Favorite place to start a campaign? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Favorite place to start a campaign? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
95
12-11-07, 10:05 PM Where are your favorite locations to start a campaign?
MerrikCale
12-11-07, 11:05 PM call me a traditionalist, but I would say the Dales. I always liked the sleepy little sea town of Harrowdale Town. Silver Marches is good too
Sol_Odlanier
12-11-07, 11:14 PM I'll say either Amn or Sembia, I'm into urban encounters, intrigue and "drama" for a lack of a better word. It also keeps my Players sharp RPwise
Lord Karsus
12-11-07, 11:46 PM -If I were running a campaign, I'd start it in Calimshan. The place is interesting.
Green Elven Vampire
12-11-07, 11:50 PM The Silver Marches or The Ride! I've always felt that The Ride is a underused region of Faerun.
Dark Wizard
12-11-07, 11:58 PM I'm partial to the Western Heartlands (all those different city-states and trade caravans) or the Lands of Intrigue & the Shining Sea.
Iakhovas
12-12-07, 12:39 AM Phlan, on the northern shore of the Moonsea
GreenKnight
12-12-07, 12:51 AM I've got a fondness for the Shaar, myself. I don't know, but there's something about it that reminds me of a cool but comforting breeze when I think about it.
Stigger
12-12-07, 01:08 AM Sword Coast North... Neverwinter or Waterdeep, usually Neverwinter. Not the CRPG version, the book one.
Alkasyn
12-12-07, 02:58 AM Ditto that - Swordcoast North is the palce to go. Recently I've started to Dm a campaign in Sespech, though.
Stoyrm
12-12-07, 05:02 AM i like, Calimshan, Icewind Dale, Neverwinter and Vaasa / Damara.
Alediran
12-12-07, 07:43 AM Sword Coast North, Silver Marches, Dalelands. I preffer zones with wilder areas like the ones before mentioned. If I want to make an underground dungeon it's easy to put the entrance in a forgotten place.
myles_buck
12-12-07, 09:59 AM I've got my PCs starting out in Cormyr. The place has everything: valourous knights, scheming nobles, and ancient woods to place all sorts of monsters and dungeons in.
Lithrac_of_Souls
12-12-07, 10:15 AM Sword Coast, Silver Marches (namely the High Forest for the current campaign), and I also intend to begin another in Icewind Dale (Ten-Towns).
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
12-12-07, 10:21 AM Anywhere, really--I love so much of the Realms it's hard to pick a favorite.:)
DreamStalker
12-12-07, 11:20 AM Mostly I have jumped around- various points of the Underdark, Aglorand (though in all fairness that game entered the FR there, not started there), Waterdeep, Dalelands, Evermeet, ect. Silver Marches seems to be the most common starting point for me. One of these days I really want to do a Rasheman/far northeast start but want to do it with a set of players currently unavailable. The most enjoyable start so far was the one in Aglorand. That was an epic game dealing with spreading a new pantheon of gods from another Prime Material world.
selunatic2397
12-12-07, 11:58 AM That little mountain range and forest just north of Waterdeep.

It has figured prominently in my campaign over the thirty years it has been running. :)

Plenty of room for the dwarves and elves my gamers tend to play.

Not too much canon to get in my way and get re-imagined to fit.

Plus the little town nearby has a cool tavern that was mentioned in the last realms novel I read.
Fingoldfin
12-12-07, 12:27 PM I really like the Lake of Steam. In Mintar the PCs can join the resistance movement against the church of Bane. If the PCs are evil they can be hired mercenaries in Darkhope's army and slowly try to pull off a coup of their own. Either way it's fun. Half way into the campaign Mintar and Saelmur can go to war. :D

Other than FRCS have there been any 3e updates on Mintar?
Suin Bahhar
12-12-07, 12:33 PM I began playing D&D for the first time in the Shadowdales of the Forgotten Realms, so it is a special place for me. I love the Dales with a passion.

