underdark -- short stories). Drizzt is pronounced "drisst".

For all that there's much Realmslore published, there's far, far more yet unrevealed. That's the nature of this beast.
Kuje31
10-16-03, 12:37 PM Originally posted by Mirtek
AFAIK at least 170+ and even this number is already old, it could be close to 200 by now

151 actually, or 152 since the Lone Drow, might be out in some places by now. This doesn't include the reprints either, except for the Spellfire and Crown of Fire softbacks, with the new covers. But what does your above comment have to do with the topic?
ManyShadesofGrey
10-19-03, 05:03 PM Thanks for all the info all, I've ordered about 10 novels from your list Faraer.
Lashan
10-20-03, 12:55 PM Personally, I would say zero novels. Read the source books to get your info. The novels aren't important to running a game. In fact, they could be harmful if you stick in all those "iconic" characters.

What I recommend is pick out where your campaign is going to play and then get all the resources in that area. Also, there are some other books that are really useful if you are going to DM. I would say Lords of Darkness and Faiths and Avatars (or whatever the 3E version is) are good starts. They will get you info on the various groups out there.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
ManyShadesofGrey 10-16-03, 01:31 AM	I just started using FRCS and realize that there is alot of info not in the CS that you guys talk about in the boards. Are there any PDF's or books that you guys would recommend to get more info on: The Underdark, Cormyr, The Dalelands, Baldurs Gate, Drizzt, and Elminster of Shadowdale. Just picking up FR i feel not as prepared as I'd like and could use the sources. BTW: How do you pronounce Drizzt?
Kuje31 10-16-03, 01:45 AM	Well there's at least 14 years worth of sourcebooks and novels, so a lot of it does not show up in the FRCS. FR has at least about 120+ novels and 120+ sourcebooks in the last 14 years, not including stuff printed in Dragon before 1987..... Some of the old sourcebooks can be found on the link below as free products. http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/downloads
ManyShadesofGrey 10-16-03, 01:48 AM	Whew, that's alot of info. Any favorite novels or sources that are still in print or on pdf?
Kuje31 10-16-03, 01:58 AM	Hmm fav novels, well to many to list. Elaine's novels, and R.A's, and Ed's and the Sembia series, and many novels that are long out of print. Sourcebooks, well again to many to name really. I prefer the old sourcebooks from 2e and 1e then the 3e ones, but Silver Marches isn't to bad, even with the errors in it. If you want a novel or a sourcebook list, let me know and I can send you the files I use to keep track of my novels and sourcebooks. :)
Mirtek 10-16-03, 07:59 AM	Originally posted by Kuje31 FR has at least about 120+ novels AFAIK at least 170+ and even this number is already old, it could be close to 200 by now
Descended 10-16-03, 11:46 AM	I'm working on my first FR campaign, as well, so I'll give you the advice of someone not too far further into the process than you are. The FRCS is enough to give you the general geographical, societal, and political overviews, as well as most of the Realms specific canon PrCs. What you are missing are the story and backplot elements that are available from so many other sources. I'm working on a two player campaign set in Cormyr (more precisely, Cormyr's southern and western borders), and the old resources in the first section of this web page, http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/downloads , have held lots of ideas, most of which have been filed away in my little brain, and some of which clarified or inspired the main backplots of my campaign.
Faraer 10-16-03, 12:01 PM	Some highlights of published Realmslore, with the subjects you asked for in brackets: Free downloads: Lands of Intrigue, Cormanthyr, all Volo's Guides (Cormyr, the Dales). ESDs from rpgnow.com: City of Splendors, The Ruins of Undermountain, The Ruins of Myth Drannor, The Seven Sisters, Faiths & Avatars/Powers & Pantheons/Demihuman Deities, Secrets of the Magister, Drizzt Do'Urden's Guide to the Underdark (Underdark), the other Volo's Guides (Baldur's Gate in ...the Sword Coast), FR11 Dwarves Deep, FOR4 The Code of the Harpers, Empires of the Shining Sea, FRQ1 Haunted Halls of Eveningstar (low-level adventure set in Cormyr). Novels on your chosen subjects: Spellfire and the Shadow of the Avatar trilogy (Dalelands, Elminster), Cormyr: A Novel (Cormyr), Icewind Dale and Dark Elf trilogies (Drizzt, Underdark), Elminster series (Elminster), Realms of the Underdark (Underdark -- short stories). Drizzt is pronounced "drisst". For all that there's much Realmslore published, there's far, far more yet unrevealed. That's the nature of this beast.
Kuje31 10-16-03, 12:37 PM	Originally posted by Mirtek AFAIK at least 170+ and even this number is already old, it could be close to 200 by now 151 actually, or 152 since the Lone Drow, might be out in some places by now. This doesn't include the reprints either, except for the Spellfire and Crown of Fire softbacks, with the new covers. But what does your above comment have to do with the topic?
ManyShadesofGrey 10-19-03, 05:03 PM	Thanks for all the info all, I've ordered about 10 novels from your list Faraer.
Lashan 10-20-03, 12:55 PM	Personally, I would say zero novels. Read the source books to get your info. The novels aren't important to running a game. In fact, they could be harmful if you stick in all those "iconic" characters. What I recommend is pick out where your campaign is going to play and then get all the resources in that area. Also, there are some other books that are really useful if you are going to DM. I would say Lords of Darkness and Faiths and Avatars (or whatever the 3E version is) are good starts. They will get you info on the various groups out there.