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Sylrae
Learned Scribe
Canada
313 Posts |
 Posted - 12 Aug 2010 : 02:42:22
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Era/System. (or source/system if you allow things by book instead of by time)
I don't want to have this turned into a flame war of "my system is better", I just want to know how what sorts of cool non-standard combinations people do, and how many people do them that way. Please specify era/system or book/system.
So like, you could say:
1358/4e, and elaborate on how it works for you. Doesn't even have to be d20 based. I've heard of people running planescape with World of Darkness Mage.
My upcoming campaign will be: 714/PFRPG. I plan on allowing all the paizo options, anything in KQ, and various 3.0/3.5 stuff upgraded to pfrpg, as well as using many 4e monsters in encounters.
So CK: How do you play your realms?
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Sylrae's Forgotten Realms Fan-Lore Index, with public commenting access to make for easier improvement (WIP) |
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Thauramarth
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
738 Posts |
Posted - 12 Aug 2010 : 09:17:28
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| 1350s/2.5E (although I am working on converting NPCs to GURPS). It works for me, because from a hsitorical / current events POV, the era is very detailed, which makes it easier for me to feed news and events of "things happening" in the world to the players, making it more of a "living" place. It also has the advantage of gameworld stability; now that 4E has moved the timeline a century forward, I can rely on no sudden changes happening to the world, which allows me to easily introduce mine without fear that they will be contradicted by future "canon" lore. |
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Jorkens
Great Reader
Norway
2950 Posts |
Posted - 12 Aug 2010 : 09:28:07
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| I usually start somewhere between 1340 and 1360. Either a straight 2nd ed. version or using an old Swedish BRP variation. Canon vary from campaign to campaign, sometime half the products go out the windows, sometimes its about 1995. I have been lucky enough to always have players who cared little about canon and rarely read the novels. I have never had a "personal canon" that evolved through the years, although I am at the moment working my way through the 2nd ed. campaign set and writing a version of the Realms that works just as I want it. Just a way to systematise my ideas and quirks into something that might work. I have been thinking about getting some advise, but it is by now so ridiculously un-canon that it would have little interest here at Candlekeep though. With any luck though, I will have a fresh, new version of the setting for my personal use sometime in the future. If I ever finish it that is. |
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Saxmilian
Learned Scribe
USA
157 Posts |
Posted - 12 Aug 2010 : 16:11:59
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| My group is playing about 10 years after the Shadowvar return to the Realms. Since I do all the planning and end up being the only DM I allow just about anything I find that I think is cool. I use Spells and Feats from other sources (that work mechanically under "standard rules") No Action-points and so on. Monsters from just about everyever I can find them (our current monster list is some 4,000 strong) these (and spells) are the easiset to explain since who has explored the entire realms and seen everything. Mysterious island you wander upon? Perfect setting to place the "aliens" from "Aliens". I love throwing an obscure spell at my players (or at an orc with a friendly NPC mage) and then having the wizard questing to learn such a unique treasure! |
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Thauramarth
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
738 Posts |
Posted - 12 Aug 2010 : 16:41:47
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quote:
Originally posted by Jorkens
I have been thinking about getting some advise, but it is by now so ridiculously un-canon that it would have little interest here at Candlekeep though.
Aww come on, share  ! |
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Jorkens
Great Reader
Norway
2950 Posts |
Posted - 12 Aug 2010 : 17:42:13
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quote:
Originally posted by Thauramarth
quote:
Originally posted by Jorkens
I have been thinking about getting some advise, but it is by now so ridiculously un-canon that it would have little interest here at Candlekeep though.
Aww come on, share !
I really don't think you know what you are asking. The idea is mainly just to see how it will develop and try to fit it to BRP in the end. We are talking about a mess of elements that may not fit that well together yet, written in my usual misuse of the English language(mainly because figuring out translations for names is, next after mapping, the worst thing I know) and by now not looking much like the Realms at all. And have I mentioned its long-winded?
But by all means if you are interested; I can see if I can get something posted by tomorrow. You have been warned though. |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
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Dalor Darden
Great Reader
USA
4273 Posts |
Posted - 12 Aug 2010 : 20:21:14
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I've moved back and forth over the years.
The last truly major campaign I ran in the Forgotten Realms started in 2nd Edition, then to 2.5, then to 3.0 and finally stopped at 3.5 a number of years ago. Essentially, I don't care about the rules set...just about the setting.
Now, however, I'm fully planning to run a game with ONLY Advanced Dungeons and Dragons as the rules. I may use lore from later editions, but it will only be the lore I use.
I tried this once with an online variety of playing; but I'm horrible at dealing with computers and I failed utterly and with some great deal of shame attached as well.
This time it will be with myself, my wife, my sister-in-law, my wife and her sister's best friend, and my two oldest children (both boys). Essentially, I have five fresh minds to play with. 
