The Realms can be overwhelming... [Archive] - Wizards Community

The Realms can be overwhelming... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Alrunic Silverfyre
10-04-03, 01:15 AM I may be weird but I had to ask. Am I the only one who finds the Realms to be overwhelming at times? All this information on this beautiful world...and I want to remember it all. Of course that is nearly impossible. I am a Faerun junkie and read as much as I can...but there is so much! Cranium overload...

Just wondering if any one else gets those feelings of overwhelmness (is that even a word?) when you look at the sheer amount of nifty stuff that exists in the world we call Faerun...
Kuje31
10-04-03, 01:29 AM It can get that way. :) But after awhile you do start to remember it all. Even if you do get some things wrong or forget things. I've done that many times and have had others correct me or remind me.

I guess it is a little easier for new players, since they have about what? 10 FR sourcebooks to remember. I point to the thread about Holy Symbols on the deity board, as a example.

I have over 130+ FR sourcebooks and about the same number for the novels, plus all the old Planescape material and Ravenloft material, that ties in with FR.

There is a lot of detail, but if you can keep is pretty much straight it is a wonderful world and I would not have it any other way, even though there are times I complain and argue about FR.

I mean look at some of the discussions that go back and forth, (granted I guess we do look like nerds and fools when we discuss the philosophical things about the deities, the Weave, the Shadow Weave, the new Planes vs. the old Planes, etc).
Yamo
10-04-03, 01:46 AM I've thought the setting was overdetailed since early in the 2nd Edition days.

Every campaign setting needs to strike a balance between interesting detail and deliberate leeway for GMs who want to tell their own stories without worrying overmuch about whether it contradicts "canon."

FR now is just too much information. A GM can't include even the smallest little character, item, place or plot point without cross-referencing it with dozens upon dozens of sourcebooks, novels, etc. And if you get it wrong, expect players to call you on it and gripe.

So yeah, it's annoying. I say just ignore most of it and use the setting material more for the odd but of inspiration than a completist straightjacket. Don't feel compelled to use the whole.
Alrunic Silverfyre
10-04-03, 01:54 AM have over 130+ FR sourcebooks and about the same number for the novels

Ditto, well nearly that amount. I am an old 2E player myself and although I am a 3.0/3.5 player and DM now, I still read and love those older products.

I try to use most of my own material and tie it in well enough with the "official" material. I cross reference what I can but some of the stuff we just don't use. It is our own version of Faerun anyways, even though we try to keep as much stuff as we can official. The Chosen and the named NPCs all exist and we don't try to change that in our campaign. Just an unwritten rule between our group. This is mainly because when WoTC releases new books we get to find out what has happened to these NPCs and thus the world evolves from two points: Our own interactions and those that WoTC puts out. It makes Faerun twice as interesting for us.

I don't really find it annoying that there is so much information. Hell, the more the merrier. You don't have to know it all or even use it all. I merely am annoyed at myself for not remembering it all hehehe...
Kuje31
10-04-03, 02:00 AM Originally posted by Yamo
FR now is just too much information. A GM can't include even the smallest little character, item, place or plot point without cross-referencing it with dozens upon dozens of sourcebooks, novels, etc. And if you get it wrong, expect players to call you on it and gripe.

Ive never had this problem, and I've been DM'in in FR for at least 6 years. I tell PC's right out, this is my FR and it is not canon FR.

I don't use the ToT's and most of 3e's plots, like the Shades, or the destruction of Evereska, the Shadow Weave might exist or does it? No one knows, since it has not been some thing the PC's have explored or researched. There are also a few PC's who became deities in my games, and since I also DM'd in 2e there are others who made Keeps in many of the places in the world. One of them has the Tree of Souls planted in Cormyr instead of up North.

If I want a new town in a place where it "shouldn't" exist then it does any way.
Kuje31
10-04-03, 02:04 AM Originally posted by Alrunic Silverfyre
Ditto, well nearly that amount. I am an old 2E player myself and although I am a 3.0/3.5 player and DM now, I still read and love those older products.

I try to use most of my own material and tie it in well enough with the "official" material. I cross reference what I can but some of the stuff we just don't use. It is our own version of Faerun anyways, even though we try to keep as much stuff as we can official. The Chosen and the named NPCs all exist and we don't try to change that in our campaign. Just an unwritten rule between our group. This is mainly because when WoTC releases new books we get to find out what has happened to these NPCs and thus the world evolves from two points: Our own interactions and those that WoTC puts out. It makes Faerun twice as interesting for us.

