Am I so far behind that it is not worth starting?
So in an example senario, you want a campaign with raging barbarians, primal shamans, and natural magic arrayed against say a small town or locale where your PCs are set. There are lots of options and areas that support this in the Realms. Take the barbarian tribes of the rugged Icewind Dale, the pirate warrior skulds of the Sword Coast, or the high-plains horse nomads of the Shaar. All of these are example of a barbarian/shaman style culture that the Realms can provide.
The question is not can I play in the Realms, but where? What sort of style are you looking to play and what do you have in mind for your campaign. Ask those questions and we will try to find a great place for you to adventure in.
good news is that it doesnt matter.
pick up the Ed Greenwood Presents: Waterdeep Series
Actually a little of both:
Where to start reading to get the flavor and where to start campaigning. You need to know that I started D&D in the 70's and most of my experience was a combination of JudgesGuild, home brew and TSR materials. The Home Brew was heavily slanted by Phillip Jose Farmer and Michael Moorcock.
Again, thanks for any leads (I do have a link of the works, just need some poiters)
The religion aspect has been cut down a bit making it more effective (less 'dilluted' so to speak) and of course you can tweak, modify and homebrew-ify faerun as you wish.
I find the cuts make it *less* effective. The vast amount of gods before felt much more natural and realistic. I don't like the flavorless kiddie pantheon we have these days.
IF I want to get started with the books, which one? Ok, this one is the Waterdeep Series, so far.
IF I want to get started with an area, which one?
IF I want to get started with an Adventure, which one?
So far, on this thread and a couple more, the best advise is: Pick one or adapt them to your world.
Some good info, but it still does not answer the question.
IF I want to get started with the books, which one? Ok, this one is the Waterdeep Series, so far.
IF I want to get started with an area, which one?
IF I want to get started with an Adventure, which one?
So far, on this thread and a couple more, the best advise is: Pick one or adapt them to your world.
started in an area: there are no more spaltbooks for each area in 4e outside of DDI.
adventure: they get out in DDI, I think the Dragon Annual had some and I think the dungeon annual might have some as well. otherwise the one they released ofr the FR will surfice, otherwise any and all adventures are Living FR.
Some good info, but it still does not answer the question.
IF I want to get started with the books, which one? Ok, this one is the Waterdeep Series, so far.
IF I want to get started with an area, which one?
IF I want to get started with an Adventure, which one?
So far, on this thread and a couple more, the best advise is: Pick one or adapt them to your world.
started in an area: there are no more spaltbooks for each area in 4e outside of DDI.
adventure: they get out in DDI, I think the Dragon Annual had some and I think the dungeon annual might have some as well. otherwise the one they released ofr the FR will surfice, otherwise any and all adventures are Living FR.
So which LFR to start with?
you have to join LFR.
Some good info, but it still does not answer the question.
IF I want to get started with the books, which one? Ok, this one is the Waterdeep Series, so far.
Do you want history on a grand scale, or an intimate look at a specific slice of Realmslife?
If the former:
- Evermeet: Island of Elves - A wonderfully written book that details not only the history of the island of Evermeet, but also elves in general. It provides a great look at the Seldarine (Elven Pantheon) and their rift with the drow deities, as well as relations with other deities, such as Gruumsh and Malar. On the mortal level, the reader sees the evolution of elven civilization and its exodus from the mainland continent.
- Last Mythal Trilogy - This trilogy describes the return of the Elves in number to the mainland, following an unforeseen assault on the arcane towers of Evermeet. The Elves find themselves rallied into a crusade against ancient enemies who seek to despoil their ancestral homes in mainland Faerun, and this struggle provides insight into elven military and culture. This trilogy also explains Myth Drannor's return to prominence.
