I realize that there are probably many here that do not appreciate the Forgotten Realms campaign setting. I have been picking up Dungeon on the newstands the past couple of months and I should be getting my first subscription issue soon, but I was wondering if there were any more Forgotten Realms adventures in upcoming Dungeon issues. I have been enjoying the Greyhawk and Eberron ones (as well as the generic), but are there other people on these boards who would enjoy a little FR specific adventuring and what particular settings/elements within FR would they enjoy?
Great! I'll be looking forward to issue #121. Thanks for such a great D&D magazine!
Since we will proabably never see another published adventure for the realms again. I would like to see a mini-campaign (I really enjoy these guys)done for the realms.
Yes, a mini-campaign would be awesome. I love the Istivin - City of Shadows campaign, and I would love to see that sort of treatment for someplace in FR that hasn't really been detailed at all or for a very long time.
--- sort of treatment for someplace in FR that hasn't really been detailed at all or for a very long time.
That was a joke right? You guys do realize there are setting sourcebooks for FR coming out several times a year?
Yes, I realize there are FR setting sourcebooks coming out several times a year. I was thinking on a more micro-level. An odd town or village name on a map not really mentioned anywhere and using some distinctly Realmsian power groups in the plot.
Yes, I realize there are FR setting sourcebooks coming out several times a year. I was thinking on a more micro-level. An odd town or village name on a map not really mentioned anywhere and using some distinctly Realmsian power groups in the plot.
My thoughts exactly. A mini-campaign based in one of the FR areas or towns to support an old or new release area book would be outstanding.
The 3e FR books have been very good, but has sadly not supplied much ready-to-go material, like the very cool Marsember adventure a couple of issues back. A region sourcebook can explain what the setting is like, but a well written adventure can show you what the setting is like, and the recent FR books has done little of the later.
For example, "Woe to Mistledale" is a very cool FR adventure because its strong ties to the setting, so I'm really looking forward to the new Skip Williams adventure.
The 3e Shining South, Underdark and the Serpent Kingdoms included a couple of mini adventures, but it has not been nearly enough, so increased support in Dungeon would be great. Another "problem" was that the Shining South and Underdark adventures was fairly generic and thus added little to the setting.
So, a mini campaign like the Istvin arc would be great!
The 3e FR books have been very good, but has sadly not supplied much ready-to-go material, like the very cool Marsember adventure a couple of issues back. A region sourcebook can explain what the setting is like, but a well written adventure can show you what the setting is like, and the recent FR books has done little of the later.
For example, "Woe to Mistledale" is a very cool FR adventure because its strong ties to the setting, so I'm really looking forward to the new Skip Williams adventure.The 3e Shining South, Underdark and the Serpent Kingdoms included a couple of mini adventures, but it has not been nearly enough, so increased support in Dungeon would be great. Another "problem" was that the Shining South and Underdark adventures was fairly generic and thus added little to the setting.
So, a mini campaign like the Istvin arc would be great!
I whole-heartedly agree. While the sourcebooks are great, the mini adventures are really just encounters.
Maybe something like a campaign arc could be a helpful sales tool for a recently published Forgotten Realms sourcebook. You have the back-drop and then cite the new realms book as a source of all the new coolness in the adventure setting as well as a good resource for expanding the arc into a larger campaign.
That's why, as a very-long-time FR fan, I'm *not* asking for more FR adventures - I can't trust the writers to properly research the Realms. In the end, I find the Greyhawk modules more fun, and just as easy to add to my FR game.
(But I'm not complaining when FR adventures appear!)
Okay... quit being a tease, Erik, and spill the beans. You're hinting at a 3 issue campaign arc in FR. Now, personally, I don't run a game in FR, so if it's easily adaptable, I'll take it.
Squid
That sounds absolutely fabulous. Have you considered an Undermountain campaign backdrop with poster maps? The FR folks would adore it, and it would be easy to throw into other settings. Boyd seemed eager to revisit Undermountain in the Top 30 article a while back.
I loved FR in its infancy in Dragon and when the boxed set first came out. Then I HATED it when D&D was nothing but FR, and I was disappointed and frustrated with the quality and sheer volume of FR material that appeared in Dungeon and Dragon. Now that Ebberon is out and Greyhawk is chugging along FR seems to be taking a more reasonable role and I’m starting to like it again.
