DDAL Jasper runs Tomb of Annihilation. season 7
Warmaster Horus
Explorer
My players are just now arriving at Omu after 15 sessions. Started in Port Nyanzaru then to the Snout of Ogmar (Tortle Package) then back to Port Nyanzaru then to Mezro (Ruins of Mezro) then to Omu (due to an event that teleports people there), and there they are. APL is now 6.
I find there are a lot of good ideas in ToA but creating the connective tissue to move the story along in a satisfactory way while respecting party power increases has been the trickiest thing for me. Still, it's not been that tough and we're having a grand adventure in the wilderness of Chult. My biggest beef thus far is the lack of treasure - you would think an undead-overrun continent of lost civilizations would have heaps of gold and jewels draped across the ancient alters of lost savage gods. Not really. Mezro had a rule that actually destroyed monetary treasure you took from the city. The PCs hit some quest-related paydays but the fantastic treasures of deepest Chult have been pretty paltry, IMHO.
There's a lot of opportunity for exploration/investigation delving in many locations, particularly Omu and the associated temples and of course the Tomb of Annihilation. My approach has been to be patient with this, don't worry about slowing the pace down and encourage the players to play with these locations, ask questions and figure things out, not just ask to roll a stat check. The checks do occur but the players understand they need to focus those checks to specific elements of the environment and poke/prod to best discover solutions. Or at least that's the theory!
Good luck!
I find there are a lot of good ideas in ToA but creating the connective tissue to move the story along in a satisfactory way while respecting party power increases has been the trickiest thing for me. Still, it's not been that tough and we're having a grand adventure in the wilderness of Chult. My biggest beef thus far is the lack of treasure - you would think an undead-overrun continent of lost civilizations would have heaps of gold and jewels draped across the ancient alters of lost savage gods. Not really. Mezro had a rule that actually destroyed monetary treasure you took from the city. The PCs hit some quest-related paydays but the fantastic treasures of deepest Chult have been pretty paltry, IMHO.
There's a lot of opportunity for exploration/investigation delving in many locations, particularly Omu and the associated temples and of course the Tomb of Annihilation. My approach has been to be patient with this, don't worry about slowing the pace down and encourage the players to play with these locations, ask questions and figure things out, not just ask to roll a stat check. The checks do occur but the players understand they need to focus those checks to specific elements of the environment and poke/prod to best discover solutions. Or at least that's the theory!
Good luck!
CapnZapp
Legend
I have spent considerable time beefing up this, but you'll have to look outside the AL forum for those threads.
My only AL-compliant suggestion is to take the players to Hrakhamer. After that, the characters should at least feel rich, if not geared up.
Sent from my C6603 using EN World mobile app
Warmaster Horus
Explorer
That's a good idea. This time around I had been thinking there would be plenty of time to hit a greater number of jungle locales. But the party is leveling up and I want to get them to the Yuan-Ti temple, a major story beat, before it becomes too much of a cakewalk for them.
Last edited:
jasper
Rotten DM
TOA Session 1
I had tier 1 pcs. Two first level, a second level, and the rest fourth. I used Office Depot to print out the players map in poster format. The player liked it, but between me and the old man we knocked the map off the table three times. I will be looking for the dm map in .jpg and get that printed out due to the inserted map tore during game play. I started them at midnight and then teleported to Chult.
The pcs followed Syndra to her friend’s villa while trying to pick up some quests. They have not fully cotton to the merchant princes rule certain commodities. But during the night they did pick information of 8 out the 10 side quests and finish two.
The side quests complete were
9. Save an innocent man. Ok the wager problem was brought up. And one player figured the odds and came out 10 gp to the good. I did shorten the course about 50 feet. I had 6 velociraptors start in horse stalls like the Kentucky Derby, and the man start out his cage 40 feet down range. Due to low initiative and some nice thinking of the various players this was a cake walk.
1. Wanted Thugs, Mugs, and Irish. To do Thugs, Mugs and Irish Things. (Yes I stole from Blazing Saddles). Applicants chewing bubble gum will be shot! This was the final encounter and only fight of the night. I set up a 10 by 20 house for Taban. As the pcs were not so politely knocking on his door, he without the back window. Rolled a 1. I told the players this was ghetto and they were only going to get maybe a 60 foot straight line. Taban’s first combat roll was a natural 20, making it the first kill of the game, taking out the first level bard Nederick. Taban was able to drop the other first level bard before I called it. The group now has Taban as a companion.
