Why Get FR [Archive] - Wizards Community - Pages Merged by Solauren

Why Get FR [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Azual
11-24-04, 09:24 PM Ok. i have read the ECS and i really like the style, adventure, and pulp/noir feel of Eberron. However, the upperclassmen at my High School are really, shall i say hostile, about having a freshie in their club, one of them, however, has extended an inviteif im reallt interested. They play FR, so could someone who is a lover of the itrigue and corruptedness of Eberron feel at least comfortable in this campaign?
Also, i got Never Winter Nights Platinum, i like the game alot, though i think ill engoy the Eberron Game better. Neverwinter... is tough, and im using that as a kind of test of the culture and story of FR.
Anyway, is FR a good step if im into the Ebberon Style adventure?
:bigeyes:
GothicDan
11-24-04, 10:02 PM Err..

FR is THE campaign setting for intrigue. It was designed to be a sort of series of dozens (hundreds? thousands?) of webs of intriguing crossing all over each other, leading into a twisted world of huge powers and minor regional powers.

I mean, FR has a region called the "Lands of Intrigue" for a reason. :)
Azual
11-24-04, 10:23 PM but does it have the feel of Eberron, i really like Eberron, and I got really bored with Greyhowk REALLY quickly, so does it have the Action with the intrigue?
Just wondering?
:D
GothicDan
11-24-04, 10:52 PM I've never played Eberron myself. It never really attracted me, mostly because it's a specifically 3.5 world, and 3.5 tends to be seriously lacking in description, history, and all other manners of fluff without 2E products to back it all up.

But as far as action goes? Well, action is whatever the DM wants it to be, no matter what campaign setting you're in. :) Your DM could be the kind that makes you have a nighttime adventure in the wood of Cormanthyr, where you are scrambling and jumping from giant tree to giant tree while being pursued by Drow who are spitting sleeping darts at you as you go. And, of course, you have to try to avoid those traps up in the high trees, only to hope that when you make it to that Druid's grove that you're going to be able to roleplay your way into convincing the Wood Elf Druid that you are really in his wood only for peace. And so he decides to grant you sanction from the Drow, but only if you can go and recover a powerful druidic artifact for him from the ruins of an old temple of Rillifane Ralathil in the depths of a once-sacred grove in the Temple District of the Ruins of Myth Drannor..

Etc. etc.

:)
Azual
11-24-04, 11:14 PM my head hurts...
:D
Thats way too FR thinking, Eberron is... you jump from your airship, make a daring spin, and propel your rapier into a golem, then, you grap thesowrd, and proceed to start a five minute chase scene (enter theme music) throught he towers of sharn.
:D
Much more heroics
5% Thought 95% Pirates of the Carribean
GothicDan
11-24-04, 11:18 PM What's the point in playing a roleplaying game if you're not going to actually play a role? Why not play a video game instead? *Confused*