- Haunted Lands Trilogy - These three books describe the civil war that erupts in the nation of Thay, a magocratic land in the Unapproachable East. The main focus is centered on the coalition against Szass Tam, the Zulkir (head mago-political rank) of Necromancy, and his quest to bring the entire nation under his control to further his own purposes. The other Zulkirs, unsurprisingly, seek to thwart his schemes, but find themselves hard-pressed by the vast undead army Szass Tam builds. This trilogy is important to understand Thay's transition from a tyrannical yet mercantile-interested magocracy to an undead-run autocracy.
- The Twilight War Trilogy - These books involve the return of Netheril, as the Princes of Shade begin to embrace expanionism and spread their influence to the Heartland. The once-dead empire begins to be reborn as the imperialists set about manipulating the politics of the nation of Sembia to their advantage. The main driving force behind this is Rivalen Tanthul, most powerful of Telamont Tanthul's sons and a brilliant priest (borderline Chosen) of Shar, goddess of Loss. Sembia begins to tear as opposing factions are engulfed in civil war. Opposing the designs of Shar and Netheril are Erevis Cale and Drasek Riven, two Chosen of Mask, god of Thieves (and sworn enemy of Shar). However, be aware that to truly savor this trilogy, it is best to read the four previous Erevis Cale books (which fall into the latter category), as well as the (less than glamorous) Return of the Archwizards trilogy (former category).
If the latter:
- The Icewind Dale Trilogy - The stories that introduced Drizzt Do'Urden, most famous of FR characters, to the world. The first published adventures of the drow ranger and his friends provide for quite an intimate focus on the bonds between people and the life in the northern and western lands. Note that if you would prefer to read more about Drizzt's life prior to his emergence on the surface world, the Dark Elf Trilogy is probably a better move, as it focuses on his upbringing and struggle for survival in the fiendish Underdark realms of the drow.
- The Elminster Series - As the name suggests, this series focuses on one of Toril's most renowned spellcasters, Elminster of Shadowdale, and spans Elminster's life, starting at his family's destruction at an early age to his rise as one of Mystra's Chosen, then onto his time in old Myth Drannor, his struggle to master his potential, and later, his ordeal in Hell itself. The most recent of the books (not the upcoming Elminster Must Die) deals with his bloodline.
- Song and Swords - A series focusing on Danilo Thann, a spirited bard of Waterdeep, and Arilyn Moonblade, a half-elven swordswoman with quite the familial legacy. It focuses on their adventures throughout the western nations, and highlights the elven culture of Faerun as Arilyn learns about her heritage. It also showcases Elaith Craulnober, a morally ambiguous, and devilishly cunning, moon elf who fell from grace in Evermeet when he was younger.
- Blades of the Moonsea - This trilogy, just recently completed, follows the adventures of Geran Hulmaster, a young man who hails from the ruling family of Hulburg, a land in the Moonsea region. Geran finds his home and his kin surrounded by enemies on all sides, and must rely on both his friends and his skill as a Swordmage to protect those whom he holds dear. There's a solid political angle to the books, but the real treat is watching Geran and crew travel the area and fight tooth and nail.
IF I want to get started with an area, which one?
What exactly are you after? What specific elements are you seeking? Are you looking for a nation renowned for the strength of its magic and spellcasters? If so, look towards Thay, a land ruled by one of the most powerful (and ruthless) spellcasters in all Faerun, or Myth Drannor, the elven forest-city that only returned to life a decade prior to the Spellplague. Are you looking for lands that are in immediate danger from their neighbors? The Dalelands might suit the bill, for the power of Netheril and Sembia has claimed some of the dales and put the others in danger of being overrun, or you could look to Amn, which, though politically and economically stable, must contend with a monstrous realm that began to consume its territories many decades ago. Do you prefer the more settled, intrigue-filled lands? You could investigate the city of Waterdeep, famous not only for the blend of cultures, but also the countless plots made by those working in the shadows and working against the shadows, or Baldur's Gate, a once moderately-sized city that experienced an influx of new residents following the chaos of the Spellplague, and which now boasts numbers superior even to Waterdeep.