The other side quests they picked up on were
2. Wanted Renown Zhent agents to create a distraction at Fort Beluarian.
3. Help! I need protection. (not that type. Get your minds out of the gutter). Escort a Priest to Camp Vengeance.
4. Help save the Lobster men. Larry “Dash” Pennell this job is not for you. Explore Aldani Basin.
5. Find Cimber. This was fun as I had trouble trying to get the point across without speaking. Between the two bards they know the daughter is a fake. The dead bard won the roll off for Summerwise. I going to transfer the Pseudodragon to the player’s surrogate.
6. Help me turn Iron into Gold. AKA Help a dyeing man. This they started by visiting the Goldenthrone and listening to Kwayothe speech.
8. Aye there me mates. We go bounty hunting for Jack Sparrow um Robin. I hate huge mice. After the game on the Facebook page I gave the information on this quest.
I do have one problem on more players wanting to play than a legal table. I got 9 confirmed and about 3 maybes. Oh xp for the night 433 and 12.5 gp.
edit to add.
One player asked how come they couldn't crash at the faction hall. I allowed this, so they are saving some coin.
edit again to add
They did pick up the Vorn (page 83) quest also.
Hey my players you can comment on these threads too.
I had tier 1 pcs. Two first level, a second level, and the rest fourth. I used Office Depot to print out the players map in poster format. The player liked it, but between me and the old man we knocked the map off the table three times. I will be looking for the dm map in .jpg and get that printed out due to the inserted map tore during game play. I started them at midnight and then teleported to Chult.
The pcs followed Syndra to her friend’s villa while trying to pick up some quests. They have not fully cotton to the merchant princes rule certain commodities. But during the night they did pick information of 8 out the 10 side quests and finish two.
The side quests complete were
9. Save an innocent man. Ok the wager problem was brought up. And one player figured the odds and came out 10 gp to the good. I did shorten the course about 50 feet. I had 6 velociraptors start in horse stalls like the Kentucky Derby, and the man start out his cage 40 feet down range. Due to low initiative and some nice thinking of the various players this was a cake walk.
1. Wanted Thugs, Mugs, and Irish. To do Thugs, Mugs and Irish Things. (Yes I stole from Blazing Saddles). Applicants chewing bubble gum will be shot! This was the final encounter and only fight of the night. I set up a 10 by 20 house for Taban. As the pcs were not so politely knocking on his door, he without the back window. Rolled a 1. I told the players this was ghetto and they were only going to get maybe a 60 foot straight line. Taban’s first combat roll was a natural 20, making it the first kill of the game, taking out the first level bard Nederick. Taban was able to drop the other first level bard before I called it. The group now has Taban as a companion.
The other side quests they picked up on were
2. Wanted Renown Zhent agents to create a distraction at Fort Beluarian.
3. Help! I need protection. (not that type. Get your minds out of the gutter). Escort a Priest to Camp Vengeance.
4. Help save the Lobster men. Larry “Dash” Pennell this job is not for you. Explore Aldani Basin.
5. Find Cimber. This was fun as I had trouble trying to get the point across without speaking. Between the two bards they know the daughter is a fake. The dead bard won the roll off for Summerwise. I going to transfer the Pseudodragon to the player’s surrogate.
6. Help me turn Iron into Gold. AKA Help a dyeing man. This they started by visiting the Goldenthrone and listening to Kwayothe speech.
8. Aye there me mates. We go bounty hunting for Jack Sparrow um Robin. I hate huge mice. After the game on the Facebook page I gave the information on this quest.
I do have one problem on more players wanting to play than a legal table. I got 9 confirmed and about 3 maybes. Oh xp for the night 433 and 12.5 gp.
edit to add.
One player asked how come they couldn't crash at the faction hall. I allowed this, so they are saving some coin.
edit again to add
They did pick up the Vorn (page 83) quest also.
Hey my players you can comment on these threads too.
