I just signed up to run my first D&D Delve Night ("Sewers of Silence", in January). What can I expect to find in the adventure packet from WotC? Specifically:
* Does the packet contain pre-generated characters? Or will I need to supply those myself?
* Does the packet contain blank RPGA cards, so that I can sign people up on the spot? If not, then how do I sign people up? (I assume that everyone who plays needs an RPGA number, just like in DCI events.)
* Does the packet come with stat cards for the monsters?
* I understand that Delves are four-hour events, split up into four 1-hour parts. Is this correct? If so, then do I have to run all four parts in sequence, or can I split them up? (Run two parts for one group, demo another part for another group, run the last part for a third group, etc.) I bet that a lot of people would like to play 1-hour D&D, but don't have the time commitment for a four-hour slot.
And some other questions:
* Can people bring their own RPGA-sanctioned characters to the Delve, or does it strictly use pre-gens?
* How do I find out what level the adventure is going to be? I'm going to post a flyer in the store, and I'd like to put that information on there. Also, I need to know the adventures' level, especially if I need to provide pre-gens.
* My event is scheduled for the very beginning of January (Friday, January 2nd). How worried should I be about the adventure packet arriving on time? Is there someone I can talk to about expediting my packet?
* Lastly, am I asking these questions in the right place? Or is there a different forum for this kind of stuff?
Thanks so much for your time!
-Pôl J.
Hi! I've been active in D&D Miniatures for a while, but with the end of the Miniatures skirmish game, I'm looking to transition over to D&D Delve. At least I'll get some use out of my minis!
I just signed up to run my first D&D Delve Night ("Sewers of Silence", in January). What can I expect to find in the adventure packet from WotC?
I am not sure what else arrives in the store package, but the essential part is a shrinkwrapped package containing 4 heavy, glossy pages, printed double-sided.
The first page contains the Delve introduction, how the PCs got involved and what the goal of the adventure series is; and the first encounter. Each of the other 3 pages contain an encounter, to complete the set of 4 encounters.
Each encounter includes the starting box text, a graphic of the encounter map, not at full size but including the suggested initial placement of the monsters, along with a list of the Dungeon Tiles used to create the map, the stats for each of the monsters involved in the encounter, and a description of the monster tactics for the encounter, along with any treasure found by the PCs after the encounter is over.
Typically, if the encounters are played in sequence, at the same session, the description includes a reminder that the PCs get a short rest between encounters. Usually that reminder is only there if two succeeding encounters happen in the same room.
Specifically:
* Does the packet contain pre-generated characters? Or will I need to supply those myself?
None provided, if you want pre-gens, you'll need to create them yourself, or find a source somewhere.
* Does the packet contain blank RPGA cards, so that I can sign people up on the spot? If not, then how do I sign people up? (I assume that everyone who plays needs an RPGA number, just like in DCI events.)
No cards included in the packet, but your FLGS, if they have been running anything like Friday Night Magic, should have a bunch of cards on-hand. Note that you can sign folks up using ROGA or DCI cards, or use the inline WPN registration site.
Or you can send an email to [email]dci@wizards.com[/email] with your RPGA/DCI number, name and mailing address, and a request for membership cards. Note that RPGA membership cards, at least, come in pads of 25, but they can send individual cards as well.
* Does the packet come with stat cards for the monsters?
Monster stats are included in the Delve, on the page for the encounter.
* I understand that Delves are four-hour events, split up into four 1-hour parts. Is this correct? If so, then do I have to run all four parts in sequence, or can I split them up? (Run two parts for one group, demo another part for another group, run the last part for a third group, etc.) I bet that a lot of people would like to play 1-hour D&D, but don't have the time commitment for a four-hour slot.
A Delve consists of four encounters, one cardstockish page per encounter. Each encounter is nominally designed to take one hour, and each encounter after the first is designed to follow-up on the events of the previous encounter.
How you run them is up to you, but bear in mind that encounters after the first may not make a whole heck of a lot of sense to someone coming in cold. Also note that you can run an encounter more than once, for different groups, so you could run the first two encounters for one group one night, run the initial encounter again later as a demo for a bunch of newbies, then run the first encounter yet again for that third group. And then, if time allows, you could run the rest of the encounters for each group as appropriate.
And some other questions:
* Can people bring their own RPGA-sanctioned characters to the Delve, or does it strictly use pre-gens?
As long as the PC is legally built for the appropriate level, a player could bring their own character. The advantage of pre-gens, of course, is that you can build a balanced party with a PC for each major role, like a Cleric, Fighter, Rogue, Archer Ranger, Paladin and Warlord (Wizard optional).
The upside to players bringing their own PC is that they should fully understand the character, and it will be what they want to play. The downside is that you could wind up with a party of all one role.
Be prepared to scale the encounter up or down for parties of 4 or 6 PCs, as the designed encounter is targeted at 5 PCs.
* How do I find out what level the adventure is going to be? I'm going to post a flyer in the store, and I'd like to put that information on there. Also, I need to know the adventures' level, especially if I need to provide pre-gens.
Unfortunately, the level doesn't seem to be pre-published, you find out either when you get your copy, or when the first person to get it posts the level here on the boards...
* My event is scheduled for the very beginning of January (Friday, January 2nd). How worried should I be about the adventure packet arriving on time? Is there someone I can talk to about expediting my packet?
That I am unable to answer. I am GMing the Delve, but the store I am GMing for orders them itself, and has at least one other GM also running the Delve.
* Lastly, am I asking these questions in the right place? Or is there a different forum for this kind of stuff?
I think this is the right forum. At least thi sis where I have usually seen the Delve-related questions posted...
Thanks so much for your time!
-Pôl J.
You are welcome. Hopefully, someone with a bit more information than I do can help fill in the blanks I have left.
I've sent an e-mail to [email=dci@wizards.com]dci@wizards.com[/email], asking for a pad of RPGA/DCI cards. I've also asked what the level of the Delve will be. Hopefully, I'll get an answer before the day of the game.
They're also going to ship me some extra DCI cards, but they won't be packed with the Delve; the cards come from Renton, but the delve ships from Dallas. Who knew?
This is my first time running a Delve and the questions I had have all been answered in the above conversations. Thanks so much for all the help on these boards it really makes it easier to hear what others are doing in their games. Looking forward to the delve, I am running mine on Jan. 3rd.