I did a 5e campaign in the realms set in the Moonshaes around 940 DR, so during the second Trollwar, before Waterdeep was established. I liked playing 500 years before current events, as it opened up everything. I was free to play with gods, cities, technology levels, nature of threats. I had the island in the early stages of the invasion by the Illuskans, and since it was a sandbox, the players could do whatever they wanted - fight the Illuskans, bolster the borders, play politics, go monster hunting, explore the mostly unexplored center and western parts of the islands, etc. Rumors galore, towns and villages established and lost, or ignore it all and go to the mainland. I had a more medieval, dark ages feel, which worked well in the setting.
It ran for about a year online, the players got to about level 6, but we ran into the "the monsters need to be so powerful to threaten the characters, it gets a little ridiculous", and the gritty feel was all but gone. It devolved into kitchen sink/high fantasy DnD...
I'd love to re-run that campaign setting in Old School Essentials Advanced...
It ran for about a year online, the players got to about level 6, but we ran into the "the monsters need to be so powerful to threaten the characters, it gets a little ridiculous", and the gritty feel was all but gone. It devolved into kitchen sink/high fantasy DnD...
I'd love to re-run that campaign setting in Old School Essentials Advanced...