| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Arioch |
Posted - 12 Jun 2013 : 12:11:55
Hi scribes!
I've been away from FR for a couple of years, since the beginning of the $ed... The longing for this setting, however, makes me wanting to return.
So... What happened in recent years? Any interesting evolution of the Realmslore? Some more information about the murder of Mystra?
Thanks in advance for pointing me toward the most important news! |
| 4 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Emma Drake |
Posted - 15 Jun 2013 : 17:04:40
quote:
Originally posted by Tyrant
3) Non Core (Human, Elf, Dwarf, Drizzt) races
lolol |
| Tyrant |
Posted - 15 Jun 2013 : 05:34:55
I would argue that you missed more than one book and wouldn't casually put down the entirety of 4E material. On the RPG side, the Neverwinter book is great. It also ties into Salvatore's last 4 books, as well as the two Brimstone Angels novels by Erin M Evans. Those two also tie into her Sundering novel coming in December. I also believe Erik Scott De Bie's last two novels are set in Luskan so there may be ties there, but I have not read them yet so I can't say for sure. I can say that if his book Downshadow is anything to go by they are both good books.
The Waterdeep series is pretty good. It's 6 books that aren't connected beyond taking place in Waterdeep, but they are good books.
Sandstorm highlights the current situation with the Genasi in Calimshan. I enjoyed the book and wanted another.
Richard Lee Byers last 5 books follow some of the characters from the Haunted Lands Trilogy that he also wrote. I think all 8 books are worth reading. The initial trilogy illustrates what happens to Thay from shortly before the Spellplague to the current era. The following 5 books, The Brotherhood of the Griffon series, is in 2 parts. The first 3 take place in Chessenta and the surrounding regions and involves the Dragonborn in Tymanther. The last 2 take place in Rasheman and involve the Eminance of Aurant, a new villain group from the Aebir. RLB's Sundering book does not tie into these 8, but I believe they are worth reading and help one know what is happening in the East/South East which doesn't seem to get nearly as much coverage as the West.
The Chosen of Nendawen series takes place in Narfell (I believe, but I could be mistaken) and is loosely tied to Frostfell from The Wizards series. This series highlights the North East, also a relatively unseen location in the novels. The plot revolves around demons attempting to find hosts and a girl trying to stop them because they killed her family. It heavily features non humans.
Venom in Her Veins is about a merchant family in Delzimmer (in the South East) with some interesting members. The main character is one such member and she happens to be a Yuan Ti Pureblood. A lot of the action is in the Underdark and involves the Derro (this is the only Realms book I have seen that featured them). This has Yuan Ti and Derro lore along with a very interesting merchant family.
The Abolethic Sovereignty details the rise of the Aboleths around the Inner Sea. It follows Stardeep, which follows Darkvision (which sets up the return of the Imaskari). I enjoyed it but some people are quite against the Far Realm stuff.
The Gilded Rune is about Dwarves. Given how little coverage they get I shouldn't need to say a lot more, but I will say that it also features the Duergar and the Dwarven gods and is really good.
The two Unbroken Chain novels focus on the Shadar Kai and one of their cities. The books try to explain how the Shadar Kai exist. The first is in the Shadowfell while the second eventually reaches Rasheman.
The Blades of the Moonsea trilogy is set in Hulburg and was (I believe) the first of the 4E Realms books. The series does a decent job of introducing some of the changes. The series ends up going around the Moonsea, to Myth Drannor, and to the Tears of Selune before it's all over.
Finally, the Elminster books. A lot of important things are covered here so you should read them.
In my opinion, these books help solidify some important changes in the fiction. Some had been coming slowly while others seem to have come more recently.
1) The villains, for the most part, aren't just mustache twirling buffoons. They are allowed to be actual characters and get decent "screen time". The Haunted Lands trilogy is probably the best example. It showcases the Thayan Civil War where everyone was fighting for one Zulkir or another, meaning to the outside it was evil fighting evil because either side winning meant at least one Zulkir was still in charge. The Brimstone Angels books feature Glasya, Asmodeus, and a whole host of other devils along with what remains of a Netherese Archwizard.
2) Intelligent, yet potentially still monsterous, creatures are treated as such. The Chosen of Nendawen series features a tribe of Hobgoblins that illustrates that one can be Monsterous (the creature type) without being a monster. RLB's books feature a number of intelligent undead creatures. Venom In Her Veins shows the Yuan Ti and the Derro in a light that helps you understand them and their thought process (well, the Derro are insane, so it's a little odd in their case)
3) Non Core (Human, Elf, Dwarf, Drizzt) races (and less seen varieties of the core races) are getting the spotlight. The Brimstone Angels books star a pair of twin Tiefling sisters and their Dragonborn adoptive father, the main character of Venom In Her Veins is a Yuan Ti Pureblood, there are a few notable Dragonborn characters in the first three Brotherhood of the Griffon books, and Sandstorm stars a Genasi being trained/guided by a Kenku. Tieflings seem to be more common in the 4E books overall. I don't feel these races getting some of the spotlight hurts the core races or makes them appear less dominant in the overall scheme of things.
I believe these changes are necessary to help flesh out the setting by taking advantage of the diversity of races present and it helps elevate conflicts above "Kill the ugly things and take their stuff" when those ugly things are portrayed as 3 dimensional characters (who can still be Evil). I think they are all for the better.
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| Arioch |
Posted - 13 Jun 2013 : 08:17:37
Thanks a lot! I'll check the video! |
| Tarlyn |
Posted - 12 Jun 2013 : 12:28:39
You should look up a video on youtube from last GenCon called "what is the sundering". It is basically a RSE to try and remake Realms into something the fans will support. On the Mystra front, Ed already revived Mystra in his latest novel trilogy. Basically, "$ed FR" as you referred to it continued on the same miserable path it was on until last year. Then the Sundering was announced and it looks like there is a chance FR might be a setting worth supporting again. There are also two video interviews with RA Salvatore one at HalCon and one with a group called Sword and Laser that are good additional explanation. They can also be found on youtube.
You came back at a great time, really the only thing you missed was a great product last year called "Ed Greenwood Presents Elminster's Forgotten Realms". It is edition neutral and full of great Realm's lore. Most of the examples in the book are from pre or early gray box era. If you didn't like 4e FR, everything else is easy to skip until the sundering launches this August. You may want to pick up the lastest RA and Ed stuff.
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