Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Flicker 02-21-08, 06:59 AM	ok, in an attempt to lighten the mood a little, what are your favourite areas of the realms and why? Mine is the North below the Spine of the World, coming from the north of the UK, this has echoes of home with the weather and reminds me very much of why I enjoy rpging, the sense that everything isn't quite settled and you have to be on your guard.
GothicDan 02-21-08, 08:15 AM	Thay (shifted around), Halruaa (blown up), Evermeet (probably to be ignored), Silverymoon (still standing - for now)... How's that for lightening the mood? :p
Alediran 02-21-08, 08:21 AM	I can't include an area in the I don't like category, just in the I don't know it that much to have an opinion. Those I really like: Waterdeep, Moonshaes, Evermeet, Silver Marches, Dalelands, Sword Coast (great for sea adventures), Cormanthor, Halruaa, Aglarond, Rashemen.
Jiggawha 02-21-08, 08:33 AM	Seros, Chondalwood, Misty Vale, Moonshaes, Rashemen, Hlondeth, Sossal, Deepingdale, Chult, Cormanthor, Neverwinter woods and nearby mountains ...
Forest_Wanderer_Aerandir 02-21-08, 09:50 AM	Lantan. Definitely Lantan. I guess I just have a thing for technology, versus magic.
creyzi4zb12 02-21-08, 10:24 AM	Monshaes for me, I love places that are loyal to nature!
DMD 02-21-08, 10:54 AM	I can't really think of an area I don't like. :P Any area I am playing in at any given time is my favorite so I guess Damara, Narfell and Vassa right now.
Lord Karsus 02-21-08, 11:12 AM	-Let's see... Evermeet Rasheman Tethyr Calimshan Mulhorand Ruathym Tabot Shou Lung
MarkusTay63 02-21-08, 11:30 AM	I would have to mostly agree with Alediran and DMD on this - I like everything for all different reasons. However, if I had to pick my current ones - The Taan (Hordelands) is my current love, and... Maztica as my least favorite, which is why I'm not overly upset to see it go. I don't like the heavy-handed manner in which it is being changed though - in a century nearly anything could have happened, and so little of it was explored that tons could have been shoe-horned in to make it more interesting. Whatever... as long as we get something good in exchange. second favorite ATM would have to be Kara-Tur (who have thought? :P ), but thats only because I'm researching that place now. Second least favorite was Chult... another area I'm happy to see break off and float away. :D
Lord Karsus 02-21-08, 11:40 AM	Maztica as my least favorite, which is why I'm not overly upset to see it go. -Maztica had a few interesting locales.
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 02-21-08, 12:04 PM	Every area. ;):P I'm especially fond of the Western Heartlands though. And the Shining South. And Waterdeep. And Cormyr. And the North. And...
DMD 02-21-08, 12:35 PM	For my next campaign I am going to run the Age or Worms set in the Shining South.
Sharess 02-21-08, 12:51 PM	Underdark is my favorite! I love the feeling there is an entire world beneath the surface. The 3ed book Underdark was an excellent read to me. Above ground? I say western heartlands.
SATA 02-21-08, 01:31 PM	Every area have at least something that caught my interest, but the ones I enjoy the most are: The Lands of Intrigue and The Moonsea.
Soltares 02-21-08, 01:49 PM	Zakhara and Kozakura, normally. But for the main continent, Chessenta, Mulhurand and Thay. The closest to the 'popular' places I ever used was Mulmaster.
sir_mullich 02-21-08, 03:15 PM	Mine is the North below the Spine of the World, coming from the north of the UK, this has echoes of home with the weather and reminds me very much of why I enjoy rpging, the sense that everything isn't quite settled and you have to be on your guard. same as you I love the north ! :)
Shiftkitty 02-21-08, 03:26 PM	The Underdark, the Sword Coast, the High Moor. These are my primary faves. I've intentionally kept dealings with Kara-Tur limited, so after all these years it remains a land of mysteries, unknown and unknowable.
xzzion 02-21-08, 05:16 PM	Sembia, Cormyr, The Dalelands, The Underdark, Calimshan are my favorite.
Old Sage 02-21-08, 08:37 PM	The Border Kingdoms mostly. I have specific interests in other areas as well. Such as Impiltur. And Thay. Also, Halruaa. The Arnaden region is another. The Dragon Coast. And Nimbral as well.
GothicDan 02-21-08, 10:25 PM	Oh, yeah. I forgot Aglarond, Rashemen, and Nimbral. Those are all fun.
MarkusTay63 02-21-08, 11:30 PM	Truthfully, they are all good. Don't know why anyone ever thought they weren't. :rolleyes:
OleOneEye 02-22-08, 10:06 AM	The Moonsea with its scheming city-states constantly on the brink of war.
Fabius Maximus 02-22-08, 11:16 AM	The Cold Lands, the North, Unapproachable East, Vilhon Reach, Cormyr, Sembia, etc. Almost everything around the Inner Sea (except the Old Empires). The Lands of Intrigue are also nice.
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 02-22-08, 05:29 PM	Truthfully, they are all good. Don't know why anyone ever thought they weren't. :rolleyes: Haven't figured it out, myself.
