WARNING: SPOILERS! SPOILERS! SPOILERS! OH GAWD....DAHHH SPOILERS!
Went very well! Everyone loved it. Had a full party and players were really into their characters (except the Noble Fighter who forgot to "act" like a noble). The casters enjoyed the new casting system and the fact that a first level wizard can do some hefty damage.
They got through the initial ambush alright, the Cleric took some hefty damage, but all in all they slaughtered the gobos swiftly. The Hafling Rogue even tortured a few (more on his...questionable ethics later on). They got to Cragmaw Cave and went right up the natural chimney and killed the Bugbear with relatively no issues (except for goblins throwing soot and smoldering coals in the Fighter's face). They chopped the Bugbear's head off and got the rest of the goblins to surrender. So far, so good.
Then they got to town...
Everything is going smooth, they get some adventure hooks, they deliver the provisions, and they are pretty set on going through the secret tunnel to reach the ruined manor house. They chat it up with the half-elf retired fighter NPC who gives offers them a reward for taking out the Glasstaff and the Redbrands. Then the guy playing the rogue decides that, bad habits die hard, and he decides to side with the Redbrands - he burns down the half-elf's home...
Well, after half of Phandalin catches fire the Priestess of Tymora casts Control Weather (a handy and not-at-all made up at the last second spell) and creates a thunderstorm to quell the flames. No one in the party aware that the halfling has turned, the citizens, believing that the Redbrands started the fire, begin a lynch mob to hang the Town Master who has done nothing. The Dwarven Cleric interceded and convinced the mob that the Redbrands were the real threat and they storm the manor house with a peasant militia in tow. Suffice to say, the Redbrands all escaped through the tunnel before they could be killed. So...an interesting first session. Didn't really know how to run a lynch mob or deal with a spreading fire in the starter town...but it still went smoothly and I like the way the players used intimidation with the Bugbear's head and incited a militia instead of going it alone - and the system (for the most part) was okay with these sorts of actions.
How did everyone else's first session go?
I'm still a few weeks away from getting my starter set, but your game sounds fantastic!
I've no idea how close or far away from the various storylines that is, but it sounds like it was a crazy fun night.
Might want to add something like Starter Adventure Spoilers in the header so players don't get their adventure ruined
Guest855761860 wrote:
Archon007 wrote:
Swede1985 wrote:
I would be interested to know if multiple options are actually presented in the adventure for different locations.
Prom wrote:
pukunui wrote:
Swede1985 wrote:
Dude! That sounds like a fun session. Do you think you will be able to get the story back "on trail" or will you simply let it head in a new direction? 
Loved reading your write up.
I'm going to DM this when my set arrives. Will non-pregen PCs work just as well as the pregens, in your opinion? My group likes using their own characters.
Seems like a fun sessio, mission accomplished!
Thanks for sharing Swede1985!
OrwellianHaggis wrote:
We starter our last week and will have our second session this Thursday.
My group that I DM for also walked over the first goblins and then skipped right to the Boss of the first dungeon as well. We all knew that we were using this starter set to learn the new rules and would be starting a Campaign from start in aug so I guess they were a bit more of risk takers. They also cut off the boss's head and used it to intimidate the rest of the goblins into fleeing. The party made it to the town and within the first hour heading to take on the Redbrands. The party used the rule of knocking a enemy out instead of killing on the last hits at the Sleeping Giant. They took all the clothing off the guys and tied them up. One tried to run and the Rogue seems to have this idea that Murdering the defenseless naked redbrands in the street is a perfectly legit thing to do. Seems the rogues all have evil intents. They just started the raid into the Manor on their own and their biggest challange has been the trap.
I have to back track them back to town due to some missed stuff on my part. Was all to excited and we started playing as soon as i opened to box. 
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Hope mine and all other games go well and everyone has fun.
K-Ray
I'm gonna start the starter tomorrow! Any suggestions/ideas/story for ways to liven up that first dungeon and the town?
One thing i messed up on. Check the cast times of GlasStaffs spells. I was trying to lure the party accross the South Bridge and was using his Misty step spell as an action instead of a bonus action... It was a fun fight anyways. Concentration on hold person kinda sucked though since the entire party was trying to hit him. My party made it to the Dragon the last game night. Beat it down and as the dragon was fleeing they managed to get it down to 1 hp. Though half the party was down. Wizard was 1 hp away from insta death in the first round. I think that encounter realy needed the cleric. Though my group just sorta charged up the hill then stood in perfect formation for the breath weapon. I cant wait for lair stuff to be added.
K-Ray
Swede1985 wrote: