Waterdeep: Dragon Heist First Impressions

Reynard · Sep 7, 2018

Burnside said:
Having said that, the story is also simpler than any of them except Lost Mines of Phandelver.

That's a bit surprising. I thought it was supposed to be big complex heist story involving lots of competing factions, with double crosses and plot twists galore.

Burnside · Sep 7, 2018

Reynard said:
That's a bit surprising. I thought it was supposed to be big complex heist story involving lots of competing factions, with double crosses and plot twists galore.

I haven't read the whole thing, but I'd say double crosses and plot twists yes, galore no.

The simplicity has to do with the relatively limited scope due to the level range 1-5. The actual adventure is really not as much of a sandbox as the previous publications, though you're certainly given enough setting info to base your own stuff in Waterdeep.

In something like CoS or OotA, the chapters described locations that could more or less be visited in any order. In this book, chapters 1-4 are not locations. They are a series of events that happen chronologically. The stuff in chapter 1 is followed by the stuff in chapter 2, then 3, etc. What exactly happens in Chapter 4 will vary quite a bit based on which villain you've chosen, but regardless it's the last chapter of the adventure.

Chapters 5-8 are each dedicated to one of the four possible main villains and their lairs. These chapters are entirely optional and it's quite likely the players would never visit any of the lairs during this adventure - and they're even less likely to visit more than one. I do suspect that some of all of the lairs WILL be more relevant for the Mad Mage adventure.

Chapter 9 is Volo's player-facing gazeteer, a cute in-universe thing that the vast majority of my players would NEVER bother to read.

I think one of the main complaints is going to be the maps. They are...utilitarian and basic. I'm actually okay with them. But players and DMs used to the detailed, colorful Schley maps in recent books I think may feel these seem cheap in comparison.

epithet · Sep 7, 2018

Is there any included guidance on running the Heist in the Free City of Greyhawk, or is the DM completely on his own in that department?

HawaiiSteveO · Sep 7, 2018

epithet said:
Is there any included guidance on running the Heist in the Free City of Greyhawk, or is the DM completely on his own in that department?

Nothing for anything other than Waterdeep - no notes for Eberron, Ravnica, etc.

epithet · Sep 7, 2018

Seems like a missed opportunity for cross-promotion with the upcoming Ravnica setting.

gyor · Sep 7, 2018

epithet said:
Seems like a missed opportunity for cross-promotion with the upcoming Ravnica setting.

Agreed, but it seems like a great opportunity for someone writing stuff for the DMSGUILD.

pukunui · Sep 7, 2018

brimmels said:
It has a pronunciation guide! That makes a DM's life much easier.

Tomb of Annihilation has a pronunciation guide as well. I'm glad to see it wasn't just a one-off.

Lots of cool NPCs are in the adventure, including well-known ones like Laeral Silverhand, though she may not be the same as the last time you saw her in an official Waterdeep adventure.

Could you please elaborate on this? Are you referring to an adventure from a previous edition? I ask because she is in The Rise of Tiamat as part of the Council of Waterdeep (albeit without stats).

robus said:
Looks like Matt Mercer by #85

illithian said:
And Pikel and Ivan Bouldershoulder just above them, and i guess it could be Cadderly next to them.

Guys, there's a whole other thread for this: http://www.enworld.org/forum/showth...s-from-Waterdeep-Dragonheist-can-you-identify

Charlaquin · Sep 7, 2018

Burnside said:
I haven't read the whole thing, but I'd say double crosses and plot twists yes, galore no.

The simplicity has to do with the relatively limited scope due to the level range 1-5. The actual adventure is really not as much of a sandbox as the previous publications, though you're certainly given enough setting info to base your own stuff in Waterdeep.

In something like CoS or OotA, the chapters described locations that could more or less be visited in any order. In this book, chapters 1-4 are not locations. They are a series of events that happen chronologically. The stuff in chapter 1 is followed by the stuff in chapter 2, then 3, etc. What exactly happens in Chapter 4 will vary quite a bit based on which villain you've chosen, but regardless it's the last chapter of the adventure.

Chapters 5-8 are each dedicated to one of the four possible main villains and their lairs. These chapters are entirely optional and it's quite likely the players would never visit any of the lairs during this adventure - and they're even less likely to visit more than one. I do suspect that some of all of the lairs WILL be more relevant for the Mad Mage adventure.

Chapter 9 is Volo's player-facing gazeteer, a cute in-universe thing that the vast majority of my players would NEVER bother to read.

I think one of the main complaints is going to be the maps. They are...utilitarian and basic. I'm actually okay with them. But players and DMs used to the detailed, colorful Schley maps in recent books I think may feel these seem cheap in comparison.

Damn dude, you had me at “not as much of a sandbox as previous publications!”

Plot flowcharts? Events organized chronologically? Utilitarian maps? Enough setting material to run your own stuff in Waterdeep?This sounds like the best WotC-published adventure since Phandelver. Maybe even since Murder in Baldur’s Gate!

gyor · Sep 8, 2018

Charlaquin said:
Damn dude, you had me at “not as much of a sandbox as previous publications!”

Plot flowcharts? Events organized chronologically? Utilitarian maps? Enough setting material to run your own stuff in Waterdeep?This sounds like the best WotC-published adventure since Phandelver. Maybe even since Murder in Baldur’s Gate!

You can mix it with stuff from the second Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage as well, so Waterdeep is going to be the most fleshed out city/dungeon in 5e.

Reynard · Sep 8, 2018

gyor said:
You can mix it with stuff from the second Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage as well, so Waterdeep is going to be the most fleshed out city/dungeon in 5e.

Plus they REALLY think you should buy Yawning Portal for the initial bits.

Waterdeep: Dragon Heist First Impressions

Beth Rimmels

Reynard

Legend

Burnside

Space Jam Confirmed

epithet

Explorer

HawaiiSteveO

Blistering Barnacles!

epithet

Explorer

gyor

Legend

pukunui

Legend

Charlaquin

Goblin Queen (She/Her/Hers)

gyor

Legend

Reynard

Legend

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