DM_Jeff
Explorer
I've been spending my Christmas vacation reading my recent few months' acquisitions and thought I'd comment on this new piece by WotC, Shattered Gates of Slaughtergarde. I'm quite impressed. Of immediate notice: someone said it was a sequel to Scourge of the Howling Horde, but it's not, at all. It's to start a campaign and get the PC's to 7th level.
It does take it's inspiration seeming by using the best philosophy and design ideas of the old "Thunder Rift" D&D Basic campaign folder and the "Gates of Firestorm Peak" adventure for 2nd Edition. As I was (and am) huge fans of those, and ran them successfully back in the 90's, I was pleased to see a married miniature campaign setting (in a valley no less) and local dungeons invested in the history and current goings-on of the setting.
The valley is easily dropped lock, stock & barrel into any campaign setting (with specific placement and ideas for both Forgotten Realms and Eberron) and contains classic ideas and themes but with a edge toward the new edition's tactics, neat templates, and monster class combos. The backstory is totally epic in scope and flavor. Stirring stuff. As I read further I'll post some more, but in the meanwhile I'll entertain any questions.
Player's guide to read to get ready? check. DM's campaign guide & valley gazeteer? check. Color visual aids from the old days to show to players? check. Poster map of miniature-scale locations for key battle scenes? check. Adventure guide with 3 full dungeons? check. Loaded with enough hooks, ideas and inspiration to run side treks and further adventures up to 10th level? check. For $25, that really ain't bad at all.
EDIT: Also of note, the entire thing is written alignment-neutral. It's written to accomodate good or evil PCs and their interests and actions.
-DM Jeff
It does take it's inspiration seeming by using the best philosophy and design ideas of the old "Thunder Rift" D&D Basic campaign folder and the "Gates of Firestorm Peak" adventure for 2nd Edition. As I was (and am) huge fans of those, and ran them successfully back in the 90's, I was pleased to see a married miniature campaign setting (in a valley no less) and local dungeons invested in the history and current goings-on of the setting.
The valley is easily dropped lock, stock & barrel into any campaign setting (with specific placement and ideas for both Forgotten Realms and Eberron) and contains classic ideas and themes but with a edge toward the new edition's tactics, neat templates, and monster class combos. The backstory is totally epic in scope and flavor. Stirring stuff. As I read further I'll post some more, but in the meanwhile I'll entertain any questions.
Player's guide to read to get ready? check. DM's campaign guide & valley gazeteer? check. Color visual aids from the old days to show to players? check. Poster map of miniature-scale locations for key battle scenes? check. Adventure guide with 3 full dungeons? check. Loaded with enough hooks, ideas and inspiration to run side treks and further adventures up to 10th level? check. For $25, that really ain't bad at all.
EDIT: Also of note, the entire thing is written alignment-neutral. It's written to accomodate good or evil PCs and their interests and actions.
-DM Jeff
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