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Quale
Master of Realmslore
1757 Posts |
 Posted - 05 Apr 2009 : 15:09:52
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| depends if I could bring some people with me, most likely yes |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 05 Apr 2009 : 17:43:18
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Going by the Spelljammer rules, one Sphere's 'common' is translated into another sphere's 'common' upon entering. On the surface, this would appear to me that the most commonly spoken language in a sphere should be considered it's 'common'... in which case you better learn Chinese before going.
On the other hand people from Earth seem to have no problem communicating with people from Toril. Elminster could obviously cast a spell to be understood, but Ed Greenwood is able to understand ALL of his visitor's despite whatever world they hail from. Add to that that both he and and Julia Martin are seen speaking to Volo in The Grand Tour in Cormyr leads me to believe that Earth's 'common' is English.
But if it were based on the most widely-spoken (geographically) language rather then the one spoken by the most people, then I would think it should be Spanish.
Ah well... the universe remains a mystery. 
I still don't think anyone would really go to Toril though. Its one thing to play in a fantasy world, but quite another to go to a place filled with real monsters. That would be like living inside of a nightmare. In a world filled with shape-changing magics and Dopplegangers, I would be too paranoid to ever trust anyone. Bad enough I'm like that already.... |
"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 05 Apr 2009 17:45:29 |
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Alisttair
Great Reader
Canada
3054 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2009 : 14:39:43
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I know how you could make the realms a safe place to visit. You all know how the realms are the way YOU want it to be in your own campaign. Well, all you gotta do as DM is first create your realms so that it has no monsters, Zhentarim, or other evil threats that make it dangerous. Play a few sessions with your PCs to make it come alive. Then you can go ahead and open a portal, making sure it leads to YOUR version of the realms. Keep all the other good stuff. I know a lot of the dangerous stuff is part of what makes the realms so interesting, but for a quick visit in the streets of Waterdeep with zero chance of ending up in Undermountain sounds good to me  |
Karsite Arcanar (Most Holy Servant of Karsus)
Anauria - Survivor State of Netheril as penned by me:
http://www.dmsguild.com/m/product/172023 |
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Jorkens
Great Reader
Norway
2950 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2009 : 15:19:41
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quote:
Originally posted by Alisttair
I know how you could make the realms a safe place to visit. You all know how the realms are the way YOU want it to be in your own campaign. Well, all you gotta do as DM is first create your realms so that it has no monsters, Zhentarim, or other evil threats that make it dangerous. Play a few sessions with your PCs to make it come alive. Then you can go ahead and open a portal, making sure it leads to YOUR version of the realms. Keep all the other good stuff. I know a lot of the dangerous stuff is part of what makes the realms so interesting, but for a quick visit in the streets of Waterdeep with zero chance of ending up in Undermountain sounds good to me
So you end up with a lot of sex and some nice scenery? It sounds like a back-to-nature hippy collective with less interesting music. Not to bad come to think of it. |
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skychrome
Senior Scribe
713 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2009 : 15:39:09
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quote:
Originally posted by Jorkens
So you end up with a lot of sex and some nice scenery? It sounds like a back-to-nature hippy collective with less interesting music. Not to bad come to think of it.
So kind of "Hi there, where is the next Temple of Sune, I want to move in there!"? |
"You make an intriguing offer, one that is very tempting. It would seem that I have little alternative than to answer thusly: DISINTEGRATE!" Vaarsuvius, Order of the Stick 625 |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36878 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2009 : 15:46:25
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quote:
Originally posted by Alisttair
I know how you could make the realms a safe place to visit. You all know how the realms are the way YOU want it to be in your own campaign. Well, all you gotta do as DM is first create your realms so that it has no monsters, Zhentarim, or other evil threats that make it dangerous. Play a few sessions with your PCs to make it come alive. Then you can go ahead and open a portal, making sure it leads to YOUR version of the realms. Keep all the other good stuff. I know a lot of the dangerous stuff is part of what makes the realms so interesting, but for a quick visit in the streets of Waterdeep with zero chance of ending up in Undermountain sounds good to me
What are the PCs going to do with no monsters, Zhents, or evil threats? |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen!  |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2009 : 15:51:51
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quote:
Originally posted by swifty
with the language barrier thing.would common be english.
