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SirUrza
Master of Realmslore
USA
1283 Posts |
 Posted - 28 Oct 2013 : 18:04:29
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Aside from the core rulebooks and the FRCS (edition neutral) what's your favorite/essential supplement?
For me it's long been FR Adventures, as a matter of fact I own 3 copies of it and have been on the look out for 2 more in good or better condition.
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"Evil prevails when good men fail to act."
The original and unapologetic Arilyn, Aribeth, Seoni Fanboy. |
Edited by - SirUrza on 28 Oct 2013 18:04:54
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 28 Oct 2013 : 18:06:50
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I love lots of things, but I find myself drawn back to Lands of Intrigue the most. So many great plothooks to pick-up and run with!
The Volo's Guides, taken as a whole, would probably take precedence over that source. |
"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 28 Oct 2013 18:07:45 |
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SirUrza
Master of Realmslore
USA
1283 Posts |
Posted - 28 Oct 2013 : 18:49:15
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
The Volo's Guides, taken as a whole, would probably take precedence over that source.
Run a lot of games in the regions covered in the volo guides do you? |
"Evil prevails when good men fail to act."
The original and unapologetic Arilyn, Aribeth, Seoni Fanboy. |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 28 Oct 2013 : 18:56:26
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Not really - I mostly run around Cormyr/The Dales/Moonsea area (in the past).
However, the two that give me the most ideas (aside from LoI) which I mentioned are the two Volo's Guides The North and The Sword Coast (which I always consider two halves of one whole).
The Baldur's Gate one is also great because it bridges those sources with LoI, but I never liked the name.
A source doesn't have to be from the area I run things in - I can always just port stuff over to where I am. I judge a source as 'good' by how many times I re-read it. Some sources I used to own but never read (like the Menzo box). I guess its the exact same criteria for novels - I re-read many of those, but have only read one FIVE times (Empire of the East). |
"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 - 28 Oct 2013 : 23:38:38
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| Used to be Races of Faerûn, but now Ed Greenwood presents Elminster's Forgotten Realms. |
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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Seravin
Master of Realmslore
Canada
1288 Posts |
Posted - 28 Oct 2013 : 23:50:25
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Forgotten Realms Adventures for sure. Volo's Guide to Cormyr and Volo's Guide to the Dalelands are also up there.
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Jeremy Grenemyer
Great Reader
USA
2717 Posts |
Posted - 29 Oct 2013 : 06:32:52
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For me it's "Volo's Guide to Cormyr", the "DM's Sourcebook of the Realms" from the 1987 Grey Box and the map of Cormyr found in the "Backdrop: Cormyr" article in Dragon 365.
Of those, the DM's Sourcebook is the most immediately useful for no other reason than it has the adventure "Lashan's Fall" in it. That adventure is an example of one really good, really fun, self contained adventure that can be dropped pretty much anywhere in the Realms, regardless of rules edition. It's perfect for starting campaigns and for use as a detour when a DM is tapped out
The map of Cormyr in "Backdrop: Cormyr" is the most complete map of Cormyr that I own. I constantly refer back to it when working on Realms campaigns, collecting Cormyr Realmslore and when writing material that's posted to the Running the Realms section here at Candlekeep.
If there should be a WotC employee reading this, burn the following into your brain: if you want to make a gamer use a sourcebook over and over again, put a really good map in the middle of that book.
Lastly, "Volo's Guide to Cormyr" is on my list because it's a source of endless names and place information. When players complete the initial adventure in Cormyr I start them on (e.g. "Lashan's Fall"), they're ready to see the wider world. That's where the Volo's Guide gets used (a lot).
There are a few go-to articles in Dragon and Dungeon I also like to use. But the above are my top three.
Takeaway for WotC: A DM can do a hell of a lot with one part of a Dragon/Dungeon magazine article and a couple of low page count, softcover sourcebooks, provided they're detailed and full of hooks for spawning campaign ideas. |
Look for me and my content at EN World (user name: sanishiver). |
Edited by - Jeremy Grenemyer on 29 Oct 2013 06:49:07 |
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Diffan
Great Reader
USA
4438 Posts |
Posted - 29 Oct 2013 : 10:06:30
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For Realms-only products: Races of Faer�n because the information therein can be utilized in multiple editions.
For over-all supplements: tie between Tome of Battle: Book of 9 Swords (revised 3rd edition) and Divine Power (4th Edition). |
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Lothlos
Learned Scribe
USA
111 Posts |
Posted - 29 Oct 2013 : 16:07:35
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Ed Greenwood presents Elminster's Forgotten Realms
Volo's Guides
Undermountain |
The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.
-J.R.R. Tolkien
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Dewaint
Learned Scribe
Germany
148 Posts |
Posted - 30 Oct 2013 : 10:02:08
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My top favorites are:
* Races of Faerun, can't count the times I read an reread entries down the years. IMO a priceless trove of lore
* Volo's Guides to XYZ, also tons of lore, cool realms specific magic & materials, many mysteries and hooks a DM can bring into life
* Wyrm's of the North Dragon Articles
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Edited by - Dewaint on 30 Oct 2013 10:02:39 |
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SirUrza
Master of Realmslore
USA
1283 Posts |
Posted - 30 Oct 2013 : 12:59:55
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quote:
Originally posted by Jeremy Grenemyer
For me it's "Volo's Guide to Cormyr", the "DM's Sourcebook of the Realms" from the 1987 Grey Box and the map of Cormyr found in the "Backdrop: Cormyr" article in Dragon 365.
I'll have to look into this map. I either overlooked it or forgot about it. Sounds like it's worth another look!
