WotC's Chris Perkins Describes Tomb of Annihilation

With the adventure coming out in just a few days (September 8th), WotC's Chris Perkins summarises the concept and drops a few hints.

[video=youtube;6cyANArcQYw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cyANArcQYw[/video]

 

[Trellian]

Double.

 

[CapnZapp]

Shrug.

I'm sure Acerak can find some other high fantasy concept to disturb even if you play a no-ressurrection game. You do feature high fantasy concepts in your game of Dungeons & Dragons, right? Because otherwise you will have to accept you're so far outside the mainstream D&D customer it's hard to blame WotC for not catering to your needs. Their adventures has ALWAYS been about saving the world; never some Warhammerian "save the sewer jacks from that vicious dog" low-key deal...

And you get three Raise Dead for the price of a single full plate armor using official prices, and full plate is definitely something the game assumes EVERY martial character that wants one will be able to afford no later than, say, level five... it makes a pretty compelling argument that, yes, once out of the lowest levels, you WILL be able to afford the 500 gp diamond you need to bring back your buddy.

Again, nothing wrong with changing any of that, or playing an off-center campaign. But it's hard to see that you're just making minor changes. So it's hard to justify WotC catering to your needs. Good luck with your homebrew campaigns!

 

[CapnZapp]

I'm sure Acerak can find some other high fantasy concept to disturb even if you play a no-ressurrection game.

I realized I could have been a bit more constructive there, so here goes:

- suddenly teleportation magic doesn't function any more (or always work as if the destination is false, etc)
- suddenly healing magic doesn't function any more (or, more playably, always results in the minimum amount rollable)
- suddenly spells about magic, like identify and dispel magic, doesn't function any more (could include everything from Nystul's magic aura to Antimagic Field)

or even perhaps
- suddenly necromancy spells (Animate Dead et al) doesn't function anymore; Acerak cornering the market on skeletons and wights...

 

[pming]

Hiya!

Ok, [MENTION=12731]CapnZapp[/MENTION], I can see where you are coming from. I do disagree that people who don't play "high magic" games are too far out of 'normal 5e'. Mainly because, IIRC, 5e was pitched to us/everyone as "Anyone can play any style of game you want, from BECMI, to 1e, 2e, or any other e!". I'm just sick and tired, honestly, of yet ANOTHER "save the world!" AP. Gah! It's like a freaking Michael Bay movie series...one big explosion after another, each one being ever so slightly larger and more spectacular and loud than the last. Eventually culminating in such fast paced action, explosions, LOUD noise, etc., that the person sitting there has blood trickling out of their eye sockets and ears as their brain tries to comprehend just wtf is going on. When the credits roll, they stagger out wondering what they just witnessed. Funny, the remember the first couple minutes, but after that is just kinda blurs into the other 5 movies they saw in the series...ultimately making each movie, well, unmemorable. Save the world AP's, one after another....same thing.

Anyway...I'm going to look at it at least. Maybe I can salvage it into a decent campaign. Maybe...*crosses fingers*.

^_^

Paul L. Ming (sufferer of Grognardia Curmudgeonitis)

 

[CapnZapp]

I'm just sick and tired, honestly, of yet ANOTHER "save the world!" AP. Gah! It's like a freaking Michael Bay movie series...

I wouldn't say it's THAT bad, but yes

 

[dave2008]

I'm just sick and tired, honestly, of yet ANOTHER "save the world!"

But this isn't really "save the world" is it? If I understand correctly the "curse" is really just restoring the natural order. Our world seems to get along just fine without raise dead, I bet the Forgotten Realms would too. It is, however, an issue for adventures and the wealthy who need or like to have access to such magic.

It could be an interesting class clash if they wanted to go that route. Really, it is a very populist move by Acererak, could win him the election if he plays his cards right.

 

[Mistwell]

Shrug.

I'm sure Acerak ...

Who?

 

[BookBarbarian]

It's like a freaking Michael Bay movie

Except DMs can still turn these APs into something fun. I can't even give Michael Bay films the MST3K treatment to fun them up.

 

[jedijon]

Very cool discussion that actually articulates that moment when you read a published adventure...and something is...off.

It could be a foundational premise, the names are too goofy or unmemorable, the plot is dumb or the motivations require to participate are hackneyed.

And so, you first capture that feeling, then put it into words-on the internet-and with the help of some pretty reasonable suggestions you right the course--and run the campaign.

At any rate, the "substitute other high fantasy concept for 'raise dead no bueno' works MECHANICALLY, but your original reservations were thematic. No? As in; "raise dead = dum dum"?

So how about this. Just flip it. You don't have raise dead in your world/wheelhouse/ethos NOW...well, here comes 'Ayh-sur-rak'! he's avaricious. And in LOVE with death!!!

Dude is (for a fee mind you) bringing people BACK! Everybody is losing their minds. They don't want this unholyness. They don't want to lose their followers to this cult! They don't want their players to be tempted to use this awful technology to get out of what should be considered reasonable in-game consequences. Oh wait. That 'they' was you, GM.

I liked the discussion above. I liked the "have someone with a real motivation tell the characters about the issue so they'll be invested" suggestion--although I question that a 'raise dead' spell...wears off! And so, I don't know how a previously raised adventurer could be put in harms way in this fashion...without our buddies Cheese and Deus Ex. Which brings me back to my simple "flip over the mattress" suggestion. Changes no other elements. And hey-aren't you supposed to do it a few times yearly anyway?

 

[plisnithus8]

Tomb of Annihilation has a Dramatis Personae in page 4.
Acererak - name pronounciation = ah-SAIR-ak