At one point, I actually read comics. Sometime in the late '80's, before I had gotten into gaming proper, I had a run of X-Factor and Solo Avengers. I didn't collect very many, but the ones I had were some of my favorite pieces of literature when I was about nine years old. Within these hallowed tomes, there were mysterious beckonings from another world posing as mundane advertisements for something I didn't really understand. Those old Advanced Dungeons & Dragons advertisements are what initially drew my attention to this wonderful hobby of ours, and one of the first ones I remember are the old ads for the Forgotten Realms.Ah, nostalgia.
Despite all those ads and the very real interest they held for me, I wouldn't actually see anything from Forgotten Realms until I got my hands on Menzoberranzan about 1993. From there, it spiraled out of control for a bit. Even though I had cut my teeth on Greyhawk and Dragonlance, the world of Faerun started to gain momentum within my gaming circle - especially after the very popular Dark Elf Trilogy caught on. So, the trend goes.
The revised Forgotten Realms boxed set (with Elminster on the cover) was my first proper setting for the whole line. It's set after the Time of Troubles, and the "Grey Box" is set before said event. Little did we know this would set the trend for moving the setting forward with each edition...but it's continued into 5th Edition - and Faerun is a much weirder place.
The Time of Troubles was used to explain all the differences between 1st Edition and 2nd Edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. During 3rd Edition, Faerun pretty much had leveled out after this cataclysm and developed into a great campaign setting, one that finally seemed to get its proverbial droppings in the can, but did so by literally reshaping a large portion of the setting. Then...there was 4th Edition.
For the Wargate, the Forgotten Realms is going to be all these things, and possibly more if what Aldrick had to say is even remotely true. Long ago I came to terms with the fact that these settings and games change over time - they have to, for as shared fictional universes they MUST change and grow as all "living" things must. Each setting is it's own theater, and because of how we handle editions here each will have it's own ruleset as well. In the end, this makes for a diverse and rather robust gaming experience.
For myself, I've enjoyed kicking the tires of the 5th Edition and the setting. It's familiar, yet strange at the same time. All the little changes are hard to keep track of. It will be very interesting to see how it all plays out, but one thing's for certain - folks have wanted to go back to the original maps and setting for a long, long time. The original box is often hailed as setting the standard for decades within the industry. Among certain OSR circles, it's the foundation and ultimate expression of what this sort of item should be / contain.
I was not happy that the Forgotten Realms supplanted Greyhawk as the "default" setting, but I suppose I'm a holdout. I'm not really a Drizzt fan, nor am I a fan of Elminster - despite going through a phase or two in High School. I'm more of a Mordenkainen sort of guy. Yet, I do have a lingering and honest fondness for the Realms themselves...and more people know about it them than any kingdoms on the Oerth.
Not to mention - the Realms are rife with wargaming possibilities. From Battlesystem itself and the published modules that incorporate it, to the multitude of other rulesets from innumerable manufacturers. There's plenty of good reason for us to use Hail Caesar!, Frostgrave, Kings of War, Saga, Lion Rampant, and that's not even mentioning D&D Attack Wing or Dungeon Command or Chainmail. This is the part that excites me, and once we upgrade our camera equipment (sorry there hasn't been very many miniatures lately) there will be plenty of photos of shenanigans and other projects.
That's all for now. Thanks for reading, and remember - not every drow miniature that dual wields is Drizzt. In fact - none of them are. None. Zero. Capish?