Grey Box DM huh? I don't have it myself but I do have the PDFs of those book, I'll have to give it a look as well. I've always leaned on the 2nd edition box.
I'm not really surprised everyone is saying the Volo guides, I use them heavily myself when I can. I probably should have included them in the list of exceptions. :) |
"Evil prevails when good men fail to act."
The original and unapologetic Arilyn, Aribeth, Seoni Fanboy. |
Edited by - SirUrza on 30 Oct 2013 13:00:51 |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
Posted - 31 Oct 2013 : 01:18:53
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| Interesting. The two books I use the most are Cormanthyr, and Races of Faerun, and perhaps the 3.5 Campaign Setting book, as well. I'm also very fond of the Demihuman Deities and original Menzo books, Drow of the Underdark (both versions), and the Draconomicon and Council of Wyrms books. As will be obvious from those choices, I'm heavily into Underdark(drow) and dragon-based adventures. |
The Goddess is alive, and magic is afoot.
"Where Science ends, Magic begins" -Spiral, Uncanny X-Men #491
"You idiots! You've captured their STUNT doubles!" -Spaceballs
Lothir's character background/stats: http://forum.candlekeep.com/pop_profile.asp?mode=display&id=5469
My stories:
http://z3.invisionfree.com/Mickeys_Comic_Tavern/index.php?showforum=188
Lothir, courtesy of Sylinde (Deviant Art)/Luaxena (Chosen of Eilistraee)
http://sylinde.deviantart.com/#/d2z6e4u |
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Drustan Dwnhaedan
Learned Scribe
USA
324 Posts |
Posted - 31 Oct 2013 : 06:39:03
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I don't have that many FR supplements (about 16-17 total, from 2e to 4e). But my favorite is probably either Races of Faerun or Demihuman Deities. And, since I'm (almost) always stuck playing the cleric of my party, Demihuman Deities is also one of my essential supplements, alongside Faiths & Avatars and Powers & Pantheons.
While not necessarily essential for gaming purposes, I also like the 3.x Underdark, Unapproachable East, and Shining South supplements, mostly because they gave me ideas for some short stories. (Which I still haven't finished writing, because my writing keeps me from catching up on my reading. *sigh*) |
Edited by - Drustan Dwnhaedan on 31 Oct 2013 06:45:04 |
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Jeremy Grenemyer
Great Reader
USA
2717 Posts |
Posted - 31 Oct 2013 : 08:16:42
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quote:
Originally posted by SirUrza
I'll have to look into this map. I either overlooked it or forgot about it. Sounds like it's worth another look!
The article in which the map can be found is still a free download on the WotC website.
That article and especially the map are one of the best ever to appear in Dragon since the dawn of 4E, in my not so humble opinion.
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Look for me and my content at EN World (user name: sanishiver). |
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SirUrza
Master of Realmslore
USA
1283 Posts |
Posted - 31 Oct 2013 : 19:31:11
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| Ah ha! 4e, that would be why I'm not familiar with the map. |
"Evil prevails when good men fail to act."
The original and unapologetic Arilyn, Aribeth, Seoni Fanboy. |
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Caladan Brood
Senior Scribe
Norway
410 Posts |
Posted - 31 Oct 2013 : 23:00:54
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| Nice topic :-) I've been collecting furiously the last year and have about seventy Realms supplements now. Still, the source I've enjoyed the most over the years remains my super-tattered 2nd edition grey box :) Other than that obvious choice and picking from what I have scrounged recently, I've found much joy in "Spellbound", "Ruins of Adventure" |
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The Arcanamach
Master of Realmslore
1847 Posts |
Posted - 01 Nov 2013 : 01:08:01
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All of Volo's Guides...
The OGB (because most of my campaigning takes place in the 1350-1370s...
ANYTHING with spells in it...
Supplements detailing the North (but mostly because it has been developed so much over the years, I'm actually hoping WotC will expand beyond the bulk of Waterdeep/North/Dales/Cormyr regions...I especially want some work done on the Moonshaes and Halruaa if the old culture returns). |
I have a dream that one day, all game worlds will exist as one. |
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Barastir
Master of Realmslore
Brazil
1600 Posts |
Posted - 01 Nov 2013 : 10:17:10
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Besides the 2e FRCS, I'm a huge fan of the Faiths & Avatars trilogy, and in my campaign my main reference is The North: Guide to the Savage Frontier and its former versions (Savage Frontier and Under Illefarn). I also use a lot the Volo's Guide to the North (my PCs have a copy of that book), and a bit of the Volo's Guide to the Sword Coast, and whenever they go to Waterdeep I use 2e City of Splendors and is former version, Waterdeep and the North.  |
"Goodness is not a natural state, but must be
fought for to be attained and maintained.
Lead by example.
Let your deeds speak your intentions.
Goodness radiated from the heart."
The Paladin's Virtues, excerpt from the "Quentin's Monograph"
(by Ed Greenwood) |
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SirUrza
Master of Realmslore
USA
1283 Posts |
Posted - 01 Nov 2013 : 18:36:55
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quote:
Originally posted by Barastir
i]The North: Guide to the Savage Frontier[/i]
Oh yes, this is one of my favorite box sets. |
"Evil prevails when good men fail to act."
The original and unapologetic Arilyn, Aribeth, Seoni Fanboy. |
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Gyor
Master of Realmslore
1625 Posts |
Posted - 02 Nov 2013 : 02:43:49
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| Powers and Pantheons, Avatars and Faith, Demihuman Dieties, Lost Empires, The Grand History of the Realms, both offical and unoffical editions. And novels not suppelmemts, but the Sundering Series. |
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What is your essential supplement?
