Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Loki5654 Sep 18, 2008 16:36:12	I've never been a really big fan of the Forgotten Realms and really have no interest in playing a FR campaign. Here's my question: Do you think the FRPG (or the FRCG) has enough crunch (i.e. feats, powers, items, etc.) to make it a worthwhile purchase for me? I plan on flipping through it during my bookstore visit this weekend, but I thought I'd solicit some opinions from those who might have acquired it already.
#2 Lord_Ventnor Sep 18, 2008 16:39:16	FRCG is probably a no-no for you. It has some new monsters in it, but not enough to warrant a purchase if that's all you're looking for. FRPG on the other may be worth it to you. A lot of things in there, including the Drow, Genasi, Swordmage, Dark Pact Warlocks, and Paragon Paths could definitely be used in any campaign world. You could even try to work in spellscars, if you wanted to. It says on the first page of the book that everything in there doesn't have to belong exclusively to FR.
#3 Nightshade Sep 18, 2008 16:40:21	You really should get the FR player's guide. The crunch is definitely worth it. The Swordmage class alone is worth buying it but it also presents the Genasi race, the Drow as a player race and numerous new paragon paths. Buy it! You do not, however, need to get the FR campaign guide. It has no useful crunch whatsoever. It is only about the forgotten realms nations, people, gods, and cultures with a few FR monsters thrown in. If you're not into FR and you're not campaigning there, then there's no point to getting it.
#4 emwasick Sep 18, 2008 16:42:28	I was actually about to write a review of the FRPG from a non-FR fan perspective. Short version: It has a ton of excellent crunch that isn't FR specific. You will not be paying for page after page of setting-specific crunch or fluff that fails to interest you. It was a nice purchase for me, even though I've never been an FR fan, even briefly or in a dream or whatever.
#5 jaxgaret Sep 18, 2008 16:44:11	I've never been an FR fan, even briefly or in a dream or whatever. That was an odd qualification
#6 Malckuss Sep 18, 2008 16:51:57	I will add in my voice to the "get the FRPG" crowd, addin that in addition to what has already been mentioned, there are some excellent feats, especially for spellcasters, a new Epic Destiny that a few tweaks could make it non-Realms-specific, and about 24 new rituals at the back of the book.
#7 sally_jones Sep 18, 2008 16:54:35	i am soooo excited about the frpg. i ordered it tuesday from amazon but mr ups is afraid to leave packages at our door. im hopin to see it tomorrow. i got it for swordmage. thats it. everything else is a bonus to me.
#8 batshido Sep 18, 2008 16:56:36	Pass on the CG. If you're not running any games there it's just not worth it. The PG is good, though. Plenty of crunch. I'd probably prioritize the Adventurer's Vault over it, but it's still worth picking up.
#9 unfamiliar Sep 18, 2008 16:56:38	IMO, the FRCG probably won't do you any good if you have no intention of ever playing in the Realms, but the FRPG is definitely worth picking up, 'cause it's packed with crunchy goodness, including: Drow PC rules Genasi PC rules Swordmage class Dark Pact for warlocks ("core" world has an Underdark, too) Spellscarred multiclass rules (the concept can be used for things like taint & can be easily adapted for any campaign) plenty of paragon paths & feats (hardly any - maybe even none - are irrevocably tied to FR to the point where they can't be adapted)
#10 Artifact Sep 18, 2008 16:58:33	The Campaign Guide was a no-no for me, and I'm a fan of the setting. I'm not a big fan (or even an itty-bitty fan ;)) of the 4e incarnation of the Realms however. Still, the Player's Guide I'm looking forward to. I've always felt free to snatch stuff for my own use. Did it with Eberron, Ghostwalk, even Dark Sun, and this seems perfect. Great to finally see the designers actively pushing that aspect of D&D's various campaign settings. Having bought the FRCS, I can say that it is almost all fluff. As mentioned, the only real crunch is a few monsters. So, I expect the Player's Guide to deliver crunch ;).
#11 sigil_beguiler Sep 18, 2008 17:11:01	As others have said, Campaign Guide be a no. But you should pick up he PG, it is almost like an entirely new Players Handbook. There are tons of crunch and if you simply file the barcodes off somethings all the crunch can be used in non-FR games. For instance, Spellscars which seem pretty setting specific I am using to represent people in my setting possessed by spirits.
#12 Loki5654 Sep 18, 2008 17:13:36	Thanks for the replies everyone! I'm definitely picking up the Adventurer's Vault this weekend, but I wasn't sure about the FR books. Now I feel confident that I can skip the CG altogether, but I'll be sure to give the PG a good look before deciding. Thanks again!
#13 fodigg Sep 19, 2008 11:30:20	I bought the FR books even though I doubt I'll play in them. I wanted the character options from the PHB and I want to convert some of the lore to my homebrew setting.
#14 lostat Sep 19, 2008 12:24:04	I've got the FRCG, although the FRPlayersbook hasn't quite been shipped over here to the UK yet (my Amazon pre-order is still pending). However, I enjoy reading these books as much for their content as a "good read" as I do for the purposes of incorporating the ideas within them, into games. I suppose it depends on whether or not you feel that you'll get your money's worth of enjoyment from the books, be it as a good read, or for gaming ideas.
#15 kerym_ammath Sep 19, 2008 13:05:38	The FRPG is very cool. Even its setting specific PP's and Feats are easily hijacked into another setting.
#16 CCS Sep 19, 2008 17:26:15	FRCG is probably a no-no for you. It has some new monsters in it, but not enough to warrant a purchase if that's all you're looking for. FRPG on the other may be worth it to you. A lot of things in there, including the Drow, Genasi, Swordmage, Dark Pact Warlocks, and Paragon Paths could definitely be used in any campaign world. You could even try to work in spellscars, if you wanted to. It says on the first page of the book that everything in there doesn't have to belong exclusively to FR. Agree. If your not a FR fan, or don't plan to run a game based there, the FRCG doesn't have a whole lot to offer. The FRPG on the otherhand.... If your playing in the Realms, great. If your games not set in the FR? Just disregard the logo & FR references & it'll serve you just as well.
#17 lord_karsus Sep 25, 2008 16:33:08	Here's my question: Do you think the FRPG (or the FRCG) has enough crunch (i.e. feats, powers, items, etc.) to make it a worthwhile purchase for me? I plan on flipping through it during my bookstore visit this weekend, but I thought I'd solicit some opinions from those who might have acquired it already. -To put it in basic generalizations, the FRCG is for the DM, and the FRPG is for the player. Make note, though, that I believe that both should be essential reading for players making characters and playing in the world. The FRCG has the basic setting overview, while the FRPG has the mechanically oriented things to make a character.
#18 thecasualoblivion Sep 25, 2008 17:23:20	If you are a DM, you might be able to use the FRCG. It is very modular, and the regions are fairly self contained. Its fairly easy to just take a region, slap a different name on it(or not), and drop it into any homebrewed world. That being said, the book doesn't have much utility outside of you being a DM.\ As for the Players Guide, they might as well have called it Players Handbook 1.5. Its serves very well as the first official splatbook to 4E.