Faerun: A High Magic Campaign [Archive] - Wizards Community

Faerun: A High Magic Campaign [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
darkwarlock1114
03-21-05, 08:22 PM Ok, if you've read any of the Forgotten Realms books you know Faerun is abound with magic and magic items. My question is: How do you represent that in your games? Do you role on the treasure tables one level higher than the actual encounter level? At a certain point, do you make sure the PC's get magic items from almost every encounter. My players have read some of the FR books so they will know what to expect....LOTS OF MAGIC ITEMS.
Faraer
03-21-05, 09:09 PM Ah, the magic-heavy nature of the Realms. The Realms has a lot of wizards and magic items by the standards of most fantasy fiction, but no more than is assumed in (any version of) D&D. Ordinary people don't have magic items and don't regularly see magic other than minor priestly blessings. The Realms has a lot of magic, but it's more in the variety of spells, approaches to magic, magical traditions, and historied magic items than in quantity. As Ed has said, The Realms was magic-strong or "high-magic," but not necessarily (except in certain locales, such as Thay or at a MageFair or a nobles' revel in Waterdeep) a-drip with overly-plentiful magic. Spells used commonly as the equivalent of modern-day, real-world courier systems weren't a part of my view of the Realms, for instance.Which books gave your players the impression of the Realms being awash with magical items?
Green Elven Vampire
03-21-05, 11:43 PM It fully depends on what part of Faerun you're playing in.
Aluroon
03-22-05, 06:22 PM I could see the RotAW books giving the impresion of high magic easily...

Aluroon
The Simbul
03-22-05, 07:50 PM Faerun as a "High magic" campaign setting (or rather a high-wizard campaign setting) is represented by the higher die roll to determine the highest level Wizard (1d8 + community modifer instead of 1d4) and Sorcerer (1d6 plus community modifer instead of 1d4) in any given randomly generated community. This further impacts the total number of such characters in the community, since all other "nameless/randomly-generated" NPC's of those classes are extrapolated from the highest level NPC of that class. In turn, this increases the number of actual Wizards and Sorcerers in the campaign setting as a whole, and makes them far more common than in any other equally populated D&D setting.

In addition, powerful mage guilds in cities can offer greater access to magic items by treating the GP limit of that community as one point higher for purposes of buying magic items from the guild (see magic of faerun). Alternatively magic items can also be more easily accessed through the Red Wizard Enclaves (10% discount) or through arcane colleges such as Alustriel's College in Silverymoon, which allows you to create magic items w/o the prerequisite feat for an additional 10% of the items market price (see Silver Marches).

Finally the "high magic" (or once again high-wizard) nature of Faerun is, as you stated, also represented by the vast number of non-standard spells, magic items, and magic oriented prestige classes, feats, and templates which can supplement those in the core rulebooks.
darkwarlock1114
03-22-05, 07:52 PM Yes Aluroon...definitely The Return of the Archwizards. So much magic. I'm sitting with my players handbook trying to figure out how a wizard can cast so many spells. Of course you have wands, but there seems to be no end to the magic.
French_Guy
03-23-05, 01:34 PM Assume your Archwizards to be Epic characters, or have a look to Unearthed Arcana. There is a few hint in here and there to get a powerful wizard casting a lot of spells.
Or alternatively, if you want to put those powerful Archwizards in play, create your own PrC allowing them more casting instead of .... I don't know what. :D
Faraer
03-23-05, 02:30 PM On the one hand, the Archwizards books are a Realms-shaking event involving an exceptional concentration of magical might. On the other hand, Troy Denning novels are not reliable guides to the magic (or character, or...) of the Realms; I've only skimmed those books but I recall too many vague magical bolts rather than specific spells. On the third hand, the Realms does have a tradition of mantle and spell trigger metamagics which has begun to be represented by 3E feats.
Lashan
03-23-05, 02:48 PM I've always played FR as a low or perhaps mid level magic game world. I don't read the novels, so I don't have them to taint my vision of the world. I usually relie on the old grey boxed set.
Bloodtide_the_Red
03-26-05, 08:42 PM Where do you get the 'lots of magic items' idea from? Can't be from Realms books. Just grab the write-up for just about any character. Sure the Epic or near-Epic folks have a lot, but just look at everyone else.

