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Aglaranna
Learned Scribe
166 Posts |
 Posted - 24 Nov 2006 : 22:24:47
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quote:
Originally posted by Ranin
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.
Eddings...Eddings...D'Arvit! Why can't I remember what he wrote? *stalks of to go find something that says David Eddings on the front*
TWO MINUTES LATER:
*comes back with a pile of books* Nevermind! |
"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 |
Edited by - Aglaranna on 24 Nov 2006 22:27:25 |
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acro
Acolyte
USA
16 Posts |
Posted - 29 Nov 2006 : 14:56:45
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| I found out from a now dead friend, who introduced it to me earlier this year. |
Bring out those dusty tomes to be copied.
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yargarth
Seeker
USA
58 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jan 2007 : 05:04:35
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I had just finshed reading a book at my grandmas house and needed another one. (not much to do when its 100+ out)so my mom took me to the only book store in weavervill california. There about two years ago i got an old paper back of home land i read it so fast that i could not put it down. I left it int the car the second day and the glue melted in the spine about where chapter 5 is.  |
"You take a step, then another. That's the journey. But to take a step with your eyes open is not a journey at all, it's a remaking of your own mind."
-Orson Scott Card
Ender in Exile |
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Victor_ograygor
Master of Realmslore
Denmark
1076 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jan 2007 : 10:25:39
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Back in the old days with my first character Davalin the barbarian…. Ahh Yes what a hero, and what a young boy behind the table with his dices in his hands, just waiting for the Dungeon Master to say now it´s your turn!
Now when I am playing, I play with the same friends after 19 years, I am still sitting behind the table(Another table) with my dices in my hands.
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Wauu I wasn’t the only one playing Pool of Radiance on the C64. But I “hacked it” and then it wasn’t fun……..
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Victor Ograygor The Assassin and Candel keeps cellar master
Everything I need to know about life I learned from killing smart people.
Links related to Forgotten Realms
http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9571
Adventuring / Mercenary Companies / Orders / The chosen from official sources
http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=11047
Priests in Forgotten Realms.
http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9609&whichpage=1 |
Edited by - Victor_ograygor on 22 Jan 2007 10:31:03 |
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Lemernis
Senior Scribe
378 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jan 2007 : 13:18:07
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For me it was the Baldur's Gate game.
I was one of those holdouts from even buying a computer, and finally bought one in '00. Unfortunately for me, the first two games I purchased were Age of Empires II, and Baldur's Gate. Both of which are excellent, so I got hooked pretty quickly on this whole computer gaming thing.
Over time the Baldur's Gate gaming interest led me to NWN persistent world design. And that's what got me delving into the Forgotten Realms.
The gaming pastime has really grabbed me, and I still at times reflect on why. I've always held a great fondness for Tolkien's work. And I had enjoyed a decent sampling of Sci-Fi and Fantasy during my late teens (Fritz Leiber's Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser series in particular). As I played the BG computer game, and considered what was so attractive about it to me, I realized I have a particular affinity for settings. What I appreciated most about Tolkien's work, for example, was the tremendous detail, depth, breadth, and scope he gave to Middle-earth. The man had created the illusion not just of a distinct sense of 'place', but of an entire world spanning out behind it. That feat, in particular, is such a monumental accomplishment in the realm of the imagination. In my college years I had studied such pretentious subjects as phenomenology and its notion of 'worldbuilding', and had nearly completed a degree (before changing the major) in English, with aspirations to become a screenwriter. I had also found Jospeh Campbell's work to be thought-provoking. I had even majored in History for a time. Anyway, that sort of background probably predisposed me to immersion for this sort of pastime.
Love the depth of the Forgotten Realms. The level of diversity and detail is virtually endless. And I appreciate how articulating the setting is something that is such a collaborative enterprise, really. It's Ed's brainchild, of course, but it can't truly exist without players and DMs. As a community we all define it together.
