Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Forsaken_Rocker 06-23-04, 01:46 AM	Who or What got you into Faerun and the Forgotten Realms. When did you first play a campaign there? And why do you think the Forgotten Realms are so interesting and keep attracting new players. Please if novels are mentioned just say what grabbed your attention about the realms and keep it short For me I was only 11, saw the Ice Wind Dale Triliogy it looked good, soon i was buying fr books left and right and i started playing campaigns when i was 13
Kuje31 06-23-04, 02:20 AM	The old SSI games for the commodore 64, then the novels that went with them.... Later in my teens I bought the Menzoberranzan box set and later returned for more sourcebooks of the world! Now I'm a addict for Ed's wonderful world.
Another Gnome 06-23-04, 05:12 AM	Baldur's Gate (the first PC game in the series). I can't even imagine being introduced to Realms in any other way. The game even scarred me for life so that I find it weird to play anything above 7th level. :D After that, I got into Drizzt novels and finally started PnP gaming as well in fall 1999 - a little before 3E came out. (As a side note, I had no idea of the edition change before accidentally stumbling on this bloody website where I've been stuck ever since...) As for what I find so attractive in the Realms is entirely based on BG. Meeting Elminster and Drizzt for the first time in the game was something that had such a mysterious feel to it - it was obvious that those guys are somehow famous, but I had no idea who they were supposed to be. I just had to find out more about them, and the strange but still somehow familiar world they live in. (Imagine my shock when I read this Drizzt dude worships a goddess called Mielikki - I first thought it was just because of the Finnish translator of the book...) The best thing about Realms has to be the exploration of and the immersion to the vast unknown, and while it may hurt the gaming experience, I do believe the exploration is best done all by oneself, out of the game even if it was done using the game-related material.
Mr. FIXIT 06-23-04, 06:00 AM	I was new to Ad&d at the time, and looking for a Dragonlance Campaign Setting (the novels was what made me start roleplaying anyway), but some guy in the store I went to told me that it would be almost impossible to find. He recommended the Forgotten Realms instead (and I must admit, the Box Setting felt like a chest o´gold in my hands) and so I bought it. Problem was that I could barely utter a word of english at the time, so it took me quite a few years to realize the full splendour and magic of the setting. So I have been playing now for 11 years, and still going strong... FR forever!!:D
Link182 06-23-04, 06:02 AM	I read Douglas Niles's Black Wizards, which I guess was the second in Moonshae trilogy way back when. Having played AD&D for years, I then saw the FR Boxed set. After reading through it, I was hooked. It was far more creative than Greyhawk or any of the multicolored boxed sets. Nothing ever grabbed me like the 1E FR box set.
ssvegeta555 06-23-04, 06:34 AM	I got into the FR by playing Bladurs Gate. Considering you only played in the sword coast north, I wanted to know more about the rest of Fearun. So I got the 3e FR book. After that I was hooked. Even though I had that book (and many others for FR) for 2 years I only started to play in the realms (well not officialy started but getting there). I can't wait to DM my first FR mission. It's gonna be awsome.
Khalon 06-24-04, 07:52 AM	I heard of some cool freak drow called Drizzt in a session at my friends place back in the days. So when i was on vacation in scotland a few weeks later i just bought the ad&d FR boxed set in a shop over there. And after that day I have been into the world and my gaming group has used it as a default world for campaigns.
badmojo 06-24-04, 10:48 AM	Drow. Pure and simple. I hated the elves of dragonlance and here come the drow. Chaos and evilness with a splash of rebellion. Considering Lloth is the god of Chaos the possibilities for Drow characters are endless. Who knows, even Drizzit might be Lloth blessed.
Crust 06-24-04, 11:15 AM	The Crystal Shard.
Alac Luin 06-24-04, 12:13 PM	The Pool of Radiance game on Nintendo (a port from the PC game) I played the game many times, leading to countless sleep spells cast on the kobolds. I was still reluctant of FR, I played Drow and was into Spelljammer before I came into the realms for good. As a matter of fact, my first FR accesory was "Realmspace"
Acrilos 06-24-04, 12:32 PM	I discovered the Forgotten Realms with the firest campaign setting with the 1st edition of DD, called AD&D by then. I wanted a world for my players to play in. I immediately sensed the immense potential of Faerun. Since then, I still DM in this setting at the 3.5 edtion of DD and still enjoy it very much. My favorite places to set adventures are the Moonsea, the Savage Frontier and Cormyr. There are so many things to do with so little time... Have a nice FR adventure everyone :)
Mel Ann Cholly 06-24-04, 02:59 PM	For me it was seeing a book in the library with this big skeletal dragon that looked cool (the book was "Spellfire"). From there I started reading various novels (Moonshae, Druidhome, Cleric Quintet) and eventually started in with a group that was playing FR. Now with 3e (or 3.5 if you will), FR's convenient...it's a world we all know. I'm also in a Dragonlance campaign, but I don't know the Dragonlance world as well as I know the Realms (okay, so I know who Raistlin is, that's about it). Subsequently I have more fun in the Realms because I don't have to wonder if I should be concerned when the party goes to a city named "Tilverton" or go "Myth Drannon? Sure, sounds fun!"
