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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
12189 Posts |
 Posted - 12 Oct 2005 : 13:11:23
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| I was an avid reader of dragon magazine (still am), so when the grey boxed set came out in 1987... I had it within weeks. I couldn't believe the detail given in the box. I couldn't quite put it all together, but then came the spellfire novel. Although that novel was jumping from one location to another and npc to npc, it was very helpful in making you really understand the various groups in the realms. I set about immediately making dozens upon dozens of NPC's and writing up little blurbs of history based on the towns in the set (Although I was in high school, lack of a vehicle made it hard for me and my players to get together and actually game). Like most, I immediately fell in love with Cormyr and the Dalelands... primarily because that's where all the source material was. Then came the stuff for the north... it was interesting, but it didn't capture my imagination overmuch. Finally, the sourcebooks hit Thay, the Old Empires, and the Bloodstone Lands. These were non-typical areas of Faerun. I fell in love with them immediately. Later came a re-release of the material on Tethyr, Calimshan, and the North which further endeared me to them. |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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Keravin
Seeker
50 Posts |
Posted - 12 Oct 2005 : 15:01:07
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The first thing I remember being aware of was the Grey box. I may have encountered stuff in Dragon prior to that, but not really paid much attention.
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Arivia
Great Reader
Canada
2965 Posts |
Posted - 12 Oct 2005 : 19:35:47
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Tangled Webs was my first experience with the Realms-either that, or Baldur's Gate I.
I *think* it's the former, but I'm not sure. |
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George Krashos
Master of Realmslore
Australia
6688 Posts |
Posted - 13 Oct 2005 : 00:40:54
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quote:
Originally posted by sleyvas
I was an avid reader of dragon magazine (still am), so when the grey boxed set came out in 1987... I had it within weeks. I couldn't believe the detail given in the box. I couldn't quite put it all together, but then came the spellfire novel. Although that novel was jumping from one location to another and npc to npc, it was very helpful in making you really understand the various groups in the realms. I set about immediately making dozens upon dozens of NPC's and writing up little blurbs of history based on the towns in the set (Although I was in high school, lack of a vehicle made it hard for me and my players to get together and actually game). Like most, I immediately fell in love with Cormyr and the Dalelands... primarily because that's where all the source material was. Then came the stuff for the north... it was interesting, but it didn't capture my imagination overmuch. Finally, the sourcebooks hit Thay, the Old Empires, and the Bloodstone Lands. These were non-typical areas of Faerun. I fell in love with them immediately. Later came a re-release of the material on Tethyr, Calimshan, and the North which further endeared me to them.
Sleyvas! You son of a Thayan pleasure girl! Welcome to Candlekeep, Phillip. We are graced by your presence here.
-- George Krashos
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"Because only we, contrary to the barbarians, never count the enemy in battle." -- Aeschylus |
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Dargoth
Great Reader
Australia
4607 Posts |
Posted - 13 Oct 2005 : 01:34:29
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Interesting...... according to the poll results TWO PEOPLE where introduced to the realms "Playing in Ed Greenwood''s campaign"..........
One is obviously the Hooded One..... Who might the other be? |
“I am the King of Rome, and above grammar”
Emperor Sigismund
"Its good to be the King!"
Mel Brooks |
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webmanus
Learned Scribe
Sweden
338 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2005 : 09:08:29
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I had been playing Swedish role games and role games translated to Swedish (Star Wars, Lord of the Rings) for years. And, I felt that it was time to move to English.
I bought the AD&D rules set, because it seamed familiar (I had seen 1st edition advertisement when I was a young boy), and I was amazed by the number of available campaign settings. I did first buy a Greyhawk adventure and after that the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting (1996). I did buy the FRCS because it seamed to have the style of fantasy that I liked; and yes, I did buy a setting to my liking. Also, the FRCS seamed at that time to be the latest available campaign setting.
