Post/Author/DateTime	Post
ssvegeta555 07-20-03, 07:04 PM	I'm gonna buy some D&D books and came across 3 Forgotten realms books that I'm having trouble picking. I'm deciding on Unaprochable East or Silver Marches or races of Fearun. Which book do you think is better and why? Thanks in advance. (Edit forgot one book)
primemover003 07-20-03, 07:32 PM	Of the two regional source books, I find Silver Marches to be the better of the Two. This is mainly because of the Adventuring in the Wilds chapter which is pretty much stolen for the new 3.5 DMG. That chapter alone is worth the cost. @nd choice races of Faerun for all the flavor. I keep reading it over and over again, espcially the human section. The various cultures are very detailed.
Xae'an 07-20-03, 07:58 PM	I can't tell you about the Silvermarches as I don't have that book, Unapproachable East is nice but my favorite would be Races of Faerun. It significantly adds to every campaign and not only to one set in the specified region. Not only does it include stats and illustration for all the races of the realms (7 elf, 5 dwarf, 3 gnome, 3 halfling, 4 orc, 8 planetouched, 4 goblinoids, various human ethnicities, centaurs, aracocra and a couple of lycanthropes) but it also describes their cultural and religious backgrounds, history and typical equipment. I particularly like the prestige classes presented in Races of Faerun - I couldn't imagine my campaign without a Dwarven Battle Rager any more and I will include Elven High Mages when the PCs are powerful enough. The feats section also fine, my favorite is "outsider wings" - the Aasimar in my campaign just got his - and he's pretty happy with his new ability to fly. The cover illustration with the beholder is irritating however as the book presents the humanoid peoples (potential PC races) and does not include abberations and other monsters. The only thing I really dislike about it is the fact that all the major human ethnicities in the book are white - if you can life with that fault take Races of Faerun - otherwise choose the region where your party is more likely to go and buy either Silvermarches or Unapproachable East.
The Unbroken Enigma 07-20-03, 08:04 PM	I personally prefer the Unapproachable East. Its detail level is great, and covers a larger area of Faerun (since Silver Marches covers only the Silver Marches). In addition, many of the organizations that are active in Faerun proper have little or no hold in the East (Thay being the only exception). The East is more diverse overall and more to give those that want a large area to campaign in. Having said that Silver Marches is nicely detailed and well put together. If I had to pick I am not sure. UE is 3.5 compatible 100%, SM is, obviously, not. But while I have you ear allow me to plug for several more books in the FR line: Races of Faerun is excellent and covers all sub-groups of humans and all other races (except star elves, which came out with UE). I like to use Races of Faerun in conjunction with the FRCS and Unapproachable East. If you are looking for a Faerun-wide good book I would recommend RoF. Oh, and as a minor side note I also use Magic of Faerun a lot. It is an unsung treasure trove of items (more than 200) placing it, I believe, in a category above the 3.5 DMG (whose items listing by the way is dismal). Of course I am diverging and recommending spending more than you have...maybe... The summary: 1.) Buy Races of Faerun 2.) Buy either Silver Marches or Unapproachable East 3.) Buy Magic of Faerun 4.) Buy Faiths and Pantheons 5.) Buy Lords of Darkness Good luck! :bounce:
ssvegeta555 07-21-03, 12:06 AM	I'm not intrested much in regional supplements as of yet, so I'm gettign races of faerun. One question though. In races of fearun are there any info on Yaun-ti? and if so a lot of cool stuff about them? Thanks in advance
Cthulhu 07-21-03, 12:31 AM	Races of Faerun has a whole section on Yuan-ti in the Minor Races chapter. It has a couple of pages of stuff thats not to bad. But with the release of 3.5 your going to run into some problems. The Yuan Ti Pureblood (the only type done up in a player format)described in RoF is based on the 3.0 Monster Manual so is a 6 hit dice monster with a ECL of 11. The Yuan Ti in MM 3.5 is a 4 hit dice monster with a ECL of 6 (and less powerful magic abilities as well) but also given a full write up right in the MM as a PC race. I actually think the new Yuan ti is an improvement from a PC point of view since it lets you start with one at a reasonable level with plenty of space for class development.
Reefy 07-21-03, 06:39 PM	I'd say Silver Marches or Unapproachable East are only worth it if you're planning on running your campaign there or you're just keen on reading/owning everything you can lay your hands on. I don't actually have Races of Faerūn, Magic of Faerūn, Faiths and Pantheons or Lords of Darkness due to limited funds. I do have Silver Marches as that's where my campaign is and also Monsters of Faerūn as well as the obligatory FRCS. If I were to get one of the other books, what would you lot recommend?
Faeryl Zauvirr 07-21-03, 08:46 PM	I would recommend you get Lords of Darkness. Faiths and Pantheons are full of faulty god statistics (but it does have some good stuff in it) and I never really found Magic of Faerun that valuable.
Alisttair 07-21-03, 08:56 PM	EVERYONE GET EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!
ssvegeta555 07-22-03, 12:47 AM	Originally posted by Alisttair EVERYONE GET EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!! I Plan to get every book in the future. :D (just got 6 books this month).
Patrakis 07-22-03, 12:56 PM	SSvegeta, Unless you plan on running a campaign on a specific region covered in a regional supplement, i would recommand buying books covering more general subjects. After FRCS, my favorite is faiths and pantheon and then races of faerun and then lords of darkness. But of course, not many of us are very reasonable so you will, in the end, be buying all of them. :) Just take the time to appreciate each one.