saucercrab 06-24-04, 08:29 PM	The Advanced Dungeons & Dragons comic series put out by DC was my first dash o' Realms. The characters were gritty & not too good (alignment-wise) & the art was dammmmm good (quality-wise). Then when the Forgotten Realms series kicked off, it got even better; ninjas, artifacts & dwarf-inhabited golems, oh my!
Forsaken_Rocker 06-24-04, 10:00 PM	So far its 5 books/comics 4 games 2 friends/remcomendation and 2 other
Chosen Of Bhaal 06-25-04, 12:19 AM	Baldurs gate, which is the main reason for my love of the lord of murder, although i've found far out far cooler stuff about him from elsehwere
Ranger REG 06-25-04, 03:35 AM	Well, I never got into Greyhawk. When I first played D&D, it was the boxed sets (Basic, Expert, etc.) so the world wasn't really defined nor detailed. It also wasn't AD&D. So, when this grey boxed set appeared on store shelves, I thought, "well, maybe I should embrace this as my starting fantasy world." And the rest is history.
dragonheart 06-25-04, 01:45 PM	when did I start? well sort of back in '80 when I started gaming. it was more homebrew wiht modules from all the then extant campaigns used as a mish mash but I rember hearing about undermountain and such back then. I ran homebrew for years but switched to FR when I stopped having the time to create stuff for homebrew about '96. I've enjoyed the novels but the games never really got me going.
Bo Shadefox 06-25-04, 01:50 PM	I was just started out playing some AD&D, when I coincidently bought the Icewin Dale computer game. In the manual there was a FAQ saying something about whether or not characters from the Icewind Dale Trilogy would be in the game. I had no idea what that trilogy would be about, but I ordered it on my local library and I was hooked.
ramblin_chimp3.0 06-25-04, 04:00 PM	I first got into Forgotten realms by reading the book The Magehound. 4 years later i'm still playing the game and i've got over 120 books of the series
Cthulhu 06-25-04, 04:14 PM	I fell into Forgotten Realms incidentally. I used to belong to a huge gaming club (30+ members) and there was always something RP related going on. One week Rolemaster, the next Gamma World (that was me running), Warhammer, Spacemaster, Chill, CoC, etc, to the latest AD&D campaign setting. Forgotten Realms became the popular default D&D setting and thats the one we have played ever since. Even these days long after the clubs disbanding we still automatically assume Forgotten Realms (although some of the newer players are pushing Kalamar...a very good setting I might add). I don't particularly favor FR myself (and these days we are heavier into Exalted from WW), but its a good solid fantasy world with a lot of resources. It would be foolish to ignore it.
ruleslawyer 06-25-04, 08:25 PM	Ed's Dragon articles and Jeff Grubb's Manual of the Planes. I figured that anything that those two put together would HAVE to be good, and I wasn't disappointed when I bought the grey box. The wealth of detail and sheer weight of adventuring hooks (bolstered substantially when FR1 Waterdeep, FR4 The Magister, FR5 The Savage Frontier, and FR6 Dreams of the Red Wizards came out) really kept me going.
WraithXIII 06-25-04, 08:38 PM	My first exposure to the Realms started with Homeland, the origins of Drizzt. I found the book at the school library, along with the two sequels. I tried to read the books that came chronologically after, but Breunor and them didn't interest me too much. My next encounter actually came about four years ago, when our new DM actually put us in the Forgotten Realms. It was new to me, so naturally I started sucking in all the info I could find about it. Since then, its been my world of choice for gaming. I do however like to revisit my first love, DragonLance from time to time. The latest series I read in that realm was the Kingpriest Trilogy.
