I was happily surprised when Wizards of the Coast (WotC) announced the release of two Forgotten Realms sourcebooks for Dungeons & Dragons 2024. Following the release of the new Dungeon Master’s Guide, I was under the impression that the Forgotten Realms had ceded their place to Greyhawk as the official world setting for D&D 2024. However, with the releases of Adventures in Faerûn and Heroes of Faerûn, it looks like the Forgotten Realms still have D&D adventures left to offer.
Adventures in Faerûn is meant for the DM, but if you’re a player, don’t despair: The companion volume, Heroes of Faerûn, is meant for you. Thanks to those two books, you can play characters and enjoy adventures set in Faerûn updated for the 2024 rules.
Two Covers to Choose From
Once again, WotC decided to print this new sourcebook in two different covers. Both covers feature outstanding art. The standard cover shows villain extraordinaire Valindra Shadowmantle (a powerful lich and agent of Szass Tam from Thay) fighting some familiar D&D heroes. They are Minsc (and Boo!) of Baldur’s Gate I and II CRPG fame; Jarlaxle, the Drow mercenary from the Drizzt Do’Urden novels; Vajra Safahr, Waterdeep’s Blackstaff from the 5e adventure, Dragon Heist; and Karlach, the Tiefling barbarian and breakout star of the recent Baldur’s Gate III CRPG. Those same heroes are featured on the cover of Heroes of Faerûn, and I thoroughly enjoy this type of intertextuality from one D&D product to another. The D&D design team seems intent on bringing together legendary figures from every corner of the D&D multiverse.
The alternative cover is a complete departure from the standard cover, not only in terms of art style, but also in content. The captivating scene shows Xanathar (Waterdeep’s underground crime boss) sending his troops into battle. This painting reminds me of Erol Otus’s work on the original D&D Boxed Sets. I don’t know if this is an intentional homage or just my imagination at work, but I love it.
Have fun trying to decide which one of those two awesome covers you want to purchase.
The Return of Old Faces
So many other Forgotten Realms luminaries make an appearance in the book’s pages: Alias from the Curse of the Azure Bond novel (and video game); Hank, Sheila, Bobby and Eric from the Dungeons & Dragons animated series, etc. They may only be named in passing, illustrated or quoted, but if you’re a long-time fan of D&D in all its forms, it’s great to see them all here. I, for one, was inspired by the image of Hank wearing a crown, a pensive look on his face, while some of his friends look on with concern. I’m sure other fans will look at that illustration and feel inspired to write their own adventures based on that image.
Combining Lore and Adventures
When a D&D world setting guidebook is mentioned, it usually conjures up images of a thick manual filled with historical and geopolitical information. But Adventures in Faerûn is something of a first: it’s not just a guide to the various realms of Faerun; it’s also a huge repository of adventures ready for D&D 2024.
There are a lot of adventures to choose from, but their number is not the best thing about these adventures; it’s the fact that they are keyed to a number of 
different things. There are adventures keyed to locations, factions (a very important element of the Forgotten Realms), and to deities of The Realms. Their diversity also means that several of these adventures will likely fit the makeup of any party of adventurers.
The adventures are very short. While some players may miss the longer adventures and campaigns that were the hallmark of 5e D&D, players new to the 2024 rules and other players who have never adventured in The Realms will quickly come to appreciate these shorter adventures. Longer adventures will most likely follow, but in the meantime, this book allows DMs to hit the ground running when launching a new Forgotten Realms campaign.
There is also a longer adventure titled The Lost Library of Lethchauntos that will take player characters from level 1 to level 3.
Getting to Know Key Regions of Faerûn
The book is not an exhaustive atlas of the Forgotten Realms. Like its 5e predecessor, the Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide, it concentrates on the Sword Coast (the Northwest region of the continent), while also providing information on other regions. It offers tantalizing details on several key areas of The Realms that will make you look forward to adventuring there. I was glad to see the Moonshae Isles make it into this book. It’s one of my favorite areas of The Realms; it blends elements of traditional fantasy with other D&D staples. The Dalelands are also described in great detail. So are many other areas. The book provides enough details to adventure in many key areas of Faerûn.
Pointing Readers to More Lore
Adventures in Faerûn refers readers to other books for additional Forgotten Realms lore. Some readers might feel cheated after purchasing a book that does not include details of every known region of that world setting, but Adventures in Faerûn is not a comprehensive atlas of The Realms. This book is meant to help
DMs start adventures in the Forgotten Realms. A complete atlas of the Forgotten Realms could have easily filled the 288 pages of Adventures in Faerûn. And there would have been no room left for anything else.
Instead, the book refers to previous 5e books that include lore (still valid under D&D 2024 rules) on key locations of The Realms. Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus is listed as a good reference for the city of Baldur’s Gate. Waterdeep: Dragon Heist is mentioned as a source of information on that city. The Candlekeep Mysteries adventure is also listed as a reference on the famous library.
The book also points to other, non-TTRPG material as inspiration for the Forgotten Realms, including the Baldur’s Gate III CRPG, the movie Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves and the Drizzt Do’Urden novels by R. A. Salvatore.
Never Get Bored
There is plenty of choice in terms of regions to explore. The Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide, released in 2015, was the last Forgotten Realms sourcebook published by WotC. Adventures in Faerûn is a refreshing new look, updated for D&D 2024. Player characters will be able to venture well beyond the familiar walls of cities like Baldur’s Gate and Waterdeep. There is mysterious Calimshan in the South, and the cold solitude of Icewind Dale in the North. The Underdark also beckons with a ready-to-play introductory adventure.
The book has also revived my interest in exploring Myth Drannor once again, a place not only very important in elven history, but also pivotal to the entire fate of Faerûn. It’s a great adventuring area for player characters of any level.
A Bestiary Worthy of the 2024 Monster Manual
The bestiary may be short, but its content is stellar. Most notable are the cultists of the Dead Three: Bane, Bhaal and Myrkul (three evil gods). Their introduction here goes hand in hand with the new rogue subclass, Scion of the Three, introduced in Heroes of Faerûn. There is also the Dead Three Scion (in many ways, an NPC version of the Scion of the Three subclass) that tops off that group of evil NPCs. I know most DMs won’t be able to wait to introduce these characters into their games. Legendary NPCs are also described, including Manshoon, who ties in very well with the Zentharim Mercenary background and the Zhentarim faction. Valindra Shadowmantle is described in all her D&D 2024 glory. Another lich who may not be as well known as Valindra is also featured: Sammaster, the founder of the Cult of the Dragon.
Ready for Homebrewing
Reading about all these legendary villains, I realize we don’t have to wait for WotC to release the next campaign or adventure book. Between Heroes of Faerûn and Adventures in Faerûn, we have all we need to start adventuring and homebrewing our own campaigns in the Forgotten Realms.
The recently released Dragon Delves anthology can also provide additional material for a homebrewed campaign. Its short adventures, on top of the ones 
provided in Adventures in Faerûn, can definitely add some meat to your homebrewed campaigns. The campaign hooks listed in the new Dungeon Master’s Guide (even though they are set in Greyhawk) can also be modified for a campaign set in Faerûn. These elements are solid foundations to help you write your own extended adventures or campaigns.
A Must-Have for a Forgotten Realms Campaign
Adventures in Faerûn belongs on your D&D 2024 bookshelf. It’s a good introduction to the Forgotten Realms for new DMs, while also being a nice refresher for experienced DMs who want to update their Forgotten Realms games for the D&D 2024 ruleset.
