D&D 5E Is WotC ever going to release something high level? Even as UA test material?

[hawkeyefan]

I really disliked the Bloodstone modules. I pulled up Lich Queen's Beloved and will look at it when I have time. Thanks for the heads-up. Hopefully it's good and I can use it. I'm not fond of animal type adventures, which is why I disliked the Isle of Dread, a module that is generally highly regarded.

I mentioned it earlier in the thread, but in case you missed it, you may want to check out A Paladin In Hell, if you can. Late 2E Monte Cook adventure that has some really cool concepts and high level threats.

 

[Luz]

I really disliked the Bloodstone modules.

Me too, but I found H2 to be decent as a stand-alone module.

I'm not fond of animal type adventures, which is why I disliked the Isle of Dread, a module that is generally highly regarded.

Yeah it's funny, I can really enjoy modules that are grounded in a prehistoric setting (like Isle of the Ape) but for some reason Isle of Dread does nothing for me. I find it really boring.

 

[Charles Rampant]

The Lich Queen's Beloved from Dungeon Magazine #100 is for level 18 and up. It's the only 3e high level module I'd include on this list. There were a lot of epic level adventures published for 3/3.5 and many of them are good, but frankly, the bloated epic rules system turned things into power gaming silliness. I liked the The Lich Queen's Beloved for doing an excellent job of portraying the githyanki world and presenting a pretty great villain. With some effort to tone things down and remove some of the epic rules craziness, it would be worthwhile converting to 5e for those looking for a high level module.

I literally just converted this one, and am busy running it for my group of level 18s. The work involved was creating the special Githyanki variants (I mainly used toned-down Liches with Githyanki Knight traits for many) and adapting the traps and special doors. I sat down, made a list of it all, and then updated it over the course of a single day, I think. So far the players have bought the hook - the prelimaries were supplied by a 4e adventure that takes place in Tu'Narath, from the Scales of War path - but have not yet entered the palace itself. I might report back after they do so. My expectation right now is that I'll quietly skip many combats as time-wasting, and that the party will get unduly frustrated with the incredible quantity of dangerous doors and traps, but that the fights won't be that punishing unless I abuse Meteor Swarm a lot.

Vlaakith I gave 600HP and the ability to cast level 1-3 spells as legendary actions, just to try and avoid a one-turn-wonder boss.

 

[Luz]

I literally just converted this one, and am busy running it for my group of level 18s. The work involved was creating the special Githyanki variants (I mainly used toned-down Liches with Githyanki Knight traits for many) and adapting the traps and special doors. I sat down, made a list of it all, and then updated it over the course of a single day, I think. So far the players have bought the hook - the prelimaries were supplied by a 4e adventure that takes place in Tu'Narath, from the Scales of War path - but have not yet entered the palace itself. I might report back after they do so. My expectation right now is that I'll quietly skip many combats as time-wasting, and that the party will get unduly frustrated with the incredible quantity of dangerous doors and traps, but that the fights won't be that punishing unless I abuse Meteor Swarm a lot.

Vlaakith I gave 600HP and the ability to cast level 1-3 spells as legendary actions, just to try and avoid a one-turn-wonder boss.

That sounds interesting, I'd really like to see what you've done with it. Is it possible for you to send me your conversion notes? If so, just shoot me a PM and I'll give you my email address.

 

[Lord Twig]

What is the opinion on Bastion of Broken Souls? The level 18-20 adventure that came out as the final adventure for the original 3.0 adventures? I was thinking about updating it for 5e and giving it a try.

 

[S'mon]

What is the opinion on Bastion of Broken Souls? The level 18-20 adventure that came out as the final adventure for the original 3.0 adventures? I was thinking about updating it for 5e and giving it a try.

I disliked it enough I gave it away. It's a linear series of fights AIR, it forces some really stupid fights that really ought to be amenable to diplomacy.

 

[Sotik]

Playing devil's advocate here. I feel WoTC hasn't made end content for three main reasons. First being that I suspect they feel by the time you finish an official campaign you should have enough of a grasp and material to continue on your own. Lost mines pushes this a lot, but you even see other campaigns giving you clues as to places you could tie other stories into.

The second being that WoTC is more concerned about getting new players into the game then keeping old players around. The best way to do this? Publish new 1-14 adventures. Why? Because most groups and DM will simply start fresh at level 1 versus the DM converting it to suit higher level players which means new guys can jump it in from the start. Plus if you publish enough adventures your bound to make something that draws new players.

The third being that WoTC can not make adventures for 14 plus. Most adventure are so simple any mix of race, class, feat, and build can fit into them. Level 14 plus tends to be a more intiment experience where content is made personally for the player characters to challenge their skills. This is simply not something you can do on a mass scale. Look at Matt Mercer, generally accepted as a great DM If not one of the greatest. His stories are so personally tied into the characters and personally challenges them not only skill wise but also mentally. If you just took any group and threw them into that adventure it most likely wouldn't be fun because it won't be tailored to their class, skills, and backgrounds.

 

[Charles Rampant]

That sounds interesting, I'd really like to see what you've done with it. Is it possible for you to send me your conversion notes? If so, just shoot me a PM and I'll give you my email address.

Sure! Here is my notes file, which details the rules for the palace, the doors, and the traps. The traps use the houserule of rolling a Hide versus Passive Perception.

I'm not that familiar with 3e modules, but the dungeon appeared to be monstrously complex and precise in its rules, so I tried to keep its restrictions and whatnot active. Bear in mind that I'm running for a party of level 18s, so the trap damage and suchlike is chosen according to that.

The creatures are tough, since they only exist in my copy of the Game Master 5 app, but I can describe the process. I mainly combined traits with an existing statblock -
so I either modified the Githyanki Knight, or gave the Knight's Psionic trait to the Abjurer and other NPCs from the appendix to Volo's Guide to Monsters. Some tinkering with HP and Damage was then done to raise or lower CR as appropriate. The new statblocks you need are:

Various Githyanki spellcasters and warriors - added the Psionic trait from the Githyanki Knight onto VGtM statblocks.

Duthka'gith, draconic/gith hybrids - Took the Knight statblock, gave it the breath weapon of an Adult Red Dragon.
Duthka'gith spellcasters - Just slapped the traits from above onto a VGtM spellcaster.
Dessrakrul, two headed dragon - gave him an extra Reaction each round, only useable on Opportunity Attacks.
Tl'a'ikith, spectral undead Githyanki - Gave a Githyanki Knight the traits and resistances of a Banshee.
Xam'kras, master of the Ch'r'ai - modified Diviner.
Kr'y'izoth, undead githyanki spellcasters - A lich, reduced to a level 16 spellcaster, stripped of all but one Legendary Resistance, and with a Flamewrath's ability to have the Fire Shield spell last forever.
Synferal, epic fire elemental thing - Imix but with no legendary actions and only two uses of Legendary Resistance.
Vlaakith - a lich, with 473 hp and her proficiency raised to CR25 level. I'll also let her cast any spell in the game, as required.


A lot of other stuff - Fiendish Beholder! Blackflame Elementals! Zombie Githyanki! - I deemed as unnecessary in a 5e context, so I've not bothered to convert.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Heh TSR had the same problem, none of the D&Ds have worked that well at higher levels except maybe BECMI even then its more like lvl 15ish.

IMO the complaints about high level 4e are wildly exaggerated. I've had a lot of fun in Epic 4e games.

 

[Corwin]

IMO the complaints about high level 4e are wildly exaggerated. I've had a lot of fun in Epic 4e games.

I've actually heard people say they enjoyed playing a game of F.A.T.A.L. too. Just sayin'...