| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Lucius |
Posted - 06 Jan 2005 : 23:45:13
Greetings.
Although I've played in and ran several roleplaying games through the years, from Vampire to Warhammer, I've never set foot upon the game which started it all, Dungeons and Dragons. Recently however, I discovered the joys of Neverwinter Nights, and I have to say, I'm besotted with the amount of detail placed into what I originally thought a cliche fantasy world. As well as buying the other games in the Forgotten Realms series, I have started reading Elfshadow, and have also bought Canticle.
And so, here I am, asking for any welcome advice, hints, tips or general pointers when first discovering the Realms. I plan on buying the Players Handbook 3.5 tomorrow, and my game will be quickly following. Any comments are welcome.
Thank you. |
| 30 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| scererar |
Posted - 28 May 2006 : 02:35:36
quote:
Originally posted by RevJest
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
An interesting note is that when Salvatore was preparing to write The Crystal Shard, he spur-of-the-moment dreamed up Drizzt during a phone conversation with one of the TSR people, who asked who Wulfgar's sidekick would be. So Drizzt was never intended to be the spotlight character, he was just a sidekick. Look what happened there. 
I'm going to toss this quasi non-sequitor in for fun, and because it might make an old friend of mine a tad less cranky.
Back in the 80s, before RA Salvatore penned The Crystal Shard, I and several friends were playing in a long running Greyhawk campaign. My friend Eric ran an interesting character named Piell.
Piell was a drow.
A noble drow.
A drow who had forsaken the evil of his people and left them.
A drow who was often hounded by angry and fearful folk, and who had to prove himself often.
A drow who had to do a lot of soul searching, and was sometimes broody.
A drow who fought with two swords.
I know this sounds totally unfamiliar.
Eric can't discuss his favorite AD&D character with other gamers. Because if he does, the conversation goes like this:
Eric: *tells someone all about Piell*
Someone: "Oh, you mean he's like Drizzt?"
Eric: "... no. Drizzt is like Piell."
- RJ
Hey the first surface Drow ranger - pre-drizzt character. No worries my friend, I see your point |
| Faramicos |
Posted - 27 May 2006 : 16:47:56
I agree... Make sure to make it simple. At least when you choose the setting. No need to rush yourself into an adventure that races across the continent before you realy knows it. |
| Octa |
Posted - 02 Feb 2005 : 18:27:35
buy the basic 3.5 books, find the old grey box, set your campaign in the Dalelands, 1356 with the elves leaving and a mysterious ruined city being opened up for exploration and exploitation and go from there, it is the best 1st realms experience you will ever have. |
| RevJest |
Posted - 02 Feb 2005 : 15:29:12
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
An interesting note is that when Salvatore was preparing to write The Crystal Shard, he spur-of-the-moment dreamed up Drizzt during a phone conversation with one of the TSR people, who asked who Wulfgar's sidekick would be. So Drizzt was never intended to be the spotlight character, he was just a sidekick. Look what happened there.
I'm going to toss this quasi non-sequitor in for fun, and because it might make an old friend of mine a tad less cranky.
Back in the 80s, before RA Salvatore penned The Crystal Shard, I and several friends were playing in a long running Greyhawk campaign. My friend Eric ran an interesting character named Piell.
Piell was a drow.
A noble drow.
A drow who had forsaken the evil of his people and left them.
A drow who was often hounded by angry and fearful folk, and who had to prove himself often.
A drow who had to do a lot of soul searching, and was sometimes broody.
A drow who fought with two swords.
I know this sounds totally unfamiliar.
Eric can't discuss his favorite AD&D character with other gamers. Because if he does, the conversation goes like this:
Eric: *tells someone all about Piell*
Someone: "Oh, you mean he's like Drizzt?"
Eric: "... no. Drizzt is like Piell."
- RJ
|
| Lucius |
Posted - 31 Jan 2005 : 16:00:06
Steven Schend, you'll be pleased to hear I've taken your advice and ordered an anthology, as well as Homelands. Thanks for the advice.
Does anyone know where I can find a list of all the 3rd edition source material for the Realms? There seem to be a large amount of source books.
Also, I read somewhere that Dragon Magazine did an article on creating Bhaal-Spawn characters, based on Baldur's Gate, as well as an article with the stats for Jahera and Sarevok, amongst others from the game. Could anyone tell me which issues these are? |
| Kentinal |
Posted - 28 Jan 2005 : 17:47:57
quote:
Originally posted by Lucius
1. Is it possibly to multiclass a character over 4 classes, or is there a limit of three class combinations? For exmaple, is it possible to create a 3rd level rogue / 3rd level wizard / 3 level fighter / 3rd level monk?