BHC_Crow 06-26-04, 11:01 AM	As for me.... In 1990 my old DM, of the Grey Hawk campaign moved, so I started playing with a new group of peeps. My new DM used Forgotten Realms. After a few novels down my throat, and some fun gamming sessions I was hooked on the world. When I started DMing, in 1992, I knew that Greyhawk was a dying world, and I absolutely hated Dragon Lance's wimpy fairy tale-like (look at me I'm a silvanesti princess) setting, so... there was only one option.. Forgotten Realms. What I like: Toril; A world of rogue city states, vast wilderness, and sizable landscapes. A world of powerful special interest groups, and ancient magics. A well designed spread of maps, facts, and who's who dynamics. FR has a history that is deep and exciting. Its by far the best published gaming world for the player and dm alike. The way the overall world is balanced, a DM can add/drop what he/she sees fit without screwing up the setting. Ed and the boys kicked :censored: :bow: What I Dislike: The simple fact that the game designers have not produced a book and map on Kara Tur, and/or other far-off extensions of the Realms. I have to use my beloved 1st edition box set and Atlas for the Oriental half of the continent, and I dont have 2nd Es Zahkhara. I really think that the Monk class should have been kept Oriental only, since its obviously based of the Buddhist Shaolin priest. IMO; It doesn't really fit into the European setting of Faerun. As a DM, I keep monks somewhat rare in Faerun, with monastaries, spread in mostly the eastern areas.
Ranger REG 06-27-04, 02:38 AM	Maybe. But the monk class is a throwback to the 1e version, which was inspired by co-creator Gary Gygax when he was a fan of the David Carradine's Kung Fu TV series (Kwai Chang Caine, after having studied Shaolin until the death of his master, left for America to find his parents). He depicted that to be an archetype of the wandering monk. (BTW, the Kung Fu First Season DVD set is available.)
Karanthus Oblodra 06-27-04, 04:54 AM	Sojourn. After that I've read pretty much EVERY SINGLE Faerun book I can get my filthy little hands on.
warlockco 06-27-04, 07:56 AM	I have to agree with Kuje31, the old goldbox games from SSI, Curse of the Azure Bonds is what started it for me, then from there I went and got all of them. Even did the Dragonlance ones, but the Realms ones were my favorites. One thing that I absolutely loved about the Realms and still do is, compared to any of the other worlds, Greyhawk and Dragonlance mainly, is the world was so much more alive, was something that I could picture myself being in. Greyhawk and Dragonlance always felt too engraved in stone to me, nothing could be done with them, because the worlds were "completely" explored and nothing new could be done with them. I have several times attempted to create my own World, but I keep getting drawn back to the Realms. Because there is so much history and character to the world. The Novels were another hook, not so much now as before though. Don't know if it is just me or not, but with the exception of the new novels that are coming out in hardcover, most of the paperbacks I just don't care for at all.
BHC_Crow 06-27-04, 05:43 PM	Originally posted by Ranger REG Maybe. But the monk class is a throwback to the 1e version, which was inspired by co-creator Gary Gygax when he was a fan of the David Carradine's Kung Fu TV series (Kwai Chang Caine, after having studied Shaolin until the death of his master, left for America to find his parents). He depicted that to be an archetype of the wandering monk. (BTW, the Kung Fu First Season DVD set is available.) Thats true Ranger. I hear ya. I just dont litter the Faerunian landscape with them. but I love Monks and kung fu Characters as much as the next guy. I just keep them "kinda" rare. makes monk characters that much more special though..
warlockco 06-27-04, 05:55 PM	Originally posted by BHC_Crow The simple fact that the game designers have not produced a book and map on Kara Tur, and/or other far-off extensions of the Realms. I have to use my beloved 1st edition box set and Atlas for the Oriental half of the continent, and I dont have 2nd Es Zahkhara. I really think that the Monk class should have been kept Oriental only, since its obviously based of the Buddhist Shaolin priest. IMO; It doesn't really fit into the European setting of Faerun. As a DM, I keep monks somewhat rare in Faerun, with monastaries, spread in mostly the eastern areas. Kara Tur has been replaced by the Legend of Five Rings (Rokugan) World Setting as the "Official" Oriental Adventures setting. Think messed up feudal Japan, that is what Rokugan is. I still have all my Kara Tur material, not as much as I would like, but enough that I can run an adventure there using the Revision Update that was published in Dragon for OA, the Regional Feats that was published in a different Dragon for Kara Tur. And I'll just kill off the different Clans that are presented in the OA book. Since if I run a campaign in Kara Tur it will most likely take place in Shou Lung.
