Demetrios1453
Legend
Beginning my look-through now - will report first impressions in a bit!
D&D 5E Candlekeep Mysteries is LIVE on D&D Beyond!
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pukunui
Legend
It looks like alignment is still there. It's just been relegated to individuals. For example, the four named wereravens in the Book of the Raven adventure are all listed as being lawful good in their descriptions, but the generic wereraven statblock does not have an alignment listed.
I'm guessing this is how they will do it going forward - no alignment in generic statblocks, just alignment for specific individuals.
EDIT: There's also a sidebar in the Candlekeep chapter that reads:
I'm guessing this is how they will do it going forward - no alignment in generic statblocks, just alignment for specific individuals.
EDIT: There's also a sidebar in the Candlekeep chapter that reads:
Demetrios1453
Legend
I was about to comment on the exact same thing concerning alignment - several, although not all, NPCs are given alignments, so it appears it's still going to be used, albeit sparingly, in the future.
As for quick scans of the first few adventures (I've looked through the first five so far), they are so far pretty enjoyable. They do seem to focus on exploration and problem-solving rather than outright combat (although that's always an option). In fact, Book of the Raven, A Deep and Creeping Darkness, and Shemshine's Bedtime Rhyme very much focus on creating an unsettling moods and creepy settings.
The Joy of Extradimensional Spaces looks to be a really nifty and fun 1st-level adventure, and could easily be used for new players as an introduction to the game.
My only complaint so far is that Book of the Raven could do with a little more plot structure - there's little reason for the final part to be visited or even known about, unless the wereravens basically say "Why don't you do this and go there?" A minor hint or clue to entice the characters to cross over into that region probably needs to be dropped in somewhere.
As for quick scans of the first few adventures (I've looked through the first five so far), they are so far pretty enjoyable. They do seem to focus on exploration and problem-solving rather than outright combat (although that's always an option). In fact, Book of the Raven, A Deep and Creeping Darkness, and Shemshine's Bedtime Rhyme very much focus on creating an unsettling moods and creepy settings.
The Joy of Extradimensional Spaces looks to be a really nifty and fun 1st-level adventure, and could easily be used for new players as an introduction to the game.
My only complaint so far is that Book of the Raven could do with a little more plot structure - there's little reason for the final part to be visited or even known about, unless the wereravens basically say "Why don't you do this and go there?" A minor hint or clue to entice the characters to cross over into that region probably needs to be dropped in somewhere.
Hexmage-EN
Legend
Glad to hear the earlier claim that alignment was completely absent from the book was untrue!
Demetrios1453
Legend
I got through Lore of Lurue before having to give up and go to sleep, but one further observation is that The Book of Cylinders introduces a good yuan-ti faction similar to the followers of Eilistraee for the drow (being a breakaway persecuted faction).
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Paul Farquhar
Legend
I don't write reviews, but I have read most of this (digital version) now so am happy to answer questions.
I would say, to run this as a campaign you would have to have "The PCs are Librarians" (TV show reference intentional) as your initial premise, and it would be as far from a sandbox as it is possible to get. But it could work. It is ideally suited to drop extra sidequests into an on going campaign. Often dropping a book in amongst some loot is enough to start the quest off.
I would say, to run this as a campaign you would have to have "The PCs are Librarians" (TV show reference intentional) as your initial premise, and it would be as far from a sandbox as it is possible to get. But it could work. It is ideally suited to drop extra sidequests into an on going campaign. Often dropping a book in amongst some loot is enough to start the quest off.
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Paul Farquhar
Legend
That's kind of in the plot hook: "researching one of the following topics... Possible routes into and out of the Shadowfell".
Why anyone would want to go to Ravenloft beats me, but that is pretty much what this is.
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