18D
As for game supplements, that depends. I don't think it would hurt to pick up the 3e material for reference, and it would definitely be good to pick up A Grand History of the Realms for historical reference. The 4e Realms will definitely not be the same Realms compared to its 3e and earlier incarnations, as many sweeping changes are forthcoming that may or may not suit your tastes. On the bright side, with 4e promising only 2 definite FR gaming books, with the possibility of no others being published beyond adventures, its a much cheaper investment, although $4 pdf's from Paizo help mitigate some of the financial hurt that building up a collection of previous Realmslore, although most of these will be all but useless for 4e Realms as anything other than historical reference that's not really relevant.
Really, the choice between 3e and 4e Realms is mostly one of personal tastes. If you like the 4e previews you've been seeing on the fluff side of things for the Realms, the whole Points of Light, semi-post-apocalyptic, Far Realms sort of stuff, then 3e probably doesn't have much to offer you. If that 4e stuff doesn't appeal, then 3e and earlier could very well be the way to go for you.
I just finished reading the Dark Elf Trilogy and thought it awesome! Homeland is one of the best books I've ever read. Although I've been playing D&D since 1985 I've never really played in FR. So now that I've been introduced what should I read next?
Novel-wise, you want to move on to the Crystal Shard and the rest of that trilogy. That's where Drizzt was initially introduced to FR. The reason the Dark Elf Trilogy was written as a prelude was due to the popularity of that, Silver Streams, and the Halflings Gem.
You'll find that the first part of the Crystal Shard moves a bit slow, 'cause this is where it all actually started, but the pace does pick up and thereafter, things get rockin'.
After that, there are several novels in the Drizzt line that you can continue to read. Its definitely worth it.
Should I just wait until September when the new D&D4e comes out?
Sweet Fancy Moses no, play 3e. Thats the real Realms, not this horse hookie they are throwing at us.
Well... as Lord Karsus would undoubtedly suggest, start with the "Realms of..." anthologies and see what authors you like, and go from there.
-Thanks for getting my back.
-Thanks for getting my back.
I disagree there, my man. Let him become involved with the characters of the setting, before thrusting the setting upon him.
Until you have an attachment to it, the setting means
.I disagree there, my man. Let him become involved with the characters of the setting, before thrusting the setting upon him.
Until you have an attachment to it, the setting means
-By reading a book of short stories, you meet more characters than you would in a single story. If one reads Homeland, they'll only meet Drow, and a few Svirfneblin. If one reads a book of short stories, they'll meet plenty of people, from all over. All Anthology of X books contain short stories with at least one major characters anyway.
-By reading a book of short stories, you meet more characters than you would in a single story. If one reads Homeland, they'll only meet Drow, and a few Svirfneblin. If one reads a book of short stories, they'll meet plenty of people, from all over. All Anthology of X books contain short stories with at least one major characters anyway.
True...but here is the issue: NOBODY I know likes short stories. Among them all, I am the only one who will read them, because I am looking for the details that are involved. Everyone else just wants a story--they care two
about how it may be relevant to anything. In general, people just want to get lost in what they are reading. You cant do that with short stories.
My wife is a short story junkie... not nearly as fond of novels as she is of short stories.
Great. I love junkies.
How much she worth to ya? :D
-Well met Sir_Andrew. www.candlekeep.com This link should help. Also I strongly suggest that you get A Grand History of the Realms sourcebook by Brian R. James(also know as Iakhovas on these boards). It is worth every last penny I paid for it.
What format is it in? Bullet points or prose? Also how helpful do you anticipate it will be in 4e Forgotten Realms? I know everything's canon, but if its too far removed from the book in terms of time, it seems like it'd be of minimal use.
More than your life, and the lives of all you know are.
Good man. Maybe you are a bit "luminous."
What format is it in? Bullet points or prose? Also how helpful do you anticipate it will be in 4e Forgotten Realms? I know everything's canon, but if its too far removed from the book in terms of time, it seems like it'd be of minimal use.
I have yet to get it--still can't find the thing--so, the first two Q's I can't answer.
I think AGHofR is meant to seal up any lose ends to a degree and set a premise for 4ed. Brian James has already said that what was written therein will not be changed, so it seems it is more or less the history section of the new FR campaign guide.
I disagree there, my man. Let him become involved with the characters of the setting, before thrusting the setting upon him.
Until you have an attachment to it, the setting means
The Realms of Books offer a nice intro though to see what you characters you like
True...but here is the issue: NOBODY I know likes short stories.
-You know me. I like short stories. There you go. ;)
What format is it in? Bullet points or prose? Also how helpful do you anticipate it will be in 4e Forgotten Realms? I know everything's canon, but if its too far removed from the book in terms of time, it seems like it'd be of minimal use.
