Actaully in all honesty it is the merging of Abeir and Toril that is perhaps the biggest thing that I am uncomfortable with when it comes to the new setting.
Still using all of my 3.5e FR books in game as a further means to flesh out the setting much as I did when playing the previous edition and using the 2nd edition sourcebooks.
I confess to liking change but not that much and was just curious how other DM's and fans of the FR setting are doing with the new system...Originally many, including myself, were rather doubtful of the entire idea but now with the recent release of the Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide and the Players Manual what are our thoughts now?
By the way, any custom content out there in regards to converting 3.5 edition spells, especially those of FR, to 4e? And any info on a potential Spellcasting Prodigy feat would be superb also. Or if this gets read by anyone from WOTC, are the above ending up in any future releases.
By the way, the above is by no means a gripe in regards to 4e FR just something I am not entirely comfortable with as yet..perhaps time will tell and Ill get used to it all
Thanks in advance to any thoughts..
My 4E FR game hasn’t gotten too far along to where I feel like I need to make major revisions to the setting. I can say I don’t like the removal of Mystra, the Weave and the Chosen, but I also see these changes as an opportunity to explore the new Realms with my players (who are all of them familiar with the pre-Spellplague Realms).
The lesson I’ve come to learn is that for all the sweeping changes, new 4e Realms campaigns by default start small. Returned Abeir, the absence of Mystra, the rise of Akanûl and Tymanther....almost none of this matters to 1st level characters born and raised in the Realms 100 years after the Spellplague and its effects took hold.
My 4E campaign is set in Cormyr. None of the “big picture” stuff matters nearly as much in my game as does the actions of the NPCs in my adventure and the of course the actions of the players.
Once we hit Paragon and Epic tier play....then maybe I’ll make some changes or maybe not. But that’s a ways off.
Lastly, if you check around a bit I think you’ll see some threads dedicated to the conversions you are asking about. Check naex’ 4e Running the Realms links thread for a good start.
My group are made up of rather high levels that have spanned 2nd edition through to third..all around the 14th and 15th level mark. Doing the same in this case and hence world shaking events tends to be the order of the day. Personally have a 15th level Wizard (evoker in 2nd - 3.5 edition) and finding it odd the new changes.
Thanks again
I confess to liking change but not that much and was just curious how other DM's and fans of the FR setting are doing with the new system...Originally many, including myself, were rather doubtful of the entire idea but now with the recent release of the Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide and the Players Manual what are our thoughts now?
Having had a look at the new FRCG, I can tell you my initial opinion (dislike of the changes) has not changed. That said, I rather like Returned Abeir and would use it as a different setting (and with a different name, of course). And there's probably plenty of other stuff that can be "mined" from the books and tweaked as needed, if I want to use it.
In terms of the merging factor, you could simply choose to ignore it and use the same landscape as you did in 3.5. If you like some of the descriptions given to the new countries and such, you could theoretically place them all on the continent of Abeir. Then, you can always visit them if you decide you'd like to.
In terms of magic, I have chosen to remain with 3.5 for those with spellscars (as they hold shards of the weave, i.e. Blue Fire) and use 4e for those trained in the new magical methodology. I have found that converting spells to 4e is pretty easy. For example, any spell allowing a reflex save now has to hit the target reflex AC. Keep in mind that you will probably be converting 99% of your spells to rituals as 4e does not allow for large spellbooks of combat and utility spells anymore.
A mid to high-level group would give you the possibility to work toward any goal you like. As the guide and campaign setting are very generic and general, the world is yours to do with as you like.
In terms of magic, I have chosen to remain with 3.5 for those with spellscars (as they hold shards of the weave, i.e. Blue Fire) and use 4e for those trained in the new magical methodology.
Wait a second...you're using 3.5 magic for some players and 4e for others? That sounds insanely imbalanced.
Actaully in all honesty it is the merging of Abeir and Toril that is perhaps the biggest thing that I am uncomfortable with when it comes to the new setting.
The planet was originally named Abeir-Toril, but the Toril part have been mostly emphasized since it was published under TSR and now WotC label.
I'm interested in the Abeir part.
Regardless, I will make FR my own setting for my group to play in. I never played FR "as is."
-ok the time jump 100 years.....fine with me, easily delt with.
-Spellplague.......huh........Mystra dead......what......killed by Cyric......"People in book store stare at me funny as I scream out loud and wont to burn the book." non-beleavers.
-Death to all Major good guys.....even elminster is dead in a way.......staying to himself.........this is WECKED?
This next part is just my option and option of my friends
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I can tell you this much that I will not be buying anything 4e....and the same goes for over 20 of my close friends, that wont even play 4e, people i know that have been playing D&D for well over 15 years for most of use, some over 25 years. we have around 5 different campaign that run at around the same times. I'm not sure if to try to get my campaign to bring back Mystra or just stop playing D&D as my heart for playing D&D is gone......i cut my teeth playing a cleric of Mystra.....thing will just not be the same.
And to all those that well post it.......just make it that Mystra is not dead in your campaign.......this just does not work for me.....it goes against everything i hold dear in playing in such a rich campaign world that was FR .......with 3 campaign in FR around the same time, the other DM's like this change.....as i don't.............
so i say good by FR.
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And perhaps someday 4E will move along to a point that it becomes something more than what feels like an entirely new game system...mind you, there isnt much planned over the next year or so regarding FR so..maybe not.