I love the idea that the Zents are the ones rigging the lottery. Using that. I plan to have Boy (the sled dog) run into the group on the way to the town rather than in the town. Then Boy will have more of a reason to be happy to see them then he would if they were random people walking around the town.
Having one of the deceased NPCs in Kelvin's cairn stay alive thanks to chardalyn is GENIUS. I wanted to keep Astrix alive because my party loves tiefs, so I was just going to have her hand over the spellbook and junk after saving her and then she'd wander off. This idea is much more interesting as it is much more purposeful in how to use that NPC and it does that seeds of chardalyn which is super cool!
I'm a new DM and just started DMing this campaign and your videos have been such a huge help for me. They help me feel more confident and are really helpful with my planning. Thank you and please keep it up!!!
I love these DM guides so much! Thanks for the great ideas and explanations. I wonder if you could make a video dedicated to the Zhentarim presence in Ten Towns? Maybe even throw some ideas for the Harpers in there?
So in one of my Frostmaiden campaigns (since I'm running two paid Frostmaiden campaigns) that's exactly what I did with the Zhents. One of the PCs had a good backstory involving his evil parents and their evil gang, so now that gang was working for Naerth in order to bring Termalaine, Lonelywood and Bremen under the Zhentarism control. The party are really heavily invested in this plot now (which makes me a little worried that the Sunblight plot will be quite a distraction), building alliances between the different Speakers and doing their best to uncover this conspiracy. I actually ditched the Targos quest altogether because they were far more interested in Naerth's machinations and brokering peace between the kobolds of Termalaine mine (they LOVED the character of Trex with his fake wings and "clearly not a kobold" vibe). I'm actually quite curious to see what this party will do next about Naerth and the Zhentarim, as this Frostmaiden campaign is now more about politics than brutal wilderness survival. Also, great shoutout to the Coldblood supplement, it's fantastic and could really work (with some minor tweaks) for any wilderness-heavy exploration campaign. Its load mechanic reminds me in a good way of Five Torches Deep supply mechanic and I already liked that one.
Yeah, I'm realizing that many of these quests will have to be dropped from my game to make room for the party's actual interests :P Try looking for ways to tie Naerth/Zhentarim to the Black Swords or another devil. In my game, there's a triton PC who has been tracking his kidnapped princess for years, finally learning she's been brought to Icewind Dale. They're about to learn she was brought here to become a bride for Naerth (I decided that old rulers of Luskan liked to take triton brides, so he wants to imitate that). BUTTTT she was brought on the Duchess ship from chapter 2, she died in the tundra after the ship crashed, and she has sold her soul to Levistus (basically becoming a member of the Black Swords). These cultists are natural enemies of the Sunblights because (although the Sunblights don't know it) they're serving Asmodeus -- that's all detailed in the Sunblight chapter with some additional notes in the Caer Dineval quest. So, idk exactly how yet, but the princess is linking the Zhentarim conspiracy to the Sunblight plot. And thanks for checking out the supplement!! I think it's great stuff, and yeah, I just got FTD and will probably be making some videos about it later in 2021 :)
@@BobWorldBuilder One way I'm linking Naerth to the Black Swords is that he's looking to hire them to help take over Caer Dineval and Caer Konig (the players don't know about it yet, but I've hinted that Naerth is hiring mercenaries in other towns as well). If they continue to try and foil Naerth's plans then they might run into some strange mercenaries with chardalyn amulets and infernal powers. ;) One way I think I will get this party tied to the Sunblight threat (the other campaign's party are already heavily invested in that plot), is to actually have the duergar ambush them since the party are carrying some chardalyn (albeit very carefully). If they won't go and investigate the towns with the most connections to the Sunblight plot (Easthaven, Caer Konig, Caer Dineval), then the trouble will come to them. :) I think you'll find a lot to like about FTD. Its supplements (especially Duels and Homestead supplements) are excellent and I have used both in regular 5e games as well. The core FTD product is very good as well and can be mined for some excellent rules and tables for regular 5e games (the dungeon generator for example is genius!).
Love it. Just finished foaming mugs and starting Mountain climb. I have Keegan traveling to Bryn Shander in search of Garret since he's a week overdue. Wasn't sure how to get my Pcs out of Bryn shander.
I used Bremen as a starting town. I like the Lake Monster quest but I think its pretty much never going to happen, that a party tries to talk to that thing when the first thing it does, is attacking. They are also not going to kill it, since it will always just go underwater. I'm going to have to find another way to tie that quest to that druid.
Hmm you make a good point, but it really depends on the group. My players often try talking to things first. But I introduced the plesi when my party chased Sephek out of Targos onto the frozen lake. He summoned it and they swam away! lol
@@BobWorldBuilder My party tries talking first most of the time as well but when they get attacked first, they don't try to deescalate a situation. If you run the encounter as written it will always hit the boat before anything else. And it would be unrealistic for it to just pop out of the water and not do anything, because that's not what it was told to do. Having sephek summon it for help is a fantastic idea. Last session, my players went to targos and they "wasted" some time after I made clear, sephek was in town. So they found him, right after he killed someone and then ran away. They started chasing and that's where I ended the session. If he runs to the ice I will certainly use your idea! Good thing targos is next to the same lake aswell!