Jecca-neko 06-27-04, 08:12 PM	My first exposure to D&D and the Forgotten Realms was Neverwinter Nights. I picked it up at Best Buy on a whim. That got me interested in D&D but I didn't know where to start. I didn't start playing D&D until maybe October of last year when I met some people who played. The DM seems to have played every campaign setting at least once but his favorite is the Forgotten Realms. I instantly fell in love with the game, as expected since I liked Neverwinter Nights so much. Thank you Bioware for making me interested in both D&D and FR. :bow:
ORC_Paradox 06-27-04, 11:08 PM	It was the grey boxed set for me. But, I think it really started with Dragon Magazine. The DM brought in the FR map, and I thought it was very neat. He wouldn't tell me where he got it (the jerk), but, since I bought every Dragon at that point, I got my own copy. Then one day I saw the boxed set in the mall and thought it was cool. (I love boxed sets. It's like opening a treasure chest.) However, I didn't really dig in to the material as I didn't particularly like the brown font on the light brown background. It was a bit difficult for me to read. (I did skim it, though.)
Lashan 06-28-04, 08:33 AM	I am the same as ruleslawyer. I read Ed's early Dragon Magazine aritcles. I read about places such as Zhentil Keep and Waterdeep with having no idea what they really were. Ed had all these great articles about magic weapons with all these cool histories and stories. I had wished that there was a detailed world that went with all that. I was dis-satisfied with Greyhawk for the lack of what the gameworld "felt" like. When I saw the grey boxed set and realized what it was, I was overjoyed. I still DM my players around that time frame, too.
Ranger REG 06-28-04, 06:27 PM	Originally posted by WizO_Paradox Then one day I saw the boxed set in the mall and thought it was cool. (I love boxed sets. It's like opening a treasure chest.) However, I didn't really dig in to the material as I didn't particularly like the brown font on the light brown background. It was a bit difficult for me to read. (I did skim it, though.) You mean the brown text on parchment pages? The font color I agree, but it does make the text seems ... aged. What's more, it was the first AD&D product to offer pronunciation guide after each unique words. No other TSR's setting have gone through that kind of trouble. It makes it more user-friendly. It also offers the kind of fluff material to put you into that world, like the most common phrases or sayings ("Olore!").
mortellan 06-29-04, 08:41 PM	The Ed Greenwood dragon articles and the gray box set, back when things were mysterious and simple. What got me out of the Forgotten Realms? The glut started by TSR.
thoranor 07-02-04, 09:19 PM	i got the map from a dragon magazine as well not having the patience to make my own world at the time and not much liking greyhawk or dragonlance even though i'd had played a few memorable campaigns in that world.once i found the ole grey boxed set i've got every version since then. i have alot of 2e material just on FR and got the 3e version as soon as i saw it!
Sir Dorian Kelvedor 07-03-04, 01:44 AM	I was also a Dragon reader. I distinctly remember getting excited when I discovered a new Pages from the Mages where Elminster would reveal some new items, spells, or other fun stuff. Then I heard that an entire BOX SET of stuff from this cool new campaign world was being released. There was much rejoicing. I bought it as soon as it came out. I know my Army roommates had to think I was way weird- I had this make-believe world map from some freaky game on my wall. It was goooood. I read the Moonshae trilogy when it came out, but when Crystal Shard was released I knew I was totally hooked. And yeah, I did jump on the bandwagon and run a coupla drow PCs back then- I still have one of 'em. They were good times.
druid berrymore 07-03-04, 02:08 AM	The Players Guide to the Forgotten Realms Campaign. The sidebars with "Cheeses of the Realms", and "Wines of the Realms" did it for me. The fact that there was so much information about the world made me feel like it was something I could really get lost in, and I did. I still am. I have set the books aside for months and sometime years at a time, but I always come back.
Otus 07-03-04, 09:53 AM	The usual: Baldurs Gate pc game and Drizzt books.
