| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Moracai
Acolyte
2 Posts |
 Posted - 06 Jun 2009 : 17:46:22
|
Hi, first post.
Some day at the not too distant future, I was thinking of starting a Forgotten Realms campaign. The system is not set yet, but that's probably going to be 3.5.
So, I'm a relative noob to FR. I mean I've played the baldur's gates, played in Northern Campaign, which ended in a premature TPK at around 12th level (D&D 3.5), read a few Drizz't books and whatnot.
My idea is that the PCs would be a part of a Red Wizard enclave in Telflamm, with one of the PCs being a mid-ranking Red Wizard. I've read the stuff from Unapproachable East and Lords of Darkness, and I'm really stoked about this campaign.
It would be a bit like Vampire, with different factions struggling for influence, as well as the individuals inside the factions gatting more prestige/status.
So, what kind of neat occurences or other ideas do you have for this kind of campaign?
Oh, as a final note I know that Thay has changed a bit on account of the new novel trilogy and D&D 4e. Now I'm looking for ideas before the civil war, but I might get the campaign going into the war era as well.
|
|
|
Dart Ambermoon
Learned Scribe
Germany
253 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jun 2009 : 18:08:08
|
Well...for some background material...for anything leading up to the war, Richard Lee Byers´ "The Haunted Land" trilogy is a virtual goldmine in helping you set mood and atmosphere (not to mention providing some fantastic lore and ideas). Furthermore the old "Villain´s Lorebook" has info on some Red Wizards, as well as "Dreams of the Red Wizards". "Cloak and Dagger" has some info on the Shadowmasters of Telflamm, if you want to incorporate them. The "Spellbound" Box Set is a campaign centered on Szass Tam in particular. This is all 2E. (so all well before the war)
3E "Champions of Ruin" has info on Eltab, which you might want to incorporate. And then there´s a bunch of novels like "Red Magic"...jeez...I´m slaughtering you with sources...and there are certainly many more, which I have momentarily forgotten, but those scribes more learned than me will know. |
~ In Finder I trust, for danger I lust ~ |
Edited by - Dart Ambermoon on 06 Jun 2009 18:09:07 |
 |
|
|
BlackDragonKarameikos
Learned Scribe
USA
106 Posts |
Posted - 07 Jun 2009 : 07:16:07
|
Well Moracai, it seems like you have a good idea for a campaign, but I have to stress take your time, gather all the information that you think you will need before you even think of starting the campaign.
The more time you take in prepping for the campaign, the more your players will enjoy it.
If you want some background information on the Red Wizards and on Thay itself then do a search on here and you will come up with a bunch of topics that could possibly be of help to you.
Since you are a realtive noob as you put it to the Forgotten Realms, then I would suggest either purchasing the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting book or possibly checking it out at your neartest public library.
Also, if you are going to be the DM then don't forget that you can make items up as well and insert them into your campaign, sometimes that is even more fun than going by so called "canon" or as it is
sometimes called "Written Material"
And before anyone says anything, I have nothing against "Canon" Material, I use it a lot in my campaigns, I'm simply suggesting that he could make things up as well.
But then this is just my two cents. |
|
|
|
Arion Elenim
Senior Scribe
933 Posts |
Posted - 08 Jun 2009 : 05:06:13
|
I would ask the PCs to pick an aspect that Thay is known for as part of their respective backgrounds: history, religion, or even slavery, farming, masonry, etc. This will allow you to tailor make the campaign to their specific professions and attitudes toward them.
Then, depending on their alignments (I'm assuming you're skewing neutral evil), pit them against the local do-gooders - do the reverse of a traditional good campaign. They have to kidnap the princess, steal the jewels, assassinate the head of state, etc. |
My latest Realms-based short story, about a bard, a paladin of Lathander and the letter of the law, Debts Repaid. It takes place before the "shattering" and gives the bard Arion a last gasp before he plunges into the present.http://candlekeep.com/campaign/logs/log-debts.htm |
|
|
|
Knight of the Gate
Senior Scribe
USA
624 Posts |
Posted - 08 Jun 2009 : 05:14:58
|
| Here's a thread from not too long ago which discussed gaming in Thay. I think you migh find some of it interesting. http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=12434 |
How can life be so bountiful, providing such sublime rewards for mediocrity? -Umberto Ecco |
|
|
|
Moracai
Acolyte
2 Posts |
Posted - 08 Jun 2009 : 14:17:34
|
Thanks for the advice everyone!
@Dart Ambermoon.
I found Villain's Lorebook as a free download from wizard's site. I think that I can use at least two NPCs from there. Thanks! I might have difficulties getting my hands on most of the stuff you mentioned, but I'm going to try to get a few items you mentioned.
@BlackDragonKarameikos.
I believe that I have the time I need to prep the campaign. Our groups summers have always been erratic at best. Soon we should have a comically infuenced Heroes Unlimited thing going on, all of us haven't even made characters yet. After summer we are going to do an ancient Rome Vampire thing. After that it is my turn to GM. Oh, and I plan to use the canon quite liberally, and while I didn't mention it, I do have the FR campaign setting (I thought it was self explanatory).
@Arion Elenim.
I plan to use pregenerated characters for various reasons I don't think I need to mention here. I plan to run things quite like you describe, while trying to avoid the "evil-stupid" thing. Here's a brief summary of the player characters involved:
- Human Red Wizard of Thay (wizard level 7, red wizard 1), enchanter
- Human Thayan Knight (Fighter 5, Thayan Knight 3)
- Human Black Flame Zealot (Rogue 3, Cleric 3, Black flame zealot 2)
- Changeling(?) Spymaster (Rogue 5, Spymaster 3) Harper spy
- Wererat (Thug 8 or ranger 8) Zhentarim spy
- Human Maiden of Pain (Cleric 5, Maiden of Pain 3)
- Human Warmage 8
In case someone really dislikes his character, I have the following characters on reserve.
- Minotayr Thayan gladiator
- Monk (I'd have to tweak this somehow to better represent Order of the Salamander)
- Cloaked Dancer/Beguiler
@Knight of the Gate
Thanks, I'll have a look at that.
Feel free to comment further, everyone :) |
|
|
|
Arion Elenim
Senior Scribe
933 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jun 2009 : 07:34:04
|
| Wow - that's quite a panoply o' crazies. Make sure each PC knows why they are who they are, and whether or not they enjoy their positions in society. That's step one. |
My latest Realms-based short story, about a bard, a paladin of Lathander and the letter of the law, Debts Repaid. It takes place before the "shattering" and gives the bard Arion a last gasp before he plunges into the present.http://candlekeep.com/campaign/logs/log-debts.htm |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
Red Wizard campaign, ideas wanted
