Dungeons & Dragons players have the opportunity to expand their gameplay in Faerûn thanks to the new Forgotten Realms expansions Heroes of Faerûn and Adventurers in Faerûn. The player and DM expansions introduce characters and concepts from modern games like Baldur’s Gate 3, and infuse a new direction for campaigns in the classic setting.
Despite my years playing D&D, I have never played a complete campaign set in Faerûn. There are a few reasons for that, with the primary being that the DMs I played with when I was first getting started had played the setting to death. Faerûn is the setting for the famous Drizzt series, the primary location for dozens of D&D novels, and the main world of BG3. Because of this, the Forgotten Realms is well-known by most long-time fans of the game.
This is why the new Heroes and Adventures expansions for the Forgotten Realms are so important. They introduce a fresh perspective to the location, allowing even the most knowledgeable campaigner to try something new. I am excited to be jumping into Faerûn at the time of these books dropping, as they add an extra level of detail that wouldn’t have been available had we played here sooner.
Heroes of Faerûn Offers Builds For Beloved Characters
Like other specific expansion sets, Heroes of Faerûn offers updated guidelines and rules for the realm. These follow the rulesets introduced in the 2024 Core Set for 5th Edition. I always appreciate it when these expansions include updated breakdowns on races and classes, so players don’t have to have multiple sourcebooks open at one time while setting up a character. This book contains a breakdown of the races you will encounter in Faerûn and how they can best be used in a campaign.
Players will find information from additions like the Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves film, Baldur’s Gate 3 video game, and Legend of Drizzt series by R.A. Salvatore. This includes expanded lore on groups like Harpers, as well as character builds for popular characters like Karlach and Drizzt.
One of the best assets that Heroes of Faerûn provides is the breakdown of the whole realm, as well as the gods of Faerûn. The detailed explanations of locations like the Moonshae Isles and the Sword Coast are fantastic for new players, while adding new context from recent works. The book also recommends other sourcebooks that work well with the expansions, hooking in options like Icewind Dale.
Adventures in Faerûn is a bit bulkier, and for good reason. This is a Forgotten Realms master document for DMs, and provides campaign creators with everything they need to build a rich and exciting story in the popular setting.
Each chapter dives deeply into a specific location in the Forgotten Realms, offering campaigns set in each area, info about the culture, and interesting facts that could come up during a play session.
Sourcebooks Built For New Players
As someone new to the Forgotten Realms, I can’t think of a better way to jump into the classic setting. I’ve always been nervous about tackling iconic locations like Baldur’s Gate and The Dalelands. As a matter of fact, I’ve gone out of my way to avoid the Forgotten Realms, opting for Eberron or Barovia over the overwhelming expanse of this iconic setting.
However, the way that Heroes and Adventures in Faerûn presents the world is digestible, organized, and precise. I love that you don’t need to juggle concepts that apply to the greater world of D&D, allowing you to zone in and focus on learning the Forgotten Realms. It’s perfect for new players, or those like me who have simply remained overwhelmed by the world.
I would love to see similar expansions like these based on other locations, where the rules are pared down, allowing players to truly focus on the area they are building in. Especially as we are introducing and learning the new rules and how they apply to the older 5E content.
Anyone diving into a new campaign in these areas will want to grab these books as supplements to their current sourcebooks. I am particularly excited to try building a College of the Moon Bard. With so many new subclasses, spells, and extra details, players can truly explore the realm in all its glory, with all the expanded details from extra media to act as touchstones.
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