I'm pretty sure it isn't. |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2009 : 16:45:58
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
What are the PCs going to do with no monsters, Zhents, or evil threats?
Settle-down and buy a farm. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Alisttair
Great Reader
Canada
3054 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2009 : 18:43:08
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
What are the PCs going to do with no monsters, Zhents, or evil threats?
Settle-down and buy a farm.
Or toss fireballs at the darkness at the Mage Fair. |
Karsite Arcanar (Most Holy Servant of Karsus)
Anauria - Survivor State of Netheril as penned by me:
http://www.dmsguild.com/m/product/172023 |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36878 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2009 : 19:17:43
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quote:
Originally posted by Alisttair
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
What are the PCs going to do with no monsters, Zhents, or evil threats?
Settle-down and buy a farm.
Or toss fireballs at the darkness at the Mage Fair.
Not magic missile? |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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Alisttair
Great Reader
Canada
3054 Posts |
Posted - 07 Apr 2009 : 11:29:21
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Alisttair
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
What are the PCs going to do with no monsters, Zhents, or evil threats?
Settle-down and buy a farm.
Or toss fireballs at the darkness at the Mage Fair.
Not magic missile?
Only if your buddy is somewhere else at a Tavern getting drunk trying to pick up a maiden. |
Karsite Arcanar (Most Holy Servant of Karsus)
Anauria - Survivor State of Netheril as penned by me:
http://www.dmsguild.com/m/product/172023 |
Edited by - Alisttair on 07 Apr 2009 11:30:17 |
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swifty
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
517 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2009 : 10:00:39
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
Going by the Spelljammer rules, one Sphere's 'common' is translated into another sphere's 'common' upon entering. On the surface, this would appear to me that the most commonly spoken language in a sphere should be considered it's 'common'... in which case you better learn Chinese before going.
On the other hand people from Earth seem to have no problem communicating with people from Toril. Elminster could obviously cast a spell to be understood, but Ed Greenwood is able to understand ALL of his visitor's despite whatever world they hail from. Add to that that both he and and Julia Martin are seen speaking to Volo in The Grand Tour in Cormyr leads me to believe that Earth's 'common' is English.
But if it were based on the most widely-spoken (geographically) language rather then the one spoken by the most people, then I would think it should be Spanish.
Ah well... the universe remains a mystery.
I still don't think anyone would really go to Toril though. Its one thing to play in a fantasy world, but quite another to go to a place filled with real monsters. That would be like living inside of a nightmare. In a world filled with shape-changing magics and Dopplegangers, I would be too paranoid to ever trust anyone. Bad enough I'm like that already....
i was under the impression that english was more widely spoken. |
go back to sleep america.everything is under control.heres american gladiators.watch this.shuttup. BILL HICKS. |
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skychrome
Senior Scribe
713 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2009 : 19:57:31
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quote:
Originally posted by swifty
i was under the impression that english was more widely spoken.
Probably as second (learned) language.
But according to quantity of people speaking a language as their native language, Chinese is first followed by Spanish. I think English is not even third!?
_ |
"You make an intriguing offer, one that is very tempting. It would seem that I have little alternative than to answer thusly: DISINTEGRATE!" Vaarsuvius, Order of the Stick 625 |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2009 : 20:15:07
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English is considered the 'scientific language', and all members of THAT community (including medical professionals) are required to learn it. In most countries around the world, English is indeed picked-up as a second language, and that's why English-speakers (like US and UK) need-not learn other languages when traveling abroad - we normally can find someone who speaks our lingo.
However, as I said, thats considered a second language for most. In Europe, I believe only the UK speaks English natively, and as for the Americas - ALL of South and Central America speak Spanish natively, along with a major portion of the Carribean.
In north America we have but three countries - Mexico, the US, and Canada. Mexico speaks Spanish, and half of Canada speaks French... making the US the ONLY 100% English-speaking country on both continents. Now, you can readily find many, MANY English-speakers in both Mexico and Canada... but that doesn't make it their native tongue (although I'd have to consider Canadians bi-lingual in that regard).
There are NO English-speaking nations in Asia (unless you count Israel, and even there it's considered a second language to Hebrew), and only one that I'm aware of in Africa. There is no native-language for Antartica....
That makes Australia the ONLY all-English speaking continent on the planet.. and being the smallest continent, it's evident that English trails way behind Chinese (which has hundreds of dialects) and Spanish (which also has many local dialects).
