It is a frequent example, sure. But it is not a "default" the way thar Nerarh was in 4E or Greyhawk was in 3E.I did check, it's the only one that gets a suggestion for every adventure.
2021 also only had Candlekeep Mysteries, which has almost no really strong FR connections beyond a couple of surface level bits.
I agree that it is nominally set there. Emphasis on nominally. And Candlekeep is not really important to most of the component Adventures.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.
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: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.
Yet the Yuan-Ti presented are not Forgotten Rralms Yuan-Ti, st all, and nothing else is really keyed in to Realmslore.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.
In fact rhe designers have always denied it, and stated that the Multiverse is the default Setting. Going back decade.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?