How Good is Forgotten Realms

[ShinymetalASS]

I am now completely addicted to this series.

After an, albiet late, start I am completely in love with Drizzt and the rest of this amazing series...

I dont know what took me so long but I am really enjoying them now.

And better late than never eh?

[Fitty]

What are they?

[matty]

mmm ive read almost all of the drizzt books (missing a sea of swords & the other 3 (?) books in the group)
cant wait for the new ones to come out :D

[Asmodeus]

read them all, they're cool.

[AntZ]

I would more correctly summarise that statement Asmo as "read them all, except for Salvatore's work because he is a literary hack who should kill off Drizzt already because Jarlaxle and Artemis Entreri are infinitely cooler than him, they're cool.

[deevil]

i prefered the ravenloft series, although some of the forgotten realms ones were good... Dance of the Dead and Carnival of Fear being my two favorites... (from what i remember anyways...)

[Asmodeus]

I would more correctly summarise that statement Asmo as "read them all, except for Salvatore's work because he is a literary hack who should kill off Drizzt already because Jarlaxle and Artemis Entreri are infinitely cooler than him, they're cool.

for the most part, that series, ravenloft, shadowrun and many others like it have been read by me. if there was an rpg i played that involved it, i probably read it at some point.

some are better than others.. some series are better than others... depends on how much of a tight ass you wish to be about favored authors, sticking exactly to yours or anyone elses concepts and character creation and so on. if you take them for just good ol plain entertainment, they're not that bad.

i've mostly gotten past that phase and into my current phase of literature but i still go back on occasion and see whats up.

[BlueBoy]

I've been trying to track down a place that sells the Planescape books in Australia, but I'm not having much luck.

[ShinymetalASS]

Meh. Im still on Dark Elves and I think it fucking rocks.

Loving it loving it loving it.

Now Eddings.... he's turned into a hack.

[Manshoon]

I've been trying to track down a place that sells the Planescape books in Australia, but I'm not having much luck.

Have you tried Booktopia?

www.booktopia.com.au

[Enos]

Meh. Im still on Dark Elves and I think it fucking rocks.

Loving it loving it loving it.

Now Eddings.... he's turned into a hack.

I assume you're talking about the Drow books? I've heard good things but always thought they were for younger readers :p

And yes, Eddings has definitely turned into a hack.

[Enos]

Oh, and if you want a really cool fantasy series and you've yet to read Stephen Erikson's Malazan Books of the Fallen then do. They are teh R0x0r!

[ShinymetalASS]

Im not too fussed on things being for 'younger readers'. I can still nail Isobell Carmody's Obernewton series. And thats for like early teens or some shit. Same with Le Guin's Earthsea Quartet. And The Cosmic Trilogy by CS Lewis, one of the greatest Trilogies of all time.

Plus, I have the Dragonology and Egyptology Books. No way are they really intended for adults but they are made so damn well.

[Scythe]

Now Eddings.... he's turned into a hack.

You think he's bad, try reading some of Terry Goodkind's recent stuff. The first few books in the Sword of Truth series were actually insightful (kind of), but "Naked Empire" was the most flimsy and transparent excuse for a bitter right-wing criticism of the anti-war movement that i've ever seen.

I mean, hacking through a crowd of unarmed people chanting "No War", because it was the only way to save them, since they had been decieved into pacifism so they could be kept in slavery? What the fuck is that?

[locust]

My old fave's actually the Cleric Quintet. (RA Salvatore, Forgotten Realms, not a Drizzt/drow series though).

[Manshoon]

I have the clerics quintet hopefully on its way to me soon....kinda completes the series around drizzt/cadderly for me. Also getting windwalker (Elaine Cunningham), hand of fire and crown of fire (both Ed Greenwood)

[ShinymetalASS]

I Left Exile At Your Place Shoon!@$##@$#$@ Can You Bring It Tonight!@@$!##$@ Im Withdrawaling All Over The Shop!@#@!@!#@#!

[Glompbot]

Eh... who're these books by... what genre? etc?

why are they so good?

[Scythe]

Eh... who're these books by... what genre? etc?

why are they so good?

Dark Elf books by Salvatore = Forgotten Realms = D&D Fantasy. Mostly good.

David and Leigh Eddings = Generic Fantasy. Pretty good, although they tend to repeat the same formula in all their series with some variations.

