Need Advice, New DM. HotDq

[blueranger]

I'm about to start running the module hoard of the dragon queen and really need lore on sword coast in order to run the game smoothly. Any resources would be of help! Also realistically speaking, how long should i give myself to learn the lore needed in order to run that specific module? Any advice or resources you guys want to share with me would be greatly appreciated.

 

[HEEGZ]

The best resource I have for FR, not just the Sword Coast, is the 3rd edition Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting (FRCS).

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0786918365/

You can also check out the Forgotten Realms wiki, or google for information based off of locations on a map of the area. Just google for Forgotten Realms map, and for Sword Coast map. From these you can get location names, and then google those names. There is a lot of info online, so I wouldn't recommend a book purchase other than the one linked above. It is really a one stop shop for any campaign set in the FR.

Honestly though, you shouldn't need a whole lot of prep for running this campaign. I have run the first few chapters and didn't really need much extra help prepping. What sorts of things are you wanting to add or do prior to running the adventure?

 

[cmad1977]

You don't need the lore. Just prepare for one chapter at a time. Don't bite off whole junks of info you will never need.

The Forgotten Realms are Your Realms. Whatever you like, keep.whatever you don't, dump.

 

[SwivSnapshot]

HOTDQ was my first outing as a DM and I found the Forgotten Realms Wiki to be a big help, although the info there is a little out of date. If your players are also new, that shouldn't matter much, but if they played 3 or 3.5 there will be some confusion between the campaign map and the wiki maps.

 

[aramis erak]

When you need a bit of history, the FR wiki is plenty of source for quick on-the-fly answers.

But really, only a few details really tie it strongly to the Realms, and they're support details, rather than plot-important. (The Mythall in Elturel, for example. Nifty bit of setting. Totally irrelevant to the plot.)

 

[MerricB]

You may find the articles on my site useful:
http://merricb.com/articles-for-new-dd-players/

In particular, here's an introduction to the Sword Coast:
http://merricb.com/2015/05/07/an-introduction-to-the-forgotten-realms-the-sword-coast/

I've also got a lot of advice columns (and session reports) of my running of Hoard of the Dragon Queen.

Cheers!

 

[jayoungr]

By the way, since people keep referring to the Forgotten Realms wiki, here is a link:

http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page

I wouldn't worry too much about the lore until you get to chapter 4. That's where a little knowledge of the area can really make the descriptions more colorful. Chapter 1 is set entirely in one small village, and chapters 2 and 3 are in an isolated bandit camp.

Welcome, and good luck with HotDQ! My group just finished it (we're starting Rise of Tiamat at our next session), and we had a great time with it. I humbly recommend this thread to give you further ideas: http://www.enworld.org/forum/showth...-quot-(Practical-stuff-to-try-at-your-table!)

 

[SwivSnapshot]

By the way, since people keep referring to the Forgotten Realms wiki, here is a link:

http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page

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I'm a newbie and wasn't sure if it was allowed.

 

[cmad1977]

I'm a newbie and wasn't sure if it was allowed.

Haha!! Welcome to DMing newbie!!! Rule number 1: you dictate what is and is not allowed(you know... For the most part)

Rule number 2: your players will ruin your plans. This is OK


Oh... You meant new to the forums I bet...

 

[Tony Vargas]

I'm about to start running the module hoard of the dragon queen

My advice would be 'don't' - it has 'first adventure of a new edition syndrome' pretty bad. Especially the first part of the story, the attack on the town. You'd be doing your players a disservice, introducing them to 5e that way.

Has anyone re-designed all the encounters in HotDQ - I'm sure someone must have.... that'd be a good resource.