Got it. Looks more the thing than the Campaign Guide (meaning, it delivers in its role as a Player's intro). Classes and races look well-done and the Swordmage sounds like some nice Eldritch Knight revamp.
It still feels a bit short though. There are far too few regional background pieces and some places are notably absent / discouraged as starting areas (Mithral Hall and other dwarven outposts of the North, unless I am missing some area). New feats are rituals are a pretty good addition (actually, I would make some of them core in a pinch).
With smaller font and more info for a book its size I would have no complaints as a players' intro to a campaign setting.
|
The swordmage looks awesome. I can't wait to play one.
The Drow and Genasi get 2-3 pages for themselves. Going over physical qualities and racial powers. Races from the PHB get a paragraph or two on how they fit into the Realms.
There's also a supporting cast that goes over a few other vreatures that inhabit the world. Devas, Gnomes, Goblins, Goliaths, Orcs/Half-Orcs, Lycanthropes, Shades and Shifters
In the class section there are 25 new Paragon Paths (Purple Dragon Knight, War Wizard of Cormyr), one new Epic Destiny (Chosen), the Swordmage and a section over becoming Spellscarred.
Got it. Looks more the thing than the Campaign Guide (meaning, it delivers in its role as a Player's intro). Classes and races look well-done and the Swordmage sounds like some nice Eldritch Knight revamp.
It still feels a bit short though. There are far too few regional background pieces and some places are notably absent / discouraged as starting areas (Mithral Hall and other dwarven outposts of the North, unless I am missing some area). New feats are rituals are a pretty good addition (actually, I would make some of them core in a pinch).
Just a nitpick, but they already are "core". All the mechanics are designed to be available to all settings, not just the one in which they were published. They may have a particular flavor that suits the book they appeared in, but the days of three books being "core" and the rest being "not-quite-core" are over.
|
Just a nitpick, but they already are "core". All the mechanics are designed to be available to all settings, not just the one in which they were published. They may have a particular flavor that suits the book they appeared in, but the days of three books being "core" and the rest being "not-quite-core" are over.Got it. Looks more the thing than the Campaign Guide (meaning, it delivers in its role as a Player's intro). Classes and races look well-done and the Swordmage sounds like some nice Eldritch Knight revamp.
It still feels a bit short though. There are far too few regional background pieces and some places are notably absent / discouraged as starting areas (Mithral Hall and other dwarven outposts of the North, unless I am missing some area). New feats are rituals are a pretty good addition (actually, I would make some of them core in a pinch).
That's ridiculous. There is absolutely no difference between 4th edition core and third edition core. If your group has this book and can use them, fine, they're core. No-one in my group wants to waste money on half a book for some new mechanics, which renders them not-core for my group.
Actually, on second thought, the definition of core for me is needed for playing or in a book which is needed for playing. So only three books are core or ever will be core.
Are warforged mentioned at all?
How are the different elven sub races handled?
Warforged don't exist in the Realms. They're from Eberron.Are warforged mentioned at all?
How are the different elven sub races handled?
I thought maybe 4th edition might change that (as with Shifters) as they're in the MM now and kinda 'core'.
Maybe instead of "core" it should be called "canon".
|
|
Warforged don't exist in the Realms. They're from Eberron.Are warforged mentioned at all?
How are the different elven sub races handled?
Well Shifters are from Eberron too, but they get a paragraph or two on how they fit into Toril. I'm sure sooner or later we will see a writeup about the Warforged of Toril.
Just a nitpick, but they already are "core". All the mechanics are designed to be available to all settings, not just the one in which they were published. They may have a particular flavor that suits the book they appeared in, but the days of three books being "core" and the rest being "not-quite-core" are over.Got it. Looks more the thing than the Campaign Guide (meaning, it delivers in its role as a Player's intro). Classes and races look well-done and the Swordmage sounds like some nice Eldritch Knight revamp.
It still feels a bit short though. There are far too few regional background pieces and some places are notably absent / discouraged as starting areas (Mithral Hall and other dwarven outposts of the North, unless I am missing some area). New feats are rituals are a pretty good addition (actually, I would make some of them core in a pinch).
