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Lord Rad
Great Reader
United Kingdom
2080 Posts |
 Posted - 04 Sep 2002 : 11:49:06
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Well i love this product, the best FR release ive seen in a long while, since the days of the old TSR boxed sets of such classics like "City of Splendors".
So what are you opinions of this FR "bible"? In regards to the presentation as well as the content.
Rad
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kahonen
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
358 Posts |
Posted - 04 Sep 2002 : 19:09:00
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I was very disappointed with the book as it didn't seem to come up to the standards of the 3rd edition core rule books. The things I most dislike:
1. The map sucks. My son can (and has) produced better maps using Campaign Cartographer 
2. I don't like the fact that they've moved history. Waukeen is missing and will remain so until my party get their ar**** into the Abyss to rescue her 
3. Some of the gods (eg Deneir) have been omitted. I know there are other books (Faiths and Pantheons) but they should have either done an introduction to all of the gods or none of them. It would be interesting to see how the authors decided which gods to include and which to omit.
4. I got the impression that the book was an extension of the Player's Handbook. There's too much emphasis on making a PC from one area different to one from another and not enough explanation why. They should have opted for a rewrite of the 2nd edition books (Warriors and Priests of the Realms etc).
[Pauses for breath]
5. I find something very odd about giving a fighter a chance to specialise in a school of magic. I know he has to come from Halruaa but it seems logical to me that he is a fighter because he's tried magic and has failed at it. Many inexperienced players use a mage as artillery - once they know magic missile they're happy. Why bother with a mage at all, just have a fighter that can use magic missile. (This is definately NOT an option my players will have). I don't mind giving a PC bonusses to use magic items if his background warrants it, but not spellcasting.
All in all, I wasn't happy with it. As Rad says, some of the artwork is good but I could have downloaded it from the Wizards website.
Nah, I'll be sticking with the 2nd edition campaign setting and playing with 3rd edition rules.
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ArcticKnight
Learned Scribe
USA
169 Posts |
Posted - 05 Sep 2002 : 07:07:33
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| i agree, from what i have seen and heard it BLOWZZZZ, Bane is back, other gods are missing, places have moved....and in it all , NO EXPLINATION!!!! |
"The man who does not read has little advantage over the man who cannot read."
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king-tiax
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
327 Posts |
Posted - 05 Sep 2002 : 20:52:21
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| Well they'll probelly igknolage that and include it in the next expansion. |
My name is Tiax, I would ask yours but I don't care to become aquainted with the dead.
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Candlekeep Webmaster
Webmaster
United Kingdom
131 Posts |
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king-tiax
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
327 Posts |
Posted - 06 Sep 2002 : 18:32:30
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| So we can send in our own maps, I've got a great map of the underdark. |
My name is Tiax, I would ask yours but I don't care to become aquainted with the dead.
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Candlekeep Webmaster
Webmaster
United Kingdom
131 Posts |
Posted - 06 Sep 2002 : 18:57:09
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Sure King-Tiax. If you have any custom-made maps of the Realms then feel free to send them in to the Library Scribe and we will review them for placing into the Map Room within Candlekeep.
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Jay
Candlekeep Webmaster
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com
An Introduction to Candlekeep - by Ed Greenwood
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kahonen
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
358 Posts |
Posted - 06 Sep 2002 : 21:09:53
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| Unfortunately, my son's about to go off to university. I'll see what I can get him to do though. |
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king-tiax
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
327 Posts |
Posted - 08 Sep 2002 : 11:53:30
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| Kahonen If you do get some be soure to send me some. |
My name is Tiax, I would ask yours but I don't care to become aquainted with the dead.
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kahonen
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
358 Posts |
Posted - 08 Sep 2002 : 12:53:08
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IF I get some I'll send them to Candlekeep and they'll downloadable from here.
