RPG first or Fantasy first?

Minerva · Post by **Minerva** » Wed Jan 17, 2001 5:58 pm

Do you play RPG because you like fantasy and read some books, or read books first then got into RPG?

BG1 & 2 are only RPG I have ever played (it's self-discipline; I love computer games, so I try not to touch them), and haven't read any of those books I saw in other threads. I would love to read them, though. I wonder how about other people.

Malachai · Post by **Malachai** » Wed Jan 17, 2001 6:07 pm

I started reading Fantasy novels when I was 11 years old. D&D then AD&D were a natural progression. Software RPGs are the icing on the cake, though.

------------------
--
"What is best in life? To crush your enemies, see them driven before you and hear the lamentation of their women!"
-Conan the Barbarian

Malachai · Post by **Malachai** » Wed Jan 17, 2001 6:16 pm

I would recommend anything by Michael Moore****. Especially his Eternal Champion series..

Malachai · Post by **Malachai** » Wed Jan 17, 2001 6:22 pm

LOL! The censor engine blocked out the last of the authors name! Allow me to provide a link instead..
[url="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/102-5427408-8558519"]http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/102-5427408-8558519[/url]

Aegis · Post by **Aegis** » Wed Jan 17, 2001 6:22 pm

forgotten Realms, Dragonlance... I read all those too. But, none of them can or will ever compare to the true genius of J.R.R. Tolkien. His "The Hobbit" and "Lord of the Rings" books were the greatest marvels of english lit. and fantasy. He was by far the master of the fantasy genre, and will forever be the master. So, if you enjoy Dragonlance and such, pick up the The Hobbit, or even the LotR's trilogy. It's hard reading at times, but it is worth it.

------------------
Courage is Bravery,
Bravery is Courage,
Children are Flamable

Malachai · Post by **Malachai** » Wed Jan 17, 2001 6:27 pm

Alright, so the link doesn't work either. But this is worth the effort.Suffice to say that the last 4 characters of the authors name rhyme with 'sock'.

I especially liked the Elric and Corum portion of the series.

Minerva · Post by **Minerva** » Wed Jan 17, 2001 6:29 pm

It is strange that I didn't read fantasy books at all during my school days (I was a book worm then). Maybe there are only a few Japanese translation available at the time. Of course, in school, I was busy playing the saxophone in my band most of the time...

Magus · Post by **Magus** » Wed Jan 17, 2001 7:16 pm

I got into fantasy books in the 8th grade, when I read one of McCaffrey's books on Pern. I loved it, and read many of her books. Then I found Dragonlance, and read every book I could find on that. Eventually, I found the Forgotten Realms books. I got into them, and rejoiced when a game came out based on the Forgetten Realms (BGI). I loved BGI, and I got Planescape: Torment, Icewind Dale, and BG2 shortly after they came out. I've become so addicted to RPG's now that any others games hardly hold my interest. Even few RPG's hold up to my expectations it seems; the Final Fantasy series and Bioware Forgotten Realms series composing most of those. BG2 is my favorite game of all time, with Planescape: Torment holding a close second. If Bioware could just integrate the best elements of each...they'd have one awesome game.

------------------
Magus, mighty conjurer, and summoner of vast amounts of words in the Planar Sphere Topic
----And yes, I am magusg, but I got tired of looking at that silly "pick an alternate name" name

Minerva · Post by **Minerva** » Wed Jan 17, 2001 7:34 pm

Is Planescape: Torment set in Forgotten Realms? The one thing I really want is a map of the entire region. I just love maps! And what else do I need...? Well, it's 12.30am here and my brain is half asleep. I should go to bed now. Good Night!

Magus · Post by **Magus** » Wed Jan 17, 2001 7:46 pm

It's set in the Planescape world, which I'm pretty sure is still part of the Forgotten Realms. Toril is the prime material plane, I believe.

------------------
Magus, mighty conjurer, and summoner of vast amounts of words in the Planar Sphere Topic
----And yes, I am magusg, but I got tired of looking at that silly "pick an alternate name" name

TrIp-WiRe · Post by **TrIp-WiRe** » Thu Jan 18, 2001 4:44 am

Forgotten Realms is set in planescape. The prime material plane is just one of the planes of existance in the universe of planescape. Forgotten realms is just one of many prime material planes, others include krynn(dragonlance).......

