Buying Magic Items in FR Campaign

[Wraithdrit]

Most of my 2nd edition Fr stuff has been lost or devoured by dust bunnies over the years so I'm running a strictly 3rd edition (err... 3.5) FR game. Since that is how I'm running it, I'm sticking to the current (retconned as some put it) version of the realms. That being said, I think I'm just about settled into the above locations for magic item transactions as they are all centered around very RP oriented locations and not just a roll a die and buy an item for XXXX gold kinda place.

Thanks for all the suggestions all.

 

[Staffan]

Hey all,

I know that the idea of purchasing magic items turns the stomach of some DMs. What I am looking for is how this topic should be handled in an FR campaign. In the FRCS it talks about four ways to get magic items are through adventuring, temples, purchase, or the Red Wizards.
[snip]
Problem is, other than the Red Wizards, the other methods are not defined as to what they have.

Well, adventuring is rather self-explanatory. You find the stuff the monsters have.

Temples would likely have various healing scrolls and potions on hand, probably a healing stick or two (aka wand of cure light wounds), and you'd be able to commission items the local clerics have the ability to make (depending on prereqs).

 

[Wraithdrit]

And here all along I thought the plan was to go to Arabel. They 180ed me and are now planning on going to Westgate. Time to come up with new plans.

 

[Henry]

Wraithdrit, you don't happen to have the book of Vile Darkness, do you? Because Westgate is one town that definitely benefits from that book.

 

[Wraithdrit]

Why yes... yes I do. Though in looking they may go to Saerloon as well.

West Gate = Night Masks
Saerloon = Iron Throne

In either case they will run into Thayans (as they intend to shop at the Enclaves, one of the criteria for where they go) and the local authorities (though taking a Shade to Cormyr is REALLY bad... its only noticably bad elsewhere).

 

[Wraithdrit]

Looks like Saerloon is the most popular choice. So where can I find good info on Saerloon? Any ideas?

 

[Oaken25]

Looks like Saerloon is the most popular choice. So where can I find good info on Saerloon? Any ideas?

The FR Adventures sourcebook has a map of Saerloon and about two pages of text or so. But its dated, because it was written to bring FR from 1e to 2e.

 

[Henry]

Wraithdrit, sounds like your party is following in mine's footsteps, only in reverse. Mine went through saerloon and Westgate on their way to Suzail several months back. My best source of info?

The Forgotten Realms Hardcover from 2nd edition, copyright 1991. Now available on PDF from www.rpgnow.com for about $5.00.

http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=822&

It's a highly useful book, even for 3rd edition games - not only because of the large number of Sembian/Heartlands/Moonsea writeups, but because of the random art object and gemstone tables also. It contains a 2 page write up and map of Saerloon. I hope it's useful to you!

 

[Wraithdrit]

I googled (gotta love that being a verb) Saerloon and came up with a small map that looked like it came from that book as well as multiple write ups on the city that all agreed in general on several things, so I'm assuming the source for those is the same.

Now I just need to find info on the Eyeless Mask and the Night Knives. I've got the 2nd edition book of Faerun Factions (can't remember the name) so I'll look in there tonight.

- Wraith

 

[Jürgen Hubert]

The sad part is, despite my reminder since day one that Diplomacy and Bluff is very important to NPC interactions, only one player has a Diplomacy score of higher than +1.

Just call for Diplomacy checks when they meet Important and Snobbish people. When they've alienated all the nobles in a particular kingdom they might get the hint.

I was pleasantly surprised when I started my Urbis playtest campaign. We used the point-based character creation, and I expected lots of PC with a Charisma of 8. Instead, two characters out of five have a Charisma of 14 - and one of 18! Granted, the latter one was a multiclassed sorcerer/rogue, but still...

And these characters have taken the diplomacy skill, and had plenty of opportunity to use it...