Lykor 02-22-08, 08:06 PM	Likes: Waterdeep, Sword Coast, Bloodstone, Thay, Chult Dislikes Moonshaes (seriously, I hate this place) Maztica Anauroch
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 02-22-08, 08:08 PM	Dislikes Moonshaes (seriously, I hate this place) You've piqued my curiosity as to why (that's NOT a prelude to a challenge of your opinion, I am honestly just curious).:)
Ody_Saraph_of_Karsus 02-22-08, 08:37 PM	Amn FTW!
sfdragon 02-22-08, 10:25 PM	Cormanthor Cormyr Silverymoon waterdeep Icewind dale kuldahar rasheman longsaddle tethyr various other places that dont come to memory easily
SmartPaladin 02-23-08, 02:13 AM	Lets see... Rashemen, Chessenta, Mulhurand, Western Heartlands, Silverymoon/Silver Marches, Cormyr, The Swordcoast North, The Swordcoast, Thesk, The Shaar, Dambrath, Aglarond, The Yuirwood, Neverwinter, Neverwinter Wood, Chondalwood... I think that's it... Donno...
Khaelieth 02-23-08, 02:40 PM	Mine is the North below the Spine of the World, coming from the north of the UK, this has echoes of home with the weather and reminds me very much of why I enjoy rpging, the sense that everything isn't quite settled and you have to be on your guard. You're from Shetland!? Erlkazar (Partially Amn and Tethyr), Moonshaes and the High Forest.
Lykor 02-23-08, 08:15 PM	You've piqued my curiosity as to why (that's NOT a prelude to a challenge of your opinion, I am honestly just curious).:) Not really anything concrete, just a bunch of minor things. When I started with the Moonshaes, I was in a serious anti-Celtic mood brought on by every fantasy novel I had picked up over the last few months was a really crappy King Arthur knockoff, so I guess it just translated over. I really don't have a problem with the Celtic stuff (other than the "hey a celtic region, lets put it in the Realms!"). Plus, I hate the word "Ffolk" and wish it would DIAF - just an irrational dislike, like 'em or naming any group "the people".
GothicDan 02-23-08, 08:18 PM	Naming various groups "the people" (in their own dialects/languages) actually seems super logical to me.
Khaelieth 02-23-08, 08:25 PM	Naming various groups "the people" (in their own dialects/languages) actually seems super logical to me. According to a Welsh friend of mine, the Welsh call themselves Foreigners in Welsh Gaelic. But the Welsh (and Aberdonians and areas of Yorkshire) have always been odd, they like sheep a bit too much.
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 02-23-08, 08:53 PM	Not really anything concrete, just a bunch of minor things. When I started with the Moonshaes, I was in a serious anti-Celtic mood brought on by every fantasy novel I had picked up over the last few months was a really crappy King Arthur knockoff, so I guess it just translated over. I really don't have a problem with the Celtic stuff (other than the "hey a celtic region, lets put it in the Realms!"). Plus, I hate the word "Ffolk" and wish it would DIAF - just an irrational dislike, like 'em or naming any group "the people". It's OK, I hate the word "Ffolk", too.:) Mainly because I think the spelling is stupid. *shrug*
GothicDan 02-23-08, 10:42 PM	According to a Welsh friend of mine, the Welsh call themselves Foreigners in Welsh Gaelic. But the Welsh (and Aberdonians and areas of Yorkshire) have always been odd, they like sheep a bit too much. Awkward.
Mr. Wilson 02-24-08, 01:07 AM	The North, including the Spine of the World, pre Obould's kingdom. The Lands of Intrigue, specifically Amn. The Cold Lands.
Vared 02-28-08, 11:25 AM	Cormyr and Sembia. The motivation being most of our chronicles(campaigns) have taken place in that general area. Alot of things has happened there, indeed. The Sword Coast area, especially in and around Balduran's (No, not Baldur's) Gate. Main reason being my introduction to the realms through the Baldur's Gate series. As for locations I may not like... Hmm... Nope. Pretty much like it all. A lot.
Boda 02-28-08, 11:39 AM	Calimshan, Amn, western Hearthlands, Waterdeep, Sword coast North, Sembia, Dragon coast.My favorite sites. I get the reason behind the ''Blow up halruaa''. Netherill's back, so halruaa and even thay, dont have the same marketing power as netherill in the powerful magical land niche. Even Chondath was a little boring of late, but the rest(shaar, mulhorandi, tashalar...)!
Alediran 02-28-08, 11:44 AM	Halruaa would have been the PERFECT rival for the Shade Empire (which is NOT Netheril), being what the Netherese couldn't become, a society of magic treated with care.
GothicDan 02-28-08, 11:54 AM	Netheril is NOT back. Even if it was, Halruaa was significantly different than the original Netheril, and it's still different than the current Shade Empire. Not all high level wizardly realms are the same, just like not all technologically advanced nations in the modern world are the same.
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 02-28-08, 12:39 PM	I never thought Halruaa was much at all like the "new Netheril". I also don't understand why some call Chondath "boring".
