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Dahran
Acolyte
USA
26 Posts |
 Posted - 21 Feb 2005 : 12:27:27
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Greetings everyone, I am new the the realms since I became interested in Faerun after I started reading novels by Elaine Cunningham. I have been an avid role player for some time, but always paid more attention to Dragonlance for various reasons. After reading a few novels I realized that it was an over sight I attributed to my younger age. Wishing I had started collecting Forgotten Realms products long ago, so that I wouldn't be faced with the problem that now lays in front of me. I'm very tempted to buy everything for the current edition of Forgotten Realms. This is no small order has any of you very well know and I consider it has a good investment. Especially since I love reading and there is so much the learn and explore in the realms I doubt I would see the light of day for a long time. The problem I face is I am also interested in a lot of older and out of print Forgotten Realms products. Not just a few articles but everything has a whole. The problem is that there is so much past Forgotten Realms material out there and I wonder how much of it I can justify purchasing most of the back catalog with everything that Wizards Of The Coast has published. I am sure it wouldn't make much sense to get anything but the adventures, but not knowing Forgotten Realms has many of you do I am not sure what to do. I am sure there are some products that are worth buying, if you can find them and that a lot of the newer material will cover the same area has older books did. Do you see my problem now?  I would greatly appreciate any thoughts or opinions any of you might share, they would mean a lot.
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Kajehase
Great Reader
Sweden
2104 Posts |
Posted - 21 Feb 2005 : 15:16:44
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| Before you purchase any 1st or 2nd edition books, go here. |
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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EvilKnight
Learned Scribe
USA
162 Posts |
Posted - 21 Feb 2005 : 15:31:31
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I feel for you. I was 'lucky' in that all my D&D stuff was stolen while I was out to sea in the Navy. So after crying about that I started to reconstitute by D&D stuff and the Forgotten Realms grey box had just come out. So I decided to go with that instead of trying to get all the stuff I had before. I've never looked back since.
Now, one has a chance to purchase the old stuff in electronic form or get free downloads from Wizards of the Coast. If you want the print stuff, you have to haunt eBay, Noble Knight Games http://www.nobleknight.com/ and used book/comic stores that carry RPG stuff.
EvilKnight |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 21 Feb 2005 : 16:07:45
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I actually prefer the older stuff more then the 3/3.5e stuff. The older materiel just seems to have more lore in it. Especially compared to the early 3e stuff. I'm even annoyed with parts of the FRCS:
For example: There are other NPC's WOTC should be stating but they are not. If I didn't have the old lore I wouldn't DM in FR now because most of the new sourcebooks are missing the innkeepers, tavern owners, tax collectors, festhall owners, smiths, stable owners/hands, etc. These are vital NPC's. I don't NEED a full page spread on Elminster's stats. :)
And I always seem to go back to the old lore while the 3/3.5e books just sit in my FR crate. If it was me I'd try to find almost all of the old lore since, again, to me, the old lore is better.
But Faiths & Avatars, Power & Pantheons, Demihuman deities are a must for the gods. They blow Faiths & Pantheons out of the water.
The Volo's Guides are a must as well. :)
City of Splendors box set, for now, is also a must if you want to play in Waterdeep.
