I'm excited to run this session, but a little bit nervous because one of my character's backstory is they are from Caer-Konig. Its isolated position would mean the party would have to spend a lot of time to save the little podunk town. We'll see if they are willing to sacrifice their own hometown in order to better save the people of ten towns!
Thanks, very important discussion! Great video. My interpretation of dogsled speed is that the "hour of rest" is included in the table of travel speeds, meaning in fact their speed is 4X walking, but 2X walking when taking into account the resting periods. The book does say in multiple instances that dogsleds cut travel time in half (they do, when factoring in rests), and that they are the fastest mode of travel (they are twice as fast as axebeaks, in short bursts). I can see how others see it the other way, but I do think 4X/2X walking speed is correct. Overall, dogsleds and axebeaks have the same travel speed, but the axebeaks are cheaper while the dogsleds can carry much more gear. That's how I interpreted the book anyways, and it feels consistent with the lifestyle of Ten-Towners.
I did the math (because why not) and saw that the travel times didn't work. Because of this I improvised some things, didn't introduce the sled dogs. My players ended up taking Grandolpha's dining table and using it to rocket themselves down the mountain at a break neck speed. I made them make several checks and they took some damage but they made it to the bottom of the mountain quickly and after fudging a little more travel (the druid flew ahead to warn and evacuate Easthaven) they encountered the dragon once, hit it's damage threshold and agreed they'd have to set up a defense in Bryn Shander. idk if this was the best approach, but my players had a ton of fun and tomorrow they face their own final showdown with the dragon to become the heroes of Bryn Shander hopefully and begin to rebuild the rest. I wish I'd watched this before I started the chapter but you still gave me a ton of ideas thank you so much.
Great videos, I'm really enjoying them! Quick note about asked dogs pulling the characters as written- Vellynne has Kobold Zombies pulling the sleds so I'd rule that they don't need to rest.
Thank you! In the book, her sleds are pulled by dogs, but yeah, that's why I recommend that the DM has it be zombies instead. Makes a lot of sense that way! :)
@@EventyrGames you're right! I misread it and thought the zombies were pulling the sled and had the strength of 6 dogs! My mistake- I think I assumed that because I have your guide from dms guild !
One thing I noticed that is very easy to miss is the chart that provides travel times between each of the Ten Towns. Looking at that chart you'll see that the travel times don't line up with the distances, they are considerably shorter (times). I believe the idea here is that the trails between the towns are sufficiently packed/established that they allow for faster travel of all sorts, no matter your mode of transportation. Using the roads, characters can travel between the towns much faster and possibly catch up with the dragon before they would have if they had been traveling overland.
Just ran this last night. Made it back in time to fight in Targos but decided they didn't stand a chance so tried to evacuate Targos and Bryn Shandar as much as possible and skipped the fight altogether. Need to tally up the death toll, but they're hoping the Cauldron of Plenty can just feed all of the remaining refugees.
10 miles to Good Mean and Dougan's Hole both seem to presume just ignoring the Lake. Am I missing something that gets the adventurers there without having to go around the lake?
@@EventyrGames per the books there's still plenty of fishing boats out on the lakes so they're definitely not frozen over. The docks are frozen. Obviously if it works better to have them totally frozen for your own campaign you can always do whatever.
I'm excited to run this session, but a little bit nervous because one of my character's backstory is they are from Caer-Konig. Its isolated position would mean the party would have to spend a lot of time to save the little podunk town. We'll see if they are willing to sacrifice their own hometown in order to better save the people of ten towns!
Thanks, very important discussion! Great video.
My interpretation of dogsled speed is that the "hour of rest" is included in the table of travel speeds, meaning in fact their speed is 4X walking, but 2X walking when taking into account the resting periods. The book does say in multiple instances that dogsleds cut travel time in half (they do, when factoring in rests), and that they are the fastest mode of travel (they are twice as fast as axebeaks, in short bursts). I can see how others see it the other way, but I do think 4X/2X walking speed is correct. Overall, dogsleds and axebeaks have the same travel speed, but the axebeaks are cheaper while the dogsleds can carry much more gear. That's how I interpreted the book anyways, and it feels consistent with the lifestyle of Ten-Towners.
I did the math (because why not) and saw that the travel times didn't work. Because of this I improvised some things, didn't introduce the sled dogs. My players ended up taking Grandolpha's dining table and using it to rocket themselves down the mountain at a break neck speed. I made them make several checks and they took some damage but they made it to the bottom of the mountain quickly and after fudging a little more travel (the druid flew ahead to warn and evacuate Easthaven) they encountered the dragon once, hit it's damage threshold and agreed they'd have to set up a defense in Bryn Shander. idk if this was the best approach, but my players had a ton of fun and tomorrow they face their own final showdown with the dragon to become the heroes of Bryn Shander hopefully and begin to rebuild the rest. I wish I'd watched this before I started the chapter but you still gave me a ton of ideas thank you so much.
In D&d, the fun approach is always the best approach, so I'd say you nailed it - sounds like great fun!
Excellent video.
Great videos, I'm really enjoying them! Quick note about asked dogs pulling the characters as written- Vellynne has Kobold Zombies pulling the sleds so I'd rule that they don't need to rest.
Thank you! In the book, her sleds are pulled by dogs, but yeah, that's why I recommend that the DM has it be zombies instead. Makes a lot of sense that way! :)
@@EventyrGames you're right! I misread it and thought the zombies were pulling the sled and had the strength of 6 dogs! My mistake- I think I assumed that because I have your guide from dms guild !
Well, it's also what makes the most sense, if you ask me, so it's an honest mistake. What else are zombies for if not pulling your sled?!
@@EventyrGames I've taken most of your advice so far, so it's safe to say my players will have zombie sled dogs as an option.
One thing I noticed that is very easy to miss is the chart that provides travel times between each of the Ten Towns. Looking at that chart you'll see that the travel times don't line up with the distances, they are considerably shorter (times). I believe the idea here is that the trails between the towns are sufficiently packed/established that they allow for faster travel of all sorts, no matter your mode of transportation. Using the roads, characters can travel between the towns much faster and possibly catch up with the dragon before they would have if they had been traveling overland.
This chapter is really dark, especially considering how troubled the towns already were for the past couple years…
Just ran this last night. Made it back in time to fight in Targos but decided they didn't stand a chance so tried to evacuate Targos and Bryn Shandar as much as possible and skipped the fight altogether. Need to tally up the death toll, but they're hoping the Cauldron of Plenty can just feed all of the remaining refugees.
Do you think the dragon stat block stands up, should it not have some legendary actions?
10 miles to Good Mean and Dougan's Hole both seem to presume just ignoring the Lake. Am I missing something that gets the adventurers there without having to go around the lake?
IIRC, the lake is completely frozen over and can be walked! :)
@@EventyrGames per the books there's still plenty of fishing boats out on the lakes so they're definitely not frozen over. The docks are frozen. Obviously if it works better to have them totally frozen for your own campaign you can always do whatever.
I just gave my party Tauntauns....i mean Axe Beaks. Fk sled dogs.