Backdrop: Cormyr - A New Feature of DRAGON.

Dragon Magazine is no longer in print; but it lives on as a monthly eZine published via D&D Insider. While I miss the in-hand tactile feel of the old, high gloss printed magazine, what I'm enjoying about the new DRAGON is the new features they've added. In this month's issue, they've rolled out Backdrops, the first of which is a preview of the 'new' Cormyr as detailed in the upcoming 4th Edition Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting. As a long time player of Dungeons & Dragons, I'm looking forward to giving the new FRCS a good look once it is release.

Plain and simple, the Backdrop: Cormyr article is excellent. It includes a detailed update on the events and history of Cormyr between 1372 D.R. and 1385 D.R. (when the 4th Edition Campaign takes place), a beautiful new map for the region (see inset), a review of the geography, the ruling families, the military, society in general and how 'adventurers' fit into the Cormyr of 1385.

The article also includes some gamespeak related additions, including two new Paragon Paths (the Draeven Marauder for Fighters and The Luckbringer of Tymora for Clerics), a new Heroic Feat (Favor of Tymora), and a new magic ring (Purple Dragon Commander's Ring). So, there's a little bit of something for everyone, and while the number of new game features provided by this article may seem slim - I think that's the point. They are well designed examples of what will come, and we are left wanting more of them. In the full FRCS release next month, we'll get them. In the meantime, you can grab the PDF of this DRAGON article for free here.

You can pre-order the new Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide, 4th Edition here; and help support The Core Mechanic as well! (/wink)

Let me know what your opinions are of this new Dragon feature or about the new FRCS campaign setting in general. Are you looking forward to it? Or, if you already game in FRCS, will your campaign stay in a 3.5 time frame using the updated rules?