Check my sentence "I would make them core". To me as a gamer they seem useful and easily bendable into any setting I may devise. It may not be the case with other future products. If they stat Dark Sun Half-Giants and I don't want them in my homebrew, in all likelihood I won't allow them in my setting. We don't play RPGA or anything in my group. Publishers' policy therefore has no saying in the materials I include in my sessions.
So do you think this is worth picking up purely by itself?
I'm wondering whether I can run 4e using the old grey book series for FR and this book might be make things easier if it can be used separate from the campaign version for 4e.
Sorry if thats a little confusing but from what I've read so far (here I mean) it sounds like it has potential even if if I don't agree with the chnages they've made to 4e Faerun.
How are the different elven sub races handled?
Moon elves and sun elves are considered eladrin (so are star elves, but they aren't mentioned in the write up), while wood and wild elves are considered elves; there are no mechanical differences between the sub-races beyond that. Drow are their own race and acquatic elves were not mentioned.
Let me ask this, As someone who will likely never play 4th edition, but likes searching for ideas in all kinds of places, is this book worth my time to pick up?
For non-mechanics ideas, maybe the feats are easily adjustable.
The breakthrough of gods is somehow nice and clear, also god-specific powers.
The concept of spellscarred characters (a form of "multiclass", which could become substitution/bloodline levels in a 3.x game) is detailed and quite well done, besides being usable to fabricate "Mutants" of all kinds, not just Realms-specific beings.
|
Let me ask this, As someone who will likely never play 4th edition, but likes searching for ideas in all kinds of places, is this book worth my time to pick up?
I was wondering the same thing, if the Swordmage might have some mechanics and ideas that work better than the Eldritch Knight PrC or the Hexblade base class, while being perhaps a little bit less of a one-trick pony / alpha strike build than the (awesome, but kinda limited) Duskblade.
There are, however, feats unique to each subrace (or at least one per subrace, at the moment.) So an Eladrin who takes the Moon Elf feat is different from a Sun Elf, etc.
Not a big difference, but the primary differences between them have always really been in behavior more than stats, at least for me.
I left the book at home, but is there an actual prerequisite stating "moon elf" or "sun elf?" I may be remembering incorrectly, but wasn't the racial prereq simply "eladrin?"
|
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
|
Let me ask this, As someone who will likely never play 4th edition, but likes searching for ideas in all kinds of places, is this book worth my time to pick up?I was wondering the same thing, if the Swordmage might have some mechanics and ideas that work better than the Eldritch Knight PrC or the Hexblade base class, while being perhaps a little bit less of a one-trick pony / alpha strike build than the (awesome, but kinda limited) Duskblade.
Set,
E-mail me at The_Livewire at bigfoot dot com and I'll send you my arcane legionary class. Write up still is rough, but mechanics seem sound.
|
Warforged don't exist in the Realms. They're from Eberron.
Living Forgotten Realms has changed that. For what it's worth, here ya go. So, some LFR player with a warforged paladin of Torm with Cormyr as a home region would beg to differ.
But, warforged are not in the Forgotten Realms Player's Guide. I got mine yesterday.
The way i see it, the Warforged could easily be introduced in the Forgotten Realms setting, as some semi-golems (constructs, whatever) conceived by the creative folks of the cult of Gond.
They could be a new creation, appearing now, after this period of troubles.
Or they could be found back, digged from a distant past, as a forgotten army of warconstructs.
(the second one is actually the option i took for my own campaign)
Any Avariel feat?
Sorta - each feat has a note that if you take one, you cannot take the other. The intent is clearly that if you have Moon Elf Resilience, you are a Moon Elf; if you have Sun Elf Grace, you are a Sun Elf; if you have Wild Elf Luck, you are a Wild Elf; if you have Wood Elf Agility, you are a Wood Elf.I left the book at home, but is there an actual prerequisite stating "moon elf" or "sun elf?" I may be remembering incorrectly, but wasn't the racial prereq simply "eladrin?"There are, however, feats unique to each subrace (or at least one per subrace, at the moment.) So an Eladrin who takes the Moon Elf feat is different from a Sun Elf, etc.
Not a big difference, but the primary differences between them have always really been in behavior more than stats, at least for me.
Cool, I only got to Chapter 2 last night (and then, only to the halfling entry!).
Any Avariel feat?
