How Dungeons and Dragons is Making Sure The Forgotten Realms Setting Isn’t Actually Forgotten

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How Dungeons and Dragons is Making Sure The Forgotten Realms Setting Isn't Actually Forgotten

As a die-hard fan of Dungeons and Dragons since the days of my high school D&D club back in the late 80s, I can’t help but feel a surge of nostalgia upon hearing about the upcoming Forgotten Realms material. The Realms have been a constant companion in my adventures, from the pages of the Dragon magazine to the virtual tabletop in modern times.

For many years, the world of Dungeons & Dragons has been centered around The Forgotten Realms. However, in the upcoming revised rules for Dungeons & Dragons in 2024, Greyhawk will now serve as the main setting instead. This change should bring excitement to fans of The Forgotten Realms, knowing that it won’t be left unused anymore

One of the beloved worlds in Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), known as the Forgotten Realms, was brought to life by author Ed Greenwood approximately in 1967. He subsequently sold it to TSR, the original creators of D&D before Wizards of the Coast, in 1986. This marked the beginning of a vast array of adventure modules, articles for magazines, and tie-in books. With its diverse range of fantasy elements, the Forgotten Realms resonates with the variety that D&D offers. Over the years, it has been utilized extensively for significant media projects such as the Drizzt novels, Baldur’s Gate games, the Honor Among Thieves movie, and numerous other ventures

The Forgotten Realms Isn’t Going Anywhere In D&D 2024

Dungeons and Dragons Reverses Controversial Change on D&D Beyond

Dungeons and Dragons
changes the course on an unpopular update that was planned for

D&D Beyond
as a part of the new 2024 core rulebook releases. Thanks to its kitchen-sink appeal, the Forgotten Realms has been treated as the default setting by

D&D 5e
. Many adventures are set in the realms, including every starter module, and it’s been the setting for most tie-in media. However,

D&D 2024 will defer to Greyhawk instead
; the upcoming

Dungeon Master’s Guide
revision will include maps of the Greyhawk setting, alongside details about the City of Greyhawk and the world’s wilderness. Fortunately, the recent

D&D
Direct event reassured fans of the Realms, announcing a sizable array of Forgotten Realms material.

Upcoming Forgotten Realms Material Announced At D&D Direct

Two substantial handbooks were unveiled for the D&D universe at their official site, with one designed specifically for players and another tailored to game masters (both anticipated for the end of 2025). The player manual will be brimming with character choices: fresh subclasses, novel backgrounds, innovative spells, and exciting feats. Moreover, players will have the opportunity to enlist in a faction, featuring beloved groups such as the Harpers and the Red Wizards of Thay, along with some intriguing newcomers

This book specifically designed for Dungeons Masters offers more than just guidance on creating campaigns for the Forgotten Realms setting. It provides comprehensive information about various locales within this world, such as Baldur’s Gate, Icewind Dale, The Dalelands, Moonshae Isles, and Calimshan. Among these, Calimshan is a desert region modeled after the Ottoman Empire, while The Dalelands is a forested land with self-governing towns and an enormous Elvish dungeon. Although areas like Baldur’s Gate have received extensive coverage in D&D 5e, less attention has been given to The Dalelands and Calimshan

These New Books Are Great, But Could Go Further

This announcement is exciting for several reasons, particularly because the Realms serve as the backdrop for games like Baldur’s Gate 3 and the movie Honor Among Thieves. Many players have likely been introduced to Dungeons & Dragons through these popular titles. Despite previously appearing in the fifth edition of D&D, the Realms lacked a comprehensive sourcebook. The only source material available was the Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide, which covers a limited area and has received criticism for its character options. Given the demand for more detailed guides for this setting, especially since it has been featured in numerous adventures, it’s no surprise that new Forgotten Realms guides are highly anticipated

From a different perspective, critics like Mike Shea, who is both a writer and TTRPG designer, have noted the possible repetition of regions such as Icewind Dale and Baldur’s Gate, which have received individual stories in the past ten years. Among these, Baldur’s Gate stands out due to its upcoming AAA blockbuster game Baldur’s Gate 3. There are numerous areas that haven’t been explored yet in the fifth edition, and fans can only wish that these books will give them attention

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2024-09-05 19:36