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Shadowsoul
Senior Scribe
Ireland
705 Posts |
 Posted - 08 Aug 2015 : 15:40:47
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Just how big is the forest of Cormanthor? Like how long would it take you go from one end to the other?
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“Fantasy is escapist, and that is its glory. If a soldier is imprisioned by the enemy, don't we consider it his duty to escape?. . .If we value the freedom of mind and soul, if we're partisans of liberty, then it's our plain duty to escape, and to take as many people with us as we can!”
#8213; J.R.R. Tolkien
*I endorse everything Dark Wizard says*. |
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Delwa
Master of Realmslore
USA
1271 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2015 : 16:27:09
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| Just a quick guesstimate, using the 3e map of Faerun that came in the Campaign Guide and a tape measure, the forest of Cormanthor is about 4 inches across at it's widest point, East to West, which is about 480 miles. Going of the travel pace table in the 5e Player's Handbook, at a fast pace, you can cover 30 miles in a day's travel as long as the way is clear. However, being a forest, it's considered difficult terrain, so you would halve that value. So 15 miles per day is your rate, 480 miles is your distance. d=rt, it would take you 32 days to cross the forest, assuming no encounters, detours to avoid monsters, interruptions, etc. |
- Delwa Aunglor
I am off to slay yon refrigerator and spoil it's horde. Go for the cheese, Boo!
"The Realms change; seldom at the speed desired of those who strive, but far too quickly for those who resist." - The Simbul, taken from the Forgotten Realms Campaign Conspectus |
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Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2449 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2015 : 16:54:31
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That's a good guestimate, Delwa. I pulled out my 2e maps from the revised campaign setting, which include transparency hex overlays for measuring distances. At its broadest, from the edge of Shadowdale to the River Lis, Cormanthor is pretty close to exactly 400 miles across.
Further south, it's anywhere between 250 and 350 miles from the edge of the forest north of the Semberflow and south of the road coming out of Tilverton to the edge of Scardale/Harrowdale.
Distance also depends on your game edition. I'll defer to Delwa for 5e. In 2e, you can move overland twice as many miles as your movement rate. So if you're a human, that's 24 miles/day. But the vast majority of Cormanthor would be heavy forest, which reduces your movement by 4. So you'd be looking at 6 miles a day, unless you know of the local paths.
Which, come to think of it, gives you another idea of why elves always have an advantage in the forest. If they can move twice as fast as any invader, that's a pretty massive advantage just in itself. |
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
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Shadowsoul
Senior Scribe
Ireland
705 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2015 : 17:01:08
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| I really wish they would have done an extensive guide to Cormanthor. I have the Cormanthyr Empire of Elves book but it focuses more on the way things used to be. Well it was an Arcane Age product. |
“Fantasy is escapist, and that is its glory. If a soldier is imprisioned by the enemy, don't we consider it his duty to escape?. . .If we value the freedom of mind and soul, if we're partisans of liberty, then it's our plain duty to escape, and to take as many people with us as we can!”
#8213; J.R.R. Tolkien
*I endorse everything Dark Wizard says*. |
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Caladan Brood
Senior Scribe
Norway
410 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2015 : 17:08:38
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quote:
Originally posted by Shadowsoul
I really wish they would have done an extensive guide to Cormanthor. I have the Cormanthyr Empire of Elves book but it focuses more on the way things used to be. Well it was an Arcane Age product.
I haven't read that one myself, but could you perhaps "age" it (if there's a magnificent tower described, for example, now there would be only overgrown sections of the foundation remaining) |
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Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2449 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2015 : 18:44:45
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| One of the most in-depth looks at the forest is actually Fall of Myth Drannor, since it tracks the entire three year war through the forest and often comments off-handedly on local landmarks (tree towns, noble manors, etc.). It, combined with Cormanthyr, are the two best sources on the forest. |
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 09 Aug 2015 : 03:46:49
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| To-Scale Comparison |
"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 09 Aug 2015 03:47:07 |
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Shadowsoul
Senior Scribe
Ireland
705 Posts |
Posted - 09 Aug 2015 : 14:29:17
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| So it's roughly the size of me own country plus GB. |
“Fantasy is escapist, and that is its glory. If a soldier is imprisioned by the enemy, don't we consider it his duty to escape?. . .If we value the freedom of mind and soul, if we're partisans of liberty, then it's our plain duty to escape, and to take as many people with us as we can!”
#8213; J.R.R. Tolkien
*I endorse everything Dark Wizard says*. |
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Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2449 Posts |
Posted - 09 Aug 2015 : 14:49:35
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| And the seaway in between. :) |
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
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Shadowsoul
Senior Scribe
Ireland
705 Posts |
Posted - 09 Aug 2015 : 15:12:25
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| Mmmmmmmm plenty of space for several ancient elven cities that now lie in ruin. |
“Fantasy is escapist, and that is its glory. If a soldier is imprisioned by the enemy, don't we consider it his duty to escape?. . .If we value the freedom of mind and soul, if we're partisans of liberty, then it's our plain duty to escape, and to take as many people with us as we can!”
#8213; J.R.R. Tolkien
*I endorse everything Dark Wizard says*. |
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Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2449 Posts |
Posted - 09 Aug 2015 : 16:00:45
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| Yep. And remember that there were realms that aren't forested any longer. For instance, the entire nation of Uvaeren sat where Deepingdale now lies, and was destroyed in a single night by a meteor. No telling what you'll find underground... |
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6361 Posts |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 10 Aug 2015 : 16:36:01
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quote:
Originally posted by Shadowsoul
So it's roughly the size of me own country plus GB.
The main 'body' of the forest is roughly the size of Ireland, and you can toss-in Scotland for the stuff the extends over onto the other coast, and Wales for the parts that hang down toward Cormyr.
Lets leave England out of this - don't want anybody getting any ideas about 'building empires'. 
But yeah... several forests in FR are far larger then many modern countries... The Realms are FREAKIN' HUGE. |
"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 10 Aug 2015 16:36:39 |
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Roughly, how big is the forest of Cormanthor?