(Sorry for the ramble!) |
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silverwizard
Seeker
Greece
76 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jan 2007 : 19:58:36
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OK, here's my story:
When I was about 12-13, I used to regularly buy a Greek videogames magazine ("User") focusing on PC and Amiga (remember that???) games. My favourite type of game was (and still is) RPG and adventures, and the magazine had a column with walkthroughs and hints on games belonging to these genres. The bloke who wrote that column was an AD&D gamer and FR fan, as evidenced by his introductory text (about 1 page), which more often than not consisted of tales from the FR campaign he was in. I used to read about people with strange names, like "Elminster" or "Drizz't", and even Ren O'the Blade.
A few months later, another videogames magazine fell in my hands, and little did I know at that time that this magazine was a legend among Greek gamers. its name was "Pixel", and it devoted four pages in every issue to pen and paper RPGs. The only game that was vaguely reminiscent of RPGs that I had played until then was Hero Quest, and I felt compelled to find out about this strange game called AD&D. I hadn't had the chance until I turned 15, though. Remember that I live in Greece, and the RPG community back then was not exactly vibrant. However, I used to buy that magazine ("Pixel") every month, even though nothing else in there was of any interest to me (it focused exclussively on Amiga games, and I owned a PC). Until one day... someone I played Heroquest with suggested that "we try to learn how to play AD&D". I won't bore you with more details. I'll just say that the 2nd edition FR campaign box set was my third ever RPG purchase (after the PHB and the DMG, and before the MM). |
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koz
Seeker
USA
68 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jan 2007 : 07:27:03
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| I first came across the realms in high school. My Library had one of the Icewind Dale books. I read it and enjoyed it very much. After high school I joined the work force and my reading faded away into non existence. Fast forward about 6 or 7 years and I ran across the Icewind Dale hardcover collector's edition. I thought it looked interesting so I decided to buy it. While reading it I stumbled across a scene that I remembered very vividly from my first reading years ago. Up until that point I didn't remember ever having read the book before. It was the tavern scene where Wulfgar plants an unruly patron face first in the wall and leaves him hanging there. The scene stuck with me over the years because of the visual aspect and the way it made me laugh out loud. Ever since I have been a huge Realms fan and have read 102 novels and own a total of around 176. |
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Grimbolt Hammerhand
Acolyte
Germany
15 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jan 2007 : 12:10:25
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I encountered the realms via an old SSI Game. I think it was "Pool Of Radiance". So, what else to say? It was love at first sight  |
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Ateth Istarlin
Seeker
United Kingdom
80 Posts |
Posted - 24 Jan 2007 : 12:18:40
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I first encountered the Realms with the novels "Darkwalker on Moonshae" & "The Crystal Shard".
After reading them, I started getting everything about the Realms that I could find. |
The more I read about 4FR, the more depressed I am.
Politician - An elected official who tries to be all things to all people, while always looking out for his/her own interests first. |
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Hurusan
Acolyte
Austria
4 Posts |
Posted - 05 Mar 2007 : 21:00:46
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I first learned about FR with the game Neverwinter Nights (of course i knew before that some game named Baldurs Gate existed but never played that before NwN, after i finished that game the first time i wasn't really convinced that FR is something good but then this summer (this means 2006) i discovered my first FR novel, I think it was Homeland from Salvatore, after i finished that book i really felt that i was becoming an addict to this whole FR universe, I ve found that single book better than 85% of any other book i ve read
and now i m here and very interested to find out more about the realms |
Out of Order. |
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Romaal
Acolyte
Germany
22 Posts |
Posted - 06 Mar 2007 : 20:49:09
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| I played Baldurs Gate I and therefore encoutnered the Realms the first time. However, I started playing D&D 5 years later and I used the FR since then. |
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Twilight
Seeker
Canada
68 Posts |
Posted - 06 Mar 2007 : 20:56:13
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| Baldurs Gate |
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boddynock
Learned Scribe
Belgium
258 Posts |
Posted - 06 Mar 2007 : 21:28:07
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My first encounter with Forgotten Realms was when I played "Eye of the Beholder" on my first computer, an Amiga 500 in the 80's. I didn't know about roleplaying games then, and I started playing tabletop games in 1996 (own campaign in the disque world). I mastered a few FR adventurers but during that period I had a lot to learn 
In 2001 I found a very good group that played (and we still play it) a FR/night below crossover campaign. In 2004 I became a DM myself of a group adventurers in the realms |
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Grehnar
Acolyte
United Kingdom
44 Posts |
Posted - 06 Mar 2007 : 22:02:19
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| Although my first 'full' encounter was way back with the novel "Darkwalker on Moonshae", I have no idea why I picked up the book. As it was just after the book had been published here in the UK (unusually by TSR rather than Penguin as the later ones were), I would guess that my first true encounter was with an advert in either Dragon or White Dwarf. |
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Korginard
Learned Scribe
USA
126 Posts |
Posted - 08 Mar 2007 : 16:25:31
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Pool of Radiance on the C64 was my first look at the realms. I was fascinated by the information and maps provided in the Journal that came with the game.