Forsaken_Rocker 07-04-04, 05:46 PM	Originally posted by Sir Dorian Kelvedor I was also a Dragon reader. I distinctly remember getting excited when I discovered a new Pages from the Mages where Elminster would reveal some new items, spells, or other fun stuff. Then I heard that an entire BOX SET of stuff from this cool new campaign world was being released. There was much rejoicing. I bought it as soon as it came out. I know my Army roommates had to think I was way weird- I had this make-believe world map from some freaky game on my wall. It was goooood. I read the Moonshae trilogy when it came out, but when Crystal Shard was released I knew I was totally hooked. And yeah, I did jump on the bandwagon and run a coupla drow PCs back then- I still have one of 'em. They were good times. haha monty python (there was much rejoicing) sorry for the lack of responses, i haven't been getting emails for some weird reason, (i know i'm not suscribed, but i didn't unsubscrive my self) I would really like to find the little gray box (FR box set), but i really haven't seen at, can you tell me which shops i might find it at. (i've looked at barnes and noble, and wizards of the coast shops)
Forsaken_Rocker 07-04-04, 05:47 PM	double post :nonono:
riceisnice 07-04-04, 06:43 PM	Baldur's Gate was what got me into it the Realms. The "Shadowdale" book in the 2nd Edition boxed set was what really made me love it.
warlockco 07-04-04, 07:11 PM	For those that are looking for old 2E materials that are out of print, you can go HERE (http://wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/downloads) to download them as pdf files. The FR Box itself isn't there, but alot of the other supplements are.
Ranger REG 07-05-04, 02:27 AM	Originally posted by mortellan What got me out of the Forgotten Realms? The glut started by TSR. Define "glut." If you mean Kara-Tur, Hordeland, Maztica, Zakhara, Waterdeep, Cormyr, The Dalelands, Dwarves' Deep, Elves of Evermeet, Drow of the Underdark, Menzoberranzan, Old Empires, Moonsea, Pirates of the Fallen Stars, Draconomicon, etc., I disagree.
druid berrymore 07-05-04, 01:36 PM	Originally posted by mortellan The Ed Greenwood dragon articles and the gray box set, back when things were mysterious and simple. What got me out of the Forgotten Realms? The glut started by TSR. I agree that when there is an oversaturation of material things tend to lose that feeling of mystery. However, campaign settings are just like rpgs in general. Take what you like, and toss what you don't. There are things about the Realms that a lot of us hate. Maztica Shmaztica, I say. I think that what makes the Realms great at this point is also what makes them undesirable. Fr has changed, but it is still our world. Make it however you want.
Otori Takeo 07-25-04, 10:35 PM	Originally posted by Another Gnome Baldur's Gate (the first PC game in the series). I can't even imagine being introduced to Realms in any other way. The game even scarred me for life so that I find it weird to play anything above 7th level. :D After that, I got into Drizzt novels and finally started PnP gaming as well in fall 1999 - a little before 3E came out. (As a side note, I had no idea of the edition change before accidentally stumbling on this bloody website where I've been stuck ever since...) As for what I find so attractive in the Realms is entirely based on BG. Meeting Elminster and Drizzt for the first time in the game was something that had such a mysterious feel to it - it was obvious that those guys are somehow famous, but I had no idea who they were supposed to be. I just had to find out more about them, and the strange but still somehow familiar world they live in. (Imagine my shock when I read this Drizzt dude worships a goddess called Mielikki - I first thought it was just because of the Finnish translator of the book...) The best thing about Realms has to be the exploration of and the immersion to the vast unknown, and while it may hurt the gaming experience, I do believe the exploration is best done all by oneself, out of the game even if it was done using the game-related material. same baldurs gate made fr look so cool plus i think it is better then normal dnd because of all the npc's and descriptions of places
Cold Napalm 07-25-04, 10:42 PM	I got a grey box with the stack of book I bought to start playing this game for 75 bucks from somebody going out... Glut...ah glut... When I first started to really play this game, there wasn't anything new, so I bought any new book that came out, right away and all of them...now with all ths glut, I barely buy any books anymore. The last one I got was players guide to faerun and that was so i can play in 3.5 games...I don't forsee buying any of the new books that are coming out in the 3 months... I miss those old volo's guide...I wish I bought some of them...they are hard to comeby nowdays. They are fun to read as any novel really.
Lashan 07-26-04, 09:40 AM	I think I would define the "glut" into what made FR a "high magic" campaign. It didn't start off being high magic. I mean, one of those legendary swords listed in the old Dragon magazines only gave a bonus to hit, but not on damage. The most powerful sword was only +2. That is not high magic. Things did change when the core "iconic" NPCs gained levels. Remember when the Knights of Myth Drannor were all under lvl ten (by quite a bit, too)? Why did they need to be bumped up to these super levels that they are? When did the Seven Sisters idea start? That is one of the main "gluts" that I dislike. I mean, it's like mixing Marvel Superheros and FR together. The same with all these other super powered ideas that came out. Silverfire? Might make a good novel, but it is overbalancing for PCs to use it. Isn't it suppose to be rare? Why is it that 1 in 12 players seems to have it? To many people, I bet, these are the things that make FR stand out more. To me, they just turned a great setting into an semi-annoying one that not many of my friends want to play in. I'm not saying I hate FR (or I wouldn't be here), but I sure dump out a lot of stuff when I play. Also, why the focus on having so many NPCs and their stats? I want the characters to be the focus of the game and I don't need to introduce NPCs from novels that none I game with read. *end rant* Just my humble opinion.
