| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| John Smith |
Posted - 29 Aug 2010 : 20:05:44
Which areas of the Forgotten Realms most resemble the Sahara Desert? Which resemble the Gobi Desert?
Thanks in advance.... |
| 6 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Markustay |
Posted - 07 Sep 2010 : 17:12:11
Only the northern portion of the Anauroch is cold - the southern portion gets blisteringly hot in the summer months (with temperatures plummeting at night, much like Death Valley). This is why I compared Anauroch to 2 deserts, but in truth it is like 3 - the final, most northern portion is like the Arctic Desert. 
Think Greenland for that final 1/3 of Anauroch.
And yes, the Raurin is also like 3 deserts, with the Plains of Purple Dust most resembling a purplish version of the Arabian desert. The lower half is rocky desert, and the eastern 1/3 (Desert of Desolation) is similar to the Egyptian Theben desert (including the ruins).
Larger deserts like those two are hard to categorize because the are different in various places - I was just giving very broad, sweeping strokes. At the end of the day, all FR deserts are any way the DM wants them to be. |
| Galuf the Dwarf |
Posted - 07 Sep 2010 : 15:36:19
I don't know which desert the Plains of Purple Dust around Mulhorand are supposed to be like. Maybe partly like the Sahara, namely since it's part of the Raurin. Of course, the Plains of Purple Dust are infused with magic AND infested with purple worms, so that's rather unique in itself. |
| EltonJ |
Posted - 07 Sep 2010 : 05:35:45
quote:
Originally posted by John Smith
Thank you Markustay for the info. Very helpful.
I see Anuaroch to be more like the Great Basin Desert, since it's a cold desert (receives much of it's moisture as snow).
There are some books on deserts that you might want to check up on.
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| John Smith |
Posted - 04 Sep 2010 : 18:32:32
Thank you Markustay for the info. Very helpful. |
| Markustay |
Posted - 29 Aug 2010 : 20:40:20
I picture the Raurin being very much like the Sahara. The Quoya would probably be the best analog of the Gobi, and Anauroch is probably like both the Sonoran (southern portion) and the Mohavi deserts (northern part).
The Calim desert would probably be close to the Arabian desert (naturally).
The Stoney Wastes (in Ulgarth) would be similar to the Syrian Desert. |
| Hoondatha |
Posted - 29 Aug 2010 : 20:27:00
What part of the Sahara, or the Gobi? As Lawrence of Arabia proved decades ago, there's more to the desert than just drifting sand dunes. |