Good places to start are very numerous in the Realms as most areas have very extensive information if you dig deep enough. For a typical game the Swordcoast or the Dragonreach have the right feel and are safe(ish) enough for first level characters to try their luck at adventuring. But don't disregard the rest of the realms as even remote areas as Impiltur or warlike areas like Chessenta have enough interesting written material to make a great intro session for a campaign.
Halidan
12-12-07, 02:37 PM Where are your favorite locations to start a campaign?

It would have to be somewhere in the Eastern Heartlands. All of my campaigns sine the grey box days have started east of the Anaroach. Anywhere from the Tortured Lands south to Sembia.

Probably my favorite spot would be Daggerdale, prior to Randal Morn's liberation of the dale at the end of DR 1368. You've got an oppressed people under the rule of an evil, foriegn, totalitarian government; a Robin Hood-like leader of the rebellion, plenty of ancient and forgotten ruins in the region, and the Spiderhaunt Woods on the southern boarder. What more could you want?
The Ubbergeek
12-12-07, 06:15 PM Phlan, on the northern shore of the Moonsea

I love that place too. Classic.
betrayor
12-12-07, 06:50 PM Sword Coast of course.
Neverwinter and Waterdeep for the good campaign and Luskan for the evil Campaign.
Kiioro
12-12-07, 06:56 PM Any location that touches the Sea of Fallen Stars, along the Dragon Coast or Tethyr.
Meldread
12-13-07, 02:47 AM The setting is full of great places, but here are some of my favorites:
The Sword Coast, in particular the Baulder's Gate Region. A lot of people who have played the video games are familiar with the region, but at the same time it is largely undeveloped leaving lots of room for the DM. Just stay slightly south of Waterdeep.

The Lands of Intrigue, in particular Amn and Tethyr. Like the above, the Lands of Intrigue are slightly more developed without being overly developed. There is enough there for any DM to find something interesting to base a campaign on, but at the same time the region isn't so overly developed that it becomes difficult to change.

The Border Kingdoms are perhaps one of the most underdeveloped areas of the setting due to their constantly shifting nature, but at the same time this is their strength. They allow any DM to jump in and paint whatever picture he desires onto the area.

Errr.... I think I see a trend!

I also have a large amount of love for Icewind Dale and Vaasa, not only for the reasons listed above for the other areas, but for their truly hardcore survivalist feel. You KNOW you're on the frontier when you're in those areas. It truly feels like you're running an "adventure" when you're there, because there is so much a player can do to impact the region or to explore.
Jedi_Master_Trobon
12-13-07, 04:48 AM I like to start most of my level 1 adventurers on The Barrens ofDoom and Despair... or Cormyr. Whichever.
Zireael
12-13-07, 07:43 AM Underdark... Menzo or Ched Nasad (the latter if it was before Lloth's Silence)
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
12-13-07, 10:48 AM I'd like to state that I also love the Border Kingdoms and the Western Heartlands, precisely because you can fill in all the details yourself.:)
MerrikCale
12-13-07, 03:23 PM Sword Coast North... Neverwinter or Waterdeep, usually Neverwinter. Not the CRPG version, the book one.

Neverwinter is a good one
Alkasyn
12-13-07, 04:16 PM I'd like to state that I also love the Border Kingdoms and the Western Heartlands, precisely because you can fill in all the details yourself.:)

I jsut started dming in one of the Border Kingdoms, named the baron Launfal and put the characters in the middle of the action, as Launfal jsut aquired his domain. So far, so good.
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
12-13-07, 04:22 PM I jsut started dming in one of the Border Kingdoms, named the baron Launfal and put the characters in the middle of the action, as Launfal jsut aquired his domain. So far, so good.

