Which 4E Mechanics doesn't fit pre-Spellplague FR?

[Dragonbait]

You could easily hand wave Arcane and Divine magic and just say they use the weave.

Declare that all Divine casters need to choose a favored diety to get their divine powers. You don't have to change them, mechanically, but it adds more setting flavor. Look up the gods on the various Realms wiki articles for the pre-Spellplague gods.

Dragonborn wouldn't be in the setting per se. There are so many half-dragons, dragon men and draconic races that came out in 3E that you could still use the race. If you really want to be fast and loose, you could use the dragonborn stats and say they are the exceptionally rare saurial race.

I think Eladrin fits the bill of being a Sun Elf so a simple rename could work for me. My initial plan was to only use the races available in the 4E core rulebooks and not introduce any 'sub-races' but I think they could be done with simple modifications to their racial ability bonus.

Don't forget that there are various sub-race bloodline feats in the FR player's guide that denote the various dwarf and elf subraces. Subraces were significant in the Realms.

 

[questing gm]

After flipping through the 4E FR Player's Guide, I feel that most of the mechanical work has already been done and are usable during the pre-Spellplague era.

I also think that they are some core 4E mechanics has already emulated what can be done in 3.x FR but just requires a few renaming. So overall, I'm convinced that it is very doable (and quite easily in fact for most).

So far, here are some of my assumptions for a 4E pre-Spellplague FR.

• 
  Shadow Weave = Shadow power source and/or Dark Pact Warlock (renamed to Shadow Adepts or Shadow Warlocks?)

• 
  Rune Magic = Rituals that are performed earlier and inscribed into a rune (with increased prices/components and require a feat?)

• 
  Portals = Teleportation Circles

• 
  Spellfire = Spellscared?

• 
  Subraces = I noticed that in the 4E FR Player's Guide there are feats for each of the subraces for the elves, dwarves and halflings. Problem solved.

• 
  Regional benefits = Backgrounds (PHB II)

• 
  The Plane of Shadow = Shadowfell

 

[Derulbaskul]

Your approach seems to be saying "4E is the way it has always been" which is probably what I would do if I went back to pre-Spellplague because it is so much easier (and also because my players play a lower magic version of FR so magic doesn't play as big a role as it does in many games, FR or non-FR).

Just out of interest, what part of parts of the pre-Spellplague Realms attract you enough to want to ditch the 4E version? For me, it's the existence of real maps but I'm keen to hear other opinions.

 

[questing gm]

Yeah, I started this thread thinking that it might be a little difficult to convert the 4E mechanics to fit with pre-Spellplague realmslore. It seems that I was wrong and it is quite easy in fact.

The reason why I'm more interested in pre-Spellplague FR is because I'm more invested in that era of the setting than what it has become in 4E. I've immersed myself into the realmslore that I've felt it was a huge waste to let it all become non-relevant in a 100 years time leap.

After giving some thought to this, I figured that the 4E mechanics might actually be enhancing the high fantasy and high magic feel of the setting than 3.x did, so why not get the best of both worlds?

 

[Derulbaskul]

(snip) After giving some thought to this, I figured that the 4E mechanics might actually be enhancing the high fantasy and high magic feel of the setting than 3.x did, so why not get the best of both worlds?

... and it's so damn easy to stat up a Zhentarim encounter in the Dalelands!

Actually, I do understand your reasoning. If I go back to the pre-Spellplague Realms I'm inclined to even drop the Shadow Weave and remove that mechanical complication from the game. If the Character Builder allowed the creation of custom races I would probably go back there now.

 

[CapnZapp]

Just out of interest, what part of parts of the pre-Spellplague Realms attract you enough to want to ditch the 4E version? For me, it's the existence of real maps but I'm keen to hear other opinions.

I think I get your question, but just to clarify: now you're asking about ditching the 4E realms right? (Which has nothing to do with whatever rule set you're using)

 

[SPECTRE666]

I am thinking about restatting my "Old Grey Box" and 1E Realms materials(FR1 thru FR6) to 4E. Manshoon would be a 16th Level Controller. Drizzt from FR5 would be a 10th level Drow Skirimisher. Regis from FR5 would be a 5 level lurker. Yes Elminster would be a 29 level controller, but hey he is Elminster.

Dragonborn could be from the Dragon Eggs that started to fall from the sky during the Year of Lightning Storms. Travellers from Maztica, Kara-Tur, ectera.

Warforged (if you use them) could be Terra-Cotta Warriors from Kara-Tur. Relics from the war between Narfel and the Ruamatari. The creations of the Metal Mage in Undermountain.

There is so much one can do with the Realms.

I have even thought about running a 4E game set in 225 DR during the reign of the Mage Lords. Very interesting Realms back then. Halaster is calling Hunts in the FUTURE UNDERMOUNTAIN BACK THEN.

Good Gaming.

 

[Dragonbait]

Dragonborn could be from the Dragon Eggs that started to fall from the sky during the Year of Lightning Storms. Travellers from Maztica, Kara-Tur, ectera.

That first idea was bandied about pre-4E FR when people speculated on the origin of Dragonborn.

Warforged (if you use them) could be Terra-Cotta Warriors from Kara-Tur. Relics from the war between Narfel and the Ruamatari. The creations of the Metal Mage in Undermountain.

How about some kind of connection to Gond? Like Gondsmen (specialized golems created by priests of Gond with a particular prestige class in 3E) or Gond's rare attempt to make his own life forms but with his own sensibilities?

 

[SPECTRE666]

I forgot about Gond...

 

[Derulbaskul]

I think I get your question, but just to clarify: now you're asking about ditching the 4E realms right? (Which has nothing to do with whatever rule set you're using)

Sorry, it was a tortured piece of writing that deserves some editing for clarity.

What I was trying to ask was what was it about the the pre-Spellplague Realms that the OP found so attractive that he decided to use the 4E ruleset but the the pre-4E Realms?

For me, the thing I really do dislike about the 4E Realms is that the maps are unbelievably bad. They're artistically poor and lacking in anything resembling detail. Look at the Eberron maps for 4E: they're superb!

I also like what Spectre says about running a Grey Box campaign: now that is really tempting!