reference sheets: is that a good idea? [Archive] - Wizards Community

reference sheets: is that a good idea? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Tseramed
03-10-06, 03:10 PM Hi there, I'm DMing a bunch (6) of players on a new campain in the FR and most of my players are new to this setting ( and fairly new at D&D) exept for two of them. I really want to make them feel the setting and make them see that there is more than : " The first town" , " The Huge city" where we met " That guy" . I give them names and describe them the places and put a lot of color in my description. Although they are begginning to get a grasp of it I feel like it would help if I did some Reference sheet for them all.

I already did a rough draft of it and here are the things I included:
-Roll of recent years and what happenned
-Calendar
-Geography description of Cormyr ( as the campaign is currently there)
-Recent History that the caracthers should know of.
-Important places almost everyone has heard in the realms
-How to address somebody : Sir, Your majesty etc...

All in all it will be on 4 sheets and each player will have a copy. Although I think I will make it customized for each player regarding what they told me about the background of the characters they have. They won't be knowing everything in the realms but will know what they are supposed to know regarding their background.

So what do you think of it? Do you think I shall pursue the project or do you think it might not be worth it as they might not read it. If you think it's a good idea, do you have any suggestions on something I might add?

Thanks in advance
Dielzen
03-10-06, 09:15 PM Great idea...I would suggest adding in things that most people know, other than events...such as who Elminster, the 7 Sisters, Drizzt, etc. are....obviously, their extent of knowledge would be best if tailored to their background.
Faraer
03-11-06, 08:04 AM Figure out if they're going to read it. If not, waste of time, if so, great idea. The best overall introduction to the Realms is that which opens The Best of the Realms Book II. Beyond that, you have the right kind of stuff. A glossary of Faerūnian words and phrases would also be good, but no one has compiled a remotely full one as of yet.

You want to be careful with overestimating what and who 'almost everyone has heard of'. This applies to recent and historical events. Re Dielzen's post, the names of Elminster and some of the Seven Sisters are known by some, Faerūnwide, along with fragments of legend, but solid knowledge exists only locally and among sages. Few have heard of Drizzt outside the Sword Coast North. In other words, these are 'iconic characters' in the our-world marketing of the Realms, but knowledge of them is at most rumour and trivia to most folk in Faerūn.
tae'graciel
03-11-06, 11:23 AM I make my PC's make NOTES... Thats right, first person accounts of the important stuff. Like an individual journal. Now its only a matter of saying, who was that barteneder in that town again? and the pages fly open until someone yells out "ya! its this guy from balh blah, he runs the bar with his wife charlette" It actually the best thing i've done so far.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Tseramed 03-10-06, 03:10 PM	Hi there, I'm DMing a bunch (6) of players on a new campain in the FR and most of my players are new to this setting ( and fairly new at D&D) exept for two of them. I really want to make them feel the setting and make them see that there is more than : " The first town" , " The Huge city" where we met " That guy" . I give them names and describe them the places and put a lot of color in my description. Although they are begginning to get a grasp of it I feel like it would help if I did some Reference sheet for them all. I already did a rough draft of it and here are the things I included: -Roll of recent years and what happenned -Calendar -Geography description of Cormyr ( as the campaign is currently there) -Recent History that the caracthers should know of. -Important places almost everyone has heard in the realms -How to address somebody : Sir, Your majesty etc... All in all it will be on 4 sheets and each player will have a copy. Although I think I will make it customized for each player regarding what they told me about the background of the characters they have. They won't be knowing everything in the realms but will know what they are supposed to know regarding their background. So what do you think of it? Do you think I shall pursue the project or do you think it might not be worth it as they might not read it. If you think it's a good idea, do you have any suggestions on something I might add? Thanks in advance
Dielzen 03-10-06, 09:15 PM	Great idea...I would suggest adding in things that most people know, other than events...such as who Elminster, the 7 Sisters, Drizzt, etc. are....obviously, their extent of knowledge would be best if tailored to their background.
Faraer 03-11-06, 08:04 AM	Figure out if they're going to read it. If not, waste of time, if so, great idea. The best overall introduction to the Realms is that which opens The Best of the Realms Book II. Beyond that, you have the right kind of stuff. A glossary of Faerūnian words and phrases would also be good, but no one has compiled a remotely full one as of yet. You want to be careful with overestimating what and who 'almost everyone has heard of'. This applies to recent and historical events. Re Dielzen's post, the names of Elminster and some of the Seven Sisters are known by some, Faerūnwide, along with fragments of legend, but solid knowledge exists only locally and among sages. Few have heard of Drizzt outside the Sword Coast North. In other words, these are 'iconic characters' in the our-world marketing of the Realms, but knowledge of them is at most rumour and trivia to most folk in Faerūn.
tae'graciel 03-11-06, 11:23 AM	I make my PC's make NOTES... Thats right, first person accounts of the important stuff. Like an individual journal. Now its only a matter of saying, who was that barteneder in that town again? and the pages fly open until someone yells out "ya! its this guy from balh blah, he runs the bar with his wife charlette" It actually the best thing i've done so far.