I believe I read Spellfire next, and then Dark Walker on Moonshae, and soon after I got a hold of the old grey boxed setting. I've been happily grabbing up novels computer games and game books ever since. |
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Ayunken-vanzan
Senior Scribe
Germany
657 Posts |
Posted - 12 May 2007 : 17:26:27
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| My first encounter was the game Neverwinter Nights. After playing it for a while I was intrigued enough to look for the source books here in Germany. Since many player made modules are in English, I decided to skip the German versions of the sources and go straight for the "real ones", and so I bought Draconomicon, my first D&D book ever. From then on my collection grew steadily ... and is still growing. |
"What mattered our lives now? When our world had been torn from us? Folk wept, or drank, or stood staring out over the land, wondering what new horror each dawn would bring."
Elender Stormfall of Suzail
"Anyone can kill deities, cause plagues, or destroy organizations. It takes real skill to make them live on."
Varl
FR/D&D-Links • 2ed Downloads |
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Ladejarl
Seeker
Norway
55 Posts |
Posted - 12 May 2007 : 20:45:13
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| Baldurs Gate. |
"There should be much less violence, and more nudity and kinkiness in the world." |
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scererar
Master of Realmslore
USA
1618 Posts |
Posted - 13 May 2007 : 05:01:50
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The novel Spellfire. the 1st printing  |
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shandiris
Seeker
61 Posts |
Posted - 13 May 2007 : 14:17:01
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I'll tell my encounter with DnD in overall too here ;) Mine was a pretty strange one. I played Magic(the Gathering) at my local card/fantasy shop. While i was playing i saw some guys play DnD. I listened to it. A couple weeks later i bought a player's handbook, and read trough it. I sometimes played along with the guys at the shop.
Later on my friends said they were interested too and we all bought some books, (i bought the DM and Monster). After a couple of adventures from the internet i decided as a DM, I wanted a campagin world. After finding the red wizard class really cool i decided to go with the forgotten realms. A couple of weeks later i stumbled into you guys! |
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Marquant Volker
Learned Scribe
Greece
273 Posts |
Posted - 13 May 2007 : 18:29:21
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| It was Baldur's Gate 1 for me |
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Dart Ambermoon
Learned Scribe
Germany
253 Posts |
Posted - 15 May 2007 : 19:38:32
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| Well, firstly through the Drizzt-Series and (oddly) Dark Sun, since those were translated into German and English novels were really hard to come by in a small German town back then. Then I met the son of a Canadian soldier (they had soldiers stationed where I live), who played the game...played a session, borrowed "Darkwalker on Moonshae" and was hooked ever since. |
~ In Finder I trust, for danger I lust ~ |
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questing gm
Master of Realmslore
Malaysia
1735 Posts |
Posted - 16 May 2007 : 03:16:44
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I can't really remember how i first encountered FR, must have been really young since my memory was vague.