[ShinymetalASS]

David and Leigh Eddings = Generic Fantasy. Pretty good, although they tend to repeat the same formula in all their series with some variations.

Like that undersea Goddess in the new series. She a freakin polgara clone or what?

[Scythe]

Like that undersea Goddess in the new series. She a freakin polgara clone or what?

I had the same feeling when reading the Elenium, the Tamuli, and The Redemption of Althalus.

[Fenaughty]

Damn Shiny, hows that for timing.

Just last week I picked up the dark elf trilogy and started to re-read it after a couple of years absence and am now working my way through the rest of the books.

Have to read it in cronological order, even though I've picked up a lot of inconsistancies by doing that again. (Drizzt's age being a major one).

The forgotten realms series was a good read and I have a huge supply of the Books but stopped buying them about 6 years ago.

i've just discovered the fact that Salvatore continued after The Silent Blade and am tracking down the other Drizzt books.

[Scythe]

Have to read it in cronological order, even though I've picked up a lot of inconsistancies by doing that again. (Drizzt's age being a major one).

Salvatore himself points this out in the foreward to the collectors edition of the Dark Elf Trilogy (which he wrote after Icewind Dale, hence the inconsistencies). He said he didn't want to be hemmed in creatively, so some of the details were changed in later printings of The Crystal Shard.

[ShinymetalASS]

Just by way of update:

I STILL LOVE THIS SERIES

[deevil]

My old fave's actually the Cleric Quintet. (RA Salvatore, Forgotten Realms, not a Drizzt/drow series though).

I was trying to remember that series! Gotta love when the main character is actually different, a cleric (who woulda thunk it), and is using a sling or some other weak-ass weapon :)

[Sparhawk]

Why isn't he using a hammer. Clerics can kick ass with hammers.

Never read any of these ones, but Salvatore's Vector Prime was decent so perhaps I'll check it out.

[AntZ]

In the books Clerics can kick ass with hammers - in the game, hammers are pansy weapons which any cleric wielding any weapon that isn't lame will whoop you with.

[Sparhawk]

My only RPG experience is Baldur's Gate, and the hammers in that (well, mainly just one) were awesome, so I must plead ignorance.

Maybe I'll ask for some for my bday.

[ShinymetalASS]

When in a book store in the city on the weekend I got overly excited by the fact that I found.......

AN UNDERDARK DUNGEON FOR IRL D&D!@$#@@#$%$#%^$@#$^$

Holy Jebus!!@@#!#@! If this doesnt combine two of my favourite things into one!@!#$#@$@ Now I've just got to work out whether Sekhmet will be able to cope underground. She's a tough bugger, but I dont know how she'll go against a drow... or *eeeep* a hook horror.... or an ithillid???? JEBUS I CANT WAIT TO PLAY~!!@#@!

[Thyrd]

I remember me and my party killed a Ithillid once. We couldn't loot the body. Our Ranger/Arcane archer was just too good and when it flew up using some kind of spell/telekinesis, he nailed it to the roof with arrows.

[Thyrd]

thats fucking gold.... when can we play???

Tell ya what, some time next year, when I am in brisbane on holiday, then we can play. I'll be doing a lot of nailing :p

Edit: Word of Warning- I do tend to make characters that are on the cusp of insanity. You'll never know what I'm going to do. Once I set a house on fire because I felt like it.

[ShinymetalASS]

Chaotic Neutral baby.... only way to go....

P.S. Am now reading Crystal Shard.... *shudder* Damn I'm loving these.....

[DestRuct0r]

For all your Forgotten Realms Novel needs;

http://www.galaxybooks.com.au/categories/01/11/25/


Last week I finished the Eberron novel by Keith Baker City Of Towers - sort of a tie in to the new campaign setting. It was a good read.

[Thyrd]

Chaotic Neutral baby.... only way to go....

Danm straight.

My mates have a few books about Drizzt(SP?) and Elminster. I should see if I can borrow them next time I see them.

[AntZ]

Consider that a hell no Thyrd, if I am scared to use your computer after you have used it, do you really think I am going to lend you my precious forgotten realms books? :D

[Thyrd]

Pffft! You use my computer all the time! I'll consider your "hell no" a yes. And after I burned you freelancer too.

[MADCAT]

I only started reading Salvatore books after I completed the Icewind Dale game and read in the credits that it was based on a book. No all I need is the Hunter Blades Trilogy and I've completed my Salvatore Collection. But I would definitely recommend getting The Best Of The Realms Book 1 and reading the story The Rose Window by Monte Cook, I Guarantee you that it'll be the best thing you have ever read.

