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nbnmare
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
205 Posts |
 Posted - 19 May 2006 : 07:47:15
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My first encounter with the Realms was via Eye of the Beholder 1, which is still one of my favourite CRPGs of all time  .
I discovered Dragonlance around the same time, via Shadow Sorcerer (which is probably one of the first CRPGs to feature strategy elements). |
Edited by - nbnmare on 19 May 2006 07:53:03 |
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Jon Grey
Acolyte
USA
22 Posts |
Posted - 23 May 2006 : 00:08:10
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Ye Ole' Grey Box.
I was playing the Red Box (D&D), and found the grey box for $5 (U.S.) when I was 10. Snapped it up, and realized that the rules were more complicated, so I dumbed it down, then gleefully trapsed around the Realms, lighting inns on fire wherever my friends and I went. After I settled down (Grew up) I began reading the novels and taking the world more seriously. But that grey box was the hook. |
Of all the people that have lied to me/
Bards tend to do it most beautifully. -Rehthan Cotheras, Harper |
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Balanor
Acolyte
USA
2 Posts |
Posted - 23 May 2006 : 17:55:57
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| I first started with the game Unlimited Adventures. The story was set in Skull's Crag, but then you could design your own. After that I REALLY got hooked on FR when Baldur's Gate came out. At that point I became an official FR junkie buying up as many OOP sourcebooks on eBay as I could find. Sadly, I've never played a PnP game, but I am an avid sourcebook reader, fan of several FR novels (the Avatar series are my favorites), and have spent thousands of hours playing FR computer games (especially Neverwinter Nights in multiplayer). |
Violence is the supreme authority from which all other authority is derived. |
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Jorkens
Great Reader
Norway
2950 Posts |
Posted - 07 Jun 2006 : 08:22:44
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I had been playing other roleplaying games for a few years and had just bought the 2ed. rulebooks. This was the time before the internet and I lived well over a hundred miles from the nearest gaming shop (at least to my knowledge), so when I decided i wanted a published campaignsetting I was really working blind.
I remember I had decided on Dragonlance or Greyhawk because the names appealed to me. Well, when I came to the gamingshop the only setting they had in were The Forgotten Realms. Since then I have gotten hold of both the other settings, but have never left FR as my gamingworld.
In other words my getting in to the Realms was nothing more than a lucky coincidence. |
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The Cardinal
Senior Scribe
Canada
647 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jun 2006 : 16:15:17
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My first encounter with the realms was actually not from the BG series (although that was a major push later when it came out for computer). No I still remember When I was a young tyke the bookstore near My town had ontop of all the other books, a Game Set of the Realms, perfectly preserved. Of course at said time I didn't know what the heck it was, I would simply gaze up at it for hours on end when we went to the mall (where said bookstore was). I always was into Knights, and Monsters and such so Looking up at the the box and the pictures on the cover. Told My parents one day that it was that which I wanted. Of course when the cashier brought it down and told them the price it was 'too expensive' so back up it went and I got a transformer or something instead. The Bookstore closed shortly after (they don't do well in the North). I remember the last few times we went that set was still up there ( no not any more pricy than what it would have been. Just hardly anyone would read things, and that was a curios, an oddity that no one likely noticed but Me).
Dunno what edition it was, or anything about it really. I just remember looking up at it (and that was a long ways to crane one's neck) and wanting it. Whatever it was.
Ah well. |
It has to be Certain, the Gods Hate Me. For whatever irrevokable Fate, I have been made the walking Joke. Either that, or Beshaba is overlyfond Of Me.
-Unknown |
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Mace Hammerhand
Great Reader
Germany
2296 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jun 2006 : 16:41:51
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| Played one of the SSI games, Curse of the Azure Bonds I think, way way back. It took me a long time, after BG I, that I decided to play in the Realms |
Mace's not so gentle gamer's journal My rants were harmless compared to this, beware! |
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EvilKnight
Learned Scribe
USA
162 Posts |
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The Cardinal
Senior Scribe
Canada
647 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jun 2006 : 03:56:38
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The one with the Dude on the Horse!!!! I remember that One ^_^!!! Man that brings back memories to simpler times  |
It has to be Certain, the Gods Hate Me. For whatever irrevokable Fate, I have been made the walking Joke. Either that, or Beshaba is overlyfond Of Me.