Hey Bob! The character artwork you are showing for the named NPCs in these towns I'm not locating in the book itself. Is this something you are finding yourself and using a picture to portray these NPCs? Its nice to have visuals for players so they can better visualize who theyre encountering, and was just curious where you got your art. Thanks!
Yeah for the sake of adding more art to the videos, I often pull pieces from other 5e modules. Having access to this stuff on D&D beyond is helpful, but for sharing art in a home game, you can find plenty of good pieces online!
ahhh you're right! x/ I forgot awaken actually raised their intelligence to 10! I might still give a small bonus to the check for using the scroll (like +2) if my players tried it
@@BobWorldBuilder when my players use it, it was hilarious, the beast stood up in front of them and say, "What are you trying to do?". They are kinda murderhoobos so they kill it right away lol
I really don't like that this quest starts in Targos. It's waaaay too far from Kelvin's Cairn. Especially if the players don't yet have a way to travel quickly (dogsleds or axebeaks). "It's gonna take us days to reach the mountain. And it took the dog days to get back here as well. Sorry, but your husband is as good as dead" would be my reaction as a player. Especially for no reward. I'm probably gonna start them up with a modified version of Cold-Hearted Killer
I totally cut the Zhents and made them all be in league with Auril's followers - a cult that wants all critical town speakers repalced for the total Auril cult takeover and living sacrifices everywhere
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I love the idea that the Zents are the ones rigging the lottery. Using that.
I plan to have Boy (the sled dog) run into the group on the way to the town rather than in the town. Then Boy will have more of a reason to be happy to see them then he would if they were random people walking around the town.
That's great! Definitely makes more sense than stopping at some random people before heading home.
Having one of the deceased NPCs in Kelvin's cairn stay alive thanks to chardalyn is GENIUS. I wanted to keep Astrix alive because my party loves tiefs, so I was just going to have her hand over the spellbook and junk after saving her and then she'd wander off. This idea is much more interesting as it is much more purposeful in how to use that NPC and it does that seeds of chardalyn which is super cool!
Thanks! Lucky for your party there are a few more tieflings in this adventure too!
These guides really help me a lot as a starting DM, thanks for uploading these!
I'm really glad to hear it. You're welcome!! :)
Dude! Your guides helping tie all of the seemingly random plots of this book together is SOOOOO helpful and genius! Keep up the good work!!!
I'm a new DM and just started DMing this campaign and your videos have been such a huge help for me. They help me feel more confident and are really helpful with my planning. Thank you and please keep it up!!!
Very glad to hear you're finding the series helpful :)
Just outstanding content. The perfect way to prep for our next Campaign
I’m very happy to hear that! Glad you’re finding it valuable :)
I love these DM guides so much! Thanks for the great ideas and explanations. I wonder if you could make a video dedicated to the Zhentarim presence in Ten Towns? Maybe even throw some ideas for the Harpers in there?
Yeah, I think after the towns (and maybe after chapter two) I will do a handful of videos about some of the underlying plots in this book
So in one of my Frostmaiden campaigns (since I'm running two paid Frostmaiden campaigns) that's exactly what I did with the Zhents. One of the PCs had a good backstory involving his evil parents and their evil gang, so now that gang was working for Naerth in order to bring Termalaine, Lonelywood and Bremen under the Zhentarism control. The party are really heavily invested in this plot now (which makes me a little worried that the Sunblight plot will be quite a distraction), building alliances between the different Speakers and doing their best to uncover this conspiracy. I actually ditched the Targos quest altogether because they were far more interested in Naerth's machinations and brokering peace between the kobolds of Termalaine mine (they LOVED the character of Trex with his fake wings and "clearly not a kobold" vibe). I'm actually quite curious to see what this party will do next about Naerth and the Zhentarim, as this Frostmaiden campaign is now more about politics than brutal wilderness survival.
Also, great shoutout to the Coldblood supplement, it's fantastic and could really work (with some minor tweaks) for any wilderness-heavy exploration campaign. Its load mechanic reminds me in a good way of Five Torches Deep supply mechanic and I already liked that one.
Yeah, I'm realizing that many of these quests will have to be dropped from my game to make room for the party's actual interests :P Try looking for ways to tie Naerth/Zhentarim to the Black Swords or another devil.
In my game, there's a triton PC who has been tracking his kidnapped princess for years, finally learning she's been brought to Icewind Dale. They're about to learn she was brought here to become a bride for Naerth (I decided that old rulers of Luskan liked to take triton brides, so he wants to imitate that). BUTTTT she was brought on the Duchess ship from chapter 2, she died in the tundra after the ship crashed, and she has sold her soul to Levistus (basically becoming a member of the Black Swords). These cultists are natural enemies of the Sunblights because (although the Sunblights don't know it) they're serving Asmodeus -- that's all detailed in the Sunblight chapter with some additional notes in the Caer Dineval quest. So, idk exactly how yet, but the princess is linking the Zhentarim conspiracy to the Sunblight plot.