It is posible to have 10 or more classes, as long as one does not perclude the other all can be advanced equally, resulting in no experience point award penality. Some computers versions do limit the ability to multi-class this most likely a coding issue.
In theory a player could design a character in such a way that selecting a new class at level one, that the character would have a 100 percent penality as to amount of points awarded. That any would seek to do this is unlikely, however if 10 classes are more then one level away from each other this is the result.
quote:
2. It is stated in the PHB that a character gains one additional feat at level one. Does this mean that every time you begin a new class, you gain the additional feat, or does it just apply to character levels?
There is Character Level and Class level.
At Character Level 1 one recieves an extra feat, 4 times skills points.
At Character Level 1 a player selects a Class level and recieves the Class features. One can only be at Character Level once, as that is the total number of classes/Hit Dice that a Character aquires.
Class level is a prusuit decides to follow. One can start out as a fighter, develpe and interest in music and become a bard, then perhaps move on to Sor or even cleric.
|
| Faraer |
Posted - 28 Jan 2005 : 16:24:38
Bob says he came to truly see Drizzt as the main character, so I believe him. But it would have been easy, otherwise, to surmise that he'd been kicked into that role because the character was seen to be popular. For me, Wulfgar and Bruenor are still the heroes of Bob's books.
I would read the Icewind Dale trilogy before Dark Elf, and see the progression of the characters and Bob's as a writer that way, but either order is fine. But I would read Ed Greenwood's Spellfire next, not Drizzt books, if you want to know the Realms. No better introduction to the setting exists, among novels, though this is a fine handout to give your players the right idea.
1. yes. 2. You only get the feat at 1st (character) level. |
| Lucius |
Posted - 28 Jan 2005 : 15:19:42
Thank you all for the usefull responces here. It's much appreciated and helpful for a starting DM.
I'm afraid, however, I have another 2 questions. This time, they are easily answered, I'm sure, and rules (3.5) related
1. Is it possibly to multiclass a character over 4 classes, or is there a limit of three class combinations? For exmaple, is it possible to create a 3rd level rogue / 3rd level wizard / 3 level fighter / 3rd level monk?
2. It is stated in the PHB that a character gains one additional feat at level one. Does this mean that every time you begin a new class, you gain the additional feat, or does it just apply to character levels? |
| SiriusBlack |
Posted - 23 Jan 2005 : 04:20:27
quote:
Originally posted by Lucius
Should I begin reading the Icewind Dale trilogy next then, or would it be better to start reading his life in chronological order?
I believe this question has come up before....but for some reason I just can't recall who brought it up or what the answer was.
Thus, I have to go with WR here and say chronological order has to be the smart way to go. I know I enjoy books more when read in that order verus publication dates when there are discrepancies between the two. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 23 Jan 2005 : 01:46:57
quote:
Originally posted by Lucius
Should I begin reading the Icewind Dale trilogy next then, or would it be better to start reading his life in chronological order? Also, does the Icewind Dale trilogy have any connections with the game of the same title, or does the similarities end after the location?
My preference, no matter the series or genre, is to always read the books in chronological order. In this case, it really doesn't matter, but I'd still read the books chronologically. That makes it easier if you keep reading Drizzt books after the first two trilogies. |
| Lucius |
Posted - 22 Jan 2005 : 21:54:07
Should I begin reading the Icewind Dale trilogy next then, or would it be better to start reading his life in chronological order? Also, does the Icewind Dale trilogy have any connections with the game of the same title, or does the similarities end after the location? |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 22 Jan 2005 : 16:32:54
quote:
Originally posted by Steven Schend
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Better that than Jimmy Olsen... 
"The Adventures of Wulfgar's Pal!"
quote:
Originally posted by Steven Schend
I'm really enjoying this thread as one of the things it was always hard to gauge within TSR or WotC was EXACTLY how people picked up the campaign settings and what drew them to the worlds (or frustrated them enough to leave them behind).
Steven Schend
As I've said before, a friend's Dragginglance comics got my attention first. I started reading those, and then I wanted to know if there was more info out there about certain characters... So I got into the Dragginglance novels, reading the first five trilogies or so...
But I was starting to get bored with the setting... It wasn't dynamic, and the continuity drew much vacuum (i.e.: Kharas, who lived after the Cataclysm, forged his Hammer at Reorx's forge. This same Hammer was used 3,000 years earlier to forge the first Dragonlances  ).
