D&D 5E An Introduction to the Forgotten Realms

[Irennan]

Shar almost made it in. However, given Lolth will likely be a major figure in Out of the Abyss, I thought she warranted a mention.

Shar has had a lot of prominence in the latest century and her plans had much more influence than Lolth's (even if both of them ultimately failed), but I see your point.

Also, since you mention Drizzt as Lolth's nemesis, IMO it would be nice to drop a mention of Eilistraee&Vhaeraun, giving a different take on ''rebellious'' dark elves than just the classic renegade, something more focused on building a future for their people.

 

[MerricB]

Shar has had a lot of prominence in the latest century and her plans had much more influence than Lolth's (even if both of them ultimately failed), but I see your point.

Also, since you mention Drizzt as Lolth's nemesis, IMO it would be nice to drop a mention of Eilistraee&Vhaeraun, giving a different take on ''rebellious'' dark elves than just the classic renegade, something more focused on building a future for their people.

At some point, I'll do an article on the drow, which will feature those gods.

Cheers!

 

[Irennan]

At some point, I'll do an article on the drow, which will feature those gods.

Cheers!

Cool WotC didn't mention Eilistraee and Vhaeraun yet in sourcebooks, but their return (implied in ''Spellstorm'' for Eilistraee, and confirmed here by Ed Greenwood) is huge for the drow, and should get at least some attention (perhaps they'll be briefly featured in ''Out of the Abyss'', though, given that they're active again and would probably get involved with something major happening to the drow).

 

[Mercule]

Awesome!

I'm something of a Realms-hater, and I doubt I'll ever be a fan, but I want to know something more about a setting so important to the game.

 

[MerricB]

For those of you who are interested in the Hillsfar area (which is where the next D&D Expeditions season is set), I've just posted an article on the Gods and Goddesses commonly worshipped in the area:

An Introduction to the Forgotten Realms: Gods of Hillsfar and Elventree

Hope you like it and find it useful! Once I actually have Out of the Abyss (which is still about three weeks away for me, I'm afraid), I'll write a more focused article on that area, although I know that the Sword Coast Adventurers Guide will make much of it irrelevant.

Cheers!

 

[TheDonger]

Solid write-up as always, Merric. I would add one more deity to the list -- Shar, the goddess of darkness, loneliness, and overall gloom. She's the sister and counterpart to Selune. She may not be widely worshiped by Hillsfar folks, but she's the main deity for the Shade Enclave, which, from the Hillsfar stuff that's been released so far, seems likely to play a significant role in the Rage of Demons storyline. Shar is also the goddess of caverns and the Underdark, and we know where most of these adventures are going to take place!

For those of you who are interested in the Hillsfar area (which is where the next D&D Expeditions season is set), I've just posted an article on the Gods and Goddesses commonly worshipped in the area:

An Introduction to the Forgotten Realms: Gods of Hillsfar and Elventree

Hope you like it and find it useful! Once I actually have Out of the Abyss (which is still about three weeks away for me, I'm afraid), I'll write a more focused article on that area, although I know that the Sword Coast Adventurers Guide will make much of it irrelevant.

Cheers!

 

[Jeremy E Grenemyer]

Great job Merric. Your work will do a lot to help people along.

 

[Queer Venger]

Superb as ever, this should be collected into a fan book

 

[Lhorgrim]

Thanks for writing these. I've tried to get into the Realms several times, but it has always left me cold. I like the novels, but my first gaming product for Faerun was the 2E boxed set and I really didn't enjoy much about it other than the maps. The art style was a big letdown for me.
After that, the sheer amount of information and pace of change in the setting was daunting. These articles make it easier to digest and get up to date.
I have the four maps that came with Dragon magazine years ago, but I haven't kept up with the Realms enough to know how inaccurate they are now. I guess I kind of have a thing for maps. These articles are going to make me give the setting another go.