Understanding The Realms [Archive] - Wizards Community

Understanding The Realms [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
SirFacepalm
12-19-06, 10:52 PM I have been playing for sometime, and I have only DMed on one occasion. The game turned out pretty well, having the group play a troupe of bards who multiclassed, and it was all good.

Now I recently bought the FRCS book, and I really really like it. There is so much to do and...well, that is my problem. There is to much to do and so many different ways to go about doing it. But my question is, is what is the best way to go about learning the Realms? I understand that reading the book will obviously help me, I have skimmed over the majority of it, but I REALLY want to understand the ins and outs of this book. As of right now I only own the FRCS book, no other supplements, but I plan on working on that soon. But would, say, me writing out an extensive outline of the Geography of the Realms and making notes help? If I could get some input on how other people figured out the Realms, please, help me out!
miscellany
12-19-06, 11:17 PM My advice: Read the FRCS front to back, then follow up with 3E supplements and whatever downloadable 2E supplements you can find that cover those specific areas you found in the FRCS that are of the most interest to you.

I am sure others here can give a better lowdown on how to go about it.

Some other advice: Don't get caught up on the rules between editions and the differences you'll find in lore between editions.

Be open to the Realms without early prejudice and I bet you'll find it much more enjoyable as a whole.

Good luck and welcome!!!!!!!

:)
SirFacepalm
12-20-06, 12:34 AM Thanks! Anyone else have any input, I would really appreciate it.
Krash
12-20-06, 12:49 AM Read everything FR you can get your hands on. Twice. And then again religiously every year or so. It certainly helped me.

-- George Krashos
Old Sage
12-20-06, 01:39 AM What Krash said. ;)

Additionally, it helps if you're a regular member of a useful FR message board (and by that I mean a message board with an informed and well supported community of FR devotees)... like Candlekeep for example or, on occasion, here at WotC.
kelcimer
12-20-06, 02:14 AM But my question is, is what is the best way to go about learning the Realms?
.....
I have skimmed over the majority of it, but I REALLY want to understand the ins and outs of this book.

Forgotten Realms is not one setting. It's a bunch of mini settings that happen to be right next to each other. You don't need to understand the whole for a part of it to work. The players are likely not going to be interested in how the whole world works, just how the area you're working with works. ["So the Zhents are the black hats, the Harpers are White Hats, and Daggerdale has been ground zero of the conflict between them. Okay. Good to go."] And unless the player's character has reason to understand the political nature of Westgate or the in's & out's of the Zhentrim they don't need to know. If the players want to find out how your Red Wizards are and you don't know, you can give them a tenative answer after looking up what info you have on them. So no need to know everything right now, except to satisfy your own knowledge. Doesn't matter if you have a Realms Nut at your table. You're the DM and this is Your Realms. If you want Ravens Bluff to be on the other side of the river then it is on the maps then it's on the other side of the river.

Pick an area that interests you and read the products on it. After you have enough of it for your satisfaction, pick another region that interests you. Rinse and repeat. Rinse and repeat. The larger understanding will come.

Remember, the books only offer a glimpse at one particular Realms. Yours may be different, though it is a good idea to stick with the settling for a while before you doing large changes.

In my first campaign I stuck to the Eastern Heartlands (I didn't do it justice) and the second campaign I stuck to the Vast (City of Ravens campaign accessory available in PDF form on this site). For my third campaign I gave my players reason to go to Waterdeep, the Shrieking Abyss, Westgate, Chult (speciffically the Kobald Mts), Chondalwood, the Halfling Kingdom (that I can never remember the name of), Battledale, and a parallel Faerun that is a dead world to name a few. This kinda forced me to take a good hard look at each of these places and deal with them. Waterdeep I blew up, Chult is okay but I'll likely not go back there, the Chondalwood I've found to be frickin awesome, Battledale is well fleshed out & will factor into all future campaigns of mine, etc.

To make it easier on yourself I would suggest sticking to one region branching out into the surrounding regions slowly. My next campaign I'll go back to hanging around one region a bit more. not as much as I did in my second campaign, but a whole lot more then my third. While this last one has been fun, interesting, and rewarding, I'll be happy to going back to focusing on only two or three regions.