Europeans probably don't think of Spanish as a major langauge because of who speaks it there, but here in the Americas, you can't get away from it. I'm in construction, and in order to have my own company I needed to get reasonably familiar with it. Almost all public signs are in both English and Spanish, and nearly ALL subway advertisements are in Spanish only. You also can't own a restaurant without knowing at least a few words. |
"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 08 Apr 2009 20:20:10 |
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swifty
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
517 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2009 : 22:06:23
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| know where goin off topic a bit here but when you say all of the usa speak english i remember seein a movie called southern comfort.i think it was set in the deep south but there was a small village in the film who i seem to recall spoke french.is this possible? |
go back to sleep america.everything is under control.heres american gladiators.watch this.shuttup. BILL HICKS. |
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Jorkens
Great Reader
Norway
2950 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2009 : 22:31:46
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quote:
Originally posted by swifty
know where goin off topic a bit here but when you say all of the usa speak english i remember seein a movie called southern comfort.i think it was set in the deep south but there was a small village in the film who i seem to recall spoke french.is this possible?
Great movie.
They were Cajuns, descendants of French-Canadians in Louisiana. If I remember correctly that is.
Saying all of USA speak English is a bit of a simplification, as many people are bi-lingual. |
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swifty
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
517 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2009 : 23:04:50
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| such a great film and yet it took a friend to reccomend it.20 odd years old and have never seen it on british tv. |
go back to sleep america.everything is under control.heres american gladiators.watch this.shuttup. BILL HICKS. |
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Kajehase
Great Reader
Sweden
2104 Posts |
Posted - 09 Apr 2009 : 00:13:29
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
In north America we have but three countries...
I'm pretty sure the people of the Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Belize, and the various Carribean nations would disagree with that.
quote:
There are NO English-speaking nations in Asia...
...other than India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Malaysia, and Singapore where it is an official language.
quote:
In Europe, I believe only the UK speaks English natively...
There's some Irish guys looking funny at your car, I'd give it a good look before turning the ignition if I were you.
And the english-speaking nation in Africa you were speaking of, that's Zimbabwe, right? |
There is a rumour going around that I have found god. I think is unlikely because I have enough difficulty finding my keys, and there is empirical evidence that they exist.
Terry Pratchett |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36878 Posts |
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Icelander
Master of Realmslore
1864 Posts |
Posted - 09 Apr 2009 : 02:33:10
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
However, as I said, thats considered a second language for most. In Europe, I believe only the UK speaks English natively, and as for the Americas - ALL of South and Central America speak Spanish natively, along with a major portion of the Carribean.
Why are you assuming that something needs to be a native language for people in order to qualify as 'most widely known' or 'most widely spoken'?
English is the most widely known and most widely spoken language on Earth. By a wide margin.
The fact that there are some languages which more people speak natively isn't especially relevant.
Especially since Common is more of a second language than it ever is a first one. Nearly everyone in the Realms speaks a native language and Common.
Sounds like a pretty solid analogy to me. If magical gates to other worlds were appearing in my living room, it wouldn't break my suspension of disbelief to assume that such gates were capable of converting English into Common. |
Za uspiekh nashevo beznadiozhnovo diela!
Forgotten Realms fans, please sign a petition to re-release the FR Interactive Atlas
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Eye of Horus-Re
Acolyte
USA
36 Posts |
Posted - 13 Apr 2009 : 21:25:30
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| So this is my first post... Going back to the original question.. I would certainly go. I have been a locksmith for about 12 years now. I think that gives me about 5 levels of rogue (or so). Just need someone to teach me sneak attack :) |
Long live 1384 and that which came before....!!! |
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Ashe Ravenheart
Great Reader
USA
3248 Posts |
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edappel
Learned Scribe
Brazil
211 Posts |
Posted - 13 Apr 2009 : 21:46:08
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Hey Icelander, the most widely known language on the world is "mandarin" from China.. ;)
And of course I would go to Abeir-Toril... Have you ever imagine being sure that GOD, or at least, GODS exists? To receive powers, you just have to pray!