Last edited:
jasper
Rotten DM
Here is the recap I posted to the fb page
Tomb Of anninilation session 2. Feb 9,2018
Xp 1,314
Gp 9 gp 1 sp
Renown 1
Downtime 10
After getting lost 3 Times the group arrives on the exact day to complet mission 6 Help a dyeing man. They discovre their target is Shago. You know the guy the beat up during the first session. They were also hired to create a distraction at Fort Beluarian. The distration did not go very well. The paladin, gnome, and Skylar tried to let the horses loose but that failed. They were sentene to a dino run. Meanwhile Niranath, Laughing puppy, and Turok gave the castellan Gruta Halsdottir a singing telegram and tried to fake an assassination on Turok using a minor illusion of Shago. Big Problem. The Fort Beluarain loves Shago.
The results. Snoozy the gnome was able to win the FAIR dino race. The paladin and Skylar became dino chow. But A+ bonus for creating a distraction. The Zhentarium are please. So the group has two new guides. Taxbaxi Hunters River Mist and Flask of Wine +6 survival. The group did pick up papers which allow them to keep out of trouble from the Flaming Fist. But Shago has swore venegance against the group.
The group buys two canoes and canoes thru the Bay of Chult but did not met any pirates. They pick up side quest 3 and are esorting Udril Silvertusk a Priest of Torm to Camp Vengeance. (Note the group can also pick up side quest 4 save the lobster men which will take you the Aldani Basin south of Camp V). While taking the river Soshenstar down to Camp Vengance, the group met some nice old ladies who aske Laughing Puppy and Ned on dates. These brave hearted adventurers fainted. And the rest of the group beat on the ladie and stole their trinkets.
OK, The Dc for getting lost is 15 and the group got lost 5 times at least. So if you keep the two kittys, I will roll with advantage. If you have a good map, I will roll with advantage and maybe only allow one lost day. The day is 61. PC killed 2, Soul eated 1, Monsters killed 20,
Question comments etc.
....
New comments. The dc of 15 for everthing but rivers and waters is high. I am think of only allowing a fail 1 if the guide or maps knows the way.
Tomb Of anninilation session 2. Feb 9,2018
Xp 1,314
Gp 9 gp 1 sp
Renown 1
Downtime 10
After getting lost 3 Times the group arrives on the exact day to complet mission 6 Help a dyeing man. They discovre their target is Shago. You know the guy the beat up during the first session. They were also hired to create a distraction at Fort Beluarian. The distration did not go very well. The paladin, gnome, and Skylar tried to let the horses loose but that failed. They were sentene to a dino run. Meanwhile Niranath, Laughing puppy, and Turok gave the castellan Gruta Halsdottir a singing telegram and tried to fake an assassination on Turok using a minor illusion of Shago. Big Problem. The Fort Beluarain loves Shago.
The results. Snoozy the gnome was able to win the FAIR dino race. The paladin and Skylar became dino chow. But A+ bonus for creating a distraction. The Zhentarium are please. So the group has two new guides. Taxbaxi Hunters River Mist and Flask of Wine +6 survival. The group did pick up papers which allow them to keep out of trouble from the Flaming Fist. But Shago has swore venegance against the group.
The group buys two canoes and canoes thru the Bay of Chult but did not met any pirates. They pick up side quest 3 and are esorting Udril Silvertusk a Priest of Torm to Camp Vengeance. (Note the group can also pick up side quest 4 save the lobster men which will take you the Aldani Basin south of Camp V). While taking the river Soshenstar down to Camp Vengance, the group met some nice old ladies who aske Laughing Puppy and Ned on dates. These brave hearted adventurers fainted. And the rest of the group beat on the ladie and stole their trinkets.
OK, The Dc for getting lost is 15 and the group got lost 5 times at least. So if you keep the two kittys, I will roll with advantage. If you have a good map, I will roll with advantage and maybe only allow one lost day. The day is 61. PC killed 2, Soul eated 1, Monsters killed 20,
Question comments etc.
....
New comments. The dc of 15 for everthing but rivers and waters is high. I am think of only allowing a fail 1 if the guide or maps knows the way.
jasper
Rotten DM
Tomb of Annihilation session 3
Feb 16, 2018
XP 1460
GP 11
Renown 1
Downtime 10
Garshomp the green Grung was hopping mad. Not only did he forgot the man and crocodile story he learn as a tadpole. He fell into three traps why exploring the shrine in Camp Righteous. He was banish to guard duty. Why playing on his cell phone he did not notice the 18 goblins sneak up on him. The party was happy as they piggybacked the way out the shrine. With Turok and Gaelach holding the alchemy jug, they gave a sigh of relief. Until….
