D&D 5E The case for (and against) a new Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting book

[Mercurius]

For:

• Setting books have proven to be lucrative in the 5E era.
• It is a way to tie together all/most of the story arcs that have been published so far, especially for the "5E newbies."
• Continuing on from the last point, it facilitates "adventuring beyond the story arcs" for those newish players who want to build their own adventures.
• Because its well past time to publish a real setting book for the default world of 5E D&D. For better or worse, it has been the primary D&D setting for the last three decades and deserves a new book in the New Golden Age of D&D.
• Because it wouldn't be hard to do, given all of the available material.
• Because the people want it.

Against:

• The 3E FRCS is considered by many to be the best campaign book ever published, so they'd have to find a way to at least equal its quality, which might be hard to do.
• Unlike other new (and successful) setting books, there are mountains of Realms books available, so the market might be smaller than one might think. Maybe.
• It would require making some hard choices about the world in the 1490s that haven't been necessary with the vague hand-wavyness of "It is kind of back to 3E era, but with a few differences."
• Could be seen as anachronistic and too 80s-90s for the contemporary fan-base.
• The success of 5E may partially be because it is so focused on distinct story arcs, and a setting book implies an approach adventuring beyond the confines of published stories and/or sandboxing that might not fit the current ethos.
• "Enough of the Realms, already!"

 

[Guest 6801328]

I probably wouldn't buy "a book". FR is just too large to be treated to a level that would interest me in just a book.

But if were going to be a series of books...hmm, I might be interested.

 

[Xenonnonex]

The 3E FRCS is considered by many to be the best campaign book ever published

Considered by which many? The 3e FRCS certainly is a great book. It is however utterly laughable and ridiculous to claim it is considered by many to be the best campaign book ever published. Especially since many consider the 2e FRCS to be better than it and the 3e FRCS merely reproduces whole portions of previous text.

 

[Mistwell]

As long as it comes after a Greyhawk book I'm fine. But, Greyhawk first please.

 

[Parmandur]

Because the people want it.

I dunno, do they though...?

 

[Guest 6801328]

Considered by which many? The 3e FRCS certainly is a great book. It is however utterly laughable and ridiculous to claim it is considered by many to be the best campaign book ever published. Especially since many consider the 2e FRCS to be better than it and the 3e FRCS merely reproduces whole portions of previous text.

Now, Darkening of MIrkwood for The One Ring, on the other hand, is a serious contender for that title.

 

[TarionzCousin]

What spellplague? Never heard of it.

 

[Prakriti]

Boxed set is the way to go. FR is too big to contain in one book. Plus, the nostalgia and the novelty factors could lead to better sales. I think it's time 5E got its first campaign setting boxed set.

This would also help differentiate it from the SCAG.

 

[Guest 6801328]

Boxed set is the way to go. FR is too big to contain in one book. Plus, the nostalgia and the novelty factors could lead to better sales. I think it's time 5E got its first campaign setting boxed set.

This would also help differentiate it from the SCAG.

It would have to be a series of boxed sets to do the subject justice.

Heck, I'd like to see a boxed set of just the Moonshae Isles.

 

[Mercurius]

Considered by which many? The 3e FRCS certainly is a great book. It is however utterly laughable and ridiculous to claim it is considered by many to be the best campaign book ever published. Especially since many consider the 2e FRCS to be better than it and the 3e FRCS merely reproduces whole portions of previous text.

Considered by the many people who I have seen say something to that effect over the last 20 years. You can quibble all you want with semantics and exactitude, but that's all beside the point: it is a very highly regarded setting book that a lot of people hold in high esteem.