Epic Meepo
Hero
I'm enjoying reading everyone's posts. Thanks for all the insightful responses.
When I run the Realms (mostly for premade adventures) I try to focus on the interplay of organizations, especially mercenaries and retired high-level adventurer types. And also magic unique to the setting, which usually requires going back to novels or past editions and hearty dose of creative license.I am curious to know what people who enjoy reading about, playing in, and/or running the Forgotten Realms setting like the most about it. What elements of this massive kitchen-sink setting really click for you, personally? What do you find most interesting or inspiring?
I am aware that some detractors would answer, "Nothing," or, "I like how Event X got rid of all the old stuff I didn't like." I acknowledge those opinions as valid. For the purpose of this discussion, though, I'm more interested in learning the opinions of people who are generally enthusiastic about the Forgotten Realms setting.
My most favorite thing about FR is that you can open any book to a random page, point to any paragraph and have an adventure (hook) within those 5-7 sentences.It’s such a great world. Reading the old box set material is just a wealth of great stuff. Plus I’ve read so many novels set there…
I look at FR in 3 ways, the history, the multiple pantheons and then the setting and locations. You can freely disregard any three (or all) and still have a solid framework to work with. I would bet that no FR campaigns are the same. Honestly 9 out of 10 times if Im running a fantasy RPG game, its FR.I felt that it had enough of a history to provide a strong framework while leaving enough open for there to be a great deal of freedom, as well as more diversity in races and cultures than many of the settings that I had grown up with.
My current campaign setting worldbuilding is basically taking my favorite 10% of AD&D Forgotten Realms and welding them together into one coherent sub-continent.With FR there is soooo much stuff that I can just remove what I don't like and end up with something pretty good.