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<blockquote data-quote="Staffan" data-source="post: 9038540" data-attributes="member: 907"><p>As a basis, I would recommend the 2e box. Mainly because it is almost entirely system-less. There is a (very forgettable) adventure included, but other than that it pretty much doesn't go into game mechanics beyond giving NPCs classes and levels. The 3e FR book, on the other hand, has both a whole lot of player-focused stuff (new races, feats, prestige classes, spells, magic items) and a lot of detailed NPC writeups. To take an extreme example: the 2e FR box mechanically describes Elminster as "CG hm W29" (short for "Chaotic Good human male 29th level Wizard"), while the 3e book gives Elminster just over half a page of stats, presented in a very dense format. The result is that while the 3e FR book is a pretty good source for running FR in 3e, quite a lot of it is wasted space if you intend to play it in another system.</p><p></p><p>I feel you got those turned around. 2e had:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Zhengyi the Witch King is destroyed and Damara reunited.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Invasion of Faerûn by the Tuigan horde.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The "discovery" of Maztica.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The reclamation wars in Tethyr, turning it from a realm torn between various warlords into a united kingdom wisely ruled by a good Queen who happens to be married to the True King who was hidden away as Elminster's scribe for a couple of decades.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A bunch of god nonsense, like:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Waukeen, the goddess of trade and wealth, who disappeared during the Time of Troubles is rescued from captivity in the Abyss by bold adventurers.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Kelemvor, a mortal who was slain by Cyric and whose soul was seemingly consumed by Cyric's magical blade, somehow escapes that blade, ascends to divinity somehow, and in the process seizes the portfolio of The Dead from Cyric.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Cyric somehow murders Leira, the goddess of illusion and lies, and takes her portfolio.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Cyric also attempts a ritual which would have everyone who reads or hears the "gospel" of Cyric convert to his worship. Mask, the god of thieves, who was masquerading as the aforementioned blade gets partially caught in the effect but escapes by giving up part of his portfolio (IIRC, Intrigue) to Cyric. The actual performance of the ritual in Zhentil Keep gets interrupted and the message mangled to show Cyric as a fraud instead, and as a result the city of Zhentil Keep falls to in-fighting.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Iyachtu Xvim, the son of Bane, is released from captivity and attracts the worship of many former Bane worshippers who do not like Cyric.</li> </ul></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Internal strife within the Zhentarim leads to Fzoul Chembryl killing Manshoon, thereby setting off the awakening of dozens of prepared Manshoon clones that cause havoc all over the place.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The formation of the realm of Luruar or the Silver Marches, as a union of several city-states in the North.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The Harpers split into numerous factions, partially as a result of Khelben Blackstaff assisting Fzoul Chembryl with the above murder of Manshoon and some Harpers both disagreeing that he should have done that and that he did it without any discussion.</li> </ul><p>Then you have some stuff I'd consider the bookend between 2e and 3e: the return of the Shadovar and the city of Shade, Bane being resurrected and destroying Xvim in the process*, Cormyr being invaded by a bunch of orcs and goblins lead by a dragon resulting in the death of king Azoun IV. Once actually in 3e, there is:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Bloodstone lands rematch, now with more dragons.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Myth Drannor is retaken by forces from Evermeet, Sembia, and the Dalelands.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The Shadovar and the clergies of Cyric and Shar start making attacks on Cormyr and the Dalelands, as part of an overarcing plot to destroy the regular Weave and only leave the Shadow Weave.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Shar eats Mask.</li> </ul><p>Of course, this is mainly because 2e FR had a very active novel line and went on for quite some time both in the real world (1989 to 2000) and in the Realms (1358 to 1372), while 3e didn't see anywhere near as many novels and lasted for a much shorter time (2001 to 2008/1372 to 1376).</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Staffan, post: 9038540, member: 907"] As a basis, I would recommend the 2e box. Mainly because it is almost entirely system-less. There is a (very forgettable) adventure included, but other than that it pretty much doesn't go into game mechanics beyond giving NPCs classes and levels. The 3e FR book, on the other hand, has both a whole lot of player-focused stuff (new races, feats, prestige classes, spells, magic items) and a lot of detailed NPC writeups. To take an extreme example: the 2e FR box mechanically describes Elminster as "CG hm W29" (short for "Chaotic Good human male 29th level Wizard"), while the 3e book gives Elminster just over half a page of stats, presented in a very dense format. The result is that while the 3e FR book is a pretty good source for running FR in 3e, quite a lot of it is wasted space if you intend to play it in another system. I feel you got those turned around. 2e had: [LIST] [*]Zhengyi the Witch King is destroyed and Damara reunited. [*]Invasion of Faerûn by the Tuigan horde. [*]The "discovery" of Maztica. [*]The reclamation wars in Tethyr, turning it from a realm torn between various warlords into a united kingdom wisely ruled by a good Queen who happens to be married to the True King who was hidden away as Elminster's scribe for a couple of decades. [*]A bunch of god nonsense, like: [LIST] [*]Waukeen, the goddess of trade and wealth, who disappeared during the Time of Troubles is rescued from captivity in the Abyss by bold adventurers. [*]Kelemvor, a mortal who was slain by Cyric and whose soul was seemingly consumed by Cyric's magical blade, somehow escapes that blade, ascends to divinity somehow, and in the process seizes the portfolio of The Dead from Cyric. [*]Cyric somehow murders Leira, the goddess of illusion and lies, and takes her portfolio. [*]Cyric also attempts a ritual which would have everyone who reads or hears the "gospel" of Cyric convert to his worship. Mask, the god of thieves, who was masquerading as the aforementioned blade gets partially caught in the effect but escapes by giving up part of his portfolio (IIRC, Intrigue) to Cyric. The actual performance of the ritual in Zhentil Keep gets interrupted and the message mangled to show Cyric as a fraud instead, and as a result the city of Zhentil Keep falls to in-fighting. [*]Iyachtu Xvim, the son of Bane, is released from captivity and attracts the worship of many former Bane worshippers who do not like Cyric. [/LIST] [*]Internal strife within the Zhentarim leads to Fzoul Chembryl killing Manshoon, thereby setting off the awakening of dozens of prepared Manshoon clones that cause havoc all over the place. [*]The formation of the realm of Luruar or the Silver Marches, as a union of several city-states in the North. [*]The Harpers split into numerous factions, partially as a result of Khelben Blackstaff assisting Fzoul Chembryl with the above murder of Manshoon and some Harpers both disagreeing that he should have done that and that he did it without any discussion. [/LIST] Then you have some stuff I'd consider the bookend between 2e and 3e: the return of the Shadovar and the city of Shade, Bane being resurrected and destroying Xvim in the process*, Cormyr being invaded by a bunch of orcs and goblins lead by a dragon resulting in the death of king Azoun IV. Once actually in 3e, there is: [LIST] [*]Bloodstone lands rematch, now with more dragons. [*]Myth Drannor is retaken by forces from Evermeet, Sembia, and the Dalelands. [*]The Shadovar and the clergies of Cyric and Shar start making attacks on Cormyr and the Dalelands, as part of an overarcing plot to destroy the regular Weave and only leave the Shadow Weave. [*]Shar eats Mask. [/LIST] Of course, this is mainly because 2e FR had a very active novel line and went on for quite some time both in the real world (1989 to 2000) and in the Realms (1358 to 1372), while 3e didn't see anywhere near as many novels and lasted for a much shorter time (2001 to 2008/1372 to 1376). [/QUOTE]
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