The Forgotten Realms has long been the base setting for Dungeons and Dragons, with much of the fifth edition treating it as the default. Now that the upcoming Dungeons and Dragons 2024 rules revision plans to treat Greyhawk as the default, fans of the Realms will be pleased to hear that it won't be left dormant.
One of D&D's most treasured settings, the Forgotten Realms, is a setting that was created by writer Ed Greenwood around 1967. It was sold to TSR, the company that owned D&D before Wizards of the Coast, in 1986—opening the door to endless adventure modules, magazine articles, and tie-in books. A kitchen-sink setting, the Forgotten Realms appeals to the range of fantasy offered by D&D, and it's been used for many major media projects, including the Drizzt novels, the Baldur's Gate games, the Honor Among Thieves film, and much more.
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The Forgotten Realms Isn't Going Anywhere In D&D 2024
Dungeons and Dragons Reverses Controversial Change on D&D Beyond
Upcoming Forgotten Realms Material Announced At D&D Direct
Two big books were announced for the Realms at D&D Direct, those being guides to the setting—one tailored to players and one tailored to dungeon masters (both poised for late 2025). The player guide will be full of character options: new subclasses, new backgrounds, new spells, and new feats. Players will also be able to join a faction, including both fan-favorites like the Harpers and the Red Wizards of Thay in addition to some new faces.
The book tailored to dungeon masters will not only help DMs build campaigns for the setting, but it will detail many of the Forgotten Realms' locales. The locations detailed will include Baldur's Gate, Icewind Dale, The Dalelands, Moonshae Isles, and Calimshan. Calimshan is within a desert region inspired by the Ottoman Empire, while The Dalelands is a forested land with independent towns and an Elvish mega-dungeon. These two locations have seen the least coverage in D&D 5e, while areas like Baldur's Gate have been extensively documented.
These New Books Are Great, But Could Go Further
There's a lot to like about this announcement, especially considering how popular the Realms are. With it being the setting for Baldur's Gate 3 and the Honor Among Thieves movie, it's the introduction to D&D for many players. Moreover, despite the exposure the Realms saw in the fifth edition, it lacked a proper sourcebook. Outside the brief documentation for many areas in the Storm King's Thunder adventure, the only real sourcebook the setting saw was the Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide. This much-maligned tome only covers a portion of the setting, one already written about in many adventures, and it contains some widely hated character options. New Forgotten Realms guides are definitely high-demand items.
On the other hand, some commentators—such as writer and TTRPG designer Mike Shea—have pointed out the potential redundancy of detailing areas like Icewind Dale and Baldur's Gate. Both of these areas have seen their own dedicated adventures in the last decade, while the latter is the star of AAA megahit Baldur's Gate 3. There are many regions that have seen no coverage in the fifth edition, and fans can only hope that these books pay heed to them.
- Franchise
- Dungeons & Dragons
- Original Release Date
- 1974
- Publisher
- Wizards of the Coast
- Designer
- E. Gary Gygax, Dave Arneson
Created by Gary Gygax, Dungeons & Dragons is a tabletop game in which players craft their own worlds and band together to take on adventures through mysterious realms outlined in companion materials. One of the best role-playing games ever made, it has been adapted into a variety of video games and other media.
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