Look at Caladnei, she has a magic sword, a staff, ring-bracers of protection, cloak of displacment,winged boots and a brooch. And she is 15th level, and Royal Mage of a big powerful country. No super items and she sure does not have even close to 20.

Or look at Drizzt. Two scimitars, chain mail, and an Onyx panther is what is listed. Sure, over the years he has got an item or two more...but i'm sure it was never over ten.

BT
warlockco
03-26-05, 10:07 PM Look at Caladnei, she has a magic sword, a staff, ring-bracers of protection, cloak of displacment,winged boots and a brooch. And she is 15th level, and Royal Mage of a big powerful country. No super items and she sure does not have even close to 20.

Or look at Drizzt. Two scimitars, chain mail, and an Onyx panther is what is listed. Sure, over the years he has got an item or two more...but i'm sure it was never over ten.

BT

Those are inaccurate sources. Because NPCs are hosed by the NPC Wealth Limits rule.

Drizzt's magic items are way more powerful than what they got converted over to in 3E.
Icingdeath is at the very least the equal of a Frostbrand.
Twinkle is at least a +4 Keen Defending Scimitar.
numitor
03-26-05, 11:44 PM It is hard not to run a magic rich world where you have place like waterdeep, skullport, and calimsham. Where pc's can purchase hundreds of magical items if they have the cash.

And as for the whole drizzt thing, I do agree, back in second edition he was a much better powerhouse than he is now.
Bloodtide_the_Red
03-27-05, 09:50 PM 1.Drizzt's magic items are way more powerful than what they got converted over to in 3E.

Gets out Hero's Lorebook(2E)-chain mail+4, Scimatar+3Frostbrand, Twinkle a +5 Defender, onyx panther.

No big power changes there.

The point is more that a 15thish level character has four magic items. He does not have tons and tons of them.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Realy, FR's High Magic is overrated. Most it comes because of the high level mages that are around. Think of a 'normal' D&D adventure, you will find a couple magic items per encounter(going by the DMG).

Grab Enemies and Allies-you'll note that every character over 3rd level has a magic item. This is true for most Adventures too.

BT
arrianna
04-01-05, 10:51 AM I run a high magic game, but I think I would anywhere but DarkSun. I like magic, my players like magic, and we use it alot. Most of my PCs are casters. I only have two out of 8 that cannot cast any spells. those 2 have magic wepons, items, and armor, but I try to balance it out by making sure the baddies have the same proportion of magic. It means I often have to doctor NPCs that are published in modules or online, but it's worth it. I have read almost all the novels that have been published in the last 7 years (I'm trying to get the earlier ones), and I was kind of surprised when I looked at their NPC write ups and saw how little they had. Obould is only lvel 9?!?! wtf?!?!
Faraer
04-01-05, 11:45 AM --
darkwarlock1114
04-01-05, 03:55 PM Yeah, I recently purchased the FR: CS and was flipping through the the pages and saw Drizzt and then King Obould. After reading the synopsis on the back of the newest book I was thinking, "And why isn't he dead already?"
Lana "Silvertongue"
04-03-05, 03:09 PM Yeah, I recently purchased the FR: CS and was flipping through the the pages and saw Drizzt and then King Obould. After reading the synopsis on the back of the newest book I was thinking, "And why isn't he dead already?"

Because king obould is really a series of people... more like a title than a actual name... think Pope... It explains why an orc whose lifespan isn't near the time listed for Oboulds reign.
Oluevara
04-03-05, 04:37 PM Because king obould is really a series of people... more like a title than a actual name... think Pope... It explains why an orc whose lifespan isn't near the time listed for Oboulds reign.

