tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6578125233291915532.post7895051617558773833..comments2024-02-28T16:05:36.643-06:00Comments on Hack & Slash: On the Hoard of the Dragon Queen: Episode 6, Part I-Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02331863932906631618noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6578125233291915532.post-48118786014061596602016-04-01T06:48:44.432-05:002016-04-01T06:48:44.432-05:00Just to correct what seems to be a mistake - the D...Just to correct what seems to be a mistake - the Dragon Magazine with the Mere article is 258, not 257Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08671995407214817902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6578125233291915532.post-16677767369944891112015-10-24T08:16:42.109-05:002015-10-24T08:16:42.109-05:00I think set design works best with sandbox and exp...I think set design works best with sandbox and exploratory adventures. Exploring is a very small part of HotDQ, which focuses much more on setpieces. There's no danger in the clearing (9 lizard men with 22 hit points I don't think provide a challenge for fifth/sixth level players.) and the only information is "This is a way point for the lizard men" and it's not even well hidden. <br /><br />That said, the point of set design is succinctly display relevant information<br /><br />Beyond Clearing -> Few Dozen Yards<br />-> Black Water -> Still<br />-> Moss Covered Trees, fallen logs, clumps of reeds -> thick<br /><br />Surrounding Swamp -> Still black water, moss covered trees, fallen logs, thick reeds.<br /><br />Basically each step is the clarification of what's in the earlier step. There's no advantage to hide "Thick" behind "Clumps of reeds"-Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02331863932906631618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6578125233291915532.post-23176977356625824352015-10-23T15:25:28.410-05:002015-10-23T15:25:28.410-05:00I am at this point in HotDQ, and struggling a bit ...I am at this point in HotDQ, and struggling a bit with trying your set design in the swamp. Is this something similar to what you would have done? This is the section on the first day when encountering the lizard camp & Snapjaw.<br /><br />Swamp Clearing | Dry Clearing -> Footprints -> Not Shoed <br /> Platform -> Stone <br />-> Dry Wood<br /> -> Ring of Stone, <br />4 Lean-Tos -> Wicker, <br /> -> Baskets<br /> -> Smoked Fish, smashed lizards & birds -> disgusting<br /> -> Furthest Back<br />-> 3 Dugout (Log) Canoes -> hold 5 humans (no Gear), 3 w/ gear <br />-> 3 Paddles Each <br /> Beyond Clearing -> Few Dozen Yards<br />-> Black Water -> Still<br />-> Moss Covered Trees, fallen logs, clumps of reeds -> thick<br />| Dusk 9 ¬Lizardmen -> 3 Canoes<br /> (AC 15, HD4d8+4,HP 22,+4 to hit, 2 Atk 1d6+2 )<br /> |-> If Fire Lit -> Approach Cautiously<br /> |-> Fire not Lit -> Approach obliviously<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05997736530166724661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6578125233291915532.post-12982256104138150442015-01-11T02:21:49.250-06:002015-01-11T02:21:49.250-06:00Thank you so much for this series, as a not novic...Thank you so much for this series, as a not novice not experienced DM it has been invaluable to me and my groupAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12325301964343976373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6578125233291915532.post-32283084790208557182014-12-17T03:27:27.198-06:002014-12-17T03:27:27.198-06:00Having now read Rise of Tiamat, I am much happier ...Having now read Rise of Tiamat, I am much happier with it. You're right, Rise of Tiamat does improve Hoard of the Dragon Queen. I still feel like Hoard is very limp though, and both books have the problem of barely giving any personality to important NPCs (does Severin even speak in the presence of the PCs?). The cult itself has no real personality either and doesn't feel like a cult.Cults are great! And spooky. And weird. <br /><br />If I asked for two changes to the whole Tyranny of Dragons it would be: a) stronger NPC personalities and b) approach it as a true Sourcebook for the Cult of the Dragon, with "everything you ever wanted to know" about them. Overall I'm a bit disappointed but it's not as bad as I feared when I just had the first book.<br /><br />With regard to episode 6, a lot of groundwork is laid for the Black Dragon's secret and we are told this will come up in Rise of Tiamat... but then it doesn't. Victim of the editor's knife? Either way it might be nice to write an extra episode where that set-up actually pays off.Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06011974487836242987noreply@blogger.com