What are the âsweet spotsâ in the Forgotten Realms? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

What are the âsweet spotsâ in the Forgotten Realms?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Mr_Miscellany
Jan 23, 2012 10:46:31
You may already be asking, “What does he mean by ‘Sweet Spot?’”

Well, about six or so years ago the game designers of the (at the time) nascent 4th Edition D&D game identified something they called the “sweet spot” in 3rd Edition D&D: i.e. a range of levels where a player character’s abilities played off almost perfectly against the array of monsters, traps and other elements of the D&D game that a DM had at his or her disposal to create adventures with.

In other words, the Sweet Spot was that point in the game where it was most fun to play your character.

If we were to apply this idea to the Forgotten Realms, what specific locations, during certain time periods, containing interesting dungeons, adventure locations, NPCs and other setting elements are in your opinion the most fun to DM/play characters in the campaign setting?

If we were to assume that WotC will support a single, unified Forgotten Realms timeline, and given our location-time period-cool locations/ncps/setting elements definition for the term “Sweet Spot”, which of your favorite Realms Sweet spots do you think ought to be supported in a future 5E Realms product?
#2
Mr_Miscellany
Jan 23, 2012 12:32:46
An example of a Realms “Sweet Spot” for me would be Cormyr, just after the conclusion of the war against Nalavarauthatoryl the
Devil Dragon, her Ghazneths and goblin armies. This would be around 1371-1372DR.

I like this location and time period because it presents Cormyr in transition. A lot of Cormyr lore as presented in Volo’s Guide to
Cormyr still holds at this time—and so is quite useful for me as DM—but many heroes of Cormyr are absent for having died in the war. Thus lots of evil foes
of Cormyr can and will view it as weak and perhaps ripe for the taking. Nobles are either strongly aligned with the Regent Alusair or are quietly but firmly
against her. Vangerdahast still advises Alusair, but his absolute, almost Khelben-like attitude regarding what he thinks is best for Cormyr will lead him
into quiet conflict with Alusair over her first-of-many decisions as Regent.

This to me is the perfect milieu in which to insert a group of player characters. There will be politics to deal with, selfish and
evil opportunists to thwart and monsters aplenty to deal with—the later often driven back by patrols of Purple Dragon soldiers which, thanks to the war, are
no longer as active on Cormyr’s borders, making those places some of the best to start a fresh, new campaign in.
Neverwinter and Tyrluk come to mind. Also, the Ghazneths loved to eat magic. Who knows how many magically walled off terrors and other dangers were
unleashed each time a Ghazneth scented magic within some abandoned wizard’s tower or other ruin?

Finally, this time period is great for using extant Realmslore to build adventures around. To me, adventuring in Cormyr means
running into one of Manshoon’s clones and the Zhentarim at some point. Likewise the Cult of the Dragon. And for those who like the addition of the Shadovar and
the return of the elves to mainland Faerûn, there are plenty of opportunities for a Cormyr-based campaign to find its way into the deserts of Anourach, the
cities of Sembia, or to Myth Drannor and the Dalelands.
#3
sfdragon
Jan 23, 2012 13:08:33 waterdeep silverymooon and Myth drannor( after reclamation)..... and icewind dale

and the underdark but I dont see that palce going anywhere
#4
crzyhawk
Jan 23, 2012 13:23:17 The dale lands in general. They are fairly open and free, but are surrounded by threats and fairly frontier-ish.
#5
TruenamerX
Jan 23, 2012 17:01:42 Waterdeep, Cormyr, the Dales, Zhentil Keep, Myth Drannor, Thay.
#6
18DELTA
Jan 23, 2012 17:30:47 The Dales, Cormyr, Waterdeep, Silverymoon, and Baldur's Gate.
#7
Vicarius79
Jan 24, 2012 7:42:23 The areas that would be known as the Western Heartlands, as explained in the original 1E FR Gray Box.

#8
Diffan
Jan 25, 2012 9:03:34 Neverwinter, Western Heartlands, Cormyr, Silver Marshes, Calimshan, Rasheman, and my favorite

THE MOONSEA!! I can't believe no one said this. You have raving orcs to the north in Thar. You have Warlock Knights and demon worshippers in Vaasa. You have the reminents of the Black Network (Zhentarim) all througout the area. Political fighting with Hillsfar and Mulmaster AND a great way for water-faring adventures on the Moonsea (it's really a big Lake, but you know). Want to explore some ruins? Lets go to Zhentil Keep or old Phlan. Want to fight along side elves? The forest of Cormanthyr is just across the lake! Soo many possibilities.
#9
crzyhawk
Jan 27, 2012 11:35:08
Neverwinter, Western Heartlands, Cormyr, Silver Marshes, Calimshan, Rasheman, and my favorite

THE MOONSEA!! I can't believe no one said this. You have raving orcs to the north in Thar. You have Warlock Knights and demon worshippers in Vaasa. You have the reminents of the Black Network (Zhentarim) all througout the area. Political fighting with Hillsfar and Mulmaster AND a great way for water-faring adventures on the Moonsea (it's really a big Lake, but you know). Want to explore some ruins? Lets go to Zhentil Keep or old Phlan. Want to fight along side elves? The forest of Cormanthyr is just across the lake! Soo many possibilities.

