Magic of Faerûn is an accessory for the fictional Forgotten Realms

Forgotten Realms

The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...

 campaign setting

Campaign setting

A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...

 for the 3rd edition of the Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...

fantasy

Fantasy

Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...

 role-playing game

Role-playing game

A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...

.

Contents

This 192-page book begins with a one-page introduction written from the perspective of the fictional character Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun. Chapter 1: Understanding Magic, on pages 4–11, describes the nature of magic in the Realms, including the deities who most represent magic: Mystryl, Mystra, and Midnight

Mystra (goddess)

Mystra is a fictional goddess in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.She is the Mistress of Magic and Mother of Mysteries who guides the Weave of magic that envelops the world. She tends to the weave constantly, making possible all the...

, Azuth

Azuth

Azuth is a fictional deity in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting of D&D. He is the god of mages. His alignment is lawful neutral. The appearance of Azuth seems to be somewhat indistinct, he often manifests simply as an elderly voice or shimmering blue luminescence.Azuth is known as the god of...

, Savras, Shar, and Velsharoon

Velsharoon

Velsharoon the Archmage of Necromancy, also known as the Vaunted, is a fictional deity of the Forgotten Realms Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting. Velsharoon is the undead demigod of necromancy, necromancers, evil liches, lichdom and undeath...

. This chapter also defines the terminology of magic, and explains the Weave—the barrier and gate between raw magic and the world. Chapter 2: Magic Variants, on pages 12–19, presents several forms of magic beyond the standard type, including elemental magic, elven

Elf (Dungeons & Dragons)

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, elves are a fictional humanoid race that is one of the primary races available for play as player characters. Elves are renowned for their grace and mastery of magic and weapons such as the sword and bow...

 high magic, gem magic, the mageduel, moonfire, rune magic, spellfire

Spellfire (Forgotten Realms)

Spellfire is a rare magical power in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting, based on the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It is highly coveted by many in Faerûn, as it allows the user to absorb spells cast at them, internally convert it to raw magical energy, and then use it in a...

, and spellpools. Chapter 3: Practitioners of Magic, on pages 20–41, gives information in increasing a player character

Player character

A player character or playable character is a character in a video game or role playing game who is controlled or controllable by a player, and is typically a protagonist of the story told in the course of the game. A player character is a persona of the player who controls it. Player characters...

's abilities, including new skills and feats, and ten new prestige classes. Chapter 4: Places of Power, on pages 42–67, describes exotic places to explore, including natural sites (mystic maelstroms, sparks, fey mounds, boomshroom patches, doom pits), magically enhanced sites (crossroads and backroads, mythal

Mythal

In the Forgotten Realms setting in the continent of Faerûn, a mythal is a powerful epic level magical effect.-Description:A mythal is created by a circle of elven High Mages to protect and ward a large area with numerous powerful enchantments...

s), nature venerated (ranger

Ranger (Dungeons & Dragons)

The ranger is one of the standard playable character class in most editions of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. They are protectors of nature, skilled woodsmen, and often live reclusive lives as hermits....

 guilds, druidic

Druid (Dungeons & Dragons)

The druid is a playable character class in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Druids wield nature-themed magic. Prior to 4th edition, they gain divine magic from being at one with nature, or from one of several patron gods of the wild, while in 4th edition, they gain primal magic...

 circles), places of prayer (destinations of pilgrimage, monasteries, shrines, small chapels, rural churches, mid-sized churches, city churches, large or fortified cathedrals), bastions of the arcane (bardic

Bard (Dungeons & Dragons)

The bard is a standard playable character class in many editions of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. The bard class is versatile, capable of combat and of magic . Bards use their artistic talents to induce magical effects...

 colleges, wizard

Wizard (Dungeons & Dragons)

The wizard is one of the standard character class in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. A wizard uses arcane magic, and is considered less effective in melee combat than other classes.-Creative origins:...

's guilds, mage fairs), and the magic item trade (the open market, specialty shops, the black market, trade wizards, antimagic organizations). Chapter 5: Spells, on pages 68–135, contains a spell list for several spellcasting classes, and presents over 130 magic spells. Chapter 6: Magic Items, on pages 136-181, presents hundreds of magic items

Magic item (Dungeons & Dragons)

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, a magic item is any object that has magical powers inherent in it. These may act on their own or be the tools of the character in whose hands they fall into. Magic items have been prevalent in the game in every edition and setting, from the...

, as well as sections on spellbooks, creating magic items, and extraordinary natural items. Chapter 7: Creatures, on pages 182-190, present statistics for six monsters. Lastly, pages 190-191 are an index to the topics in this book.

Publication history

The book was published in 2001, and was written by Sean K. Reynolds

Sean K. Reynolds

Sean K Reynolds is a professional game designer who has worked on and co-written a number of D&D supplements for Wizards of the Coast, as well as material for other companies. He does not put a period after his middle initial.-Background:...

, Duane Maxwell, and Angel Leigh McCoy

Angel Leigh McCoy

Angel Leigh McCoy is a game designer and fiction writer based in Seattle, Washington.-Early life and education:Originally from the Midwest, Angel Leigh McCoy grew up delving into fantasy and horror novels and won her first essay contest in 6th grade...

, with cover art by Justin Sweet and interior art by Carlo Arellano, Ted Beargeon, Carl Critchlow

Carl Critchlow

Carl Critchlow is a British fantasy and science fiction comic illustrator. He is perhaps best known for his character Thrud the Barbarian, which originally appeared in White Dwarf magazine, and for his work for the Lobster Random comics....

, Michael Dubisch, and Brian Snoddy.

External links

• Magic of Faerûn at Google Books