Too much history, too many NPC's, too much lore...
That never has bothered me before. The authors of all those novels are DM's writing about their campaign. They make their own NPC's and give their interpretation of cities. This doesn't mean that you have to use that in your campaign. It is an interesting read and source of inspiration and nothing more. To me those novels are NOT valid sources of lore which people should get tight assed about. If your players get upset that your campaign doesn't match those novels...just smack them on the head for it.
So that leaves all the dragon and dungeon magazines as well as the hardcover releases. Even those don't have to be used into detail. I mean...why read about the lore and history about parts you're not going to visit? I couldn't care less what is happening in Winterhaven while the campaign is in the Dalelands.
This means that you only read up on a specific part of The Realms. Namely that which you are actually using. And that is only a few paragraphs of reading material. Jutting down the few key NPC's, note worthy locations, type of government and using the map and you're done. As a DM your job couldn't be any easier. You don't have to read or prepare a lot and thus can focus on adding the things to the city which you want to use. Add some cult members here and there which gather in the basement of one of the taverns planning to overthrow the government and you got yourself an adventure already.
Want to go to the Underdark while in the Dalelands than do it. You don't have to use any Underdark information per se. Those books are supplemental. They can be used if you wish to get more insight and inspiration, but they are not required material. Just like Race of Faerun and such. And even if you decide to use such supplements it'll be done in relatively small dosage. An amount which you can handle and digest. Just like reading only the geographical paragraphs of the locations you actually play in...is also the same as the amount of supplements you actually read at a time.
So you basically only take what you need one step at a time. Probably the outline of what you read will stick with you. This will allow you to get all you need about the entire realms. But what matters is that have all you need for the part you're actually visiting. Who gives a damn about nit picking details and all those bastard "lore masters" who need to get a life instead of worrying whether a detail of some fantasy world is used correctly or not.
The generic dwarf city Hammerfast is a great example. WoTC has placed it in their Nentir Vale in the back of the DMG. But what stops you from using it in your personal campaign? I've placed it south of Cormyr in some mountains. Is that correct by lore? Does it matter? No it does not matter. So just add such places in FR if you need it.
So to me...the vastness of FR lore and history can be a turn off at first glance because it can seem overwhelming. But when you think about what you'll actually be using and rationalize a bit then you realize that most reason people put forth is utter crap when used as a cop out.
That never has bothered me before. The authors of all those novels are DM's writing about their campaign. They make their own NPC's and give their interpretation of cities. This doesn't mean that you have to use that in your campaign. It is an interesting read and source of inspiration and nothing more. To me those novels are NOT valid sources of lore which people should get tight assed about. If your players get upset that your campaign doesn't match those novels...just smack them on the head for it.
So that leaves all the dragon and dungeon magazines as well as the hardcover releases. Even those don't have to be used into detail. I mean...why read about the lore and history about parts you're not going to visit? I couldn't care less what is happening in Winterhaven while the campaign is in the Dalelands.
This means that you only read up on a specific part of The Realms. Namely that which you are actually using. And that is only a few paragraphs of reading material. Jutting down the few key NPC's, note worthy locations, type of government and using the map and you're done. As a DM your job couldn't be any easier. You don't have to read or prepare a lot and thus can focus on adding the things to the city which you want to use. Add some cult members here and there which gather in the basement of one of the taverns planning to overthrow the government and you got yourself an adventure already.
Want to go to the Underdark while in the Dalelands than do it. You don't have to use any Underdark information per se. Those books are supplemental. They can be used if you wish to get more insight and inspiration, but they are not required material. Just like Race of Faerun and such. And even if you decide to use such supplements it'll be done in relatively small dosage. An amount which you can handle and digest. Just like reading only the geographical paragraphs of the locations you actually play in...is also the same as the amount of supplements you actually read at a time.
So you basically only take what you need one step at a time. Probably the outline of what you read will stick with you. This will allow you to get all you need about the entire realms. But what matters is that have all you need for the part you're actually visiting. Who gives a damn about nit picking details and all those bastard "lore masters" who need to get a life instead of worrying whether a detail of some fantasy world is used correctly or not.
The generic dwarf city Hammerfast is a great example. WoTC has placed it in their Nentir Vale in the back of the DMG. But what stops you from using it in your personal campaign? I've placed it south of Cormyr in some mountains. Is that correct by lore? Does it matter? No it does not matter. So just add such places in FR if you need it.
So to me...the vastness of FR lore and history can be a turn off at first glance because it can seem overwhelming. But when you think about what you'll actually be using and rationalize a bit then you realize that most reason people put forth is utter crap when used as a cop out.
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