Klaudius Rex
Explorer
I've never done a story time, but i don't mind objective feedback from time to time. I'm a veteran DM playing since 2nd Ed. I just wrapped up Out of the Abyss, and now, I'm running my first session of Tomb of Annihilation.
Of course, i always make sure to gauge how my players felt, but bring it to you guys gives me different perspectives. So without delay, i present our first session for what happened tonight during the Tomb of Annihilation campaign.
...Someone died.
But first, let here's my line up.
- Laucian, the moon elf ranger from the Emerald Enclave, who helped get the group from the Baldur's Gate to Port Nyanzaru via the many portals in the nearby Cloakwood Forest. He is an ally of Syndra Silvane;
- Gank, the goliath great weapon fighter from the Clouds Peak Mountains and personal bodyguard of Syndra Silvane;
- Sorath Brightwood, the aasimar cleric from the Order of the Gauntlet in Neverwinter and nurse/caregiver to Syndra Silvane;
- Azari, the wood elf monk who is Syndra Silvane's close friend and fellow guild member of the Harpers;
- Smoking Fur, the tabaxi artificer from Waterdeep, who was hired by Syndra Silvane to research/investigate the Death Curse;
- and, Idril, the half-elf warlock (death patron), who was also hired by Syndra Silvane for her unique specialty and insight into death/disease/etc.
Once in Port Nyanzaru, they met Wakanga O'tamu, who gave them the quest to find Vorn the shield guardian and the control amulet. They also met Xandala and Summerwise, who gave them the quest to find Artus Cimber. After gathering some provisions, they set off into the jungle in search of Vorn, thinking that was the quickest and easiest quest to start with.
Along the way, they were followed by some non-threatening aldani (lobster-men). No combat arose, but the players sure considered killing them for dinner!
They ultimately found Vorn the defunct shield guardian, who was venerated as an idol by surrounding goblins, grung, and vegepygmyies the area. Upon further investigation, the group followed the goblin foot prints north to Yellyark, the home of the Biting Ant Tribe of Batari Goblins. The group was undecided on how to deal with the 40 goblins (24 adults, 15 children, and Queen Grabstab the goblin boss who had Vorn's control amulet) that lived there. No one in the group spoke goblin.
Azari decided to approach the goblin tribe alone, imposing herself into the center of the tribe. The goblins barked "Yellyark!" at her with spears drawn at her. When Azari persisted, the goblins attacked. The rest of the group watched from jungle foliage while doing their best with ranged attackes, but ultimately felt outnumbered.
It was a bad start to the campaign, and Azari died in battle.
I know 40 goblins and a goblin boss sounds way too much for a party of 1st level characters, but i really didn't think it was proper to scale down this encounter. This is what was presented in the book, and as a gaming group, we all decided to play the game to as close to the book as possible.
Even so, it could have been handled better, in my opinion, and the rest of the group agrees. In hindsight, the rest of the group thought that overcoming the language barrier with the goblins could have been done by bringing the shield guardian to the goblins, in an attempt to perhaps deceive them, but definitely trying to parlay.
Keep in mind that there is no rogue in the group.
We ended the session with the goblins quickly escaping the area via canoe, which will develop into a short chase next session.
So what do you think?
Should I have nerfed the goblin tribe? Should i have played softball on day #1 with my party of six 1st level players? Or did Azari the monk act prematurely, and is her death her own doing?
I am at peace with how things went down tonight. No one is mad or bent out of shape about what happened here. Even my wife, who plays Azari admits it was a bad move to just barge right in to a goblin tribe alone. But in her defense, what else could have been done? Bad communication, crazy jungle goblins, and no other solutions offered, she just decided to act unilaterally.
I felt bad that she died, of course...but the goblins would not have relented.
Tell me what you think.
(I don't mind if you think i'm the worse DM ever, just be nice about it...)
Of course, i always make sure to gauge how my players felt, but bring it to you guys gives me different perspectives. So without delay, i present our first session for what happened tonight during the Tomb of Annihilation campaign.
...Someone died.
But first, let here's my line up.
- Laucian, the moon elf ranger from the Emerald Enclave, who helped get the group from the Baldur's Gate to Port Nyanzaru via the many portals in the nearby Cloakwood Forest. He is an ally of Syndra Silvane;
- Gank, the goliath great weapon fighter from the Clouds Peak Mountains and personal bodyguard of Syndra Silvane;
- Sorath Brightwood, the aasimar cleric from the Order of the Gauntlet in Neverwinter and nurse/caregiver to Syndra Silvane;
- Azari, the wood elf monk who is Syndra Silvane's close friend and fellow guild member of the Harpers;
- Smoking Fur, the tabaxi artificer from Waterdeep, who was hired by Syndra Silvane to research/investigate the Death Curse;
- and, Idril, the half-elf warlock (death patron), who was also hired by Syndra Silvane for her unique specialty and insight into death/disease/etc.
Once in Port Nyanzaru, they met Wakanga O'tamu, who gave them the quest to find Vorn the shield guardian and the control amulet. They also met Xandala and Summerwise, who gave them the quest to find Artus Cimber. After gathering some provisions, they set off into the jungle in search of Vorn, thinking that was the quickest and easiest quest to start with.
Along the way, they were followed by some non-threatening aldani (lobster-men). No combat arose, but the players sure considered killing them for dinner!
They ultimately found Vorn the defunct shield guardian, who was venerated as an idol by surrounding goblins, grung, and vegepygmyies the area. Upon further investigation, the group followed the goblin foot prints north to Yellyark, the home of the Biting Ant Tribe of Batari Goblins. The group was undecided on how to deal with the 40 goblins (24 adults, 15 children, and Queen Grabstab the goblin boss who had Vorn's control amulet) that lived there. No one in the group spoke goblin.
Azari decided to approach the goblin tribe alone, imposing herself into the center of the tribe. The goblins barked "Yellyark!" at her with spears drawn at her. When Azari persisted, the goblins attacked. The rest of the group watched from jungle foliage while doing their best with ranged attackes, but ultimately felt outnumbered.
It was a bad start to the campaign, and Azari died in battle.
I know 40 goblins and a goblin boss sounds way too much for a party of 1st level characters, but i really didn't think it was proper to scale down this encounter. This is what was presented in the book, and as a gaming group, we all decided to play the game to as close to the book as possible.
Even so, it could have been handled better, in my opinion, and the rest of the group agrees. In hindsight, the rest of the group thought that overcoming the language barrier with the goblins could have been done by bringing the shield guardian to the goblins, in an attempt to perhaps deceive them, but definitely trying to parlay.
Keep in mind that there is no rogue in the group.
We ended the session with the goblins quickly escaping the area via canoe, which will develop into a short chase next session.
So what do you think?
Should I have nerfed the goblin tribe? Should i have played softball on day #1 with my party of six 1st level players? Or did Azari the monk act prematurely, and is her death her own doing?
I am at peace with how things went down tonight. No one is mad or bent out of shape about what happened here. Even my wife, who plays Azari admits it was a bad move to just barge right in to a goblin tribe alone. But in her defense, what else could have been done? Bad communication, crazy jungle goblins, and no other solutions offered, she just decided to act unilaterally.
I felt bad that she died, of course...but the goblins would not have relented.
Tell me what you think.
(I don't mind if you think i'm the worse DM ever, just be nice about it...)
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