tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422181426312081107.post328634268288840192..comments2024-03-23T05:46:31.832-07:00Comments on Power Score: The Best and Worst of Hoard of the Dragon QueenSeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07263753821685936593noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422181426312081107.post-92224006166482292542016-08-13T23:52:17.088-07:002016-08-13T23:52:17.088-07:00Joel Pennie: Locate item! That is really clever. T...Joel Pennie: Locate item! That is really clever. That tapestry is pretty awesome. It's funny though, that treasure is going to be sitting there out in the road. Thanks!Seanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07263753821685936593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422181426312081107.post-54320622174490150782016-08-11T14:03:00.643-07:002016-08-11T14:03:00.643-07:00Hey, I've been running HotDQ and have found yo...Hey, I've been running HotDQ and have found your blog immensely helpful. <br /><br />Above you mentioned that you liked that tapestry in The Lodge: Our fighter accidentally went through it and missed the battle with the armor in that room trudging back. After our cleric used "locate item on some candles that he threw through the tapestry, they roughly figured out the mechanics. My party has taken it with them. First they used it to sneak the prisoners in the basement of the Lodge out without being seen, and now that we're in Skyreach, they have plans to, worst case scenario, just start tossing treasure through to deny it's use by the cult.<br /><br />You were right about fun ideas. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01735487086366716969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422181426312081107.post-20115120402510843162016-04-13T18:24:49.093-07:002016-04-13T18:24:49.093-07:00Damien Hills: Thank you! I also DMed in the '9...Damien Hills: Thank you! I also DMed in the '90's and wow was it different. I don't think younger people have any idea how information wasn't always so readily available. I remember learning about errata at a convention. It was on a piece of paper that I just stumbled on. It altered a class that had been causing some problems in my campaign. I didn't even know it existed, and I'd never even seen errata before. I totally agree that the whole point of a published adventure is supposed to be that you can just run it right out of the book! We shouldn't have homework! Looking back, I still like this adventure, but it is very flawed. If I could pick one to run out of the adventures so far, it would probably be Curse of Strahd. Thanks for the kind words and good luck with your campaign!Seanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07263753821685936593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422181426312081107.post-30401920135099410742016-04-12T23:10:50.191-07:002016-04-12T23:10:50.191-07:00I should just add that there are two themes to com...I should just add that there are two themes to comments I've read across numerous reviews and articles.<br />1. "There are so many problems with this campaign such as... X.Y.Z";<br />2. What are you complaining about? There is great potential in this campaign, you just need to be creative and add/delete/modify etc. (I even read one criticism of the criticism that any DM that complained about the HotDQ campaign was just bone lazy, and shouldn't be a DM).<br /><br />I would contend that peoples perspective on this very much depends on their DM style (narrative vs tactical); how much time they have to prepare for play (e.g. enough to re-write entire section, enough to barely read the next Chapter before the next game); and therefore what they expect when they fork out A$55 for a campaign.<br /><br />So I think this campaign very much suits the time rich, experimental/creative, and/or perhaps the more free-form narrative DMing style. But I think it is very frustrating for the time poor, let me pick up a module and run it as is, and/or tactical/mechanical style of DMing. <br /><br />Some people have praised the artwork. And I agree it is beautiful to behold (even the lovely quality paper), and sure that adds to the DM's experience, but rarely does it add much for the players (apart from when you hold the book up in the air for them to see for a brief moment :-). And I am all about trying to improve my players experience.<br /><br />The maps are perfect example of this - beautiful to look at, but from a cartographic viewpoint - shockers (full of errors, often missing cardinal points - fail for any 15yo Geography Test - no legends, too small, different scales). So to hang on my wall - yes agree wonderful. To assist in the tactical game play (which is the style we like), just a constant frustration. <br /><br />Anyway, my general point is the very wide range of views of read (on Amazon from 5 stars to 1 star!) I think is very much dependent on the style of the DM and his/her playing group.<br /><br />I personally wish I had read more reviews on it before I bought it (but I have to admit to being suckered in somewhat by it's fantastic artwork and its outwardly professional look, but then again I suppose style over quality is the way of all our world these days ;-).Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03163134541270880311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422181426312081107.post-1190384997860891122016-04-12T22:54:57.220-07:002016-04-12T22:54:57.220-07:00Thanks. This was a really good and balanced review...Thanks. This was a really good and balanced review. I am currently in the middle of DMing (halfway through Chapter 6). Personally I have been very frustrated with four aspects of the adventure: Quantity of errors (particularly in maps); Inbalance (and often muddling up) in the text between useful DM info (monster/NPC tactics/Descriptions) for DM's to read to players i.e. those little yellow/green boxes) and the walls of "background" text that is not for PC's but doesn't do much for the DM either (in other words is interesting but unnecessary); the lack of diversity in challenges to PC's (it's either hack and slash, or sneaky sneak - I would love to see more RP challenges, more puzzles/mysteries to solve); and finally I agree there are some great NPC's scattered throughout but to a degree to many (Episode 4 is a classic example of this) with too little information and only play a bit part for a single Episode. e.g. if the party doesn't choose to team up with Gleamsilver she disappears out of the adventure altogether. I think the basic concept, the opening setting, some of the NPC's (including the baddies - I agree with you I loved Cyanwrath, BTW what a great name!), and the large expanse of Faerun it covers all gave this Campaign so much potential. I believe it had the potential to be as great even as the Hand of Vecna. But the clear rush to get it printed and out the door, and its severe lack of editing and game testing has led to a product that is disappointing in so many aspects. The irony is - my players are loving it. Why, because I am now putting literally hours in a month to reshape it, correct errors, add third dimensions to certain aspects (I added a Vampire Spawn into the Necormancers Crates in Episode 4, which led to a fantastically fun mystery for the party to solve, and I have taken the advice from another DM blogger and added the Shambling Mound in Ep6 as a grateful rescued creature, and as an overwatch character for the party. But I am a 45yo DM with a young family and a busy day job. I find it tiring and frustrating, after forking out considerable Aussie $$ to find out it is lacking in so many areas. But... I am very very grateful to so many other DM's (like yourself) who have shared their ideas for improvements and corrections to errors. It's kind of been the silver lining to it all. The last time I DM'ed in the 1990's the Internent was in its infancy, so there wasn't this new shared resource. I am finding it absolutely fantastic! So thank you once again for your review.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03163134541270880311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422181426312081107.post-41289556857279359972015-07-17T05:45:50.503-07:002015-07-17T05:45:50.503-07:00Regarding sparsity: that's where DM privilege ...Regarding sparsity: that's where DM privilege comes in. Add in details, side quests, change personalities a little, have the flying castle appear overhead at times, have rumours on the road about attacks in other villages with the castle. It can't be everywhere. Remove the lodge if it isn't a good point, and find a way to connect the Neathyr Castle to Parnast and deal with Talis. I would suggest all DMs treat these books as a template that can be modified (heavily if desired).<br /><br />Great breakdown of the goods and bads.Philiphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09857186258485389626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422181426312081107.post-55957851624459807232015-01-15T05:25:52.637-08:002015-01-15T05:25:52.637-08:00Get the evil sword to tempt him into bad acts. Hav...Get the evil sword to tempt him into bad acts. Have it promise to unlock secret powers if he betrays the group, slaughters innocents, or commits an evil act (though it can be lying about the extra power). If he is getting too powerful with the sword, but not complying with the sword's plans, have the sword start calling out when he is trying to be stealthy, contradicting the player when he is trying to bluff or negotiate, etc. The sword is evil and talks, but it is not limited to just talking to the PC, it can talk to the PCs enemies also. He might want to give the sword up - or at least his party mates might want that. Good roleplaying opportunities.Evans Familyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03593518055469595108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422181426312081107.post-2400623412165023512015-01-07T20:10:53.907-08:002015-01-07T20:10:53.907-08:00Anonymous: Right now it is a very fun group. I hop...Anonymous: Right now it is a very fun group. I hope I can keep it just like it is for a long time. I told the fighter about the 2d8 tonight and he was very happy.Seanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07263753821685936593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422181426312081107.post-20682311906948642032015-01-07T07:24:27.540-08:002015-01-07T07:24:27.540-08:00No problem! I really enjoy reading your adventure...No problem! I really enjoy reading your adventure logs of your group. I really like the fact that it is a youthful group and they are having such a fun and creative time playing. It makes me happy to see such young people still getting into D&D. I remember setting up to my old man and my uncle playing some AD&D, trying to comprehend THAC0Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422181426312081107.post-5237598096634095062015-01-06T16:35:02.922-08:002015-01-06T16:35:02.922-08:00Anonymous: You are right! I will correct the text....Anonymous: You are right! I will correct the text. Thanks!Seanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07263753821685936593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422181426312081107.post-67914576475875100522015-01-06T14:56:31.000-08:002015-01-06T14:56:31.000-08:00One thing to note, when you roll a crit you double...One thing to note, when you roll a crit you double all of the damage dice you roll. So shouldn't the superiority die also have been rolled for a total of 8d6 + 2d8 + 6?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com