I put a plot hook for Dungeon of the Mad Mage in Iarno’s study. It detailed the wizards ambition to gain power and items from Undermountain. I had it where the notes could not be deciphered until an NPC figured it out which was not until they finished Lost Mines so that the lure of Undermountain would not over shadow the Forge of Spells. It worked out really well. Campaign has been going for 2 years. The players are taking a break from undermountain to go through White Plume Mountain. I found your White Plume Mountain video also helpful. You make good, concise content!
Another great vid. Particularly like the flowchart showing how things are connected, super useful when planning a module. Will probably keep this adventure in mind next time I'm running some level 1 characters through a campaign.
I very much enjoyed your video and recommendations/notes on running the module. The STORY WEB is an excellent tool for the DM. Appreciate that inclusion!! I'm currently running this module on Roll20 with 2 groups. (1 with heavy experienced players / 1 with totally new RPG players). As a new DM to Roll20 I'm learning the tech side but the story & content are very good for a beginning Roll20 DM. The module is open (my player's diverted on several sidequests and it expanded the number of sessions very well). I'm coming to the conclusion of each campaign and faced with Wave Echo Cave. I'm disappointed in the Magical Forge capabilities and adjusted it so that "nobody knows" the potential limitations of the magical forge. To me that was a better reveal/reward for the player's hard work. I used the missing Wizard and the kidnapped Dwarf as a strong hook. I expanded on Agatha the Banshee and even The Old Well (as an intro to a deeper dungeon that has not yet been explored. (perhaps - Forge of Fury). Phandalin was a challenge and I present a number of side quests (as included). AS I near the end of the encounters I'm challenged with continuing on with the next campaign/module to accommodate 5 players of Level 5 capabilities. My party demands to continue at their current level (5th)....and ultimately wish to gain thru level 15 at some point. (longterm goals). I'd appreciate any recommendations you might have for that.
I think Glasstaff’s first name is Iano not Irano. I ran the adventure once. The sidequests really unnecessary to the main quest to rescue Gundren. In fact if the PCs delay too long Gundren may be dead. After he learns location of Wave Echo Cave there’s no reason for Black Spider to keep Gundren alive. I would dispense with the sidequests until after Wave Echo Cave & just use them as mini-adventures.
That's what makes this module so good. It all depends on the stories you want to tell as the DM. The location is written in Dwarvish so maybe he kept him alive for translation, there's a lot of good paths to choose. Going straight to the forge can open good paths as well.
I put a plot hook for Dungeon of the Mad Mage in Iarno’s study. It detailed the wizards ambition to gain power and items from Undermountain. I had it where the notes could not be deciphered until an NPC figured it out which was not until they finished Lost Mines so that the lure of Undermountain would not over shadow the Forge of Spells.
It worked out really well. Campaign has been going for 2 years. The players are taking a break from undermountain to go through White Plume Mountain.
I found your White Plume Mountain video also helpful. You make good, concise content!
I appreciate the compliment. Your campaign sounds pretty epic. White plume is very fun. The lava escape tube was my favorite if your party can find it
Another great vid. Particularly like the flowchart showing how things are connected, super useful when planning a module. Will probably keep this adventure in mind next time I'm running some level 1 characters through a campaign.
Very good. Especially liked flowchart and tables.
Thanks, happy to help. May your adventures be long, and your party not be totally killed 😜😜
Thank you for this
Thank you!
Hope you make more of these. Really good stuff
Great summary, definitely going try running this adventure
I very much enjoyed your video and recommendations/notes on running the module. The STORY WEB is an excellent tool for the DM. Appreciate that inclusion!! I'm currently running this module on Roll20 with 2 groups. (1 with heavy experienced players / 1 with totally new RPG players). As a new DM to Roll20 I'm learning the tech side but the story & content are very good for a beginning Roll20 DM. The module is open (my player's diverted on several sidequests and it expanded the number of sessions very well). I'm coming to the conclusion of each campaign and faced with Wave Echo Cave. I'm disappointed in the Magical Forge capabilities and adjusted it so that "nobody knows" the potential limitations of the magical forge. To me that was a better reveal/reward for the player's hard work. I used the missing Wizard and the kidnapped Dwarf as a strong hook. I expanded on Agatha the Banshee and even The Old Well (as an intro to a deeper dungeon that has not yet been explored. (perhaps - Forge of Fury). Phandalin was a challenge and I present a number of side quests (as included). AS I near the end of the encounters I'm challenged with continuing on with the next campaign/module to accommodate 5 players of Level 5 capabilities. My party demands to continue at their current level (5th)....and ultimately wish to gain thru level 15 at some point. (longterm goals). I'd appreciate any recommendations you might have for that.
22:09 gl tales of the yawning portal is a good book to own it has a lot for different levels.
I'm sure this is long past due, but Lost Mine of Phandelver rolls very nicely into Storm Kings Thunder or Tomb of Annihilation.
I think Glasstaff’s first name is Iano not Irano. I ran the adventure once. The sidequests really unnecessary to the main quest to rescue Gundren. In fact if the PCs delay too long Gundren may be dead. After he learns location of Wave Echo Cave there’s no reason for Black Spider to keep Gundren alive. I would dispense with the sidequests until after Wave Echo Cave & just use them as mini-adventures.
That's what makes this module so good. It all depends on the stories you want to tell as the DM. The location is written in Dwarvish so maybe he kept him alive for translation, there's a lot of good paths to choose. Going straight to the forge can open good paths as well.
Glasstaff's name is Iarno Albrek. :)