Luruar and the Silver Marches Campaign Book - compatible? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Luruar and the Silver Marches Campaign Book - compatible?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Jhilahd
Aug 27, 2008 12:48:32 Ok. So I'm still absorbing the new FRCG book, and want to run a campaign in the Silver Marches region.

I've read the two page write-up for Luruar, and I have(but have never read/used) the Silver Marches (3.x) campaign book. Other than change NPC names, and merging the three northern forests together, would the campaign book be of much use?

I realize "it's your campaign and you can do what you want", and while I love the more encouraged freedom of 4e, if I don't have to do alot of work–I won't. :D

So... again, good use or no?
#2
lord_karsus
Aug 27, 2008 12:55:19 -I don't have the Silver Marches book, so I can only be of limited help. THIS thread might be of some use.
#3
Jhilahd
Aug 27, 2008 13:29:13 m'Lord Karsus, you are the man with many answers!
Interesting thread... though I'm still curious about whether it would serve as a good source. I mean, yes changes have occurred, and the landscape has altered abit...

I guess, I'm answering my own questions... more or less.
I'd still like some feedback though. :D :D
#4
quale_
Aug 27, 2008 13:35:52 Yes it's one of the better 3e books, it doesn't have much mechanics, should be useful, except in 4e you don't have Arcane Brotherhood and wards of Silverymoon, which was a bad decision to destroy imo
#5
Harn_Winterfell
Aug 27, 2008 13:36:29 There is quite a bit of useful information in the Silver Marches that can be adapted or used for ideas/history/lore. I think that you would find it quite useful as well as fun to read.
#6
quale_
Aug 27, 2008 13:40:25 you can also download Volo's guide to the North

http://www.wizards.com/dnd/files/2/fr_downloads/tsr9393.zip
#7
rinonalyrna_fathomlin
Aug 27, 2008 17:12:11 Yeah, the older sources will give you a good feel of the place, which (it seems to me) has not changed that much in terms of its nature.
#8
merrikcale
Aug 28, 2008 22:11:27
Yeah, the older sources will give you a good feel of the place, which (it seems to me) has not changed that much in terms of its nature.

Right. The feel hasn't changed but I would think all of the NPCs are now long dead so thats useless. Some of the maps are good. You could transport the Malar baddies. It is an excellent book to be honest and one of the real gems of 3.0 edition (along with Lords of Darkness and Magic of Faerun)
#9
colman
Aug 29, 2008 4:07:57 Of course, if you've not adventured there before you can just use the "ordinary" NPCs pretty much as is, especially from Volo's Guide.
#10
unfamiliar
Aug 30, 2008 11:45:38 One of the few FR regional books still worth taking a good look at, IMO.

Unlike the lands detailed in books like Underdark, Unapproachable East, & Shining South, the Silver Marches/Luruar weren't changed much by the Spellplague, so the Silver Marches will still be fairly relevant (& therefore useful).
#11
Mr_Miscellany
Aug 30, 2008 17:03:09 The weather charts and other data from the Silver Marches book will still be useful for 4E Realms Dungeon Masters.

The NPCs can easily be moved forward if you've never used them before.

Overall Silver Marches is a great book for information on how to get the feel of the place right, no matter what era you play in.
#12
gamersgambit
Aug 31, 2008 10:31:18 One of my personal pet peeves regarding this area (which is probably one of my favorite areas in the Realms) is that they did undo one thing about the Silver Marches...

The Marches is ruled by (in 3E) a Council, from which, every 7 years, a new High Lord is chosen. As of the time of the book, Alustriel is the High Lady of the Silver Marches; but her term is up in, I believe, 1381; after which the council is supposed to pick a new ruler, and so on. Each council member is in charge of their particular city and the High Lord/Lady is in charge of the whole thing plus any cities which don't warrant a council member.

In 4E FR, they changed this--first it was Alustriel, then her son...they seem to have jettisoned this (arguably) unique-in-the-Realms rulership style. I advocate re-adding it. It is, if you're interested in such things, one of the few areas where it's potentially feasible for a PC to wind up as the leader of one of the major established nations of the Realms--for a short period of time, at least.