I think he was referring to the fact that Obould is a 9th level character while whatshismunchkinface has 16 class levels and, if the novels were all written according to the strict dictates of dice rolls, the whole trilogy could have ended in about four minutes.
darkwarlock1114
04-04-05, 07:42 PM That's exactly what I meant Oluevara.
arrianna
04-06-05, 10:28 AM I've noticed the write ups for most NPCs are pretty chumpy. I mean, Sazz Tam is a force to be reckoned with in the novels, but if you take the strict write up, it doesn't seem so bad, even with the stipulation that he has access to near any non artifact.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
darkwarlock1114 03-21-05, 08:22 PM	Ok, if you've read any of the Forgotten Realms books you know Faerun is abound with magic and magic items. My question is: How do you represent that in your games? Do you role on the treasure tables one level higher than the actual encounter level? At a certain point, do you make sure the PC's get magic items from almost every encounter. My players have read some of the FR books so they will know what to expect....LOTS OF MAGIC ITEMS.
Faraer 03-21-05, 09:09 PM	Ah, the magic-heavy nature of the Realms. The Realms has a lot of wizards and magic items by the standards of most fantasy fiction, but no more than is assumed in (any version of) D&D. Ordinary people don't have magic items and don't regularly see magic other than minor priestly blessings. The Realms has a lot of magic, but it's more in the variety of spells, approaches to magic, magical traditions, and historied magic items than in quantity. As Ed has said, The Realms was magic-strong or "high-magic," but not necessarily (except in certain locales, such as Thay or at a MageFair or a nobles' revel in Waterdeep) a-drip with overly-plentiful magic. Spells used commonly as the equivalent of modern-day, real-world courier systems weren't a part of my view of the Realms, for instance.Which books gave your players the impression of the Realms being awash with magical items?
Green Elven Vampire 03-21-05, 11:43 PM	It fully depends on what part of Faerun you're playing in.
Aluroon 03-22-05, 06:22 PM	I could see the RotAW books giving the impresion of high magic easily... Aluroon
The Simbul 03-22-05, 07:50 PM	Faerun as a "High magic" campaign setting (or rather a high-wizard campaign setting) is represented by the higher die roll to determine the highest level Wizard (1d8 + community modifer instead of 1d4) and Sorcerer (1d6 plus community modifer instead of 1d4) in any given randomly generated community. This further impacts the total number of such characters in the community, since all other "nameless/randomly-generated" NPC's of those classes are extrapolated from the highest level NPC of that class. In turn, this increases the number of actual Wizards and Sorcerers in the campaign setting as a whole, and makes them far more common than in any other equally populated D&D setting. In addition, powerful mage guilds in cities can offer greater access to magic items by treating the GP limit of that community as one point higher for purposes of buying magic items from the guild (see magic of faerun). Alternatively magic items can also be more easily accessed through the Red Wizard Enclaves (10% discount) or through arcane colleges such as Alustriel's College in Silverymoon, which allows you to create magic items w/o the prerequisite feat for an additional 10% of the items market price (see Silver Marches). Finally the "high magic" (or once again high-wizard) nature of Faerun is, as you stated, also represented by the vast number of non-standard spells, magic items, and magic oriented prestige classes, feats, and templates which can supplement those in the core rulebooks.
darkwarlock1114 03-22-05, 07:52 PM	Yes Aluroon...definitely The Return of the Archwizards. So much magic. I'm sitting with my players handbook trying to figure out how a wizard can cast so many spells. Of course you have wands, but there seems to be no end to the magic.
French_Guy 03-23-05, 01:34 PM	Assume your Archwizards to be Epic characters, or have a look to Unearthed Arcana. There is a few hint in here and there to get a powerful wizard casting a lot of spells. Or alternatively, if you want to put those powerful Archwizards in play, create your own PrC allowing them more casting instead of .... I don't know what. :D
Faraer 03-23-05, 02:30 PM	On the one hand, the Archwizards books are a Realms-shaking event involving an exceptional concentration of magical might. On the other hand, Troy Denning novels are not reliable guides to the magic (or character, or...) of the Realms; I've only skimmed those books but I recall too many vague magical bolts rather than specific spells. On the third hand, the Realms does have a tradition of mantle and spell trigger metamagics which has begun to be represented by 3E feats.