They started counting the goblins and arrive at 19. With some of the group being wounded, Turok surrender the alchemy jug to Gary Goblin the boss. They paddle upstream to Camp Vengeance, delivering Undril Silvertusk to the garrison. THE SMELL OF DEATH was in the air. Half of the party volunteered to help Undril with the sick and exhausted troops. The others….
When to shake down Commander “Buzz Cut” Niles Breakbone in his tent. Led by the evil bard Niranath, they tried to shake him down for potions of healing. Buzz Cut became angry and requisitioned their row boats to take the troopers home. He then drafted the group into the Chultan army. The evil bard attacked her commander with vicious mockery. And the fight started…..
Being wise Snoozy dove out the plate glass window. Turok suddenly surrender. Vydoc bravely flee the scene. And Niranath was beating down by the MPs. Toss in the brig. And promoted to Corporal of the Privy. AKA. She had to clean out the latrine and bedpans. A huge verbal fight started between Buzz Cut and Undril. The result was the group was banished from the fort. The group decide to leave Inete at the Fort while they would try to reach Dungrunglung and then push on to Kir Sabal.
Many of small battles were had. They made pets of some unicorn rabbits. They were having a ball until the Wereboar came crashing the party. They fled for hours. Just as Snoozy the box gnome was going to trampled Artus Cimber and Dragonbait show up to save the day. ( I am not bsing. I had previous had the players roll percentage dice. I then wrote the encounter on slips of paper. If I have an encounter, I have a player pull the slip.) The group celebrated by killing a T-Rex the next day. (I thought they would be dead).
Ok. Monsters killed about 30. PC 3. Soul eaten 1. I do have one person who failed the Wereboar disease.
Feb 16, 2018
XP 1460
GP 11
Renown 1
Downtime 10
Garshomp the green Grung was hopping mad. Not only did he forgot the man and crocodile story he learn as a tadpole. He fell into three traps why exploring the shrine in Camp Righteous. He was banish to guard duty. Why playing on his cell phone he did not notice the 18 goblins sneak up on him. The party was happy as they piggybacked the way out the shrine. With Turok and Gaelach holding the alchemy jug, they gave a sigh of relief. Until….
They started counting the goblins and arrive at 19. With some of the group being wounded, Turok surrender the alchemy jug to Gary Goblin the boss. They paddle upstream to Camp Vengeance, delivering Undril Silvertusk to the garrison. THE SMELL OF DEATH was in the air. Half of the party volunteered to help Undril with the sick and exhausted troops. The others….
When to shake down Commander “Buzz Cut” Niles Breakbone in his tent. Led by the evil bard Niranath, they tried to shake him down for potions of healing. Buzz Cut became angry and requisitioned their row boats to take the troopers home. He then drafted the group into the Chultan army. The evil bard attacked her commander with vicious mockery. And the fight started…..
Being wise Snoozy dove out the plate glass window. Turok suddenly surrender. Vydoc bravely flee the scene. And Niranath was beating down by the MPs. Toss in the brig. And promoted to Corporal of the Privy. AKA. She had to clean out the latrine and bedpans. A huge verbal fight started between Buzz Cut and Undril. The result was the group was banished from the fort. The group decide to leave Inete at the Fort while they would try to reach Dungrunglung and then push on to Kir Sabal.
Many of small battles were had. They made pets of some unicorn rabbits. They were having a ball until the Wereboar came crashing the party. They fled for hours. Just as Snoozy the box gnome was going to trampled Artus Cimber and Dragonbait show up to save the day. ( I am not bsing. I had previous had the players roll percentage dice. I then wrote the encounter on slips of paper. If I have an encounter, I have a player pull the slip.) The group celebrated by killing a T-Rex the next day. (I thought they would be dead).
Ok. Monsters killed about 30. PC 3. Soul eaten 1. I do have one person who failed the Wereboar disease.
jasper
Rotten DM
TOA Session 4
Xp 1306
Gp 12
Renown 1
Downtime Days 10
Days 53 – 40
Our group of 7 brave pc, 4 Almiraj, Artus Climber and the Tabaxi hunter woke two days out from the Grung capitol Dungrunglung. They encountered little resistance. On arrival at Dungrunglung the entered the maze of madness. Since they are playing with me as DM, they passed the maze with no problem. The group was knee deep no ankle deep in conspiracy. The high priest Krr’ook was tired of king Groak madness.