(Disclaimer revealing personal interest: In the long-term campaign I was in, my PC had established a new town (which later became a city) in the Marches, and was at the end of the campaign appointed to the Council. He never became High Lord, but the possibility was there in the future. When Alustriel's term was up, Bruenor Battlehammer wound up being appointed as High Lord....despite his many objections to wanting such a title. )

However, on a general basis, the book still has many pertinant facts about various cities and towns in the area. Most of the old books that detail nations in more detail (Shining South, Unapproachable East, etcetera) are useful in that the 4E FRCS doesn't detail much about various cities/towns; so you can fill in the futurehistory of the individual ones from the 3E books using the 4E examples as guidelines, altering as you wish.
#13
conanb
Aug 31, 2008 12:42:32 I think any past information is pertinent. I pulled up my 2E book "Forgotten Realms: Adventures" in order to get information on Baldur's Gate. Had a city map I could doodle with to add new districts to, but worked like a charm plus information that was still useful to have stores and shops that had existed for generations. I think any past book would be useful in some way.
#14
rinonalyrna_fathomlin
Aug 31, 2008 16:04:07
One of my personal pet peeves regarding this area (which is probably one of my favorite areas in the Realms) is that they did undo one thing about the Silver Marches...

The Marches is ruled by (in 3E) a Council, from which, every 7 years, a new High Lord is chosen. As of the time of the book, Alustriel is the High Lady of the Silver Marches; but her term is up in, I believe, 1381; after which the council is supposed to pick a new ruler, and so on. Each council member is in charge of their particular city and the High Lord/Lady is in charge of the whole thing plus any cities which don't warrant a council member.

In 4E FR, they changed this--first it was Alustriel, then her son...they seem to have jettisoned this (arguably) unique-in-the-Realms rulership style.