I think that I later bought the novel Shadowdale because I wanted to know more about Shadowdale. And so it went ... buying more source books and novels. I think that The Moonsea was the first accessory that I bought. |
Link to my homepage: http://user.tninet.se/~bsu242v/ |
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stormdragon
Acolyte
USA
7 Posts |
Posted - 20 Oct 2005 : 07:09:04
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| My introduction to the Realms came with the novel Spellfire. Someone had left the novel in the classroom, right on the desk. I thought the cover was kind of cool, so I read a little before class began. I ended up taking it home and finishing it that night. The next day, the owner of the book asked me if I still had it. I told him that yes, I did have it and thought it was a good book. We got into a discussion about fantasy in general, and before I knew it, I was gaming with my new friends. So, I killed two birds with one stone. Spellfire introduced me to the Realms and to D&D. |
Sometimes, I miss my sanity. |
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The Destroyer
Acolyte
9 Posts |
Posted - 20 Oct 2005 : 10:48:51
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| I got involved with the Realms when I strolled into a bookshop and picked up the first FR novel I saw with my eyes, that novel was RAS Cleric Quintet Book 5, since then I got hooked into FR novels. Later, my friends and "comrades" got me deeper into FR since by urging me to try the Neverwinter Night PC game, that was when I truly got involved with the FR world. |
You will have new powers when you are reborn, a form better to serve me with. -Manshoon of Zhentarim, |
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Lord of Bones
Seeker
United Kingdom
78 Posts |
Posted - 20 Oct 2005 : 12:30:30
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| I first got into the Forgotten Realms afte rreading the Moonshae books by Douglas Niles. Lovely Celtic feel to them, along with some crazed Bhaal and Talos goings on... It wasn't until years after that I actually played D&D though. |
Come watch the Gentleman's Guide to Gaming!
http://www.youtube.com/user/clackclickbang
On my channel I review and dissect role-playing games with great gusto. Please do take a look and let me know what you think. |
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DestroyYouAlot
Seeker
USA
69 Posts |
Posted - 24 Oct 2005 : 18:02:10
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Lessee... It had to be about 1991 when I picked up the Grey Box campaign set - and sat down and studied! I was determined to know that thing inside out and backwards, before I started running games with it. After that, I picked up Black Wizards, but not having read Darkwalker, I had a hard time getting into it. Next I went for the Avatar trilogy... 'Nuff said. I got through Shadowdale, got ten pages into Tantras, and said to hell with it. Next I picked up Streams of Silver, and it was love at first read. (Man, that was when Salvatore (to paraphrase Wesley Willis) could really write his ass off!) After all of that, the owner of the local game store let me borrow the store copy of Pool of Radiance for PC, and I must've played through that fifty times. (I still remember scouring old Dragons for PoR hints.)
In a related note, I just picked up Ruins of Adventure and Curse of the Silver Bonds in a FR eBay lot. I'm thinking of starting up a "back-in-the-day" campaign and playing through those modules, some time. Should be a blast. ("No more commissions available!") |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36965 Posts |
Posted - 24 Oct 2005 : 21:10:13
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quote:
Originally posted by DestroyYouAlot
In a related note, I just picked up Ruins of Adventure and Curse of the Silver Bonds in a FR eBay lot.
Were you the one that paid that huge sum for the shrink-wrapped ones that ended a few days ago?  |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen!  |
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DestroyYouAlot
Seeker
USA
69 Posts |
Posted - 24 Oct 2005 : 21:17:58
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by DestroyYouAlot
In a related note, I just picked up Ruins of Adventure and Curse of the Silver Bonds in a FR eBay lot.
Were you the one that paid that huge sum for the shrink-wrapped ones that ended a few days ago?
