Post/Author/DateTime	Post
scrote 01-29-06, 12:27 AM	Hey, I am looking to run an extended 3.5 campaign set in FR for 6-7 players. Party alignment is not really a concern, but I would like to start the players at low levels. I am a fairly inexperienced DM in the 3.5 system (as are the players), and figured running a module would be a nice way to get up to speed. Can anybody recommend a good module to pick up, preferably with a couple of comments as to why it would be suitable? Thanks for your time, -Scrote
Dargoth 01-29-06, 05:36 PM	Hey, I am looking to run an extended 3.5 campaign set in FR for 6-7 players. Party alignment is not really a concern, but I would like to start the players at low levels. I am a fairly inexperienced DM in the 3.5 system (as are the players), and figured running a module would be a nice way to get up to speed. Can anybody recommend a good module to pick up, preferably with a couple of comments as to why it would be suitable? Thanks for your time, -Scrote You are aware that 3ed modules are balanced for 4 players right? So if your going to run 6-7 players your going to have to fiddle with the encounters and make them harder. None of the published FR modules are for 1st level character Sons of Gruumsh 4th level Attack on Myth Drannor 6 City of the Spider Queen 10 Into the Dragons Lair 10 Your best bet is to use something from Dungeon magazine, I suggest Skip Williams Raiders of Galath Roost module in Dungeon 87 which is set in Mistledale
Alac Luin 01-29-06, 06:40 PM	There are also some short adventures you can download for free from wizards. In general, they are not Realms specific, but most can be converted easily enough. http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/oa/20030530b there is one called "Somethings Cooking" a nice little light hearted adventure and can be placed outside any town. It contains a "Calzone Golem", so one must have a sense of humor for this. This thing is a CR3 creature, and can possibly be a TPK for a 1st level party. It can be brought down (to CR 2 abouts) if you remove the Heat (Ex) and Spurt (Ex). Completing the adventure has the plus of possibly giving the party contact to a friendly 9th level wizard.
scrote 01-29-06, 06:47 PM	You are aware that 3ed modules are balanced for 4 players right? So if your going to run 6-7 players your going to have to fiddle with the encounters and make them harder. I wasn't aware of that at all. Shouldn't be too much of a challenge to to up the, well, challenge rating, should it?. Can't I simply use the tool provided in the downloads section on wizards? None of the published FR modules are for 1st level character Wasn't aware of that either. Sons of Gruumsh 4th level Attack on Myth Drannor 6 City of the Spider Queen 10 Into the Dragons Lair 10 Ok, so I eithe start at fourth, or I run the first few levels as a miny adventure before introducing the module. I think I can handle that. Your best bet is to use something from Dungeon magazine, I suggest Skip Williams Raiders of Galath Roost module in Dungeon 87 which is set in Mistledale Thanks for the advice, I'll be following up on some of this during the week. Cheers, -John
Dargoth 01-29-06, 08:45 PM	Which tool are you refering to?
scrote 01-29-06, 08:56 PM	Which tool are you refering to? http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/20010320b WOuld you be able to give me an idea of what level the PC's should expect to be at after completing the "Sons of Gruumsh"? I was thinking that I may be able to follow on to another adventure such as "City of the Spider Queen". Also, how do I go about getting a copy of Dungeon Mag. #87. I can't seem to find it in Australia. Cheers, -John
scrote 01-29-06, 09:15 PM	Coule of other quick questions: Would Shackled City Campaign be worthwhile. I have copies of the 3.5 Players, DMG, and MM. Is there a 3.5 of the FR setting, or do you use 3.0 with the online supplement? Arte there any other books that I should really consider investing in? Cheers, -John
Dargoth 01-29-06, 10:02 PM	Players guide to Faerun updates alot of the FR specfic 3.0 stuff Lost Empires of Faerun updates a number of the 3.0 monsters in monsters of Faerun Sons of Gruumsh is a short module (Its not a 160+ page monster like City of the Spider Queen) PCs can hope for one maybe 2 levels out of it Dungeon is published by PAzio and you can order back issues from pazio.com I havent seen any of the Shackled city stuff so I cant comment
scrote 01-30-06, 12:38 AM	Players guide to Faerun updates alot of the FR specfic 3.0 stuff Lost Empires of Faerun updates a number of the 3.0 monsters in monsters of Faerun Sons of Gruumsh is a short module (Its not a 160+ page monster like City of the Spider Queen) PCs can hope for one maybe 2 levels out of it Dungeon is published by PAzio and you can order back issues from pazio.com I havent seen any of the Shackled city stuff so I cant comment I assume that I can get buy without the Players giude to Faerun...? Saw the Paizo site already, I was sort of hoping that I could get the issue somewhere more local. Oh well. I have read some reviews of Shackled City and it seems to be ok, but I think it is set in Greyhawk. I haven't really played much there (I haven't played D&D for ages), but the campaign seems to pretty much suit everything that I am after (besides the setting). Playing in Greyhawk, would I be able to get by with the module, and my 3.5 books (PG, DM, MM)? Thanks for your time, -John
Dargoth 01-30-06, 12:54 AM	It would be more accurate to say that youve got no other choice then to use the DMG, PHB and MM if you want to play in greyhawk. The setting is no longer supported unlike Eberron and the FR where WOTC still produce books You can run a game in the FR with the 3 core rule books and Forgotten Realms campaign setting
ClobberinTime 01-30-06, 02:05 PM	Dungeon 87 Raiders of Galath's roost, I like alot but I know some people who don't kile it at all. And interestingly, having more players in that one might be a disadvantage, because one the word gets out the keep has been invaded, well you know. Is there an Aussie e-bay? like the Canadian one? gotta figure that if Canada with their slowed to a crawl economy (drip drip, captain she's breaking up we are at .05% adjusted gross growth) and devalued coin merits their own e-bay that Australia would too, especially with the around the world shipping costs and everything. Dungeon 130 has another 1st level FR adventure set in it too. The 1st level adventure in the back of the FRCS isn't terrible, and you could easily up the total number of NPCs.
