Legacy of the Realms

Written for 1st Edition D&D, the Forgotten Realms Campaign Set was released in 1987 and affectionately known to this day as the "Grey Box".   Characters like Iaru Theoff, Aaron McClure, and Winslow Crestkeeper were among some of the first characters that would develop the future of the Legacy of the Realms campaign.

The campaign setting was rewritten for 2nd edition D&D and released in 1993 as the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting, but later revised in 1996. 2nd edition advanced the Realms timeline by a decade, and the campaign setting puts the timeline near to the end of 1367 DR. It is set after the cataclysmic events of the Time of Troubles in 1358 DR in which deities were killed, new deities were created and many places in the Realms were altered.   Note: Our campaign sessions weren't logged during this edition despite the many sessions we played.

The third edition of Dungeons & Dragons was launched in 2000. The Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting for 3rd edition D&D was a book rather than a boxed set like the two previous editions. It advanced the timeline to 1372 DR and progressed at a steady rate of approximately one month for every two real-world months that passed, up until early 1376 DR.   Note: The drow, Zaachaeus De’barronn (played by Zack Lorenz), is the first character made for this 3rd Edition campaign.

4th Edition was released in 2008 and launched a new official organized play program, with the Forgotten Realms as the first setting adapted to this edition's rules. Since the campaign timeline was set 100 years from the 3rd Edition campaign, we revised the campaign with new characters we tried to connect to old characters from 1372 DR, unless they can naturally live for more than 100 years. Although the published campaign officially begins in 1486 DR, we chose to start it in 1479 DR.   Note: Legacy of the Realms won Obsidian Portal's 2012 Campaign of the Year while in its 4th Edition setting.

The 5th edition of Dungeons and Dragons was a landmark one for the Forgotten Realms as it featured as the core setting for the entire adventures line up. We were fortunate enough to have had been invited by Wizards of the Coast to playtest "D&D Next" which would become the iteration for 5th Edition D&D. In August of 2014, we continued the Legacy of the Realms set in 1489 DR by playing through [Lost Mines of Phandelver module.   Note: Ghesh Goldscale (5e Fighter: Soldier), Osric Drakespeare (5e Bard: Entertainer), Randal Sunbringer (5e Paladin of Lathander, Acolyte), Xander Wayfinder (Human Fighter, Sailor) were the first characters made under the new system.

The year is 1888 by Dale Reckoning, still the most common calendar in the West. The lands of Faerûn are in the throes of a techno-magical revolution. Ancient arcane lore mixes with cutting edge science, propelling the Realms into a new age: the Age of Æther. Magical factories churn out marvelous wonders and modern conveniences. Mighty locomotives and elegant airships cross nations in hours or days instead of weeks or months. Messages whispered across the æther bind distant lands together. With the spread of technology and education, populist movements topple aristocracies, autocracies, monarchies, and theocracies, even as new moneyed classes – bankers, industrialists, railroad barons, etc. – arise to replace them in positions of power.