Forgotten Realms Adventures is a revision of the Forgotten Realms Sourcebook and Cyclopedia material, taking into account the 2nd edition rules and the three years of Forgotten Realms products released up to that time. Among other things, this book cover the deities, secret societies, treasures, specific spells and magic rules of the campaign setting, as well as brief descriptions of the land and cities of the heartlands, with maps. The 154-page hardcover book features a one-page foreword from each of the authors. Jeff Grubb explains that this book introduces the Realms to the second edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, and gives a brief overview of setting's history. Chapter 1 details the changes that have occurred to the Forgotten Realms setting since the publishing of the original Forgotten Realms Campaign Set, after the Time of Troubles - the events of the first three books of The Avatar Series of novels. This chapter describes the changes in character class between first edition and second edition, and how to transition older characters to the newer edition. This chapter also describes physical changes to the Realms, including "dead magic regions", and "wild magic regions". Firearm technology is also introduced to the setting. Chapter 2 details three dozen of the various deities of the Realms, with rules for their priests, and introduces the concept of specialty priests: variants of the cleric with a slightly different set of abilities. The portfolios of 32 deities of the setting are described, along with notes and an illustration for each god's specialty priests, including: Auril, Azuth, Beshaba, Chauntea, Cyric, Deneir, Eldath, Gond, Helm, Ilmater, Lathander, Leira, Lliira, Loviatar, Malar, Mask, Mielikki, Milil, Mystra, Oghma, Selûne, Shar, Silvanus, Sune, Talona, Talos, Tempus, Torm, Tymora, Tyr, Umberlee, and Waukeen. Brief notes are given on nonhuman deities, elemental cults, beast cults, and the cult of Ao. The Dead Three are also described in the same manner as the 32 active deities. Chapter 3 details magic and the changes to magic and mages in the Realms. This chapter presents 81 magic spells which are in general use, including spells bearing the names of notable mages such as Laeral, Khelben, The Simbul, and Elminster. Chapter 4 details several cities of the Heartlands of the Realms, including descriptions of who rules, population figures and major products, armed forces, notable mages, notable churches, notable rogues' and thieves' guilds, equipment shops, adventurers' quarters, important characters, and other important features in town. 24 cities are described, including Arabel, Baldur's Gate, Berdusk, Calaunt, Daerlun, Elturel, Eversult, Hillsfar, Iriaebor, Marsember, Mulmaster, Ordelun, Procampur, Saerlun, Scornubel, Selgaunt, Shadowdale, Suzail, Tantras, Tilverton, Urmlaspyr, Westgate, Yhaunn, and Zhentil Keep. Also included is a page featuring heraldry symbols of various nations, towns, dales, mercenary units, and other organizations, in addition to other symbols shown throughout the text. Chapter 5 details secret societies of the heartlands, including the Harpers, the Zhentarim, and the Red Wizards of Thay. Chapter 6 details a wide variety of different types of treasure that adventuring player characters may discover. Various types of gems, ornamental stones, semi-precious stones, fancy stones, precious stones, gem stones, jewels, hardstones, shells, and art objects are described in detail. Four appendices are also included in the book. Appendix 1, on page 147, is a treasure table for determining random treasure. Appendix 2 is a list of wizard spells by school, Appendix 3 is a list of wizard spells by level, Appendix 4 contains random spell lists; these three appendices compile spells from Forgotten Realms Adventures and the second edition Player's Handbook. Page 154 contains a bibliography of Forgotten Realms products for collectors. This bibliography details all Forgotten Realms products published by TSR up to March 1990. This includes all boxed sets, adventures and accessories, board games, products for the Kara-Tur setting, and novels.
Publication history
Forgotten Realms Adventures was written by Jeff Grubb and Ed Greenwood, with a cover by Clyde Caldwell and interior illustrations by Stephen Fabian, and was published by TSR in 1990 as a 160-page hardcover.
Reception
In 1991 it won the Origins Award for Best Roleplaying Supplement of 1990.
