4 out of 5 rating for Hoard of the Dragon Queen
From a thematic point of view I have very few problems. As the first half of an epic quest it does what it needs to and, for me, in a fairly entertaining form. The issues that stop a 5 star rating are twofold: there are a number of production issues, mostly to do with maps, and some features of the game that didn't make it to the final version. Both, while annoying, is probably due to an aggressive time frame to get the adventure out there as soon as possible after the launch of the PHB, although the first should have been caught in proof. As a figurehead it was never going to please everybody, and while I enjoy running it so far, I can see where things may grate with some. It does highlight a lot of the changes in the new system, non-balanced encounters, newly lethal combat.
From a thematic point of view I have very few problems. As the first half of an epic quest it does what it needs to and, for me, in a fairly entertaining form. The issues that stop a 5 star rating are twofold: there are a number of production issues, mostly to do with maps, and some features of the game that didn't make it to the final version. Both, while annoying, is probably due to an aggressive time frame to get the adventure out there as soon as possible after the launch of the PHB, although the first should have been caught in proof. As a figurehead it was never going to please everybody, and while I enjoy running it so far, I can see where things may grate with some. It does highlight a lot of the changes in the new system, non-balanced encounters, newly lethal combat.