D&D (2024) Some new info on upcoming books, like Forgotten Realms Adventure Guide includes Magic Items

[Parmandur]

So maybe one use of Circle Casting would be to raise the Spell Slot level of a spell being used, based on the number of participants.

Yup, that is how it worked in 3E: do a Circle Magic Ritual at beginning of the day to upscale the Spell Slot and/or other effects.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

full sized

Isn’t that a euphemism for obese?

 

[Parmandur]

Well Realms & Worlds teased a plot hook for Thay.

I suspect we will get a reasonable run down and some plot hooks for most nations in FR.




Remember that Red Wizards of Thay is a faction as well so I would not be surprised if Thay got the 4 pages, or at least 2 pages, perhaps including the faction material, perhaps not, but Thay is one of the biggest villians and draws of the whole setting.

I think the average will be anywhere from half a page, to several pages. Really depends on how large the book is, although the article also confirmed the books are large, not just "full sized" which is vaguer then large. I'm thinking minimum 256 (size of Waterdeep: Dragonheist), most likely 320 pages (the size of the 2014 PHB & the size of the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3e book from 2001), or hopefully 384 pages (the size of the 2024 PHB) if it's this big it's very likely even Kara Tur & Zakhara get some coverage.

Also remember the FRCS had a big gazetteer section on the Dalelands, which is now in the FRAG not in the FRPG, which free up page out for other regions.

Oh, I expect that Red Wizards will get stuff, both as player options and as NPCs, but less likely Thay itself will get too much, or anywhere else too far out geographically from the 5 core areas getting DM material in depth. I would look at the Greyhawk material in the DMG as a comparison.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

Oh, I expect that Red Wizards will get stuff, both as player options and as NPCs, but less likely Thay itself will get too much, or anywhere else too far out geographically from the 5 core areas getting DM material in depth. I would look at the Greyhawk material in the DMG as a comparison.

This is a much bigger book, 2 of them.

"But as described by Wizards themselves, this is a place of “realms within a realm,” with each being unique and a perfect setting for different styles of campaigns."

Look at the list of books below, they are hints about their approach to these books.

You have the Grey Box, The Grand History of the Realms, the Advanced D&D Campaign Set, BG: DiA, Swordcoast Adventurer's Guide, Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frost Maiden, Forgotten Realms Faith's and Pantheons, Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting, 4e Forgotten Realms Player's Guide, Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide, and Unapprouchable East (Unapproachable East is one of the major regions of FR, it includes THAY, Algarond, Rasheman, Altumbel, Impiltur, Thesk, The Great Dale, & Ashanti)

The choices in this pile were not chosen at random, each choice is a hint. The Campaign books from each addition & the Player's Guide are obvious, predessors to these new books from each previous edition. BG: DiA & IWD: RotFM tie into two of FRAGs deep dive regions. Faiths & Pantheons is a deep dive into the various religions of Faerun (Faerunian Pantheon, Seldarine, Anti Seldarine, Mulhorandi, Untherite, Chultan, Dwarven, Halfling, Gnoms, etc...) suggesting they are going to go deeper into FR religion then the SCAG, Grand History of the Realms for History deep dive call backs, and the Unapproachable East is an example of a region book with its own particular themes, and connections to other regions, a hint of how they plan on approach not just the deep dive Gazetteers in the FRAG but the broader setting in the FRPG (hope they rename this to avoid confusion with the 4e FRPG).

So Unapproachable East Theme is very Conan feeling compared to the rest of the Realms, but the biggest bads of these region with Global reach and influence are the Red Wizards of Thay perhaps the most famous villians in FR. But these villians are opposed by a nation of Barbarians (more fey influences then Cimmeria), and a couple Kingdoms, Nomads & Fiendish Warlocks in Narfell. Strongest outside influences would be the Old Empire's region, Thay rebelled against the Gods of Mulhorand, and both regions were heavily involved in the Orcgate Wars. Mulhorandi influenced all over the place. Again inspired by Conan. Lots of fighting against fiends and evil Wizards and occasionally an evil God, and occasion lovecraftian horrors, and weird cults and great Barbarians, and some more civilized kingdoms, etc..., These adds some more Asian influences as a major trade city with the Hordelands and Kara Tur.

Other regions themes too, Icewind Dale, BG, Dale Lands, Calimshan, and Moonshae Isles themes have already been discussed.

The Old Empires Region is largely based around fameous Mediterranean cultures & incarnated Gods & Primordials, Much more heavily into Divine Magic then most regions of FR & religious conflict, the home of many of the biggest empires in the past, past ages of Mulhorandi, Untherite, Chessentan, etc..., plus Dragonborn! Traditionally just Mulhorand (possibly including nearby semi autonomous lands), Unther, and Chessenta, I'd say the new version should include Okoth, Tymanther, and Deep Imaskar underneath in the Underdark.

Cold Lands, near the Great Glacier, cold is an obvious them, mix of Inuit Influence and Northern European, some issue with fiends.

there is more, that while not nessailarly getting a deep dive in the FRAG will likely get something substantial in the FRPG and which definitely has their themes too.

 

[Parmandur]

"But as described by Wizards themselves, this is a place of “realms within a realm,” with each being unique and a perfect setting for different styles of campaigns."

Sure, bit that level of DM detail is for the five areas getting Greyhawk-region level treatment in FRAG: I expect we will hear of Thay in the FRPG, but not in anywhere near thst lwvel of detail specifically.