FR: Players Guide to Faerun is out what do you think?

[reiella]

It's late & I'm not through reading the Domains, but...

... why does every player race EXCEPT human get a racial domain? Drow (ok, at least 1 non-player race), Dwarf, Elf, Gnome, Halfling (this is where my eyes gave out *yawn*)... I looked for Human, but it isn't there. Grr.

So, what would a Human domain look like, anyway?

Well, there isn't a God of Humans...

That's most likly the reason why.

 

[Falling Icicle]

... why does every player race EXCEPT human get a racial domain?

Well, Humans are a very diverse bunch. While all Elves are similar, all Dwarves are similar, etc, Humans have widely diverse cultures and religions. Now, I wouldn't expect to see a Human domain, as it simply wouldn't make sense, but I suppose that regional domains (which would bascially be Human domains, but focusing on a particular Human culture) would be a very interesting idea.

 

[Silveras]

It's late & I'm not through reading the Domains, but...

... why does every player race EXCEPT human get a racial domain? Drow (ok, at least 1 non-player race), Dwarf, Elf, Gnome, Halfling (this is where my eyes gave out *yawn*)... I looked for Human, but it isn't there. Grr.

So, what would a Human domain look like, anyway?

Primarily because Humans are the "standard", and the other races are all understood in terms of how they are different from humans.

What would it look like ? Probably a lot like the Community domain.

 

[silverblade]

Argh. Are you saying there's just not enough rules updated in FRPG to effectively run a game using it (combined with F&P & SM)? I'd only be running in the Marches themselves, as the other regions aren't that interesting to me.

About the only mechanics info, you'll need from the campaign setting is maybe some info on the various variant magic things like spellfire, dead magic areas, the shadow weave, circle magic, etc. You should be able to get everything else you need from the PGtF and the other books. You might also want to download the web enhancement from WotC's site to update monsters from the campaign book, monsters of faerun, and silver marches.

 

[Altalazar]

It would have been nice if the cover wasn't the way it was, but I guess that can be fixed... and now I need to sleep. I guess I'll actually read it tomorrow.

 

[orangefruitbat]

Of course you can. Most of the book is history/geography for the realms - and you've got more specific info on the region you're interested in. You don't really need the prestige classes and feats described (most of them are in the new core rules or PGF anyways). If you want to emphasize the religious aspects of Faerun, you'll need to know the names and domains of all the gods, but they're all availble online.

The only thing that might cause problems for you as a DM is that there might be a few (very high level) NPCs with prestige classes that you don't have the stats for.

F&P is almost useless in my opinion - some ok prestige classes, but most of the book is filled with useless diety stats.

Okay, so basic question then:

Suppose I have a copy of Silver Marches. If I pick up FRPG, will I be able to effectively run an FR campaign? What would I be missing from the FRCS? And what if I had Faiths & Pantheons to supplement any missing gods/spells?

Essentially, I have to sell off some of my books. I'll eventually pick up FRPG, so I'm wondering which book I can safely ditch: FRCS or F&P, or both?

 

[Staffan]

It still has balance issues. One feat gives you proficiency with all martial weapons -- so an Eldritch Knight doesn't need to take a fighter level anymore. Another feat lets you sell loot for 75% of book price instead of 50%. What party wouldn't want this?

WoTC really needs to hire back Monte Cook.

Note that a lot of the stuff I've heard about PGTF are also done in Monte's Arcana Unearthed. For example, the AU version of Martial Weapon Proficiency gives you all martial weapons (and the Exotic Weapon prof feat gives you either all "heavy" exotics or all ranged and "agile"), and AU also has a group of feats that are more powerful than the norm which you can only take one of, and only at first level (similar to regional feats, except not region-based).

So, I don't think Monte Cook specifically should be brought up in discussions about any balance issues there may be with Player's Guide to Faerûn.

 

[Henry]

Based on the feat info detailed so far, I'm getting very wary about this book. I am a big detractor of balanced via roleplay restrictions, because of the arbitrary nature it is applied from DM to DM. Some DM's treat roleplay restrictions too harshly and some too lightly because of the lack of a referential gauge. Even beyond that, if a feat like luck of heroes grants bonuses to Armor Class AND Saves, then that's a huge boost. The designers seem to have tamed one tiger (save DC's) at the expense of letting another free (excessively-powered feats).

I'll eventually have to see for myself, but I'm really hesitant about this one.

 

[Nightfall]

I'm just wishing they'd make up their damn minds regarding the Archfiends, make them real gods and get on with it.

 

[JPL]

I think the amped-up regional feats are a good thing. Limiting them to one per customer goes a long way towards balancing them out.

I fear power creep in offical D&D products as much as anybody. But this is a far cry from the 2.0 Bladesinger or the various 2.0 Complete Books.

I'm glad they fixed the ancestor feats for Oriental Adventures in Dragon magazine in the same way...in 3.0 OA, most of them just weren't good enough to take over, say, Power Attack or Combat Casting or Improved Initiative.