Gods the list is to long to try to help you figure out which ones I prefer over the new lore. :) |
For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
Edited by - Kuje on 21 Feb 2005 16:15:10 |
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Faraer
Great Reader
3308 Posts |
Posted - 21 Feb 2005 : 17:23:38
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| If you narrow your interest down for now, Dahran, we can give you detailed advice about what the most valuable sources are and how best to get hold of them. Once you've absorbed those and some of the free-download books, and seen what you like, you can move on from there. |
Edited by - Faraer on 21 Feb 2005 17:24:53 |
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Dahran
Acolyte
USA
26 Posts |
Posted - 21 Feb 2005 : 21:23:52
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Thanks to everyone who kindly replied and shared their thoughts and opinions. I do greatly appreciate it. To be honest I'm not interested in electronic downloads. I'm not only a Dungeons &Dragons fan, but a collector has well. Has I mentioned in my last post I had previously adventured on Krynn based in the DRagonlance campiegn setting. I have every piece of material published for Dragonlance, except the SAGA stuff which just didn't interest me enough to keep that part of my collection. I have done several hours of research of Forgotten Realms and all of the past products released by TSR. I know a lot of it is repeated in the newer 3.X material, but has all of you who have traveled and adventured in the lands of Faerun much than I could possibly dream know that most of the older products give you more information. Has I'm sure someone will put it they aren't has 'crunchy' and give you more food for thought and stuff to read than a lot of teh current Wizards Of The Coast game products. I decided to buy what I can of the 1st and 2nd edition Forgotten Realms product. Though I was upset to find some of them are extremely hard to come by, especially the The Bloodstone Quartet and Treasure Hunt. I couldn't find them anywhere to save my favorite character's life.  Now if I could just find a group to play with I'd be all set!  One product I do question though is Menzoberranzan. With the books that Wizards Of The Coast has published is it still worth getting? I did purchase it when it was released in '93, but no longer have it. I found one that is in collectable condition, but for $60 it sure isn't cheap. If someone could once again share their thoughts I'd again be in your debt. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 21 Feb 2005 : 23:51:38
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One word: eBay. I've gotten a lot of good Realms stuff from there.
Kuje and some others know some other good online vendors, too.
I won't swear to it, but I don't think that Menzoberranzan has been covered in any great detail since the boxed set by that name. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen!  |
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Dahran
Acolyte
USA
26 Posts |
Posted - 22 Feb 2005 : 10:17:04
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eBay isn't a bad place to look, but it always isn't my first choice. Sometimes it's hit and miss, you don't always get the product you paid for.  I do my best to buy a product from one or two sellers that I trust, so that I know I'm getting what I pay for. I do most of my RPG shopping on Amazon.com or NobleKnight.com personally, the later being my favorite option.  I was wondering though, what would most of you start out on? In regards to box sets, adventure modules, expansions and sourcebooks? Material that is a step in the right direction in learning about Forgotten Realms, so that one doesn't get over their head by trying to absorb to much lore, or just going about it in the wrong way in general. I ask because there is so much material and I am sure all of it is wonderful to read, but I want a good solid foundation that I can build upon. All in an effort to appreciate and explore the Forgotten Realms.  |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 22 Feb 2005 : 16:55:29
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nobleknight.com is the one I've spent thousands with. I've given Aaron enough money to keep his store going for awhile, over the years.
Anyhow. It's really had to tell you what to look for. I'm still missing 2 of the Bloodstone modules myself. :) And they are usually over $100 each because of thier rarity.
As for the Menzo box set, I think it's still useful. At least parts of it is because it details the cities life, etc. Sure the houses have changed A LOT but then again that happens all the time with old sourcebooks being overwritten by new sourcebooks.
Cormanthyr: Empire of Elves, The Fall of Myth Drannor, Ruins of Myth Drannor are great for that city as well.
As I said above its really to hard to give you a opinion on what to buy and what not to buy because there's over 130+ sourcebooks. |
For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
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Dahran
Acolyte
USA
26 Posts |
Posted - 22 Feb 2005 : 22:54:50
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A hundred and thirty source books?! When I went through the archives here at Candlekeep I didn't realize that they were so much material. Believe me, I did check every single entry scribed with it's books. I had to find out what I could actually get a hold of and what materials were simply out of my reach at this moment. Most of it I have found at Noble Knight or Amazon and there are only a few items that I am unable to locate. I think if I purchased most of the material that I found I'd be several hundred dollars in the whole, maybe a little less. If I add the recently released products from Wizards Of The Coast I know I can add a few hundred more. That was another thing I wondered, how much good sense does it makes to buy so much RPG material? Granted I don't blow my money or have many other hobbies beyond music, but I do wonder.  Another thing I pondered is what most people consider acceptable condition for collection. Most of the material I have in regards to Dragonlance is anywhere from near mint to excellent condition. Though I do have a few articles that are in very good condition and sometimes I ponder on replacing them has well. I just want to start building a Forgotten Realms collection right, if not carefully has well. |
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George Krashos
Master of Realmslore
Australia
6666 Posts |
Posted - 23 Feb 2005 : 05:23:47
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Don't do it!! The Realms are an insidious curse that will consume you, body and soul. You'll check in here daily, spend time at work musing on realmslore, neglect most other facets of your life and always want more. Save yourself now, while you still have a chance!