To an atheist like me, it would simply rox. ;) |
--- Ed Appel
*** I'm a brazilian FR fan. So, feel free to correct my writing mistakes to improve my english. |
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SeeDiGi
Acolyte
Bermuda
34 Posts |
Posted - 13 Apr 2009 : 23:05:02
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| No because being a "small guy" is pretty dangerous. |
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Eye of Horus-Re
Acolyte
USA
36 Posts |
Posted - 14 Apr 2009 : 13:48:48
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| Edappel, I was thinking that myself. (though I am not an athiest) But that begs the question of who do you follow if you become a cleric? Western Realms I would say Lathander or Tymora. |
Long live 1384 and that which came before....!!! |
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edappel
Learned Scribe
Brazil
211 Posts |
Posted - 14 Apr 2009 : 15:43:57
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Good question Eye of Hores-Re.
In fact, I'm agnostic.. Not atheist.. (earlier, I didn't find the exactly translated word in my mind.. So I wrote "atheist")
But if I were there.. Hm... Depends the race.. If human: Tymora, Selune (I love the night), Mystra and Sune (I love their priestess).
But if I were a cleric, I would pray to Oghma. (And never to Ilmater.. I prefer the pleasures of the life)
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--- Ed Appel
*** I'm a brazilian FR fan. So, feel free to correct my writing mistakes to improve my english. |
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Icelander
Master of Realmslore
1864 Posts |
Posted - 14 Apr 2009 : 16:47:27
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quote:
Originally posted by edappel
Hey Icelander, the most widely known language on the world is "mandarin" from China.. ;)
*sigh*
No. In fact it is not.
Mandarin is the language with the largest number of native speakers. It is, however, not the language spoken in the greatest number of countries (English), on the largest part of the world's territory (English) or the language known by the most people (English).
Mandarin is an isolated language spoken by relatively few people outside of China. Estimates of the total numbers of speakers (whether as s first, second or third, etc., language) range up to 1.1 billion people (most hover around 850 million, owing to Cantonese, Wu and Min speakers being excluded, as the "dialects" are mutually unintelligable and should be classified as seperate languages).
English, meanwhile, is in practical terms the lingua franca of the world. More than 1.5 billion people know English and a much higher number can manage to communicate simple concepts in it.
And the trend is firmly toward greater expansion of English. The number of Mandarin speakers grows very slowly, if at all. The number of English speakers is constantly growing, with the proliferation of the Internet, music and entertainment in English.
I don't know who started the myth that 'Chinese' is the most widely known language in the world.
Perhaps it was a well-meaning, but lazy, scholar, figuring that since it was so much easier to obtain data on the numbers of native speakers than the total number of speakers, he'd sacrifice accuracy for ease.
Perhaps it was a bitter Frenchman unwilling to concede the fact that English has replaced his own language as the lingua franca.
I don't know. What I do know, however, is that it's a myth, a 'widely known fact' without factual basis, the kind of Internet meme where incorrect scientific assertions are parroted in lieu of rational thought. And I'd respectfully ask people to stop propagating it. |
Za uspiekh nashevo beznadiozhnovo diela!
Forgotten Realms fans, please sign a petition to re-release the FR Interactive Atlas
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36878 Posts |
Posted - 14 Apr 2009 : 17:01:08
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Lurue. Any deity that encourages being whimsical is a deity for me.
I'd also favor Tymora, Lathander, Selūne, and Finder. And maybe Denier and Oghma. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36878 Posts |
Posted - 14 Apr 2009 : 17:03:35
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quote:
Originally posted by Icelander
I don't know. What I do know, however, is that it's a myth, a 'widely known fact' without factual basis, the kind of Internet meme where incorrect scientific assertions are parroted in lieu of rational thought. And I'd respectfully ask people to stop propagating it.
And I'm going to respectfully ask people to move on from this topic of real-world languages. There's already been one warning about that.  |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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Eye of Horus-Re
Acolyte
USA
36 Posts |
Posted - 14 Apr 2009 : 20:59:11
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So now we get to go to the Realms. And for the sake of the topic, we say Common = English. Or whatever your native language is to those of you not in the US) Do we get to change our race?
edappel, it definitely depends on whether you are just a follower or a cleric. Nothing beats the greater turning of the Sun domain of Lathander (or ahem....Horus-Re). If I came up against undead, I definitely would want to just blast them to oblivion. Otherwise, if I bacame an adventurer I would want Tymora watching my butt as I lived by the seat of my pants. |
Long live 1384 and that which came before....!!! |
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Would you go to the Realms if you could?