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Mumadar Ibn Huzal
Master of Realmslore
1338 Posts |
Posted - 03 Oct 2002 : 12:55:24
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I know kahonen gave a personal opinion, and I respect that opnion. Yet I would like to react on some of his comments.
quote:
Originally posted by kahonen
I was very disappointed with the book as it didn't seem to come up to the standards of the 3rd edition core rule books. The things I most dislike:
1. The map sucks. My son can (and has) produced better maps using Campaign Cartographer
I'm sure there are cartographers who can produce even better maps then that, yet the FRCS map is much better then the old maps from the boxed sets. The look and feel of the map comes much closer to what one would expect from a map.
quote:
2. I don't like the fact that they've moved history. Waukeen is missing and will remain so until my party get their ar**** into the Abyss to rescue her
While that might be compatible with your campaign, there are numerous other campaigns where the module is already finished, or plays only a minor role. I for one appreciated the jump in history, even if I would have had a campaign set prior to 1372. This type of time-jump has happened a couple of times in the history of FR-products, and this will not be the last one.
quote:
3. Some of the gods (eg Deneir) have been omitted. I know there are other books (Faiths and Pantheons) but they should have either done an introduction to all of the gods or none of them. It would be interesting to see how the authors decided which gods to include and which to omit.
Personal favorites? Take in mind that FRCS is largely written to draw in a new and fresh crowd to the wonderful world of the Realms. These newcomers don't yet know about Denier and won't miss him immediately. For the veterans, who cares... With the 2e Gods books there is enough material to use Deneir in 3e. Heck, I still use them for background info on the various priesthoods.
quote:
4. I got the impression that the book was an extension of the Player's Handbook. There's too much emphasis on making a PC from one area different to one from another and not enough explanation why. They should have opted for a rewrite of the 2nd edition books (Warriors and Priests of the Realms etc).
Again, FRCS is largely written for those who are new to the Realms. The book allows them to quickly generate a character with touch of the Realms. I own the Worriors & Priests of the Realms, and the others. Yet I have them for completeness sakes. They hardely held any information other then a set of rules.
quote:
5. I find something very odd about giving a fighter a chance to specialise in a school of magic. I know he has to come from Halruaa but it seems logical to me that he is a fighter because he's tried magic and has failed at it. Many inexperienced players use a mage as artillery - once they know magic missile they're happy. Why bother with a mage at all, just have a fighter that can use magic missile. (This is definately NOT an option my players will have). I don't mind giving a PC bonusses to use magic items if his background warrants it, but not spellcasting.
Your example, though entertaing to some, is a far cry from roleplaying. And not necesarrily seen only with inexperienced players. Any mage worth his salt would do more then just be a piece of artillery. And your players could always multiclass with sorceror and have even more spells up their sleeves that way... Yet I agree with you that it should fit with their character (and background).
quote:
All in all, I wasn't happy with it. As Rad says, some of the artwork is good but I could have downloaded it from the Wizards website.
Nah, I'll be sticking with the 2nd edition campaign setting and playing with 3rd edition rules.
For a Realms veteran, I'm sure it could possibly be disappointing. The book contains a lot of things already known by us. Yet I found it still very much worthwile. It has enough information for a DM and player alike to start out in the Realms without having to resort to e-bay or obscure stores to try and retrieve pieces of information (been there, done that). 3e Has generated a whole lot more (international)newcomers to the game then 2e has ever done, and FRCS has definitely contributed to that growth. With a book written with these new enthusiasts in mind, the Forgotten Realms is assured with a new generation that will carry the world forward into the future. |
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Ghost
Acolyte
Netherlands
38 Posts |
Posted - 03 Oct 2002 : 14:10:34
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quote:
Originally posted by kahonen
3. Some of the gods (eg Deneir) have been omitted. I know there are other books (Faiths and Pantheons) but they should have either done an introduction to all of the gods or none of them. It would be interesting to see how the authors decided which gods to include and which to omit.
They put the introductions of the other deities in the web enhanchement.
http://wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=dnd/we/we20010606a
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The way of a superior man are three-fold;
virtuous, he is free from anxieties;
wise, he is free from perplexities;
bold, he is free from fear. ~ Confucius
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kahonen
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
358 Posts |
Posted - 03 Oct 2002 : 20:42:48
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quote:
Originally posted by Mumadar Ibn Huzal
I know kahonen gave a personal opinion, and I respect that opnion. Yet I would like to react on some of his comments.
