I love the concept of Midgard, but feel the book tried to publish the entire world all at once. Focusing on a single region and learning the new character stuff is probably the best way to go about it. My friend got it, and after talking about it, he realized he could run a dozen campaigns without ever overlapping our locations...I would focus on a region.
This is absolutely true. In fact, Kobold Press has published a number of adventures and one shots that could be strung together into two separate campaigns spanning levels 1-10 - one campaign in the Crossroads area and another in the Southlands. You can read more about that here: So You Want to Play in Midgard? (But You Don’t Know Where to Start)after talking about it, he realized he could run a dozen campaigns without ever overlapping our locations...
This is absolutely true. In fact, Kobold Press has published a number of adventures and one shots that could be strung together into two separate campaigns spanning levels 1-10 - one campaign in the Crossroads area and another in the Southlands. You can read more about that here: So You Want to Play in Midgard? (But You Don’t Know Where to Start)
Probably just the Zobeck gazeteer. That's where I recommend starting.
I like Midgard - but it's a D&D game setting with all that usually implies. You get a big book full of what are in effect lots of different settings most of which you will never probably use unless you're really into it.
The core of the game is the crossroads area which is basicaly set around the Free city of Zobeck. Most of the additional material for the game such as adventuers is set around this area. For example Tales from the Old Margreve is a series of adventures set in the forest right next to Zobeck. The adventure Courts of the Shadow Fey begins in Zobeck.
Do any of those adventures deal with that ruined Castle the old Lord of Zobeck had?