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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
 Posted - 20 Sep 2011 : 16:06:45
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Poll Question:
Given the space provided in the 12 poll slots: Which trilogy or series was your favorite for the 2nd edition Realms and why? If yours is not listed please share anyways. 
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Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
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Edited by - Artemas Entreri on 20 Sep 2011 16:20:47
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 20 Sep 2011 : 16:09:26
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| I would have to choose the Icewind Dale Trilogy because it introduced me to the Realms, and because it covered a wide range of the Realms (geographically speaking). |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
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Light
Learned Scribe
Australia
231 Posts |
Posted - 20 Sep 2011 : 16:22:36
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Well let's see. Being quite new to the realms (Well I'm actually a 10 year veteran of the Baldur's Gate game...but that doesn't really count) I am still shoveling my way through the seemingly insurmountable mountain of FR books. Of the 2e/listed books I have read.....The Dark Elf Trilogy, Icewind Dale Trilogy and Legacy of the Drow. Yeah, it's not looking too good. I think I might be a bit...I'm not sure...biased? Anyway so out of these three I would say that my favorite is, without a doubt, the Dark Elf Trilogy.
Why you ask? Because of the drow politics and the mood it created. I felt like I was truly deep in a city of malevolence. And no! I do not like it for its battle choreography! As far as I'm concerned Salvatore is one of the poorest at doing this that I have ever read. Though I admit it's not like I go out of my way to find atrociously written books but I still stand by what I say. |
"A true warrior needs no sword" - Thors (Vinland Saga) |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 20 Sep 2011 : 16:27:26
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quote:
Originally posted by Light
Well let's see. Being quite new to the realms (Well I'm actually a 10 year veteran of the Baldur's Gate game...but that doesn't really count) I am still shoveling my way through the seemingly insurmountable mountain of FR books. Of the 2e/listed books I have read.....The Dark Elf Trilogy, Icewind Dale Trilogy and Legacy of the Drow. Yeah, it's not looking too good. I think I might be a bit...I'm not sure...biased? Anyway so out of these three I would say that my favorite is, without a doubt, the Dark Elf Trilogy.
Why you ask? Because of the drow politics and the mood it created. I felt like I was truly deep in a city of malevolence. And no! I do not like it for its battle choreography! As far as I'm concerned Salvatore is one of the poorest at doing this that I have ever read. Though I admit it's not like I go out of my way to find atrociously written books but I still stand by what I say.
I also enjoyed the drow politics of Menzoberanzzzzzzzzzzzan. The idea of a female dominated city of chaotic evil elves was unique and very intriguing |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
Amazon "KindleUnlimited" Free Trial: http://amzn.to/2AJ4yD2
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 20 Sep 2011 : 16:33:18
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There should be a "None" option. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 20 Sep 2011 : 16:35:36
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quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
There should be a "None" option.
I did consider this as well, and one could always do the same poll for 3rd and 4th edition too.  |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
Amazon "KindleUnlimited" Free Trial: http://amzn.to/2AJ4yD2
Try Audible and Get 2 Free Audio Books! https://amzn.to/2IgBede |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36779 Posts |
Posted - 20 Sep 2011 : 16:54:11
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Of the series listed, I had to pick the Finder's Stone. Small scale, no RSEs, memorable characters, good stories, and a feel for the Realms matched by few other authors.
I might have gone for the Harpers books, because some of them, like Elaine's books, Ring of Winter, or Masquerade, I really loved. But there were others that I thoroughly failed to enjoy. |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31701 Posts |
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Seravin
Master of Realmslore
Canada
1265 Posts |
Posted - 20 Sep 2011 : 16:59:11
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This is too hard a choice. I can't decide! I could only say which ones I didn't like. Of a series, some books are very fun great reads that evoke my first ever gold box Game (Pool of Radiance) while others are horrible (Pools of Darkness).
