Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Forgive Nov 06, 2014 8:30:21	Spoilers ahead.   First question/request for help: in HotDQ the characters can end up being driven to the home of the giants, or they can have it crash near the home of the giants.  They also have the option of bringing giants in on the negotiations in RoT.  I’ve got the map of this and want to flesh it out some more.    So, be it if the players crash, land or later visit, I want this area to be a part of RoT.  I’m looking for your help in giving me ideas as to what areas could be what.  Areas 1, 3, & 9 are pretty explanatory already, though I’ll take any ideas to any of it.   Some of my thoughts are to have area 2 be a long lost dwarf hall that has been sealed shut due to some ancient evil.  The giants keep the evil from stirring, but that keeps the dwarves out.  If the players negotiate enough peace between the giants and dwarves then clear out the halls of the residing evil, then I’ll give a +/+ on the Connerad Brawnanvil scorecard.   Area 7 to be Remorhaz that threatens the giants – slaying it will open peace talks with area 2, above.   That’s all I’ve got so far….need more help.   **********************************   My second question/request for help: At the end of RoT there is Enemies and Allies all around the Well.  However there is nothing other than that mention.  There are no outlines for epic battles, sneaky assassins, deal-bending devils, floating castles lobbing lighting while beset by dragons, etc.  I can easily describe these sites, but I want the players involved in some fashion.  I have nearly no thoughts on this – maybe have the character LALO out of Skyreach Castle (if not crashed) while fending off a dragon before landing upon the rearguard of the cultist’s army fighting their way to a selected entrance to the Well….but even that doesn’t involve the players in planning the attack or leading an army.  Anyone have any thoughts here?
#2 Jedric0202 Nov 08, 2014 1:14:09	I've never seen that map before.  Awesome stuff.  Are there any more deleted maps that you've found?    You said 3 was pretty self-explanatory, but I could see it being several things.  What was your idea?   As to your second point, I was curious about the final battle as well.  The book tells you that it's pivotal to unite the factions, but it doesn't spell out a benefit for doing so.  For example, how much is each faction supposed to pay the Zhentarim to get their full support? What is considered a "share" of the horde when you recover it?  There were a lot of questions left unanswered (possibly intentionally to leave some of the canvas blank for the DM) but I'd also love to hear what people have to say.
#3 MonsterEnvy Nov 09, 2014 9:32:08	This Frost Giant was cut from the adventurehttp://bryansyme.deviantart.com/art/Brunvild-492762859
#4 GEBELL Nov 11, 2014 10:33:19	I am still flabergasted that they cut this portion of the adventure.  1. it's a great break for constant dragons (now the adventure leads from one white dragon fight to another white dragon fight back to back) 2. giants are a more interesting part of the diplomatic aspect of the game offering one of the only real 'decisions' in diplomacy (give the castle back for an ally, or USE the castle yourself in the fight) 3. THE STORY MAKES NO SENSE WITHOUT IT   the more I think about it, the more frustrated I get, because now I'm just doing all the work to write my own adventure....   But on to your questions.  I am planning on adding a gnome city here (perhaps 5?) where the players can potentially negotiate to get the castle fully repaired.  This would also eat up a lot of their $$ (this was suggested by Mearls somewhere as an example of how players can spend gold in a world where they can't by magic items).  Just one more suggestion to the pile.
#5 Theros Nov 12, 2014 6:50:15	It sounds like you already have enough figured out to make for a robust area. I suggest frequently allowing the players to inject their input on the campaign and adapt accordingly.   My players really latched onto some aspects of the campaign but not others, so it was easy for me to focus that and simply drop the parts of the campaign they weren’t interested in.   As for the Well of Dragons. My players have been working to build a army via alliances. They've been sending a lot of money and looted equipment to Sir Frume and the Harpers, so I’m going to reward them by actually having a big battle on the slopes of the well of dragons (a volcano of course!). This has basically turned the campaign into them building war assets and making allies.   It’s made the players very focused and motivated which makes DMing very easy. I’ve never hid the end goal of the cult even as far back as Greenest.