Netheril's Fall - First Impressions

If Astarion's Book of Hungers is the player-facing add-on for Heroes of Faerun, than Netheril's Fall is the slightly more beefy add-on for Adventures in Faerun. The new digital "DLC" for the Forgotten Realms book is a gazetteer for the lost kingdom of Netheril, with an overview of the fallen kingdom, a look at two of its cities (one flying city, Eileanar, and the landbound city Conch), some magically-themed environmental hazards, and a short collection of mini-adventures in the style of the Dungeon Master's Guide. Netheril's Fall is functionally a mini-gazetteer, albeit not quite as beefy as the five gazetteers found in Adventures in Faerun that detail various regions.

At first glance, it's easy to see why Netheril's Fall wasn't included in Adventures in Faerun. Netheril is a fallen empire and having an adventure in Netheril will likely require the use of time gates (which are conveniently explained in the supplement, with two adventures dedicated to traveling and crossing through a Time Gate. I'll note that the adventures in this book feel much more specific than what we saw in Adventures in Faerun or the 2024 Dungeon Master's Guide. While the adventures in other books could be "plugged" into any level-appropriate campaign, these adventures feel much more narrow in scope and cover specific locations or events found in the DLC. There's a few adventures in Adventures in Faerun that cover locales seen in the gazetteer, but there aren't very many that cover a specific event. I don't mind the "one page adventure" format, but I'm not sure it works with every adventure type. If an adventure sends players into a mad wizard's attempted ascent into godhood, I want a little more meat than a few encounters and a resolution of "well, the players will have time to explore the city before the ritual fails."

Another criticism I have of Netheril's Fall is that Netheril doesn't feel nearly as fantastical as an ancient high-magic society should. Given that Adventures in Faerun did a very find job of elevating the Forgotten Realms beyond its generic high fantasy trappings, I feel like a bit more care could have really sold Netheril as more fantastical in nature than what we got. If we could have gotten a few more pages about Netheril's culture, I feel like Netheril would have been more appealing as a place that DMs would want to incorporate into their campaigns. As presented, there are a few cool ideas, but even the phaerimm (one of my favorite D&D monsters) feel a bit flat compared to what we would have gotten.

I was critical of Astarion's Book of Hunger's price point, and while I feel that $15 is still too high for Netheril's Fall, there's a lot more "content" compared to that book. Generally speaking, some adventure content, a gazetteer, and some monster statblocks is probably a bit more valuable than one new species and a collection of feats, although I'm probably a bit biased towards DM content since I'm usually the one behind the DM screen. I personally would had preferred a $10 price point for this DLC, but others may feel that the price point of these are more fair.

All in all, I feel a bit underwhelmed by Netheril's Fall. Netheril seems like a very cool part of Forgotten Realms lore, but it's not given full justice here. I know there's some other Netheril content out there from past editions, and I encourage people to check those out on DMs Guild if they want a real deep dive into this lost empire.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Its not FR though. And optional. Its not PHB.

When it comes to how elven memory works in the Forgotten Realms, it’s pretty well established in the lore from older editions. I see no reason to suppose that has been changed by new rules that avoid saying anything about lore as much as possible.

 

[Zardnaar]

When it comes to how elven memory works in the Forgotten Realms, it’s pretty well established in the lore from older editions. I see no reason to suppose that has been changed by new rules that avoid saying anything about lore as much as possible.

I own that older material. Can you narrow it down......

 

[Maxperson]

Its not FR though. And optional. Its not PHB.

It is Forgotten Realms unless something in the Forgotten Realms elvish lore contradicts it. Have you seen anything that contradicts it? I haven't.

 

[Zardnaar]

It is Forgotten Realms unless something in the Forgotten Realms elvish lore contradicts it. Have you seen anything that contradicts it? I haven't.

Its not FR though and its also optional. You can head Canon it however you like.

 

[Maxperson]

Its not FR though and its also optional. You can head Canon it however you like.

All of the settings use the default lore for elves unless they specifically say otherwise. Settings can change the default lore, but if they don't, the default stands.

The Forgotten Realms lore for Sun Elves say that they recall and emphasize their history and strive for excellence(good note taking). That backs up the Mordenkainen's stuff. Moon elves get along well with their neighbors(Netheril anyone?).

 

[Zardnaar]

All of the settings use the default lore for elves unless they specifically say otherwise. Settings can change the default lore, but if they don't, the default stands.

The Forgotten Realms lore for Sun Elves say that they recall and emphasize their history and strive for excellence(good note taking). That backs up the Mordenkainen's stuff. Moon elves get along well with their neighbors(Netheril anyone?).

Book you're quoting says its entirely optional. Its for DMs to incorporate. Not canon.

Sun elves have good memories. They are also notoriously racist.

Netheril was also notoriously xenophobic.

Most weren't living in Netheril by the fall. It lasted around 3000 years iirc.

A few elves might have memories of Netheril. Most would not beyond basic knowledge. They never went there or met any Netherese.

You were describing some sort of all seeing Uber Elven aboleth ability.

New lores not very detailed. I own the Netheril boxed set and Cormanthyr PDF and a lot of FR material.

Do you want to keep presenting your head Canon as facts or be dunked on more?

Bit more context. My new campaign is Netheril based. I've been digging through the old lore going back to 1E Savage North which has Karsus material in it.

Also included 3E stuff Anauroch Empire of Shades, Lost Empires of Faerun, Anauroch PDF, Faith's and Avatars.

I've been cross referencing maps to get locations of the lost kingdoms. Hell I've looked through Cormyr material as well.

 

[Maxperson]

A few elves might have memories of Netheril. Most would not beyond basic knowledge. They never went there or met any Netherese.

Why do you assume that elves are stupid and have no knowledge that they learn, like history? They are a very intelligent, old, and learned race. They don't grow up in ignorance and hope they run across stuff. They are taught by their elders.

There would be elven historians that know things from 25,000 years ago, never mind a mere 1,800.

 

[Maxperson]

@Zardnaar, I just pulled out my 2e Netheril stuff and the Eaerlanni Elves(Moon Elves) were a major force inside of Netheril up until the floating cities came to be. At that point they let go of their holdings, but it doesn't say that they left.

They had major holdings all the way through the First Age, the Nether Age(the finding of the Nether Scrolls), and the Mythallar Era. And you think they wouldn't know and remember very detailed information about Netheril at least up to that point?! As it doesn't say that they left, there were undoubtedly Moon Elves in Netheril up until the fall.