How is YOUR Forgotten Realms Different?
- Thread starter Pozatronic
- Start date
Jürgen Hubert
First Post
Well, in the last FR campaign I ran, the North America equivalent of Toril had quite a few similarities with our North America.
The main difference, however, is that the whole continent was under the secret stewardship of a large and powerful group of Elan living on cloud cities, who were worshipped as "ancestor spirits" by the tribes below (in reality, they simply snatched the most promising individuals from the tribes and transformed them into Elan).
Now this cabal is watching the encroachment of the Faerunians into their territories with interest and some concern, and they have been sending out some of their members to Faerun to see whether co-existence is possible. Some of these scouts have also transformed some native Faerunians into elan without giving them any further instructions just to see how they can cope with their power and their responsibilities...
The main difference, however, is that the whole continent was under the secret stewardship of a large and powerful group of Elan living on cloud cities, who were worshipped as "ancestor spirits" by the tribes below (in reality, they simply snatched the most promising individuals from the tribes and transformed them into Elan).
Now this cabal is watching the encroachment of the Faerunians into their territories with interest and some concern, and they have been sending out some of their members to Faerun to see whether co-existence is possible. Some of these scouts have also transformed some native Faerunians into elan without giving them any further instructions just to see how they can cope with their power and their responsibilities...
Shemeska
Adventurer
I use the Great Wheel cosmology for my FR.
The Arn Rock at the center of the Lake of Steam is now a ring of islands after having pulled a Krakatoa at the death of a manifest avatar of Garyx the Devourer.
As brilliant as he was, Karsus received outside (fiendish) aid in his creation of the Karsus' Avatar spell.
The Arn Rock at the center of the Lake of Steam is now a ring of islands after having pulled a Krakatoa at the death of a manifest avatar of Garyx the Devourer.
As brilliant as he was, Karsus received outside (fiendish) aid in his creation of the Karsus' Avatar spell.
NiTessine
Explorer
I use the Great Wheel cosmology as well. In addition, there are several events from past campaigns that have permanently affected the world. These are all pretty small, but they're there.
For one thing, at the crossroads of Trade Way and the Delimbiyr Route south of Ardeep, there's been since Eleint 1372 DR a keep created by a deck of many things. The Crossroads Fort, as it is called, is under the command of a retired party of adventurers and swears allegiance to the Lords of Waterdeep. This is probably the single largest change that's occurred during a campaign, since they never last and generally things happen in the small scale.
For one thing, at the crossroads of Trade Way and the Delimbiyr Route south of Ardeep, there's been since Eleint 1372 DR a keep created by a deck of many things. The Crossroads Fort, as it is called, is under the command of a retired party of adventurers and swears allegiance to the Lords of Waterdeep. This is probably the single largest change that's occurred during a campaign, since they never last and generally things happen in the small scale.
I've changed very little and simply use the 3E FRCS as the baseline.
For the most part, I simply ignore the recent novels and advise my players to do so too. This means that Lolth never went silent (I'm sorry, but that was one of the more stupid ideas that the WotC team have come up with for a while) and characters from the novels will only appear as background in the tales of bards etc.... Any and all RSEs are now those of my own design.
It's a great world to DM in. If it weren't for the novels it would be even better but, if it weren't for the novels and the profits that they generated, we might not have 3.xE D&D today.
For the most part, I simply ignore the recent novels and advise my players to do so too. This means that Lolth never went silent (I'm sorry, but that was one of the more stupid ideas that the WotC team have come up with for a while) and characters from the novels will only appear as background in the tales of bards etc.... Any and all RSEs are now those of my own design.
It's a great world to DM in. If it weren't for the novels it would be even better but, if it weren't for the novels and the profits that they generated, we might not have 3.xE D&D today.
The_Gneech
Explorer
Hmm ... my only change so far is I removed the "nonhumans get kilt" aspect of Luskan and opened the city up a bit so it was a suitable home base for adventuring. But we've only had one session so far!
-The Gneech
-The Gneech
MetalBard
First Post
Hmm... let's see...
The big NPCs are concerned with their own problems, they are only use occasionally as information sources. Khelben was an exception, he gave the PCs a few orders, since they were members of the Tel'teukiira (Moonstars). I have psionics in the Realms in the form of the Society of the Mind. They used to be the Society of Mentat, but a long term campaign saw the group split into the Church of Mentat and the Society of the Mind. The Church of Mentat is gone, having been to radical and jeopardizing the weave. Hmm... other than that, I'm pretty into the Realms and like what the printed material has to offer. That said, I generally prefer my 2nd Edition source material over 3rd edition, with the exception of the FRCS, Silver Marches and Lost Empires.
Oh, and I too use the Great Wheel cosmology as a more "accurate" map of the planes. I like the new one given as sages working out through planar pathways, all the realms of the gods of Faerun, all the while not realizing that these places are actually within the Great Wheel and that there are other ways to go about the place. Really works with the whole clueless prime bit from Planescape.
The big NPCs are concerned with their own problems, they are only use occasionally as information sources. Khelben was an exception, he gave the PCs a few orders, since they were members of the Tel'teukiira (Moonstars). I have psionics in the Realms in the form of the Society of the Mind. They used to be the Society of Mentat, but a long term campaign saw the group split into the Church of Mentat and the Society of the Mind. The Church of Mentat is gone, having been to radical and jeopardizing the weave. Hmm... other than that, I'm pretty into the Realms and like what the printed material has to offer. That said, I generally prefer my 2nd Edition source material over 3rd edition, with the exception of the FRCS, Silver Marches and Lost Empires.
Oh, and I too use the Great Wheel cosmology as a more "accurate" map of the planes. I like the new one given as sages working out through planar pathways, all the realms of the gods of Faerun, all the while not realizing that these places are actually within the Great Wheel and that there are other ways to go about the place. Really works with the whole clueless prime bit from Planescape.
National Acrobat
First Post
Fr
When I run FR, I use the old Grey Boxed Set.
My campaigns are set before the Time of Troubles, and there are no 'good' drow on the surface, or at least, if players decide to be one, they find life is harsh, very harsh.
I don't incorporate the big NPC's in the player's lives, and I leave a lot of the Realms to imagination, creating things as I go along. That's what I loved about the original Grey Box, each area had just a brief blurb, then it was up to the players and the DM to 'fill in' the details, bringing the Realms to life.
I don't use Regional Feats or Equipment, and I don't use any gods or divine beings that came about after the Time of Troubles.
When I run FR, I use the old Grey Boxed Set.
My campaigns are set before the Time of Troubles, and there are no 'good' drow on the surface, or at least, if players decide to be one, they find life is harsh, very harsh.
I don't incorporate the big NPC's in the player's lives, and I leave a lot of the Realms to imagination, creating things as I go along. That's what I loved about the original Grey Box, each area had just a brief blurb, then it was up to the players and the DM to 'fill in' the details, bringing the Realms to life.
I don't use Regional Feats or Equipment, and I don't use any gods or divine beings that came about after the Time of Troubles.
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