Help, I am a DM. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Help, I am a DM. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Erdin_the_Grey
02-21-06, 11:39 AM I am a long time player of Forgotten Realms, however, recently I have been asked to DM in this world. As a player I prefer the lands of Thay, however, the group wants to play in Waterdeep. What can others of you tell me about Dming in Waterdeep. Where is a good place to start a campaign from and can you run an entire campaign in the city alone? I also have most 3rd edition books for FR, is there a way for me to update these to 3.5 or is this going to be done by Wizards? HELP a player gone to the darkside.
Kuje31
02-21-06, 11:58 AM The Player's Guide to Faerun, and it's web enhancement, updated most of the mechanics that needed to be update for FR material.

Do you have the 3.5e Waterdeep sourcebook? Also I'd recommend the 2e City of Splendors box set. :) There's also many links about Waterdeep found in my FAQ of Links on the FR FAQ board that is at the top of the FR boards list.
loki87
02-21-06, 03:10 PM A great resource for adventures in Waterdeep is the 1e set, City System (http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?cPath=1_294_308&products_id=807&). It contains the most detailed map of the City of Splendors, showing every street and so many of the buildings.
Dolamite
02-21-06, 05:08 PM DMing in Waterdeep is the best. The city is huge and there are more than enough adventure hooks in the sourcebooks to keep a campaign going for many months. Not to mention that you have probably the most famous dungeon directly underneath Waterdeep, The Undermountain. I have been using Waterdeep as a base of operations for my players since the release of the City System boxed set. They love it there and have had many memorable campaigns based there. Don't get me wrong, I do make them aware that there are other places in the Realms to explore but Waterdeep is their favorite. Just one piece of advice for you though. When you run a group in Waterdeep just make sure you bring it to life with descriptions your players will remember. Waterdeep should be THE one city that is anything BUT ordinary. See ye at the Portal!
Thelandrach
02-22-06, 11:02 AM One issue to consider, depending on your DMing style, is that Waterdeep has some really deep pockets. It is a center for trade for the entire continent, it has ties to the Underdark and other planes, and if you extend your view that far, there's a Spelljammer stardock hidden out there somewhere, so it reaches other planets. Some of the most powerful, influential, and wealthy people on the planet live there.

My current campaign is sourced out of Waterdeep, and the next one won't be, because in a city of 250,000 people with a 500,000 gp limit, I have a hard time explaining why some magic items aren't readily available, or why there's nobody available to craft something. If you don't have a problem keeping your players' desires in balance with the campaign, this shouldn't be an issue.
White_Wizard
02-22-06, 11:14 AM I am a long time player of Forgotten Realms, however, recently I have been asked to DM in this world. As a player I prefer the lands of Thay, however, the group wants to play in Waterdeep. What can others of you tell me about Dming in Waterdeep. Where is a good place to start a campaign from and can you run an entire campaign in the city alone? I also have most 3rd edition books for FR, is there a way for me to update these to 3.5 or is this going to be done by Wizards? HELP a player gone to the darkside.
However, yes: running an entire campaign in Waterdeep without leaving it is possible. You can go from 1st level right through epic.
Swiftblade
03-17-06, 04:55 PM I remember back in the day in AD&D when I started with my first character in Waterdeep. You can run the entire encounter there, there is an underground city, there is Undermountain and tons of other things in the city itself that can make an entire campaign last, if you want to eventually run into Thay, remember that the Thayvians are starting to run mercantile magic goods across Faerun, maybe the party gets ripped off, or maybe one gets kidnapped. You can always get back to Thay. remember Magic is everywhere in Faerun, and anything can happen.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Erdin_the_Grey 02-21-06, 11:39 AM	I am a long time player of Forgotten Realms, however, recently I have been asked to DM in this world. As a player I prefer the lands of Thay, however, the group wants to play in Waterdeep. What can others of you tell me about Dming in Waterdeep. Where is a good place to start a campaign from and can you run an entire campaign in the city alone? I also have most 3rd edition books for FR, is there a way for me to update these to 3.5 or is this going to be done by Wizards? HELP a player gone to the darkside.
Kuje31 02-21-06, 11:58 AM	The Player's Guide to Faerun, and it's web enhancement, updated most of the mechanics that needed to be update for FR material. Do you have the 3.5e Waterdeep sourcebook? Also I'd recommend the 2e City of Splendors box set. :) There's also many links about Waterdeep found in my FAQ of Links on the FR FAQ board that is at the top of the FR boards list.
loki87 02-21-06, 03:10 PM	A great resource for adventures in Waterdeep is the 1e set, City System (http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?cPath=1_294_308&products_id=807&). It contains the most detailed map of the City of Splendors, showing every street and so many of the buildings.
Dolamite 02-21-06, 05:08 PM	DMing in Waterdeep is the best. The city is huge and there are more than enough adventure hooks in the sourcebooks to keep a campaign going for many months. Not to mention that you have probably the most famous dungeon directly underneath Waterdeep, The Undermountain. I have been using Waterdeep as a base of operations for my players since the release of the City System boxed set. They love it there and have had many memorable campaigns based there. Don't get me wrong, I do make them aware that there are other places in the Realms to explore but Waterdeep is their favorite. Just one piece of advice for you though. When you run a group in Waterdeep just make sure you bring it to life with descriptions your players will remember. Waterdeep should be THE one city that is anything BUT ordinary. See ye at the Portal!
Thelandrach 02-22-06, 11:02 AM	One issue to consider, depending on your DMing style, is that Waterdeep has some really deep pockets. It is a center for trade for the entire continent, it has ties to the Underdark and other planes, and if you extend your view that far, there's a Spelljammer stardock hidden out there somewhere, so it reaches other planets. Some of the most powerful, influential, and wealthy people on the planet live there. My current campaign is sourced out of Waterdeep, and the next one won't be, because in a city of 250,000 people with a 500,000 gp limit, I have a hard time explaining why some magic items aren't readily available, or why there's nobody available to craft something. If you don't have a problem keeping your players' desires in balance with the campaign, this shouldn't be an issue.
White_Wizard 02-22-06, 11:14 AM	I am a long time player of Forgotten Realms, however, recently I have been asked to DM in this world. As a player I prefer the lands of Thay, however, the group wants to play in Waterdeep. What can others of you tell me about Dming in Waterdeep. Where is a good place to start a campaign from and can you run an entire campaign in the city alone? I also have most 3rd edition books for FR, is there a way for me to update these to 3.5 or is this going to be done by Wizards? HELP a player gone to the darkside. However, yes: running an entire campaign in Waterdeep without leaving it is possible. You can go from 1st level right through epic.
Swiftblade 03-17-06, 04:55 PM	I remember back in the day in AD&D when I started with my first character in Waterdeep. You can run the entire encounter there, there is an underground city, there is Undermountain and tons of other things in the city itself that can make an entire campaign last, if you want to eventually run into Thay, remember that the Thayvians are starting to run mercantile magic goods across Faerun, maybe the party gets ripped off, or maybe one gets kidnapped. You can always get back to Thay. remember Magic is everywhere in Faerun, and anything can happen.