Starting a new FR campaign. Suggestions welcome [Archive] - Wizards Community

Starting a new FR campaign. Suggestions welcome [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Sardel
09-17-07, 12:31 AM So I'm starting a campaign in the Forgotten Realms. I've read all the Salvatore novels and a few of the other ones but none of my friends have read any and have no information about Faerun.

I'm trying to write up some information for them to give them a fell for the place. What I need suggestions for are the following:

1. What famous figures should they know about?
2. Organizations?
3. Places?

I figure they would know about Elminster, the Harpers, Zhentarim, Red Wizards of Thay, and places like Mithril Hall and Waterdeep.

I don't want to overload them with information so if anyone would want to suggest a top 10 list for each category that would great. Thanks for the help.
Faraer
09-17-07, 12:58 AM It entirely depends where the PCs grew up and where they're based: Faerūn is not one homogeneous place but many regions and localities. In general, there are few or no famous figures who are known across the continent. Locally prominent societies will be better known in most parts than the Harpers (which are semi-secret) or Red Wizards (who aren't well known outside the East and the Inner Sea lands). All but the most provincial bumpkins have heard of Waterdeep, but Mithral Hall is mainly known to Shield Dwarves and well informed humans and elves of the Sword Coast North.
Xaean
09-18-07, 07:49 PM I agree with Faraer: It depends on where you set your campaign.

You should give the PCs information about the greater deites and of the noblitly and major organizations of their home region. They might know some tales about Elminster and the Seven Sisters in any region of Faerun. They should know about great cities like Waterdeep. They might know about Red Wizard Enclaves - and Aglarondan and Rashemmi PCs will likely hate Red Wizards.

Also remember that no all PCs will have the some knowledge to begin with. A priest of Oghma or wizard of Waterdeep has greater knowledge of the world than a half-orc barbarian from Icewind Dale.
Lord Karsus
09-18-07, 10:45 PM -If you don't have it, I'll recommend buying the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting.
Sardel
09-18-07, 11:04 PM Thanks for the suggestions. I do have the campaign setting but I don't really expect my players to read the entire book.

I think they are going to start out in the Moonsea region. I guess I'll just stick to the stuff in that area.
Lord Karsus
09-18-07, 11:12 PM Thanks for the suggestions. I do have the campaign setting but I don't really expect my players to read the entire book.

-A quick skim, then. Anyway, as long as you have it, it'll be that much easier to design your campaigns.
1 ton ghost
09-22-07, 03:29 PM sometimes the tabula rasa ("clean slate") approach is terribly refreshing. that is, there would be some maxims most continental Faerunians would know like most Zhents and Thayans are morally bankrupt, etc.

however, this is a good argument for Knowledge Local and History, not to mention Geography and the like. we often presume the characters would know alot, but truth be told, they wouldn't except common hearsay over a simple Gather Info (nothing terribly specific, not gonna' crack the case so to speak).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Sardel 09-17-07, 12:31 AM	So I'm starting a campaign in the Forgotten Realms. I've read all the Salvatore novels and a few of the other ones but none of my friends have read any and have no information about Faerun. I'm trying to write up some information for them to give them a fell for the place. What I need suggestions for are the following: 1. What famous figures should they know about? 2. Organizations? 3. Places? I figure they would know about Elminster, the Harpers, Zhentarim, Red Wizards of Thay, and places like Mithril Hall and Waterdeep. I don't want to overload them with information so if anyone would want to suggest a top 10 list for each category that would great. Thanks for the help.
Faraer 09-17-07, 12:58 AM	It entirely depends where the PCs grew up and where they're based: Faerūn is not one homogeneous place but many regions and localities. In general, there are few or no famous figures who are known across the continent. Locally prominent societies will be better known in most parts than the Harpers (which are semi-secret) or Red Wizards (who aren't well known outside the East and the Inner Sea lands). All but the most provincial bumpkins have heard of Waterdeep, but Mithral Hall is mainly known to Shield Dwarves and well informed humans and elves of the Sword Coast North.
Xaean 09-18-07, 07:49 PM	I agree with Faraer: It depends on where you set your campaign. You should give the PCs information about the greater deites and of the noblitly and major organizations of their home region. They might know some tales about Elminster and the Seven Sisters in any region of Faerun. They should know about great cities like Waterdeep. They might know about Red Wizard Enclaves - and Aglarondan and Rashemmi PCs will likely hate Red Wizards. Also remember that no all PCs will have the some knowledge to begin with. A priest of Oghma or wizard of Waterdeep has greater knowledge of the world than a half-orc barbarian from Icewind Dale.
Lord Karsus 09-18-07, 10:45 PM	-If you don't have it, I'll recommend buying the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting.
Sardel 09-18-07, 11:04 PM	Thanks for the suggestions. I do have the campaign setting but I don't really expect my players to read the entire book. I think they are going to start out in the Moonsea region. I guess I'll just stick to the stuff in that area.
Lord Karsus 09-18-07, 11:12 PM	Thanks for the suggestions. I do have the campaign setting but I don't really expect my players to read the entire book. -A quick skim, then. Anyway, as long as you have it, it'll be that much easier to design your campaigns.
1 ton ghost 09-22-07, 03:29 PM	sometimes the tabula rasa ("clean slate") approach is terribly refreshing. that is, there would be some maxims most continental Faerunians would know like most Zhents and Thayans are morally bankrupt, etc. however, this is a good argument for Knowledge Local and History, not to mention Geography and the like. we often presume the characters would know alot, but truth be told, they wouldn't except common hearsay over a simple Gather Info (nothing terribly specific, not gonna' crack the case so to speak).