New to the realms and needing help. [Archive] - Wizards Community

New to the realms and needing help. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
SOPI
03-25-06, 12:02 PM I just got the FR Campaign Setting for Christmas (which was a while back, but I've not used it yet). Now I plan to run a game in the Realms and I'm wondering where to start.
In Eberron (which I also own), it's easy to start in Sharn with some sort of murder or assignment for the PCs, but in Faerun, I don't know where to start or what to start with.
:help:
Chancer
03-25-06, 12:19 PM I would recommend the Dalelands think of it like the Shire in LOTR it is a agricultural center but there are cool ruins in close proximity.

I set my campaigns in the Sword Coast North and Silver Marches, because I like the harsh climate, moster infestation and unsteady alliances.

I've also done campaigns in the western heartlands which offer you plenty of open space to play with and can act as a great starting place to a globe trotting campaign (ships and trde routes come through all the time)

The moonsea is great if you want to play a realy evil campaign or maybe a campaign where the heroes are always out numbered.
Lord Karsus
03-26-06, 01:13 AM -Well, that's the beauty of the Forgotten Realms. You can start just about anywhere you want. Here's what I suggest- it's helpful.

-Firstly, get a general idea of what kind of characters the players in your group are going to play. Are they going to want to play a group of middle aged Human mercenaries? Are they going to want to play as members of a Halfling trading caravan? Are they going to want to be a group of Cult of the Dragon members, running around looking for Dragons?

-Once you get a general idea, browse through the FRCS for a setting that fits what you have in mind for the group. If you want to get them involved in Piracy, why not try the Sea of Fallen Stars. If you want them to be outcast Barbarian tribesmen, then the North is a good bet.

-One you know the characters, and where you want to begin, then read about the surrounding areas, and some of the groups and people that inhabit the lands that you are going to play in. Once this is done, everything should come together.

-On a side note, since this is going to be your first FR campaign, I suggest buying, borrowing or whatevering the following sourcebooks:

Faiths & Pantheons: Describes the Deities of Faerūn
Player's Guide to Faerūn: Updates a lot of the existing FR lore into 3.5e, plus throws in a bunch of new goodies.
Races of Faerūn: Expands greatly upon the PC races found in the FRCS, plus throws a few more in.

-Have fun!
Tseramed
03-26-06, 07:20 PM I've had the same problem as you a couple of months ago when I started DMing my first FR game. I had played before quite a lot and played a couple of times in the Dalelands. They are an awesome place to start with lots and lots of information ( especialy Shadowdale). There are a lot of places to explore around and if you are looking for enemies, you will certainly find them ( Zhentarim etc...).

I started my campaign in Cormyr after the war against the Horde. But that is just me. I wanted to have a start with a standard classic Medieval Feeling to it for my New Players and wanted to restrict them a bit with Cormyr's laws as I didn't know what many of them were like in a game session... :rolleyes:

As Karsus said, be aware of your PC and check out what kind of game you want to play.
High Intrigue = Waterdeep,
Eastern Egyptian feeling = Mulhorand,
Want to go Crazy with technology? = Lantan home of crazy Gnomish inventors
Want to get in land owning? = Western Heartlands and Silver Marches are quite good for that.

You see, as it was said, a lot of places can be used for the start of a campaign. Of course, during the game you may want to change a little bit... Make a great expedition for exemple: From Suzail to Waterdeep to deliver a message and use that excuse to set the campaign in a new environment.

Hope this helps a bit...
AW71
03-30-06, 07:02 PM I set my campaigns in the Sword Coast North and Silver Marches, because I like the harsh climate, moster infestation and unsteady alliances.

That's exactly the reason I like to play in that area. There's always something going on, and you can easily drop whatever you want there.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
SOPI 03-25-06, 12:02 PM	I just got the FR Campaign Setting for Christmas (which was a while back, but I've not used it yet). Now I plan to run a game in the Realms and I'm wondering where to start. In Eberron (which I also own), it's easy to start in Sharn with some sort of murder or assignment for the PCs, but in Faerun, I don't know where to start or what to start with. :help:
Chancer 03-25-06, 12:19 PM	I would recommend the Dalelands think of it like the Shire in LOTR it is a agricultural center but there are cool ruins in close proximity. I set my campaigns in the Sword Coast North and Silver Marches, because I like the harsh climate, moster infestation and unsteady alliances. I've also done campaigns in the western heartlands which offer you plenty of open space to play with and can act as a great starting place to a globe trotting campaign (ships and trde routes come through all the time) The moonsea is great if you want to play a realy evil campaign or maybe a campaign where the heroes are always out numbered.
Lord Karsus 03-26-06, 01:13 AM	-Well, that's the beauty of the Forgotten Realms. You can start just about anywhere you want. Here's what I suggest- it's helpful. -Firstly, get a general idea of what kind of characters the players in your group are going to play. Are they going to want to play a group of middle aged Human mercenaries? Are they going to want to play as members of a Halfling trading caravan? Are they going to want to be a group of Cult of the Dragon members, running around looking for Dragons? -Once you get a general idea, browse through the FRCS for a setting that fits what you have in mind for the group. If you want to get them involved in Piracy, why not try the Sea of Fallen Stars. If you want them to be outcast Barbarian tribesmen, then the North is a good bet. -One you know the characters, and where you want to begin, then read about the surrounding areas, and some of the groups and people that inhabit the lands that you are going to play in. Once this is done, everything should come together. -On a side note, since this is going to be your first FR campaign, I suggest buying, borrowing or whatevering the following sourcebooks: Faiths & Pantheons: Describes the Deities of Faerūn Player's Guide to Faerūn: Updates a lot of the existing FR lore into 3.5e, plus throws in a bunch of new goodies. Races of Faerūn: Expands greatly upon the PC races found in the FRCS, plus throws a few more in. -Have fun!
Tseramed 03-26-06, 07:20 PM	I've had the same problem as you a couple of months ago when I started DMing my first FR game. I had played before quite a lot and played a couple of times in the Dalelands. They are an awesome place to start with lots and lots of information ( especialy Shadowdale). There are a lot of places to explore around and if you are looking for enemies, you will certainly find them ( Zhentarim etc...). I started my campaign in Cormyr after the war against the Horde. But that is just me. I wanted to have a start with a standard classic Medieval Feeling to it for my New Players and wanted to restrict them a bit with Cormyr's laws as I didn't know what many of them were like in a game session... :rolleyes: As Karsus said, be aware of your PC and check out what kind of game you want to play. High Intrigue = Waterdeep, Eastern Egyptian feeling = Mulhorand, Want to go Crazy with technology? = Lantan home of crazy Gnomish inventors Want to get in land owning? = Western Heartlands and Silver Marches are quite good for that. You see, as it was said, a lot of places can be used for the start of a campaign. Of course, during the game you may want to change a little bit... Make a great expedition for exemple: From Suzail to Waterdeep to deliver a message and use that excuse to set the campaign in a new environment. Hope this helps a bit...
AW71 03-30-06, 07:02 PM	I set my campaigns in the Sword Coast North and Silver Marches, because I like the harsh climate, moster infestation and unsteady alliances. That's exactly the reason I like to play in that area. There's always something going on, and you can easily drop whatever you want there.