So to answer Eric's question, yes I’d like to see a FR campaign arc as long as it’s the same high quality material that’s been appearing in Dungeon lately. On the other hand, an entire adventure path might be a little much. I really want to like the FR; I just don’t want it shoved down my throat again.
Yes I am, Erik. Speaking as one of the few grognards who refused to "upgrade" to d20, any FR content or adventures (even d20 ones) I can get is about the only material that interests me any more. I still greatly miss Ed Greenwood's spicy articles on not-so-famous locales in the Realms in Dragon. Any FR adventures you publish in Dungeon help add to that content imo.
Do you like Waterdeep?
YES!!! ;)
Are you willing to buy three consecutive issues of Dungeon just for the FR content?
Absolutely, I also know a few from my group would want to buy them as well, after I ran them through them, of course. :-D
Heck, yes! I work and go to school, so the more pre-published Realms adventures to GM with, the better!
Does Eric L. Boyd do an appropriate amount of research for his projects?
Do you like Waterdeep?
Are you willing to buy three consecutive issues of Dungeon just for the FR content?
Just wondering.
--Erik
Does Eric L. Boyd do an appropriate amount of research for his projects?
Yes, yes he does. (And so does Ed Greenwood and Steven Schend.)
Do you like Waterdeep?
Sure do.
Are you willing to buy three consecutive issues of Dungeon just for the FR content?
Dude, I'll continue to subscribe to Dungeon until I drop dead.
And, btw - Erik, you're a teasing wiener. This is already shaping up to be a great year for Dungeon, and I only just got the March issue.
Eric Boyd rocks. Three consecutive issues? Already re-subscribed.
Does Eric L. Boyd do an appropriate amount of research for his projects?
Do you like Waterdeep?
Are you willing to buy three consecutive issues of Dungeon just for the FR content?
Just wondering.
--Erik
Three issues is a little much for me...
Doesn't FR get enough support? Dungeon is all Greyhawk has left. :(
It seems kinda like giving the last slice of pizza to Dom DeLuise when your other candidate is a starving Ethiopian.
Three issues is a little much for me...
Doesn't FR get enough support? Dungeon is all Greyhawk has left. :(
It seems kinda like giving the last slice of pizza to Dom DeLuise when your other candidate is a starving Ethiopian.
Having watched support for various worlds trickle and die so many times, I think it is encouraging to see active support for all three active worlds - and the push for generic adventures to boot.
I would certainly purchase three consecutive issues just for FR content, particularly if it was done by Eric Boyd (or James Wyatt or Rich Baker) and/or it tied in to the upcoming release of City of Splendors: Waterdeep.
A little more Baazim-Gorag wouldn't hurt, either. ;)
Does Eric L. Boyd do an appropriate amount of research for his projects?
Do you like Waterdeep?
Are you willing to buy three consecutive issues of Dungeon just for the FR content?
Just wondering.
--Erik
You bet!
That would be awesome. In fact, the only gripe I have with Dungeon Magazine as it is now is the very apparent lack of any FR-specific materials. I greatly miss Ed Greenwood's articles on Faerunian locales, like Varl said, and considering the lack of published adventures for this campaign setting, I think Dungeon Magazine could be the perfect place to treat us, the FR freaks. We are legion, after all...
-Enrique
I am a big fan of the FR but please, please take some other city. I have so much about Waterdeep in my racks and really dont like the city. I would change my mind though if your mini
campaign would be something dealing with Undermountain or better yet with Skullport.
By the way, does anybody know where i can find something about Skullport (maps, descriptions, places, people).
By the way, does anybody know where i can find something about Skullport (maps, descriptions, places, people).
Dragon issue 172 had a map and a few pages of text if I remember correctly.
Ok here it is as I see it...
WotC has put out a lot FR Sourcebooks on places like the Shining South, Silver Marches and the Unapprocable East. However they are seriously lacking is supporting adventures.
Why don't they support their own material?
Seems pretty much like a no brainer to me...
Pick a area then put out a sourcebook on it and a supporting adventure that the characters can play through. That increases interest in the area, supports the realms and helps everyone.
Here is an example:
WotC Release: Unapproachable East.
Dungeon releases "The source of Fear" - a eastern based startup adventure Levels 1-3
WotC releases: "Against the Red Wizards" Levels 3-9 - this takes off right where the dungeon adventure begins.
Dungeon releases: "Aftermath of Power" Levels 9-12 - this starts where "Against the Red Wizards" ends..
WotC Release: Magic and Monsters of the East - DM and Player support
Or Dragon Articles on the same...