There is just as much action with my above example, only my example also takes into account Faerunian (FR) lore and history and culture. If you're not interested in actually thinking about things, than FR is not for you.
paradoxmage
11-25-04, 01:34 AM FR and eberron are 2 different campaign settings, it’s that simple. FR doesn’t use action points, and has little in the way of technology.
Eberron has a weak history in my opinion, but that is only because it hasn’t had much material linked to it. Don’t get me wrong it has more than enough to make a campaign and keep players interested. I just find myself looking at it and find it heavy on combat oriented roll-playing.
FR is has an extensive history and much in the way of intrigue everywhere. Good vs Bad and neutral keeping the balance is key to the realms. Having a character in the realms means getting to know a lot of different cultures. A feel that the world revolves whether your character is there or not. You also get the feeling you are able to make a difference in the world with your character. FR is heavy into Role-playing.
It isn’t a question of whether 1 campaign is better than the next it is all up to you, and your preference. It won’t hurt to try the game out, may find you like it. After playing awhile with this group you may convince some of them to try out eberron for a game or 2.
You may end up switching off 1 time playing FR and the next you DM eberron.
ArnimThayer
11-25-04, 02:01 AM As a long time FR DM and player, I can tell you that the Realms definately does not lack for intrigue. Not only is there Calimshan, Amn, and "the Lands of Intrigue", there are so many power groups they've had to make many books and box sets to describe them all (Lord of Darkness, Cloak & Dagger, Drow of Underdark, Code of the Harpers, etc.). What matters is if your DM uses the source materials as the aids they are meant to be. With the exception of the action point mechanic (of which the UA version is better), and a few races (Shifters and War-Forged), Eberron really has nothing new to offer. It is what the Realms will be in DR 2000. In the Realms presently, the Red Wizards of Thay are making magic items cheaply available to the masses, leading to the development of "magic as technology." Coupled with the workings of the follower's of Gond, the WonderBringer, we also have firearms and advanced constructs. I could see Waterdeep or even Iraebor becoming like Sharn, a towering city miles high where all factions can trade, on one level or another. I've played in both campaigns, but I'll stick to FR.
Lashan
11-25-04, 07:38 AM I suggest that you try the FR game. A lot of how FR is portrayed is up to the DM. I've been in some really terrible FR games due to a really bad DM. I've had some really great FR games due to a better DM. The same goes for Greyhawk. My humble suggestion is that you give FR a try and see if you like it. FR can be presented in a number of fashions, depending on the style of the DM. You might not like it, and can then quit, or you might end up liking it a lot.
Azual
11-25-04, 09:32 AM What's the point in playing a roleplaying game if you're not going to actually play a role? Why not play a video game instead? *Confused*

There is just as much action with my above example, only my example also takes into account Faerunian (FR) lore and history and culture. If you're not interested in actually thinking about things, than FR is not for you.

Um that wasnt action, i can see the Dm now with like a pile of just info this thing, buried in paper, you can roleplay a... character who must try and unearthimself from that thesis you just wrote on his situation, or you can play a character whos a guy goin through the underworld, trying to track down a fugitive becuase hes a bounty hunter.
Both have the same amount fo RP, just this one the character isn;t feeling a sense of rush or dread, and he can act much, i don't know... kooler.
:w00t:
Listen, i didnt come here to argue Eberron vs. FR, if i wanted to do that, i would have done it on my home turf, i just want to know what FR has that
a) Makes it better and more interesting then ebberron, and
b) justifies me paying huge amounts of money to get the books (im a freshman in high school, not alot on money especially during the fall)
Azual
11-25-04, 09:33 AM I suggest that you try the FR game. A lot of how FR is portrayed is up to the DM. I've been in some really terrible FR games due to a really bad DM. I've had some really great FR games due to a better DM. The same goes for Greyhawk. My humble suggestion is that you give FR a try and see if you like it. FR can be presented in a number of fashions, depending on the style of the DM. You might not like it, and can then quit, or you might end up liking it a lot.

Ah, ok, ty for the advice, ill try and get them to let me sit in and see if i really find the DMs game enjoyable
GothicDan
11-25-04, 11:00 AM That's a good idea.

Listen, i didnt come here to argue Eberron vs. FR, if i wanted to do that, i would have done it on my home turf, i just want to know what FR has that
a) Makes it better and more interesting then ebberron, and

I'm sorry if it seemed like I was trying to argue with you. It was just that the example I gave had just as much action, and it didn't require me looking at a single book or piece of paper. If a DM has been running the Realms for any length of time (which it seems like this group of seniors has), then they would know what Cormanthyr was and Myth Drannor, since they are pretty famous - probably equivalent to this "Sharn" you're talking about.

And as far as what makes it better and interesting?

It has as much action plus:
- More intrigue
- More roleplaying
- More history
- More culture
- More variety
- More magic

But yeah. Try to sit in on the game, because it seems like it might require too much thinking/roleplaying for your style of Eberron play.

