Middle Earth Vs Forgotten Realms

Pippin · 02-04-2002, 05:18 PM

What do you guys think, Middle Earth or Forgotten Realms. I`m not too familiar with the realms but i`m starting with The Dark Elf Trilogy tommorow. Beeing a HUGE tolkien and middle-earth fan I find it very hard that anything can beat Middle-earth. What do YOU say?

Regards Pippin!

Thoran · 02-04-2002, 05:36 PM

Magic plays a much more prominent (overt) role in Forgotten Realms. I like them both... and I think F.R. draws on Middle Earth for some of it's inspiration... even going so far as to steal a character pretty darn close to straight out of the books (Gandalf... I mean Elminster).

F.R. isn't the only series to know a good thing when it sees it though. I've seen Gandalf like sorcerers all over the literary world.

Chris77Se · 02-04-2002, 07:32 PM

From the historic side i find Middle Earth much better, because the history is much more detailed an consistent. Reasons for this are of course that M.E. was created by one person and the F.R. were or are created by a lot of authors. And several "independent" novel series are playing on F.R. which don't have to do anything with the events in other novels, which also do I miss.
However, as gamemaster in PnP games, I like F.R. more then M.E. because you have more freedom in creating your adventures. This you also could have in M.E., but the players know usually more about M.E. and have their expectations.

Tancred · 02-05-2002, 07:38 PM

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Chris77Se:
From the historic side i find Middle Earth much better, because the history is much more detailed an consistent. Reasons for this are of course that M.E. was created by one person and the F.R. were or are created by a lot of authors. And several "independent" novel series are playing on F.R. which don't have to do anything with the events in other novels, which also do I miss.
However, as gamemaster in PnP games, I like F.R. more then M.E. because you have more freedom in creating your adventures. This you also could have in M.E., but the players know usually more about M.E. and have their expectations.<hr></blockquote>

Possibly because the Forgotten Realms were written for a backdrop for D&D games?

Legolas · 02-06-2002, 04:46 PM

Middle-Earth all the way [img]smile.gif[/img]
I'll probably recieve enough rotten fruits and vegetables (plus the occasional egg

) to last a year for saying this so bluntly, but to me the world of the FR is little more than a rip-off.

In defence of the FR, they have grown their own interesting history, mostly thanks to the countless devoted players who've also given it a healthy live, and seem to have some huge differences compared to ME, but it's still a copy-and-paste job in many ways.
It is by no means a bad copy, and I've heard of plenty of people having a good time, I too have enjoyed a few short stays there, but it does not come close to equalling ME.

I suppose it's a matter of taste and your personal experiences with the two worlds though.

Warhammer · 02-07-2002, 06:40 AM

I prefer Barsaive to both Forgotten Realm and Middle-Earth. But then again I like Eathdawn better than D&D and MERP.

GEEK · 02-07-2002, 03:08 PM

I like ME better then FR. I think the history and characters are better in ME. However I think the stories move faster in FR. They both have good and bad points to them, more good then bad.

02-16-2002, 03:15 PM

Hmmm, I've always thought that Forgotten realms was better as it was that much more flexible for the DM, it also has a greater range of environments and characters, and you can use it to create just about any adventure you want to. I haven't actually played any middle earth RPG, but although it has a greater unifying overtone of the great battle against evil, it always seemed so stagnated, like a silent tomb of the imagination compared to the dynamism of the forgotten realms.

[ 02-16-2002: Message edited by: Dramnek_Ulk ]</p>

Akar Kessel · 02-16-2002, 08:45 PM

START WITH THE ICEWIND DALE TRILOGY FIRST!!!

Akar Kessel · 02-16-2002, 08:48 PM

BOth are great in different senses too...

02-05-2002, 07:38 PM	#4
Tancred White Dragon Join Date: April 1, 2001 Location: UK Age: 43 Posts: 1,893	<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Chris77Se: From the historic side i find Middle Earth much better, because the history is much more detailed an consistent. Reasons for this are of course that M.E. was created by one person and the F.R. were or are created by a lot of authors. And several "independent" novel series are playing on F.R. which don't have to do anything with the events in other novels, which also do I miss. However, as gamemaster in PnP games, I like F.R. more then M.E. because you have more freedom in creating your adventures. This you also could have in M.E., but the players know usually more about M.E. and have their expectations.<hr></blockquote> Possibly because the Forgotten Realms were written for a backdrop for D&D games? __________________ \"HELP! I\'ve superglued myself to a flaming bowling ball!\"