I would really recommend the following authors to all fantasy fans:
The master - Tolkien - Hobbit and LOTR
Janny Wurts - Empire Series with Feist
Raymond E Feist - Magician and so forth
Fritz Lieber - Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser
Michael Moore**** - Elric of Melniborne
Terry Goodkind - Wizards First Rule
David Gemmel - Waylander and Druss books
Robert Jordaan - Wheel of Time series

Gurt · Post by **Gurt** » Thu Jan 18, 2001 7:16 am

Three words: Tolkien is God.

On top of that, any self respecting fantasy fan HAS to read Terry Pratchett's wonderfully satirical and genre-mocking Discworld series.

As for computer games, if you haven't played Fallout/Fallout 2 buy them now and lock yourself away for 15 days until you finish them. Fallout started the whole RPG revival - if it weren't for that, there'd probably be no BG or BG2

Krom · Post by **Krom** » Thu Jan 18, 2001 7:31 am

Hmm. Seems I'm the only oddball out of the group. I played CRPGs before I read any fantasy books. I can remember playing games such as: Legacy of the Ancients and Might and Magic I on my Commodore 64.

The first "fantasy" novel I read was Magician, and that was after playing Betrayal at Krondor.

Didn't get into any PnP RPGs until my freshman year in college. A friend of mine convinced me to read these books about some kind good dark elf ranger (go figure). Needless to say, I've read just about all the Drizzt books.

And as far as Planescape, to my knowledge, it is it's own separate entity. The Planescape universe is supposed to be universal and can be applied to any gaming world if you go to the "prime". I don't think it matters too much now, because WoC supposedly dumped Planescape from their new 3rd Edition material.

KN · Post by KN » Thu Jan 18, 2001 8:09 am

I started reading fantasy when I was around 11-12 (I am 28 now) because I could not find anyone in my area that would play D&D so reading it was the next best thing. Most of my favorite Authors have already been mentioned above but here is a few others to add to the list.

If your a big thief fan you might want to check out the Greyhawk Gord The Rogue series by Gary Gygax (TSR)

A good read for Tolkien fans is Dennis L. McKiernan's The Iron Tower trilogy

The Belgariad by David Eddings (A good read for you sorcerers)

Barbra Hambly (My favorite is the Darwath trilogy)

------------------
"Four thousand throats may be cut in one night, by a running man."
- Klingon Crewman "Day of the Dove"

Gruntboy · Post by **Gruntboy** » Thu Jan 18, 2001 8:15 am

I remember playing "Eye of the Beholder" on my Amiga donkeys ago, but hadn't a clue what substances the developers were on. I played WFRP (PnP), years ago. Never read any fiction till after that. Then I read a little and left it for a few years before finally getting BG1 and then reading Tolkien (couldn't stand being one of those people who "was going to" read it) and the IWD trilogy.

Since then I got into PnP AD&D and nor can I get off BG2.

Saumerez · Post by **Saumerez** » Thu Jan 18, 2001 8:20 am

Does anyone know the name of the author that wrote the Iron Tower Trilogy or the Silver Call Duoalogy?

Those are excellent.

I tried Tolkien but he was just too pedantic for me. I may try him again someday though.

Gruntboy · Post by **Gruntboy** » Thu Jan 18, 2001 8:27 am

Persevere Saumarez. He's worth it. I thought the songs were a bit fruity at first but then I began to realise that's how people told history in day's of yore. Check out Beowulf. Its fairly... rythmic.

Krom · Post by **Krom** » Thu Jan 18, 2001 8:36 am

I remember Eye of the Beholder. I think that was Forgotten Realms, because the Lord of Waterdeep send you on the mission in the opening sequence (or is that EOTB 3?).

Chrissy · Post by **Chrissy** » Thu Jan 18, 2001 9:20 am

I guess fantasy first... But I started playing Final Fantasy on the SNES of my little brother quite some time ago too... And that still qualifies as RPG right? I never read any of the AD&D related fantasy, just Tolkien, Vance, Feist, Hobb, Pratchett and many others.