EDIT: Oh yeah. FR is only my third favorite setting, I'd like to point out. So I'm hardly a fanboy. :D
Alac Luin
11-25-04, 12:30 PM If you are going to be a player in this FR game, why would you need to buy all the books?
Many DMs don't even do this.

For more of a feel of the realms, there is alot of history that can be gleaned from the free downloads (36 products if I'm counting right)

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/downloads

Now does FR have the action, intreage, yadda yadda yadda.. the Eberron does?

That depends on the DM
Azual
11-25-04, 12:53 PM hmm now Fr is like 10years old...right?
Ebberon is like.. 1
Campaign Settings are like good wines, they onyl get better with age (Unless its greyhawk, then it just get plain CONFUSING)
Kuje31
11-25-04, 01:35 PM hmm now Fr is like 10years old...right?
Ebberon is like.. 1
Campaign Settings are like good wines, they onyl get better with age (Unless its greyhawk, then it just get plain CONFUSING)

Actually FR is almost 15 years old. The 1st published material, except for what was in Dragon, was published in 1987. But for Ed, the creator of the world, the world is over 30 years old since he created it in 1960 something.
Alac Luin
11-25-04, 01:36 PM hmm now Fr is like 10years old...right?
Ebberon is like.. 1
Campaign Settings are like good wines, they onyl get better with age (Unless its greyhawk, then it just get plain CONFUSING)

Actually, the realms are more like over 30 years old.....
But all that is another story.
Now how about the Dragonlance setting? A goddess pulled the planet into the abyss, but your fine now, now kenders don't have to act like kenders...
Now that’s confusing.

At this point, I'm not sure what side your on now.
Is the FR more detailed and fleshed out? Yes, some say this is a disadvantage of the realms, personally I think its a strength.

On the topic on hand, can the realms have a pulp noir feel?
Definitly…zents, harpers, moonstars, red wizards, lords alliance, Cult of the Dragon, etc, etc, etc…..
More secret/ not so secret societies to be part of, have as sponsors, have as enemies…
Ok, airships are not as common in the realms (there are things like this in the realms)
And the realms does not have a lightning rail.
Other then these two things, there is little style wise that can’t happen in the realms.
It depends on DM’s style

EDIT: I was bussy typeing this when Kuje mentioned the 30 year thing, thats the reason for the repeat.
That and I'm an Agent of the Department of Redundency Agency worker.
Kuje31
11-25-04, 01:48 PM EDIT: I was bussy typeing this when Kuje mentioned the 30 year thing, thats the reason for the repeat.
That and I'm an Agent of the Department of Redundency Agency worker.

:D :bounce:
GothicDan
11-26-04, 11:14 AM Campaign Settings are like good wines, they onyl get better with age (Unless its greyhawk, then it just get plain CONFUSING)

This seems like you're trying to say that the older/more detailed a campaign setting is, but when I brought up examples of that you said it required too much thinking as to the culture.... How else do you detail a setting without wanting to think about its contents?

*Even more confused*
BrianCritchley
11-27-04, 12:16 AM I dislike airships personally, they seem to... final fantasyish too me, but they ARE in FR, just rare.
GothicDan
11-27-04, 02:52 PM Too Final Fantasyish. Exactly. :) Halruaa uses them for trading, and that's pretty much it.
WizO_BigSister
11-28-04, 01:34 PM The Forgotten Realms suits players who like to
1/. Really get inside their characters ... who like a rich back story, lots of information on the cultures and subcultures their characters came from etc
2/. Play in a complex an in depth setting which gives them the feel of really losing themselves into an alternative reality
3/. Spend a lot of their time developing their characters, problem solving and interatcting with NPCs