Yes, I noticed that, myself. I wonder if they simply forgot about that detail.
#15
naex
Sep 01, 2008 19:31:09 The Dwarven kingdoms should be about the same in 4e, and a general overview of the area is useful, at least in terms of tone. There is more on the High Forest there as well that shouldn't be too different (except for a few new Elven communities).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Jhilahd Aug 27, 2008 12:48:32	Ok. So I'm still absorbing the new FRCG book, and want to run a campaign in the Silver Marches region. I've read the two page write-up for Luruar, and I have(but have never read/used) the Silver Marches (3.x) campaign book. Other than change NPC names, and merging the three northern forests together, would the campaign book be of much use? I realize "it's your campaign and you can do what you want", and while I love the more encouraged freedom of 4e, if I don't have to do alot of work–I won't. :D So... again, good use or no?
#2 lord_karsus Aug 27, 2008 12:55:19	-I don't have the Silver Marches book, so I can only be of limited help. THIS thread might be of some use.
#3 Jhilahd Aug 27, 2008 13:29:13	m'Lord Karsus, you are the man with many answers! Interesting thread... though I'm still curious about whether it would serve as a good source. I mean, yes changes have occurred, and the landscape has altered abit... I guess, I'm answering my own questions... more or less. I'd still like some feedback though. :D :D
#4 quale_ Aug 27, 2008 13:35:52	Yes it's one of the better 3e books, it doesn't have much mechanics, should be useful, except in 4e you don't have Arcane Brotherhood and wards of Silverymoon, which was a bad decision to destroy imo
#5 Harn_Winterfell Aug 27, 2008 13:36:29	There is quite a bit of useful information in the Silver Marches that can be adapted or used for ideas/history/lore. I think that you would find it quite useful as well as fun to read.
#6 quale_ Aug 27, 2008 13:40:25	you can also download Volo's guide to the North http://www.wizards.com/dnd/files/2/fr_downloads/tsr9393.zip
#7 rinonalyrna_fathomlin Aug 27, 2008 17:12:11	Yeah, the older sources will give you a good feel of the place, which (it seems to me) has not changed that much in terms of its nature.
#8 merrikcale Aug 28, 2008 22:11:27	Yeah, the older sources will give you a good feel of the place, which (it seems to me) has not changed that much in terms of its nature. Right. The feel hasn't changed but I would think all of the NPCs are now long dead so thats useless. Some of the maps are good. You could transport the Malar baddies. It is an excellent book to be honest and one of the real gems of 3.0 edition (along with Lords of Darkness and Magic of Faerun)
#9 colman Aug 29, 2008 4:07:57	Of course, if you've not adventured there before you can just use the "ordinary" NPCs pretty much as is, especially from Volo's Guide.
#10 unfamiliar Aug 30, 2008 11:45:38	One of the few FR regional books still worth taking a good look at, IMO. Unlike the lands detailed in books like Underdark, Unapproachable East, & Shining South, the Silver Marches/Luruar weren't changed much by the Spellplague, so the Silver Marches will still be fairly relevant (& therefore useful).
#11 Mr_Miscellany Aug 30, 2008 17:03:09	The weather charts and other data from the Silver Marches book will still be useful for 4E Realms Dungeon Masters. The NPCs can easily be moved forward if you've never used them before. Overall Silver Marches is a great book for information on how to get the feel of the place right, no matter what era you play in.
#12 gamersgambit Aug 31, 2008 10:31:18	One of my personal pet peeves regarding this area (which is probably one of my favorite areas in the Realms) is that they did undo one thing about the Silver Marches... The Marches is ruled by (in 3E) a Council, from which, every 7 years, a new High Lord is chosen. As of the time of the book, Alustriel is the High Lady of the Silver Marches; but her term is up in, I believe, 1381; after which the council is supposed to pick a new ruler, and so on. Each council member is in charge of their particular city and the High Lord/Lady is in charge of the whole thing plus any cities which don't warrant a council member. In 4E FR, they changed this--first it was Alustriel, then her son...they seem to have jettisoned this (arguably) unique-in-the-Realms rulership style. I advocate re-adding it. It is, if you're interested in such things, one of the few areas where it's potentially feasible for a PC to wind up as the leader of one of the major established nations of the Realms--for a short period of time, at least. (Disclaimer revealing personal interest: In the long-term campaign I was in, my PC had established a new town (which later became a city) in the Marches, and was at the end of the campaign appointed to the Council. He never became High Lord, but the possibility was there in the future. When Alustriel's term was up, Bruenor Battlehammer wound up being appointed as High Lord....despite his many objections to wanting such a title. ) However, on a general basis, the book still has many pertinant facts about various cities and towns in the area. Most of the old books that detail nations in more detail (Shining South, Unapproachable East, etcetera) are useful in that the 4E FRCS doesn't detail much about various cities/towns; so you can fill in the futurehistory of the individual ones from the 3E books using the 4E examples as guidelines, altering as you wish.
#13 conanb Aug 31, 2008 12:42:32	I think any past information is pertinent. I pulled up my 2E book "Forgotten Realms: Adventures" in order to get information on Baldur's Gate. Had a city map I could doodle with to add new districts to, but worked like a charm plus information that was still useful to have stores and shops that had existed for generations. I think any past book would be useful in some way.
#14 rinonalyrna_fathomlin Aug 31, 2008 16:04:07	One of my personal pet peeves regarding this area (which is probably one of my favorite areas in the Realms) is that they did undo one thing about the Silver Marches... The Marches is ruled by (in 3E) a Council, from which, every 7 years, a new High Lord is chosen. As of the time of the book, Alustriel is the High Lady of the Silver Marches; but her term is up in, I believe, 1381; after which the council is supposed to pick a new ruler, and so on. Each council member is in charge of their particular city and the High Lord/Lady is in charge of the whole thing plus any cities which don't warrant a council member. In 4E FR, they changed this--first it was Alustriel, then her son...they seem to have jettisoned this (arguably) unique-in-the-Realms rulership style. Yes, I noticed that, myself. I wonder if they simply forgot about that detail.
#15 naex Sep 01, 2008 19:31:09	The Dwarven kingdoms should be about the same in 4e, and a general overview of the area is useful, at least in terms of tone. There is more on the High Forest there as well that shouldn't be too different (except for a few new Elven communities).