Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 MysticExarch Sep 14, 2014 21:38:09	WARNING. THIS POST CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR HOARD OF THE DRAGON QUEEN UP TO CHAPTER 3.   So I'm the DM for my group as we play Hoard of the Dragon Queen. We sat down and tried to get through chapter 3 the other day. Here is what happened.    The PC's fought the stragglers and rear guards on day 1, then rested. They went to the camp on day two, but had to flee. They rested. Day 3 they want to wait untill nightfall to try to sneak back into the camp.    My question is this: when they go back, should I keep the story in chapter 2 (Raider's Camp is still there), or move it into chapter 3 (Raiders Camp is abandoned)? The book is a bit unclear on what exactly triggers the camp to become abandoned.   On one hand, the book says that Rezmir is nervous about Leosin being in Greenest and wants to pack up the camp immediately. (I think she would get antsy after two days.) On the other hand however, the begining of chapter 3 begins with Leosin offering the PC's the quest to go back there, which seems to imply that Leosin being rescued is what pushes the game into Chapter 3.    I think there are good arguements for both sides. I'm really torn on what to do. I'm leaning toward letting the camp be abandoned because I think it is good to have logical consequences (good or bad) for the characters' actions, and in this case they were too slow due to "overesting".    It isn't such a big deal because I'm not using the milestone rule, but still.    I thought I'd open it up to people who have already or are currently running this module for a second opinion.    Thanks in adance.
#2 THEMNGMNT Sep 14, 2014 23:45:19	I would transition straight to Chapter 3. Chapter 2 is a rescue mission. Chapter 3 isn't dependent on the players rescuing Leosin. It's basically dependent on the camp being abandoned so the players can get close to the cave entrance to without getting killed. Just scale back some of the Chapter 3 encounters if the players aren't yet at third level. Finally, you can have Leosin remain a captive of the Cult since the players didn't manage to free him in Chapter 2. Perhaps they could rescue him from either the castle in the swamp or the hunting lodge in the mountains, as you see fit.
#3 Botanicus Sep 15, 2014 14:16:49	I'd move on to chapter 3.  The end of chapter 2 idicates what happens if the monk isn't rescued - he just breaks out on his own and shows up.  Without the milestone option I'd say it's just a lost XP gain, but the xp ranges in chapter 1 leave it possible to get into level 2 without a problem and the party being a hair or two behind the expected curve isn't terrible.
#4 acfarrey Sep 15, 2014 20:12:01	If you skip chapter 2 and don't rescue Leosin, how do the PCs know that they need to go to Earlanther in Chapter 4 and talk to the paladin Orlanther Frumme.  It's not like you could leave a note in the cave to get you there. Unfortunately you need to follow the tracks that the railroad travels on. :-)
#5 MysticExarch Sep 16, 2014 1:04:32	THEMNGMNT wrote: