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combatmedic
Senior Scribe

USA
428 Posts

Posted - 03 Sep 2012 :  23:48:59  Show Profile Send combatmedic a Private Message  Reply with Quote  Delete Topic

This is a spin off of the 4E likes and 5E wishlist thread.

What setting elements do you see as the 'core', essential, or must-have in FR?


For me:
  • OGB map of Faerun, with more land area than in the shrunken versions that came later, a huge setting
  • interworld connections, now mostly 'forgotten' or lost
  • the Retreat

  • creator races
  • cyclic history with numerous lost civilizations(a good source for dungeons)
  • the pantheon as presented in Dragon Magazine, but not necessarily all the gods or all the later twists and turns









YMMV= Your Mileage May Vary. I'm putting it here so I don't have to type it in every other post. :)

Jeremy Grenemyer
Great Reader

USA
2717 Posts

Posted - 04 Sep 2012 :  08:12:51  Show Profile Send Jeremy Grenemyer a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by combatmedic

What setting elements do you see as the 'core', essential, or must-have in FR?
Off the top of my head, the essential elements of the Realms I need to run good adventures (and so hope to see in every in-print iteration of the Realms) are:
  • Cormyr.
  • Gates/Portals.
  • Intrigue to layer over standard D&D encounters and dungeon delving.
  • Ruins, and lots of them. (Those gates have to lead somewhere.)
  • Unique, creative and Realms-specific treasure, monsters and encounter scenarios beyond what's listed in the DMG and Monster Manual. That is, stuff that shows me what imaginative and creative DMs can do with the D&D rules.
  • Current Clack or other parallel adventure hooks, both to riff off of during play and to show the players that the Realms is a busy place: one not waiting to see what the players do before it goes about its business (so either get on the train or watch it go by as someone else claims treasure that could have been yours).

Look for me and my content at EN World (user name: sanishiver).

Edited by - Jeremy Grenemyer on 04 Sep 2012 09:19:45
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Mr Dark
Seeker

50 Posts

Posted - 04 Sep 2012 :  15:07:33  Show Profile Send Mr Dark a Private Message  Reply with Quote

-Boxed set with multiple poster maps.

-Enough detail for flavor but room for the DM to expand.

-Crunchy bits that differentiate a Realms game from the standard D&D game.

-No metaplots.

-NPCs are given class and level suggestions but left for modification by the DM.

Canon stops where the table begins.
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CorellonsDevout
Great Reader

USA
2708 Posts

Posted - 04 Sep 2012 :  17:39:58  Show Profile Send CorellonsDevout a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Must haves:

Myth Drannor--I'd like to see more stories take place here
Evereska--same as Myth Drannor
Cormyr
Silver Marches
Evermeet--same as Myth Drannor and Evereska, and I'd like it to be more accessible again, though it's always been secretive.
Airspur
Return of the dead deities--and this goes with what I've been saying before. Erik Scott de Bie has mentioned more than once that deities will be playing a less significant role in the Realms, and that saddens me a little, but at the same time, I'm glad they can't "mess around" as much with mortals. That said, I would like it to be clear which deities have returned amd which haven't. I still want them to have a part in the Realms.

Along with this, these are the core deities I'd like to sse in FR 5e

Corellon Larethian
Amaunataur (can he be Lathander again, please?)
Bane
Moradin
Kelemvor
Oghma
Gruumsh
Torm (ideally I would like the return of the Triad)
Sune
Shar
Selune
Cyric
Some deity of magic (Mystra? Not Lolth!)
Lolth
Chauntea
I'd like Mask to appear again too

And speaking of Lolth, how about the return of Eilistraee and Vhaeraun, ey?

Some stories about the followers of deities who don't get the spotlight as much (ex the elven god Sheverash and Ilmater. The latter is a greater god but he doesn't get a whole lot of attention).

Can something be done with Thay? It's crawling with undead, and that makes for an interesting setting, but something should be done with it. Maybe some stories with necromancers?

I'd like to know more about the Rise of the Underdark, and this goes back to the return of the drow siblings. We have not heard anything about the "redeemed" drow since Lady Penitent.

This isn't essential, but since the races of Abeir and Faerun have mingled, I think the two worlds should continue to interact.

Tieflings, and maybe some assimars?

I'm sure there is more I haven't said that I'd like, but these are the things that first came to mind.

