Dungeon 170: Monument of the Ancients

[Matt James]

I'm glad the adventure is being well received. I always chew my nails to a nub when content is released

What my brother and I tried to go for is a realmslore-saturated article that could also appear to the non-realmslore fan as well. We wanted to design an adventure that was both cool from a development point of view as well as design (rules versus fluff). Even though a perfect adventure can't really exist to please everyone, we hope that PCs and DMs can take this and run with it. We left plenty of side quests and adventures that branch off that those so inclined could stretch it out to their needs.

I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did writing it with my big brother.

 

[hailstop]

I'm glad the adventure is being well received. I always chew my nails to a nub when content is released

What my brother and I tried to go for is a realmslore-saturated article that could also appear to the non-realmslore fan as well. We wanted to design an adventure that was both cool from a development point of view as well as design (rules versus fluff). Even though a perfect adventure can't really exist to please everyone, we hope that PCs and DMs can take this and run with it. We left plenty of side quests and adventures that branch off that those so inclined could stretch it out to their needs.

I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did writing it with my big brother.

Even if I don't use the adventure, I love the fact that there is a substantial skill challenge/problem solving aspect to it. Not just a bunch of combat encounters.

 

[Matt James]

I personally pushed hard to get some good skill challenges in there and at least one puzzle challenge. I am very interested in hearing what people think of them. Thanks for the compliment, it was definitely something we knew had to be included.

 

[Zaukrie]

Matt, I'm running this for 100% sure. It fits perfectly into my campaign. I really like the lore and the encounters.

I didn't read it all in great detail, did you say what happened to the villagers?

 

[Shemeska]

Speaking of Phlan, did WotC ever finally release the Phlan web enhancement they promised to release several years ago?

 

[Shroomy]

Speaking of Phlan, did WotC ever finally release the Phlan web enhancement they promised to release several years ago?

They did not.

BTW, I re-read the adventure today at work and I enjoyed it even more (I did look up a few things online too so I would get the references); I think some of my initial reservations were related to when I read finally read the adventure. Its easily one of the best adventures in 4e Dungeon.

 

[Daern]

I like the map. The city brought back memories of playing the SSI game and "going into the monster part of town. The Moonsea North area is great. Its rugged area for sure. The great glacier and all makes me think of "Fire and Ice".
I dig how you have to deal with unsavory Bane worshiping rulers who are nice, then not nice.

 

[Prism]

Great use of skill challenges. First that I have been really impressed with. For the unlock challenge I like the way that the information for each success is provided in an interesting way - rather than simply 'you pass'.

The overland travel is also done well. I'd be tempted when DMing to dictate which checks need to be made by presenting the terrain day by day with the use of perception always being allowed as an avoid. I'd add a time/encounter penalty as per the camping option. One thing though...where did the hippogriffs go for this part? I'm also not sure that my group wouldn't be pretty much jetting along using phantom steed and shadow walk at this stage. I would be more likely to use an overland challenge like this at lower level

This is one of the best 4e adventures I have seen in Dungeon. More of this and less dungeon path for me

 

[Matt James]

Double Tap*

 

[Matt James]

Thanks Prism! We wanted to add the Hippogriffs to assist in time management for the adventure to allow the PCs to cover a larger portion land in a shorter period. Using other such forms of transporation are indeed just as well, if not encouraged. I personally wanted to toss in the leveled up hippogriffs (they are not standard as I recall from doing their stats) so that players who took the mounted combat feat could take advantage of it if they had not already had a mount. Hippogriffs are the fastest mounts too (again, if I recall correctly- ill need to check my notes).