1.  Cormyr has been divided into two independent realms.  The northern part consists of the Archclericy of St. Cuthbert, with Arabel as the capital. The Archclericy is ruled by the Archcleric and governed by the Bishops of St. Cuthbert.  Military authority rests with the Lord Protector, a paladin of St. Cuthbert.  The southern part consists of the kingdom of Corymr, with its capital at Suzail.  Royal Cormyr is similar to the Cormyr as described in the FR novels.  It is ruled by King Azoun, with Vangerdahast as Royal Mage.

2.  St. Cuthbert and Iuz are recent (~1200 DR) additions to the Faerunian pantheon.

3.  Elminster and the Harpers are greatly reduced in power.

4.  Most of the "named" characters from the FR novels do not exist.  The emphasis in this campaign is on player-characters, not god-like NPCs.

5.  The "Chosen of Mystra" do not exist, nor does "Spellfire".

6.  The Anauroch Desert is inhabited by the Anubi, a race of humanoids whose culture is derived from ancient Egypt.  In the last hundred years, the Anubi were driven out of their historic capital by a usurper supported by Zhentil Keep.  The True Pharaoh rules in the southern city of Dandaran, while the "False Pharaoh" controls White Palm Oasis.  The situation is modeled after the Hyksos-Egyptian conflict described in the novel The River God).