D&D 5E Enhancing "Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage"

[jayoungr]

With Dungeon of the Mad Mage due for its official release very soon, it's time for the traditional "Enhancing" wiki thread!

This post contains shortcuts to particular posts* that offer suggestions and answer questions raised by the adventure. It is broken down by chapter:

Dungeon Key
Undermountain Overview

• Resource Management: #10
• Reviews/Impressions: #8

Level 1: Dungeon Level

• Traps: #9

Level 2: Arcane Chambers
Level 3: Sargauth Level
Level 4: Twisted Caverns
Level 5: Wyllowwood
Level 6: Lost Level
Level 7: Maddgoth's Castle

• Wandering Monsters: #6
• Stone Giants: #7

Level 8: Slitherswamp
Level 9: Dweomercore
Level 10: Muiral's Gauntlet
Level 11: Troglodyte Warrens
Level 12: Maze Level
Level 13: Trobriand's Graveyard
Level 14: Arcturiadoom
Level 15: Obstacle Course
Level 16: Crystal Labyrinth
Level 17: Seadeeps
Level 18: Vanrakdoom
Level 19: Caverns of Ooze
Level 20: Runestone Caverns
Level 21: Terminus Level
Level 22: Shadowdusk Hold
Level 23: Mad Wizard's Lair
Skullport
App. A: Dungeons Denizens
App. B: Elder Runes Deck
App. C: Secrets Deck

[Most recent indexed post: #10]


*These posts typically start discussions so don't forget to read relevant following posts!

 

[robus]

[MENTION=6702445]jayoungr[/MENTION] - kindly hit the wiki button on the first post, if you please

 

[jayoungr]

[MENTION=6702445]jayoungr[/MENTION] - kindly hit the wiki button on the first post, if you please

Oops! Can't believe I forgot that. Thanks!

 

[robus]

Oops! Can't believe I forgot that. Thanks!

No worries. Have you got your hands on a copy yet?

(And added to the pinned "best of" thread as I'm sure valuable posts will soon be forthcoming )

 

[jayoungr]

No worries. Have you got your hands on a copy yet?

Nope, not yet. But usually when I wait to make these threads, people who have advance copies start a review thread where all the interesting discussion happens, so I wanted to be ahead of the curve if possible.

(And added to the pinned "best of" thread as I'm sure valuable posts will soon be forthcoming )

Thanks!

 

[Daern]

First thing's first, Wandering Monster tables.
I've only done level 7, since that's what I ran last night. It's a mix of what might be encountered on the level and adjacent levels.
1 Umber Hulk (1-6)
2 Cave Bear (1-6)
3 Stone Giants (1-4)
4 Grey Slaad, disguised as a duergar, looking for its mate(1)
5 Duergar Patrol, Clan Iron Eye (3d4)
6 Xorn (1)
7 Bullette (1)
8 Cloakers (1-6)
9 Giant Frogs (2-12)
10 Grimlocks (2-16)

 

[Daern]

Also for Level 7 I decided that the Stone Giants lost their memory because they are eating a "Memory Moss" that trips them out and ruins their long terms recall. Not that the players discovered this but it gave me peace of mind.

 

[jayoungr]

First Impressions Thread

It includes some discussion that could be relevant to running the game.

 

[André Soares]

I have a question, how would you manage the instakill trap in the first floor. It seems to be taylor made to make a character fall on it, disguise it as an magic item, put it in a box protected by a trap... Reads like it's a reward, but the item when attuned just.. instakills the PC. I was thinking of giving a hint in the form of an Illusion on the empty room near the heart where the book tells you to put a regional effect.
Empty Room is the room #13 and the trap is #14.

 

[Daern]

Crossposted from first impressions thread:
This dungeon would benefit from a instituting some resource management rules, as 5e elides much of that. Encumbrance, strict time keeping (turns exploring), rations, light, etc
In my non-5e game I've been using a "Doom Die" to combine most of these together.
I roll d6 each turn
1 Encounter: Roll encounter & distance: melee 1, short 2-3, medium 4-5, long 6 & Surprise (2 in 6)
2 Weariness & Stress: Rest & eat one ration or lose 1 HP
3 Environment: Development or occurrence: noise, temperature, denizens move etc
4 Expiration:Torch burns out; ½ lantern oil burned, spell and potion effects end
5 Discovery: A clue, secret or hint of nearby danger
6 Luck: Free turn of exploration
I'm using a simple, "1 item slot per point of Strength" encumbrance system.
I'm going to make it gold for XP as well, which should encourage more exploration at the expense of fighting, though it mean we have to start adding in treasure.