| Post/Author/DateTime | Post |
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| #1strider13xSep 08, 2015 8:59:02 | Playing I6-Ravenloft and it was fortold the holy symbol would be at the dizzying top of the highest tower. This tower is known as the guardian of sorrow and it attacks you with blades jutting from its walls while trying to shake you off the ledge! Once you reach the top you have to smash a giant glass heart (over 100 HP). Tough task for anyone!
Not my party.
After being assaulted by spinning blades and almost being thrown from the stairs the dwarf grabs both other party members then quaffs a potion of flying (magic item from LMoP). Once they reach the heart the Warlock wants to "talk" to it via Awakened Mind. The half-orc leaps onto the heart holding it from shaking (grappling contest, he has the gauntlets of ogre power). The warlock, held aloft by the Dwarf, describes how she touches it like a Vulcan mind meld (yeah, I awarded inspiration for that reference). The creature does have mental stats listed so I allow a Charisma contest (best 2 out of 3) and she describes how she asks the heart its desires which I tell her it has no wants as it is an embodiment of sadness. In the end it agrees to not attack when she is present in the tower. The half-orc then leapt off and grabbed the holy symbol and that is where we left off.
I am going to start the next session with the characters making Madness saves (Warlock at Disad) because of the horrific nature of the creature. Did I let them off to easy? Or would you say this is an example of good play? Either way it's a win because this should stand out as a good memory from playing I6... |
| #2Ralif_RedhammerSep 08, 2015 11:42:45 | I’d say that’s a very inventive solution to that nasty surprise in Ravenloft. Certainly smarter than just trying to hammer on it until it’s destroyed.
Part of the reason Strahd was so tough for my group was that the thief, not the cleric, was holding onto the holy symbol.
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| #3ElfcrusherSep 08, 2015 12:03:58 | I wish they would re-release it all updated (and playtested) for 5e. I'd buy it again if they did. Besides Ravenloft (most fun we've ever had in a module) I'd also want to see: - Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh and its sequels (U1 to U3) - The UK series (Gaunlet, Sentinel, etc.) - Against the Giants, of course! (Although with re-done maps and artwork....)
Yeah, I could make a quick pass and replace the monsters with 5e stuff, but there's also traps, treasure, various outdated rule references, etc. And I'd rather have them thoroughly playtested.
The adventure books are ok, but I'd love to see "modules" make a come-back. |
| #4strider13xSep 08, 2015 19:53:55 | i feel i could have prolonged it more or kept the attacks up (the heart thrashing about and all).
they did get crushed when first meeting strahd though, he even broke the +1 sword from LMoP! (more forshadowing...) they happened to get lucky and enter through the servants entrance, leading straight to the tower. they have plenty of traps ahead. |
| #5SatyrnSep 08, 2015 20:56:53 | They did something creative and fun, and you had that lead to success. That is excellent. There is no need to worry about how easy or hard it was. The goal is fun, not challenge (challenge is just one method to get at fun).
I've been tempted to run this adventure myself. I almost did a little while ago (even got the party to Barovia) but wound up rebooting the campaign instead because by that point some poor DMing on my part made the whole thing too disjointed. |
| #6strider13xSep 09, 2015 8:37:17 | I've been kinda of railroady with this one. Once they found Ismark he lead them straight to the gypsy camp where they got Madame Eva to do the card reading, then straight to the castle itself. I feel like it could use more encounters outside the castle... |
| #7Ralif_RedhammerSep 09, 2015 12:18:29 | When I ran it, I did the same thing more or less. It was fun, but I feel like I rushed through it and should’ve spent more time with the module. I guess it’s easy to want to dive into Castle Ravenloft and get them squaring off against Strahd.
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