| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Trusty |
Posted - 25 Jun 2008 : 01:00:24
HI All!
I have been runnign my own home brew realm for many years.
The new campaign I am going to run is going to be based exclusivly in a large city with the party consisting of all roguish types. I have quickly come to the conclusion that the amount of time for me to make a city large enough to be capable of the kind of guild/gang warfare I want would leave me little time for working on adventures!
So for the first time in many years If find myself exploring premade material. I have read alot about Eberron and Forgoten realms. I think I have decided to purchuse the FR campaign setting and the the Waterdeep manual. I am hoping you experts on Forgoten Realms can give me your feed back on a dark thieves guild type campaign in Waterdeep and or your thoughts on a campaing run nealry entirely in Waterdeep.
Any thoughts or advice? |
| 17 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Victor_ograygor |
Posted - 27 Jun 2008 : 10:10:06
quote:
Originally posted by Ergdusch
Well, Westgate is indeed an option. Slipped my mind somehow, though thats odd, as I'm planing to run some thievish side-adventures is this great city myself in the near future.
BTW, @ Markusthay, you have any maps of Westgate?
Also, @ Vic, most your links are to the google-starting-page. Was that intended or merely excidental?
Excidental  |
| Purple Dragon Knight |
Posted - 27 Jun 2008 : 08:30:31
Westgate. |
| StarBog |
Posted - 26 Jun 2008 : 13:11:00
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
P.S. - while Skullport would work, its more of a 'monster locale' - you'd basically be running your campaign INSIDE the world's largest dungeon.
I think this is a function of how you approach these things. Remember, monsters have careers as well!
I tend to run Mos Eisley, err, Skullport as a wretched hive of scum and villianry. But with the looming thread of the Skulls everywhere.
|
| Ergdusch |
Posted - 26 Jun 2008 : 07:49:58
Well, Westgate is indeed an option. Slipped my mind somehow, though thats odd, as I'm planing to run some thievish side-adventures is this great city myself in the near future.
BTW, @ Markusthay, you have any maps of Westgate?
Also, @ Vic, most your links are to the google-starting-page. Was that intended or merely excidental? |
| Victor_ograygor |
Posted - 26 Jun 2008 : 05:19:51
Welcome to Candlekeep Trusty
Zhentil Keep is the place that you seek. This beautiful city holds everything that a roguish campaign needs.
Zhentil Keep the Heart of the Black Network, I promise you this place has everything a rouge could whish fore, anybody saying otherwise hasn’t been there.
What year are you playing in?
Other things that could help you with the campaign.
Zhentil Keep
http://searchgooglle.googlepages.com/index.htm
Zhentarim
http://searchgooglle.googlepages.com/index.htm
Ruins of Zhentil Keep
http://searchgooglle.googlepages.com/index.htm
Free download
http://searchgooglle.googlepages.com/index.htm
moonsea-adventures
http://www.moonsea-adventures.com/setting.shtml
Zhentil Keep
http://www.nwnddmoonsea.com/Moonsea/Zhentil_Keep.html
ore wisit my link thread here at Candlekeep
Vic
|
| The Sage |
Posted - 26 Jun 2008 : 01:40:07
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
When I think ZK, I think of Dr. Doom's Latveria - there is no crime, because EVERYTHING is punishable by death.
Well, there is crime... but just don't let Victor von Doom hear you describe his myriad fiendish plots as such. 
And I'd imagine the criminal situation would be much the same in Zhentil Keep. There is crime, and it is mostly that which is perpetrated by those in power. |
| Trusty |
Posted - 25 Jun 2008 : 20:16:14
Wow thanks for all the replies! What a awesome resource this site is. I will be reading up on all of your suggested cities. |
| Markustay |
Posted - 25 Jun 2008 : 18:54:41
I'm of the 'Westgate' crowd myself.
I have used the Thieves World material to flesh-out my Westgate (and for the maps), and if you can get that anymore its really good (although non-canon, being from a different world entirely).
Westgate's Thieves guild is secretly run by a Vampire Lord, who is also secretly a Manshoon Clone, which gives you a connection to one of the other cities mentioned here - Zhentil Keep. I don't think that city would work for you, because although it is evil, it is very law-abiding (run by a Tyrant's church!). When I think ZK, I think of Dr. Doom's Latveria - there is no crime, because EVERYTHING is punishable by death.
But thats just my take (on ZK) - go with Westgate; its exactly the kind of den of scum and villainy you are looking for.