I am not saying that this style of gaming is the "right" way to play ... far from it. One of the joys of D&D is that it allows people to play in a huge variety of styles, and each game is unique. What I am saying is ... if this is not your kind of game, and you have a limited budget and are already using another setting, then you may not have much to gain from spending money on two settings rather than one.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Azual 11-24-04, 09:24 PM	Ok. i have read the ECS and i really like the style, adventure, and pulp/noir feel of Eberron. However, the upperclassmen at my High School are really, shall i say hostile, about having a freshie in their club, one of them, however, has extended an inviteif im reallt interested. They play FR, so could someone who is a lover of the itrigue and corruptedness of Eberron feel at least comfortable in this campaign? Also, i got Never Winter Nights Platinum, i like the game alot, though i think ill engoy the Eberron Game better. Neverwinter... is tough, and im using that as a kind of test of the culture and story of FR. Anyway, is FR a good step if im into the Ebberon Style adventure? :bigeyes:
GothicDan 11-24-04, 10:02 PM	Err.. FR is THE campaign setting for intrigue. It was designed to be a sort of series of dozens (hundreds? thousands?) of webs of intriguing crossing all over each other, leading into a twisted world of huge powers and minor regional powers. I mean, FR has a region called the "Lands of Intrigue" for a reason. :)
Azual 11-24-04, 10:23 PM	but does it have the feel of Eberron, i really like Eberron, and I got really bored with Greyhowk REALLY quickly, so does it have the Action with the intrigue? Just wondering? :D
GothicDan 11-24-04, 10:52 PM	I've never played Eberron myself. It never really attracted me, mostly because it's a specifically 3.5 world, and 3.5 tends to be seriously lacking in description, history, and all other manners of fluff without 2E products to back it all up. But as far as action goes? Well, action is whatever the DM wants it to be, no matter what campaign setting you're in. :) Your DM could be the kind that makes you have a nighttime adventure in the wood of Cormanthyr, where you are scrambling and jumping from giant tree to giant tree while being pursued by Drow who are spitting sleeping darts at you as you go. And, of course, you have to try to avoid those traps up in the high trees, only to hope that when you make it to that Druid's grove that you're going to be able to roleplay your way into convincing the Wood Elf Druid that you are really in his wood only for peace. And so he decides to grant you sanction from the Drow, but only if you can go and recover a powerful druidic artifact for him from the ruins of an old temple of Rillifane Ralathil in the depths of a once-sacred grove in the Temple District of the Ruins of Myth Drannor.. Etc. etc. :)
Azual 11-24-04, 11:14 PM	my head hurts... :D Thats way too FR thinking, Eberron is... you jump from your airship, make a daring spin, and propel your rapier into a golem, then, you grap thesowrd, and proceed to start a five minute chase scene (enter theme music) throught he towers of sharn. :D Much more heroics 5% Thought 95% Pirates of the Carribean
GothicDan 11-24-04, 11:18 PM	What's the point in playing a roleplaying game if you're not going to actually play a role? Why not play a video game instead? Confused There is just as much action with my above example, only my example also takes into account Faerunian (FR) lore and history and culture. If you're not interested in actually thinking about things, than FR is not for you.
paradoxmage 11-25-04, 01:34 AM	FR and eberron are 2 different campaign settings, it’s that simple. FR doesn’t use action points, and has little in the way of technology. Eberron has a weak history in my opinion, but that is only because it hasn’t had much material linked to it. Don’t get me wrong it has more than enough to make a campaign and keep players interested. I just find myself looking at it and find it heavy on combat oriented roll-playing. FR is has an extensive history and much in the way of intrigue everywhere. Good vs Bad and neutral keeping the balance is key to the realms. Having a character in the realms means getting to know a lot of different cultures. A feel that the world revolves whether your character is there or not. You also get the feeling you are able to make a difference in the world with your character. FR is heavy into Role-playing. It isn’t a question of whether 1 campaign is better than the next it is all up to you, and your preference. It won’t hurt to try the game out, may find you like it. After playing awhile with this group you may convince some of them to try out eberron for a game or 2. You may end up switching off 1 time playing FR and the next you DM eberron.
