Toril and Earth - Coincidence?

[Ambrus]

I recall reading, many years ago, an interview with Ed Greenwood in which he was asked what was the meaning behind the "Forgotten Realms" name. His answer was that the Forgotten Realms were named as such because, in his imaginings, there used to be numerous magical gates and portals that linked the Realms to the mystical locations of the ancient earth. The idea was that there used to be a fair bit of travel between the two worlds until the portals began to fail. Once the gates disapeared altogether the various civilizations of earth forgot about the mysterious locales that were once accessible through the portals. So, from the perspective of the civilizations of earth, the areas beyond the ancient gates became "the Forgotten Realms".

It's hardly cannon but I think it does shed some light on the original designer's intention.

 

[Nightfall]

Uhm...I just think you're reading way too much into this...

But whatever.

 

[Prince of Happiness]

I think you're being silly. There's no such place called "Earth."

 

[woodelf]

Thoughts?

Yeah: this is news?

Not to belittle, but i guess i feel a bit like somebody just posted "ever notice the extreme similarities between the races and classes of D&D and The Lord of the Rings?" Of course they're there--'cause that's the source material. In fact, it's precisely the excessive similarity to Earth (but without the depth of a historical setting) that has always turned me off to the Realms.

 

[Ranger REG]

No, that wasn't Ed's intention at all. It was TSR/WotC who made the Realms seem as they do to the originator of this thread. All of the places mentioned aside from Faerun itself were tacked on additions to the world when the Realms were the default setting for 2E. Hence any new campaign settings that weren't self-contained (like Dark Sun or Birthright) were just added to the map. Kara Tur, Maztica, Zakhara were all never part of Ed's original vision for the Realms. Heck, parts of Faerun like Vaasa, Damara, the Moonshaes, and Icewind Dale weren't part of the 'original' Realms either.

As Ambrus stated, our ancient Earth and Toril were once connected through a series of gates and portals. Of course, if Ed Greenwood himself would publicly refute that, then I understand.

In any case, TSR decided to use that as a means to expand Forgotten Realms. Personally, I have no objection since we have found a home for Kara-Tur. And I do like the psuedo-historical elements and motifs that mirror our diverse cultures. If you have a problem with that, don't travel beyond Faerun.

 

[Staffan]

Earthdawn took place on Earth way way way in the past. Barsaive was like Western Europe and Thera was actually on the isalnd of Thera in the mediterrianian.

If you consider Barsaive to be Western Europe, you must have a larger definition of Europe than most people. As I recall, the map of Barsaive fit pretty well with a map of Ukraine, and that's pretty much as far east as you can get and still be in Europe.

 

[Mercule]

Um... that could be because they were trying to faciliate many earthish legends in a D&D setting. Call me crazy.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

Call me crazy.

Okay. You're crazy!

 

[trancejeremy]

I think a lot of the stuff was tacked on. And they had to be tacked in pretty much the same place as on Earth.

I mean, you have to stick Maztica (and I would dispute about them being uncivilized - nasty, but civilized) in a fairly out of the way area with a fairly tropical clime. Because if it's based on meso-American culture, it has to be someplace similar to mesoamerica, both in terms of climate and being away. Otherwise it would be different. Same with the Al-Qadim setting.

Kara-Tur was originally supposed to be in Greyhawk, I think, but got shifted to Toril. But it too had to be somewhat isolated, and thus on one edge of the map or the other. And why not the east?

 

[S'mon]

If you consider Barsaive to be Western Europe, you must have a larger definition of Europe than most people. As I recall, the map of Barsaive fit pretty well with a map of Ukraine, and that's pretty much as far east as you can get and still be in Europe.

I bet most Ukrainians these days say Ukraine is central Europe, doncha know 'eastern Europe' starts at the Russian border? 'Europe' is generally taken to end at the Urals mts.