-Unknown |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36965 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jun 2006 : 09:31:30
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| Also known as the Old Grey Box, or OGB. I got that one about a month or two before the release of the 2E version was announced. |
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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Sarephim
Acolyte
USA
33 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jun 2006 : 20:38:27
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| I first read the Dark Elf Trilogy and now I've turned into a FR geek. |
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Ergdusch
Master of Realmslore
Germany
1720 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jun 2006 : 08:42:25
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| The old books (especially the old artwok) got me hooked. "What a marveles place filled with magics, mysteries and adventures!" I thought. And a few weeks later I had a dear friend of mine bush open the gate to the Realms. |
"Das Gras weht im Wind, wenn der Wind weht." |
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Lore Seeker
Acolyte
USA
27 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jul 2006 : 15:16:34
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| Although I have been a huge fan of Fantasy novels and CRPGs for severaly years, it wasn't until about 6 years ago when my Brother-In-Law introduced me to the Forgotten Realms. He is a huge D&D fan and also a huge fan of R.A. Salvatore. I borrowed a copy of Homeland from him and have been hooked ever since. I actually read the Dark Elf Trilogy before I read the Icewind Dale Trilogy. Because of the way the those to series' were written, it actually worked out quite well for me. Now, I myself am a huge fan lost in the rich history of the Realms. I am attempting to read all FR novels. I have a long way to go...... |
"So let it be written.....that I might read it."
Lore Seeker |
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Crust
Learned Scribe
USA
273 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jul 2006 : 04:56:00
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RAS' novels for me. Crystal Shard sucked me in back in back in 1998 (rather late, I know... I was a die-hard DL fan). I tried reading it a few years earlier, but it didn't take. My gaming buddies at the time (DL Classic campaign '97-'98) convinced me. They were always talking about Drizzt and RAS' writing. I read Icewind Dale, then I read The Lord of the Rings for the first time, and I thought, "Man, he really was inspired by Tolkien." I thought that was cool, as if FR had some roots in Tolkien. I read up to Passage to Dawn (the latest RAS novel at the time), and then I cracked open Spellfire... I was permanently hooked then and there.
The fact that we still get a new RAS and Greenwood novel every year or so is something I'm very thankful for.  |
"That's right, hurl back views that force ye to think by name-calling - 'tis the grand old tradition, let it not down! Anything to keep from having to think, or - Mystra forfend - change thy own views!"
Narnra glowered at her father. "Just how am I to learn how to think? By being taught by you?"
"Some folk in the Realms would give their lives for the chance to learn at my feet," Elminster said mildly. "Several already have."
~from Elminster's Daughter, Ed Greenwood |
Edited by - Crust on 14 Jul 2006 04:57:38 |
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Forgotten Ghost
Acolyte
Australia
36 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jul 2006 : 13:28:20
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| Having been playing in the realms for less time than most of those who have already replied and also likely being younger (no offense) I am amazed that all of you can remember when you first started I can't, I recall reading RA Salvatores Dark elf trilogy, because a friend played a baldurs gate game which had Drizzt in it then later found out there were books on him. Though as for first time playing a realms campaign I can't recall...we mainly played in our own worlds but they never seem cohesive enough and lack the depth we wanted so forgotten realms was the logical place to go. |
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GothicDan
Master of Realmslore
USA
1103 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jul 2006 : 17:26:50
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| Well, I first encountered the Realms via an online FR chatroom for roleplaying about.. 8-9 years ago. :) I'm 21, so I've been into the Realms (and D&D) since I was a youngin'. |
Planescape Fanatic
"Fiends and Undead are the peanut butter and jelly of evil." - Me
"That attitude should be stomped on, whenever and wherever it's encountered, because it makes people holding such views bad citizens, not just bad roleplayers (considering D&D was structured as a 'forced cooperation' game, and although successive editions are pointing it more and more towards a me-first, min-max game, the drift away from 'we all need each other to succeed' will at some point make it 'no longer' D&D)." - ED GREENWOOD |
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Horatio
Seeker
Israel
59 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jul 2006 : 21:37:42
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NWN.
Funny story, at the beginning I knew zinch about the FR. I was playing with a fanatic priestess who kept saying "Helm defends me... Helm keeps me safe..."... at some point I blurted "then why the hell don't you wear one!?"... heh. |
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danifae
Acolyte
Canada
18 Posts |
Posted - 17 Jul 2006 : 03:49:56
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was actually quite odd how I got to Forgotten Realms.
I was into warhammer fantasy a few years back. I had a Dark Elf army.
One day I went to my local bookstore to get myself a book for on vacation. There I saw lying: The Dark Elf Trilogy (Collector's Edition)
By R.A. Salvatore. So me having a certain interest for Dark Elves, went and purchased the book.
I really enjoyed it, and thus was prompted to buy the other books. Now I have nearly all of the Forgotten Realms novels, and though my interest in warhammer fantasy has faded, I'm still into Forgotten Realms |
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Nokom
Learned Scribe
USA
109 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jul 2006 : 17:04:29
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| I first found out about it when I was 5.My dad had baldur's gate and he let me play and i was hooked.I really dint know what it was...I really just like killing the rats....I first really found out about it when i was 9 or 10. |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jul 2006 : 01:22:02
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quote:
Originally posted by Nokom
I first found out about it when I was 5.My dad had baldur's gate and he let me play and i was hooked.I really dint know what it was...I really just like killing the rats....I first really found out about it when i was 9 or 10.