Enslaved DM 07-26-04, 04:41 PM	Early Dragon articles. Loved the racing story that went with the ecology of the cockatrice.
Graz'zt, Prince of Shadow 07-26-04, 07:22 PM	Since I started playing with 3.0, I'd have to say the far, far, far superiority of the FR books (with a couple early exceptions) over the generic books. Faiths and Pantheons? Better than Deities and Demigods. Races of Faerun did a much better with, say, the planetouched than the new Planar Handbook did. A lot of the older products were gold as well (Demihuman Deities is usable even in Greyhawk). Now the novels on the other hand...let's just say that we use R.A. Salvatore as an invective in our group. ;)
Cold Napalm 07-26-04, 10:26 PM	El use to be a measley level 17 too in the good old days. FR really is a high magic world now. I remember in 2ed people didn't want to play in it because you could not use guns in that world. Gunpowder or any eletronic based tech just failed to work so if you wanted interesting weapons and eq you had to be real creative about it. I actually like this because it set the world in a high fantasy high adventure setting...now they have the gnomes of lantan, spell jammers intruesions, acient netherse tech which might as well be sci fi...
The Gunslinger 07-26-04, 11:13 PM	The Crystal Shard, the rest avalanched from there with a mix of FR novels and PnP in FR. The great thing about the Realms is the ton of history at your fingertips. Ironically, that's what turned some people away, but it's up to the DM to use it or not. It's a shame those people let their Realms get spoiled. No 1 DM can come up with as much background info and NPC's as what the FR has now. +2 sword used to be high magic? Knight of Myth Drannor all below 10th level? So what? It's a game after all and the mechanics *have to* evolve or else it gets stagnant after a few years. What? Do you want to play every weekend for 10 years to get to level 10? LOL I'd get bored REAL fast. I don't expect to get to level 10, 15, or 20 in a month either. ;)
Thelandrach 07-27-04, 10:23 AM	A friend of mine, Steve Perrin, wrote a module/campaign setting called Under Illefarn, and he asked me to run a playtest game to see how well it worked. I've used it as my campaign setting ever since, and have started seven or eight different campaigns, all from the same town, with the previous campaign histories as town history.
ClobberinTime 07-27-04, 10:40 AM	Wow, I'm surprised that so many of you all got into it through computer games and novels. Personally, I liked and still like greyhawk alot. The City of Greyhawk boxed set is one of the greatest creations of all time. The Iuz versus the forces of good has absolutely fantastic plot hooks. The problem is that the history of Greyhawk is weak, and the world isn't very diverse. Anyways, if FR had some Sauron like uber evil deity like Iuz, I would like it more. The detail is unbeatable though.
Zigra 07-27-04, 04:32 PM	Two things got me into FR: my love for reptiles (especially snakes and dinosaurs) and my love for Egyptian mythology. I picked up "Powers and Pantheons" and not only did I like that there was an Egyptian-style culture with Egyptian gods, but I also loved that there was a land (Chult) that was not only populated with dinosaurs of all sorts, but even had a dinosaur god! The real kicker, however, was that many of the reptilian races, like yuan-ti, nagas, couatls, etc. seemed to be more prominent on Toril than in any other campaign setting, and they even had a more deep and complex origin (their connection to the sarrukh/sauroids) than in any other setting.
Cold Napalm 07-27-04, 05:17 PM	I never liked the monolithic evil. I like the way the realms have pockets of power. I mean really greyhawk has all these iconic characters and yet, near nothing is known about them. It kinda detracts from being involved in the world.