Too many amazing books to pick the best. |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 20 Sep 2011 : 17:16:37
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I enjoyed some in the Harpers series. However, some gave me headache, though not as severely as The Avatar and Pools trilogies. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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GRYPHON
Senior Scribe
USA
527 Posts |
Posted - 20 Sep 2011 : 22:22:44
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| Avatar series... |
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skychrome
Senior Scribe
713 Posts |
Posted - 21 Sep 2011 : 01:40:09
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From the Avatars series I liked precisely the books which were not part of the series: book 4 and 5. The series itself was not to my liking in writing style.
Even though I still have to read Song of the Saurials, my vote goes to Finder's Stone. Realms at its best, even though I liked Elaine's books even better. |
"You make an intriguing offer, one that is very tempting. It would seem that I have little alternative than to answer thusly: DISINTEGRATE!" Vaarsuvius, Order of the Stick 625 |
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Alisttair
Great Reader
Canada
3054 Posts |
Posted - 22 Sep 2011 : 22:53:46
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| It was too hard to pick just one, so I decided to go with the Avatar Trilogy for now. |
Karsite Arcanar (Most Holy Servant of Karsus)
Anauria - Survivor State of Netheril as penned by me:
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rhune
Acolyte
11 Posts |
Posted - 23 Sep 2011 : 09:31:26
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| Had to go with the Harper series, though I missed out on a few of the books (Red Magic and The Ring of Winter.) |
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Azuth
Senior Scribe
USA
404 Posts |
Posted - 13 Oct 2011 : 01:36:15
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The Avatar Series (all five books) really give perspective to the Realms and how the Pantheon is involved. This, in my opinion, is what sets the Realms apart from other campaign settings. Ed's frequent comments on how he envisions people paying homage/tribute to multiple deities isn't well reflected herein, but at least the changes from 1E to 2E are explained! I found Price of Lies to be one of the best in the series, and Jim Lowder to be a great author. I was not unhappy with any of the other series listed, and Bob Salvatore has a flair for writing, especially in the 2E/3E world. The Cleric Quintet was a fantastic series, too! I could go on, but again - nothing bad on the list.
Azuth |
Azuth, the First Magister
Lord of All Spells
The greatest expression of creativity is through Art.
Offense can never be given, only taken. |
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Nilus Reynard
Learned Scribe
Canada
137 Posts |
Posted - 13 Oct 2011 : 04:18:21
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| The Moonshaes Trilogy for me. The reason is because they were the first Realms novels that I ever read, they were the "magic" that attracted me to the setting. The Harpers series & the Cormyr Saga would be my next favorites. |
Nilus Reynard
Doom Master of Beshaba, Hand of Despair.
P24 Hm CN
(2nd Edition AD&D) |
Edited by - Nilus Reynard on 13 Oct 2011 04:18:43 |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7968 Posts |
Posted - 13 Oct 2011 : 05:45:58
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| The Moonshae trilogy was a bit of an oddity, not originally written for the Realms, just revised and shoehorned into the setting. That's probably why it used (previously unheard of) moonwells, Earth Goddess (and her living toys), and had some confusion between Malar, Bane, Bhaal, and Talos. I've always suspected that the Moonshae islands didn't exist on Realms maps prior to the novels, at least not beyond name. Remember that the canon-published Realms was a much smaller world at the time, even the North was still considered something of an exotic faraway frontier land. |
[/Ayrik] |
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Nilus Reynard
Learned Scribe
Canada
137 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2011 : 01:12:08
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| Either way, it is still my favorite trilogy to date. |
Nilus Reynard
Doom Master of Beshaba, Hand of Despair.
