Let's say you've got a new player coming into a Forgotten Realms game. Because there is SOOO much information out there regarding the Realms, you don't want to overwhelm them.
Does anyone have a short document that lays out basic FR information that a 1st-level PC might know (i.e., basic geography, major organizations, most common deities, etc)? I've got a fairly extensive library, but if someone already has something like this, I don't want to reinvent the wheel if I don't have to.
Oh, I guess I should add, I'm looking for info from the 3.5 era before the latest time jump.
Well, common knowledge is going to vary a bit from region to region. What the average 1st level adventurer from Waterdeep knows is going to be a bit different than what some restless youths from the Dalelands might know starting out.
Do you have a specific starting point in mind?
The PCs wills start in Waterdeep, but they may be from elsewhere.
|
The best thing to do is to keep the scale small at first and slowly expose the players to the wider world. You might want to consider starting in a small town just outside of Waterdeep where you can introduce concepts and information at a reasonable pace.
A handout containing general knowledge about the area is useful too. Keep it to anything a DC 10 (ie untrained) check can find out. This is also a great way to dangle plot hooks. :)
|
The best thing to do is to keep the scale small at first and slowly expose the players to the wider world. You might want to consider starting in a small town just outside of Waterdeep where you can introduce concepts and information at a reasonable pace.
A handout containing general knowledge about the area is useful too. Keep it to anything a DC 10 (ie untrained) check can find out. This is also a great way to dangle plot hooks. :)
Agreed.
Also, just because Volo knows what's on the menu at an inn half way across the known world, doesn't mean the PCs have to. The wealth of info about the Relams should be a resource, not a hinderance - only dip into it when needed or when questions are asked. Which leads on to...
Never over detail. It can mean that you block yourself from making stuff up on the fly. Go against canon when needed, they are your Realms.
Personally, I'd encourage first timers to play characters from somewhere other than Waterdeep and then drop in detail about home only when needed. It will help generate the right level of wide-eyed wonder about 'Fabled Waterdeep' where they have bath-taps made from gold!
A handout containing general knowledge
That's what I'm looking for. I can generate one up, I was just trying to find out if there's already something out there on the interwebs so I can take the lazy route. :)
You could check out the Forgotten Realms Wiki. They have some high level overviews of the Realms that you might find useful.
|
|
Tons of stuff on Forgotten Realms..
and of course the Forgotten Realms Wiki
Edit: Doh! Beaten by Aaron Whitley
Let's say you've got a new player coming into a Forgotten Realms game. Because there is SOOO much information out there regarding the Realms, you don't want to overwhelm them.
Apologies for resurrecting an aged thread, but this is the exact position I find myself in. I have just joined a Pathfinder game set in FR. I casually asked the DM 'what should I read up on to get a clue?' to which the reply was 'start with the wiki'. It is mindblowing, so seeing others in a similar position being given guidance on this stuff is a great help.