Nope. Rich Baker stated over on the WoTC boards that they are still around, but not so many anymore.
Any Avariel feat?Nope. Rich Baker stated over on the WoTC boards that they are still around, but not so many anymore.
Woah! There wasn't very many to begin with lol!
Hmmm, I hope they come out in a future product or there's at least something said about the avariel of the aerie of the snow eagle so fans of the race know what has become of them. :/
Any Avariel feat?Nope. Rich Baker stated over on the WoTC boards that they are still around, but not so many anymore.Woah! There wasn't very many to begin with lol!
Hmmm, I hope they come out in a future product or there's at least something said about the avariel of the aerie of the snow eagle so fans of the race know what has become of them. :/
I'd probably look to Dragon for that kind of information. I'm not sure that the avariel race is popular enough to get into a sourcebook (plus, the flying factor would make balance hard to do from a 4e perspective).
Let me ask this, As someone who will likely never play 4th edition, but likes searching for ideas in all kinds of places, is this book worth my time to pick up?
So far neither of our questions have been answered.
Been looking on the section above where they review new games and supplements but can't see this being reviewed there, will have to double check.
Let me ask this, As someone who will likely never play 4th edition, but likes searching for ideas in all kinds of places, is this book worth my time to pick up?So far neither of our questions have been answered.
Been looking on the section above where they review new games and supplements but can't see this being reviewed there, will have to double check.
Perhaps you missed this comment.
For non-mechanics ideas, maybe the feats are easily adjustable.
The breakthrough of gods is somehow nice and clear, also god-specific powers.
The concept of spellscarred characters (a form of "multiclass", which could become substitution/bloodline levels in a 3.x game) is detailed and quite well done, besides being usable to fabricate "Mutants" of all kinds, not just Realms-specific beings.
|
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 8
|
Are the non-MM races listed in there (devas, goliaths, etc.) appearing in PHB II? I'm curious about the deva stats (I assume they're the new eladrin). Apparently, my roommate and I were some of the few D&D fans who like those goody-two-shoe buggers. :)Deva are actually the new Aasimar, it seems - but yeah, it looks likely that all the non-MM races that got a write-up here will be showing up in the PHB II.
As his room mate, I'm 110% sure he meant to say Aasimar, and I for one am WAY psyched for PHBII because of them.
Also, what do you guys think about the new Genasi art? I'm not particularly fond of it myself. Glowy lines, crystal hair, eh, not so much.
Otherwise, lots of fun stuff, even for a non-realmsish like me.
|
Just saw it at a local Borders. Anyone pick it up yet? I've played the Swordmage.
One of my critiques of 4E is that the books, to include the FRCG, all seemed rather ... bland. Like the writers were writing something they were forced to write. Like homework, or something.
To me, the FRPG was like a breath of air, or more like someone took the bag off of my head so I could breathe again. I haven't read all the book, but so far it reads like someone had fun putting this together. I'm very pleased so far with what I have read.
I have personally found that my approach to movies works really well when used to approach 4E. Rather than fuss about what I don't like about it, if I stop to appreciate the story the "director" is trying to tell, based on the limitations of the media used, then I find I have a real good time.
Perhaps you missed this comment.For non-mechanics ideas, maybe the feats are easily adjustable.
The breakthrough of gods is somehow nice and clear, also god-specific powers.
The concept of spellscarred characters (a form of "multiclass", which could become substitution/bloodline levels in a 3.x game) is detailed and quite well done, besides being usable to fabricate "Mutants" of all kinds, not just Realms-specific beings.
Thank you, I guess I just expected something a little less Eberron inspired content and more Faerun, mind you I did miss that bit about the paragon classes and that chosen destiny bit.
How does it feel to you?
Is it worth it in your opinion?
The Swordmage is pretty awesome. The Swordmage is an Arcane Defender, which is to say, his job is to interdict people's movement towards the squishy party members, while dishing out respectable damage. But he/she does this using magic and a sword (so it's a lightly armored defender who relies on magic and high dex or int to avoid being hacked into kibble.) The core choice between assault focus or defense focus is the choice of your magical aegis:
Aegis of Assault lets you mark someone, then teleport to and attack them if they attack someone other than you.Aegis of Defense lets you reduce damage done to your allies by someone you have marked.