P24 Hm CN
(2nd Edition AD&D) |
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Mantis
Acolyte
USA
25 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2011 : 10:52:15
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| I had to go with Dark elf, The politics, the worship of Lolth, the power struggle bewtween houses, the story of a small character trying to change his place gotta love it! |
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Marc
Senior Scribe
657 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2011 : 11:35:22
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| Finder's Stone I think, as far as I remember they were the most fun. How I imagine typical Realms PC's. |
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Thelonius
Senior Scribe
Spain
730 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2011 : 12:09:53
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| I haven't read all of 'em, but of the ones posted I've read I think I'd go for the Finder's Stone trilogy. |
"If you are to truly understand, then you will need the contrast, not adherence to a single ideal." - Kreia
"I THINK I JUST HAD ANOTHER NEAR-RINCEWIND EXPERIENCE"- Discworld's Death frustrated after Rincewind scapes his grasp... again.
"I am death, come for thee" - Nimbul, from Baldur's Gate I just before being badly spanked
Sapientia sola libertas est |
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Farrel
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
239 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2011 : 13:31:59
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I can't decide between The Finder's Stone and Song and Swords.
I loved Kate Nowak's and Jeff Grubb's collaboration as it was the first Realms books that I read.
Elaine's superb characterisation's in her series have always been my aim in the games that I run, the banter between Arilyn and Danilo always made me chuckle.
Can't decide... didn't vote 
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2011 : 14:51:26
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quote:
Originally posted by Farrel
I can't decide between The Finder's Stone and Song and Swords.
I loved Kate Nowak's and Jeff Grubb's collaboration as it was the first Realms books that I read.
Elaine's superb characterisation's in her series have always been my aim in the games that I run, the banter between Arilyn and Danilo always made me chuckle.
Can't decide... didn't vote
I did enjoy the Finder's Stone books, even though bards tend to annoy me. |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
Amazon "KindleUnlimited" Free Trial: http://amzn.to/2AJ4yD2
Try Audible and Get 2 Free Audio Books! https://amzn.to/2IgBede |
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Azuth
Senior Scribe
USA
404 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2011 : 19:06:01
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I don't want to sound like a hater, but I was pretty disappointed with the Maztica trilogy. I think Doug Cook wrote it, but I'm also pretty sure he was told "we need to tell the story of the Spanish taking over Mexico" and that the characters kind of lacked the depth of other setting additions. I wasn't sad to see it disappear in 4E, so there's a plus for 4E! Lolth versus Helm was also kind of weird...but that's a whole different issue. Anyway, the Maztican gods were never present in any of the Avatar Series (even the later ones long after the campaign had been published) so I feel that the Maztica series is kind of an outlier in this set.
Azuth |
Azuth, the First Magister
Lord of All Spells
The greatest expression of creativity is through Art.
Offense can never be given, only taken. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36779 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2011 : 19:57:22
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quote:
Originally posted by Azuth
I don't want to sound like a hater, but I was pretty disappointed with the Maztica trilogy. I think Doug Cook wrote it, but I'm also pretty sure he was told "we need to tell the story of the Spanish taking over Mexico" and that the characters kind of lacked the depth of other setting additions. I wasn't sad to see it disappear in 4E, so there's a plus for 4E! Lolth versus Helm was also kind of weird...but that's a whole different issue. Anyway, the Maztican gods were never present in any of the Avatar Series (even the later ones long after the campaign had been published) so I feel that the Maztica series is kind of an outlier in this set.
Azuth
Douglas Niles, not Doug Cook |
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Apex
Learned Scribe
USA
229 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2011 : 20:11:48
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My favorites were either the Moonshae Trilogy or the Cleric Quintet.
The Moonshae Trilogy were the first Realms novels I read and I love how they are written almost in an adventure type format. I also like how Niles makes the Moonshaes really come alive in them without (for the most part) the involvement of super-characters.
