Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Jamroar Aug 13, 2014 12:07:10	I like Lost Mines generally but am not sure how to deal wtih a couple of things as written.   1. Iarno Albrek / Glasstaff  He is warned by his familiar of the party's approach through the lab and escapes. The adventure suggests he could turn up later but doesn't have any specifics of how or where this might happen. So, if the adventure is run as written the party could potentially never see him, right? But he's the main villain in Phandalin (boss of Redbrands), so why write it so he's not even encountered? 2. Nezzenar He seems a bit weak to me since he's the big boss, right? Only 4th level Wizard? Same as a wizard in the party that makes it to the Wave Echo Cave? Shouldn't he be a bit more powerful in order to make him a challenge? His whole plan seems to be a bit flimsy: find cave/old mine, search it while keeping others away with the help of Glasstaff and goblin tribe. Sounds a little Scooby Doo to me. 3. Reidoth Why does he say he can help the party find Cragmaw Castle or the Wave Echo Cave but only if they fight a dangerously powerful dragon? Seems like a huge challenge for the party and an unlikely pre-requisite for helping them deal with goblins in area.
#2 iserith Aug 13, 2014 13:35:56	1. He might be encountered because the PCs find the secret door in Area 7 which bypasses the familiar. Poke around and explore and you could get the drop on the villain. It's something of a reward for engaging with the pillar of exploration. It's up to the DM whether he turns up later. Perhaps he is found in the company of Nezznar, making the encounter in Area 19 even tougher .   2. Like Iarno's famliar, Vhalak the doppelganger might warn Nezznar and they set up a clever ruse to defeat them. But in any case, Nezznar is accompanied by four giant spiders and to have even gotten to this point, the characters have probably gone through at least a few encounters. I think it's challenging enough as written. His plan is simple, but effective.   3. Reidoth will tell the PCs where to find Cragmaw Castle "for free" because the goblins are a threat to the balance of nature and civilization. The location of Wave Echo Cave is not of any concern to him, but is valuable knowledge, so he "charges" the PCs for that and the price is chasing off Venomfang. Call it a "finder's fee" for his information.