Having been an Eberron DM for many years and indeed not played or DM'd the Realms since about 1991 im considering running a Forgotten Realms campaign using the 4ed rules and setting.
Im particularly interested in using Aglarond as my campaign region and im looking for the more experienced Realms DMs for some help. Can anyone recommend good sources of info either 4ed or earlier ?
Are any of the recent novels set in Aglarond ?
Anyone got any good ideas for this region ?
Thanks in advance for any help.
Regards....
Personally, if I was going to run an Aglarond-based campaign I would also be researching Thay and Rashemen. Thay is the archetypal evil empire that Aglarond struggles against, as does Rashemen.
The 3.5E supplement Unapproachable East and the 2E supplement Spellbound both cover these areas and there are still some ideas there that can be yoinked for a 4E game.
(Personally, I am plan to use the Dread Rings hook from the write-up on Thay as the underlying plot for a campaign I plan to run in this area.)
I want the players to first establish some enmity with the Red Wizards, which shouldn't be hard as Thay has been turned into a necropolitan empire by Szas Tamm and his cursed undead keep knocking down the PC's frontdoors. But eventually because of a third, bigger enemy threatenes to rise (the Aboleth city of Xxiphu (sp.)) I will have the Red Wizards approuch the party for parley. I'll try to mke them sound reasonable and willing to put aside their differences and ally with Aglarond. Undead really are the best soldiers to field against the aboleth mindmagic based threats so the party will have to resort to necromantic powers and rituals (to perhaps even become undead themselves if an early encounter with a significant Xxphu threat goes awry).
While they rely on Thayan resources to overcome the Aboleths, the Red Wizards of Szas Tamm would resort to subtle acts of sabotage to ensure the eventual downfall of Aglarond when enough undead are stationed amongst the strategic places in Aglarond.
The Yuir Totems would also play a large role, as potential weapons against the Abberant threat. With help from Rasheman witches or Star Elven sages these ancient spirits could be set free to protect the Yuirwood.
I'm running an Akanul based Genasi Campaign but Aglarond is a close ally of Akanul and I'll incorporate those troubles into my campaign as well. My Campaign directly faces the Abolethic Sovereignty since there is already established enmity between them and the freed Akanulians who will never be enslaved again by anyone. I'd wondered why the Akanulians would have diplomatic relations with Netheril and I believe the undead as mindless troops aspect will also work well in Akanul's situation. I expected to use Aglarond, Chessenta, and Turmish as other allies of Akanul because with the threat of Netheril expanding Cormyr and the Dalelands will have their hands full. However, now I can have a rising threat from Thay coinciding at almost the exact same time and lastly the Abolethic Sovereignty attacking when both allied kingdoms are unable to help.
Then, throw in a little Primordial vs Divine tension for Epic levels and the entire Forgotten Realms will be embroiled in chaos! Something something something complete.... something something something Dark Side!
Muahahahahaha!