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George Krashos
Master of Realmslore
Australia
6662 Posts |
 Posted - 10 Jun 2014 : 02:54:23
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I've just seen Mike Mearls' latest "Legend Lore" column, which talks about the adventure in the upcoming D&D Starter Set being a return to B2 "Keep on the Borderlands". The adventure is by Rich Baker and is called "Lost Mine of Phandelver". The local village is Phandalin, which as you will know is a place located north of Leilon in the Realms.
Is this adventure set in the Realms? Can we assume that the Realms is once again the "default setting" for the Core? What do people think about that if it is?
-- George Krashos
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"Because only we, contrary to the barbarians, never count the enemy in battle." -- Aeschylus |
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Irennan
Great Reader
Italy
3805 Posts |
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Faraer
Great Reader
3308 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jun 2014 : 04:03:11
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First, I'd be careful with the term 'core'. For instance, through habit they've talked about the PH, DMG and MM as 'core rulebooks', but they've also indicated than in a way Basic D&D is the core, with those books presenting options.
Yes, Mearls had already said the Starter Set adventure was set in the Realms, if that's not clear enough from the latest column. (Well, he said 'It is FR', but I digress.)
The Realms is not the default setting in any overall, formal way, but they seem to be turning to it a lot instead of a 'generic' setting (that is, a new setting no one knows anything about). It's the basis of the general art direction (via Jon Schindehette's development project), and the setting for the Starter Set adventure and the other two scheduled non-Realms-branded adventure books, and, at this point, for the D&D Adventurers League public play system. Examples in the three rulebooks, though, will use various different D&D worlds, not only the Realms.
The Starter Set scenario seems very positive news (as I've said) -- surely not Realms-in-name-only as with the Introduction to Advanced Dungeons & Dragons set (the one set in 'Freedale'), and introducing many new players to the setting. My feelings at this point towards Tyranny of Dragons are mainly negative: yet one more top-down high-concept storyline imposed on the Realms from without, and if it shows any more sensitivity to how the Realms works (e.g. not resolving something that would unfold over years or decades of manipulations by a series of one band's direct confrontations) I'll be pleasantly surprised. And the precedent for more such use of the Realms as a playground for the designers' latest bright ideas is not what we'd been led to hope by the talk of the Sundering as the last RSE. |
Edited by - Faraer on 10 Jun 2014 04:13:33 |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jun 2014 : 14:03:19
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I think this is a great thing, but at the same time, I think a lot of 'old school' (GH and perhaps even Mystara) adventures are now going to get relocated. I personally have NO problem with that - I've been doing it for years. I think, however, that many die-hard grognards will piss & moan over it.
But thats okay, every edition has its complainers, so we may as well give them something to complain about and get it over with. 
Once again, I am very much looking forward to to 5e, and am hoping this brings The Forgotten Realms back into the limelight. I still get a lot of map-requests, so I know the interest is still there. If they using the Sundering to do a sort-of 'unifying the settings' thing (at least where mosules are concerned0, it may be a bit jarring at first, but I think in the end they will have a MUCH broader array of great lore to choose from, making FR that much better in the long-run.
C'mon... who amongst us hasn't wanted to see Ed's Five Shires ported into the Realms... officially?  |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jun 2014 : 00:23:51
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George, to answer your question re. the setting of the adventure: a certain long-bearded and not so little birdee tells me "Yes." So, the Lost Mine IS set in the Realms, and the locale is almost certainly as you surmise.
love,
THO |
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4687 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jun 2014 : 00:29:09
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*mutters* B2 was set in the Known World, Basic D&D and had nothing to do with Forgotten Realms.
So has Isle of Dread (X1) also moved to the Realms? |
"Small beings can have small wisdom," the dragon said. "And small wise beings are better than small fools. Listen: Wisdom is caring for afterwards."
"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon |
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D&D Starter Adventure - Set in the Realms?
