D&D 5E Listened to latest "Lore you should know" and......

[DEFCON 1]

And that eliminates basically 95% of what actually makes the Realms unique as a setting and not just another high fantasy one.

And if that's the reason why you choose to no longer run games in the Realms... because you cannot start a new game in the "Current Year" (whatever that happens to be) and have all manner of detail from across the globe written out for you already... they'd probably say "Sorry to hear that. But there are plenty of other places/times/settings for you to run games in, including making up your own, so go ahead and do what you do and have fun."

 

[DEFCON 1]

What they don't seem to realize is that what made the Realms so popular is the attention to canon and history as how it tries to stay constant.

Or they do realize it, but also realize the "canon" was not as much of reason for people playing in as some people believe it is.

Speaking personally... you know what I think is the biggest reason why people chose to play in the Realms? Because the Realms had some of the most well-produced boxed set or campaign guide setting material. I suspect the Grey Box and the 3rd edition Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting book did more to get people to play there than the fact that all the novels and video games "counted" in the Grand History of the Realms. Especially considering most players probably never read enough (or any) of the novels to use it as background for their games. "Canon" was nice for those players who cared about the overarching view, but those players I doubt were the majority (nor even a substantial minority.)

 

[Parmandur]

They've made it pretty clear metaplot is dead, yup.

 

[ccs]

I felt the same way after reading a few Forgotten Realms books. They were filled with people much more powerful and interesting than the players' characters.

Whenever I read a FR (or any other D&D novel) I just looked at it as reading about someone else's campaign.
What's going on in the Drizt books has exactly as much influence on the game I'm running as whatever any of you are doing around your tables: Zero

As for the characters in the novels being more powerful/interesting than the PCs in your games?
Power - the authors aren't constrained by the rules of the game.... Though as the DM you could certainly ramp up the power to your liking.
Interesting PCs/etc - How interesting the characters in your games are is all on you & your players. If you're finding them lacking, do better yourself & discuss the issue with the other players.

 

[Corpsetaker]

Or they do realize it, but also realize the "canon" was not as much of reason for people playing in as some people believe it is.

The problem is they seem to be trying to create a version of the Realms for people who really never cared or liked the Realms to start with.

 

[Valetudo]

The problem is they seem to be trying to create a version of the Realms for people who really never cared or liked the Realms to start with.

And its working. They are getting alot of new and old player to use the realms again.

 

[Corpsetaker]

And its working. They are getting alot of new and old player to use the realms again.

Not by choice though. If they buy the AP's then they are using FR by default. That's not the same thing.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

You know why they bought it? As in you know that everyone would rather buy something different. Forced by the evil corporation. We get it. You don't like anything about the current edition. I feel sorry for you.

 

[Corpsetaker]

You know why they bought it? As in you know that everyone would rather buy something different. Forced by the evil corporation. We get it. You don't like anything about the current edition. I feel sorry for you.

This is such a childish answer and just shows you don't have an actual counter argument. Nobody said they were forced by the evil corporation. Some people have been spending far too long in fantasy worlds. People may like PoTA, OoTA, and Storm King's Thunder but end up playing in the Realms because that's where they are based. Don't feel sorry for me, save some of that pity for yourself.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

This is such a childish answer and just shows you don't have an actual counter argument. Nobody said they were forced by the evil corporation. Some people have been spending far too long in fantasy worlds. People may like PoTA, OoTA, and Storm King's Thunder but end up playing in the Realms because that's where they are based. Don't feel sorry for me, save some of that pity for yourself.

Counter argument to what?

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