| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| NetDND |
Posted - 23 Jun 2014 : 14:55:37
Ive been a DnD fan since the early 90's and it wasnt until Baldurs Gate the PC game that introduced me to the Forgotten Realms world. Now as im growing older and interests are changing I find myself having a new interest in life and that is fantasy books.
I would like to start reading into the Forgotten Realms book series and know its lore, etc. So what would be a good place to start, since this was recommended as the place to go talk to Forgotten Realm sages.
I have access to many of the DnD books from 2nd, 3rd and 4th edition, and some of the novels, but not a clue where to start. What books/DnD material would you recommend to start me on my path in the right direction. Maybe a list of 5 to 10 books to get me going? |
| 6 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 24 Jun 2014 : 05:19:57
quote:
Originally posted by idilippy
Azure Bonds, the tale of Alias and Dragonbait is simply a great story well written, continuing on through the entire Finder's Stone trilogy wouldn't be bad either.
Elfshadow, and the entire Songs and Swords series. The tale of Arilyn Moonblade is also a very interesting and well written one.
This. I cannot agree with this strongly enough. Even after all these years and hundreds of novels, these are the books I keep going back to, time and again. |
| NetDND |
Posted - 23 Jun 2014 : 20:09:04
I read all your posts and will be taking this advice to heart.
I will begin with reading this list to get going by your advice.
1. Read the FR 3rd edition or 2nd Campaign book.
2. Volo's Guide and the surrounding area books.
3. Icewind Dale Trilogy
4. Elminster series
I will be reading these ASAP. Going away for a while, so I thought this would be a great series to pick up in during my quiet time. Thanks for the advice! Getting started now. Thanks for getting me going in the right way :-) |
| Cards77 |
Posted - 23 Jun 2014 : 19:41:25
The entire Elminster series was how I introduced my wife to the Forgotten Realms. She LOVED it. Sometimes Ed Greenwood's writing can be difficult for beginners but he does an absolute AMAZING job of bringing the Realms to life with amazing and halarious characters, and most importantly, portraying the type of wondrous and epic magic that makes the Realms stand out among other gaming campaigns. I think this is a critical difference that cannot be overlooked.
The other reason I think the series is so great is because you get a perspective from every class (thief, cleric, fighter, wizard, etc), every social standing, both genders, and all levels of power from lowly brigand to epic archmage. You also get introduced to several of the most important deities in the realms, Mystra, Bane, etc. |
| Gary Dallison |
Posted - 23 Jun 2014 : 16:07:23
Definitely start with the 3rd edition campaign setting. It provides a good grounding on all the areas of the realms.
Then i would pick an area and read all the books around that area.
So you could pick the Dalelands and read The Dalelands and the Volos Guide.
Or you could pick Cormyr and read Cormyr and the Volos Guide
Or you could pick the North and Read the Savage Frontier, The North, Volos Guide, The Silver Marches.
Once you have read a few of the areas and picked upo on the stories in that area then you want to read Lost Empires of Faerun, Serpent Kingdoms, and Champions of Ruin, some of the secrets that it elaborates on in those books are great to learn about, but if you dont know what it is elaborating on before hand it will mean nothing to you.
I guess the best thing to do would be go at the books in chronological order. That way you can see the Realms evolving for yourself. You will hear about these creator races for thousands of pages before they are finally revealed to you in all their glory. The many deaths of Phalorm and Impiltur that will confuse you mightily before they are solved in Lost Empires of Faerun and the secrets of Eltab in Champions of Ruin.
If you do it in chronological order then you will be less likely to think that the old stuff is already covered in the new books and so you wont ever go back and read Dreams of the Red Wizards etc which would be a massive mistake (the 3rd edition books miss some real gems but elaborate on others even further). You absolutely have to read every sourcebook from cover to cover several times so that you dont miss anything.
And if you are a real nerd like me and copy and paste every word into appropriate and organised documents (region, city, npc, artefact, organisation etc) and then begin to cross reference things you will find a whole host of secrets. |
| idilippy |
Posted - 23 Jun 2014 : 16:02:26
Some books I would say would get you a good start on the Realms would be:
Azure Bonds, the tale of Alias and Dragonbait is simply a great story well written, continuing on through the entire Finder's Stone trilogy wouldn't be bad either.
Elfshadow, and the entire Songs and Swords series. The tale of Arilyn Moonblade is also a very interesting and well written one.
Icewind Dale trilogy. Driz'zt is an iconic figure in the realms, and this is the first look you get at him and the companions of the hall.
Spellfire, Ed Greenwood's writing isn't to everyone's taste, and people have mixed opinions about this book, but this story does showcase a number of famous realms personalities, locations, and groups.
There are loads of other great Realms books that I greatly enjoy, like the Starlight and Shadows trilogy by Elaine Cunningham, or the Erevis Cale trilogy by Paul S. Kemp, or the solo books Cormyr: A Novel and Evermeet: Island of the Elves, but I think this list is a decent selection of starting novels. |
| Delwa |
Posted - 23 Jun 2014 : 15:54:15
Well Met! I'd suggest starting with any of the Volo's Guides from 2E as far as sourcebooks go. Novels wise, I'd recommend the Song and Swords series by Elaine Cunningham, and the Year of Rogue Dragons series. You can also jump into the Legend of Drizzt, and I do suggest you begin with Homeland if you read that series.
Of course, either the 2E campaign setting boxed set or the 3E campaign setting are a good place to start learning (of the two, I'd pick the 2E.)
I personally started learning Realmslore much as you described. I started with BG and then I moved to the 3E Campaign Setting and the Legend of Drizzt.
Just pick a spot that looks interesting, dive in, and have fun! |
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