D&D 3E/3.5 Silver Marches 3E campaign book

[DEFCON 1]

I'm beginning my thoughts on my first 5E campaign once the books get released this summer and I wrap up my current 4E game. Knowing that the 5E books are using post-Sundering Forgotten Realms as their main setting, I've been trying to decide where I might set a campaign there, not having ever played or used the FR before (despite owning and really enjoying the 3E FRCS book). As I'm very partial to the Nentir Vale method of establishing a setting for a campaign (single area with lots of things detailed and many adventure hooks present)... I've been leaning towards picking up the Silver Marches 3E mini-campaign book and possibly setting my game there (and either updating it post-Sundering, or setting the game in the 3E era.) The fact that the current Table Titans webcomic season is also set there (at Citadel Adbar) only feeds into my desire to select that area (rather than the Sword Coast or the Dalelands.) But I dunno how good the SM book actually is.

So I was wondering what those of you who own the Silver Marches book feel about it? Is it a good resource for creating a small campaign area with lots of places and hooks to use? Would you recommend this over perhaps other 3E mini-setting books like City of Splendors: Waterdeep, Unapproachable East, Shining South, or Mysteries of the Moonsea? Thanks!

 

[Jan van Leyden]

I had DMed a 3.5 campaign in the Silver Marches, based almost exclusively on this book. The only extension used was Luskan (from an older 2e supplement), to tie several plotlines to the mages there.

You can get a lot of play from the book. Orcs, werecreatures, lost dwarven citadels, politics in Silverymoon, an ominous portent from Lathander, and all of this in a vast, cold land. The book offers quite some plot hooks you could use to tie the characters to the campaign on a personal level.

 

[Shadowsoul]

I own the book and I can tell you with all honesty that it carries on the tradition of the 3rd edition Forgotten Realms books with regards to their detail. I would highly recommend the book. It is a softcover book BTW.

 

[Mistwell]

The adventures they've published so far are along the Sword Coast, and has a bit of a Nentir Valley feel to it.

 

[DEFCON 1]

Thanks for the replies, folks. Sounds like it'll be a good purchase. Now to decide whether to buy the softcover from Amazon, or wait for it to get released on PDF thru dndclassics.com.

 

[Scrivener of Doom]

Silver Marches was, IMO, one of the best products released by WotC in the 3E era. It is perfect for long-term or short-term campaign.

I used it for a long-term 3.5E campaign that went to level 20, and now it is about the inform another campaign (hopefully just as long) using the 4E rules in the 4E Realms.

One of many things I love about it is that it includes weather. I was fortunate enough when it first came out to download someone's spreadsheet that produced the weather using the tables in the book. I realise weather doesn't make or break a campaign, but I love the fact that, particularly for a more sandbox or geographically-diverse campaign, I have the tools to make that part of the world also come alive.

I would grab the softcover simply because the included foldout map is so good. Alternatively, you could also use the map done by Mike Schley:



On my half-assed blog you can also find some ideas about adapting various classic adventures to the Silver Marches. <link>.

TL;DR: Great book. Buy it.

 

[DEFCON 1]

Thanks Scrivener... yeah, it was your comments on another thread about the Mike Schley map that inspired me to delve into the book in the first place. Perhaps I shall pick up the softcover after all.

And also thanks for the Sword Coast suggestion Mistwell... makes mucho sense due to the Sword Coast modules that are getting released. However, I'm trying to stay as far away from Waterdeep really as possible, plus my time playing all the Baldur's Gates have given me a "been there done that" feeling about the area.

 

[Scrivener of Doom]

Thanks Scrivener... yeah, it was your comments on another thread about the Mike Schley map that inspired me to delve into the book in the first place. Perhaps I shall pick up the softcover after all. (snip)

Sorry about the double-pimping. For some reason I thought I had made those posts over at RPG.net rather than here.

BTW, I also like Mistwell's suggestion. There's a lot of interesting places on Mike Schley's map of the Delimbiyr Vale and I rather like the material in both Ghosts of Dragonspear Castle and Scourge of the Sword Coast. I reckon mashing those two adventures together would result in a nice little campaign.

 

[DEFCON 1]

Sorry about the double-pimping. For some reason I thought I had made those posts over at RPG.net rather than here.

BTW, I also like Mistwell's suggestion. There's a lot of interesting places on Mike Schley's map of the Delimbiyr Vale and I rather like the material in both Ghosts of Dragonspear Castle and Scourge of the Sword Coast. I reckon mashing those two adventures together would result in a nice little campaign.

No problems at all! The more info I could get, the better off I am. Thanks!

And indeed, I ordered the softcover from Amazon and it should be arriving by Wednesday. Looking forward to it!

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

No problems at all! The more info I could get, the better off I am. Thanks!

And indeed, I ordered the softcover from Amazon and it should be arriving by Wednesday. Looking forward to it!

Good choice! Silver Marches and Lost Empires of Faerun are IMO the two best FR supplements (after FRCS) put out during the 3E-era, and there's plenty of great setting info and hooks in those products that can be used for any edition of FR gaming.

My only disappointment with Silver Marches was that it was a paperback; they switched later to hardback supplements which improved binding quality significantly.