IF I want to get started with an Adventure, which one?
I'm afraid I don't much look towards the adventure modules for FR (or even Core). I tend to make my own, so I cannot be of much service for this one. However, if you have the time and patience to investigate LFR more, you shouldn't be disappointed.
As far as regions, less politics and more ravening hordes of monster, edge of Civilization. for example, less City State of the Invincible Overlord and more Valley of the Ancient/Glow Worm Steppes.
The North then.
Or the south: Dambrath (lycanthropes and Malare worshipping tribes), Durpar (monsters galore), Chult (jungle encounters), Halruaa (died by spellplague)...
Not a lot of material on that though.
You can also do Akanul (also close to plaguelands), Morghul (close to Thay, has dragon overlords), or various areas in Returned Abeir. LFR has an Akanul region, and there is a mini-series set in Returned Abeir (though I don't know how edge of civilization that gets - the first adventure starts in a city).
I run the Dalelands, but that is less edge of civilization - and it may be too much intrigue for your taste. But you could always start out there, and branch to the north (Moonsea, Vaasa, Damara).
I.e DALE1-1 The Prospect could be adapted for home play to provide a starting group of adventurers with a home base (The Fall of Stars), and access to portal travel (easily dump them anywhere) and sea transport (The Chiang Emporium).
Gomez
IF I want to get started with the books, which one? Ok, this one is the Waterdeep Series, so far.
Rich Baker is a really good author. (IMO, he is the only WotC employee who should be allowed to write FR novels!) Swordmage, Corsair and Avenger is a really good trilogy. As far as the earlier history of the Realms, I really like game products more than novels: 2E's Faiths & Avatars is a great place to start; 3E's outstanding Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting and 3.5E's Lost Empires of Faerun and The Grand History of the Realms round things out nicely.
IF I want to get started with an area, which one?
Frankly, I would start with the Grey Vale/Fallen Lands as presented in the FRCG. Because...
IF I want to get started with an Adventure, which one?
... the Sceptre Tower of Spellgard makes a nice segue into the rest of your campaign. Also the small regional map included with the adventure gives you a few other locations for your own adventures. Also, LFR has released the first two of a trilogy of adventures titled the Bane of Shadows that follow on from Sceptre Tower of Spellgard. I can't remember their names for the moment but they are in the CORE series of adventures.
You can develop your campaign around several evil groups: the lizardfolk of the Smear and their yuan-ti masters from Najara, the ubiquitous Shadovar of Netheril, the Zhents and/or various orc and giant tribes from the mountains and hills (and the High Forest in the case of the orcs). There are also fairly obvious links to the Feywild and the Shadowfell should you decide to run extraplanar adventures.
Anyway, it's a good place to start and get a feel for "your" Forgotten Realms. I've got some rough notes for an heroic tier campaign in that area which I plan to run one day for newbies because I think it contains all the key ingredients for hooking someone into D&D.
I mean, what isn't to like? Orcs. Zhents. Lizardfolk and their serpentine masters. A couple of warring hobgoblin tribes. Giants. Ancient Netherese ruins (and thus a logical reason for the existence of dungeons).
After that, personally, I am a fan of the Moonsea area particularly now as we (finally!) have two excellent maps of the region thanks to articles by the Brothers James: The Monument of the Ancients adventure has an excellent map of the Moonsea North basically west and north of Phlan by Sean McDonald while the more recent Realmslore: Vaasa has a map of the Moonsea North east and north of Phlan into Vaasa and Damara. Together you have a really comprehensive map with lots and lots of adventure locations making it so much easier to build a campaign.
You're not too late to catch up on FR. In many ways, 4E has made that even easier because it hit the reset button in such a large way. That said, the older products are great because they can give you ideas for current dungeons/adventure sites and, perhaps more importantly, their maps were good. (The FRCG maps really are an embarrassment. I think most amateur publications would be ashamed to have included maps of such poor quality.)
It came out on the 8TH of this month.
