Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Aulnil 01-13-06, 04:01 PM	I know it's been briefly glossed over in some source books, but I was wondering if there are any details about what goes on in a mage fair. What I'd really like to know is when have they occurred in the past and where and where and when will they be? Are they annual events? This might be a question for Ed, but if anyone else has a bit of info that'd be great. Aulnil
Araciel 01-13-06, 04:17 PM	magic of faerun goes over the event in detail, with a map of a typical mage fair, npcs, plot ideas, etc....i don't think it has specific history of when and where they took place, but it has all the info needed for running one...i think the idea is they can happen anywhere at any time, be organised by any powerful wizard or wizards, and are generally a GREAT opportunity for roleplaying as well as many other types of encounters! i myself haven't run one but i'm thinking about doing it soon.
Araciel 01-13-06, 04:31 PM	sorry...to edit my last post, i just looked it up in magic of faerun the mage fair is held annually at a place determined by a group of senior wizards, reputedly led by the magister you must cast one spell or otherwise prove the ability to cast arcane spells to enter, and can bring one non-spellcasting guest
Kuje31 01-13-06, 05:30 PM	A short story in Best of Ed Greenwood has a tale of El and Storm visiting a magefair as well. :)
Aulnil 01-13-06, 06:58 PM	Thanks for the source info. I've read over it as well as some old 2e source material, but I guess there's nothing on this senior group of wizards? And, the current Magister doesn't strike me as the type to be an event planner? Kuje, is the Best of Ed in Candle Keep? Thanks again, Aulnil
Kuje31 01-13-06, 07:22 PM	Thanks for the source info. I've read over it as well as some old 2e source material, but I guess there's nothing on this senior group of wizards? And, the current Magister doesn't strike me as the type to be an event planner? Kuje, is the Best of Ed in Candle Keep? Thanks again, Aulnil No, the Best of Ed Greenwood is a short story collection of his short stories from past short story collections, plus with some new short stories. Basically it's a novel of short stories, which has some that have been reprinted and some that are new. It came out..... mid/late of 2005. I'd also check through my Ed files for info on Mage Fairs. I know Ed's discussed them in passing or in detail in the past 2 years.
Tergiver 01-13-06, 07:26 PM	How about making it a smaller, regional magefair? That may give you an easier entry point and make the magefair more relevant to your players. I ran a magefair and it was a lot of fun; I envision them as the Realms equivalent of a convention - the mages don't have to worry about freaking out the mundanes. It's a chance for high-level arcane casters to kick back and show off. Who in your game would be likely to throw the magefair? Are they trying to celebrate something, gain status, prove a point? One person? A group? Who do they hire to be the gatekeepers and bouncers? Next question is - who attends? It's a chance to have some more distant guests mix with some locals that the PCs may know or who don't get out much. In my campaign, Magefairs were under the "Truce of Mystra" and conflict outside of mageduels was forbidden. This kind of 'safe zone' makes it reasonable for evil characters to show up - even a lich needs to socialize, catch up on gossip, and pick up some components. Given that every guest can bring a non-spellcaster, you should be able to get all the PCs into the fair along with nonspellcasting curious VIPs and wheelers and dealers. This is a good chance for the PCs to get some quality time socializing with the powerful, or for someone -else- to start hitting them up for favors. And what better place to recruit adventurers for dangerous tasks? What happens with your players depends a lot on their levels - at low level, they're gawking and may even be a target for daring scammers and sharpers. At mid-level, they may have their own agenda or may get involved in other people's. At some point, they may get approached to help with security, escorting goods, or adjudicating disputes.
Old Sage 01-13-06, 08:08 PM	A short story in Best of Ed Greenwood has a tale of El and Storm visiting a magefair as well. :)"Elminster at the Magefair" is collected in the first volume of the Best of the Realms. ;)
Aulnil 01-15-06, 12:45 PM	"Elminster at the Magefair," eh. I'll have to check that out. Thanks. I was actually just trying to add some flavor to the campaign as well as further flesh out some historical points by chronolizing previous fairs. Appreciate the suggestions and sources. Aulnil