Sweet water and light laughter
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Mr Dark
Seeker

50 Posts

Posted - 04 Sep 2012 :  17:46:41  Show Profile Send Mr Dark a Private Message  Reply with Quote
I read somewhere that Ed originally envisioned Bane as kind of like the Witch-King from LOTR. I would love to see that angle explored. Also, bring back Bhaal and Myrkul.

Canon stops where the table begins.
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire

USA
15724 Posts

Posted - 04 Sep 2012 :  21:14:32  Show Profile Send Markustay a Private Message  Reply with Quote
I'm starting to think folks are getting very mixed up.

5eFR will be a 'new setting', very much in the way 4e was. Its not a reset, and its not 'set in the past'.

They have stated that they WILL provide tons of support for 'old eras' (Arcane age, 'Edwardian' 0e, 1e/2e/3e, 'the empty century', and 4e). We are to get lots and lots of articles on these time periods, and also support for all of them in sourcebooks. This is part of 'D&D', not the 5e Realms (in the same way that Arcane Age was marketed under its own line back in the day).

They are in no way, shape, or form 'the 5e Realms'. The plan is to make The Forgotten Realms into something all fans could live with, but it won't be the same exact thing as any previous era (because that would defeat its purpose).

Edit: According to most of the authors (and guys like James Wyatt at Gencon), once the Sundering storyline is complete, 'all bets are off' in regards to when novels can be set, so we are already being promised that. There will be no 'now' in terms of novels (at least, thats the current plan).
quote:
Originally posted by Sqwegle

-Boxed set with multiple poster maps. <snip>
THIS

UBER-THIS!!!

"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone


Edited by - Markustay on 05 Sep 2012 00:31:08
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CorellonsDevout
Great Reader

USA
2708 Posts

Posted - 05 Sep 2012 :  01:23:27  Show Profile Send CorellonsDevout a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Sqwegle

I read somewhere that Ed originally envisioned Bane as kind of like the Witch-King from LOTR. I would love to see that angle explored. Also, bring back Bhaal and Myrkul.



Huh, interesting, but yeah, agreed about Bhaal and Myrkul.

Sweet water and light laughter
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Mr Dark
Seeker

50 Posts

Posted - 05 Sep 2012 :  22:12:49  Show Profile Send Mr Dark a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Something I think that would be essential is a complete Undermountain.

Canon stops where the table begins.
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
Moderator

USA
36982 Posts

Posted - 06 Sep 2012 :  00:12:44  Show Profile Send Wooly Rupert a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Sqwegle

Something I think that would be essential is a complete Undermountain.



I think a complete Undermountain would require two or more books the size of the Ptolus book.

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Razz
Senior Scribe

USA
749 Posts

Posted - 06 Sep 2012 :  03:50:05  Show Profile Send Razz a Private Message  Reply with Quote
A place for any styled setting; Viking, Euro-Medieval, Arcane, Divine, Psionic, Draconic, Planar, Oriental, Aztec/Mayan/Native American, African, Egyptian, Indian, Greek, Persian, Outer Space, etc., etc. an all while being connected in a Realmsian-sense
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Dark Wizard
Senior Scribe

USA
830 Posts

Posted - 06 Sep 2012 :  04:14:44  Show Profile Send Dark Wizard a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert

quote:
Originally posted by Sqwegle

Something I think that would be essential is a complete Undermountain.



I think a complete Undermountain would require two or more books the size of the Ptolus book.



Megadungeon tomes. They exist. Fear them.

Look up Rappan Athuk and Slumbering Tsar by Frog God Games. The first is something like 600 pages for the Pathfinder system (slimmer for S&W), the second is almost 1000 pages and may be the largest megadungeon published between two covers.

Aside from Undermountain, I always figured a ruined mythal city such as Myth Drannor would make an ideal candidate for a slow room-by-room, door-to-door, above ground megadungeon crawl mixed with elements of exploration and discovery.

Edited by - Dark Wizard on 06 Sep 2012 04:19:54
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Dark Wizard
Senior Scribe

USA
830 Posts

Posted - 06 Sep 2012 :  04:17:24  Show Profile Send Dark Wizard a Private Message  Reply with Quote
I personally liked the 2e box. It was still slim, but with enough meat to get more plots going if one wanted them.

I could do without the Creator Races. I felt they were overexposed over the last two editions and much of the mystery behind them is lessened and not as impressive once it's dragged out to the forefront.

Edited by - Dark Wizard on 06 Sep 2012 04:22:08
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