The only winning move is not to play... ;)
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The reason for a "non-recommendation" is that they push the entire F2P toolbox too much.
And it starts to get more and more on my nerves.

They have these tools in use:
* rotating "time limited" wild offers, DLC retirement sale (get them before they leave...) => FOMO
* time limited events where you are constantly pushed about all the things that could "help you" or that are super new and shiny => FOMO
* gambling in the form of gear chests (golden) that can be bought foremost with real money => gambling (oh right because you always get some duplicates and such and can buy theoretically with ingame money (gems) it is totally not gambling. But hey once a box is opened lets offer another box and if no box is left hey lets put a link there to the shop to fix that.
* a near bottomless amount of packages, bundles etc. for sometimes up to 60$ a bundle
* all DLC seem to include, aside of the main content (champion/Skin/familiar), several consumable articles so they trigger the "consumables can not be refunded" box.
* all best in slot items (golden) are only available in real money bundles
* ingame banners that tell you about all the current special deals and offers that return even after dismissing them
* frequent new champions that all look super amazing with their new skills and all come without gear again... that is only acquired via the gear chests or if you want the best with real money again and the cycle continues.
* Characters that are currently in event or season will get buffs for completing tasks (and / or spending real money) which cause them to over-perform compared to similarly geared non season / event champions.
* Time-gated progression in form of Trials of Tiamat (once per week), which is needed to add endgame traits and buffs to each individual gear piece of each individual character, these legendary levels make a lot of difference.
* Difficulty of events and constantly feeling pressured to spend money to make it easier ... plot twist most even forking over the 10-20$ will nearly guaranteed not be enough to actually push to the late target levels T3 and T4 e.g. if a new champion is released you will get the first several challenges T1 and usually T2 done with little to no problems. The area goals go up to 1200 for the last challenge but I am convinced I would not be able to beat it, as some restrictions of the adventures are either to severe or I don't own the required champion combo AND their top tier or at least heavily upgraded gear.
* It is potentially possible to spend a ton of money without actually making "meaningful" progress or getting the expected rush of power, due to the vast amount of layers all interacting and to some degree limiting the effectiveness of a single layer.
* the iceberg of content, you get like 600 main adventures + variants (challenges), not counting the 1 adventure and 3 extra challenges per character of which there is now over 100). A big chunk of those ~500 adventures can / need to be completed four times more (once per patron for their meta buffs, unlocks and currency) so if you aim for collection or completion be warned and stay away.

They had recently nerfed the farming of gems (the valuable ingame currency that does not reset and is used to buy gambling boxes, i mean treasure chests and a very limited amount familiars , champions, skins etc.).

They have several meta currencies that need to be farmed and are available only to a limited amount for non real money but very easily in boundless supply for said real money.

The main content loop is to deal with whatever time limited event is currently going on, then if that is dealt with continue to slog through multiple hundred missions that after the first 30+ really lose their appeal, you toggle of the text and quests because a story that would have found place on a coaster is stretched to fit 10-50 little text blobs that try desperately to justify why the characters now need to deal with some random stuff or enemies that don't really fit the theme or area.*until you deactivate it in the settings and never look at it again. Then every 50 areas the stuff repeats some of the current event stuff asks you to go for 1200 areas and each area gets more and more difficult but not more interesting.

I will continue to see how many of the achievements I can still get before I quit for good.

There is currently only a few things that I really like:
* from time to time a charity familiar is released of which the proceeds are donated for the first few weeks
* the artwork and design of lots of characters are cool
* there is a lot going on on their channels with painting, playing P&P and other cool things
* the general idea around the placement, restrictions and making the most of the chars that are available
* "free" chests and even if extremely rare some meaningful additions such as champions and familiars

I have about 200 hours of this on Epic, I enjoy playing, but it is a rough start for new players. I ended up quitting very early on then coming back to it a couple years later and it clicked. For an idle game, the starter experience is anything but, and is probably the time where players are most likely to feel like they have to spend money for a better experience. The game can feel confusing/dense with regular missions then unlocking challenge modes of the mission (called variants), so you're unsure what you're meant to do to progress

The game does have a fair bit of monetisation but you can get by without it. There is a constant rotation of mini events and giveaways of new characters and chests. The developers give away around 10-20 chests every week, along with a better one in the weekly newsletter, there are websites and the main discord that collate the codes. Non-newsletter codes expire after a week

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Review:

Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms, developed by Codename Entertainment, offers players a unique blend of idle gameplay and strategic RPG elements set in the beloved Dungeons & Dragons universe. Assemble a team of iconic heroes, embark on epic quests, and battle hordes of monsters in this addictive and immersive idle adventure.

At its core, Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms is a game about strategic team building and optimization. Players collect a diverse array of champions from the Forgotten Realms universe, each with their own unique abilities and specialties, and deploy them in battles against waves of enemies. With careful planning and strategic positioning, players can unleash devastating combos and unlock powerful upgrades to vanquish even the toughest foes.

One of Idle Champions' greatest strengths is its deep and rewarding progression system. As players progress through the game, they earn gold and other resources that can be used to level up their champions, unlock new abilities, and acquire powerful gear. Additionally, the game features a robust talent tree system that allows players to customize their champions' skills and abilities to suit their playstyle, adding an extra layer of depth and strategy to the gameplay.

Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms' presentation is top-notch, with colorful visuals, charming character designs, and immersive sound design that bring the world of Dungeons & Dragons to life. From lush forests and towering mountains to dark dungeons and ancient ruins, every location is filled with detail and atmosphere, creating a sense of wonder and adventure that draws players deeper into the game's rich lore.

However, Idle Champions is not without its drawbacks. The game's idle gameplay loop may not appeal to everyone, and some players may find themselves craving more active engagement during battles. Additionally, the game's reliance on microtransactions for certain premium content and currency may be off-putting to some players, although it's worth noting that all content can be unlocked through regular gameplay.

Overall, Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms offers a compelling and addictive idle RPG experience that is sure to captivate fans of the genre. With its deep progression system, strategic gameplay, and immersive presentation, Idle Champions provides countless hours of entertainment for players seeking adventure in the Forgotten Realms.