I don't really find it annoying that there is so much information. Hell, the more the merrier. You don't have to know it all or even use it all. I merely am annoyed at myself for not remembering it all hehehe...

Yup Yup. :). Excatly, I never use most of the plots that TSR and WOTC adds to the official realms. I use what I need and tie it in with my own ideas, as you can see from my above post.

And well even I don't remember every thing, (which is why the computer rules, since you can type up a file with game changes and store them :)). Especially some of the things in the Volo's guides, I always forget the material in those usually.
Alrunic Silverfyre
10-04-03, 02:31 AM Hmmm....I love the Volo Guides and Aurora's Catalog simply because it fills in some of the blanks. It really helps when the PCs are looking for a tavern and we can actually find the name of one in Volo's. Or if they want a certain brand of wine, they can pick it out of Aurora's Catalog. It is books like those that are truly worth memorizing. At least in my not-so-humble opinion.
Kuje31
10-04-03, 02:48 AM Originally posted by Alrunic Silverfyre
Hmmm....I love the Volo Guides and Aurora's Catalog simply because it fills in some of the blanks. It really helps when the PCs are looking for a tavern and we can actually find the name of one in Volo's. Or if they want a certain brand of wine, they can pick it out of Aurora's Catalog. It is books like those that are truly worth memorizing. At least in my not-so-humble opinion.

Oh, I agree. Grin Aurora's is actually sitting right here next to me. But a lot of the time I forgot half the things that are in the Volo's guides. To many things to remember all the time. :)
Shar Baenre
10-04-03, 03:46 AM I agree that it can be a bit excessive. I like the freedom left to settings that don't have as much material, but FR is the only one I DM. I like to make my own twists (many based on the 2E version), but since most of my players don't know much about the realms other than what I tell them, I try to stick close to the printed material in the MAJOR issues, but work all of my own subplots into it. I give one copy of the FR manual to the party to pass around for reference during play, as well as having my own. For more specific regional information, I type up and print handouts for characters of those regions, rather than making it available to everybody. I don't really feel restricted by any of it though, since my characters never really bump into a named NPC from the books but knowing who those famed folks in their area are gives them a sense of familiarity. This ultimately makes them feel more attached to the game and feel like they're really there. But don't ever let the rules hold you back!
Lashan
10-04-03, 12:11 PM I try to pick a few of my favorite areas and really delve into that area. It's hard to know everything about everything. I would say I know a lot about Sembia, the Dalelands, Cormanthor, the Moonsea, and the Vast. I don't think I've even read through the whole Calimshan sourcebook.
LandoTheArchmagi
10-05-03, 07:07 PM Well met,

I tend to use the revised Realms maps and some of the material, but I draw heavily on my 10 campaign with the Realms from 2nd edition and my own NPCs and such. I concentrate on the Western Heartlands with parts of the Savage North/Silver Marches. I rarely use anything from any of the novels from the last several years, but occasionally something fits in good.

I'm even running an online game based on adventures I wrote for this region.

Til swords part,

Lando
Alrunic Silverfyre
10-06-03, 12:06 AM Well met indeed Lando...

I fit as much of the novels that I read (the whole group except one reads the novels so I have more heads to help with implimenting the info) into the campaign setting as I can. It actually helps our games out better. We may not use the story written NPCs much but it is nice to get a general idea of what is happening within the Realms.

Our campaign has been set in Cormyr for the last three years. We have most of our PCs there and most of the adventuring takes place in Cormyr. Our campaign city is a heavily modified (structure wise and NPCwise) Arabel but we keep most, if not all, of the NPCs intact for role playing and gaming purposes. Cormyr, Waterdeep, and Damara are the areas we all know pretty well...Otherwise, it's Greek to me.
ENHenry
10-06-03, 11:44 AM Hello, my name is Henry, and I am a Realms Scholar, possessing a Bachelor's in Western Heartlands History through 1347 Dalereckoning, with my Post-Doctorate work in Illefarnian Magical Pottery development through the Year of the Sharp Tusk...

:D

The trick is to remember the cool bits and don't try to remember it all. Tell your players before hand that your Realms will differ somewhat from the normal Realms, admit you may not get every little temple name and eye color correct, and If a player corrects you, either thank them and decide to use it, or just tell them that the info has changed - Fzoul's hair color changed the night of Bane's Re-Ascension, or The Bitter Blade Tavern went belly-up last year when an assassin killed the owner, etc. etc.