ArnimThayer 11-25-04, 02:01 AM	As a long time FR DM and player, I can tell you that the Realms definately does not lack for intrigue. Not only is there Calimshan, Amn, and "the Lands of Intrigue", there are so many power groups they've had to make many books and box sets to describe them all (Lord of Darkness, Cloak & Dagger, Drow of Underdark, Code of the Harpers, etc.). What matters is if your DM uses the source materials as the aids they are meant to be. With the exception of the action point mechanic (of which the UA version is better), and a few races (Shifters and War-Forged), Eberron really has nothing new to offer. It is what the Realms will be in DR 2000. In the Realms presently, the Red Wizards of Thay are making magic items cheaply available to the masses, leading to the development of "magic as technology." Coupled with the workings of the follower's of Gond, the WonderBringer, we also have firearms and advanced constructs. I could see Waterdeep or even Iraebor becoming like Sharn, a towering city miles high where all factions can trade, on one level or another. I've played in both campaigns, but I'll stick to FR.
Lashan 11-25-04, 07:38 AM	I suggest that you try the FR game. A lot of how FR is portrayed is up to the DM. I've been in some really terrible FR games due to a really bad DM. I've had some really great FR games due to a better DM. The same goes for Greyhawk. My humble suggestion is that you give FR a try and see if you like it. FR can be presented in a number of fashions, depending on the style of the DM. You might not like it, and can then quit, or you might end up liking it a lot.
Azual 11-25-04, 09:32 AM	What's the point in playing a roleplaying game if you're not going to actually play a role? Why not play a video game instead? Confused There is just as much action with my above example, only my example also takes into account Faerunian (FR) lore and history and culture. If you're not interested in actually thinking about things, than FR is not for you. Um that wasnt action, i can see the Dm now with like a pile of just info this thing, buried in paper, you can roleplay a... character who must try and unearthimself from that thesis you just wrote on his situation, or you can play a character whos a guy goin through the underworld, trying to track down a fugitive becuase hes a bounty hunter. Both have the same amount fo RP, just this one the character isn;t feeling a sense of rush or dread, and he can act much, i don't know... kooler. :w00t: Listen, i didnt come here to argue Eberron vs. FR, if i wanted to do that, i would have done it on my home turf, i just want to know what FR has that a) Makes it better and more interesting then ebberron, and b) justifies me paying huge amounts of money to get the books (im a freshman in high school, not alot on money especially during the fall)
Azual 11-25-04, 09:33 AM	I suggest that you try the FR game. A lot of how FR is portrayed is up to the DM. I've been in some really terrible FR games due to a really bad DM. I've had some really great FR games due to a better DM. The same goes for Greyhawk. My humble suggestion is that you give FR a try and see if you like it. FR can be presented in a number of fashions, depending on the style of the DM. You might not like it, and can then quit, or you might end up liking it a lot. Ah, ok, ty for the advice, ill try and get them to let me sit in and see if i really find the DMs game enjoyable
GothicDan 11-25-04, 11:00 AM	That's a good idea. Listen, i didnt come here to argue Eberron vs. FR, if i wanted to do that, i would have done it on my home turf, i just want to know what FR has that a) Makes it better and more interesting then ebberron, and I'm sorry if it seemed like I was trying to argue with you. It was just that the example I gave had just as much action, and it didn't require me looking at a single book or piece of paper. If a DM has been running the Realms for any length of time (which it seems like this group of seniors has), then they would know what Cormanthyr was and Myth Drannor, since they are pretty famous - probably equivalent to this "Sharn" you're talking about. And as far as what makes it better and interesting? It has as much action plus: - More intrigue - More roleplaying - More history - More culture - More variety - More magic But yeah. Try to sit in on the game, because it seems like it might require too much thinking/roleplaying for your style of Eberron play. EDIT: Oh yeah. FR is only my third favorite setting, I'd like to point out. So I'm hardly a fanboy. :D