I think I paid $37 bucks (with shipping) for six supplements... All OOP and all good. I was pleased, especially because a) I needed Hall of Heroes (one or two of the Knights of Myth Drannor are going to make cameos in my game, and one of them - Jelde Asturien - is going to be a patron, of sorts), and b) now I have a shrink-wrapped copy of Haunted Halls, as the one I originally bought is already getting a bit dog-eared from riding around in my campaign binder. Just more for the collection. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36965 Posts |
Posted - 24 Oct 2005 : 22:03:24
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| Ah, okay. A week or so ago, two shrink-wrapped modules, including Ruins of Adventure, went for over $100. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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kikeyo
Acolyte
USA
2 Posts |
Posted - 28 Oct 2005 : 19:36:16
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| i think drizzt is cool |
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Arivia
Great Reader
Canada
2965 Posts |
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shike
Seeker
USA
71 Posts |
Posted - 29 Oct 2005 : 01:46:24
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| I first got hooked about 5 years ago, when I got invited into a game that was being held in the realms. It's been down hill from there. ;) |
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hooper101
Learned Scribe
USA
117 Posts |
Posted - 02 Nov 2005 : 16:46:09
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| I read The Dark Elf trilogy and have been hooked since. |
Die, die, die ,die, die, why won't you just die you silly dragon! |
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Belthor
Seeker
USA
52 Posts |
Posted - 02 Nov 2005 : 20:16:48
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| My best friend handed me a copy of Homeland if I remember correctly. It's been a delicious downhill slide ever since. |
If the rest of humanity were only as smart as my familiar...... |
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Mumadar Ibn Huzal
Master of Realmslore
1338 Posts |
Posted - 03 Nov 2005 : 18:49:57
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Stepped through a Gate into Faerun... at least that is how it felt like. Basically for me it has been a combination of the Dragon articles and the sourcebooks as well as miniatures back in the early nineties. I was brought into the world of D&D on the wings of Dragonlance (predominantly novels and some rp-ing) and 'scoffed' at the Realms... But boy, did the Realms get back at me with a vengeance. Once I started reading about the various parts of the Realms in Dragon Magazine, 2e Game Products and novels, I couldn't stop - neither reading or buying out-of-print products from across the globe.
I'd blame it on the evil duo of Boyd & Schend for writing too much darn good stuff on the Realms (or at least masterminding behind the scenes), and of course the subtle machinations of the Greenwood himself in creating the inherent addictive factor which is more pervasive than Mystra's Weave. |
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Khaa
Seeker
USA
80 Posts |
Posted - 04 Nov 2005 : 13:45:39
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| I chose other because my older brother brought me in since I enjoyed many things like D&D such as Vampire and Werewolf |
Ever want another forum? Well try out www.icewinddale.com |
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Laputa_Knights
Acolyte
USA
4 Posts |
Posted - 15 Feb 2006 : 04:58:59
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| Dragon Magazine did it for me. Elminster's comments on some feature of the Dales was the first column I remember, way back in the mid-80s. |
It!
Could!
{Kaboom!}
Work (coughcough)
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darkflame millithor
Seeker
USA
52 Posts |
Posted - 10 May 2006 : 01:09:20
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I first gamed in Krynn,but I didn't care much for the native elves (they were like goldelves be they qualinesti or silvanesti )so I imported a true drow from menzoberranzan's house Oblodra to show them what a true drow could do! not the imitation drow that they call darkelves! Takhisis
loved my work but I got home sick after 75years of adventuring,having children(2darkelves,1 born silvanesti),so we went home (menzoberranzan),I bet you can quess which child didn't survive meeting grandma Matron Oblodra! the other two were twin fighters (1 a drow bladesinger like his father).they lives along time until Oblodra was destroyed by beanre.
I love the FR |
purge all weakness in the cleanzing flame of
rightousness.tear down the false idols of love,compassion,and self-sacrifice.down with the tyranny of the seldarine |
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Wandering_mage
Senior Scribe
688 Posts |
Posted - 10 May 2006 : 01:24:44
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I read 'The Halflings Gem' and the rest was history.  Thank you R.A. Salvatore. |
Illum
The Wandering Mage |
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Vainelus
Seeker
USA
59 Posts |
Posted - 10 May 2006 : 02:57:43
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| I found a beat up copy of the Shadows of Doom, on a school trip to the library and have been following Realms every since. |
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martynq
Seeker
United Kingdom
90 Posts |
Posted - 10 May 2006 : 08:52:31
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I've voted for Ed's Dragon articles. I came back to playing D&D in 1996. I bought a copy of Dragon (for the first time) and was fascinated by a Wyrms of the North article (Balagos, I think!). I abandoned Greyhawk (only having a few old 1st edition modules and the original gazeteer) and bought the 2nd edition FR boxed set.
