Campaign setting recommendations

[Innocent Bystander]

Long time lurker (very long time), first time poster here. And I've come in search of the infinite wisdom of those on these boards.

I've been playing D&D for about 5 years now, and am thinking trying the DM's chair. I am quite aware of the amount of time and effort that goes into creating a world, and knowing that, was thinking of picking up either the Forgotten Realms, or Kingdoms of Kalamar campaign setting.

I'm interested to hear people's opinions (dangerous to say around here, I know) on what their experience has been with either or both.

Thanks in advance.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Kingdoms of Kalamar tends to be more lower powered and less supported sourcebook wise but that looks to be changing with some of the material they have in 3.5.

Forgotten Realms is now low supported but books are huge, full color and hardcover when they do come out. Tends to be a bit on the powerful side and is really the default setting. My main problem with FR has always been the novels and how they force the setting to adapt to them. Shadow Weave? Nethril Wizards? What the hell? Stop reading FR crap and all of the sudden you're bombed with it regardless.

 

[mikebr99]

FR = Higher magic levels

KoK = Lower magic levels


YMMV


Mike

 

[Enceladus]

Long time lurker (very long time), first time poster here. And I've come in search of the infinite wisdom of those on these boards.

I've been playing D&D for about 5 years now, and am thinking trying the DM's chair. I am quite aware of the amount of time and effort that goes into creating a world, and knowing that, was thinking of picking up either the Forgotten Realms, or Kingdoms of Kalamar campaign setting.

I'm interested to hear people's opinions (dangerous to say around here, I know) on what their experience has been with either or both.

Thanks in advance.

I have run and love both.

Forgotten Realms has awesome new material out for 3E with limitless campaign posibilities.

I currently run a Kalamar campaign with 9th level characters. Kalamar is great, and with the Dangerous Denizens monster book out now there are a lot of specific encounters more taylored for a Kalamar flavor.

 

[Tabarnak Smokeblower]

I've only been using FR, so I can't speak in favor or against Kalamar.

the Fr campaign setting book is absolutely amazing, IMO. The majority of Faerun (the continent) is very detailed, and there are adventure suggestions everywhere.

This said, FR is FR. The people in FR are BIG. Magic, powerful magic is everywhere. You have ancient magical civilizations coming out the wazoo. It's a power-setting as it is. You don't have to play it that way, but you'll have to make a lot of adjustments because every thing in the book is about High Sorcery.

Nevertheless, like I said, I find that it's a very good setting, and the book in itself is so chock-full of ideas is worth the price even if you're not going to run a Forgotten Realms Campaign...

TS

Edit: Welcome (sorta) to the boards!

 

[Voadam]

I have the 3e FRCS and some FR sourcebooks and some Kalamar adventures.

Do you think you will be making up your own adentures or using modules?

FR has the CotSQ megamodule but Kalamar has a lot of 3e modules specifically for their setting.

Kalamar has high magic characters, you can be an archmage PC there just as easily, but there is not as pervasive a high magic aspect to the setting (archmages are there but rare compared to the number of high magic casters in FR).

Both are in depth settings.

My advice would be to pick one area of one of these settings and learn/develop it well and not worry about most of the rest of the setting's world, at least to start.

FR also has a ton of older edition supplements that you can get as $5 pdfs at www.rpgnow.com or www.svgames.com but the amount of info can be intimidating and there are conversion issues.

 

[VorpalBunny]

Welcome to the boards!

Like Enceladus, I own and love both settings - and I have to agree with what everyone else has posted, but I want to add this:

If you decide on the Forgotten Realms you pretty much have everything you need to run a game included in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting. If you decide on Kingdoms of Kalamar, you'll need the Kingdoms of Kalamar Campaign Setting and the Kingdoms of Kalamar Player's Guide at the minimum to get the most out of the setting.

If cost is a factor, I'd suggest FR.

 

[Praeco]

Forgotten Realms has the benefit of familiarity to a lot of players. If you are trying to build a group or add new players, it is likely more people will be comfortable with FR.

My personal opinion however... FR drives me bonkers. There's so much stuff in that setting it lacks any cohesiveness for my muddled brain to latch on to. If you are looking for a clean, nominally logical setting Kalamar might be the better choice. If you want over the top high fantasy, ignore my opinion and go with FR.

 

[AshremBayle@Home]

Skip them both. Buy Midnight.

 

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Skip them both. Buy Midnight.

Dang, beat me to it.