Where to call home? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Where to call home? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Sir_Palstin
09-27-07, 08:24 PM I'm an experienced DM starting a new campaign for a group of new players (1st level characters). Do you have any suggestions on an area of the Realms that would be a good place for them to call home? They are all of good alignment and there is a cleric, ranger, 2 fighters, and a mage. 4 elves and one half-elf. I would like to have the Harpers involved with this group at some point in the future also.
The Ubbergeek
09-27-07, 08:49 PM It's cliché, but the areas that in the past, over the years, where chosen by the game designers for the videogames, had good points to start there. Be it for DM and pc.

The North, the Swordcoast, the Moonsea.... Neverwinter, Baldur's Gate, Amn, Phlan, etc....
SgtAnjay
09-27-07, 08:59 PM Well, the elves are making heavy moves in the-once-and-future-Cormanthyr, which gives lots of good woodsy elf stuff to do while also being right next door/within the Dalelands and its events, Cormyr, the Moonsea and the Zhents, Sembia, etc.
The Ubbergeek
09-27-07, 11:08 PM Plus, which may be a good thing for you, Phlan in itself was not detailed since... ages. Eberronesque opportunity for you, if you want to add your own touch.
BadCatMan
09-27-07, 11:41 PM I like the Vast. It's a very classic Faerunian flavoured region, full of low-level adventure opportunities. Orcs and goblinoids live in the mountains and raid the settlements, dwarves live in their underground delves, mysterious elves in the forests, humans in their city-states and rural communities. There's buried treasure, old ruins, crypts, dragons. All sorts of factions are messing about, from the Harpers to the Zhents to Dragon Cult to the Red Wizards). Everything is there, ready to be used.

And it's been hardly touched by novels or too many source-books (except for Ravens Bluff and Tantras). And so PCs are unlikely to know too much about the place.
capnvan
09-28-07, 06:55 AM I would think it kind of depends on what you want them to be doing, etc.

But, with 4 elves and a half-elf, which to me seems like an unusually homogenous group, you may want to start them out in one of the traditional elven homelands - Cormanthyr, Evereska, etc.
The Ubbergeek
09-28-07, 12:10 PM If he want to make stuff up, there is the southern east range, as mapped by one of the member here... There is somewhat 'barbaric' countries, inspired by galatian (celts of the east) and goths, and a possible antique steppe country inspired by iranian/indo-european nomads like the Alains. Could be good as naught is said, and you can develop as you wish. Also, possible eastern influences if you dig it.

Could be a good place for wilder elves, and since Thay is not that far, as mulhorand, Herpers could make first headway.
Sir_Palstin
09-28-07, 05:17 PM Thanks for the great suggestions. I guess I've narrowed it down to Phlan, the Dalelands, or the Vast. Honestly, I am pretty familiar with the Dalelands, but don't know much about Phlan or the Vast. Could you please fill me in on some of the details and where exactly these two places are located?:)
BadCatMan
09-28-07, 09:27 PM The Vast lies east across the Dragon Reach from Sembia and the Dalelands, south of the Moonsea, and west of Impiltur.

The place is a lot of fields and farmlands, surrounded by mountains. There's several city-states, from seedy Calaunt to adventurous Tantras and Ravens Bluff, to old mercantile Procampur. Out in the wilderness you find lots of towns and villages. Every locale has a mystery, and usually a buried treasure tale.

Elves are mainly found in the Grey Forest, and there's not much to know about them. The Moon Elves were attacked by hobgoblins centuries ago, most fled, and those remained turned themselves into trees. Wood Elves can still be found there, and Eldreth Veluuthra.

For more details, see City Of Ravens Bluff, found here:
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/downloads
Particularly the last chapter. The Campaign Settings of various editions and Forgotten Realms Adventures also give a good run-down of the place.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Sir_Palstin 09-27-07, 08:24 PM	I'm an experienced DM starting a new campaign for a group of new players (1st level characters). Do you have any suggestions on an area of the Realms that would be a good place for them to call home? They are all of good alignment and there is a cleric, ranger, 2 fighters, and a mage. 4 elves and one half-elf. I would like to have the Harpers involved with this group at some point in the future also.
The Ubbergeek 09-27-07, 08:49 PM	It's cliché, but the areas that in the past, over the years, where chosen by the game designers for the videogames, had good points to start there. Be it for DM and pc. The North, the Swordcoast, the Moonsea.... Neverwinter, Baldur's Gate, Amn, Phlan, etc....
SgtAnjay 09-27-07, 08:59 PM	Well, the elves are making heavy moves in the-once-and-future-Cormanthyr, which gives lots of good woodsy elf stuff to do while also being right next door/within the Dalelands and its events, Cormyr, the Moonsea and the Zhents, Sembia, etc.
The Ubbergeek 09-27-07, 11:08 PM	Plus, which may be a good thing for you, Phlan in itself was not detailed since... ages. Eberronesque opportunity for you, if you want to add your own touch.
BadCatMan 09-27-07, 11:41 PM	I like the Vast. It's a very classic Faerunian flavoured region, full of low-level adventure opportunities. Orcs and goblinoids live in the mountains and raid the settlements, dwarves live in their underground delves, mysterious elves in the forests, humans in their city-states and rural communities. There's buried treasure, old ruins, crypts, dragons. All sorts of factions are messing about, from the Harpers to the Zhents to Dragon Cult to the Red Wizards). Everything is there, ready to be used. And it's been hardly touched by novels or too many source-books (except for Ravens Bluff and Tantras). And so PCs are unlikely to know too much about the place.
capnvan 09-28-07, 06:55 AM	I would think it kind of depends on what you want them to be doing, etc. But, with 4 elves and a half-elf, which to me seems like an unusually homogenous group, you may want to start them out in one of the traditional elven homelands - Cormanthyr, Evereska, etc.
The Ubbergeek 09-28-07, 12:10 PM	If he want to make stuff up, there is the southern east range, as mapped by one of the member here... There is somewhat 'barbaric' countries, inspired by galatian (celts of the east) and goths, and a possible antique steppe country inspired by iranian/indo-european nomads like the Alains. Could be good as naught is said, and you can develop as you wish. Also, possible eastern influences if you dig it. Could be a good place for wilder elves, and since Thay is not that far, as mulhorand, Herpers could make first headway.
Sir_Palstin 09-28-07, 05:17 PM	Thanks for the great suggestions. I guess I've narrowed it down to Phlan, the Dalelands, or the Vast. Honestly, I am pretty familiar with the Dalelands, but don't know much about Phlan or the Vast. Could you please fill me in on some of the details and where exactly these two places are located?:)
BadCatMan 09-28-07, 09:27 PM	The Vast lies east across the Dragon Reach from Sembia and the Dalelands, south of the Moonsea, and west of Impiltur. The place is a lot of fields and farmlands, surrounded by mountains. There's several city-states, from seedy Calaunt to adventurous Tantras and Ravens Bluff, to old mercantile Procampur. Out in the wilderness you find lots of towns and villages. Every locale has a mystery, and usually a buried treasure tale. Elves are mainly found in the Grey Forest, and there's not much to know about them. The Moon Elves were attacked by hobgoblins centuries ago, most fled, and those remained turned themselves into trees. Wood Elves can still be found there, and Eldreth Veluuthra. For more details, see City Of Ravens Bluff, found here: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/downloads Particularly the last chapter. The Campaign Settings of various editions and Forgotten Realms Adventures also give a good run-down of the place.