Scrivener of Doom
Adventurer
If you start small in Waterdeep - choose a ward, choose a tavern, choose a lesser noble house (or more than one: they make good sponsors and/or antagonists) - and then focus on a lesser-known dungeon then you can run something that feels like Waterdeep without feeling like the Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide is going to invalidate any of your material. Leave the bigger picture stuff until you have the SCAG and just enjoy the first few "smaller" sessions.
BTW, Undermountain is always good for this and 4E's Downshadow can fill the role of a home base and a place to adventure. (There's actually a good 4E adventure set there for beginning characters.)
BTW, Undermountain is always good for this and 4E's Downshadow can fill the role of a home base and a place to adventure. (There's actually a good 4E adventure set there for beginning characters.)
