YMMV / The Hordelands

• They Wasted a Perfectly Good Plot:
  • One criticism is the insistence on the setting to be the recreation of Mongol Empire rather than trying to adapt to more fantastic side, which many found it odd due to Ethengar from Mystara essentially having a more fantastic take on it despite being done at the same time.
  • Furthermore, while the entire event was promoted to bridge Kara-Tur and Faerun, both regions remained isolated in terms of interaction—even the adventure module trilogy (Storm Riders, Black Courser, and Blood Charge) had its adventure hooks focus on Faerun-originated party with little to no guides for those running with either Kara-Tur or multi-national party—with the entire crisis essentially ended by the Faerunian military.
• What Do You Mean, It's Not Political?: As stated in this Let's Read TSR review, due to the Hordelands setting and tie-in novels being created throughout the Gulf War, which Cormyr-led coalition of Faerunian cultures' resounding victory against the Tuigan horde at the final entries—both the campaign book and last novel of the trilogy—may have been a reflection of American-led Coalition Forces' overwhelming victory against Iraqi Forces in Kuwait.