Forgotten Realms: Favorite Regions for Campaigns.

[ivocaliban]

I was a hold out in regards to Forgotten Realms. Back during AD&D 2nd edition when I started shoveling out money for rulebooks I simply couldn't afford a campaign setting and ended up making my own. I had never read a Forgotten Realms novel but I had read some of old Greyhawk by Rose Estes and somehow it planted the idea in my mind that campaign specific novels were, to be nice about it, horrid. So it wasn't until 3.0e and the beautiful Forgotten Realms: Campaign Setting book that I began to get familiar with the Faerun.

Since then I've picked up a half-dozen more Forgotten Realms books from WotC and read close to a dozen of the novels. These include the five books related to the Time of Troubles, the Dark Elf Trilogy, and the three books regarding Cormyr and King Azoun. Of all of these, it was Cormyr: A Novel that I found most to my liking because it dealt with the entire history of the nation while simultaneously telling a "present day" story. Because of that I feel far closer to Cormyr than any other region. The Dalelands would probably be a close second.

Despite the numerous PC games, novels, and storylines set along the northwestern shoreline of Faerun, I feel no real attraction to the area.

 

[Eremite]

Hmmm, tough choice but I had to go with the North. I also really like the Dalelands and the Unapproachable East, the latter due to the exceptional 3E product of the same name. The Underdark is also great for runnign campaigns in but I tend to use it in conjunction with a surface region.

 

[Davelozzi]

I voted Lands of Intrigue because I love Tethyr, though I always ignored the whole Zaranda Star storyline in order to leave any reunification scenarios to happen in game at least partially because of the actions of my player.s

Another for The North. Must be my Viking blood or something

And yet only one person so far has voted for the Viking-analog Thillonrian Peninsula in my Greyhawk poll, with few votes for the other northern regions as well (Bitter North, and to a lesser extent the Empire of Iuz).

That said, Faerun's North is cooler than that of the Flanaess, and would've been my second choice. I'm not surprised to see it being very popular, but I am surprised to see it blowing away the various parts of the Heartlands (or for that matter, even the Western Heartlands, Cormyr, Sembia, the Dalelands, Moonsea, and Vast combined).

I've always wanted to run some stuff in the Cold Lands or the Old Empires, but I've never got a chance to do so, other than one adventure that very briefly passed through Skuld enroute to Semphar. I also wouldn't mind setting a campaign near the Shining Sea using some of the material from Serpent Kingdoms. I've recently picked up Shining South too but haven't had a chance to read it yet.

 

[Desdichado]

I doubt I'd ever run the FR as is, but I could see using the Unapproachable East as a starting point for a fun campaign. Maybe lower the available magic significantly, and play up Thay to run the setting similar to Midnight in some ways.

Other than that, I could probably find a game I could like in Calimshan, or the Underdark.

 

[The_Gneech]

My only experience with the Realms really are the computer games, in particular Icewind Dale and Neverwinter Nights ... which are both set in the northwest. However, I have the 3e hardcover and Silver Marches, both of which are very nice. I'm thinking my next campaign may very well be in SM ... so "the north" got my vote as well.

-The Gneech

 

[Orius]

For me it's a no-brainer: The North. A good chunk of the free WotC FR downloads are products that detail this region, so there's plenty of campaign material for me to draw upon.

 

[Mystery Man]

Waterdeep, The North and the Dalelands are where it all began. Also the Silver Marches has Ed Greenwoods stamp all over it so its no wonder that The North is getting the most votes. With the richness and immersive detailing I could pick just one area and run a game there for months.

 

[Shemeska]

The North. I've used the Silver Marches, Waterdeep, and especially the High Forest (a particularly harrowing plot arc in the Dire Wood) in my own campaign when the PCs have sidetracked from the planes and onto Toril. And when I say the planes I mean the Great Wheel, not the laughable attempt at giving Toril its own planes that I've noticed most people tossing out like so much garbage.

Ranking here:
1) The North (Two words: Dire Wood)
2) Shining South (1 PC from Halruaa)
3) Anaurach (Currently there in my campaign)
4) Some of the locales in 'Serpent Kingdoms' which was a seriously kickass book

 

[Arnwyn]

Oh, man. Where is the "all of the above" choice? My players really like to have their PCs travel, so they don't stay in one spot for very long.

My vote? Lands of Intrigue. My love for Calimshan know no limit.

Runners-up:
2) Cormyr
3) Dalelands
4) Chultan Peninsula
5) Shining South

Honorable Mentions:
6) Island Kingdoms
7) Lake of Steam
8) The North
9) Beyond Faerun
10) The Sea of Night

 

[Mystery Man]

And when I say the planes I mean the Great Wheel, not the laughable attempt at giving Toril its own planes that I've noticed most people tossing out like so much garbage.

I like that concept behind the Tree. What exactly is the deal with having such a problem with the Tree? Not wanting to go off topic and seeing that you have lots of experience with planar campaigns I'm really curious. email me offline at force(dot)dragon(at)gmail(dot)com if you'd like to discuss. No biggie if not.