Then I saw either Spellfire or Shadowdale, and the cover blurb said it was by the publishers of the Dragginglance setting. So I gave it a shot. It was good enough for me to keep reading Realms novels... And the rest, as they say, is history.  |
| SiriusBlack |
Posted - 22 Jan 2005 : 15:53:40
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Better that than Jimmy Olsen...
|
| Steven Schend |
Posted - 22 Jan 2005 : 15:28:44
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by SiriusBlack
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
An interesting note is that when Salvatore was preparing to write The Crystal Shard, he spur-of-the-moment dreamed up Drizzt during a phone conversation with one of the TSR people, who asked who Wulfgar's sidekick would be. So Drizzt was never intended to be the spotlight character, he was just a sidekick. Look what happened there.
So Drizzt was originally Robin? Or Tonto?
Better that than Jimmy Olsen...
"The Adventures of Wulfgar's Pal!"
Darnit, Wooly, now you've got me re-envisioning the Realms in Jack Kirby style--Halaster running Undermountain ala Project Cadmus and constantly surrounded by the flurry of "Kirby dots" to show off his power.... 
Apologies for going all comic-book-goober, but frankly, I'd LOVE to see someone draw some pictures of some Realms characters in Jack Kirby style, just as a nostalgia trip (and I just know that Ed would appreciate this sort of silliness as well, since he's just as much a comics fan as Wooly and me).
As for advice for getting to know the Realms, you're taking the right tack in reading the novels. They'll give you a better broad sense of the sorts of styles inherent in the Realms. I might suggest trying one or more of the short story anthologies to give you a wider taste-test of places and peoples as well. Shouldn't be hard to find any one of the 12 or so that've been done over the years...
And while I hate to plug a product of my own, I think it's available yet as a free download (but others may correct me here or provide the link I don't have). Thus, CITY OF SPLENDORS was written/developed with the mindset for a group of starting PCs to have their own little corner of Waterdeep (The Adventurers' Quarter) and their own book (with a DM's secrets book). Waterdeep's a daunting place, which is why we set up COS the way we did.
I'm really enjoying this thread as one of the things it was always hard to gauge within TSR or WotC was EXACTLY how people picked up the campaign settings and what drew them to the worlds (or frustrated them enough to leave them behind).
Steven Schend |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 22 Jan 2005 : 15:06:21
quote:
Originally posted by SiriusBlack
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
An interesting note is that when Salvatore was preparing to write The Crystal Shard, he spur-of-the-moment dreamed up Drizzt during a phone conversation with one of the TSR people, who asked who Wulfgar's sidekick would be. So Drizzt was never intended to be the spotlight character, he was just a sidekick. Look what happened there.
So Drizzt was originally Robin? Or Tonto?
Better that than Jimmy Olsen...
quote:
Originally posted by SiriusBlack
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
As for Elfshadow, that's not the only book about Arilyn Moonblade and Danilo Thann. Their tale spans several more books -- Elfsong, Silver Shadows, Thornhold, and Dream Spheres.
And an anthology or two if I recall correctly has featured one or both of them. Not to mention a short story in Dragon Magazine.
You are indeed correct.
Here's the order, from Elaine's site (and originally from the WotC page):
Elfshadow -- Harpers 2; Songs & Swords Book I
"The Bargain" -- Realms of Valor Story IV
Elfsong -- Harpers 8; Songs & Swords Book II
Silver Shadows -- Harpers 13; Songs & Swords Book III
"The Great Hunt" -- DRAGON #246; Elaith & Arilyn after Silver Shadows
Thornhold -- Harpers 16; Songs & Swords Book IV.
"Speaking with the Dead" -- Realms of Mystery Story I
"Stolen Dreams" -- DRAGON #259; (Isabeau story runs concurrent to "Speaking with the Dead")
The Dream Spheres -- Songs & Swords Book V
"The More Things Change…" -- Realms of Infamy Story II
|
| SiriusBlack |
Posted - 22 Jan 2005 : 14:50:22
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
An interesting note is that when Salvatore was preparing to write The Crystal Shard, he spur-of-the-moment dreamed up Drizzt during a phone conversation with one of the TSR people, who asked who Wulfgar's sidekick would be. So Drizzt was never intended to be the spotlight character, he was just a sidekick. Look what happened there.
So Drizzt was originally Robin? Or Tonto?
quote:
As for Elfshadow, that's not the only book about Arilyn Moonblade and Danilo Thann. Their tale spans several more books -- Elfsong, Silver Shadows, Thornhold, and Dream Spheres.
