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New to FR, want to start a campaign

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
darth_serenous
Dec 06, 2009 10:42:47 Hello, Im new to FR and Im seriously considering a campaign in FR. Most of my players know this setting better than I do and this is one of the many reason Im hesitating. Right now, I don't really know where I could start. My players starts level 11 and I don't even know where to begin. Have any suggestions are welcomed and exemples of your own FR campaign would be aprreciated.

Thanks.
#2
The_Silversword
Dec 06, 2009 11:26:42 Greetings and Wellmet.

The Realms is an excellent Campaign Setting in my humble opinion, lots and lots of variety in there. As for starting out I would go through the Campaign Guide and pick an area you like and read up all you can on that area. Some older stuff can be downloaded here www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/do...

If youre new to the setting why have the players start out at 11th level? I would start it out at 1st, and maybe go with the Loudwater adventer from the campaign setting book, its pretty much set up for starting out in.
#3
darth_serenous
Dec 06, 2009 11:34:36
The reason why I start the campaign level 11 is because the players are experienced and don't want to start at 1st level.

I don't know anything about the regions of the world so the only way I can find a region I like is by reading everything and I don't have the time to do it.
#4
The_Silversword
Dec 06, 2009 11:56:20 Well you could talk with the players and see what regions they might be interested in starting out in, and then read up on that region. The Dalelands is a good on to start out in too, and theres some info on the Dalelands in that link i piosted. Its basically a bunch of farmlands surrounded by ancient Elven woods, lots of potential for adventure there, exploring ancient elven ruins and what have you, some Drow activity in the area too so you could easily introduce some underdark adventures. And the Dales are like the crossroads of the Realms, you got human kingdom of Cormyr and the merchant nation of Sembia to the south, the Moonsea to the north, lots of Pirate activity around there, and some liches and the like around the ruins of Zhentil Keep, so you could easily branch out from the Dales. It is a big world and alot to take in, which is way i sugest you start out focusing on one area.

I still say you should start out at 1st level, but i understand some people have different tastes. Personaly I like the Heroic Tier best, once you get past that you start dealing with Kings and Queens, and the very gods themselves, can get pretty crazy, but some people like the big epic quests.
#5
dannoe
Dec 13, 2009 5:43:19 For what it's worth, I recommend starting a new FR campaign in the Heroic Tier, too. The reason being that Paragon Tier characters have a much more wide-ranging effect on the world than do Heroic Tier characters, and if you're new to the Realms, that might make it a little easier. You won't be worried about the politics of the various FR nation-states; you'll simply be killing monsters or chasing bandits or whatever.

With that said, there's not a compelling reason for starting specifically at 1st level IMHO. In fact, I usually start my players at 3rd, 4th, or 5th level, depending on the campaign I have in mind. Unfortunately, at 1st level you can really only fight kobolds, bullywugs, or bottom-tier goblins, and that can be limiting on your storytelling. However, at the (slightly) higher levels, there are suddenly a LOT more options. Plus, I think the game is a little more fun for the players when they have a few more options to play with.

Anywho, my advice is to go to your local library, check out a couple of FR novels and read them. Get a feel for the world. There are a bunch of good ones, but my favorite post-Spellplague was definitely SWORDMAGE. And then, if you like the FR, design an FR campaign. Meanwhile, if you don't care one way or the other, then just homebrew your campaign and make it what YOU want it to be. Ultimately, that's what's gonna work for everybody anyway.
#6
JudgeDookie
Dec 13, 2009 19:39:08 I think we are requiring this guy to read too much, which is specifically what he is trying to avoid.
#7
darth_serenous
Dec 16, 2009 16:06:40 I like to read, but FR is a soo huge campaign setting. The setting is going out of the setting books. Some of my players are big fans of FR and most of them read the novels. I don't want to read the novels before making my game.

I think a good solution here could be to make my own setting with a FR flavor. And for the Heroic tier and level 1 suggestion, I had my players convinced to start level 1. Ill probably start a level 1 3.5 game also, because my players aren't good enough to roleplay by their own. 4E (don't want to start a debate here) don't encourage roleplay enough for my players. They need a Craft skill to be able to think about crafting. So Ill go back to 3.5 for the purpose of further suggestions about campaign ideas.

I was thinking about making them apprentices of Elminster himself, since he is preparing to retire (an ex-player suggetion) What you think?
#8
JudgeDookie
Dec 17, 2009 1:43:52 Dude. I just have to laugh my ass off at that one. :;):

Don't you know that is why they came out with 4e? So you wouldn't have to read all those garsh darn bookies!!?
#9
Imruphel
Dec 18, 2009 19:12:59
(snip) I was thinking about making them apprentices of Elminster himself, since he is preparing to retire (an ex-player suggestion) What you think?

