D&D 5E Enhancing "Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus"

[Talltomwright]

Just finished reading it cover to cover and can't wait to run it for my players!

The only change that's occurred to me so far is the book mentions the optional rule of a daily Wis save or have your alignment change to LE (reversible with Dispel Evil and Good, as per DMG p.64) I like that being in Avernus is corrupting but it doesn't seem to add much role play value; after the first poor roll and the party realise one of their number is suddenly evil then the Cleric will be doing a lot of routine dispelling each morning. I reckon it would be more fun to bring back the old 2E Ravenloft Dark Powers Check - each evil deed done in Avenrus brings a chance of being changed slightly with boons and penalties, building over time, to become more and more fiendish with acts of altruism the only way to reverse the process. Seems in keeping with the overall theme of redemption.

Hastily thought through examples include: torture someone and feel compelled to hide your face, while gaining the ability to control chains; steal something someone else needs and barbs grow out of your skin affecting your appearance but doing damage on a successful grapple, kill an innocent in a fit of rage and discover snakes growing from your chin.

 

[sim-h]

To make the whole first chapter less of an obvious railroad of strange coincidence I would probably have the Dark Secret be known by Zodge, and have him blackmail the characters into accepting his mission (no 200gp for them...)

Furthermore, the fact he drops them a single lead that 100% pays off (rather than them having real freedom of options in the investigation) is irritating to me. Doubly so when the coincidence of pirates Tarina robbed YEARS earlier turning up THAT DAY is added in.

I'm thinking Zodge will say Tarina has offered him information but wants protection, since she knows the pirates are coming. Zodge tells the PCs to be her protection and then act on the info she gives. He's too busy at the gate to go himself and wait with her.

To me that fixes all the suspension of disbelief issues. I'm frankly disappointed by the contrived threads between those first couple of encounters as written - but easily fixed!

[edit] I'd also add some spiel from Zodge about uncovering who is bankrolling the cultists - to provide stronger hooks to the Low Lantern. Maybe he even offers a reward, for that extra info (since I'll be removing the reward from the initial mission)

 

[Reynard]

My concern is that without a personal hook there isn't much motivating the PCs to follow the adventure threads to completion. I think making them interested in finding out what happened to the city from the get go is an easier sell.

 

[sim-h]

My concern is that without a personal hook there isn't much motivating the PCs to follow the adventure threads to completion. I think making them interested in finding out what happened to the city from the get go is an easier sell.

That's also true. I'll tackle that when my players create their characters, I think. Personality traits / bonds will need to drive the character's pursuit of the quest. One of them being a Warlock would also help

 

[sim-h]

Something for the errata: If Ravengard left for Elturel 'A tenday ago' (Fall of Elturel section in Chapter 1) then he'd barely have arrived since it appears to be over 200 miles from Baldur's Gate. Certainly refugees couldn't be expected at Baldur's Gate for another tenday.

Should be 'A month ago' that he left?

 

[MonsterEnvy]

Ok the DM's Guild Product Encounters in Avernus is really cool.

Encounters in Avernus - Dungeon Masters Guild | Dungeon Masters Guild

Encounters in Avernus - This product is now Adventurers League legal!Bring your Hell to life with this companion supplement for Baldur's Gate:

www.dmsguild.com

It has a pretty awesome encounter chain.

 

[Xenonnonex]

My enhancement is that Zariel casts hellish rebuke at will.

 

[Xenonnonex]

My enhancement is that Zariel casts hellish rebuke at will.

So that Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus: Zariel Hoist will not happen.

 

[PsyzhranV2]

So that Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus: Zariel Hoist will not happen.

Either there's a joke I'm not getting, or one of your players is seriously considering Batista Bombing Zariel. I'd pay money to see the latter.

 

[Xenonnonex]

Either there's a joke I'm not getting, or one of your players is seriously considering Batista Bombing Zariel. I'd pay money to see the latter.

Yes.