Sounds cool, have fun!:)
Phelf_Der_Zemit
12-13-07, 05:53 PM Big city just after the city guard breaks up a tavern brawl that has spilled out into the streets and neighboring houses. A night in jail makes bounding easy.
Kaede
12-15-07, 07:07 AM Sword Coast, Neverwinter+Waterdeep+Luskan make a great big cities where you can start.
I love the North too, his weather and difficulties forces your players to coordinate and cooperate... And it can bring elements (Extreme cold, lots of barbarian hordes, monsters, creatures, memorable NPC, lots of white DRAGONS, caves where you want, Ten Towns, orcs, winter wolves, giants and lost of not usual elements you can add) that give new or classical taste inside the sessions...
Mr_Miscellany
12-15-07, 02:44 PM Where are your favorite locations to start a campaign?
Always like to start in Cormyr.
DMD
12-17-07, 03:38 PM I started my Campaign in Baldur's Gate as I thought all of the players would at least be familiar with the name.

I have pretty extensively done the Dalelands, Cormyr, (Ruins of Myth Drannor), Westgate, Waterdeep, little bit of Aglarond and Thay, (will get to) Calimsham, Damara and Vassa.

If I start a new campaign I will place it in the Shining South as I have not done much there, except one game in Lappilayya.
AffableDoomwalker
12-20-07, 06:07 AM Small, but by no means backwater towns, places well-documented and described are always good in my book (especially with maps), Ashabenford, in Mistledale is an old favorite of mine.
Eli_the_Tanner
12-21-07, 10:13 AM I'm a fan of the Dales personally, it has a nostalgic, classic D&D feel. It's the type of land where you can wander from village to town stumbling across ancient ruins, bandits, evil cults etc. without brushing too close to any cities. The almost fuedal nature of the Dales gives each dale a different feel without the sense that you are in a different country.

I enjoy places that are shadows of their former selves, where your characters can wander about places with no idea of who or what the history of land was. Places that hardy folk have built settlements upon the ruins of multiple, long extinct cultures. The lands are by no means tamed by the power of a nation and looks to people like adventurers to help these small communities.

For these reasons I'm also partial the The North/Silver Marches which despite a fair proportion of cities has got that frontier feel to it. The Western Heartlands also work for similar reasons.

I do enjoy the classic D&D-style play for early adventures or new groups. I'm abit old school in that sense (or maybe just old hat!)

