I was wondering why didn’t you follow a more feudal system with knights, squires, minor and major lords in forgotten realmsOnly a few places in the Realms have a feudal system (Cormyr is one), and in every case they're different from real-world historical.

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) June 16, 2017

Quite deliberate, as I didn't want readers (and later, gamers) to make assumptions based on what they knew of real-world history. Leaves…

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) June 16, 2017

"where the story could go" far more wide open and interesting. (For D&D, makes for better roleplaying.) Several of the Border Kingdoms…

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) June 16, 2017

…have tried full-on feudal, but it hasn't worked out well, because right next door are non-fuedal places and folk can see the benefits.

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) June 16, 2017