Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 thecasualoblivion Aug 28, 2008 17:42:58	I'm a new Realms player who just started a 4E campaign using the FRCG. A lot of the older supplements still have a use setting-wise, and I'm wondering which of these would be worthwhile to pick up. The 3.5E FRCS is an obvious choice, but what else is a good start. I'm not really interested in buying the entire FR library, but I've been snooping around eBay and Amazon and a lot of these books can be found used at very reasonable prices. Since I'm mostly looking for lore and setting, theres no reason to limit this to 3E. Also, the novels are a can of worms I'd rather not open, so I'm mostly looking to get the most out of game supplements.
#2 krownhunter07 Aug 28, 2008 17:48:04	History of the Forgotten Realms is the best, IMHO, book you can buy for the lore of the setting. If you want specific things, like say the underdark or the like, then getting the book on that subject is a good idea.
#3 unfamiliar Aug 28, 2008 18:46:58	History of the Forgotten Realms is the best, IMHO, book you can buy for the lore of the setting. If you want specific things, like say the underdark or the like, then getting the book on that subject is a good idea. Picking up A Grand History of the Realms & Lost Empires is a good place to start if you want to get caught up on Faerun's history up until the Spellplague. I guess it depends on just how much 3.5 Realms material you want to have taking up space, but IMO, some of the really great region-specific books won't help nearly as much with rounding out a 4e campaign as they did in 3.5, what with all the changes between editions when it comes to issues like culture & geography. The basic landscape of the Underdark looks very different after the creation of Underchasm, so many of the awesome maps in the book are unfortunately obsolete. Shining South & Unapproachable East are all but useless as 4e reference materials for similar reasons - when the entire southern nation of Halruaa goes BOOM!! & Mulhorand disappears just as it's on the verge of finally conquering Unther, there's probably too many changes for those books to remain useful enough to consider buying (unless you're a Realms fanboy like me).
#4 lord_karsus Aug 28, 2008 22:16:32	-The Top 3e books are as follows: The Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting A Grand History of the Realms Lost Empires of Faerûn Underdark Faiths & Pantheons/Races of Faerûn
#5 merrikcale Aug 28, 2008 22:21:19	My other favorites but perhaps not as 4e relevant as LK's list include the Silver Marches, Dragons of faerun, and Power of Faerun. A couple of books that are totally useless for 4e but are quite good are Magic of Faerun and Lords of Darkness. The Unapproachable east has changed too too much. rasheman and Thay could be useful if you plan to use that area
#6 Dark_Wizard_02 Aug 28, 2008 22:32:28	Just noticed on the 4E map, "Var the Drowned." That got a dry, sardonic chuckle. I wonder why they bothered with town names underwater. Maybe the populace turned aquatic. So yeah, Shining South 3e really doesn't net you much use in 4E.
#7 lord_karsus Aug 28, 2008 22:36:31	Just noticed on the 4E map, "Var the Drowned." That got a dry, sardonic chuckle. I wonder why they bothered with town names underwater. Maybe the populace turned aquatic. -Ruins, possibly.
#8 thecasualoblivion Aug 28, 2008 22:47:34	It bears restating that as I'm looking for lore here AD&D books are likely to be just as useful as 3E books.
#9 lord_karsus Aug 28, 2008 22:49:29	-In that case: Demihuman Deities Faiths & Avatars Powers & Pantheons Netheril: Empire of Magic Cormanthyr: Empire of the Elves Calimport Sea of Fallen Stars Kara-Tur: The Eastern Realms Cloak and Dagger ... -Well, really, instead of going into specifics, whatever regions you like, there are most likely sourcebooks for.