P.S. - while Skullport would work, its more of a 'monster locale' - you'd basically be running your campaign INSIDE the world's largest dungeon. |
| StarBog |
Posted - 25 Jun 2008 : 17:17:28
+1 for Skullport here.
In the campaign I'm currently running, one of my players is playing a Thief-Catcher (follower of Tyr) working for the Waterdhavian City Guard. He ended up starting a brawl in a tavern in Skullport. Not a good idea. The party just about escaped with their lives due to some creative use of ad-hoc explosive materials.
Oh course, later on, in the campaign, said PC, due to a Portal malfunction entirely of his own making, lost a hand. Ironic. Or apt, given who he worshipped. Or poetic justice really. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 25 Jun 2008 : 17:05:27
Or even Ravens Bluff. |
| Kuje |
Posted - 25 Jun 2008 : 16:20:28
Zhentil Keep could work also..... |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 25 Jun 2008 : 16:18:29
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
quote:
Originally posted by Trusty
I will check into Calimport. Are there any major cities in the Realms where crime might be rampant?
Westgate.
Yeah, I was going to say that, too. |
| Snotlord |
Posted - 25 Jun 2008 : 16:11:36
I agree. Westgate. Or Athkatla.
That said, I see no problem running a thieves campaign in Waterdeep. I enjoyed the feeling that the old regime in Waterdeep is slipping (Old Wolf getting... old, and the Khelben thing). The Shadow Thieves are growing in power. Waterdeep is wide open for all kinds of opportunities. Good times. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 25 Jun 2008 : 15:49:46
quote:
Originally posted by Trusty
I will check into Calimport. Are there any major cities in the Realms where crime might be rampant?
Westgate. |
| Ergdusch |
Posted - 25 Jun 2008 : 15:35:06
quote:
Originally posted by Trusty
Thanks you for your informative reply. You have answered my concerns about Waterdeep. It does seem to be a little too law abiding for what I would like to run.
I will check into Calimport. Are there any major cities in the Realms where crime might be rampant?
Indeed there are many other cities aside from Calimport were the art of the shadows is prominent - Memnon, Teflam and Baldurs Gate for instance. But there are many many more but few have been detailed to such an extent.
quote:
We are playing 3.5. Also is the Forgoten Realms Campagin book only avaible in 3.0? I checked D&DS home page for a update to 3.5. Am I missing it?
IIRC there was no update from 3.0 to 3.5 of the FRCS per se. Most changes have been published in various other sourcebooks esp. the Players Guide to Faerun.
Ergdusch |
| Trusty |
Posted - 25 Jun 2008 : 15:04:45
Thanks you for your informative reply. You have answered my concerns about Waterdeep. It does seem to be a little too law abiding for what I would like to run.
I will check into Calimport. Are there any major cities in the Realms where crime might be rampant?
We are playing 3.5
Also is the Forgoten Realms Campagin book only avaible in 3.0? I checked D&DS home page for a update to 3.5. Am I missing it?
Thanks again!
|
| Ergdusch |
Posted - 25 Jun 2008 : 06:55:47
First off - a warm and friendly welcome to the Keep, Trusty!
Let me assure you that in your search of Realmslore you have come to the right place, indeed! Manya scribe here know a great deal about the Realms and also about Waterdeep.
BTW, do you use 2nd or 3rd Ed. rules?!
Be that as it my, the lore of either book
2nd. Ed.: Waterdeep has been detailed with books aplenty in the 2nd Ed. There would be the City of Splendors boxed Set, Waterdeep and the North, Skullport, VOlo'sGuide to Waterdeep, City System and not to forget the Undrmountain sets I & II as well as Cloak & Dagger. I still might even have missed somein my list.
As you can see, Waterdeep is one well flashed out place if not THEE most well detailed location in the Realms. It might be a little difficult for you to use all this info.
Also, thecity of Waterdeep is (according to lore) a place where thievery is neither very popular (where is?!) nor very prominent. The laws and their implacement work extrimely well in Waterdeep, with many powerful groups and people around to quench thief-guilds rather quickly. Therefore the crime has founded its own 'city under Watereep' namely Skullport.
Therefore my advice: You might want to move your campaign to some other place whee thievery and gang fights are more present in the streets and the life of the city, like in the city of Calimport. You find a free pdf file of the 2nd Ed. Sourcebook Calimport[/i] detailing the city at the WotC download page.
Hope that helps a bit.
Good luck with your campaign and good gaming always,
Ergdusch |
