D&D 5E Using Phandelver in non-FR world

[Kurzon]

Hi all. I'm gearing up to start my first 5E game and planning to run the Lost Mine of Phandelver as the first adventure. I'm also considering using it as the start of a campaign, using the town as a homebase, in a homebrewed world. Now, I've heard that there are a number of Forgotten Realms organisations/factions that play a role in the adventure, and would no doubt play a role in future adventures that I come up with set in the same area. So I'm wondering how intrinsic they are to the plot, and how easy it will be to replace them with something else from my own world, without creating a massive workload for myself?

Cheers.

 

[Gecko85]

Super easy to swap out, IMO.

 

[Leatherhead]

They are basically plot hooks in a can.

You could replace them with any generic organization of the same bent, or even just rename them and port them into a custom world.

 

[bgbarcus]

You could easily ignore the factions. They are background material, not integral to the adventure. I put Phandalin near Castellan Keep in Karameikos without any problems at all.

 

[Nebulous]

you can easily swap out any of the FR factions or just ignore them, they're not integral to the plot at all. I didn't use any of them actually.

 

[Uller]

Just swap the wilderness map with one of your own design and if you like factions as part of your campaign, make up some that are similar.

I've set it in Nentir Vale and used factions mentioned in Threats of the Nentir Vale, Thunderspire Labyrinth, Reavers of Harkenwold and others. I think our paladin just earned himself an invite into Dythan's Legion (I've modified it a bit...no Dragonborn in my game...but Dythan's Legion is dedicated to battling evil dragons and reestablishing Nerath).