Well, my wife has played RPGs a few times over the years, and has played Everquest for many years...but this will be an all new group. I'm currently deciding on where to place Keep on the Borderlands (translated into 1st Edition of course) to start them in. I'm still thinking in the Dragonspine Mountains actually...north of Phlan. Once they finish there, I will move them south to go through the Ruins of Adventure Module I believe...but I'm unsure of what will happen after that. |
The Old Grey Box and AD&D for me! |
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Halidan
Senior Scribe
USA
470 Posts |
Posted - 12 Aug 2010 : 21:45:38
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| My last campaign was based around the liberation of Daggerdale, with a heavy overtone of Robin Hood. It was 3.5 and set in 1368-69. The next campaign I'm planning will be set circa 1346 and deal with how the various dale communities (especially Harrowdale) deal with the Elves leaving for Evermeet. Not sure what rules system we'll use. It will either be Pathfinder or 3.5 |
"Over the Mountains
Of the Moon
Down the Valley of the Shadow,
Ride, boldly ride,"
The shade replied,
"If you seek for Eldorado!"
Edgar Allen Poe - 1849 |
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Nicolai Withander
Master of Realmslore
Denmark
1093 Posts |
Posted - 12 Aug 2010 : 23:08:27
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| 3.0-3.5 FR. 1392 DR. and NO spellplague |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 13 Aug 2010 : 00:22:56
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I have run 1e/2e/3e era games (the years those edition's setting guides were set in), and even ran a very brief campaign set in Anchorome of 1480 DR (about 15 years ago).
That's right folks - I went a century ahead over a decade ago... wonder if I can sue?
I did a weird-west twist on the Realms, which was short-lived due to lack of player interest in the subject-matter. {sigh}
Live and learn.
After it was said and done, I thought perhaps I had gone too far with how I pictured things going. If nothing else, at least 4e made me feel a little better. 
Rules were always variations on the current rule-set, sometimes HEAVILY modified, other times fairly by-the-book. I never ran FR with a completely non-D&D rule set, but I have considered it from time-to-time, and even went so far as to convert tons of D&D creatures and spells to Character Law/MeRP before I gave up on the idea.
Would using Pathfinder rules even be considered using a non-D&D rule set? 
Not that I have done so, but I know many are, and its built on OGL so I wouldn't really consider it non-D&D (just another variation, like my Homebrew). |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Edited by - Markustay on 14 Aug 2010 16:20:14 |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
37011 Posts |
Posted - 13 Aug 2010 : 02:25:59
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| If I was to run a Realms campaign, it'd be set in 1372 -- the year of the 3E FRCS. As I've stated more than once, right after Cloak & Dagger is to me the best reset point, so I'd go forward from there, changing/ignoring certain RSEs as I went. Rules-wise, it'd be Pathfinder. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
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Sylrae
Learned Scribe
Canada
313 Posts |
Posted - 13 Aug 2010 : 09:14:10
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Markustay, I'd say pathfinder doesn't count as non-D&D. As far as I'm concerned, it's a tweaking and adjusting of 3.5 to play more how I'd like it to, with a closer regard to how different books interact, with better support, and more overall product cohesion (things are more designed to work together).
They also take alot of the things I had come up with as house rules and make them the default, which always makes things easier.
But as far as anyone I know who plays it is concerned, it's D&D. most of the people I know say that 4e, while not necessarily a bad game, is a ~Different Game~, and not just a different edition. I won't agree or disagree, but Pathfinder is D&D in all ways but in name, as far as we're concerned. |
Sylrae's Forgotten Realms Fan-Lore Index, with public commenting access to make for easier improvement (WIP) |
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Quale
Master of Realmslore
1757 Posts |
Posted - 14 Aug 2010 : 14:25:36
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I usually start in the sixties cause I think that was the most interesting version of the Realms, just after the Harper schism. Going far into the future, for a decade or more is not for me. The rules are 2e plus houserules and what we like from 3e and 4e. There are no long fights.
The style of play is where the religions and the cosmology are different, it's played as an alternate history setting with nearly all Earth analogies, there is more low level utilitarian magic. Basic races are changed, most of them like in mythology.
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Uzzy
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
618 Posts |
Posted - 14 Aug 2010 : 14:38:43
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| My forthcoming FR campaign will likely start around Midwinter 1371, in Cormyr (see my Kingmaker in Cormyr post elsewhere), using the Pathfinder rules. The Shades will be coming in later, as I've got a rather fun way to bring them in, though not before I introduce, slowly, the likes of the Zhents, Sembians, Red Wizards and Harpers. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
37011 Posts |
Posted - 14 Aug 2010 : 16:10:51
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quote:
Originally posted by Quale
I usually start in the sixties cause I think that was the most interesting version of the Realms, just after the Harper schism.
Uh... The Harper Schism starts in 1370.  |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 14 Aug 2010 : 16:27:22
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Quale
I usually start in the sixties cause I think that was the most interesting version of the Realms, just after the Harper schism.
Uh... The Harper Schism starts in 1370.
I'm thinking maybe Quale ran the Harper Schism earlier in his home campaign. I seem to recall him saying something about that before. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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Quale
Master of Realmslore
1757 Posts |
Posted - 14 Aug 2010 : 17:55:44
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| the schism is the finale, where I like the campaigns to end (1370s), e.g. before there are the events the scepter, or the one with Skorlsun ... |
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How do you play your Realms?