I guess it had something to do with the Eye of the Beholder game (which i mistaken it for GH). Then when i was already knee-deep in AD&D (i was 10-12, i think), I had to pop out and ask the question to my DM, 'What is the Forgotten Realms'.
Boy, was that the longest chat i ever had in a BK restaurant. The moment the 3.0 edition of the FRCS came up, i had to grab it. |
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Kyrene
Senior Scribe
South Africa
765 Posts |
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Dewaint
Learned Scribe
Germany
151 Posts |
Posted - 18 May 2007 : 22:26:48
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in late 1987 i was envious of a friend of mine for mastering DragonLance. My home made campaign was poorly designed and i had plenty of work to elaborate many things out.
So i looked around and stumbled over the "old gray box", alongside with the first FR Novel i ever read: Darkwalker on Moonshae. First i bought the novel, two weeks later the box. Since then ... well ... i fell in love with this world and never mastered something else in the (A)DnD universe  |
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Matthus
Senior Scribe
Germany
393 Posts |
Posted - 19 May 2007 : 14:08:24
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| We were playing in a campus group - trying to get a feeling for a whole bunch of worlds - but then I encountered a splendid sale for almost all of the Dark Sun boxes. After three years playing in this "cool" world I started DMing in Faerun. For a really long time now we are playing in a nice little fantasy shop here in Germany - with some guys since the first steps in this really really fantastic world. |
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Amthymyst
Acolyte
2 Posts |
Posted - 20 May 2007 : 14:21:15
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| I learded about FR from another DM, who ran the group on a campaign centered around the Drow. Later, another DM ran the Undermountain adventure. Originally, I stuck mostly with Dragonlance, delving a bit into Ranvenloft and Dark Sun. When Dark Sun died, and Dragonlance entered the 3rd age, I sought a new realm in which to run my own campaigns in. I remember how much I enjoyed the earlier games in FR and have stuck with it ever since. |
Each event is proceeded by prophecy, but without the Hero, there is no eveny. |
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Varl
Learned Scribe
USA
284 Posts |
Posted - 22 May 2007 : 03:41:10
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I first found the best game world ever in one of the earliest Dragon magazines. I was instantly hooked. I never was a DM that enjoyed building up a game world from the bedrock, literally, so the Realms provided me with the framework for my games. It also allowed me to expand, which as DM, is something I like to do. I'm a tinkerer DM. Give me the core, and if I like it, great, but if I don't, I find alternatives (i.e. house rules) to govern in their place.
And now that the FR have moved on to 3e, I still enjoy the products for the lore and detailing of places and things. |
I'm on a permanent vacation to the soul. -Tash Sultana |
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Drew
Acolyte
USA
31 Posts |
Posted - 22 May 2007 : 04:58:55
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| Into the realms thru a gate... i.e. my first good DM |
The noblest fate a man can endure is to place his body between the home he loves, and wars desolation. |
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AlorinDawn
Learned Scribe
USA
313 Posts |
Posted - 23 May 2007 : 17:13:40
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My introduction to what would later become my undying addition of 20+ years would be the Pages of the Mages article in Dragon Magazine issue#92 (which I still have from that long, long ago purchase). I am recalling this from memory, so if I'm off an issue or two forgive me, but I'm rather sure it was my very first purchase of Dragon Magazine so many years ago. The richness and depth of even those short articles left me begging for more.
Having recently found Candlekeep within the last year I am still shocked that so many of my Realmsian peers have such a great places to discuss our passion. The interaction level and time devoted by The Hooded One and Mr. Greenwood are astounding and likely unparalleled in our hobby.
VIVA LA ED!
(He better, we need more lore=)
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Edited by - AlorinDawn on 23 May 2007 17:14:49 |
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strahd
Acolyte
Canada
1 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2007 : 22:00:51
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Hy!! I begin playing add at the age of 7 and now i am 26 in 1 week.
The best game aver for all that i tried. forgotten chose me as
a new adept to toril. I am very appy to be a mamber of that forum.
sory for my riting i am frensh. doop!! |
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Topic |
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How did you first encounter the Realms?
