I don't think WoTC published a map of the whole Forgotten Realms. The D&D Starter Set has a map of the Sword Cost portion lmop2.jpg (2648×3625) (dndbeyond.com)
5E diesn't give as much details on demographic or populations in the D&D Starter Set but you can generally find more info in previous FR products or internet.
definitely begin with the sword coast as recommended above. that's what most people think of as forgotten realms anyway. from there you can look up a wiki or find an obsessive map and nibble around the edges. from there maybe look up Ed Greenwood videos and read the backlog of R A Salvatore's drizzt novels
...ooor, save your sanity by purchasing an official adventure and reading at least one or two chapters ahead of whatever session you'll be running that day. seriously, there's no shame in running Waterdeep Dragon Heist or the free Phandelver campaigns before you fully fully grasp the history of everything. gotta start somewhere or you'll never start, right?
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unhappy at the way in which we lost individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
tell them you don't like features disappeared quietly in the night: providefeedback!
Even if you have the history it doesn't cover much after 5th edition comes online. Most of your players probably don't know about the spellplague or Mt. Hotenow erupting or any of the Dales that Elminster dealt with. There are some ok maps from a search if you want the Sha'ar Desolation or Cormyr or Myth Drannor or even the Shining Sea. If you do really want to go all in on your reading, though and maximize your DR capabilities, then the Grand History of the Realms by Brian R James and Ed Greenwood is the way you want to go. I don't remember where I bought my copy, but it has a wealth of lore information if you know the books, at least somewhat. It is 3.5 setting, not that it affects much as it is more lore than crunchy material. Most of it is essentially prehistory and you can find places that have the listing of the years, though why anyone on the Sword Coast cares about Dale Reckoning for years is beyond me as well...
The often forgotten about Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide has allot of information on the Sword Coast and even gives a little information on the neighboring areas as well. Chapter 3 of the Storm King's Thunder adventure also gives quite a bit of info. The two books actually complement each other. Baldur's Gate:Decent into Avernus and Waterdeep: Dragon Heist haveGazetteers on their cities. Tomb of Annihilation has info and maps for Chult, found in the far south of Faerun.
Hi,
I'm relatively new and trying to build up a bit of background (and interactive map for myself). Does any of you have good references to:
1. map of the whole Forgotten Realms updated for 5th edition? Have found older ones but understand things have changed
2. Any indications/sources around sizes of the nations / politics etc for 5th
Thanks
Cor
I don't think WoTC published a map of the whole Forgotten Realms. The D&D Starter Set has a map of the Sword Cost portion lmop2.jpg (2648×3625) (dndbeyond.com)
5E diesn't give as much details on demographic or populations in the D&D Starter Set but you can generally find more info in previous FR products or internet.
definitely begin with the sword coast as recommended above. that's what most people think of as forgotten realms anyway. from there you can look up a wiki or find an obsessive map and nibble around the edges. from there maybe look up Ed Greenwood videos and read the backlog of R A Salvatore's drizzt novels
...ooor, save your sanity by purchasing an official adventure and reading at least one or two chapters ahead of whatever session you'll be running that day. seriously, there's no shame in running Waterdeep Dragon Heist or the free Phandelver campaigns before you fully fully grasp the history of everything. gotta start somewhere or you'll never start, right?
unhappy at the way in which we lost individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
tell them you don't like features disappeared quietly in the night: provide feedback!
Even if you have the history it doesn't cover much after 5th edition comes online. Most of your players probably don't know about the spellplague or Mt. Hotenow erupting or any of the Dales that Elminster dealt with. There are some ok maps from a search if you want the Sha'ar Desolation or Cormyr or Myth Drannor or even the Shining Sea. If you do really want to go all in on your reading, though and maximize your DR capabilities, then the Grand History of the Realms by Brian R James and Ed Greenwood is the way you want to go. I don't remember where I bought my copy, but it has a wealth of lore information if you know the books, at least somewhat. It is 3.5 setting, not that it affects much as it is more lore than crunchy material. Most of it is essentially prehistory and you can find places that have the listing of the years, though why anyone on the Sword Coast cares about Dale Reckoning for years is beyond me as well...
The often forgotten about Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide has allot of information on the Sword Coast and even gives a little information on the neighboring areas as well. Chapter 3 of the Storm King's Thunder adventure also gives quite a bit of info. The two books actually complement each other. Baldur's Gate: Decent into Avernus and Waterdeep: Dragon Heist have Gazetteers on their cities. Tomb of Annihilation has info and maps for Chult, found in the far south of Faerun.
There is an official map of Faerun found on the old D&D WotC site and then there is this Interactive Map of Faerun as well.