GothicDan 07-27-04, 05:59 PM	The Realms are great. They are full of history and of magic, and they have a lot of possibilities all over the place. It's very, very detailed, and that's good. And it's bad. I agree with the idea that there has been a 'glut' of FR stuff over the past few years, and frankly, it feels like I'm drowning in it. I hate the books, for the most part (at least Salvatore's stuff - and this opinion is not open to discussion, as I don't feel like defending myself), and I dislike how the authors are allowed to play around with the established campaign setting for us. If I ever run a RL FR campaign again, chances are I'll make it right after or before the Time of Troubles, myself. I'm with Planescape first and foremost and Dragonlance myself. They at least have a cohesive theme, and they are very recognizable. FR has so much stuff in it that it's like every hundred miles you're in an entirely different world. Good for adventuring possibilities, but not good for an overall comprehensive view of a world. I'd have to choose my favorite "areas" of the Realms: The Unapproachable East and the Shining South. :)
Zigra 07-27-04, 06:32 PM	Well, I might be alone on this one, but the so-called "glut" isn't really a bad thing in my eyes. Quite the opposite. The numerous lands, cultures, religions, races all make for a more grand and diverse world. In fact, it could be said that this great diversity is what makes Toril a world and not just a world-sized kingdom with only one particular style to go by. Diversity and variety are good things, folks.
GothicDan 07-27-04, 08:03 PM	So, basically... FR is America... And all of the other campaign settings are Europe... Woot for Europe! :) Not that, as I stated, I dislike the Realms. I just think there's a difference in making something detailed and elaborate and trying to shove as much stuff as possible into a single campaign setting. But it seems more and more like my opinions differ so much from the types of gamers that frequent these boards, so what does my view matter anyway?
Cold Napalm 07-27-04, 08:40 PM	There is a reason why I don't buy most of the books that come out anymore...really. Too much glut. I mean the volo guild was glut true, but it was good glut. Serpent kingdom...not good glut. That's just me. I personally like the silver marches area...with UE a close second.
canibus 07-28-04, 01:01 AM	I had to read a book for a class in school, picked up Canticle at the library. I wasn't into reading at the time so I wasnt feeling the book or anything, but I had no choice but to read it, once I finished reading it and went back to the library and took the 4 other books. Now I probably read 50 FR books, 20 DL books and I used to DM an FR campaign in D&D 3rd ed.
Backfish 07-28-04, 07:51 AM	I got into the forgotten realms with Baldurs Gate too. I simply loved to play that Game for evenings with my brother. I had been playing D&D for a while and then started playing in the Forgotten Realms. ________________________ Backfish
Jaxian Redleaf 07-28-04, 08:29 AM	Baldur's Gate for me to... And to make matters worse I still play it!!:D
IcingDeath09 07-29-04, 09:03 AM	For me it was when i was 14 i started with the dark elf trilogy and worked my way up.
Cunning Linguist 07-29-04, 09:42 AM	I played the old SSI games, and I think the Second Ravenloft game got me into P&P RPG. (The one out in the desert, with mummies and stuff, can't rememeber the name) So I went down to the local gaming store and asked about RPG, and asked what's what, and how I could get started. They showed me the core books, the settings, and such. I asked what setting was the best to start with, and they said Forgotten Realms. So I got the books, read them all, then started playing. I as the years went by I got other settings, but I always returned to Forgotten Realms.
Zigra 07-29-04, 11:56 PM	Originally posted by GothicDan [B]So, basically... FR is America... Uh, no. FR is the entire world. That's the point I've been trying to make. Sorry, but if you're going to create an entire world, you need a great diversity of lands, cultures, creatures, religions, etc. to make it seem like an entire world. Having one specific style of culture dominate an entire planet just doesn't work (obviously, I'm not a big Dragonlance fan). And, just to let you know, using Europe as an example really doesn't work, as Europe was once populated by various different types of cultures in ancient times (Romans, Greeks, Celts, Saxons, etc.).
GothicDan 07-30-04, 12:15 AM	I'm not going to get into a big discussion about this, but I'll just say that I think that Faerun is too scattered, culturally, to be very appealing to me. Dragonlance is cool because each country has a unique feel/culture to it, and while there ARE some very specific cases of this in Faerun as well, as a whole, things just become far too mish-mashed. I love Europe because each country has, and each culture has always had, specific key ideas/themes about them. I don't think this is the case in much of Faerun. On another note: I meant to say 'So Faerun is like America.' So that's entirely my fault. :)
Zigra 07-30-04, 12:38 AM	Point taken. I guess one of the main reasons why I enjoy the FR setting so much more than other settings is that it doesn't matter what flavor of fantasy adventure I choose (whether it be a Bronze Age, ancient Celtic, Central America, or even Prehistoric lost world setting), there is very likely to be a place where I can set that adventure. Or, perhaps, if there isn't a place I can set it, I can easily make up one and fit it in somewhere.