King Groak was trying to summon the great queen Kermit, Queen of the Great Lilly Pad in the Sky! King Groak was going to perform the summoning tonight at the smiling moon. Krr’ook slimily offer the group some magical crayons, if they could gaslight the King into believing Queen Kermit descended from the sky and made whoopie with him.
The ritual had four parts. Laughing Puppy and Valnuestra took the first part. Using the magic crayons, they drew frogs of the voodoo doll. Which they passed. Niranath the bard got into the doll and broke dance the second part and passed. The box gnome Snoozy and Nuur Tsarai took the third and with their honey words, convinced Groak to go to the special bed. Turok and Vydoc tired the fourth part the sweet sweet parting. It was nearly ruin when Turok the barbarian yelled, “I love frog legs” but Vydoc corrected “Queen Kermit loves your legs!” but they failed.
Okay as DM I was having too much fun and forgot if you didn’t speak Grung some checks were to be made with disadvantage. I also had players who had not rolled on the rumor table. Since Ubato came up twice, I gave them a map which would remove getting lost if they went straight to the heart.
The group left the next morning taking with the king’s circlet of blasting, a ring of jumping, and the magic crayons. They were making for the Heart of Ubato and then the Wreck of Star Goddess. Along the way the blew thru 18 skeletons which the box gnome screamed we are going to die. It was over at the end of the round. The group has another criminal charge. Bard Baiting. The wandering monster was three Allosaurus. Everybody but the bard made stealth or survival checks to hide. The bard was zeroed out. But the group rallied and save her. The group on the final day befriend some Hadrosaurs with great animal handling checks.
They have a freaky zoo. Everyone knows they are coming due how big the group has become.
I did make one mistake which did not bother the player too much. I forgot a rogue can stealth ahead of the party.
Monsters Killed 69. PC 3. Soul ate 1.
Xp 1306
Gp 12
Renown 1
Downtime Days 10
Days 53 – 40
Our group of 7 brave pc, 4 Almiraj, Artus Climber and the Tabaxi hunter woke two days out from the Grung capitol Dungrunglung. They encountered little resistance. On arrival at Dungrunglung the entered the maze of madness. Since they are playing with me as DM, they passed the maze with no problem. The group was knee deep no ankle deep in conspiracy. The high priest Krr’ook was tired of king Groak madness.
King Groak was trying to summon the great queen Kermit, Queen of the Great Lilly Pad in the Sky! King Groak was going to perform the summoning tonight at the smiling moon. Krr’ook slimily offer the group some magical crayons, if they could gaslight the King into believing Queen Kermit descended from the sky and made whoopie with him.
The ritual had four parts. Laughing Puppy and Valnuestra took the first part. Using the magic crayons, they drew frogs of the voodoo doll. Which they passed. Niranath the bard got into the doll and broke dance the second part and passed. The box gnome Snoozy and Nuur Tsarai took the third and with their honey words, convinced Groak to go to the special bed. Turok and Vydoc tired the fourth part the sweet sweet parting. It was nearly ruin when Turok the barbarian yelled, “I love frog legs” but Vydoc corrected “Queen Kermit loves your legs!” but they failed.
Okay as DM I was having too much fun and forgot if you didn’t speak Grung some checks were to be made with disadvantage. I also had players who had not rolled on the rumor table. Since Ubato came up twice, I gave them a map which would remove getting lost if they went straight to the heart.
The group left the next morning taking with the king’s circlet of blasting, a ring of jumping, and the magic crayons. They were making for the Heart of Ubato and then the Wreck of Star Goddess. Along the way the blew thru 18 skeletons which the box gnome screamed we are going to die. It was over at the end of the round. The group has another criminal charge. Bard Baiting. The wandering monster was three Allosaurus. Everybody but the bard made stealth or survival checks to hide. The bard was zeroed out. But the group rallied and save her. The group on the final day befriend some Hadrosaurs with great animal handling checks.
They have a freaky zoo. Everyone knows they are coming due how big the group has become.
I did make one mistake which did not bother the player too much. I forgot a rogue can stealth ahead of the party.
Monsters Killed 69. PC 3. Soul ate 1.
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