Very true, the Moonsea is quite awesome. I just wish there was a good city in there somewhere. I've always felt like the Moonsea is kinda a pit.
#10
Stigger
Feb 01, 2012 15:57:12 I've gotten fairly fond of Amn of late, though I think Neverwinter and Waterdeep are my two favorite places, at least up to the start of 3e, where both sort of took a nosedive for the sake of "Drama", which I duly ignored. Though during 3e, the Silver Marches became pretty interesting, which previously I had sort of thought as that place I pretty much ignored, save for Silverymoon.
#11
Diffan
Feb 10, 2012 21:47:19
Neverwinter, Western Heartlands, Cormyr, Silver Marshes, Calimshan, Rasheman, and my favorite

THE MOONSEA!! I can't believe no one said this. You have raving orcs to the north in Thar. You have Warlock Knights and demon worshippers in Vaasa. You have the reminents of the Black Network (Zhentarim) all througout the area. Political fighting with Hillsfar and Mulmaster AND a great way for water-faring adventures on the Moonsea (it's really a big Lake, but you know). Want to explore some ruins? Lets go to Zhentil Keep or old Phlan. Want to fight along side elves? The forest of Cormanthyr is just across the lake! Soo many possibilities.

Very true, the Moonsea is quite awesome. I just wish there was a good city in there somewhere. I've always felt like the Moonsea is kinda a pit.