WotC Release: "The Anger of the Simbul" adventure Levels 13-18
Dungeon concludes this with an High Level/Epic finishing move!
That would be great to see...
Instead I have a bunch of source books I barely use...
Does Eric L. Boyd do an appropriate amount of research for his projects?
Do you like Waterdeep?
Are you willing to buy three consecutive issues of Dungeon just for the FR content?
Just wondering.
--Erik
The answers are obvious here. It would be difficult to research more thoroughly than Eric Boyd. Waterdeep is protypical realms (although honestly not my favorite spot in the realms... maybe it was overdone for me when I played a Undermountain campaign that turned out to be purely a hack and slash thing which wasn't my bag).
In answer to the third question... no. I would not buy the magazines purely for realms content. I fully intend to enjoy the whole thing. ;)
As a huge FR fan, I look forward to this type of thing. However, I have found things very easy to convert to the realms (even Eberron adventures which seem overly focused on the war forged). That said, I feel the less FR adventures in the magazine the better for it. Generic adventures are just easy to fit into the realms.
The adventure path for instance translated very nicely into the realms. I was very pleased with it.
Sean Mahoney
Port Orchard, Washington
Does Eric L. Boyd do an appropriate amount of research for his projects?
Do you like Waterdeep?
Are you willing to buy three consecutive issues of Dungeon just for the FR content?
Just wondering.
--Erik
I would extend my subscription in a heart beat if Eric L. Boyd was doing a campaign arc in Waterdeep. It has been very well developed, so there is a lot that can be done with the city, especially with the locales of Skullport and Undermountain added in to all the great locations throughout Waterdeep (Can't forget the Yawning Portal Inn!).
Waterdeep is probably my favorite place in the realms and a campaign arc focused on it (and only peripherally on undermountain and skullport) would be awesome.
Actually, I have a deal for you. If that sort of campaign arc is ever announced I will extend my subscription as soon as possible to ensure that this sort of "response to the fans" content gets the treatment it deserves that someone like Eric L. Boyd could give to it.
I would settle for few FR adventures as long as those offered are truely rooted in Faerun. Generic adventures should be, well, generic, and there is no reason to merely give them a FR polish to please a certain group of gamers.
I have not enjoyed the Eberron adventures offered so far in Dungeon, because they have been hard to use in games I want to run. This is probably a good thing, because I guess Eberron folks enjoy them more for the same reasons.
Likewise with the beforementioned Woe to Mistledale. This adventure deal not only with FR organizations and regions, but also special features with the setting like the pact between the dalesfolk and the elves. I doubt an Eberron DM is ready to deal with that on short notice.
Now, Faraer has doubts when it comes to Skip Williams' research. It may be off in this case (I usually recognize realmslore when I see it, but are seldom able to spot errors), but that is not my point here. My point is that I want setting specific adventures truly specific, and the rest generic whenever possible.
Finally, to somehow get back to topic, the next point on my FR wishlist now that Waterdeep (future Dungeons yay!) and Undermountain (the wotc website, for some reason) have been taken care of is off course a proper treatment of Eveningstar! Paizo, please please get the original script for the old module, turn the village into a campaign backdrop, use the main dungeon as a separate adventure, and follow up in a later issue with the smaller dungeons in the area. The FR crowd would love you for it.
I too would love to see a campaign back-drop set in the Haunted Halls of Eveningstar. It could contain some interesting post-Azoun Cormyr lore and plots, given the location. To some people, it seems that Cormyr was left hanging, but that's probably a good thing adventure-wise. It would be interesting to see how Cormyr's new situation would affect Eveningstar.
To some people, it seems that Cormyr was left hanging, but that's probably a good thing adventure-wise.
Have you read "Elminsters Daughter"? It continues the timeline, and I believe Cormyr has stabilized somewhat.
Hey all, thanks for the kind words and I certainly hope I can live up to your expectations. ;-) Since Erik Mona talked about this, I guess I can too. The adventures will revolve around why there are so few of a particular monster type in the City of Splendors, a balance of power that's being upset, and involve adventuring in the city proper and below.
--Eric
To some people, it seems that Cormyr was left hanging, but that's probably a good thing adventure-wise.Have you read "Elminsters Daughter"? It continues the timeline, and I believe Cormyr has stabilized somewhat.
I've been eyeing it for a little while. I'd like to get it when it's out in paperback. Is it any good? I just picked up Silverfall, since that's out in paperback and I'm looking forward to reading it.