[mcnish]

i've played planescape: torment and loved that - are the books similar?

[ShinymetalASS]

Just about at the end of Streams of Silver now. Got dark elf trilogy for $6 all three at brissie markets the other day. And 2 other drizzt books and a dragon lance. $2 each. A pratchett as well, actually.

This cockhead had a shitload of fantasy books for $2 each and had NFI what the fuck he was selling. Good. I came away a happy camper :D

P.s. Drizzt is a fucking champion.

[Scythe]

Personally, i'm as much a fan of Jarlaxe than of Drizzt, just because he suits my personality better. :D The plot twist right at the end of the Servant of the Shard rocks, too.

[ShinymetalASS]

I bet you wish you were Entreri to you evil bastard :D

Hahaha! I just love Rangers.

[Scythe]

Nah, Entreri just doesn't have that mockingly cynical edge to his personality that's so familiar. :p

[criminy]

Personally, i'm as much a fan of Jarlaxe than of Drizzt, just because he suits my personality better. :D The plot twist right at the end of the Servant of the Shard rocks, too.

Best. Character. Ever.

He's like Batman of Menzoberranzen; insanely well-prepared.

I've just started "The Thousand Orcs", but I have "The Lone Drow" on my bedside table waiting for me. I've read all the others (not the Cleric's Quintet though).

[MADCAT]

You should really read the Cleric's Quintet it may not have Drizzt in it but it is still a bloody good read.

[ShinymetalASS]

Well, I need a copy of Legacy, as I have Starless Night and Passage to Dawn... then Clerics Quintet after that methinks.

I've been having a bash at the Margaret Wiess (or whatever her name is) stuff, Death Gate Cycle this book is from.... does it get better later on? or is it going to be this boring the whole book through?

[Scythe]

I've been having a bash at the Margaret Wiess (or whatever her name is) stuff, Death Gate Cycle this book is from.... does it get better later on? or is it going to be this boring the whole book through?

It does get a little better, but I doubt it'll blow your socks off, so to speak. Weiss and Hickman's books tend to be fairly simplistically plotted.

[MADCAT]

If you want a real good read get the Forgotten Realms " Best Of The Realms Book 1" and read the story "The Rose Window" by Monte Cook. Trust me it'll be the best bloody thing you every read, the very last paragraph is unbelivable.

[Manshoon]

All my Dragonlance books are by Margaret Weiss and Tracy Hickman Shiny....they are pretty damn good IMHO.....as is the Sovereign Stone Trilogy.

I got the other Salvatore books ya after you just have to ask (and return the ones you have already read!)

[criminy]

Yippee!

My copy of "Resurrection" (book 6 of War of the Spider Queen) arrived today!

Pharaun Mizzrym: deadset legend.

[EvilMuppet]

I have about 60 dragonlance books im a bit of a fan :P

[ShinymetalASS]

All my Dragonlance books are by Margaret Weiss and Tracy Hickman Shiny....they are pretty damn good IMHO.....as is the Sovereign Stone Trilogy.

IMHO I'm still fucking bored shitless in this one.

I got the other Salvatore books ya after you just have to ask (and return the ones you have already read!)

Subtle.

The only Salvatore Book I'm after is Legacy. I have the next two after that.

And if you want me to return the other two (since the Dark Elf Trilogy I have is mine) you can have your Icewind Dale stuff back tonight.

[EvilMuppet]

OH ive gotta ad im a massive fan of weiss and hickman but the deathgate books bored me shitless too, try some of the DL books instead.

[ShinymetalASS]

Yeah I only started with DG cause I picked up the first book for $2.

I actually want to finish off my Drizzt drooling first, but as I said, I dont want to read Starless Night or Passage to Dawn until Ive read Legacy.

....and I'm at present convincing my DM that we should be doing the Underdark Dungeon. Most likely end in a TPK, but at least I can play in the UD!

[criminy]

I actually want to finish off my Drizzt drooling first, but as I said, I dont want to read Starless Night or Passage to Dawn until Ive read Legacy.


I suspect you would thoroughly enjoy the War of the Spider Queen Series. 6 different authors, all with slightly different styles. Good characters too.


....and I'm at present convincing my DM that we should be doing the Underdark Dungeon. Most likely end in a TPK, but at least I can play in the UD!