Imruphel 01-30-06, 09:58 PM	Scrote, You mention that you're a new DM so I would strongly urge you NOT to run City of the Spider Queen. It's very complicated and, frankly, very dull. I know that there are some good DMs who have made it into an exciting mini-campaign but it takes a lot of work. Another suggestion: try running some of the modules from Necromancer Games in this order: Wizard's Amulet (free download from www.necromancergames.com), The Crucible of Freya (change Freya to Chauntea, Mielikki or Selune) and The Tomb of Abysthor. These are well-written adventures for 3E but the 3.5E changes aren't that significant. They have several advantages: you can buy Crucible and Tomb as PDF downloads from www.drivethrurpg.com (as mentioned, Amulet is free) so obtaining copies is both quick and cheap, they can easily be dropped into almost any FR location and they're nice self-contained site-based adventures that are relatively simple to run. All you need to do really is add some FR flavour but that can be the subject of another thread! ;) (snip) gotta figure that if Canada with their slowed to a crawl economy (drip drip, captain she's breaking up we are at .05% adjusted gross growth) and devalued coin merits (snip) That's a cheap shot made even cheaper by three basic facts: (1) Canada isn't bankrupt, (2) Canada has a functioning health system, and (3) Canada isn't a kleptocracy. On these three points alone, Canada is the complete opposite of where you're from. Perhaps you should keep your political opinions out of this forum, at least until you know what you're talking about.
ClobberinTime 01-31-06, 01:11 PM	Scrote, That's a cheap shot made even cheaper by three basic facts: (1) Canada isn't bankrupt, (2) Canada has a functioning health system, and (3) Canada isn't a kleptocracy. On these three points alone, Canada is the complete opposite of where you're from. Perhaps you should keep your political opinions out of this forum, at least until you know what you're talking about. If you read my post I didn't make any value judgements at all, and wouldn't. What I said is just that e-bay is really branching out, and if Canada is big enough for one with the 10th largest economy in the world then certainly Australia is at 16th. I think e-bay's new motto is 'today Canada, tommorrow Lichtenstein' :) It just cracks me up when Canadians fall into this big brother/little brother histrionical thing. Do any of you ever actually visit America, I've been to Canada many times, and its nice, pretty much just like the American Midwest, except slower and the cities are smaller and less ethnically diverse. As to your three points, heck maybe the statistical categories you all use are different than those used in America and Europe, the 'Kleptocracy Meter', and the 'Bankrupterbility' meter or something, who knows. I know you can measure no. 2 though and the difference in life expectancy is .9 years.
sushi bite 02-01-06, 04:08 PM	It would be more accurate to say that youve got no other choice then to use the DMG, PHB and MM if you want to play in greyhawk. The setting is no longer supported unlike Eberron and the FR where WOTC still produce books Uh... That is incorrect. Everything WotC produces is Greyhawk material unless it's specifically for Eberron or FR. Greyhawk is the default setting of the game, and all subsequent published material that is not setting specific is considered to be Greyhawk. All of Wizards new Fantastic Locations are generic, and therefore Greyhawk. Since Greyhawk is the generic setting though, it makes transplanting stuff from it to another setting, like FR, very easy. As to the OP, just download any number of available modules from wizards sight. Heck, even most, if not all, of the supplements have adventures already written in them, usually in the back. Also, DO NOT RUN CITY OF THE SPIDER QUEEN until you are comfortable with DMing. You may start to DM, but realize you do not like it, but your players will expect you to finish the game, and then what for you? You will be in a situation much like going to a boring job, you do it because you have too. That will definitely affect the players.
Drake Farstrider 02-01-06, 06:38 PM	City of the Spider Queen is a good adventure but not Great. I agree that is is not suitable for a new DM or new players. There are a lot of good low level adventures out there, one just has to look. You could even go with the Sunless Citadel from WOTC. I enjoyed playing it with one group and running it for another.