Don't worry about doing the Realms exactly right. Worry about making it memorable, making it a place the players can care about. Essentially, worry more about learning the fine art of DMing.
SirFacepalm
12-20-06, 03:53 PM Wow. That is a very good look at it. Thanks so much. I think I am well prepared enough with knowledge. Cool.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
SirFacepalm 12-19-06, 10:52 PM	I have been playing for sometime, and I have only DMed on one occasion. The game turned out pretty well, having the group play a troupe of bards who multiclassed, and it was all good. Now I recently bought the FRCS book, and I really really like it. There is so much to do and...well, that is my problem. There is to much to do and so many different ways to go about doing it. But my question is, is what is the best way to go about learning the Realms? I understand that reading the book will obviously help me, I have skimmed over the majority of it, but I REALLY want to understand the ins and outs of this book. As of right now I only own the FRCS book, no other supplements, but I plan on working on that soon. But would, say, me writing out an extensive outline of the Geography of the Realms and making notes help? If I could get some input on how other people figured out the Realms, please, help me out!
miscellany 12-19-06, 11:17 PM	My advice: Read the FRCS front to back, then follow up with 3E supplements and whatever downloadable 2E supplements you can find that cover those specific areas you found in the FRCS that are of the most interest to you. I am sure others here can give a better lowdown on how to go about it. Some other advice: Don't get caught up on the rules between editions and the differences you'll find in lore between editions. Be open to the Realms without early prejudice and I bet you'll find it much more enjoyable as a whole. Good luck and welcome!!!!!!! :)
SirFacepalm 12-20-06, 12:34 AM	Thanks! Anyone else have any input, I would really appreciate it.
Krash 12-20-06, 12:49 AM	Read everything FR you can get your hands on. Twice. And then again religiously every year or so. It certainly helped me. -- George Krashos
Old Sage 12-20-06, 01:39 AM	What Krash said. ;) Additionally, it helps if you're a regular member of a useful FR message board (and by that I mean a message board with an informed and well supported community of FR devotees)... like Candlekeep for example or, on occasion, here at WotC.
kelcimer 12-20-06, 02:14 AM	But my question is, is what is the best way to go about learning the Realms? ..... I have skimmed over the majority of it, but I REALLY want to understand the ins and outs of this book. Forgotten Realms is not one setting. It's a bunch of mini settings that happen to be right next to each other. You don't need to understand the whole for a part of it to work. The players are likely not going to be interested in how the whole world works, just how the area you're working with works. ["So the Zhents are the black hats, the Harpers are White Hats, and Daggerdale has been ground zero of the conflict between them. Okay. Good to go."] And unless the player's character has reason to understand the political nature of Westgate or the in's & out's of the Zhentrim they don't need to know. If the players want to find out how your Red Wizards are and you don't know, you can give them a tenative answer after looking up what info you have on them. So no need to know everything right now, except to satisfy your own knowledge. Doesn't matter if you have a Realms Nut at your table. You're the DM and this is Your Realms. If you want Ravens Bluff to be on the other side of the river then it is on the maps then it's on the other side of the river. Pick an area that interests you and read the products on it. After you have enough of it for your satisfaction, pick another region that interests you. Rinse and repeat. Rinse and repeat. The larger understanding will come. Remember, the books only offer a glimpse at one particular Realms. Yours may be different, though it is a good idea to stick with the settling for a while before you doing large changes. In my first campaign I stuck to the Eastern Heartlands (I didn't do it justice) and the second campaign I stuck to the Vast (City of Ravens campaign accessory available in PDF form on this site). For my third campaign I gave my players reason to go to Waterdeep, the Shrieking Abyss, Westgate, Chult (speciffically the Kobald Mts), Chondalwood, the Halfling Kingdom (that I can never remember the name of), Battledale, and a parallel Faerun that is a dead world to name a few. This kinda forced me to take a good hard look at each of these places and deal with them. Waterdeep I blew up, Chult is okay but I'll likely not go back there, the Chondalwood I've found to be frickin awesome, Battledale is well fleshed out & will factor into all future campaigns of mine, etc. To make it easier on yourself I would suggest sticking to one region branching out into the surrounding regions slowly. My next campaign I'll go back to hanging around one region a bit more. not as much as I did in my second campaign, but a whole lot more then my third. While this last one has been fun, interesting, and rewarding, I'll be happy to going back to focusing on only two or three regions. Don't worry about doing the Realms exactly right. Worry about making it memorable, making it a place the players can care about. Essentially, worry more about learning the fine art of DMing.
SirFacepalm 12-20-06, 03:53 PM	Wow. That is a very good look at it. Thanks so much. I think I am well prepared enough with knowledge. Cool.