Alac Luin 11-25-04, 12:30 PM	If you are going to be a player in this FR game, why would you need to buy all the books? Many DMs don't even do this. For more of a feel of the realms, there is alot of history that can be gleaned from the free downloads (36 products if I'm counting right) http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/downloads Now does FR have the action, intreage, yadda yadda yadda.. the Eberron does? That depends on the DM
Azual 11-25-04, 12:53 PM	hmm now Fr is like 10years old...right? Ebberon is like.. 1 Campaign Settings are like good wines, they onyl get better with age (Unless its greyhawk, then it just get plain CONFUSING)
Kuje31 11-25-04, 01:35 PM	hmm now Fr is like 10years old...right? Ebberon is like.. 1 Campaign Settings are like good wines, they onyl get better with age (Unless its greyhawk, then it just get plain CONFUSING) Actually FR is almost 15 years old. The 1st published material, except for what was in Dragon, was published in 1987. But for Ed, the creator of the world, the world is over 30 years old since he created it in 1960 something.
Alac Luin 11-25-04, 01:36 PM	hmm now Fr is like 10years old...right? Ebberon is like.. 1 Campaign Settings are like good wines, they onyl get better with age (Unless its greyhawk, then it just get plain CONFUSING) Actually, the realms are more like over 30 years old..... But all that is another story. Now how about the Dragonlance setting? A goddess pulled the planet into the abyss, but your fine now, now kenders don't have to act like kenders... Now that’s confusing. At this point, I'm not sure what side your on now. Is the FR more detailed and fleshed out? Yes, some say this is a disadvantage of the realms, personally I think its a strength. On the topic on hand, can the realms have a pulp noir feel? Definitly…zents, harpers, moonstars, red wizards, lords alliance, Cult of the Dragon, etc, etc, etc….. More secret/ not so secret societies to be part of, have as sponsors, have as enemies… Ok, airships are not as common in the realms (there are things like this in the realms) And the realms does not have a lightning rail. Other then these two things, there is little style wise that can’t happen in the realms. It depends on DM’s style EDIT: I was bussy typeing this when Kuje mentioned the 30 year thing, thats the reason for the repeat. That and I'm an Agent of the Department of Redundency Agency worker.
Kuje31 11-25-04, 01:48 PM	EDIT: I was bussy typeing this when Kuje mentioned the 30 year thing, thats the reason for the repeat. That and I'm an Agent of the Department of Redundency Agency worker. :D :bounce:
GothicDan 11-26-04, 11:14 AM	Campaign Settings are like good wines, they onyl get better with age (Unless its greyhawk, then it just get plain CONFUSING) This seems like you're trying to say that the older/more detailed a campaign setting is, but when I brought up examples of that you said it required too much thinking as to the culture.... How else do you detail a setting without wanting to think about its contents? Even more confused
BrianCritchley 11-27-04, 12:16 AM	I dislike airships personally, they seem to... final fantasyish too me, but they ARE in FR, just rare.
GothicDan 11-27-04, 02:52 PM	Too Final Fantasyish. Exactly. :) Halruaa uses them for trading, and that's pretty much it.
WizO_BigSister 11-28-04, 01:34 PM	The Forgotten Realms suits players who like to 1/. Really get inside their characters ... who like a rich back story, lots of information on the cultures and subcultures their characters came from etc 2/. Play in a complex an in depth setting which gives them the feel of really losing themselves into an alternative reality 3/. Spend a lot of their time developing their characters, problem solving and interatcting with NPCs I am not saying that this style of gaming is the "right" way to play ... far from it. One of the joys of D&D is that it allows people to play in a huge variety of styles, and each game is unique. What I am saying is ... if this is not your kind of game, and you have a limited budget and are already using another setting, then you may not have much to gain from spending money on two settings rather than one.