Longing for humble beginnings in the too-complex Realms

[Sciurus Rex]

Do you feel that the elaborate diversity of the current Forgotten Realms setting has diminished the value of what should be unique or exotic characters and adventures?

As noted in the thread here about genasi, the campaign setting (books, games, et al) has been crammed full of many, many nifty ideas. So many nifty ideas, in fact, that any other nifty idea is no longer really nifty. The strange has become commonplace. It's compounded with legions of prestige class options via the company's own supplements. And the history of the Realms has grown beyond "rich" -- it's a lumpy mass of stew left simmering too long with too many ingredients.

I might be alone in this opinion, but it would be nice to see the company introduce a simplified, back-to-basics campaign setting. Where a character is truly surprised with the discovery of new creatures and environments ... instead of expecting them with a yawn.

Or am I completely wrong?

 

[rounser]

You sound like you have too much on your plate, too many options, too much material to digest.

I suggest finding a quiet corner of the realms, tucked away from all the hustle and bustle of the Dalelands, the North, Silver Marches or Cormyr, and make that your own.

I'm preparing a campaign at the moment whilst playing in another. I initially started building it on Snowdown, a briefly outlined island of the Moonshaes. I've since changed my mind and moved it to the Korinn Archipelago set on the northern tip of the Moonshaes (as detailed in N4 Treasure Hunt) because the Archipelago was initially a mini-campaign setting unto itself before FR was even published (but was officially placed there later), and is like a little generic homebrew in the Realms. All the demi-human races are represented as having homes among the isles, and the dozens of small islands are an excellent way of channelling the party to a limited area at a time.

The advantage of setting your campaign in such an out-of-the-way place is that you can decide what to incorporate from the focal points, where the colour is strongest. Maybe I'll decide that of the primary villainous organisations, only the Cult of the Dragon are interested in the Korinn Archipelago, and so I won't have to worry about including the Zhentarim except at a token level. The same goes for other nifty ideas from FR - I can draw on them if I need them, but there's no obligation to include everything (as you might expect in one of the focal points of the Realms).

In short, if you think there's too many nifty ideas that the unusual becomes the usual, back away from the heartlands a bit and build there. Look at the scale on that map and you realise that FR is a lot less detailed per hundred miles than it seems, with plenty of room to grow.

 

[BlackMoria]

No, you not completely wrong in your assessment. The Realms are starting to get a overworked feel to them.

I have DMed the Realms since they first come out. I think it is a case of 'familiarity breeding contempt' syndrome. Over the years, the Realms have changed, yet they have stayed the same.
The Realms are 'too' familiar now.

At this point, for me, the Realms is like a old comfortable chair. I enjoy it, but sometimes, I wonder what a new chair would be like.

Still, I keep things fresh. 'Infinite possibilities through infinite diversity' is my motto. Regardless of the comfortable old feel of the Realms, I can make them seem fresh and exotic.

I do this by running campaigns in 'off the beaten track' places. My players know alot about the Heartlands, the Dalelands, Cormyr, and the Sword Coast North.

Now I run campaigns in the Bandit Kingdoms, the Shaar, the Utter East and other less know locales. And since the players are not familiar with them, they appear as fresh, exotic places again.

 

[Davelozzi]

I agree with you, Sciurus, the Realms have some cool stuff going for them but it all gets drowned out by the sheer mass of ideas.

In crusty old man voice: "Things were much simpler in our days. We had the old grey box, a couple of supplements, and our imaginations. And if we wanted to get from Shadowdale to Waterdeep, we didn't take no portal, we walked, godsdamnit. And we liked it."

But Rounser and Moria's ideas are a good way around it. Just ignore what you don't want or need. I ran a good Tethyr based campaign a while back but there was no Zaranda Star. If the country were to be reunified, the PCs would've had to do it. Unfortunately the campaign died before that happened.

 

[Psion]

The strange has become commonplace. It's compounded with legions of prestige class options via the company's own supplements. And the history of the Realms has grown beyond "rich" -- it's a lumpy mass of stew left simmering too long with too many ingredients.
(...)
Or am I completely wrong?

As I said in the thread that inspired this, this is my primary beef with FR... I think I have even invoked the "too much in the stew" and "too many cooks" analogy several times.

 

[rounser]

primary beef with FR... I think I have even invoked the "too much in the stew" and "too many cooks" analogy several times.

The Forgotten Realms is a beef stew?

That would make Greyhawk a much-gnawed at dog bone, thrice buried in the garden and dug up again each time for another chew. It's full of fond memories of good chews in the past, but it's getting a bit stinky with age according to some people.

And Dragonlance would be a chinese meal with multiple courses that you sat down at, which were very tasty but never quite filled you up, so they kept changing the menu.

 

[Olidammara]

Re: Re: Longing for humble beginnings in the too-complex Realms

As I said in the thread that inspired this, this is my primary beef with FR... I think I have even invoked the "too much in the stew" and "too many cooks" analogy several times.

"Quickly, my minion! Push the Due-Credit button so that all may know my genius! Bwah-hah-hah-hah-hah!"

Whatever.

 

[rounser]

"Quickly, my minion! Push the Due-Credit button so that all may know my genius! Bwah-hah-hah-hah-hah!"

"Yesh, marshter! You sho claver and humble too!"

*click*