Martyn |
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Selrahc
Acolyte
10 Posts |
Posted - 11 May 2006 : 22:48:49
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| It's actually extremely ironic how I stumbled into the wonderful world of Forgotten Realms. I was at Books-a-Million with my parents and we were passing a discount rack, when my mother grabbed a book from the top of the pile and asked me if I liked it. This book happened to be the Legacy of the Drow Collector's Edition, which contains: The Legacy, Starless Night, Siege of Darkness, and Passage to Dawn, all in one book. My first regardence of it would shock and appall all of you and even myself currently, I had a sort of distaste for it. I was actually about to put it down and walk away, but I decided to atleast read the book cover flaps, I was semi-curious about the red-headed female with the bow and the white-haired dark-skinned man, standing in battle positions on a staircase. Skimming through the flap, the words "Mithral Hall" caught my eye in the description of Starless Night. I began to skim over the other descriptions and then read them more in depth. Still unsure to it, I decided to tell my parents to acquire it for me. That night I began to read it. In the morning, I found myself passed out with the book on my face, still unsure how I was managing to breath, I spent the rest of the day pouring over the book. I instantly fell into friendship with the companions and became a Pure Drizzt fan. Now I find myself, almost 5 years later still enthralled by Drizzt and only Drizzt unfortunately, I tried reading some of R.A. Salvatore's other work, but I didn't form that relationship with his other characters. Inherently, Drizzt possessed a special characteristic that I can instantly relate to and I've just realized I've run on quite a bit with this. |
The elven Ranger, Selrahc Wil'heim Lao'in
and
The elven Wizard, Shynik L'eoul |
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Chyron
Learned Scribe
Hong Kong
279 Posts |
Posted - 18 May 2006 : 07:17:42
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| I walked into my local gameshop one day way back in the late 80s...and saw a new gray box sitting on the shelves next to the AD&D books. I was immediately drawn in by the cover art. Opening the box once I got home was even more of a treat. The parchment paper, the illustrations, it was a gorgeous set and still is. I loved how the first few modules and area expansions followed that same style as well. |
Just My Thoughts
Chyron :)
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Edited by - Chyron on 18 May 2006 17:23:53 |
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Thrasymachus
Learned Scribe
195 Posts |
Posted - 18 May 2006 : 15:32:59
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Dragon Magazine
&
N5 Under Illefarn
Same day. Sometimes things just work out that way.
FWIW I got hooked by the lore of it. It was like being told a secret. For "N5 Under Illefarn" Another thing that got us hooked was that as detailed as everything was there was still a lot of wiggle room to run a campaign out of it. |
Former Forgotten Realms brand manager Jim Butler: "Everything that bears the Forgotten Realms logo is considered canon". |
Edited by - Thrasymachus on 18 May 2006 15:39:21 |
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TheHermit
Seeker
USA
60 Posts |
Posted - 18 May 2006 : 22:36:01
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| I was stationed at the 67th Evacuation Hospital in Wuerzburg, Germany at the time. I walked up the hill to the main base, where I found the old grey box at the big PX there. |
- "Glitz & Klax's Potions & Elixirs"/"The Sandmen", Inside Ravens Bluff, The Living City; 1990; TSR, Inc.
- "The Far Guardians' Traveler's Mission", Port of Ravens Bluff; 1991, TSR, Inc.
- "Signs Painted", Polyhedron #70; April, 1992; TSR, Inc.
- Communications Director, Coliseum of Comics, Orlando, FL - http://coliseumofcomics.com/ |
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Zorro
Seeker
Germany
82 Posts |
Posted - 19 May 2006 : 02:06:14
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quote:
Originally posted by Chyron
I walked into my local gameshop one day way back in the late 80s...and saw a new gray box sitting on the shelves next to the AD&D books. I was immediately drawn in by the cover art. Opening the box once I got home was even more of a treat. The parchment paper, the illustrations, it was a gorgeous set and still is. I loved how the first few modules and area expansions followed that same style as well.
Same here. It must have been around 1989 or 1990, and I was looking for something to draw inspiration from for DSA, a german RPG. We had learned to loathe its deficiencies more and more over the years and were looking for a way to improve it, and man, the inspiration I got from the Ol' Gray Box... Nobody wanted to learn the rather complicated AD&D rules, though, so we converted what we needed into our trusty DSA rules. Sadly, that was neither here nor there, it just didn't feel right, and when Shadowrun and later on Earthdawn caught our eye, we jumped ship. But with the advent of 3E, of course, we were back with a vengeance, and despite - or rather because of - heavy alterations we had to make it's better than ever.
Zorro |
I think that God in creating Man somewhat overestimated his ability. - Oscar Wilde |
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How did you first encounter the Realms?