...that said, with a good group the best places can be in areas like Thay, Calimsham, Halruua, Anauroch, the Underdark....or even another plane.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
95 12-11-07, 10:05 PM	Where are your favorite locations to start a campaign?
MerrikCale 12-11-07, 11:05 PM	call me a traditionalist, but I would say the Dales. I always liked the sleepy little sea town of Harrowdale Town. Silver Marches is good too
Sol_Odlanier 12-11-07, 11:14 PM	I'll say either Amn or Sembia, I'm into urban encounters, intrigue and "drama" for a lack of a better word. It also keeps my Players sharp RPwise
Lord Karsus 12-11-07, 11:46 PM	-If I were running a campaign, I'd start it in Calimshan. The place is interesting.
Green Elven Vampire 12-11-07, 11:50 PM	The Silver Marches or The Ride! I've always felt that The Ride is a underused region of Faerun.
Dark Wizard 12-11-07, 11:58 PM	I'm partial to the Western Heartlands (all those different city-states and trade caravans) or the Lands of Intrigue & the Shining Sea.
Iakhovas 12-12-07, 12:39 AM	Phlan, on the northern shore of the Moonsea
GreenKnight 12-12-07, 12:51 AM	I've got a fondness for the Shaar, myself. I don't know, but there's something about it that reminds me of a cool but comforting breeze when I think about it.
Stigger 12-12-07, 01:08 AM	Sword Coast North... Neverwinter or Waterdeep, usually Neverwinter. Not the CRPG version, the book one.
Alkasyn 12-12-07, 02:58 AM	Ditto that - Swordcoast North is the palce to go. Recently I've started to Dm a campaign in Sespech, though.
Stoyrm 12-12-07, 05:02 AM	i like, Calimshan, Icewind Dale, Neverwinter and Vaasa / Damara.
Alediran 12-12-07, 07:43 AM	Sword Coast North, Silver Marches, Dalelands. I preffer zones with wilder areas like the ones before mentioned. If I want to make an underground dungeon it's easy to put the entrance in a forgotten place.
myles_buck 12-12-07, 09:59 AM	I've got my PCs starting out in Cormyr. The place has everything: valourous knights, scheming nobles, and ancient woods to place all sorts of monsters and dungeons in.
Lithrac_of_Souls 12-12-07, 10:15 AM	Sword Coast, Silver Marches (namely the High Forest for the current campaign), and I also intend to begin another in Icewind Dale (Ten-Towns).
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 12-12-07, 10:21 AM	Anywhere, really--I love so much of the Realms it's hard to pick a favorite.:)
DreamStalker 12-12-07, 11:20 AM	Mostly I have jumped around- various points of the Underdark, Aglorand (though in all fairness that game entered the FR there, not started there), Waterdeep, Dalelands, Evermeet, ect. Silver Marches seems to be the most common starting point for me. One of these days I really want to do a Rasheman/far northeast start but want to do it with a set of players currently unavailable. The most enjoyable start so far was the one in Aglorand. That was an epic game dealing with spreading a new pantheon of gods from another Prime Material world.
selunatic2397 12-12-07, 11:58 AM	That little mountain range and forest just north of Waterdeep. It has figured prominently in my campaign over the thirty years it has been running. :) Plenty of room for the dwarves and elves my gamers tend to play. Not too much canon to get in my way and get re-imagined to fit. Plus the little town nearby has a cool tavern that was mentioned in the last realms novel I read.
Fingoldfin 12-12-07, 12:27 PM	I really like the Lake of Steam. In Mintar the PCs can join the resistance movement against the church of Bane. If the PCs are evil they can be hired mercenaries in Darkhope's army and slowly try to pull off a coup of their own. Either way it's fun. Half way into the campaign Mintar and Saelmur can go to war. :D Other than FRCS have there been any 3e updates on Mintar?
Suin Bahhar 12-12-07, 12:33 PM	I began playing D&D for the first time in the Shadowdales of the Forgotten Realms, so it is a special place for me. I love the Dales with a passion. Good places to start are very numerous in the Realms as most areas have very extensive information if you dig deep enough. For a typical game the Swordcoast or the Dragonreach have the right feel and are safe(ish) enough for first level characters to try their luck at adventuring. But don't disregard the rest of the realms as even remote areas as Impiltur or warlike areas like Chessenta have enough interesting written material to make a great intro session for a campaign.
Halidan 12-12-07, 02:37 PM	Where are your favorite locations to start a campaign? It would have to be somewhere in the Eastern Heartlands. All of my campaigns sine the grey box days have started east of the Anaroach. Anywhere from the Tortured Lands south to Sembia. Probably my favorite spot would be Daggerdale, prior to Randal Morn's liberation of the dale at the end of DR 1368. You've got an oppressed people under the rule of an evil, foriegn, totalitarian government; a Robin Hood-like leader of the rebellion, plenty of ancient and forgotten ruins in the region, and the Spiderhaunt Woods on the southern boarder. What more could you want?
The Ubbergeek 12-12-07, 06:15 PM	Phlan, on the northern shore of the Moonsea I love that place too. Classic.
betrayor 12-12-07, 06:50 PM	Sword Coast of course. Neverwinter and Waterdeep for the good campaign and Luskan for the evil Campaign.
