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MaxKaladin
Seeker
77 Posts |
 Posted - 19 Jan 2007 : 21:28:25
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My introduction thread: http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8685
As I explain in my introduction thread, I'm an old hand at the Realms that's been away for a while and is now overwhelmed by the changes in 3e. I'm preparing to run a new game and the Realms seems to be a good fit. Trying to get up to speed on what all has changed is quite a task though. I have a number of the 3e products, including the 3e FRCS. Ironically, all of my 1e/2e collection is stored away at the back of a storage unit packed full enough that it would require an effort on par with clearing Myth Drannor to get at it (why it's there is a long and boring story). Thus, I'm going to be working primarily from 3e sources.
One thing I _do_ have from 1e/2e are a bunch of my campaign notes (in electronic form) from the games I ran in college. I even dug up several editions of a "broadsheet" I made up for a Waterdeep game as a handout before each session. This gives me lots of stuff I can throw into the game as tavern news, rumors and so forth that should be consistent with the Realms as it existed in the 90s.
I've only been in one Realms game with this group (run by someone else) and they've requested that I don't use Waterdeep. It's not that they dislike Waterdeep, but that's where the last game was and they want to go to a new part of the Realms. I've been considering Deepingdale due to the nature of the plot I'm considering. Unfortunately, that's smack dab in the middle of one of the most popular parts of the Realms and is likely to have been greatly affected by all the 3e changes. I've considered setting the game prior to 1368, or even prior to 1358, to avoid the changes for quite a while but I'm not sure if I want to do that or not.
A few questions:
1. I know they have (to be blunt) mangled the maps. When I look at the maps, I can see so many things that are at least a bit off-kilter and some that have changed more (though it's hard to tell what since I'm mostly working from memory). Are there any good sources of maps that reflect the new "3e geography" aside from the products? Especially for the Dales, Cormyr and Sembia? I hasten to add that I'll be picking up the various products, but I'm curious about other sources that may exist like web enhancements, fan-made maps and things like that.
2. Related to #1: Is it just me or has Deepingdale really _shrunk_? I'm going from memory, but didn't it used to be a lot bigger on the north-south axis? Looking at my FRCS, it looks like it's perhaps 5-10 miles between the Thunder Peaks and Semberholm.
3. Also related to #1: Didn't there used to be another dale? I have memories of one called "The High Dale" or something like that sitting between Sembia and Cormyr south of where Deepingdale is. I think it ran along the southern flank of the Thunder Peaks (and was, thus, the "High" (up) dale).
4. It's obvious that they've abandoned the 1e/2e policy of not touching Sembia. Where can I find information about what they've done with it aside from the 3e FRCS?
5. Is there any sort of collected source for "What's happened in the Realms since 3e came out" list I can look at?
6. Where can I go for information specific to what has been happening in and around Deepingdale?
Thank you.
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Mace Hammerhand
Great Reader
Germany
2296 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2007 : 23:39:49
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1) I'm not quite sure the map has changed, I did a rather quick measuring and converting and the distances appeared to be ok, I may be wrong tho.
2) Sorry, can't help you there (truth be told I haven't DMed in the Dales, aside from one adventure)
3) see 2 
4) Check the Sembia novels, they prolly are your best source on the country
5) 4 or 5 RSEs...lost count, as for a complete list... they haven't even explained the reason and cause for the new universe etc. and the Return of Bane was handled as a footnote so to speak... I fear a comprehensive list is what you can find in the History of the Realms (would provide a link if I wasn't such a lazy arse)
6) You could ask Ed, and hope Deepingdale is no victim of any NDA
And again welcome onboard |
Mace's not so gentle gamer's journal My rants were harmless compared to this, beware! |
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Mace Hammerhand
Great Reader
Germany
2296 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2007 : 23:51:49
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quote:
Originally posted by Kuje
T
Mate, you are becoming really eloquent these days |
Mace's not so gentle gamer's journal My rants were harmless compared to this, beware! |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2007 : 23:52:49
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They did shift the maps in 3e and the world is more north by northwest now. Some places did get some of the "excess" land removed. Erlkazar for instance really isn't the same as it used to be.
