D&D 5E Is the Forgotten Realms experiencing a new Golden Age now that its NOT the default 5e setting anymore?

[DEFCON 1]

"Default setting" is such a meaningless term. Whether it is or it isn't doesn't change anything. WotC will produce what they want when they want it in whatever setting they wish.

 

[Parmandur]

I did check, it's the only one that gets a suggestion for every adventure.

It is a frequent example, sure. But it is not a "default" the way thar Nerarh was in 4E or Greyhawk was in 3E.

 

[Umbran]

2021 also only had Candlekeep Mysteries, which has almost no really strong FR connections beyond a couple of surface level bits.

But, isn't Candlekeep firmly placed in the Sword Coast of the FR?

Whether actions in the module have impact on the rest of FR is arguably separate from whether it is nominally set there.

 

[Parmandur]

But, isn't Candlekeep firmly placed in the Sword Coast of the FR?

Whether actions in the module have impact on the rest of FR is arguably separate from whether it is nominally set there.

I agree that it is nominally set there. Emphasis on nominally. And Candlekeep is not really important to most of the component Adventures.

Very different than Shadow of the Dragon Queen being very firmly based in Krynn, for example, or Icewind Dale for the Realms.

Ij ghe four full years starting with 2020, there have only been 3 books set in the Realms explicitly, including the very nominally Candlekeep Mysteries. Books in that period not even nominally set in the FR include:

• Explorer's Guide to Wildemoint
• Mythic Odysseys of Theros
• Tasha's Cauldron of Everything
• Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft
• The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
• Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
• Strixhaven: Curriculum of Chaos
• Call of the Netherdeep
• Mordenkainen's Monsters if the Multiverse
• Journeys through the Radiant Citadel
• Spelljammer
• Shadows of the Dragon Queen
• Keys from the Golden Vault
• Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants
• Planescape
• Book of Many Tjings (digitally already, at least)

So, 3 FR books to 16 non-FR specific books. Adhere have been as many books in the 20's narrated by Greyhawk NPCs. Some of these do suggest you can put them in the FR, but also make suggestions for Greyhawk, Ravenloft or even Mystara.

Hence why I say the FR is not the default Setting the way that the Nentir Vale or Golorion are default Settings.

 

[ECMO3]

It's true, though. And you can find quotes from the D&D design tram going back a decade saying thst, which is backed up by how the game has been run. For instance, Volo's Guide to Monsters eschews Realmslore for more generic D&D and Greyhawk versions of things.

It is interesting that you mention VGTM, as I think that is an example of the opposite. Volo himself is part of the FR lore, and here is a quote from VGTM:

The lore in this chapter represents the perspective of Volo and is mostly limited to the Forgotten Realms. In the Realms and elsewhere in the D&D multiverse, reality is more varied than the idiosyncratic views presented here. DM, use the material that inspires you and leave the rest.

 

[Casimir Liber]

Only really familar with 1e,2e and 5e. Seems to me there is more of an unwritten sense of what is "core" material, what is "FR" and what is "Greyhawk" the whole time. The two Campagin settings are so generic that one can shift from non-setting to setting material pretty smoothly. I've never thought of one being default core but since late 1e FR more core than Greyhawk but both still "there"

 

[Parmandur]

It is interesting that you mention VGTM, as I think that is an example of the opposite. Volo himself is part of the FR lore, and here is a quote from VGTM:

The lore in this chapter represents the perspective of Volo and is mostly limited to the Forgotten Realms. In the Realms and elsewhere in the D&D multiverse, reality is more varied than the idiosyncratic views presented here. DM, use the material that inspires you and leave the rest.

Yet the Yuan-Ti presented are not Forgotten Rralms Yuan-Ti, st all, and nothing else is really keyed in to Realmslore.

 

[DarkCrisis]

Mystara is back, baby!

 

[R_J_K75]

Did I miss something? Granted many 5E products take place in FR but was it ever explicitly stated that FR was 5Es default setting or was that just the general consensus?

 

[Parmandur]

Did I miss something? Granted many 5E products take place in FR but was it ever explicitly stated that FR was 5Es default setting or was that just the general consensus?

In fact rhe designers have always denied it, and stated that the Multiverse is the default Setting. Going back decade.

Forgotten Realms is the most popular Serting, and conducive to being refurbished for standard High Fantasy honebrew Settings, si they use it a lot. But it is not the default.