Hey all, thanks for the kind words and I certainly hope I can live up to your expectations. ;-) Since Erik Mona talked about this, I guess I can too. The adventures will revolve around why there are so few of a particular monster type in the City of Splendors, a balance of power that's being upset, and involve adventuring in the city proper and below.
--Eric
Eric - Serpent Kingdoms was awesome and I'm really looking forward to Waterdeep. I am eagerly awaiting issue #126. It looks like both will coincide quite nicely around the end of July :)
Is it any good?
Well, good, but not great. Ed was able to squize in lots of realmslore, which was a bit overwhelming for a novice like myself. Lots of (for me) new characters with names not as catchy as "Elminster".
I suspect I will enjoy it much more when I re-read it in a few years down the line. But if you are a fan of the setting, you should have a go at it.
Since Erik Mona talked about this, I guess I can too.
Oooo keep talking ;) Can you give any more hints? For instance, what levels are they designed for?
As it happens, I'm working on a new campaign for next autumn, and hope to start as soon as your book is out. This campaign will be loosely stitched together by published sources, with the Arcane Brotherhood of Luskan and the slaad lord Firebringer as the key villains.
My adventure sequence so far is:
“Undermountain” (side treks, all levels)
“Mad God’s Key” (1st level characters)
“Dungeon of the Fire Opal” (3rd level characters)
“Nuchar’s Tomb” (4th level characters, Libris Mortis)
“The Forsaken Arch” (7th level characters)
“Daemonfey Bolthole” (10th level characters, LOD)
“Grimmantle Keep” (12th level characters, LEOF)
“Prison of the Firebringer” (14th level characters)
Will the new adventures fit this "adventure path"?
The adventures will revolve around why there are so few of a particular monster type in the City of Splendors...Must be doppelgangers.
Really? Might be so, but I know that my City of Splendors boxed set has greater doppelgangers as a new monster (for 2nd ed. of course) and they appear in different places throughout the text. What sources have talked about doppelgangers not being in Waterdeep?
Is my little joke about doppelgangers being far from unrepresented in the Waterdeep sources.
Ah, gotcha. I was too focused on the greater/regular doppelganger discrepancy to notice the sarcasm.
Oooo keep talking ;) Can you give any more hints? For instance, what levels are they designed for?
The adventures are designed for levels 13 through 14.
The first adventure is primarily scene-based, while the second and third are primarily setting based. All take place within the city of Waterdeep.
As it happens, I'm working on a new campaign for next autumn, and hope to start as soon as your book is out. This campaign will be loosely stitched together by published sources, with the Arcane Brotherhood of Luskan and the slaad lord Firebringer as the key villains.My adventure sequence so far is:
“Undermountain” (side treks, all levels)
“Mad God’s Key” (1st level characters)
“Dungeon of the Fire Opal” (3rd level characters)
“Nuchar’s Tomb” (4th level characters, Libris Mortis)
“The Forsaken Arch” (7th level characters)
“Daemonfey Bolthole” (10th level characters, LOD)
“Grimmantle Keep” (12th level characters, LEOF)
“Prison of the Firebringer” (14th level characters)Will the new adventures fit this "adventure path"?
It depends. Were you planning on brining the PCs back to Waterdeep between Grimmantle Keep and Prison of the Firebringer for a Waterdeep-based sidetrek? If so, these three adventures will serve instead.
--Eric
Thank you Eric! (and please keep talking)
I want to start the campaign with a simple investigation of an Arcane Brotherhood mages searching for a couple of artifacts in the Waterdeep area, The Fire Opal and Halastar's Key (reworked from the Dungeon adventures), and see what happens.
I want to let the players decide the events in the campaign, but if I keep a possible "adventure path" in mind I may the able to lure the characters on a path that saves me some prep time. (ahh the benefits of a large Dungeon collection)
The fact that you adventures are designed for levels 13 through 14 gives me time to set the up properly, which is very helpful.
I'd be interested in some adventures dealing with the shining south. After reading the unapproacable East (which was like pulling teeth, to be honost), and no one in our group thought it was particurly amazing either.
The shining south however looked damn fine on first flick through. The races were quite cool, the elephant guys reminded me of Babar, think there is something cool about Babar weilding a 2 handed sword.
Anyway, back to some more in depth research whilst listening to "The World's longest Dungeon" podcast.
Later Carrion Crawlers