And thanks for checking out the supplement!! I think it's great stuff, and yeah, I just got FTD and will probably be making some videos about it later in 2021 :)
@@BobWorldBuilder One way I'm linking Naerth to the Black Swords is that he's looking to hire them to help take over Caer Dineval and Caer Konig (the players don't know about it yet, but I've hinted that Naerth is hiring mercenaries in other towns as well). If they continue to try and foil Naerth's plans then they might run into some strange mercenaries with chardalyn amulets and infernal powers. ;)
One way I think I will get this party tied to the Sunblight threat (the other campaign's party are already heavily invested in that plot), is to actually have the duergar ambush them since the party are carrying some chardalyn (albeit very carefully). If they won't go and investigate the towns with the most connections to the Sunblight plot (Easthaven, Caer Konig, Caer Dineval), then the trouble will come to them. :)
I think you'll find a lot to like about FTD. Its supplements (especially Duels and Homestead supplements) are excellent and I have used both in regular 5e games as well. The core FTD product is very good as well and can be mined for some excellent rules and tables for regular 5e games (the dungeon generator for example is genius!).
Love it. Just finished foaming mugs and starting Mountain climb. I have Keegan traveling to Bryn Shander in search of Garret since he's a week overdue. Wasn't sure how to get my Pcs out of Bryn shander.
Then it’s back toward Kelvins Cairn for your party! Haha
These are great guides. Thank you
You're very welcome!
such great guides! thank you so much. the graphics are well done too.
Thank you! Glad you're enjoying the series :)
Nice, more plz
Thanks, plenty more to come!
These videos are excellent
Thank you! :)
Its Wednesday and that means new video from Bob!
I sure does! :D Thanks for commenting
@@BobWorldBuilder I hope you had a happy holidays and a I wish you a happy new year!!!
Personally I’ve always wished for something at the peak of kelvins cairn, since we’ll the module doesn’t touch on it
Thank you bob
Thank YOU! :D
I used Bremen as a starting town. I like the Lake Monster quest but I think its pretty much never going to happen, that a party tries to talk to that thing when the first thing it does, is attacking. They are also not going to kill it, since it will always just go underwater. I'm going to have to find another way to tie that quest to that druid.
Hmm you make a good point, but it really depends on the group. My players often try talking to things first. But I introduced the plesi when my party chased Sephek out of Targos onto the frozen lake. He summoned it and they swam away! lol
@@BobWorldBuilder My party tries talking first most of the time as well but when they get attacked first, they don't try to deescalate a situation. If you run the encounter as written it will always hit the boat before anything else. And it would be unrealistic for it to just pop out of the water and not do anything, because that's not what it was told to do.
Having sephek summon it for help is a fantastic idea. Last session, my players went to targos and they "wasted" some time after I made clear, sephek was in town. So they found him, right after he killed someone and then ran away. They started chasing and that's where I ended the session. If he runs to the ice I will certainly use your idea! Good thing targos is next to the same lake aswell!
Great video!
Hey Bob! The character artwork you are showing for the named NPCs in these towns I'm not locating in the book itself. Is this something you are finding yourself and using a picture to portray these NPCs? Its nice to have visuals for players so they can better visualize who theyre encountering, and was just curious where you got your art. Thanks!
Yeah for the sake of adding more art to the videos, I often pull pieces from other 5e modules. Having access to this stuff on D&D beyond is helpful, but for sharing art in a home game, you can find plenty of good pieces online!
How works the scroll when the animal is AWAKEN? Its INT is greater than 4, so the scroll still works?
ahhh you're right! x/ I forgot awaken actually raised their intelligence to 10! I might still give a small bonus to the check for using the scroll (like +2) if my players tried it
@@BobWorldBuilder when my players use it, it was hilarious, the beast stood up in front of them and say, "What are you trying to do?". They are kinda murderhoobos so they kill it right away lol
One of my partys charecters is named garrett his is gonna be fun
Hahah perfect!
I really don't like that this quest starts in Targos. It's waaaay too far from Kelvin's Cairn. Especially if the players don't yet have a way to travel quickly (dogsleds or axebeaks). "It's gonna take us days to reach the mountain. And it took the dog days to get back here as well. Sorry, but your husband is as good as dead" would be my reaction as a player. Especially for no reward.
I'm probably gonna start them up with a modified version of Cold-Hearted Killer
Yeah, this one makes a little more sense for Caer Konig-- guide coming soonish!
I totally cut the Zhents and made them all be in league with Auril's followers - a cult that wants all critical town speakers repalced for the total Auril cult takeover and living sacrifices everywhere