The High Dale is to the east and it's written up in Unapproachable East, which really is the only detailed source on the Dale.
The Player's Guide to Faerun has some info on some of the modern events as well as more expanded info on the new cosmology. |
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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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2007 : 23:53:25
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quote:
Originally posted by Mace Hammerhand
quote:
Originally posted by Kuje
T
Mate, you are becoming really eloquent these days
Hehe, I hit enter to fast. Please remove me. :) |
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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Mace Hammerhand
Great Reader
Germany
2296 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2007 : 23:55:30
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quote:
Originally posted by Kuje
quote:
Originally posted by Mace Hammerhand
quote:
Originally posted by Kuje
T
Mate, you are becoming really eloquent these days
Hehe, I hit enter to fast. Please remove me. :)
Remove you? To where? Who'd want you???  |
Mace's not so gentle gamer's journal My rants were harmless compared to this, beware! |
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Jorkens
Great Reader
Norway
2950 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jan 2007 : 07:39:42
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Welcome aboard MaxKalladin.
Some points.
1&2 You could always use the old maps, especially if you could get your hands on the old Forgotten Realms Atlas.
3. I think Kuje is mixing the High Dale with the Great Dale. High Dale should be in the southern Thunder-peaks area. I think it is still included, but I rarely use the 3ed. so I am not sure.
4. The Sembia novels would be your best shot. Do you have the old Forgotten Realms Adventures book form 2ed.? Here are several of the Sembian cities detailed.
One last thing, if you do not have Volo's Guide to the Dalelands, it can be freely downloaded from Wizards of the Coasts page (psst, Wooly do you have a link?). This will give you plenty of information on Deepingdale, although it does not cover the last years. I don't think that much has changed though. |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jan 2007 : 08:03:43
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| You're right, I am. Flees from this thread because I've looked like a arse enough alrdy. :) |
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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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jan 2007 : 10:28:27
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quote:
Originally posted by Kuje
They did shift the maps in 3e and the world is more north by northwest now. Some places did get some of the "excess" land removed. Erlkazar for instance really isn't the same as it used to be.
And Steven's discussed this somewhat here at Candlekeep. See his compiled replies.
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Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
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MerrikCale
Senior Scribe
USA
947 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jan 2007 : 12:51:39
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| I would get the previously mentioned Player's Guide for an update although there is plenty of info on that issue at this site. Supplements like the Lords of Darkness, Power of Faerun or Champions of Valor might assist you as well for general updates. |
When hinges creak in doorless chambers and strange and frightening sounds echo through the halls, whenever candlelights flicker where the air is deathly still, that is the time when ghosts are present, practicing their terror with ghoulish delight. |
Edited by - MerrikCale on 21 Jan 2007 12:52:12 |
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MaxKaladin
Seeker
77 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jan 2007 : 21:13:20
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Thanks for all the links!
I've found the High Dale. It's actually listed in the FRCS along with the other dales, but it's not marked on the map. The latter is what threw me.
I knew they'd changed the maps before I drifted from the Realms. It's odd that someone should mention Erlkazar in connection to this because I was preparing an Erlkazar campaign when the 3e FRCS was released and got rather, um, bent out of shape that the geography of that nation had been rather drastically changed.
The map changes are subtly yet jarring, if that makes sense. At a casual glance, things look 'right'. When I look closer, I start to find things that just aren't where they're supposed to be. I suppose it's especially jarring for me because I generally stuck to out of the way places for my games and those are the places most affected by the map changes.
I'm torn on using the old maps. Most of my stuff is in storage and I know it's going to bug me if some of my maps are the old ones and some are the new ones from current products. I do have the Atlas, but alas, it's in storage with all my 2e stuff. :(
I may just need to pick somewhere more out of the way than the Dales.
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Old Hand Preparing New Campaign