Swordmage has a mix of offensive and defensive powers, often with an elemental flare to them.
The feats and rituals have some cool ideas and the various described lands could be plundered for adventure ideas/locations for your own game.
The swordmage does sound good, care to give an example of these described lands even if its Cormyr or Netheril or whatever its called?
|
|
Are the non-MM races listed in there (devas, goliaths, etc.) appearing in PHB II? I'm curious about the deva stats (I assume they're the new eladrin). Apparently, my roommate and I were some of the few D&D fans who like those goody-two-shoe buggers. :)Deva are actually the new Aasimar, it seems - but yeah, it looks likely that all the non-MM races that got a write-up here will be showing up in the PHB II.As his room mate, I'm 110% sure he meant to say Aasimar, and I for one am WAY psyched for PHBII because of them.
Also, what do you guys think about the new Genasi art? I'm not particularly fond of it myself. Glowy lines, crystal hair, eh, not so much.
Otherwise, lots of fun stuff, even for a non-realmsish like me.
I have to say that I kinda liked the new art for the genasi. I always found the old art that tried to depect their elemental bloodlines as somewhat clunky at best. Either they were completly alien, like in Monsters of Faerun, or they tried to draw them as looking entirely human and yet still hint at their elemental origins, which always came off looking forced to me. With the new art they still hint at their human origin, but make it clear that great magic had to be involved in creating a fusion of mortal and elemental. What I did not like was the Drow wanderer Paragon path. Nothing like institutionalizing the fact that every drow pc will be a Drit'tz clone to turn me off. Not enough to keep me from buying the book, but enough to make me ban drow pcs in my campaign.
|
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 8
|
I have to say that I kinda liked the new art for the genasi. I always found the old art that tried to depect their elemental bloodlines as somewhat clunky at best. Either they were completly alien, like in Monsters of Faerun, or they tried to draw them as looking entirely human and yet still hint at their elemental origins, which always came off looking forced to me. With the new art they still hint at their human origin, but make it clear that great magic had to be involved in creating a fusion of mortal and elemental. What I did not like was the Drow wanderer Paragon path. Nothing like institutionalizing the fact that every drow pc will be a Drit'tz clone to turn me off. Not enough to keep me from buying the book, but enough to make me ban drow pcs in my campaign.
I can see where you're coming from, but I absolutely loved the Genasi art from Races of Faerun, (along with the rest of the planetouched art in there). I guess its mainly the crystal hair that bugs me, and thats really only an issue with the Windsoul and Stormsoul versions.
As far as the Drow Wanderer goes, I had the exact same thought, though it made me laugh more than anything. Not to worried about it myself though, as the group I play with is running 4e in Golarion, so Drow are explicitly off the table to begin with.
|
I can see where you're coming from, but I absolutely loved the Genasi art from Races of Faerun, (along with the rest of the planetouched art in there). I guess its mainly the crystal hair that bugs me, and thats really only an issue with the Windsoul and Stormsoul versions.
As far as the Drow Wanderer goes, I had the exact same thought, though it made me laugh more than anything. Not to worried about it myself though, as the group I play with is running 4e in Golarion, so Drow are explicitly off the table to begin with.
Yeah I preferred the Races of Faerun (3.x) Genasi and think I'll houserule the look if it comes up.
There's a drow wanderer PP?
**GROAN**
I like Drizzt but come on!! He's meant to be fricking unique.
Oh well at least I'm lucky enough that no-one in my group ever plays drow.
|
|
In my game, I am the one who usually plays drow. However, I have never played a character like Drit'tz. I either come up with a good reason why my character is different from the typical drow, my last character was actually half-drow and her mother had been a drow woman captured by slavers and forced to work for a crime lord in Luskin, or they are essentially good, but still somewhat sinister and secretive. I can't imagine that most drow would be trusting of surface dwellers, even good ones, since it goes against thier upbringing and most surface dwellers distrust them anyway.
IMO, the Drow Wanderer PP is not really suitable to creating a Drizzt clone; its not even specific to drow rangers (though they would automatically qualify if they decided to take training in Dungeoneering). To me, the Drow Wanderer PP is your basic, self-reliant Underdark explorer, though the flavor text assumes that the character would be somewhat aloof from the norms of drow society.