If they are his apprentices, doesn't that mean they are wizards and sorcerers?

Honestly, you say you don't want to read up on the background material but you are accepting a player's suggestion to have the campaign connected to Elminster? You're opening yourself up to that same player, or others, intruding with suggestions at various times about how Elminster would have stepped in at this point to help or how they would know something because they're Elminster's apprentices.

If you want a simple FR game start small and start away from where novels are set.

For 3.5E, I would recommend Uthmere in the Great Dale. There is a great series about the city on the WotC website from 4-5 years ago. That's all the background you need for the city. As for the Great Dale, there is the chapter in Unapproachable East that contains quite a few adventure hooks and ideas for adventure sites without requiring you to read for more than 15-20 minutes.

For 4E, I would recommend Akanul because there are some good articles on the capital, Airspur, as part of Dragon (Dungeon for the third article, IIRC), and there are no novels or other sources of lore to contradict you no matter what you decide to do.

That's just generic advice but I could be more specific if you mentioned what sort of adventures you want your characters to have.
#10
lord_karsus
Dec 18, 2009 20:20:16

If they are his apprentices, doesn't that mean they are wizards and sorcerers?

-Not necessarily. Lhaeo was an apprentice of Elminster, if you want to use the term in a more general usage, and their relationship wasn't very much one of older-magician-teaching-younger-magician-spells.
#11
Mr_Miscellany
Dec 19, 2009 3:04:00
I was thinking about making them apprentices of Elminster himself, since he is preparing to retire (an ex-player suggetion) What you think?

Not a bad idea if you ask me. Just make sure to roleplay Elminster correctly. Remember: apprentices of Elminster more often than not have to learn things the *hard way* and *on their own*, without Elminster stepping in to save them.

