D&D 5E Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide Neverwinter description mostly useless

[discosoc]

OK - not quite yet. The river flowing through Neverwinter isn't even named! I guess the assumption is that everyone already knows all this stuff...?

My assumption was there are (or were) plans to introduce a larger sourcebook for Neverwinter. Even if there aren't, it just reinforces the complaint that the SCAG was more of a player's introduction rather than a GM setting guide.

Could just be related to the Adventure League focus of 5e, where important information is expected to be included with the adventure, and everything is useless fluff at a public session.

 

[Jester David]

My assumption was there are (or were) plans to introduce a larger sourcebook for Neverwinter. Even if there aren't, it just reinforces the complaint that the SCAG was more of a player's introduction rather than a GM setting guide.

Could just be related to the Adventure League focus of 5e, where important information is expected to be included with the adventure, and everything is useless fluff at a public session.

They did that already: clicky
Or PDF

 

[TerraDave]

LOL. Just because many (most?) players can't be bothered to read it doesn't mean they're not the primary audience. It's got player-friendly fluff and player-oriented crunch in it. It's the 5e equivalent of the previous editions' players guides.

Is the SCAG 15 pages long?

Many of us know perfectly well that players don't read much setting stuff. Certainly not a whole hardback of it!

You would think that the professional game designers at WotC have figured that out.

 

[Jester David]

So my players are about to spend some time in Neverwinter after getting dropped off from ice castle (my conclusion to HotDQ) and I thought "Ah - I'll crack open the Adventurer's Guide and get some useful details from there..."

This thing is all full of fluff about the political machinations and very little about the interesting nooks and crannies of the city. Things noted on the map are not described in the text.

Flipping through, descriptions seem to be all over the shop. Some locations get useful detail others get lost in discussing events that are completely irrelevant.

This to me is the big issue with the FR setting. It's so bogged down with its own history that it becomes oppressive and overwhelming for new people trying to get a handle on things. I just want my adventure to land in medias res. What are Waterdeep, Neverwinter, etc like now. What are the parts of town to avoid? Where are the useful shops, places of worship etc etc.

/rant over

Try: http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Neverwinter

 

[robus]

The 4E Neverwinter book is quite good and seems consistent with what's been published about Neverwinter in Lost Mine of Phandelver at least.

-TG

Hmm - so this is a bit embarrassing.... I forgot I had that book! Thanks for the reminder!

 

[discosoc]

They did that already: clicky
Or PDF

I was thinking along the lines of something more updated with the revised spellplague stuff.

 

[robus]

Is the SCAG 15 pages long?

Many of us know perfectly well that players don't read much setting stuff. Certainly not a whole hardback of it!

You would think that the professional game designers at WotC have figured that out.

Certainly none of my players have bought it...

 

[robus]

Hmm - so this is a bit embarrassing.... I forgot I had that book! Thanks for the reminder!

And there's a kick-ass map in it too that my players are going to love (I'll explain about the chasm being filled in...) No labels on the map too!

 

[BookBarbarian]

The SCAG is more for players than DMs. What we need is a proper campaign guide.

I bought the SCAG because I wanted more options as a player. I like that it also serves as a guide to what the average adventurer knows about the various regions and cultures.

After transitioning to DMing, I still find it useful to hand to my players who are not that familiar with FR.

I wouldn't have much personal use for a proper Campaign Guide since I mostly run the Pre-mades, but I can absolutely see the desire for one.

 

[pukunui]

Is the SCAG 15 pages long?

No, but the complaints about it when it was first released certainly made it seem like it was ...

Many of us know perfectly well that players don't read much setting stuff. Certainly not a whole hardback of it!

You would think that the professional game designers at WotC have figured that out.

Consider it an experiment in delivering content that was intended primarily for players but that would be of interest to DMs as well. It does include a few spoiler-free adventure seeds.