Forgotten Realms

[Custom_Hobby]

I have been hoping someone would want to run a D&D game set in the Forgotten Realms. I Just finished reading The Orc King and have been thinking about a character I want to create. Anyone else in favor of a game or talking about the setting?

[Balgin Stondraeg]

I personaly harbour a strong dislike of that setting. I wouldn't want to run agame set in it personaly (unless I got to destroy the world for being so - well, the way it is).

[Hawkins]

grew up on forgotten realms,  but id have to agree with Balgin, the setting sux as its portrayed in the (older) novels compared to other worlds that we could play in. id rather do something with greyhawk or such like.

the problem isnt that its a bad world though, its just that everything in it seams to be to grand, or a one hit wonder world of encounters with no continuity between countries or genres.

[Agentmolar]

Hmmmm id take that as two nos then Mike..  :icon_wink: Im actually gming a Dark Heresy game at the moment, loving the world and the game. Mainly because I  have no idea of the 40K fluff, so making up as i go. Its more like Law and Order meet paranoia for my players at the moment.

I love forgotten realms books, but i understand what you mean hawkins. most Drizzzzzzzit books end up being monster of the week encounters of late. Bit of a pity since i spent my teenage years and beyond with those stories.

Id still play in a Dnd Forgotten Realms adventure though ( to get back on track)

[Keeper]

I'm pretty certain I've never played a game set in the Forgotten Realms, mostly for the reasons that everyone has already stated.

So, Mike, what character concept are you think of?  Might be a good idea to share, as some of your previous character concepts have been unusual :)

[Custom_Hobby]

I do agree that the Forgotten Realms have always seemed over the top. I do like it a bit more now in the 4E version since they have changed a lot of it. Also I have always liked the novels by R.A. Salvatore, most of which take place in the north.

For me it started with the Drizzt novels I was reading. I had just read the Hunters Blades trilogy and started on the next set (The Orc King was the first of them). In it Bruenor was searching for the lost dwarven city of Gautlgrym, but he never found it. I then was reading the new D&D 4E Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide; there was this reference to it in it:

Gauntlgrym: This legendary home of the Delzoun
dwarves continues to obsess dwarves from all over the
North. Efforts to reclaim the place have failed, but the
stories of extraordinary treasures cached there continue
to make it a popular tavern tale and the ultimate
prize for the greediest adventurers.

Anyway it made me want to create a regular (for me anyway) dwarf character who set out to find it. Then again I guess I can fulfill  that idea with either of the dwarves I am playing at the moment (not sure how but maybe). That's what made me ask about a FR campaign.

I also found this picture while doing a search:

http://www.virtual-lands-3d.com/gauntlgrym.html

[Balgin Stondraeg]

the problem isnt that its a bad world though, its just that everything in it seams to be to grand, or a one hit wonder world of encounters with no continuity between countries or genres.

That and the fact that every barman's got a +4 sword and has saved the world at least twice.

And there's too much magic.

And the magic's all huge effects - short duration (which just makes me think of Disney cartoons when it should be the other way around - smaller effects and longer duration for a more subtle, enjoyable experience).

The continuity problems with stuff being awkwardly stuck together doesn't help either.

And all the fans who clearly like the style of the older books and play it that way and go on about how great and silly it is really don't help any attempts I've made to take it more seriously.

Unfortunately the AD&D 4th edition rules have gone even further down the magic heavy/realism lite path (basicaly now everyone casts spells and they do it all the time even if they don't know any magic).

Also I have always liked the novels by R.A. Salvatore

Fans raving on about how some braindead twit grabs two magic weapons by mistake and runs into a fight and falls off a cliff and one weapon does this huge fiery burst and the other one he';s accidentaly grabbed just happens to make him immune to fire.....

Or fans raving on about how "it's really great when they fight these flying things and they just swing this guy around on the end of a rope and he's covered in spikes". Surely they could just shoot arrows instead of something?

Just downright stupid.

Oh and apparently in Ed Greenwood's books all the male characters are always bursting in on the female characters when they're naked.

And some princess gets turned intoa  wolf then another wolf gets her pregnant.

[Balgin Stondraeg]

Gauntlgrym: This legendary home of the Delzoun
dwarves continues to obsess dwarves from all over the
North. Efforts to reclaim the place have failed, but the
stories of extraordinary treasures cached there continue
to make it a popular tavern tale and the ultimate
prize for the greediest adventurers.

I could see elements of this coming into play later on in the Night Below campaign (a lot later on) but I'm not sure how major they'd be.

Of course it could easily be worked into Adventures in the Old World. Remember that dwarf in the bar who was recruiting a company to go and try to reclaim a fallen ancestral hold? Yeah, currently it's a company of just him but he'll probably still be there waiting later on.

I can't see it coming into the other two very much (regarding the characters you're playing in those adventures). Now if you were playing an elf, or half elf, in Dark Awakennings you'd already have had  alot of fun heritage stuff to experience :).

[Custom_Hobby]

Balgin while I understand you don't like the setting there are those who do. Some fans do go overboard with their praise but thats not what this was from me. I'm glad to see there might be a tie in with some of the games I am still in. I do still wish we had a FR game going but its not to be for the moment I guess. Open invite to anyone who would like to run one on the forum.

[PaulH]

Hi

Campaign settings are what you make them. Personally I love the richness of the magic in the setting, but then I normally play spellcasters. (Ask Balgin)! If you don't like magic, then play it down. I have the Birthright campaign setting, and magic use varies in different areas.

Would love to host a FR campaign online, but can't do the graphic representation thing, so combat encounters would be almost impossible. My favourite campaign (Night Below) is already being played here, then there's the time thing.

Might be up for an online game of NWN2 or something. Especially if we could do the campaign together (not just a few mods).

Cheers
Paul H

[Bruenor Odinson]

I'm with Mike on this one, having grown up on FR novels as well.
Douglas Niles and RA Salvatore.

Just because a few fans go over the top, and the rules aren't exactly to you taste is no reason to rubbish the whole setting.
Each to their own I guess.

[PaulH]

Hi

I agree - each to his own.

However, a setting is only what you make it.  If you want all those uber-powerful NPC's just dropping by for an ale, then that definitely affects the campaign.

I'm running Night Below as a Home Campaign in FR. The players don't get that much chance to interact with the super powerful (except what's in the campaign set). I just use it for the flavour, Gods' Domains, etc, and the players suggested that background. Blackstaff, Elminster & Symbul have obviously got more things to worry about.

As for Magic, yes, there's a lot about. Think about Lawyers or Doctors today. Everyone's see or heard of them. Many have even been to them professionally, but only a very small minority actually are. (Doctors or Lawyers).

If anyone's running an FR game, then (please) put me down as a Player.

Cheers
Paul H