Nice thing about using Elminster is that he is the biggest, best delivery method for adventure hooks in the Forgotten Realms. He's been all over and is in/causing all kinds of trouble. I'm sure he could give all kinds of hints to get the characters started on an adventure.
#12
krisprock
Dec 20, 2009 18:24:17 I think you should start in the old Silver Marches area. For charactar of 11 th level there is plenty of untamed area there.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 darth_serenous Dec 06, 2009 10:42:47	Hello, Im new to FR and Im seriously considering a campaign in FR. Most of my players know this setting better than I do and this is one of the many reason Im hesitating. Right now, I don't really know where I could start. My players starts level 11 and I don't even know where to begin. Have any suggestions are welcomed and exemples of your own FR campaign would be aprreciated. Thanks.
#2 The_Silversword Dec 06, 2009 11:26:42	Greetings and Wellmet. The Realms is an excellent Campaign Setting in my humble opinion, lots and lots of variety in there. As for starting out I would go through the Campaign Guide and pick an area you like and read up all you can on that area. Some older stuff can be downloaded here www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/do... If youre new to the setting why have the players start out at 11th level? I would start it out at 1st, and maybe go with the Loudwater adventer from the campaign setting book, its pretty much set up for starting out in.
#3 darth_serenous Dec 06, 2009 11:34:36	The reason why I start the campaign level 11 is because the players are experienced and don't want to start at 1st level. I don't know anything about the regions of the world so the only way I can find a region I like is by reading everything and I don't have the time to do it.
#4 The_Silversword Dec 06, 2009 11:56:20	Well you could talk with the players and see what regions they might be interested in starting out in, and then read up on that region. The Dalelands is a good on to start out in too, and theres some info on the Dalelands in that link i piosted. Its basically a bunch of farmlands surrounded by ancient Elven woods, lots of potential for adventure there, exploring ancient elven ruins and what have you, some Drow activity in the area too so you could easily introduce some underdark adventures. And the Dales are like the crossroads of the Realms, you got human kingdom of Cormyr and the merchant nation of Sembia to the south, the Moonsea to the north, lots of Pirate activity around there, and some liches and the like around the ruins of Zhentil Keep, so you could easily branch out from the Dales. It is a big world and alot to take in, which is way i sugest you start out focusing on one area. I still say you should start out at 1st level, but i understand some people have different tastes. Personaly I like the Heroic Tier best, once you get past that you start dealing with Kings and Queens, and the very gods themselves, can get pretty crazy, but some people like the big epic quests.
#5 dannoe Dec 13, 2009 5:43:19	For what it's worth, I recommend starting a new FR campaign in the Heroic Tier, too. The reason being that Paragon Tier characters have a much more wide-ranging effect on the world than do Heroic Tier characters, and if you're new to the Realms, that might make it a little easier. You won't be worried about the politics of the various FR nation-states; you'll simply be killing monsters or chasing bandits or whatever. With that said, there's not a compelling reason for starting specifically at 1st level IMHO. In fact, I usually start my players at 3rd, 4th, or 5th level, depending on the campaign I have in mind. Unfortunately, at 1st level you can really only fight kobolds, bullywugs, or bottom-tier goblins, and that can be limiting on your storytelling. However, at the (slightly) higher levels, there are suddenly a LOT more options. Plus, I think the game is a little more fun for the players when they have a few more options to play with. Anywho, my advice is to go to your local library, check out a couple of FR novels and read them. Get a feel for the world. There are a bunch of good ones, but my favorite post-Spellplague was definitely SWORDMAGE. And then, if you like the FR, design an FR campaign. Meanwhile, if you don't care one way or the other, then just homebrew your campaign and make it what YOU want it to be. Ultimately, that's what's gonna work for everybody anyway.
#6 JudgeDookie Dec 13, 2009 19:39:08	I think we are requiring this guy to read too much, which is specifically what he is trying to avoid.
#7 darth_serenous Dec 16, 2009 16:06:40	I like to read, but FR is a soo huge campaign setting. The setting is going out of the setting books. Some of my players are big fans of FR and most of them read the novels. I don't want to read the novels before making my game. I think a good solution here could be to make my own setting with a FR flavor. And for the Heroic tier and level 1 suggestion, I had my players convinced to start level 1. Ill probably start a level 1 3.5 game also, because my players aren't good enough to roleplay by their own. 4E (don't want to start a debate here) don't encourage roleplay enough for my players. They need a Craft skill to be able to think about crafting. So Ill go back to 3.5 for the purpose of further suggestions about campaign ideas. I was thinking about making them apprentices of Elminster himself, since he is preparing to retire (an ex-player suggetion) What you think?
#8 JudgeDookie Dec 17, 2009 1:43:52	Dude. I just have to laugh my ass off at that one. :;): Don't you know that is why they came out with 4e? So you wouldn't have to read all those garsh darn bookies!!?
#9 Imruphel Dec 18, 2009 19:12:59	(snip) I was thinking about making them apprentices of Elminster himself, since he is preparing to retire (an ex-player suggestion) What you think? If they are his apprentices, doesn't that mean they are wizards and sorcerers? Honestly, you say you don't want to read up on the background material but you are accepting a player's suggestion to have the campaign connected to Elminster? You're opening yourself up to that same player, or others, intruding with suggestions at various times about how Elminster would have stepped in at this point to help or how they would know something because they're Elminster's apprentices. If you want a simple FR game start small and start away from where novels are set. For 3.5E, I would recommend Uthmere in the Great Dale. There is a great series about the city on the WotC website from 4-5 years ago. That's all the background you need for the city. As for the Great Dale, there is the chapter in Unapproachable East that contains quite a few adventure hooks and ideas for adventure sites without requiring you to read for more than 15-20 minutes. For 4E, I would recommend Akanul because there are some good articles on the capital, Airspur, as part of Dragon (Dungeon for the third article, IIRC), and there are no novels or other sources of lore to contradict you no matter what you decide to do. That's just generic advice but I could be more specific if you mentioned what sort of adventures you want your characters to have.
#10 lord_karsus Dec 18, 2009 20:20:16	If they are his apprentices, doesn't that mean they are wizards and sorcerers? -Not necessarily. Lhaeo was an apprentice of Elminster, if you want to use the term in a more general usage, and their relationship wasn't very much one of older-magician-teaching-younger-magician-spells.
#11 Mr_Miscellany Dec 19, 2009 3:04:00	I was thinking about making them apprentices of Elminster himself, since he is preparing to retire (an ex-player suggetion) What you think? Not a bad idea if you ask me. Just make sure to roleplay Elminster correctly. Remember: apprentices of Elminster more often than not have to learn things the hard way and on their own, without Elminster stepping in to save them. Nice thing about using Elminster is that he is the biggest, best delivery method for adventure hooks in the Forgotten Realms. He's been all over and is in/causing all kinds of trouble. I'm sure he could give all kinds of hints to get the characters started on an adventure.
#12 krisprock Dec 20, 2009 18:24:17	I think you should start in the old Silver Marches area. For charactar of 11 th level there is plenty of untamed area there.