April AL Releases

Rils · Apr 5, 2016

Yeah, it's finally April AL Releases Day! Our home group had planned on running the AL series for our monthly game, and as the DM I just went to buy the new modules, but I'm little confused by the descriptions in the "blurbs" for each. I know it's been said that they form a linear plot, but then why does 04-02 say "return to the Quivering Forest" - when we either just got sucked into the Mists (04-01) or just walked out of Death House into the streets of Barovia Village? I thought we were stuck in Ravenloft?

Also, why does 04-05 say "you finally get to explore beyond the village of Oranou", when by that point you're already 4 modules in and already have experienced the Village of Barovia? (assuming Death House, which we're in the middle of.) Won't you have already seen a few sights by that point?

I realize the easy answer is "buy the modules and find out", but before I use my monthly gaming budget on them, I'd appreciate any comments people are willing to share about the continuity of the story (once you've had a chance to look them over, of course). What I'm reading in the product descriptions doesn't seem to match up with the intro material, and I'm now hesitating before heading down that path...

Thanks,

skerritthegreen · Apr 5, 2016

Rils said:
Yeah, it's finally April AL Releases Day! Our home group had planned on running the AL series for our monthly game, and as the DM I just went to buy the new modules, but I'm little confused by the descriptions in the "blurbs" for each. I know it's been said that they form a linear plot, but then why does 04-02 say "return to the Quivering Forest" - when we either just got sucked into the Mists (04-01) or just walked out of Death House into the streets of Barovia Village? I thought we were stuck in Ravenloft?

Also, why does 04-05 say "you finally get to explore beyond the village of Oranou", when by that point you're already 4 modules in and already have experienced the Village of Barovia? (assuming Death House, which we're in the middle of.) Won't you have already seen a few sights by that point?

I realize the easy answer is "buy the modules and find out", but before I use my monthly gaming budget on them, I'd appreciate any comments people are willing to share about the continuity of the story (once you've had a chance to look them over, of course). What I'm reading in the product descriptions doesn't seem to match up with the intro material, and I'm now hesitating before heading down that path...

Thanks,

1) Because part of the Realms gets sucked into Barovia as part of the plot. That part includes a portion of the Quivering Forest.

2) The adventures assume that you start with 4-01, and thus did not play Death House. 4-01 through 4-04 are all in the parts of the Realms in Barovia or in the nearby village of Orosnou and thus the PC has never been to the village of Barovia (if you played Death House, you are skipping 4-01 and thus may have seen other parts of the domain).

Rils · Apr 5, 2016

Thanks Greg for the quick response. That helps to at least put the modules in context. Is there any guidance for how to transition from DH to 04-02, or is that left up to the DM's "+1 Magic Wand of Plot Devices"?

Pauper · Apr 5, 2016

There's a 'Welcome to Barovia' section in the adventure intro that talks about how to introduce the characters to Barovia, and that leaves them just outside a small mountain village, which turns out to be Orasnou.

I'd advise reading through DDAL 04-03 before running 04-02; 04-03 contains a map of Orasnou which is very useful to get an idea of the layout of the village, though the map sadly only identifies locations of interest to that module. You'll have to decide for yourself where locations listed in the other modules but not noted in 04-03 are located.

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Pauper

Tyranthraxus · Apr 6, 2016

I had a lot of fun with Gregori. Hes obviously selling the best of whats available but Im loving the reactions to my slightly dodgy Eastern European accent when he explains that of course they dont sell Brestplates or Plate Armour.

Pauper · Apr 6, 2016

I'm happy I'll finally get to do my favorite Order of the Stick joke in my actual D&D game!

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Pauper

Granville · Apr 6, 2016

Where is Orsnou on the map of Barovia that comes with the Strahd Hardcover? Or at the very least where is it supposed to show up?

skerritthegreen · Apr 6, 2016

Granville said:
Where is Orsnou on the map of Barovia that comes with the Strahd Hardcover? Or at the very least where is it supposed to show up?

The part of the vanishing hills and quivering forest attach to the northeast corner of barovia, and the village of Orasnou appears in that area (inside Barovia, north of Svalich woods) when it does.

devlin1 · Apr 9, 2016

Pauper said:
I'm happy I'll finally get to do my favorite Order of the Stick joke in my actual D&D game!

"I think you're drifting into another sketch, sir" got a laugh out of me.

Makiavel · Apr 9, 2016

Is there more information on the "part of the Realms gets sucked into Barovia" part? The only indication I've found is in Suits of the Mists when Sybil says "We've arrived". Is that it?

And on the Orasnou map there's a road leading to the Quivering Forest or the Glumpen Swamp. What if the players take one of those roads? There back in Faerun?

How about buying Curse of Strahd? Will I find more information in it?

Thanks

April AL Releases

Rils

Explorer

skerritthegreen

Explorer

Rils

Explorer

Pauper

That guy, who does that thing.

Tyranthraxus

Explorer

Pauper

That guy, who does that thing.

Granville

First Post

skerritthegreen

Explorer

devlin1

Explorer

Makiavel

First Post

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