Make it yours, rather than trying to run a tour guide service.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Alrunic Silverfyre 10-04-03, 01:15 AM	I may be weird but I had to ask. Am I the only one who finds the Realms to be overwhelming at times? All this information on this beautiful world...and I want to remember it all. Of course that is nearly impossible. I am a Faerun junkie and read as much as I can...but there is so much! Cranium overload... Just wondering if any one else gets those feelings of overwhelmness (is that even a word?) when you look at the sheer amount of nifty stuff that exists in the world we call Faerun...
Kuje31 10-04-03, 01:29 AM	It can get that way. :) But after awhile you do start to remember it all. Even if you do get some things wrong or forget things. I've done that many times and have had others correct me or remind me. I guess it is a little easier for new players, since they have about what? 10 FR sourcebooks to remember. I point to the thread about Holy Symbols on the deity board, as a example. I have over 130+ FR sourcebooks and about the same number for the novels, plus all the old Planescape material and Ravenloft material, that ties in with FR. There is a lot of detail, but if you can keep is pretty much straight it is a wonderful world and I would not have it any other way, even though there are times I complain and argue about FR. I mean look at some of the discussions that go back and forth, (granted I guess we do look like nerds and fools when we discuss the philosophical things about the deities, the Weave, the Shadow Weave, the new Planes vs. the old Planes, etc).
Yamo 10-04-03, 01:46 AM	I've thought the setting was overdetailed since early in the 2nd Edition days. Every campaign setting needs to strike a balance between interesting detail and deliberate leeway for GMs who want to tell their own stories without worrying overmuch about whether it contradicts "canon." FR now is just too much information. A GM can't include even the smallest little character, item, place or plot point without cross-referencing it with dozens upon dozens of sourcebooks, novels, etc. And if you get it wrong, expect players to call you on it and gripe. So yeah, it's annoying. I say just ignore most of it and use the setting material more for the odd but of inspiration than a completist straightjacket. Don't feel compelled to use the whole.
Alrunic Silverfyre 10-04-03, 01:54 AM	have over 130+ FR sourcebooks and about the same number for the novels Ditto, well nearly that amount. I am an old 2E player myself and although I am a 3.0/3.5 player and DM now, I still read and love those older products. I try to use most of my own material and tie it in well enough with the "official" material. I cross reference what I can but some of the stuff we just don't use. It is our own version of Faerun anyways, even though we try to keep as much stuff as we can official. The Chosen and the named NPCs all exist and we don't try to change that in our campaign. Just an unwritten rule between our group. This is mainly because when WoTC releases new books we get to find out what has happened to these NPCs and thus the world evolves from two points: Our own interactions and those that WoTC puts out. It makes Faerun twice as interesting for us. I don't really find it annoying that there is so much information. Hell, the more the merrier. You don't have to know it all or even use it all. I merely am annoyed at myself for not remembering it all hehehe...
Kuje31 10-04-03, 02:00 AM	Originally posted by Yamo FR now is just too much information. A GM can't include even the smallest little character, item, place or plot point without cross-referencing it with dozens upon dozens of sourcebooks, novels, etc. And if you get it wrong, expect players to call you on it and gripe. Ive never had this problem, and I've been DM'in in FR for at least 6 years. I tell PC's right out, this is my FR and it is not canon FR. I don't use the ToT's and most of 3e's plots, like the Shades, or the destruction of Evereska, the Shadow Weave might exist or does it? No one knows, since it has not been some thing the PC's have explored or researched. There are also a few PC's who became deities in my games, and since I also DM'd in 2e there are others who made Keeps in many of the places in the world. One of them has the Tree of Souls planted in Cormyr instead of up North. If I want a new town in a place where it "shouldn't" exist then it does any way.
Kuje31 10-04-03, 02:04 AM	Originally posted by Alrunic Silverfyre Ditto, well nearly that amount. I am an old 2E player myself and although I am a 3.0/3.5 player and DM now, I still read and love those older products. I try to use most of my own material and tie it in well enough with the "official" material. I cross reference what I can but some of the stuff we just don't use. It is our own version of Faerun anyways, even though we try to keep as much stuff as we can official. The Chosen and the named NPCs all exist and we don't try to change that in our campaign. Just an unwritten rule between our group. This is mainly because when WoTC releases new books we get to find out what has happened to these NPCs and thus the world evolves from two points: Our own interactions and those that WoTC puts out. It makes Faerun twice as interesting for us. I don't really find it annoying that there is so much information. Hell, the more the merrier. You don't have to know it all or even use it all. I merely am annoyed at myself for not remembering it all hehehe... Yup Yup. :). Excatly, I never use most of the plots that TSR and WOTC adds to the official realms. I use what I need and tie it in with my own ideas, as you can see from my above post. And well even I don't remember every thing, (which is why the computer rules, since you can type up a file with game changes and store them :)). Especially some of the things in the Volo's guides, I always forget the material in those usually.
