[3.5] Forgotten Realms

[kamikasei]

Is there a good resource or guide for FR in 3.5? Attempting to use the wiki, I'm continually tripping up over whether this or that detail is something introduced since 4e (even where you can draw a line and say "3.5 material only described events up to this year", retcons may extend their influence into the past).

What is the "present day" considered to be in 3.5 sourcebooks? Neverwinter Nights appears to have been set in 1372 DR, what about other games or books?

[Yora]

The standard reference is the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting, which is set in 1372.
That's also where the timelines in most secondary sourcebooks end.

[Cyclocone]

Will Candlekeep do?

I doubt it has much 4e stuff, since it apparently hasn't gotten any additions since august 2008.
It's got a forum too.

[kamikasei]

Thanks Cyclocone. It does seem to have some 4e stuff, but might be easier to filter out than on the wikia site.

Thanks also Yora; do you know if later sourcebooks were set later, establishing any movement or metaplot, or if the official 3.5 information on the Realms is a snapshot of how things stand in 1372?

[Calmar]

Thanks Cyclocone. It does seem to have some 4e stuff, but might be easier to filter out than on the wikia site.

To me the folks at Candlekeep seem to be less than excited about the changes 4E brought to their campaign setting, so the majority seems to stick to the plots and events of 2nd and 3rd edition.

[Zeta Kai]

Thanks Cyclocone. It does seem to have some 4e stuff, but might be easier to filter out than on the wikia site.

Thanks also Yora; do you know if later sourcebooks were set later, establishing any movement or metaplot, or if the official 3.5 information on the Realms is a snapshot of how things stand in 1372?

The 3.0 Campaign Setting book stated that their aim was to publish books with an evolving plot, set in semi-real time. Every 5 months in real life would represent an advancement of 2 months in the game world. I believe that they stuck to that, IIRC, all the way up to the advent of 4E (which I consider to be a separate universe that uses the FR brand to sell books, like 4E itself).

BTW, WotC has actually left up their 3.5 Forgotten Realms Archive, which is a fabulous resource for pre-4E FR info, some of which was written by Bruce Greenwood exclusively for the site. The lore on the Border Kindoms is the most in-depth you'll find anywhere (but sadly unfinished), & turns that obscure corner of Faerun into a more flesh-out region than the Dalelands, if such a thing can be believed.

[kamikasei]

That'll be very helpful, Zeta Kai, thanks. Can't believe it didn't occur to me.

[Calmar]

(which I consider to be a separate universe that uses the FR brand to sell books, like 4E itself).

Yeah, me to.

[Morty]

BTW, WotC has actually left up their 3.5 Forgotten Realms Archive, which is a fabulous resource for pre-4E FR info, some of which was written by Bruce Greenwood exclusively for the site. The lore on the Border Kindoms is the most in-depth you'll find anywhere (but sadly unfinished), & turns that obscure corner of Faerun into a more flesh-out region than the Dalelands, if such a thing can be believed.

This is some great stuff. I can't belive I haven't found it earlier. It might have come in handy when making that Goblin Beguiler for a FR campaign.

[AslanCross]

The only book I know of that continues the canon timeline past 1372 is Grand History of the Realms, which tells us everything that happens from the beginning to the Spellplague. It's a rather strange book with little to no continuity, but it's a comprehensive resource.

[arguskos]

The only book I know of that continues the canon timeline past 1372 is Grand History of the Realms, which tells us everything that happens from the beginning to the Spellplague. It's a rather strange book with little to no continuity, but it's a comprehensive resource.

It's canon stuff, and includes some veeery big events, such as Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun's death (at some VEEEERY old age). It also fills in what happens in the FR novels, if you don't want to read War of the Spider Queen or the Dracorage series (don't blame you). Good resource.