For the Cleric Quintet, Salvatore kept it regional in nature and focused on an area with scant other information. And while at the end of the series it may have gotten a little over the top, the first 3 books alone were fantastic and could fit into any campaign in the Realms. |
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Therise
Master of Realmslore
1272 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2011 : 20:19:07
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quote:
Originally posted by Azuth
I don't want to sound like a hater, but I was pretty disappointed with the Maztica trilogy. I think Doug Cook wrote it, but I'm also pretty sure he was told "we need to tell the story of the Spanish taking over Mexico" and that the characters kind of lacked the depth of other setting additions. I wasn't sad to see it disappear in 4E, so there's a plus for 4E! Lolth versus Helm was also kind of weird...but that's a whole different issue. Anyway, the Maztican gods were never present in any of the Avatar Series (even the later ones long after the campaign had been published) so I feel that the Maztica series is kind of an outlier in this set.
Azuth
When something is completely replaced, I like to ask "is the replacement better? Does it add more, and does it improve over the thing that's now gone?"
In the case of Maztica, I think the new replacement is actually worse than what we had. Not that I loved Maztica or anything, it wasn't something I ever really used. But they did have a semi-interesting thing going on with the Aztec-like native people there. And way, way better than dragonborn. Heh!
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Female, 40-year DM of a homebrew-evolved 1E Realms, including a few added tidbits of 2E and 3E lore; played originally in AD&D, then in Rolemaster. Be a DM for your kids and grandkids, gaming is excellent for families! |
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Azuth
Senior Scribe
USA
404 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2011 : 23:37:55
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quote:
Originally posted by Therise
When something is completely replaced, I like to ask "is the replacement better? Does it add more, and does it improve over the thing that's now gone?"
In the case of Maztica, I think the new replacement is actually worse than what we had. Not that I loved Maztica or anything, it wasn't something I ever really used. But they did have a semi-interesting thing going on with the Aztec-like native people there. And way, way better than dragonborn. Heh!
In that, we are entirely in agreement!
Azuth |
Azuth, the First Magister
Lord of All Spells
The greatest expression of creativity is through Art.
Offense can never be given, only taken. |
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Azuth
Senior Scribe
USA
404 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2011 : 23:39:18
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Douglas Niles, not Doug Cook
I stand corrected, and thank you, Wooly.
Azuth
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Azuth, the First Magister
Lord of All Spells
The greatest expression of creativity is through Art.
Offense can never be given, only taken. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36779 Posts |
Posted - 15 Oct 2011 : 05:17:12
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I had no interest in Maztica, myself... But I objected to its replacement simply on the grounds that it was an established part of the Realms, and as such, shouldn't be conveniently written out of canon.
I've never read the Maztica trilogy, because I didn't really care for the Moonshae trilogy -- it was one of those ones I couldn't wait to finish, simply so I could move on to something else. On the other hand, I rather enjoyed the Druidhome trilogy -- though not enough to put it on a list of faves. |
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Therise
Master of Realmslore
1272 Posts |
Posted - 15 Oct 2011 : 05:25:50
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When I first read about Abeir and the dragonborn, I just kept thinking "this is really embarrassing, and dopey. Scaly but mammals? Come on, they can't be serious! How can they think this is good?"
And several years later, I still think it was a really awful replacement, just way too cartoony for the Realms. What I've been told is that "this is no longer the 'Age of Humanity' in the Realms" and I think that's unfortunately true. The influx of tieflings, dragonborn, earthmotes, it all just pulls away from realism and pushes toward a very different kind of fantasy. Not to my tastes at all.
I'd much rather have Maztica and pseudo-Aztecs farming their corn and coffee.
In fact, I think I'll add the Maztica trilogy to my reading list. It's fortunate, really, that there's still a TON of old Realms things that I haven't yet had the pleasure of reading or experiencing, and I've been around a long time.
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Female, 40-year DM of a homebrew-evolved 1E Realms, including a few added tidbits of 2E and 3E lore; played originally in AD&D, then in Rolemaster. Be a DM for your kids and grandkids, gaming is excellent for families! |
Edited by - Therise on 15 Oct 2011 05:27:35 |
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Best 2nd Ed Realms Trilogy/Series
