Is there a place where I could learn a bunch of lore about Faerun, such as a website or book? I have heard of the Swordcoast Adventurers guide but is it actually lore heavy? My campaign is set in Faerun and I am trying to gain a lot of knowledge.
TransmorpherDDS tip +1. I'd say you're better off reading up what interests you on the Wiki than investing in the SCAG. If something really interests you in the wiki and you want to know more, SCAG isn't where you want to go. The wiki is largely well cited, and pretty much all the prior edition game materials cited are available on DriveThru. Not sure about tracking down the novels, I doubt most of them are currently in print (though I'm sure many are available in a used book marketplace) and not sure if WotC supports some sort of Kindle e-reader edition of all that. When it comes down to it, most of the lore of FR is pretty open sourced through fan community. Frankly, it's one of the reasons why I think WotC doesn't really invest a lot of time developing products that provide a deep support of the world.
Another thought, I think you'd get more of an understanding of Faerun via Storm King's Thunder and Tyranny of Dragons than you would SCAG. SCAG gives short shrift to details those two adventures have to go deep into since how the politics/world of Faerun works is sort of important to those adventures.
Bottom line, SCAG is only worth owning if you want to be a completionist and own the entirety of WotC's 5e output. Everything in it is presented better elsewhere through official or community product.
The Legend of Drizzt novels all take place in Faerun (and they come in handy multibook sets)! They might not be the Lore Reference books you're looking for, but they're really good and involve a lot of traveling around to iconic locations across faerun. I've personally never really ran a game in it, but after reading a lot of these novels, I feel like i understand the world a bit more!
One other suggestion besides the Wiki, which I think is the best choice, BUT another option is checking out past publication editions regarding the FR on DMSGuild.
First of all, if you didn’t already know, Faerun is HUGE. Almost all of the official 5e stuff takes place on the Sword Coast, but that is a small portion of Faerun. Probably not even 10%. So yeah, SCAT is handy, and touches on some of the other areas, but if you’re after a book I would look at either the 3.5 or 4E Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting. I find they’re much broader in their coverage. You can find them occasionally secondhand, although you can buy digital copies on dmsguild and drivethru.
One other suggestion besides the Wiki, which I think is the best choice, BUT another option is checking out past publication editions regarding the FR on DMSGuild.
When I said DriveThru earlier, I actually meant DMsGuild, thought they're actually the same (at least in terms of account management). But yes, I'd still encourage browsing the wiki for free and decide from there what you'd want to put money down on to explore further.
Also feel free to ask questions in the Story and Lore section of this board, there's some people on here who have some deep knowledge going back to the original FR boxed set and Moonshae novels.
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Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
Is there a place where I could learn a bunch of lore about Faerun, such as a website or book? I have heard of the Swordcoast Adventurers guide but is it actually lore heavy? My campaign is set in Faerun and I am trying to gain a lot of knowledge.
A New DM up against the World
https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Faerûn
I generally use this wiki whenever looking up stuff that isn't covered in detail in the books I own.
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TransmorpherDDS tip +1. I'd say you're better off reading up what interests you on the Wiki than investing in the SCAG. If something really interests you in the wiki and you want to know more, SCAG isn't where you want to go. The wiki is largely well cited, and pretty much all the prior edition game materials cited are available on DriveThru. Not sure about tracking down the novels, I doubt most of them are currently in print (though I'm sure many are available in a used book marketplace) and not sure if WotC supports some sort of Kindle e-reader edition of all that. When it comes down to it, most of the lore of FR is pretty open sourced through fan community. Frankly, it's one of the reasons why I think WotC doesn't really invest a lot of time developing products that provide a deep support of the world.
Another thought, I think you'd get more of an understanding of Faerun via Storm King's Thunder and Tyranny of Dragons than you would SCAG. SCAG gives short shrift to details those two adventures have to go deep into since how the politics/world of Faerun works is sort of important to those adventures.
Bottom line, SCAG is only worth owning if you want to be a completionist and own the entirety of WotC's 5e output. Everything in it is presented better elsewhere through official or community product.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
The Legend of Drizzt novels all take place in Faerun (and they come in handy multibook sets)! They might not be the Lore Reference books you're looking for, but they're really good and involve a lot of traveling around to iconic locations across faerun. I've personally never really ran a game in it, but after reading a lot of these novels, I feel like i understand the world a bit more!
One other suggestion besides the Wiki, which I think is the best choice, BUT another option is checking out past publication editions regarding the FR on DMSGuild.
DMSGuild.com Forgotten Realms.
First of all, if you didn’t already know, Faerun is HUGE. Almost all of the official 5e stuff takes place on the Sword Coast, but that is a small portion of Faerun. Probably not even 10%.
So yeah, SCAT is handy, and touches on some of the other areas, but if you’re after a book I would look at either the 3.5 or 4E Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting. I find they’re much broader in their coverage. You can find them occasionally secondhand, although you can buy digital copies on dmsguild and drivethru.
The wiki is handy as well. And pretty thorough.
When I said DriveThru earlier, I actually meant DMsGuild, thought they're actually the same (at least in terms of account management). But yes, I'd still encourage browsing the wiki for free and decide from there what you'd want to put money down on to explore further.
Also feel free to ask questions in the Story and Lore section of this board, there's some people on here who have some deep knowledge going back to the original FR boxed set and Moonshae novels.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
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I'd also look to see if you could find a copy of "The Grand History of the Realms". It'll open 1,000 rabbit holes for you. https://www.dmsguild.com/product/51644/Grand-History-of-the-Realms-35
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