The Abolethic Sovereignty? The Court of Rorn? The Eminence of Araunt?
Where the Forgotten Realms lost me...
- Thread starter MerricB
- Start date
dm4hire
Explorer
Those aren't new threats as much as refreshed ideas painted over using Abeir as a basis. Abolethic conflicts have been covered before in FR. Undead besieging the world, also been done. God like power seeking complete control, been over done. Granted they're a start, but not really different than what is already going on. Not to mention at least two have competing factions already on Toril to some extent. By something new I mean I'd like to have seen something completely new and different for a change. How about an invasion by Abeir? Or place the Realms in all out war? God forbid they actually kill off major gods of intrigue and introduce something completely new; I mean Bane and Cyric have been around forever. Kill them both and let's see Mask step up and cause some headaches or even a brand spanking new god we've never heard of. Primordials are a start, but to destructive and to the point; you really need a god so there’s intrigue. How about a new evil race for everyone to fall in love with?
Actually now that I think about it, what's really missing from the FR book is that underlying threat which pervaded throughout past editions. When you read through the books in the past every region description tended to have one thing in common; a common enemy. I mean Bane was a threat to everyone, the Dragon Cult were a threat to everyone, the Red Wizards were a threat, Zhents where a threat, and so on. You don’t get that in this book. I’ve read region descriptions that really don’t have anything going on which connects them to everyone else. Oh so and so keeps trying to invade everyone, but they can’t invade 10 countries over until they finish the nine in between. The threat section is kind of bland, nothing jumps out at you as the dominate threat. I mean a threat which causes everyone to stop their bickering and join together and fight against it. That’s the missing element. In the past you could pick a faction (i.e. Red Wizards, Zhents) to be your overall bad guy and without having to do research you knew they had some kind of investment in every corner of the world. Not any more, threats aren’t completely global unless the DM wants them to be and wants to create the story. That’s what I’m really talking about and really want; for WotC to have detailed a threat to the point it jumps out and screams “everybody hates us so we’re going to kill them or make them our slaves.” A new threat which doesn’t leave any doubt in anyone’s mind by the way the book is written; these guys are truly the threat everyone wants to fight. A threat that begs the PCs to try and ignore it.
Actually now that I think about it, what's really missing from the FR book is that underlying threat which pervaded throughout past editions. When you read through the books in the past every region description tended to have one thing in common; a common enemy. I mean Bane was a threat to everyone, the Dragon Cult were a threat to everyone, the Red Wizards were a threat, Zhents where a threat, and so on. You don’t get that in this book. I’ve read region descriptions that really don’t have anything going on which connects them to everyone else. Oh so and so keeps trying to invade everyone, but they can’t invade 10 countries over until they finish the nine in between. The threat section is kind of bland, nothing jumps out at you as the dominate threat. I mean a threat which causes everyone to stop their bickering and join together and fight against it. That’s the missing element. In the past you could pick a faction (i.e. Red Wizards, Zhents) to be your overall bad guy and without having to do research you knew they had some kind of investment in every corner of the world. Not any more, threats aren’t completely global unless the DM wants them to be and wants to create the story. That’s what I’m really talking about and really want; for WotC to have detailed a threat to the point it jumps out and screams “everybody hates us so we’re going to kill them or make them our slaves.” A new threat which doesn’t leave any doubt in anyone’s mind by the way the book is written; these guys are truly the threat everyone wants to fight. A threat that begs the PCs to try and ignore it.
Interesting, maybe I should have a look at it then...
...or maybe not. Because that's exactly the question I've been asking myself since the 1st ed FR setting:Silverblade the Ench said:
What the hell is FR?
There's never been anything about the setting that grabbed me. It's never been more than a 'shmorgezboard' (whatever that is
) to me. Imho, it's always been the ultimate 'vanilla' setting. There simply is no 'feel' to FR. It's completely and utterly bland.I really wished they'd released Eberron as their first 4E setting. Or Darksun. Or Planescape. Or Greyhawk. Or Anything!
Emirikol
Adventurer
I just ran a few LFR games this past weekend. I too hastily purchased the new FRCS...
I've been DMing for the RPGA for 22 years..and I'm fed up with what remains of the players in the organization (yes, all of you guys saying that for years..but I've finally had it sink in for the final time). There's a jerk at every table and 3/4ths of the players could give two hoots about fitting the character into the the FR campaign (and they thought the same of LG). Anyways, I'm more quitting it because it's no longer about the game, but some aspect of "Mortal Combat" like mentality in the players that began long ago in the Living City Forgotten Realms campaigns. If they don't care, I dont' care..and if I don't care, then the realms is dead to me.
The FR that I remember too was the gray box, but I can't say that the new stuff is that bad. It's bound to be the case that it must evolve. Just as we lost assassins and monks to 2nd edition, so too are we dealing with demon-spawn and Dragonbourne (and Netheril) casually fitting them in..but to me it's dealing with autistic-jerk players who aren't there to have fun IN the world.
jh
I've been DMing for the RPGA for 22 years..and I'm fed up with what remains of the players in the organization (yes, all of you guys saying that for years..but I've finally had it sink in for the final time). There's a jerk at every table and 3/4ths of the players could give two hoots about fitting the character into the the FR campaign (and they thought the same of LG). Anyways, I'm more quitting it because it's no longer about the game, but some aspect of "Mortal Combat" like mentality in the players that began long ago in the Living City Forgotten Realms campaigns. If they don't care, I dont' care..and if I don't care, then the realms is dead to me.
The FR that I remember too was the gray box, but I can't say that the new stuff is that bad. It's bound to be the case that it must evolve. Just as we lost assassins and monks to 2nd edition, so too are we dealing with demon-spawn and Dragonbourne (and Netheril) casually fitting them in..but to me it's dealing with autistic-jerk players who aren't there to have fun IN the world.
jh
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