Alrunic Silverfyre 10-04-03, 02:31 AM	Hmmm....I love the Volo Guides and Aurora's Catalog simply because it fills in some of the blanks. It really helps when the PCs are looking for a tavern and we can actually find the name of one in Volo's. Or if they want a certain brand of wine, they can pick it out of Aurora's Catalog. It is books like those that are truly worth memorizing. At least in my not-so-humble opinion.
Kuje31 10-04-03, 02:48 AM	Originally posted by Alrunic Silverfyre Hmmm....I love the Volo Guides and Aurora's Catalog simply because it fills in some of the blanks. It really helps when the PCs are looking for a tavern and we can actually find the name of one in Volo's. Or if they want a certain brand of wine, they can pick it out of Aurora's Catalog. It is books like those that are truly worth memorizing. At least in my not-so-humble opinion. Oh, I agree. Grin Aurora's is actually sitting right here next to me. But a lot of the time I forgot half the things that are in the Volo's guides. To many things to remember all the time. :)
Shar Baenre 10-04-03, 03:46 AM	I agree that it can be a bit excessive. I like the freedom left to settings that don't have as much material, but FR is the only one I DM. I like to make my own twists (many based on the 2E version), but since most of my players don't know much about the realms other than what I tell them, I try to stick close to the printed material in the MAJOR issues, but work all of my own subplots into it. I give one copy of the FR manual to the party to pass around for reference during play, as well as having my own. For more specific regional information, I type up and print handouts for characters of those regions, rather than making it available to everybody. I don't really feel restricted by any of it though, since my characters never really bump into a named NPC from the books but knowing who those famed folks in their area are gives them a sense of familiarity. This ultimately makes them feel more attached to the game and feel like they're really there. But don't ever let the rules hold you back!
Lashan 10-04-03, 12:11 PM	I try to pick a few of my favorite areas and really delve into that area. It's hard to know everything about everything. I would say I know a lot about Sembia, the Dalelands, Cormanthor, the Moonsea, and the Vast. I don't think I've even read through the whole Calimshan sourcebook.
LandoTheArchmagi 10-05-03, 07:07 PM	Well met, I tend to use the revised Realms maps and some of the material, but I draw heavily on my 10 campaign with the Realms from 2nd edition and my own NPCs and such. I concentrate on the Western Heartlands with parts of the Savage North/Silver Marches. I rarely use anything from any of the novels from the last several years, but occasionally something fits in good. I'm even running an online game based on adventures I wrote for this region. Til swords part, Lando
Alrunic Silverfyre 10-06-03, 12:06 AM	Well met indeed Lando... I fit as much of the novels that I read (the whole group except one reads the novels so I have more heads to help with implimenting the info) into the campaign setting as I can. It actually helps our games out better. We may not use the story written NPCs much but it is nice to get a general idea of what is happening within the Realms. Our campaign has been set in Cormyr for the last three years. We have most of our PCs there and most of the adventuring takes place in Cormyr. Our campaign city is a heavily modified (structure wise and NPCwise) Arabel but we keep most, if not all, of the NPCs intact for role playing and gaming purposes. Cormyr, Waterdeep, and Damara are the areas we all know pretty well...Otherwise, it's Greek to me.
ENHenry 10-06-03, 11:44 AM	Hello, my name is Henry, and I am a Realms Scholar, possessing a Bachelor's in Western Heartlands History through 1347 Dalereckoning, with my Post-Doctorate work in Illefarnian Magical Pottery development through the Year of the Sharp Tusk... :D The trick is to remember the cool bits and don't try to remember it all. Tell your players before hand that your Realms will differ somewhat from the normal Realms, admit you may not get every little temple name and eye color correct, and If a player corrects you, either thank them and decide to use it, or just tell them that the info has changed - Fzoul's hair color changed the night of Bane's Re-Ascension, or The Bitter Blade Tavern went belly-up last year when an assassin killed the owner, etc. etc. Make it yours, rather than trying to run a tour guide service.