Kiioro 12-12-07, 06:56 PM	Any location that touches the Sea of Fallen Stars, along the Dragon Coast or Tethyr.
Meldread 12-13-07, 02:47 AM	The setting is full of great places, but here are some of my favorites: The Sword Coast, in particular the Baulder's Gate Region. A lot of people who have played the video games are familiar with the region, but at the same time it is largely undeveloped leaving lots of room for the DM. Just stay slightly south of Waterdeep. The Lands of Intrigue, in particular Amn and Tethyr. Like the above, the Lands of Intrigue are slightly more developed without being overly developed. There is enough there for any DM to find something interesting to base a campaign on, but at the same time the region isn't so overly developed that it becomes difficult to change. The Border Kingdoms are perhaps one of the most underdeveloped areas of the setting due to their constantly shifting nature, but at the same time this is their strength. They allow any DM to jump in and paint whatever picture he desires onto the area. Errr.... I think I see a trend! I also have a large amount of love for Icewind Dale and Vaasa, not only for the reasons listed above for the other areas, but for their truly hardcore survivalist feel. You KNOW you're on the frontier when you're in those areas. It truly feels like you're running an "adventure" when you're there, because there is so much a player can do to impact the region or to explore.
Jedi_Master_Trobon 12-13-07, 04:48 AM	I like to start most of my level 1 adventurers on The Barrens ofDoom and Despair... or Cormyr. Whichever.
Zireael 12-13-07, 07:43 AM	Underdark... Menzo or Ched Nasad (the latter if it was before Lloth's Silence)
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 12-13-07, 10:48 AM	I'd like to state that I also love the Border Kingdoms and the Western Heartlands, precisely because you can fill in all the details yourself.:)
MerrikCale 12-13-07, 03:23 PM	Sword Coast North... Neverwinter or Waterdeep, usually Neverwinter. Not the CRPG version, the book one. Neverwinter is a good one
Alkasyn 12-13-07, 04:16 PM	I'd like to state that I also love the Border Kingdoms and the Western Heartlands, precisely because you can fill in all the details yourself.:) I jsut started dming in one of the Border Kingdoms, named the baron Launfal and put the characters in the middle of the action, as Launfal jsut aquired his domain. So far, so good.
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 12-13-07, 04:22 PM	I jsut started dming in one of the Border Kingdoms, named the baron Launfal and put the characters in the middle of the action, as Launfal jsut aquired his domain. So far, so good. Sounds cool, have fun!:)
Phelf_Der_Zemit 12-13-07, 05:53 PM	Big city just after the city guard breaks up a tavern brawl that has spilled out into the streets and neighboring houses. A night in jail makes bounding easy.
Kaede 12-15-07, 07:07 AM	Sword Coast, Neverwinter+Waterdeep+Luskan make a great big cities where you can start. I love the North too, his weather and difficulties forces your players to coordinate and cooperate... And it can bring elements (Extreme cold, lots of barbarian hordes, monsters, creatures, memorable NPC, lots of white DRAGONS, caves where you want, Ten Towns, orcs, winter wolves, giants and lost of not usual elements you can add) that give new or classical taste inside the sessions...
Mr_Miscellany 12-15-07, 02:44 PM	Where are your favorite locations to start a campaign? Always like to start in Cormyr.
DMD 12-17-07, 03:38 PM	I started my Campaign in Baldur's Gate as I thought all of the players would at least be familiar with the name. I have pretty extensively done the Dalelands, Cormyr, (Ruins of Myth Drannor), Westgate, Waterdeep, little bit of Aglarond and Thay, (will get to) Calimsham, Damara and Vassa. If I start a new campaign I will place it in the Shining South as I have not done much there, except one game in Lappilayya.
AffableDoomwalker 12-20-07, 06:07 AM	Small, but by no means backwater towns, places well-documented and described are always good in my book (especially with maps), Ashabenford, in Mistledale is an old favorite of mine.
Eli_the_Tanner 12-21-07, 10:13 AM	I'm a fan of the Dales personally, it has a nostalgic, classic D&D feel. It's the type of land where you can wander from village to town stumbling across ancient ruins, bandits, evil cults etc. without brushing too close to any cities. The almost fuedal nature of the Dales gives each dale a different feel without the sense that you are in a different country. I enjoy places that are shadows of their former selves, where your characters can wander about places with no idea of who or what the history of land was. Places that hardy folk have built settlements upon the ruins of multiple, long extinct cultures. The lands are by no means tamed by the power of a nation and looks to people like adventurers to help these small communities. For these reasons I'm also partial the The North/Silver Marches which despite a fair proportion of cities has got that frontier feel to it. The Western Heartlands also work for similar reasons. I do enjoy the classic D&D-style play for early adventures or new groups. I'm abit old school in that sense (or maybe just old hat!) ...that said, with a good group the best places can be in areas like Thay, Calimsham, Halruua, Anauroch, the Underdark....or even another plane.