Alediran 02-28-08, 12:52 PM	I also don't understand why some call Chondath "boring". Because they don't have any bit of imagination in their heads to make it live?
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 02-28-08, 12:59 PM	Because they don't have any bit of imagination in their heads to make it live? *snort* Besides, I read the trilogy that took place there (Scions of Arrabar) and I thought it was a really neat setting. There's plenty of stuff to work with. As you say, no place is boring if you work with it.
dethmetal 02-28-08, 02:34 PM	I hadn't heard of it before "Road of the Patriarch" but i really enjoyed Vassa, and would probaly run our campaign there in the future (if my group ever gets back together)
Boda 02-29-08, 08:52 AM	What i meant with boring was that it just didnt had as much plot hooks or things going on as many other areas. Maybe the developer and writers forgot it, but since the fall of jaamdath, there isnt much going on there. Sure you can make new plots, or use n number of regions that already have them. I didnt call it netherill, but RAS did in is latest novel. Again, if the realms are about diversity, powerful magical nations must be rare to retain a uniqueness, having thay+halruaa+netherill might of been considered too much of the same. By the way, if halruaa blew up because of number of wards and magical stuff, why didnt thay blew up as well? In the end, it all comes down to perception, and it's likely that they're trying to make a region of each ( frontier land, magical land, merchant realms,etc). I personally dont agree with the ''dont like, lets blow up'' idea, but aparently, these place were deemead unmarkettable, so they had to be ''removed'' for something different, and since this seams to be all about quick buck, blowing up and swaping looks like the fastest solution (despite being the dumbest).
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 02-29-08, 01:41 PM	See, I'm seeing two contradictory opinions about the Realms (not from any one person, but from lots of people). One opinion is that there is soooo much detail that people feel overwhelmed by it. The other is that it's not a big deal if certain places got destroyed and/or changed because those places were boring, and didn't have anything interesting going on there. My point is, if a place in the Realms is "under-detailed", how is that such a bad thing for the people who like to complain about how overwhelming the amount of lore is? Isn't it great that there isn't much detail to trip over? And interestingly enough, the places that apparently got changed the least (Cormyr, Waterdeep) are the places that have some of the most lore and detail written about them! And all that being said, every place in the Realms has plot hooks, and I think it says something about the potential of an area if it had a trilogy written about it.
Alediran 02-29-08, 02:21 PM	Yah, I was thinking about that too Rin, I concluded that they are hipocrits.
Boda 03-03-08, 10:20 AM	Well, i never complaind about too much detail... Look, it's clear that WotC wants to introduce to the realms new concepts(that they believe to be more markettable), as Changelands and dragonborn. And for sake of profit, it must be done quick. So since adding landmass to Faerun would be hard to explain and raise much more questions, the other solution was to replace sites. Bearing that in mind, a sort of listing of the regions easiest to ''replace'' would problably be headed by the old empires(mulhorandi,unther,threskel,chess enta), since neither TSR or WotC bothered to create a guidebook to those area(so little info and not much iteraction with the rest os the realms). And once it was decided on that area(to start), all their surronding became possiblr targets to replacement. As for the case of Chondath, sure that there are plotshooks, but name something that chondath has of unique. The really unique features in the vihon reach(protodemocracy of turmish, emerald enclave, large snake city) are all in it's northern section. I'am not saying that i like it or agree with it, just that it's likely that a similar kind or reasoning must of been used. For instance, why do you think the ''draining of the inner sea'' it's for?
Mula 03-03-08, 12:53 PM	My favorite areas are Silverymoon (for some reason I love it) and the Luruar (I think it's back to being called Luruar in 4e), Amn (hey, BG2...), and some parts of the Shining South, namely Lapaliiya and the lands around it. I also kind of like the Golden Water.
Crust 03-03-08, 01:32 PM	For a long time it was the western Dales for me, specifically Shadowdale. That has changed in the last couple years, probably because I set our Age of Worms campaign along the Sword Coast near Waterdeep. Now it's definitely Waterdeep. The Blackstaff, Undermountain, the sewers, Skullport, the Shadow Thieves, the Eye, the magisters, the Red Sashes, the Gray Hand, the City of the Dead, Dock Ward, the Watch, the Guard, the griffon riders... There's so much to do, and there's so much data out there that helps me give my players the full experiences, I love it. Waterdeep all the way for me.
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 03-03-08, 01:45 PM	So since adding landmass to Faerun would be hard to explain and raise much more questions... Uhh, you're saying that would be more inexplicable than slapping down landmasses from another planet/plane? And what the designers have done already isn't raising questions? I don't think so...
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 03-03-08, 01:47 PM	As for the case of Chondath, sure that there are plotshooks, but name something that chondath has of unique. The really unique features in the vihon reach(protodemocracy of turmish, emerald enclave, large snake city) are all in it's northern section. I'am not saying that i like it or agree with it, just that it's likely that a similar kind or reasoning must of been used. I wouldn't consider that any kind of...reasoning, myself.
Mula 03-03-08, 07:03 PM	For me, Chondath brings to mind a human land fallen from its old glory, very distrustful of arcane magic. Anglo-saxon vibes too.