And an anthology or two if I recall correctly has featured one or both of them. Not to mention a short story in Dragon Magazine. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 22 Jan 2005 : 14:43:57
quote:
Originally posted by SiriusBlack
quote:
Originally posted by Lucius
Just another quick question I'm sure someone could answer. Which of the Forgotten Realms novels is Drizzt's first book? There seem to be several trilogies, and I'm somewhat baffled about in what order to read them. Having almost finished Elfshadow, they seem like a good next step.
The first published Drizzt novel is The Crystal Shard part of "The Icewind Dale Trilogy." The first Drizzt novel chronologically in the FR timeline is Homeland part of "The Dark Elf Trilogy."
More information can be found here.
Indeed.
An interesting note is that when Salvatore was preparing to write The Crystal Shard, he spur-of-the-moment dreamed up Drizzt during a phone conversation with one of the TSR people, who asked who Wulfgar's sidekick would be. So Drizzt was never intended to be the spotlight character, he was just a sidekick. Look what happened there.
Also, unless later printings have correct it, The Crystal Shard originally stated that Drizzt had dwelt in the Underdark for more than two centuries. We now know, however, that he's not more than about 80, if that old.
As for Elfshadow, that's not the only book about Arilyn Moonblade and Danilo Thann. Their tale spans several more books -- Elfsong, Silver Shadows, Thornhold, and Dream Spheres. |
| SiriusBlack |
Posted - 22 Jan 2005 : 14:21:05
quote:
Originally posted by Lucius
Just another quick question I'm sure someone could answer. Which of the Forgotten Realms novels is Drizzt's first book? There seem to be several trilogies, and I'm somewhat baffled about in what order to read them. Having almost finished Elfshadow, they seem like a good next step.
The first published Drizzt novel is The Crystal Shard part of "The Icewind Dale Trilogy." The first Drizzt novel chronologically in the FR timeline is Homeland part of "The Dark Elf Trilogy."
More information can be found here.
|
| Kentinal |
Posted - 22 Jan 2005 : 13:09:09
quote:
Originally posted by Lucius
Just another quick question I'm sure someone could answer. Which of the Forgotten Realms novels is Drizzt's first book? There seem to be several trilogies, and I'm somewhat baffled about in what order to read them. Having almost finished Elfshadow, they seem like a good next step.
I believe _Homeland_ would be the first book about his life, however not first book published. |
| Lucius |
Posted - 22 Jan 2005 : 12:16:24
Just another quick question I'm sure someone could answer. Which of the Forgotten Realms novels is Drizzt's first book? There seem to be several trilogies, and I'm somewhat baffled about in what order to read them. Having almost finished Elfshadow, they seem like a good next step. |
| Kentinal |
Posted - 11 Jan 2005 : 03:51:09
quote:
Originally posted by The Hooded One
Hello, Lucius. I am The Hooded One you've been warned about.
I do not believe I warned anyone about you ;-) just tried to explain you in a limited way. |
| The Hooded One |
Posted - 11 Jan 2005 : 02:35:47
Hello, Lucius. I am The Hooded One you've been warned about. 
Never fear, I don't bite (at least, not on the first date), and I'm one of the "original" players - - I play in the home campaign of the guy who created the Forgotten Realms, Ed Greenwood.
Through me, you can of course ask him anything you want (no, he won't be your DM ), and I'm happy to help, too.
Ask away . . .
love,
THO |
| Kentinal |
Posted - 11 Jan 2005 : 01:10:22
quote:
Originally posted by Elf_Friend
I'm almost emabarrased to admit this, but playing the Baldur's Gate video game prepared me for being a Forgotten Realms DM. I felt like I knew the city upside down, backwards and forwards. Volo's Guide to the Sword Coast added to the flavor. When I kicked my first campaign off I started there and it is still one that's talked about to this day. :)
Hmm in certain ways I can see how even a computer game can provide some DM training, just that the DM is the program. So your first game is talked about, how so? Was it considered a great sucess because you knew the NPCs and locality well? I am old school self taught DM, before I had a computer and me having an internet connection was only a dream. So can not know how well one can be trained by another DM or a computer game. Experience certainly helps, there are many ways of learning though not just one way.
quote:
So anyway, my point is now that you've played the NWN game you may seriously want to consider starting your campaign there. You know the lay of the land and the city is familiar to you.
As far as this goes, it is better to start with a location known, though still not sure one should play named NPCs unless very well understood. |
| Mystery_Man |
Posted - 11 Jan 2005 : 00:50:14
I'm almost emabarrased to admit this, but playing the Baldur's Gate video game prepared me for being a Forgotten Realms DM. I felt like I knew the city upside down, backwards and forwards. Volo's Guide to the Sword Coast added to the flavor. When I kicked my first campaign off I started there and it is still one that's talked about to this day. :)
So anyway, my point is now that you've played the NWN game you may seriously want to consider starting your campaign there. You know the lay of the land and the city is familiar to you.