02-06-2002, 04:46 PM	#5
Legolas Jack Burton Join Date: March 31, 2001 Location: The zephyr lands beneath the brine. Age: 39 Posts: 5,459	Middle-Earth all the way [img]smile.gif[/img] I'll probably recieve enough rotten fruits and vegetables (plus the occasional egg ) to last a year for saying this so bluntly, but to me the world of the FR is little more than a rip-off. In defence of the FR, they have grown their own interesting history, mostly thanks to the countless devoted players who've also given it a healthy live, and seem to have some huge differences compared to ME, but it's still a copy-and-paste job in many ways. It is by no means a bad copy, and I've heard of plenty of people having a good time, I too have enjoyed a few short stays there, but it does not come close to equalling ME. I suppose it's a matter of taste and your personal experiences with the two worlds though. __________________ Say NO to the Trouser Tyranny!

02-07-2002, 06:40 AM	#6
Warhammer Baaz Draconian Join Date: December 4, 2001 Location: Denmark Age: 51 Posts: 731	I prefer Barsaive to both Forgotten Realm and Middle-Earth. But then again I like Eathdawn better than D&D and MERP. __________________ It was a new day yesterday<br />but it\'s an old day now.<br /><i>Jethro Tull</i><br />

02-16-2002, 08:45 PM	#9
Akar Kessel The Magister Join Date: February 15, 2002 Location: Illinois Posts: 114	START WITH THE ICEWIND DALE TRILOGY FIRST!!! __________________ You seek the sights that only your memory can see.<br /><br /> <img border=\"0\" alt=\"[1druid]\" title=\"\" src=\"graemlins/1druid.gif\" /> <br /><br />The most powerful in Menzoberranzanspend their days watching over their shoulders, defending against the daggers that would find their backs. Their deaths usually come from the front.<br />-Drizzt Do\'Urden

02-16-2002, 08:48 PM	#10
Akar Kessel The Magister Join Date: February 15, 2002 Location: Illinois Posts: 114	BOth are great in different senses too... __________________ You seek the sights that only your memory can see.<br /><br /> <img border=\"0\" alt=\"[1druid]\" title=\"\" src=\"graemlins/1druid.gif\" /> <br /><br />The most powerful in Menzoberranzanspend their days watching over their shoulders, defending against the daggers that would find their backs. Their deaths usually come from the front.<br />-Drizzt Do\'Urden

02-04-2002, 05:18 PM	#1
Pippin Dungeon Master Join Date: November 13, 2001 Location: Norway Posts: 55	What do you guys think, Middle Earth or Forgotten Realms. I`m not too familiar with the realms but i`m starting with The Dark Elf Trilogy tommorow. Beeing a HUGE tolkien and middle-earth fan I find it very hard that anything can beat Middle-earth. What do YOU say? Regards Pippin!

02-04-2002, 05:36 PM	#2
Thoran Galvatron Join Date: January 10, 2002 Location: Upstate NY Age: 56 Posts: 2,109	Magic plays a much more prominent (overt) role in Forgotten Realms. I like them both... and I think F.R. draws on Middle Earth for some of it's inspiration... even going so far as to steal a character pretty darn close to straight out of the books (Gandalf... I mean Elminster). F.R. isn't the only series to know a good thing when it sees it though. I've seen Gandalf like sorcerers all over the literary world.

02-04-2002, 07:32 PM	#3
Chris77Se Zhentarim Guard Join Date: October 10, 2001 Location: Braunschweig, Germany Posts: 335	From the historic side i find Middle Earth much better, because the history is much more detailed an consistent. Reasons for this are of course that M.E. was created by one person and the F.R. were or are created by a lot of authors. And several "independent" novel series are playing on F.R. which don't have to do anything with the events in other novels, which also do I miss. However, as gamemaster in PnP games, I like F.R. more then M.E. because you have more freedom in creating your adventures. This you also could have in M.E., but the players know usually more about M.E. and have their expectations.

02-07-2002, 03:08 PM	#7
GEEK The Magister Join Date: January 31, 2002 Location: USA Posts: 101	I like ME better then FR. I think the history and characters are better in ME. However I think the stories move faster in FR. They both have good and bad points to them, more good then bad.

02-16-2002, 03:15 PM	#8
Dramnek_Ulk Guest Posts: n/a	Hmmm, I've always thought that Forgotten realms was better as it was that much more flexible for the DM, it also has a greater range of environments and characters, and you can use it to create just about any adventure you want to. I haven't actually played any middle earth RPG, but although it has a greater unifying overtone of the great battle against evil, it always seemed so stagnated, like a silent tomb of the imagination compared to the dynamism of the forgotten realms. [ 02-16-2002: Message edited by: Dramnek_Ulk ]</p>

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