Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 PaladinNicolas Jun 04, 2012 16:19:31	It's been a long time since I played in the Realms, but I have fond memories of the setting. I admit that I am mostly an Eberron fan, but would like to DM in the Realms and would like to know if there are any locations suited for campaigns focused on political intrigue, espionage and subtle conflicts between nations and/or factions in the Realms. Thanks!
#2 Stigger Jun 04, 2012 17:27:58	Well, it would help to know what time period you want to set your campaign in for specifics. As generalities go, Cormyr's rivalries with Sembia and Westgate could make for an interesting campaign perhaps.  Same goes for Tethyr's various contentions with Calimshan and Amn over the years, or Waterdeep and Amn perhaps. One could even set things in the Silver Marches and go for a more internal conflict sort of campaign if they were of a mind.  But, like I said, the era is really going to determine what rivalries and conflicts exist between nations and city-states.
#3 sfdragon Jun 04, 2012 19:24:30	Meznoborean..... Cormyr, Myth DRannor, Waterdeep, Neverwinter,  and this is just for starters
#4 The_Silversword Jun 05, 2012 1:08:46	Anywhere, even the simple Dalesfolk are steeped in espinoge, potitical intrigue, all that, and then some, its like that everywhere in the Realms!
#5 sfdragon Jun 05, 2012 8:13:45	even the pirate isles
#6 PaladinNicolas Jun 05, 2012 9:46:26	Thank you all for the information. Actually, any of the eras of the FR would work, since I haven't decided on which one to play. I have an additional question, have there been wars between factions or nations in any of those areas, or simply low intensity hostilities or rivalries?
#7 Jorunhast Jun 05, 2012 10:20:45	It's been a long time since I played in the Realms, but I have fond memories of the setting. I admit that I am mostly an Eberron fan, but would like to DM in the Realms and would like to know if there are any locations suited for campaigns focused on political intrigue, espionage and subtle conflicts between nations and/or factions in the Realms. Thanks! If you're playing 1E, 2E or 3E, then honestly any city/nation with a power base is going to have tons and tons of political intrigue.  In 4E, it's post-apocalyptic ya-ya stuff and things like the Abolethic Soverignty and devil-worshippers of Asmodeus have infiltrated everywhere like aggressive cancers. But yeah, before that, you can have nice political intrigue pretty much in any nation IMO.  Cormyr and Sembia have always had tense relations, which became more of an issue when returned Netheril (Shade) took over Sembia.  At the end of 3E, if you like civilized orcs, there's major tension between the Kingdom of Many Arrows and the rest of the northern nations in the Silvermoon League. Zhentil Keep constantly threatens its western neighbors, and had spies and infiltrators from the Dales to Sembia all the way to Cormyr and Waterdeep.  And Waterdeep is always brewing with tons of political activity. If you want a more southern experience, the nations of Amn and Tethyr always have stuff going on.  Harpers sometimes had agents in deep cover just watching for political intrigue.
#8 mvincent Jun 05, 2012 18:15:12	would like to DM in the Realms and would like to know if there are any locations suited for campaigns focused on political intrigue, espionage and subtle conflicts between nations and/or factions in the Realms. Thanks! 1) The Neverwinter Campaign book is set up this way. 2) Waterdeep tends to be this way (check out the Lords of Waterdeep boardgame for inspiration). 3) Gloomwrought is set up this way (not really Realms specific, but the Realms uses the Shadowfell too). 4) The "QUES1-1 Black Cloaks and Bitter Rivalries" LFR adventure features a lot of intrigue and espionage. 5) Menzoberranzan will likely be set up for this.
#9 The_Silversword Jun 07, 2012 3:20:20	If we're really gonna narrow it down, my votes gotta go to Waterdeep!, er, or no Cormyr!!, uhm no, Waterdeep!!! uh, you know what? Yeah, Cormyr, definitely Cormyr. Or no! Wait! I meant Waterdeep! Ok i got it, Sembia.
#10 sfdragon Jun 07, 2012 10:23:28	SEmbia??? thats weak. everybody knows that in sembia they have the best nude beaches and nothing else is going on there anymore save wild nude parties of the beach every night...... of course this may be a front for something else...... or is it Yeah sembia is a place that alot of intrigue is going on, but its usually international intrigue against Cormyr and its neighbors
#11 Jorunhast Jun 07, 2012 11:39:35	SEmbia??? thats weak. everybody knows that in sembia they have the best nude beaches and nothing else is going on there anymore save wild nude parties of the beach every night..... What the?  Everyone knows that ALL the beaches in the Realms are nude beaches.  Ever seen a swimsuit store?  No. In Sembia, you could have an underground network of spies and officials that are all secretly working against Netherese control.  Like the French underground movement in WW2.  Or, Red Wizards of Thay could be trying to infiltrate the power structure of the Netherese that maintains control over the weak-minded Sembian government.  Cormyr could have any number of spies infiltrated into the government, all working slowly to defeat the Netherese.
#12 sfdragon Jun 07, 2012 15:40:47	exactly....... the nude parties are a front..... ( hey I'm trying to make some intrigue here..... move with it)
#13 Jorunhast Jun 08, 2012 10:25:14	exactly....... the nude parties are a front..... ( hey I'm trying to make some intrigue here..... move with it)  No.  Put down the pr0n magazine and have a serious discussion.  Gosh!!!
#14 sfdragon Jun 08, 2012 17:09:10	nudity doesnt mean sex..... besides did you see the weapon runners down the other direction???