Lashan 03-23-05, 02:48 PM	I've always played FR as a low or perhaps mid level magic game world. I don't read the novels, so I don't have them to taint my vision of the world. I usually relie on the old grey boxed set.
Bloodtide_the_Red 03-26-05, 08:42 PM	Where do you get the 'lots of magic items' idea from? Can't be from Realms books. Just grab the write-up for just about any character. Sure the Epic or near-Epic folks have a lot, but just look at everyone else. Look at Caladnei, she has a magic sword, a staff, ring-bracers of protection, cloak of displacment,winged boots and a brooch. And she is 15th level, and Royal Mage of a big powerful country. No super items and she sure does not have even close to 20. Or look at Drizzt. Two scimitars, chain mail, and an Onyx panther is what is listed. Sure, over the years he has got an item or two more...but i'm sure it was never over ten. BT
warlockco 03-26-05, 10:07 PM	Look at Caladnei, she has a magic sword, a staff, ring-bracers of protection, cloak of displacment,winged boots and a brooch. And she is 15th level, and Royal Mage of a big powerful country. No super items and she sure does not have even close to 20. Or look at Drizzt. Two scimitars, chain mail, and an Onyx panther is what is listed. Sure, over the years he has got an item or two more...but i'm sure it was never over ten. BT Those are inaccurate sources. Because NPCs are hosed by the NPC Wealth Limits rule. Drizzt's magic items are way more powerful than what they got converted over to in 3E. Icingdeath is at the very least the equal of a Frostbrand. Twinkle is at least a +4 Keen Defending Scimitar.
numitor 03-26-05, 11:44 PM	It is hard not to run a magic rich world where you have place like waterdeep, skullport, and calimsham. Where pc's can purchase hundreds of magical items if they have the cash. And as for the whole drizzt thing, I do agree, back in second edition he was a much better powerhouse than he is now.
Bloodtide_the_Red 03-27-05, 09:50 PM	1.Drizzt's magic items are way more powerful than what they got converted over to in 3E. Gets out Hero's Lorebook(2E)-chain mail+4, Scimatar+3Frostbrand, Twinkle a +5 Defender, onyx panther. No big power changes there. The point is more that a 15thish level character has four magic items. He does not have tons and tons of them. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Realy, FR's High Magic is overrated. Most it comes because of the high level mages that are around. Think of a 'normal' D&D adventure, you will find a couple magic items per encounter(going by the DMG). Grab Enemies and Allies-you'll note that every character over 3rd level has a magic item. This is true for most Adventures too. BT
arrianna 04-01-05, 10:51 AM	I run a high magic game, but I think I would anywhere but DarkSun. I like magic, my players like magic, and we use it alot. Most of my PCs are casters. I only have two out of 8 that cannot cast any spells. those 2 have magic wepons, items, and armor, but I try to balance it out by making sure the baddies have the same proportion of magic. It means I often have to doctor NPCs that are published in modules or online, but it's worth it. I have read almost all the novels that have been published in the last 7 years (I'm trying to get the earlier ones), and I was kind of surprised when I looked at their NPC write ups and saw how little they had. Obould is only lvel 9?!?! wtf?!?!
Faraer 04-01-05, 11:45 AM	--
darkwarlock1114 04-01-05, 03:55 PM	Yeah, I recently purchased the FR: CS and was flipping through the the pages and saw Drizzt and then King Obould. After reading the synopsis on the back of the newest book I was thinking, "And why isn't he dead already?"
Lana "Silvertongue" 04-03-05, 03:09 PM	Yeah, I recently purchased the FR: CS and was flipping through the the pages and saw Drizzt and then King Obould. After reading the synopsis on the back of the newest book I was thinking, "And why isn't he dead already?" Because king obould is really a series of people... more like a title than a actual name... think Pope... It explains why an orc whose lifespan isn't near the time listed for Oboulds reign.
Oluevara 04-03-05, 04:37 PM	Because king obould is really a series of people... more like a title than a actual name... think Pope... It explains why an orc whose lifespan isn't near the time listed for Oboulds reign. I think he was referring to the fact that Obould is a 9th level character while whatshismunchkinface has 16 class levels and, if the novels were all written according to the strict dictates of dice rolls, the whole trilogy could have ended in about four minutes.
darkwarlock1114 04-04-05, 07:42 PM	That's exactly what I meant Oluevara.
arrianna 04-06-05, 10:28 AM	I've noticed the write ups for most NPCs are pretty chumpy. I mean, Sazz Tam is a force to be reckoned with in the novels, but if you take the strict write up, it doesn't seem so bad, even with the stipulation that he has access to near any non artifact.