Geez, you're young... |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
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danifae
Acolyte
Canada
18 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jul 2006 : 16:22:37
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quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
quote:
Originally posted by Nokom
I first found out about it when I was 5.My dad had baldur's gate and he let me play and i was hooked.I really dint know what it was...I really just like killing the rats....I first really found out about it when i was 9 or 10.
Geez, you're young...
well, FR is for all ages.
I also have reason to believe it's for young people as well.
A very good friend of mine wrote a story in the FR setting, got it checked by an editor she knew etc. It got checked, and sent back with the message that the contents of the story were too mature for some of the FR novel readers... That kinda sucks when you spend that much time on it, and it was quite a nice story to read as well! |
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Nokom
Learned Scribe
USA
109 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jul 2006 : 18:05:24
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| Yes.When i first played it all i knew was this:I am an elf that kills rats.lol. |
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FridayThe13th
Learned Scribe
USA
132 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jul 2006 : 20:07:16
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| Mostly by Salvatore's novels. But Dragonlance in part too. I was a DL fan long before I was a FR one and I loved the DL books so much that I thought of the idea of reading other WoTC's books would be great. So one day I picked up one of Salvatore's novels and started reading, I have been hooked even since. |
"The Lady of Pain? You mean Loviatar runs this place?"
-- Torilian Prime
"You guys should seriously rename yourselves The Horny Society, you popularity would soar."
-- A miscillaneous Kender to a member of the Horned Society
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jul 2006 : 05:15:44
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quote:
Originally posted by danifae
well, FR is for all ages.
Didn't say it wasn't. One comment was one of fondness. |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
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Eluril
Acolyte
United Kingdom
3 Posts |
Posted - 25 Jul 2006 : 14:01:22
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quote:
Originally posted by Forgotten Ghost
....I recall reading RA Salvatores Dark elf trilogy, because a friend played a baldurs gate game which had Drizzt in it then later found out there were books on him....
Yeah,that's pretty much the same as me! - I bought "Baldurs Gate 2" for the PS2 & then "Demon Stone" a while later & I noticed that Drizzt featured in both,so I did a bit of research & discovered all the novels & this site,so I'm pretty new to this!
I've read The Dark Elf Trilogy & The Icewind Dale Trilogy and I'm on the last book of the Cleric Quintet,"The Chaos Curse"! |
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Lady Morbannaon
Acolyte
United Kingdom
42 Posts |
Posted - 28 Aug 2006 : 23:04:08
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I first encountered the Realms when sat at a table having coffee and chocolate biscuits my fiance (then friend) would tell me about all his character and the adventures him and his friends went on within the gaming group.
Once I moved in with him I started gaming and have now overtaken him as the DM for the group with have. |
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Aglaranna
Learned Scribe
166 Posts |
Posted - 23 Nov 2006 : 23:04:49
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| First encounter? Wasn't I born in the Realms? |
"You can choose a ready guide
In some celestial voice
If you choose not to decide
You still have made a choice
You can choose from phantom fears
And kindness that can kill
I will choose the path that's clear
I will choose freewill." -'Freewill' by Rush |
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Bladewind
Master of Realmslore
Netherlands
1280 Posts |
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dwarvenranger
Senior Scribe
USA
428 Posts |
Posted - 24 Nov 2006 : 01:31:08
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| Wanna say it was the Wizards' Three articles in Dragon. |
If I waited till I knew what I was doing, I'd never get anything done.
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Ranin
Seeker
88 Posts |
Posted - 24 Nov 2006 : 05:07:07
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I was buying a copy of my then-favorite author David Eddings when I saw the cover of The Crystal Shard. I thought it looked cool with Wulfgar, Drizzt and Bruenor (of course I did'nt know their names at the time) but I bought it to widen my fantasy perspectives.
Its different than Edding's world and I did'nt read the CS right away (it took 5 years), but eventually I finnaly opened the book I bought after years and could'nt believe how good it was and how much I have missed since then. I have been hooked on and read through the Salvatore series since then. |
Listen to the silence of the wilds, in there lies the wisdom of ages. |
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Delzounblood
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
578 Posts |
Posted - 24 Nov 2006 : 10:59:14
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Oh God hang on......................
Ah I remember
An American school friend of mine got me playing D&D, but we just played the odd adventure and lots of his made up ones, After he left to go back to the states he left me his D&D books as he was buying new. Without his guidence of being the DM I had to search out my own source books and in a toy and hobby store found my first taste of Forgotten Realms. This carried on through PC Games and Buying lots and lots of Novels and FR Source over the years. Then stupidly I sold the lot But now have started to build my own collection up again as well as buy and sell old and new D&D / FR stuff.
So for me Forgotten Realms was found by accident really in a toy store in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England.
I used to go every week to buy one more book, I had 2 paper rounds and and pocket money to help!!
Ahh The Days
Delz
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I'm Back! |
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How did you first encounter the Realms?