There's a module that is kind of a companion to the above series, "City of the Spider Queen" (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/fracc/885740000). We're currently in the middle of it. 10th to 18th level, so lots of badass antagonists to fight. We're an evil party, which also adds to the flavour.

[ShinymetalASS]

There's a module that is kind of a companion to the above series, "City of the Spider Queen" (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/fracc/885740000). We're currently in the middle of it. 10th to 18th level, so lots of badass antagonists to fight. We're an evil party, which also adds to the flavour.

oh, how very very cool.

as you might have seen me post earlier, if it aint chaotic neutral baby, i dont wanna know about it. ;)

and it's just another reason why *checks for WoW lurkers* paladin's can suck my ass. Magic Users and Rangers all the way. :D

[ShinymetalASS]

Just about finished Seige of Darkness now. Thankfully I have a copy of Passage to Dawn sitting there waiting to go. I have just flown through this quartet. I find sometimes he gets a little repetative with his turns of phrase, but then, the guy has written so much about the same characters, I guess it has to happen sometimes (though I am DEFINITELY not putting him in the same category as McCaffrey or *heaven forfend* Eddings).

Anyway, that's just my little updatey GODDAMN THIS SERIES STILL ROCKS!@#$

[ShinymetalASS]

I miss Drizzt.

What else is there that I can find him in?

Hey Shoon, was that stuff you was talking about the other night Drizzty?

Or just FR based?

[criminy]

I miss Drizzt.

What else is there that I can find him in?

Hey Shoon, was that stuff you was talking about the other night Drizzty?

Or just FR based?

Read The Hunters' Blades trilogy yet? (book 3 just came out).

[Manshoon]

Yeah I have more Drizzt ones you havent read yet.....I did tell ya but you probably forgot again :p

Spine of the World
Sea of Swords
Silent Blade
Servant of the Shard
Thousand Orcs
The Lone Drow

All of which you need to read!!

[ImRonImCDN]

I don't want to alarm you but I read it and now have switched to ARCHIE comics.

[ShinymetalASS]

Excellent!

When I have gotten through all the new books I've scored for free, I shall be bugging you again!

woooooot!

I love drizzt!

[MADCAT]

Anyone know where I can find the third book in The Hunter Blade's Trilogy in Brisbane I've looked pretty much everywhere and I can only find the first 2.

[ShinymetalASS]

Just started The Silent Blade.

And I have all the others lined up.

Waiting.

Choon you legend (sorry, watched donnie darko last night).

[Manshoon]

I havent seen the third book yet. I do know its still not available in paperback only in hard cover. Probably be available in paperback later in the year I was told.

Go figure

[MADCAT]

O well I'm just gonna start reading War of the Spider Queen till I find it.

[Space Cowboy]

Had a funny experince after reading through this thread...I was sent through the internal mail here at work Homeland, book one of The Dark Elf Trilogy from someone I don't know. There was no note or anything with it and I hadn't been talking to anyone about fantasy books etc. Really weird, anyway, i'm started reading it this morning on the train and it seems to be ok so far.

[MADCAT]

I reckon The Dark Elf trilogy is the best salavatore series cause it gives you a eral good history of Drizzt and his father. My favourite part is in the first book talking about drizzt's experiences in Melee-Magthere.

[ShinymetalASS]

Had a funny experince after reading through this thread...I was sent through the internal mail here at work Homeland, book one of The Dark Elf Trilogy from someone I don't know. There was no note or anything with it and I hadn't been talking to anyone about fantasy books etc. Really weird, anyway, i'm started reading it this morning on the train and it seems to be ok so far.

Homeland, Exile and Sojourn were really fucking enjoyable books. I borrowed Manshoon's and then HAD to buy my own copies. Also bought the Icewind Dale series second hand as well.

Oh, FYI - sample chapters of Sellswords series -Salvatore Goodness - Click here if you'd boink drizzt (http://www.rasalvatore.com/sideMenu/sampleChapters/servant_of_the_shard.pdf)

Currently reading The Silent Blade..... *drool* I keep meaning to get to bed early, but goddammit... i keep reading... anyone else find Wulfar INCREDIBLY annoying??

[criminy]

Just finished The Two Swords. Hint: It's not the two you might think.

Good series, although it's abundantly clear that there will be more.

Now I have to wait for my wife to finish Harry Potter.