Sembia [Archive] - Wizards Community - Pages Merged by Solauren

Sembia [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Cyber.Dk
11-25-03, 03:49 PM Hey there.

My Party and i are heading for sembia, and have just passed out of the dales...

I have looked for some closer information on Sembia but cant seem to find it, i owuld also like to know more about "the Swords" rulers of Archdale..... (seems to me our DM has the current campaign going around the swords sembia dilemma.)

So basicly i am looking for info.. and lots of it!!!

Thanks :king:
Kuje31
11-25-03, 03:58 PM Theres not much info on Sembia, because it was left for DM's to detail.

The 2e campaign box set has some info.

FR Adventures has some maps and text on some of the cities.

The new Sembia novels can be used for info about Selgaunt.

And well that's about it........
Faraer
11-25-03, 05:13 PM The idea of leaving Sembia and some other places untouchable may have been abandoned as early as 1989 (Forgotten Realms Adventures), I'm not sure. But (with the Moonsea and Dragon Reach) it never got a Volo's Guide, or (like the Western Heartlands and Dragon Reach) another sourcebook of its own.

Forgotten Realms Adventures is the main source, but there's also valuable references in Cult of the Dragon and an article in Polyhedron #94, plus see here (http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=fr/fx20010905b). I think Ed G. prepared a briefing on Selgaunt which he gave to the other Sembia novelists, which we might one day see.

Since the Swords of Archendale are secret, why are you trying to find out about them?
Kuje31
11-25-03, 05:58 PM Originally posted by Faraer
The idea of leaving Sembia and some other places untouchable may have been abandoned as early as 1989 (Forgotten Realms Adventures), I'm not sure. But (with the Moonsea and Dragon Reach) it never got a Volo's Guide, or (like the Western Heartlands and Dragon Reach) another sourcebook of its own.

Except it was still mostly in effect in 1993 when the 2e campaign box set came out. Jeff Grubb even said in the section on Sembia, most of this land is not going to be detailed and it is left open for DM's to detail.
Faraer
11-25-03, 06:08 PM Hm. Here's the text:The original concept of Sembia was as an open territory that DMs could play with to their heart's content, setting down their own designed cities as Ordulin and Selgaunt, untroubled by changes in the outer Realms brought on from TSR novels and game products. The requirements of the growing campaign world (particularly the Tuigan invasion) showed us that we had to give some level of detail to the area. While those who had not developed Sembia were not offended, those who had placed their cities there were outraged, and I [Jeff Grubb] received a number of angry comments and amazing letters (my favorite was the adventuring group that took over Sembia and attempted to build the "Great Sembian Peace Wall").

With the redesign of this boxed set, those elements which have been added are summarized here. Those areas we have not gone into, in particular the smaller cities of Surd, Tulbegh, Mulhessen, Kulta, Huddagh, and Saerb, are left open for DMs to develop (or not develop) at their leisure, with only the briefest mention here. And while (being now older and wiser) this designer cannot promise that no TSR designer, editor, author, or other worthy will not attempt to further develop Sembia, we will try to keep such interloping to a minimum. Sigh.
Kuje31
11-25-03, 06:13 PM Originally posted by Faraer
Hm. Here's the text:

Yes? Are you agreeing or disagreeing or?
Faraer
11-25-03, 06:15 PM I'm not arguing, just thought it would be helpful to quote the actual thing. Obviously the 1993 situation was somewhere between 'stuck to not detailing Sembia' and 'abandoned that idea totally'.
Wooly Rupert
11-25-03, 06:31 PM Faraer, where did that info come from? I don't recall seeing that before... I just flipped thru my 2nd edition boxed set, but I failed to notice that...
Kuje31
11-25-03, 06:35 PM Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Faraer, where did that info come from? I don't recall seeing that before... I just flipped thru my 2nd edition boxed set, but I failed to notice that...

It's in the Sembia section in the 2E campaign setting box set. :) Page 60 of A Grand Tour of the Realms.
Lashan
11-25-03, 08:29 PM Yes, there is scant detail on it. I've always pictured Sembia to be a mix between Renescience Holland and modern day America. There is no nobility like in Cormyr. There is mostly rich merchants in charge of things. The middle class has a lot of power and commerce is king. A lot of money goes into the arts and new forms of artistic painting styles are developed, like still lifes, landscapes, and portraits, as opposed to pictures of nobility, war scenes, and religious art. Many young sembians travel on commerce ships or stay at home and perfect a trade. Those in power have the scruples of a modern politician with heavy oil ties and all things done are done to maximize profit.

Oh, and Sembians don't like elves. I think that is the real reason why Sembia hasn't been developed. WOTC couldn't put in a new elf race or PrC in a supplement about it. :D
Kuje31
11-25-03, 09:01 PM Originally posted by Lashan
Oh, and Sembians don't like elves. I think that is the real reason why Sembia hasn't been developed. WOTC couldn't put in a new elf race or PrC in a supplement about it. :D

HAHAHAHA :) :pile:
Wooly Rupert
11-25-03, 09:36 PM Originally posted by Kuje31
It's in the Sembia section in the 2E campaign setting box set. :) Page 60 of A Grand Tour of the Realms.