-It is mostly sentence or three entries per event, per year, while some events are expanded upon in full-to-half page sidebars of prose.
-As for the if the product will be useful...Yes. While the future may be changing, the past is already set in stone, and is not. Well, mostly, anyway.
Yes. While the future may be changing, the past is already set in stone, and is not. Well, mostly, anyway.
Thanks for clearing that up. I was waffling a bit.
I just finished reading the Dark Elf Trilogy and thought it awesome! Homeland is one of the best books I've ever read. Although I've been playing D&D since 1985 I've never really played in FR. So now that I've been introduced what should I read next? Or should I just see what storyline I can pick up and start from there? Also, what about campaign material? I'd really like to run my gaming group through FR. Should I just wait until September when the new D&D4e comes out?
1) Pick up the new FR books coming out this year; buy the adventure if necessary.
2) After using it for a while, pick up some discount RPG books and novels to supplement your campaigns and/or amusement.
3) Never, never, never let anyone tell you that something you like is wrong. Do what you want, and don't mind the bullocks.
Never, never, never let anyone tell you that something you like is wrong. Do what you want, and don't mind the bullocks.
You're so wrong. Bullocks! Bullocks, I say!!
Your Wrong, I'm Right, Nah-ni-nah-ni-boo-boo :P
:D
What you are supposed to say is:
Your Wrong, I'm Right, Nah-ni-nah-ni-boo-boo :P
:D
Hey, now. ;)
As far as Drizzt books go,
Icewind Dale Trilogy (chronologically released first)
Crystal Shard
Streams of Silver
Halfling's Gem
Homeland Trilogy (prequal books)
Homeland
Exodus
Sojourn
Legacy of the Drow -sequals to Icewind Dale trilogy
Legacy
Starless Night
Siege of Darkness
Passage to Dawn - this takes place a few years after the first 3
Paths of Darkness
Silent Blade (deals with drizzt)
Spine of the World (deals with the other half of drizzt's party, i won't spoil it)
Servant of the Shard (sequal to Silent Blade)
Sea of Swords (this one sucks)
Sellswords
Promise of the Witch King (marked as book 2)
Road of the Patriarch (sequal to Promise)
Then there are 2 trilogies of books about orcs. I didn't like the first one, and the second is still in progress.
In general, the books focusing on Entreri are pretty good. The Drizzt mainline books are pretty good too, although Sea of Swords and the two orc based trilogies aren't all that hot.
Some short stories are awesome. From a Dragonlance point of view I haven't liked the short stories as much as the full-length novels but "some" of the short stories were really interesting. Most Louis L'Amour short stories are fast-paced and action-packed; and I like them just fine.
When people ask me where to start in Dragonlance I tell them Chronicles, just be warned that they read like a high school gaming session, and follow that up with Legends, which is more adult. After that you can go in pretty much any order. I was a little worried that since I "jumped" into Forgotten Realms with the Dark Elf Trilogy and didn't start with an older work I'd get lost picking up a different trilogy. Thus far I'm very happy I started with the Dark Elf Trilogy. I think if I had read the Icewind Dale Trilogy first I wouldn't have liked it as much.
"Oh a Drow, kill it!" Why? The Dark Elf Trilogy really answers that.
I also must add that the description of the Drow culture in "Homeland" is the best cultural-display I've ever read. You really get the feel for the Drow. I can easily imagine them as a Byzantine society run, even more, a-muck.
Thus far I'm very happy I started with the Dark Elf Trilogy. I think if I had read the Icewind Dale Trilogy first I wouldn't have liked it as much.
I agree completely. I found it very hard to get into the Crystal Shard after reading the Dark Elf trilogy. Yet, had I not read it after the other, I don't know if I would have even finished it at the time.
"Oh a Drow, kill it!" Why? The Dark Elf Trilogy really answers that.
I also must add that the description of the Drow culture in "Homeland" is the best cultural-display I've ever read. You really get the feel for the Drow. I can easily imagine them as a Byzantine society run, even more, a-muck.
Yea and yes. Superb flavor of the culture. I think that one of the reasons the drow took off the way they did is because R.A. so eloquently created the settings and characters within those books.
I also must add that the description of the Drow culture in "Homeland" is the best cultural-display I've ever read. You really get the feel for the Drow. I can easily imagine them as a Byzantine society run, even more, a-muck.
-Even better is Elaine Cunningham's depiction in the Starlight and Shadows trilogy's first book. ;)
-Even better is Elaine Cunningham's depiction in the Starlight and Shadows trilogy's first book. ;)
That is because Elaine Cunningham is a Goddess in a mere mortals clothing.
That is because Elaine Cunningham is a Goddess in a mere mortals clothing.
-Close enough.