So, how are the Realms doing?

[Ulfsark1982]

How is the new forgotten realms book? I've seen quite a few negative reviews on book sites, how ever, some seemed to be fans of the setting. As it has gone through significant changes, this is not surprise. Anyone know where I could find a fair and balanced review of it?

 

[shinobi_guyver]

I haven't read much of it, but the biggest surprise for me was:

Spoiler:

Spoiler

Mystra's Death at the hands of Cyric because of Shar.

 

[Kaelkatar]

The realms are scary now.

Nethiril is back.
Thay is crazier than ever.
The underdark is more connected with the upper world.
Evil deities have gathered quite a bit of power.
At least 20% of the world is still being eaten alive by raw magic.

Old FR had too many L20 adventurers clear it of baddies and became too safe, now its fixed.

 

[Ahglock]

The realms are scary now.

Nethiril is back.
Thay is crazier than ever.
The underdark is more connected with the upper world.
Evil deities have gathered quite a bit of power.
At least 20% of the world is still being eaten alive by raw magic.

Old FR had too many L20 adventurers clear it of baddies and because too safe, now its fixed.

Ummn cool.
I may go pick this up then. Even if I don't end up moving away from 4e in the long run that just sounds like a cooler FR to me.

I'm tempted to run down to Gator Games and get it right now, but I got pie in the oven.

 

[Kaelkatar]

Just know that you are buying 90% fluff and 10% mechanics. There is a starting town and three sample quest composing the first 25% of the book, then Its mainly sections on the Current state of the pantheon, a decent summery on every major nation, a section on all the bad things that happened in the past 100 years, a section on the major evil forces that good PCs will find themselves up against at some point(As well as MM style write ups of the leaders of these evil forces). Then a few trickles of items and rituals that are more flavor than content.

 

[Ahglock]

Just know that you are buying 90% fluff and 10% mechanics. There is a starting town and three sample quest composing the first 25% of the book, then Its mainly sections on the Current state of the pantheon, a decent summery on every major nation, a section on all the bad things that happened in the past 100 years, a section on the major evil forces that good PCs will find themselves up against at some point(As well as MM style write ups of the leaders of these evil forces). Then a few trickles of items and rituals that are more flavor than content.

I mainly want fluff for a campaign setting. I don't see the need for special classes, feats, skills etc for a campaign that is fairly standard fantasy like FR is. If the players guide or whatever they will call the crunch part of the realms has great stuff I'll get it, especially if they expand 4e past what i see as a fairly limited option pool.

 

[Hedgemage]

Planet of the Orcs... er Apes?

"YOU MANIACS! YOU BLEW IT UP! OH, DAMN YOU! GODDAMN YOU ALL TO HELL!"

Or something like that?

 

[Siberys]

I was never into FR before 4e, but it seems pretty interesting now. A Halruaa campaign where everyone is airpirates flying between earthmotes seems like it'd be fun.

 

[firesnakearies]

I lost interest in the Forgotten Realms somewhere around 10 years ago, but I'd been a big fan of it before that. When I started hearing some intriguing things about the new 4E Realms, it piqued my interest again, and I figured I'd buy the new setting. Even though I actually have no plans at all to run a game in the Realms, I still bought it, just because it looked cool.

It's a neat book. I like it. Probably very little in there that I, as a non FR-DM, will ever use strictly speaking, but that's okay. It's still a nice book to have in the 4th Edition collection.

The surprising thing for me is, actually, that the Realms are changed a lot less than I was expecting, after reading an article or two and listening to a few podcasts about the topic in the preceding months. I really thought the world would be considerably more torn up and jumbled than it appears to be. In short, it's not nearly as "points of light" as I was expecting, and certainly not as "points of light" as the generic assumed setting for 4E seems to be.

Yeah, there are big, significant changes, on a lot of levels, but civilization seems to be going on pretty much business as usual, really. It's not nearly as Fallout or Earthdawn as I kinda hoped it would be. I was thinking that the whole Spellplague and assorted debacles of the timeline shift would be more like an apocalypse, really reaving the whole world to its core. But my impression from the new campaign guide is that, at least for the majority of the most civilized/powerful demographics of Faerun, it's a lot closer to, "Well, that was annoying! Most unpleasant, indeed. Someone should clean that up, I say. Anyway, let's go see what's on sale at Aurora's Emporium today, shall we?"

But all in all, it's cool. If I was interested in using any pre-written setting, I'd definitely come back to give the Realms another spin now. It's not so different that you won't recognize it, but it's different enough to be new and interesting again. I think they did a good job.

 

[aarduini]

We live in the same area

Ummn cool.
I'm tempted to run down to Gator Games and get it right now, but I got pie in the oven.

Hey I go to gator games too. I live in Newark and am looking for a group. You wouldn't happen to have an opening or be looking to start a group would you.