Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Mathijs Dec 08, 2014 8:18:04	hello all,   I'm looking for a suitable location for a campaign inside the Forgotten Realm setting.   It's starts at First level up to around 8-10. The players are rebels whom are fighting against a (secret) evil gouverment controlled by Loviatar.    Any suggestions?
#2 AlHazred Dec 08, 2014 10:19:16	There are literally hundreds of adventure locations in the Forgotten Realms that have enough detail to get started. You're going to need to be a lot more specific about your needs. Do you want to focus on city-style gaming and intrigue, or wilderness exploration and engagements, or dungeon exploration and set-piece encounters? Some combination of these? Something else? You say a "secret evil government controlled by Loviatar" -- do you mean that the government of the area is run by Loviatar-worshippers? Does she actually have an avatar on Faerun running the show behind-the-scenes? Is it a secret society that is not fully in-power, but has schemes and machinations afoot to rule? The player characters are rebels -- are they outlaws running from the government? Are they part of an insurgent movement that controls an area of the countryside? Are they criminals working under the noses of the government to overthrow them? There are several well-detailed city supplements and kingdom supplements that might suit your needs.
(Reply to #2) Mathijs	AlHazred wrote:
#4 Lashan Dec 08, 2014 11:55:36	Sembia was one of those countries that was purposedly made a little vague for DM's to expand upon.  There are enough maps of cities and details of some things that it won't be a total pain in the butt to deal with, but open enough that you could put in whatever you wanted.  That's where I recommend.   Besides that, most places are city-states and you could go with a lot of different ones.  Westgate might work or even somewhere in the Vast.  Maybe one of the city-states on the caravan routes between the Inner Sea and the Sword Coast?
#5 Huntsman57 Dec 08, 2014 22:56:57	If memory serves, and we're going back to 2E here...Mulmaster nobility had a reputation for their debaucherous parties and proclivities in the name of Loviatar. The High House of Hurting is a temple dedicated to the Lady of Pain in that city.
#6 bille Dec 09, 2014 0:52:43	Tethyr might be a good fit - a ruler under pressure, a history of intrigue, Ilmater a popular presence, individual city power bases with feuding barons, and plenty of straight-up hack & slash potential to relieve the intensity of political shenanigans. Plenty of background material from earlier editions online, but little recent stuff so very open to your own creativity. It's where I'm planning to build my first ever homebrew FR campaign.
#7 Mathijs Dec 09, 2014 12:54:07	Thanks, that really helps. I'm not good at drawing maps so I will pick an area where there will be maps available! Lots of options!!
#8 BRJN Dec 09, 2014 16:48:20	Somewhere near Cormyr would be good, so if the PCs draw excessive unwanted official attention (from Loviatar), they have a place they can run to for safety.   Any of the many city-states would allow you to keep everybody's total power base to a manageable size.  Nothing worse than trying to calculate the Emperor's total tax income so you can find out if anybody will notice the missing bribe money...   Some of the things the PCs run into and must defeat should NOT have anything to do with your plot-arc.  Sometimes the bandit gang really is just a gang of bandits.  Or the loner wizard with a unique personal spell is just that anti-social.  A dragon might prefer to go back to sleep rather than "get involved".
(Reply to #8) Mathijs	BRJN wrote:
#10 BRJN Dec 11, 2014 17:52:13	Friendly NPCs: - A Knight of Cormyr, newly inherited his title at a young age (20s).  Brings along a retinue (a wise older butler and some young men-at-arms).  "Just happens" to cross the PCs' path when they are fleeing Loviatar-trouble.  Because he has social class, is not touchable by the ruffians at hand without causing too much trouble for them and their boss.  Wants to emulate the Steel Regent's mis-spent and adventure-filled youth. - A Lord of Cormyr, somebody who has many knights at his disposal.  If the PCs need heavy firepower and/or political cover, he might agree to help them root out trouble "just across state lines". - 'Friar Tuck', cleric of Ilmater or Lathander.  He is watching the victims of Loviatar-worship wash up on his doorstep like a rising tide.  He is very concerned to get to the root of the problem, but doesn't have enough resources to do much himself.  He has a few cool items at his disposal and can send messages. - Random peasants who can offer a night's shelter or local information of what's going on.  Stereotypically a barmaid but a dairyman would also work. - Honest town councilmen who have seen that hard work goes unrewarded these days, and want to push back the gathering darkness.   Unfriendly NPCs - Gang of bandits and leader.  Mostly exist to give the Cormyrian Lords something else to worry about if the PCs lean on them (the Lords) too much.  Leader might be connected to Loviatar somehow.  Hideout is just inside Cormyr's boundary - Chief Priestess of Loviatar.  Making her as devious as Darth Sidious might be a stretch, but should be able to keep several juggling balls in the air at once, and have backup plans for each power center and their likely moves. - Several clerics of Loviatar, who act as lieutenants to the Chief Priestess plus have their own sideshow going.  (Ex: one is supposed to be installing herself as a courtier in the Lord's Court but is also trying to seduce the bandit chief when she travels past his hideout.) - Orc chieftain trying to set up shop someplace just outside Cormyr's reach but close enough to a highway that he can plunder caravans.  Found a magic item of Loviatar and figured out how to use it for his band's advantage. - Town councilman who has been seduced by a Loviatarian priestess.  He has ambitions to replace the Mayor, but not the in-town support base. - Town Mayor, hopelessly class-ridden and rather corrupt, only interested in what will bring himself and his cronies more wealth. - Young-ish dragon whose lair is in the middle of all the other folks' hideouts.  Wants mostly to be left alone to sleep and molt and grow.  Will take offense at anybody who tries to recruit him as 'muscle' but might listen to terms of an alliance - IF there is something in it for him, AND it will lead to peace and quiet for a good long while.   Lay out the basic set of introductory rumors and news, then let the players discuss what they want to do, how they think things might fit together.  If they come up with something cool that you didn't think of - USE IT !  It is very gratifying to discover your guess made without good information was right.
#11 Badasterisk Dec 12, 2014 19:38:30	Forgotten realms wiki is extremely helpful in stimulating ideas (for me, anyway). Also, remember, FR was chosen because it's so detailed; there's probably something that exists that will work well for your needs (especially since you've settled on Loviatar). I'd suggest starting with the Unapproachable East.