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"Know that it is far simpler to make the decision than it is to execute in action..." Cormanthyr: Empire of Elves

"Cormanthyr: Empire of Elves" is the second campaign expansion in the Arcane Age series of books for the Forgotten Realms, the first being "Netheril: Empire of Magic." Like the earlier supplement, "Cormanthyr" explores and details a setting lost to the modern Realms period – that of fallen Myth Drannor. Where the "Netheril" was a boxed set with two maps and two books, "Cormanthyr" is a single book with a detachable map in the back.

"For humanity life is change. For elvenkind, life is and ever shall be." Cormanthyr: Empire of Elves

The supplement explores elf history in Faerun in great detail, from more than 25,000 years ago to the period of Myth Drannor at it height (650 D.R). A high ambition but one achieved.

The book explores the lands of Cormanthyr during this period, or what is now Dalelands. However, most of the book is dedicated the great city of Myth Drannor. Later sections of the book also look at the elf noble families, important characters such as the Coronal, the mythal, elf magic and magical items of the land and kingdom. This is all done in about the same amount of pages as the Netheril supplement was given.

"The Tel'Quessir have ever been the pinnacle of civilization." Elminster,from Cormanthyr: Empire of Elves

However, between the two the "Cormanthyr" book is the superior. This is not to say the "Netheril" boxed set is bad, just that the "Cormanthyr" book is better. For one thing, the history paints a better narrative, a more smoothly flowing story. It has a greater sense of how events were interrelated. It also nicely painted a larger scope of history than did the Netheril history. The characters seem to be better filled out as characters and less as sketches of charatures. What this means is that the large-scale story has more empathic appeal. Where when Netheril fell, it merely seemed a shame, when Myth Drannor fell it contained the essence of tragedy. On the same note, the magic between the two is very different. However, here it is less a matter of superiority than widely different flavors.

"So few experienced the city's true wonders, and those of us who remember her do so with biter tears at her fall." Elminster, from Cormanthyr: Empire of Elves

No book is without flaws and "Cormanthyr" has its share as well. At times, the focus of the book seems scattered, and the subject matter the book covers seems to wander. Likewise, the arrangement of some of the material is difficult to follow. This and the scope of the book, meant the book really needed an index. Like the Netheril book there is little information given on how the great old empire interrelated. How did Cormanthyr deal with dwarf Shanatar, or Netheril before the fall and so on. There is little too nothing in this category. Cormyr is scarcely mentioned save in passing. Considering the land was once an elf protectorate that was given to humans (and by the time of Myth Drannor a proper nation) something should have been written. Nor is there but the briefest mention of Sembia.

This is one of the best books published by TSR on the Forgotten Realms in years. It is also a shame that the Arcane Age supplements were dropped.

Style: 5 (Excellent!)

Substance: 5 (Excellent!)

Cormathyr: Empire of Elves
Author: Steven E. Schend and Kevin Melka Category: game Company/Publisher: TSR & WoTC Line: Forgotten Realms Arcane Age Cost: $22.45 Page count: 160 ISBN: 0-7869-0761-4 Playtest Review by R. Sullivan on 06/05/00. Genre tags: Fantasy sponsored by	"Know that it is far simpler to make the decision than it is to execute in action..." Cormanthyr: Empire of Elves "Cormanthyr: Empire of Elves" is the second campaign expansion in the Arcane Age series of books for the Forgotten Realms, the first being "Netheril: Empire of Magic." Like the earlier supplement, "Cormanthyr" explores and details a setting lost to the modern Realms period – that of fallen Myth Drannor. Where the "Netheril" was a boxed set with two maps and two books, "Cormanthyr" is a single book with a detachable map in the back. "For humanity life is change. For elvenkind, life is and ever shall be." Cormanthyr: Empire of Elves The supplement explores elf history in Faerun in great detail, from more than 25,000 years ago to the period of Myth Drannor at it height (650 D.R). A high ambition but one achieved. The book explores the lands of Cormanthyr during this period, or what is now Dalelands. However, most of the book is dedicated the great city of Myth Drannor. Later sections of the book also look at the elf noble families, important characters such as the Coronal, the mythal, elf magic and magical items of the land and kingdom. This is all done in about the same amount of pages as the Netheril supplement was given. "The Tel'Quessir have ever been the pinnacle of civilization." Elminster,from Cormanthyr: Empire of Elves However, between the two the "Cormanthyr" book is the superior. This is not to say the "Netheril" boxed set is bad, just that the "Cormanthyr" book is better. For one thing, the history paints a better narrative, a more smoothly flowing story. It has a greater sense of how events were interrelated. It also nicely painted a larger scope of history than did the Netheril history. The characters seem to be better filled out as characters and less as sketches of charatures. What this means is that the large-scale story has more empathic appeal. Where when Netheril fell, it merely seemed a shame, when Myth Drannor fell it contained the essence of tragedy. On the same note, the magic between the two is very different. However, here it is less a matter of superiority than widely different flavors. "So few experienced the city's true wonders, and those of us who remember her do so with biter tears at her fall." Elminster, from Cormanthyr: Empire of Elves No book is without flaws and "Cormanthyr" has its share as well. At times, the focus of the book seems scattered, and the subject matter the book covers seems to wander. Likewise, the arrangement of some of the material is difficult to follow. This and the scope of the book, meant the book really needed an index. Like the Netheril book there is little information given on how the great old empire interrelated. How did Cormanthyr deal with dwarf Shanatar, or Netheril before the fall and so on. There is little too nothing in this category. Cormyr is scarcely mentioned save in passing. Considering the land was once an elf protectorate that was given to humans (and by the time of Myth Drannor a proper nation) something should have been written. Nor is there but the briefest mention of Sembia. This is one of the best books published by TSR on the Forgotten Realms in years. It is also a shame that the Arcane Age supplements were dropped. Style: 5 (Excellent!) Substance: 5 (Excellent!)

Cormathyr: Empire of Elves