D'oh! When I grabbed out the book, I read thru the intro, and then I looked at the last section. I totally missed that passage since I didn't even look at the Places of Interest part... :p
Kuje31
11-25-03, 10:04 PM Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
D'oh! When I grabbed out the book, I read thru the intro, and then I looked at the last section. I totally missed that passage since I didn't even look at the Places of Interest part... :p

That's all right. :). I know I mentioned it earlier in the thread, but I should have been more specific, which came later. :)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Cyber.Dk 11-25-03, 03:49 PM	Hey there. My Party and i are heading for sembia, and have just passed out of the dales... I have looked for some closer information on Sembia but cant seem to find it, i owuld also like to know more about "the Swords" rulers of Archdale..... (seems to me our DM has the current campaign going around the swords sembia dilemma.) So basicly i am looking for info.. and lots of it!!! Thanks :king:
Kuje31 11-25-03, 03:58 PM	Theres not much info on Sembia, because it was left for DM's to detail. The 2e campaign box set has some info. FR Adventures has some maps and text on some of the cities. The new Sembia novels can be used for info about Selgaunt. And well that's about it........
Faraer 11-25-03, 05:13 PM	The idea of leaving Sembia and some other places untouchable may have been abandoned as early as 1989 (Forgotten Realms Adventures), I'm not sure. But (with the Moonsea and Dragon Reach) it never got a Volo's Guide, or (like the Western Heartlands and Dragon Reach) another sourcebook of its own. Forgotten Realms Adventures is the main source, but there's also valuable references in Cult of the Dragon and an article in Polyhedron #94, plus see here (http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=fr/fx20010905b). I think Ed G. prepared a briefing on Selgaunt which he gave to the other Sembia novelists, which we might one day see. Since the Swords of Archendale are secret, why are you trying to find out about them?
Kuje31 11-25-03, 05:58 PM	Originally posted by Faraer The idea of leaving Sembia and some other places untouchable may have been abandoned as early as 1989 (Forgotten Realms Adventures), I'm not sure. But (with the Moonsea and Dragon Reach) it never got a Volo's Guide, or (like the Western Heartlands and Dragon Reach) another sourcebook of its own. Except it was still mostly in effect in 1993 when the 2e campaign box set came out. Jeff Grubb even said in the section on Sembia, most of this land is not going to be detailed and it is left open for DM's to detail.
Faraer 11-25-03, 06:08 PM	Hm. Here's the text:The original concept of Sembia was as an open territory that DMs could play with to their heart's content, setting down their own designed cities as Ordulin and Selgaunt, untroubled by changes in the outer Realms brought on from TSR novels and game products. The requirements of the growing campaign world (particularly the Tuigan invasion) showed us that we had to give some level of detail to the area. While those who had not developed Sembia were not offended, those who had placed their cities there were outraged, and I [Jeff Grubb] received a number of angry comments and amazing letters (my favorite was the adventuring group that took over Sembia and attempted to build the "Great Sembian Peace Wall"). With the redesign of this boxed set, those elements which have been added are summarized here. Those areas we have not gone into, in particular the smaller cities of Surd, Tulbegh, Mulhessen, Kulta, Huddagh, and Saerb, are left open for DMs to develop (or not develop) at their leisure, with only the briefest mention here. And while (being now older and wiser) this designer cannot promise that no TSR designer, editor, author, or other worthy will not attempt to further develop Sembia, we will try to keep such interloping to a minimum. Sigh.
Kuje31 11-25-03, 06:13 PM	Originally posted by Faraer Hm. Here's the text: Yes? Are you agreeing or disagreeing or?
Faraer 11-25-03, 06:15 PM	I'm not arguing, just thought it would be helpful to quote the actual thing. Obviously the 1993 situation was somewhere between 'stuck to not detailing Sembia' and 'abandoned that idea totally'.
Wooly Rupert 11-25-03, 06:31 PM	Faraer, where did that info come from? I don't recall seeing that before... I just flipped thru my 2nd edition boxed set, but I failed to notice that...
Kuje31 11-25-03, 06:35 PM	Originally posted by Wooly Rupert Faraer, where did that info come from? I don't recall seeing that before... I just flipped thru my 2nd edition boxed set, but I failed to notice that... It's in the Sembia section in the 2E campaign setting box set. :) Page 60 of A Grand Tour of the Realms.
Lashan 11-25-03, 08:29 PM	Yes, there is scant detail on it. I've always pictured Sembia to be a mix between Renescience Holland and modern day America. There is no nobility like in Cormyr. There is mostly rich merchants in charge of things. The middle class has a lot of power and commerce is king. A lot of money goes into the arts and new forms of artistic painting styles are developed, like still lifes, landscapes, and portraits, as opposed to pictures of nobility, war scenes, and religious art. Many young sembians travel on commerce ships or stay at home and perfect a trade. Those in power have the scruples of a modern politician with heavy oil ties and all things done are done to maximize profit. Oh, and Sembians don't like elves. I think that is the real reason why Sembia hasn't been developed. WOTC couldn't put in a new elf race or PrC in a supplement about it. :D
Kuje31 11-25-03, 09:01 PM	Originally posted by Lashan Oh, and Sembians don't like elves. I think that is the real reason why Sembia hasn't been developed. WOTC couldn't put in a new elf race or PrC in a supplement about it. :D HAHAHAHA :) :pile:
Wooly Rupert 11-25-03, 09:36 PM	Originally posted by Kuje31 It's in the Sembia section in the 2E campaign setting box set. :) Page 60 of A Grand Tour of the Realms. D'oh! When I grabbed out the book, I read thru the intro, and then I looked at the last section. I totally missed that passage since I didn't even look at the Places of Interest part... :p
Kuje31 11-25-03, 10:04 PM	Originally posted by Wooly Rupert D'oh! When I grabbed out the book, I read thru the intro, and then I looked at the last section. I totally missed that passage since I didn't even look at the Places of Interest part... :p That's all right. :). I know I mentioned it earlier in the thread, but I should have been more specific, which came later. :)