Ya know, as I forage ahead in my Heroes of the Moonsea campaign, I think I might have them make Phlan a good city amongst the rabble there. It's always been one of those border-cities that hold off TONS of monsters yet always get "ganked" from behind from some Zhent-warlord. So since it's based in 1373 DR (I believe), I might have them reign for a LONG time, setting them up so that when I play in a 4E or 5E adventure there in the 1480's, they're names will be legacy and their impact would've been highly known. Thanks for the cool idea.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Mr_Miscellany Jan 23, 2012 10:46:31	You may already be asking, “What does he mean by ‘Sweet Spot?’” Well, about six or so years ago the game designers of the (at the time) nascent 4th Edition D&D game identified something they called the “sweet spot” in 3rd Edition D&D: i.e. a range of levels where a player character’s abilities played off almost perfectly against the array of monsters, traps and other elements of the D&D game that a DM had at his or her disposal to create adventures with. In other words, the Sweet Spot was that point in the game where it was most fun to play your character. If we were to apply this idea to the Forgotten Realms, what specific locations, during certain time periods, containing interesting dungeons, adventure locations, NPCs and other setting elements are in your opinion the most fun to DM/play characters in the campaign setting? If we were to assume that WotC will support a single, unified Forgotten Realms timeline, and given our location-time period-cool locations/ncps/setting elements definition for the term “Sweet Spot”, which of your favorite Realms Sweet spots do you think ought to be supported in a future 5E Realms product?
#2 Mr_Miscellany Jan 23, 2012 12:32:46	An example of a Realms “Sweet Spot” for me would be Cormyr, just after the conclusion of the war against Nalavarauthatoryl the Devil Dragon, her Ghazneths and goblin armies. This would be around 1371-1372DR. I like this location and time period because it presents Cormyr in transition. A lot of Cormyr lore as presented in Volo’s Guide to Cormyr still holds at this time—and so is quite useful for me as DM—but many heroes of Cormyr are absent for having died in the war. Thus lots of evil foes of Cormyr can and will view it as weak and perhaps ripe for the taking. Nobles are either strongly aligned with the Regent Alusair or are quietly but firmly against her. Vangerdahast still advises Alusair, but his absolute, almost Khelben-like attitude regarding what he thinks is best for Cormyr will lead him into quiet conflict with Alusair over her first-of-many decisions as Regent. This to me is the perfect milieu in which to insert a group of player characters. There will be politics to deal with, selfish and evil opportunists to thwart and monsters aplenty to deal with—the later often driven back by patrols of Purple Dragon soldiers which, thanks to the war, are no longer as active on Cormyr’s borders, making those places some of the best to start a fresh, new campaign in. Neverwinter and Tyrluk come to mind. Also, the Ghazneths loved to eat magic. Who knows how many magically walled off terrors and other dangers were unleashed each time a Ghazneth scented magic within some abandoned wizard’s tower or other ruin? Finally, this time period is great for using extant Realmslore to build adventures around. To me, adventuring in Cormyr means running into one of Manshoon’s clones and the Zhentarim at some point. Likewise the Cult of the Dragon. And for those who like the addition of the Shadovar and the return of the elves to mainland Faerûn, there are plenty of opportunities for a Cormyr-based campaign to find its way into the deserts of Anourach, the cities of Sembia, or to Myth Drannor and the Dalelands.
#3 sfdragon Jan 23, 2012 13:08:33	waterdeep silverymooon and Myth drannor( after reclamation)..... and icewind dale and the underdark but I dont see that palce going anywhere
#4 crzyhawk Jan 23, 2012 13:23:17	The dale lands in general. They are fairly open and free, but are surrounded by threats and fairly frontier-ish.
#5 TruenamerX Jan 23, 2012 17:01:42	Waterdeep, Cormyr, the Dales, Zhentil Keep, Myth Drannor, Thay.
#6 18DELTA Jan 23, 2012 17:30:47	The Dales, Cormyr, Waterdeep, Silverymoon, and Baldur's Gate.
#7 Vicarius79 Jan 24, 2012 7:42:23	The areas that would be known as the Western Heartlands, as explained in the original 1E FR Gray Box.
#8 Diffan Jan 25, 2012 9:03:34	Neverwinter, Western Heartlands, Cormyr, Silver Marshes, Calimshan, Rasheman, and my favorite THE MOONSEA!! I can't believe no one said this. You have raving orcs to the north in Thar. You have Warlock Knights and demon worshippers in Vaasa. You have the reminents of the Black Network (Zhentarim) all througout the area. Political fighting with Hillsfar and Mulmaster AND a great way for water-faring adventures on the Moonsea (it's really a big Lake, but you know). Want to explore some ruins? Lets go to Zhentil Keep or old Phlan. Want to fight along side elves? The forest of Cormanthyr is just across the lake! Soo many possibilities.
#9 crzyhawk Jan 27, 2012 11:35:08	Neverwinter, Western Heartlands, Cormyr, Silver Marshes, Calimshan, Rasheman, and my favorite THE MOONSEA!! I can't believe no one said this. You have raving orcs to the north in Thar. You have Warlock Knights and demon worshippers in Vaasa. You have the reminents of the Black Network (Zhentarim) all througout the area. Political fighting with Hillsfar and Mulmaster AND a great way for water-faring adventures on the Moonsea (it's really a big Lake, but you know). Want to explore some ruins? Lets go to Zhentil Keep or old Phlan. Want to fight along side elves? The forest of Cormanthyr is just across the lake! Soo many possibilities. Very true, the Moonsea is quite awesome. I just wish there was a good city in there somewhere. I've always felt like the Moonsea is kinda a pit.
#10 Stigger Feb 01, 2012 15:57:12	I've gotten fairly fond of Amn of late, though I think Neverwinter and Waterdeep are my two favorite places, at least up to the start of 3e, where both sort of took a nosedive for the sake of "Drama", which I duly ignored. Though during 3e, the Silver Marches became pretty interesting, which previously I had sort of thought as that place I pretty much ignored, save for Silverymoon.
#11 Diffan Feb 10, 2012 21:47:19	Neverwinter, Western Heartlands, Cormyr, Silver Marshes, Calimshan, Rasheman, and my favorite THE MOONSEA!! I can't believe no one said this. You have raving orcs to the north in Thar. You have Warlock Knights and demon worshippers in Vaasa. You have the reminents of the Black Network (Zhentarim) all througout the area. Political fighting with Hillsfar and Mulmaster AND a great way for water-faring adventures on the Moonsea (it's really a big Lake, but you know). Want to explore some ruins? Lets go to Zhentil Keep or old Phlan. Want to fight along side elves? The forest of Cormanthyr is just across the lake! Soo many possibilities. Very true, the Moonsea is quite awesome. I just wish there was a good city in there somewhere. I've always felt like the Moonsea is kinda a pit. Ya know, as I forage ahead in my Heroes of the Moonsea campaign, I think I might have them make Phlan a good city amongst the rabble there. It's always been one of those border-cities that hold off TONS of monsters yet always get "ganked" from behind from some Zhent-warlord. So since it's based in 1373 DR (I believe), I might have them reign for a LONG time, setting them up so that when I play in a 4E or 5E adventure there in the 1480's, they're names will be legacy and their impact would've been highly known. Thanks for the cool idea.