-- George Krashos
P.S. Buy anything written by Ed Greenwood, Steven Schend and Eric Boyd to start with of the older products. That will give you a solid foundation to get the less comprehensive stuff.
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"Because only we, contrary to the barbarians, never count the enemy in battle." -- Aeschylus |
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Mareka
Learned Scribe
Canada
125 Posts |
Posted - 24 Feb 2005 : 21:13:48
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quote:
Originally posted by George Krashos
Don't do it!! The Realms are an insidious curse that will consume you, body and soul. You'll check in here daily, spend time at work musing on realmslore, neglect most other facets of your life and always want more. Save yourself now, while you still have a chance!
-- George Krashos
Hmmmm. Perhaps there should be some sort of support group for this.
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EvilKnight
Learned Scribe
USA
162 Posts |
Posted - 26 Feb 2005 : 00:19:45
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quote:
quote:Originally posted by George Krashos
Don't do it!! The Realms are an insidious curse that will consume you, body and soul. You'll check in here daily, spend time at work musing on realmslore, neglect most other facets of your life and always want more. Save yourself now, while you still have a chance!
-- George Krashos
Hmmmm. Perhaps there should be some sort of support group for this.
But who will be the first to lead in kicking the habit? |
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timid kobold
Acolyte
USA
7 Posts |
Posted - 26 Feb 2005 : 05:26:24
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quote:
Originally posted by George Krashos
Don't do it!! The Realms are an insidious curse that will consume you, body and soul. You'll check in here daily, spend time at work musing on realmslore, neglect most other facets of your life and always want more. Save yourself now, while you still have a chance!
Oh, if only I had read this sooner! I fell into the same trap, enjoying the books and wanting just a little more background...
I got caught up in trying to learn more about the the elven wars. I felt content to learn about the Crown Wars via various texts I already owned. Pretty soon I am curious about sea elves and the Seros Wars. A couple expansions and sourcebooks later and I am satisfied. But then I hear about the Tuigan Horde and the Dragonwall. So off I go to The Horde stuff. Naturally this leads to Thay and the Red Wizards... Somewhere I got hung up on the Zentarim and I can't live without Ruins of Zhentil Keep.
And you have no idea how hard it is to find those old Monstrous Compendiums in good shape...
If you need a comprehensive list of FR texts I suggest the Forgotten Realms Bible found on the front page here, and the TSR Archive (http://home.flash.net/~brenfrow/). |
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Dahran
Acolyte
USA
26 Posts |
Posted - 26 Feb 2005 : 08:11:48
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| The books made the Realms seem so interesting and indeed they are. The more books I read, the more curious I become about Faerun and simply needed more! The books are where everything starts, but being a fan of Dragonlance and D&D in general I wanted to know has much has I possibly could about the Forgotten Realms. I just never realized how much material there was, but once you start digging you simply want to start collecting everything you can get your hands on. Then has you said you want everything in a certain condition, which makes everything so much more challenging because some of the old TSR material is hard to come by now a days. I was thinking to myself what maybe I was acting a bit crazy, wanting to collect all those old books, modules, and box sets because after all it is just a game. I came to the conclusion that it's just like buying a good book, but in this case it is a lot more than that. There are countless stories told, endless things to be learned and places imagined or explored. I am just having a problem deciding what to pick out and not simply buy everything I can find in one fell swoop. |
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The New, Old & Out Of Print. What To Do?