But don't go looking for maps, they're outlawed on pain of (I think it's still in effect) death!
|
| Kentinal |
Posted - 10 Jan 2005 : 20:34:51
quote:
Originally posted by Lucius
Well I'm roughly half way through the chapter 3 of the PHB, and apart from a few Multiclass rules queries, it goes well. I've even had a plan for my first adventure.
What type of multclass questions?
quote:
I am rather unsure, however, to have them meet the PC characters, such as Minsc, Khalid etc, as it seems to go in the face of the advice previously given. Are any of these characters significant to the Realms appart from in BG, like Drizzt or Elminster? If not, do you think this sounds like a good basis for a campaign?
Advice is much welcome.
The Characters certainly not are as big as like Drizzt or Elminster, however would advise against using them much unless you knew them very well. Most major figures tend to stay in the background as oposed to becoming actively involved for DMs that wish to stay faithful to the Realms. They certainly can make appearences, such as answering a question, perhaps offer a word of advice, perhaps even request something be sought out. Playing any source NPC runs the risk of the DM having the NPC do something out of character, The better they are known the lower the risk, however the risk is always there. |
| Lucius |
Posted - 10 Jan 2005 : 20:07:06
Thanks to everyone for the advice and tips so far, and especially the quick answers. Running a FR game is going to be far easier with the good advice from here.
Well I'm roughly half way through the chapter 3 of the PHB, and apart from a few Multiclass rules queries, it goes well. I've even had a plan for my first adventure.
It may take place during the Iron shortage of Baldur's Gate, with the players hired by what seems to be a rich merchant from an organization called the Iron Throne.They'll be involved in taking the beserker sword to the Nashkel captain, resulting in his insanity. Whilst there, they will recieve a letter from their employer, asking them to be on the look out for a group of mercenaries in the area, who are stealing iron (actually the PC characters from the game). Eventually, the players will meet the PC characters from BG, and hopefully will help in the fights against the Throne later. It's all fairly brief at the moment.
I am rather unsure, however, to have them meet the PC characters, such as Minsc, Khalid etc, as it seems to go in the face of the advice previously given. Are any of these characters significant to the Realms appart from in BG, like Drizzt or Elminster? If not, do you think this sounds like a good basis for a campaign?
Advice is much welcome. |
| SiriusBlack |
Posted - 10 Jan 2005 : 05:03:43
Lucius,
If you have a question about a specific FR god please be sure to ask. Most of the web sites out there, if accurate, contain good information, but nothing like some of the knowledge in the actual tomes that many scribes have access to. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 10 Jan 2005 : 01:15:27
quote:
Originally posted by Lucius
2. Also, are the Gods mentioned in the Players Handbook Gods used in the Realms, or generic D&D Gods?
Thanks in Advance
The ones in the PHB are the gods of another campaign setting, Greyhawk. When they launched 3E, they made Greyhawk the "default" setting. I personally think that was a concession to help get Gary Gygax back aboard, but I still dislike it.
As my colleague SB said, the gods of the Realms are a lot more interesting.
|
| Kentinal |
Posted - 09 Jan 2005 : 17:28:39
quote:
Originally posted by Lucius
I just downloaded the North boxed set. It seems very detailed. I wasn't aware that the Sword Coast was included in the North.
Rather than begin a new topic for two minor questions, I thought I would post them here instead..
1. Is the lore talked of in the Realms computer games seen as accurate? I'm aware the events in the games are not seen as canon, but what of the background detail on certain areas and cities? Does the BG/NWN version of the Realms differ from the original?
2. Also, are the Gods mentioned in the Players Handbook Gods used in the Realms, or generic D&D Gods?
Thanks in Advance
1. At times the games diverge a little from printed material, sometimes just for implimentaion reasons. How spells work. Sometimes there is a lore conflict as I recall, however that can also happen in printed material. Newer material superceed older in most cases.
2. There are differences between gerneric gods and FR ones.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faer%FBnian_pantheon
offers a list of FR gods, it might not be as complete and Bane certainly is no longer a dead power. |
| SiriusBlack |
Posted - 09 Jan 2005 : 17:25:16
quote:
Originally posted by Lucius
2. Also, are the Gods mentioned in the Players Handbook Gods used in the Realms, or generic D&D Gods?
Thanks in Advance
The Realms have their own divine powers which I think you'll find much more interesting than the generic D&D gods that appear in any of the player handbooks. |
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