GothicDan 07-30-04, 12:49 AM	Yes, I do suppose that's a good thing, and it's particularly applicable when you take into account areas outside of Faerun. But Faerun itself doesn't have much cultural identity - it has cultural variety, yes, but I don't see that as the same thing. If you take into account the whole world of Abeir-Toril - Kara-Tur, Zakhara, Maztica, etc. - you're effectively talking about completely different campaign settings, as that's what the above are. When I think of campaign setting, I think of a single continent, typically, and that's what TSR/WoTC has usually defined it as, as well. They, like me, see no point in trying to smash a million different cultures into a single continent, when instead they can make separate campaign settings that allow them to focus more carefully on those other cultures. Western Faerun bores me in particular, because there are few cases of cohesive cultures that stand out as anything iconic. You have Cormyr, Sembia, and a bunch of other city states and loose alliances that really don't share much in common. That's why I prefer the Unapproachable East, the Shining South, and to an extent, the Old Empires. :)
Zigra 07-30-04, 01:02 AM	Originally posted by GothicDan Western Faerun bores me in particular, because there are few cases of cohesive cultures that stand out as anything iconic. You have Cormyr, Sembia, and a bunch of other city states and loose alliances that really don't share much in common. That's why I prefer the Unapproachable East, the Shining South, and to an extent, the Old Empires. :) That's funny. We both seem to like and hate the exact same places :D ;)
GothicDan 07-30-04, 01:20 AM	Well, then, it seems like we agree on some things, at least. :) Mind you, I love the fact that Cormyr and Sembia are there, because they have a certain identity... But the grand majority of the west is just wasted, in my opinion.
Zigra 07-30-04, 01:25 AM	Another thing we agree on. I'm not a big fan of Cormyr or the Heartlands in general, but having places like those that I don't care for is a necissary evil the way I see it. Having everthing means having everything, ranging from things you really like, things that are so-so, and things that you outright hate.
Cole Deschain 07-30-04, 01:55 AM	Wanna solve the "boring West" problem? Let the Zhents win. ;) Or just say that Yamun Khahan kicked the everlasting tar out of Azoun's "crusade." Hah. Anyway. What got me "into" the Realms? Zhakara and Kara-Tur. What keeps me there? Chult and Maztica.
Nolwelen 07-30-04, 02:21 AM	Well at the beginning i got introduced into the FR by the Drizzt novels I read the Icewind Dale trilogy, the Dark Elf trilogy and two of the newer books. Well today I dont want to come in contact with anything related to terms like:"Drizzt & friends, Artemis Entreri, Menzoberranzan, Chosen of Mystra, Harpers and Harpells to list a few. Im more interested in the Shades, Sshamath, the Red Wizards, Sememmon to list a couple. The only thing I would say to Drizzt or his friends if I meet one or a couple of them in-game would be:"Dont move! Drop your weapons, put your hands in the air and capitulate. You are convicted to be guilty of committing following crimes:'......(Put in whatever you have in mind.:D).' Dont resist your arrestment or we are forced to make use of our weapons. You will be penalized through imprisonment for the rest of your natural life." :D Dont take it too serious.;)
Nathara 07-31-04, 09:07 PM	Though I had played D&D/AD&D for a long time, and had read many of the FR novels, I always dismissed the forgotten realms campaign world (mostly because I would have to buy more stuff -- and if I really needed to, I'd just make it up) until 3rd edition came out. The books were just so much better than all the other 3rd edition books came out that I had to use them. Beautiful campaign setting books are truly a blessing, I say.
Bait the Bard 07-31-04, 09:55 PM	I first got into RGP by playing the almighty (:bow:) Icewind Dale II, set in FR. Then, when I found a nearby gaming group, they were (coincidently) playing in FR, and i have been hooked on it ever scince. - the annoying bard PS - But then I found Rokugan ;)
Ivan Trollsplitter 07-31-04, 10:25 PM	What got me into it? The Avatar Trilogy....what keeps me there, the organization of material, pantheons, characters and the novels. To me there is only one campaign world and that is Forgotten Realms! :bow: I truly respect all those that have brought out the other stuff, but chances are I will never play in your worlds. But then again, who knows??? :smirk:
Nolwelen 07-31-04, 11:48 PM	Another thing that keeps me in the FR is Lathander. This believe that it is never to late to regret and correct your faults. This believe that good is invincible and rises after a defeat as well as it shows mercy and offers forgiveness and atonement, to all who regret to leave nobody hopelessly behind, for archiving a greater victory in which all can participate which have honest intensions. In no other RPG System, in no other setting I found an Icon for what "good" realy means to me as with Lathander the Morninglord.