Uzzy said:
I have. Many times. It's a problem with players, not the setting. I've certainly not seen any evidence that the Realms as a setting brings out more players like this either.
It does but only in the sense that the Realms is setting with the most supplements, adventures, and novels because it has the largest fanbase. Percentage wise, there aren't any more FR fanboys than other settings but in D&D there are more FR fans and therefor more FR fanboys.
I'm something of an FR fan but there's just
so much of it. For 3.x alone there are 23 edition supplements and another half dozen adventures that often include meta-plot. Much of the world has been discussed in at least 2 game supplements, a couple of adventures and probably multiple novels spanning 3 decades and 3.5 editions of the game.
For the setting to be viable for new GMs who almost definitely haven't read the same novels/supplements as their players, FR needs a RSE. Otherwise they would have to spend weeks, months, possibly years reading the backstory.
Versus RSE v.4e:
GM: "You enter the ruins of Aglarond. You see..."
Player: "The Simbul would never let the place be destroyed-"
GM: "The Simbul is gone. Elminster, missing. Aglarond is ruins. Do you want to search for something the Simbul may have left that would push back the chaos or sit and cry for the lost era?"
Player: "What about Kara-tur?"
GM: "Dunno, no one's ever come back. Maybe ruined, could be hungry. You can try to make it there after you deal with Aglarond."
Hey, that kinda sounds like the old FR, doesn't it?
"What's this Myth Drannor place?"
"Dunno, nobody comes back."
or
"What's at Bloodstone Pass?"
"Dunno, only two people got out."