Adventures in Waterdeep - help! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Adventures in Waterdeep - help! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Golden Zealot
10-18-06, 06:26 PM I'm running a solo (for now) campaign set in Waterdeep. The trouble is I'm very new to forgotten realms and I don't know how I'm going to portay this huge city or how to handle a few adventures set there. If anyone has any good maps that would be a big help, as would any advice in general for running a game in Waterdeep and the Realms.
The Heretic
10-18-06, 08:37 PM I would look for the 2E City of Splendors boxed set. It has extensive maps, and one neighborhood is especially detailed with lots of hooks. Its cheap as a PDF, but can be had on e-bay for @ $50
Dargoth
10-19-06, 01:30 AM Theres a fair bit of info out on Waterdeep

Waterdeep and the North
City of Splendors (2ed version)
Ruins of Undermountain 1 and 2 boxsets
City of Splendors (3ed version)
Expedition to Undermountain (Coming out in June 2007)

Theres also a generic source book coming out next month called Cityscape which talks about running a campaign in a city
Amakudari
10-19-06, 05:35 AM My own advice would be to start small. I'm assuming they are 1st level, and have a tie to the city? (grew up there, have relatives or friends they are visiting, etc.)
Create a central point - family villa, tavern, ship, whatever- and flesh out the NPCs they will meet and interact with. Familiar faces will give your campaign a sense of 'reality' and you can inject loads of lore, background and rumours if the players have people they can talk to socially.
Giving the PCs jobs is also a good way to limit their movement around the city (if you don't want to have to prepare on-the-fly) and move them forward with plotlines. Tavern bouncers, members of the city watch, hired guards at the docks, etc.
When you have a detailed base set up, expand into the neighbourhood, then maybe another area of the city. With a campaign like this you do have a lot of bookeeping to do, so make notes of shops and shopkeepers so even tasks such as buying a new backpack can be made to feel significant.
There are many different races and social classes in Waterdeep, and also with it being a busy port they can be from all over the world. Be prepared to roleplay a lot of different personalities.
I would suggest picking up some sourcebooks or Volo's Guides as they have an awful lot of detail in that will show you alot of small touches that make up the realms (even if they are not Waterdeep specific).
I hope that was some help!
MerrikCale
10-21-06, 09:38 AM Not for nothing but the 3e City of Splendors is one of the best FR supplements out there. I would get it if I were you. It will help you immensely.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Golden Zealot 10-18-06, 06:26 PM	I'm running a solo (for now) campaign set in Waterdeep. The trouble is I'm very new to forgotten realms and I don't know how I'm going to portay this huge city or how to handle a few adventures set there. If anyone has any good maps that would be a big help, as would any advice in general for running a game in Waterdeep and the Realms.
The Heretic 10-18-06, 08:37 PM	I would look for the 2E City of Splendors boxed set. It has extensive maps, and one neighborhood is especially detailed with lots of hooks. Its cheap as a PDF, but can be had on e-bay for @ $50
Dargoth 10-19-06, 01:30 AM	Theres a fair bit of info out on Waterdeep Waterdeep and the North City of Splendors (2ed version) Ruins of Undermountain 1 and 2 boxsets City of Splendors (3ed version) Expedition to Undermountain (Coming out in June 2007) Theres also a generic source book coming out next month called Cityscape which talks about running a campaign in a city
Amakudari 10-19-06, 05:35 AM	My own advice would be to start small. I'm assuming they are 1st level, and have a tie to the city? (grew up there, have relatives or friends they are visiting, etc.) Create a central point - family villa, tavern, ship, whatever- and flesh out the NPCs they will meet and interact with. Familiar faces will give your campaign a sense of 'reality' and you can inject loads of lore, background and rumours if the players have people they can talk to socially. Giving the PCs jobs is also a good way to limit their movement around the city (if you don't want to have to prepare on-the-fly) and move them forward with plotlines. Tavern bouncers, members of the city watch, hired guards at the docks, etc. When you have a detailed base set up, expand into the neighbourhood, then maybe another area of the city. With a campaign like this you do have a lot of bookeeping to do, so make notes of shops and shopkeepers so even tasks such as buying a new backpack can be made to feel significant. There are many different races and social classes in Waterdeep, and also with it being a busy port they can be from all over the world. Be prepared to roleplay a lot of different personalities. I would suggest picking up some sourcebooks or Volo's Guides as they have an awful lot of detail in that will show you alot of small touches that make up the realms (even if they are not Waterdeep specific). I hope that was some help!
MerrikCale 10-21-06, 09:38 AM	Not for nothing but the 3e City of Splendors is one of the best FR supplements out there. I would get it if I were you. It will help you immensely.