Lost Empires of Faerun (Forgotten Realms Accessories) (Hardcover)

The first chapter sets out prestige classes, feats and new spells, and the second some rules for creating ruined adventure sites (including random ruin tables), details of worshipping dead gods, and epic magic (includng detailed rules on how to create mythals). All good stuff, but I find it slightly irritating that they always put this stuff in first in the FR supplements before the context in the rest of the book, so for a first-time reader it is slightly confusing. On the plus side, WoTC are now setting out their prestige classes with lots more context (several pages per class) with ideas on how to use them in play, rather than just as a take-it-or-leave-it write-up of half a page. However, you get fewer prestige classes due to each one's greater space requirement.

Most of the remaining chapters set out the various empires, more or less in chronological order. These comprise: the various elven empires which fell in the Crown Wars; the Eastern Empires of Imaskar, Mulhorand, Unther, Raumathar and Narfell; the elven and dwarvish kingdoms around the High Forest; Netheril; the southern Empires of Calimsham and Jhaamdath; Cormanthor; and various (pretty obscure) fallen kingdoms of the Sword Coast. These chapters contain a timeline, a bit more narrative on the historical points, sections on major sites (the main focus of each chapter), and possible adventure hooks. Two of the chpaters also have detailed adventure sites. These chapters are pretty good (a) for setting out some of the (rather complicated) historical details of the setting in a fairly accessible way (again, the ordering is a bit strange, as the timeline comes first and the actual explanation second, which is a bit confusing first time round) and (b) because they have tried hard to make it useful in terms of possible adventure hooks. Also, as I came to the FR setting new in 3E, it is helpful to have these matters (doubtless set out in earlier supplements) summarised and explained (I always did wonder what happened at Myth Drannor, for example). If there is a slight concern, some of the living empires (like Calimshan and Mulhorand) are skimmed over very fast, but for all I know specific regional supplements are planned about them anyway. It also draws quite heavily on other supplements, especially the various monster supplements but also the Epic Level Handbook (I own them, so it's not a problem for me).

The final section sets out monsters. Most are 3.5E updates of mosters in the Monsters of Faerun, although a few are new.

In short, this sets out in a reasonable one-stop source the historical basis for the FR setting. It's not a scintillating read, but it is workman-like and useful. This is particularly the case for a DM planning an FR campaign, given that the wealth of "backstory" for the Forgotten Realms plays such a big part in the setting.