D&D 5E Running Rime of the Frost Maiden

[TheSword]

I'm a little torn at the moment - currently I've got the campaign pre-ordered on D&D Beyond, because I buy most D&D books that way, and I find it much easier to read content there, but I'm wondering if it'll save me a whole lot of importing work to just buy it through Roll20 instead. As this is the first major D&D campaign I'll be running through Roll20, I don't really have much sense of the scale of the task as yet.

Hmm, I would say while roll 20 modules are really helpful for layout, maps, tokens, handouts and save me dozen of hours of work (and are therefore worth the steep price tag) they’re not a substitute for having the book in print or on beyond. I use the hard copy because I only really use the laptop and like to have the book open next to me without switching screens. I’ve had my iPad die too many times mid session!

 

[UngeheuerLich]

I just got the book on dndbeyond and I must say that the first look is amazing.
You get 20 short low level adventures that you can use in any order you like.
I also bought the essentials kit and I do like those short adventures which are absolutely doable in the time we have to play.
I had to stop my princes of the apocalypse game because the story overwhelmed us.

What I especially like in the book (and I hope it is actually true) is that the first 20 adventures are only loosely connected to the actual big goals. So you might just run it without knowing every detail so you won't miss to tell your players important things.

 

[THEMNGMNT]

I've been wanting to try Shadow of the Demon Lord. Rime of the Frost Maiden might be a fitting storyline for that system. Gritty, low-level play, tinged with horror.

 

[Reynard]

It is in hand! We can start discussing details.

First thing's first: are your players leaning toward being locals or new arrivals? My group is mostly locals and I am glad. The way the quests are described it will be nice to throw in some personal hooks instead of relying on the PCs just getting hired for everything.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

What it lacks, from what I have read so far, is a mechanic for bringing the PCs together as a group. I'm not planning on running it for several months yet, but I guess I will have to study the backstories the players come up with and then figure it out.

 

[Reynard]

What it lacks, from what I have read so far, is a mechanic for bringing the PCs together as a group. I'm not planning on running it for several months yet, but I guess I will have to study the backstories the players come up with and then figure it out.

I mean, isn't that always true?

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I mean, isn't that always true?

No.

Lost Mines, for example, the players are hired as caravan guards, thus bringing them together.

Many other adventures don't start so decisively at 1st level either. Usually, you could run an "assemble the team" scenario first, but if you skip first level in this adventure you are actually missing out on stuff. It has a lot of low level content.

 

[Weiley31]

First thing's first: are your players leaning toward being locals or new arrivals?

To answer that question would spoil a plot twist for my bud who would be in duet style campaign when I try this with him as he's played the Icewind Dale PC game before.

 

[Reynard]

No.

Lost Mines, for example, the players are hired as caravan guards, thus bringing them together.

Many other adventures don't start so decisively at 1st level either. Usually, you could run an "assemble the team" scenario first, but if you skip first level in this adventure you are actually missing out on stuff. It has a lot of low level content.

Phandelver is explicitly a "first time playing" adventure. Anything after that first time requires at least a little more consideration by the GM for how the party comes to be a party. "Hired to guard the caravan" is the thinnest, weakest "background" this side of "pressed into service by the Flaming Fist."

For my part, I am going to have the PCs all connected to different towns and know people in each of them so that when they go there, there's a real reason for them to care about things happening. I am also starting the PCs off at 3rd level so they will have a bit of "heroic mystique" about them, so there's a reason for locals to ask for help.

 

[Reynard]

Also, I am suprised and excited that the

Spoiler

Scroll of the Tarrasque

was not the most powerful one in the

Spoiler

Netherese necropolis.

I may have to drop both of those into my post Avernus Realms-breaking game.