Thanks for the reponse, Mumadar, your comments are all valid and look at the production of the book from a viewpoint I hadn't considered.
I have to admit that having spent a lot longer reading the book I am starting to like it more.
Still hate that map, though.  |
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Mumadar Ibn Huzal
Master of Realmslore
1338 Posts |
Posted - 04 Oct 2002 : 09:00:32
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ROTFLOL
Even the big blown up version that came as a free-bee in Dragon Magazine
To be honest, that four-part big map was a bit of a dissapointment to me. Given its size I would have expected some more detail.
One of the interior maps, the one with the trade goods and routes, has been something the FR community has been asking for. For quite a while actually. Eventhough the map lacks a good accompanying text explaing the map. Reading through all the regions and taking a good long look at that map one can puzzle out some of its meaning. Still it's a nice help for those that want to use trade in their games. |
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kahonen
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
358 Posts |
Posted - 04 Oct 2002 : 20:06:08
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I didn't get the map in Dragon magazine.
There was a very good trade map in the 2E boxed set "The Ruins of Zhentil Keep" which I've used a lot. Particularly useful is that it shows a lot of trade routes across Anauroch.
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Mumadar Ibn Huzal
Master of Realmslore
1338 Posts |
Posted - 07 Oct 2002 : 10:49:51
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There were four Dragon Mag's that had the four pieces of the map. I can't recall the numbers of the top of my head, but they were around the end of last year, early this year.
If you didn't receive the maps with those numbers, I would contact WotC (Or the distributor in the UK, might be faster.)
Else, e-bay or www.hitpointe.com are of course sources where you might be able to get a copy. |
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Alaundo
Head Moderator
United Kingdom
5695 Posts |
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Ditalidas
Learned Scribe
Netherlands
127 Posts |
Posted - 11 Oct 2002 : 15:15:23
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FRCS is the only book I have that covers Realms to some extence of completion. Though I didn't read it from A to Z, I have no problems finding the information I am looking for. And though I agree the book doesn't explain everything, I found little that made abolutly no sense to me. Let it be clear that I didn't know anything at all about the realms before the release of this book except for some information on the gods.
Some of my former DM's have tried to introduce the Realms to us players. We got a list of books (say 20 or so ?¿?) in which we could find some more information. That was a bit too much info for one evening fun in the week for me. So I never really got involved with the Realms. But now... in one book, a lot of information... It served me very well.
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'All that is' is also 'All that is not' for the one cannot exist without the other.
Sweet Water and Light Laughter |
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skathros
Acolyte
Canada
9 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jan 2003 : 21:26:52
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| Before puchasing FRCS, the last time i DMed in the Realms was in the "old grey box" days...much has changed! Things like Spellfire and Chosen are new to me, but FRCS did a great job of bringing me up to speed. The FR PrC were a nice "flavor" addition. On the whole, FRCS left me "mostly" satisfiedI just wish they did more to keep old time fans up to par. If i understand correctly, alot of the changes were to reflect what was being done on the "novel" side of FR (ex. ToT). I have never really been a fan of TSR/WotC novels and i guess i would have appreciated more info on the events that shaped the FR (in the novel area...which crossed over into FRCS). Other than that, it's a beutiful book, wonderful artwork. The map isnt the best i've seen...but then again, it isnt the worse! |
"...his people lamented him ever after and took no king again"-The Silmarillion. |
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Phineas of Oghma
Acolyte
USA
11 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jan 2003 : 22:24:17
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I love the setting. I've always loved the Forgotten Realms and I haven't felt at home anywhere else, so I guess there's some bias in there, but I do think it's an outstanding work.
In regards to novels' impact on the setting, I can't help but chuckle when I catch the numerous references to "a group of adventurers" that took care of a problem that previously existed. These seem to be both instances of old 2E modules and the ending result of FR novels. |
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Drummer Boy
Senior Scribe
USA
395 Posts |
Posted - 24 Jan 2003 : 04:35:34
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| I've always thought FRCS was great. IMHO, it gives a good overview of the Realms, so one can learn enough about the FR to participate or DM in a campaign there. |
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3rd Edition Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting book
ahem......