Free Keep on the Shadowfell at Wizards.com

[Obryn]

Is KotS really runnable without the fold-out maps, or at least some depiction of them? As I recall, the main adventure book has some close-ups showing monster starting locations, but it's gonna be hard and frustrating for a newbie to run the very first encounter without a map showing the whole encounter area.

Well, an adventure without fold-out maps is certainly more runnable than it would be without maps AND an adventure.

I think the maps are nice, but I don't think they're essential. The DM was already responsible for drawing out most of the maps in KotS, and this is just a few more. Not a big deal.

-O

 

[allenw]

Well, an adventure without fold-out maps is certainly more runnable than it would be without maps AND an adventure.

I think the maps are nice, but I don't think they're essential. The DM was already responsible for drawing out most of the maps in KotS, and this is just a few more. Not a big deal.

-O

My complaint isn't that the DM has to draw battlemap-scale versions of the fold-out maps, but that (at least on first glance) thise encounter maps (as opposed to the tactical closeups) aren't there at all, even in smaller-scale versions. Kinda rough on a newbie DM to have to make up 75% of the map for the first encounter from scratch, especially when he may not even realize it's missing at first (assuming that the tactical closeup showing monster placement *is* the full map). I only skimmed through the PDF, perhaps I'm missing something?

 

[Klaus]

I haven't looked at it yet, but what's the deal with the new apparition? I like the idea that they include the villain more earlier in the adventure, even if it's just an apparition. Does it change that encounters tactics / story elements much?

The gnome now works for Kalarel, the apparition is guiding the show (and is in plain sight), the hostage has been forced to help find an artifact and when the gnome dies he goes all "Master! I have failed yooooo!!!!". Those gnomes are all about the drama...

I wish this PDF was about when I started running KotS...

 

[Grydan]

Though the gnome's attempts to convince the party that he's a friend are going to be a bit more difficult now that the operation is overseen by a "sinister apparition".

"Oh, that thing? Uh... that's my cousin Fred. Cursed, years ago. Doesn't like to talk about it."

 

[hvg3akaek]

Has anyone bookmarked the new pdf? I'm currently running KotS and this revised version is great, but I'd love to be able to navigate the file a little more easily.

I have, but was wondering on the legality of releasing it - especially since someone was saying "no" to the whole releasing the pdf on a CD?

 

[Obryn]

My complaint isn't that the DM has to draw battlemap-scale versions of the fold-out maps, but that (at least on first glance) thise encounter maps (as opposed to the tactical closeups) aren't there at all, even in smaller-scale versions. Kinda rough on a newbie DM to have to make up 75% of the map for the first encounter from scratch, especially when he may not even realize it's missing at first (assuming that the tactical closeup showing monster placement *is* the full map). I only skimmed through the PDF, perhaps I'm missing something?

I think they'll be fine. The road encounters are mostly wide-open space, and unless something has really changed, it'll even work fine with just the limited encounter area from the tactical close-up. Heck; limiting the battle area may be a good idea at first. I don't think my group ended up using the whole map on that one...

-O

 

[Leif]

I can SEE the revised KotS on DDI, but my question is this -- Is there a way to download it for free, too?

--"Computer Semi-Literate Leif"

 

[Hellzon]

I can SEE the revised KotS on DDI, but my question is this -- Is there a way to download it for free, too?

--"Computer Semi-Literate Leif"

Well you can't now, because Wizards.com is down for maintenance, but there are links to both the module and the quickstart rules on the page I link in my OP.

 

[Leif]

*sigh* I was afraid of that. That means that I just couldn't figure out how to do it. I only have the free version of Acrobat. Would that make a difference?

 

[Scribble]

*sigh* I was afraid of that. That means that I just couldn't figure out how to do it. I only have the free version of Acrobat. Would that make a difference?

you only need the free version.

two ways to do it:

1. Click on the news article so it brings you to the page that talks about the stuff offered.

See the link that says Download Keep on The Shadowfell? Right click on it, and choose "save link as." it will let you save the PDF (it auto saves as H1.pdf

2. Click on the link that says Download Keep on the shadowfell, when it opens in your browser there should be a little icon that looks like an oldschool floppy disk? Click that to save it.

3. Not sure if this will work. but Right Click This Link then select "save link as" just like the first 1 above.


PS I assume this is ok to link here, as it's offered fo free, but if it's not Mods just lemme know and I will remove ASAP.