D&D General Reasons I Love the Dalelands as a Campaign Location

[THEMNGMNT]

I am planning to run a Dale campaign next year for all the reasons listed by the OP.

 

[touc]

I am planning to run a Dale campaign next year for all the reasons listed by the OP.

It's on my list for a homebrew campaign. I've run a 2E and 3E campaign there around the Time of Troubles, and it's just rich besides. Problem is, my original books are in fragile shape and my maps are in tatters.

 

[TheSword]

I'm also a big fan of the Dalelands for all of the listed reasons! And for many years now, Myth Drannor has been something I've wanted to use in a campaign, but I felt the Ruins of Myth Drannor lacked details for me as a DM to run. It had tons of details, but a lot of it was focused on the groups around Myth Drannor - good info but not enough to prep the feel of the city itself.

But the idea stuck in my head for many years. I know Myth Drannor was restored during the D&D 4th Edition era, but then during the Sundering the City of Shade floated over from the Anauroch and crashed into it. This bit of details, tantalizingly small from the Sword Coast Adventurers Guide, was enough for me to want to dig into it more. So I did! I just finished writing up a Myth Drannor supplement for DMsGuild that provides details, magic, and monsters for using the now shadow-filled ruins of Myth Drannor in a campaign. I've got 20 power groups with their interests laid out in the city, and a map with hexes for exploration. I use the Journey rules from the DMG with encounters and flavor text, and I've got a Danger Rating system for escalating tension in the ruins. Here's the map I worked up in Inkarnate for it!

I'm hoping to get this supplement out by the end of the year, but I want to put my paws on the new Forgotten Realms book to adjust to any new or changed lore for the Myth Drannor region. I think the timeline moves up to 1501 DR for the new books too, so I want to accommodate that.

It’s a great idea. There is relatively little DMGuild stuff for the Dalelands. Two or three new products. I’ll definitely check out yours once it’s released.

I think someone wrote an interesting looking adventure for Archendale with some dragons which I’m going to check out too.

[Edit] Oh wow. I bought it. It’s really good quality. Art, details, plot, encounter resolution. It has some awesome locations in it. I’ll write a proper review in a couple of days when I’ve had time to read in depth.

https://www.dmsguild.com/product/534676/Shadow-Over-the-Dalelands-Dragonfire?src=by_author_of_product

 

[TheSword]

It's on my list for a homebrew campaign. I've run a 2E and 3E campaign there around the Time of Troubles, and it's just rich besides. Problem is, my original books are in fragile shape and my maps are in tatters.

I’m hoping there will be a detailed base map in the new books. I think I saw a preview somewhere. I can use for an online campaign.

 

[Demetrios1453]

The Dalelands were always my go-to spot for 2e and 3e campaigns. I was quite annoyed that 5e sidelined the region, and was conversely quite happy that will be featured in the upcoming books.

 

[TheSword]

I do think the Forge of Fury adventure from 3e and Yawning Portal would make a brilliant stand in for the ruined dwarf kingdom of Tethyamar. A million times better than the attrocious map in Lords of Darkness.

Are there any other adventures that would translate well?

 

[GuyBoy]

I do think the Forge of Fury adventure from 3e and Yawning Portal would make a brilliant stand in for the ruined dwarf kingdom of Tethyamar. A million times better than the attrocious map in Lords of Darkness.

Are there any other adventures that would translate well?

There's the old 3E mega-module, Axe of the Dwarvish Lords.

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

Originally my 1e campaign (after it had graduated from "generic fantasy world with dungeons" took place in Waterdeep. That same campaign kept going until 2e, when the group decided that they wanted to pick up and move to Shadowdale. Going from such a dense locale to Shadowdale, I was at first worried about having enough to inspire me, but there's a ton in the Dalelands to work with.

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

I’ve favored the Dalelands too. But when I’m running there I include the Moonsea and Dragon Reach, with Sembia hugging the coast and little interior.

My vision however is stuck in the gray box presentation with the Moonsea city states much closer rivals jockeying for favorable position in the Dalelands.

 

[Plaguescarred]

Love the Dales played there a lot during AD&D 2nd edition, so reading OP was sweet!