Into The Forgotten Realms

Several years ago, I found myself out of work for an extended period of time. To ease that particular pain, I sold some stuff on ebay. Including, quite a large chunk of my gaming collection. Some of what I sold off I didn't miss at all and in truth, a small purge would have been a good thing. But, there were a few items, which I regretted parting with. Including the 1987 Forgotten Realms Grey Box.

Thanks to Ebay, I was able to rectify that and my "new" Grey Box came in the mail today! It's in decent shape, though it's seen some play and there are a few wear slits in the corner folds of the maps. My original set came with two of the clear hex overlay thingies and this one only has one. Otherwise, it's complete, including advert inserts. No markings in the books or on the maps. The box is in decent shape, with some general shelf wear, but no splits or anything. Cool!

Way back when, I had a few of the early Realms products and read some of the novels. I initially bought the Grey Box when it was first released, loved reading it and thought highly of Mr. Greenwood's setting.

Though it was a few years after their initial release, I read R. A. Salvatore's Icewind Dale trilogy, Dark Elf Trilogy and the first three books in the series that came after that one. I enjoyed them and still think that Mr. Salvatore tells a good story. He also writes melee scenes, very well! But at that point I was kind of burnt out on Drizzt and stopped. I've yet to read another Drizzt tale.

My ceasing to keep up with Drizzt's adventures, had nothing to do with all the "Drizzt Hatred," flying around the internet, over the years. While I got online fairly early, it was quite some time before I investigated the online gaming scene. I was very busy with other pursuits and had little to do with conventions, the local Game Store, etc. I also never played 2e and bought very few gaming products in the 90's. It was several years, before I saw just how bloated the Realms had become and while it's true that my gaming was a bit sporadic during that period, I never once had a player roll-up a Drow Ranger. So, my fond memories of the early books of Mr. Salvatore's series, are untainted by annoying, angsty Drizzt Clones. Just as my memories of the Forgotten Realms themselves, of the Grey Box and those early Realms supplements, are blissfully free of poisonous feelings or cynicism of any kind.

I did buy the Forgotten Realms Adventures Hardcover. I still have it. It escaped being sold by virtue of being dilapidated. The "Time of Troubles," thing, kind of annoyed me. I liked the Cities of the Heartlands section and must have read that chapter about a hundred times, over the years.

I bought the 3e Realms book and three of the then new supplements. Elminster, looks rather buff, for a gazillion year old geezer. I like the picture on the right, much better.

When WotC put out the 4e Realms, well, I think Michael Curtis Said it Best.

I'd love to see an Old School Realms revival. As I wrote not too long ago, there aren't many Realms sites out there, anymore. I'd like to see that change and it would be even sweeter, if those new sites were based on the 1987 Grey Box.

My re-aquisition of the Grey Box wasn't merely to rectify my earlier mistake. I've never run a published setting and I think I might learn a thing or two by doing so. So, with all that being said, I'm going to run the Forgotten Realms. While I might still decide to go with AD&D, LL/AEC should work just fine. (I finally teased out what was bugging me about that.)

I have the Grey Box, FR1- Waterdeep and the North and some 1e Dragon Magazine material. I want to pick up the City System off of Ebay and I might hunt up a few other early items from the FR series. If there's anything I should be sure not to miss, let me know. I'm starting the campaign in whatever year it is the Grey Box starts and will be sure to deviate from "Canon," from there. :)