D&D 5E (2014) Dungeons of Drakkenheim: a dark fantasy sandbox in a ruined city

[GuyBoy]

Spoiler Alert;

Last weekend, we played a session of Drakkenheim where we got our butts comprehensively kicked, but it was an awesome game regardless.
Having assisted the Knights of the Flame in liberating one of the gates from the beastmen/gnolls, the party shadowed the fleeing survivors back to the Cathedral of St Vitruvio. We decided on a “reconnaissance in force”; big mistake!
Our level 7 quartet came up against the Lord of Feasts and associated minions and barely escaped a TPK. My rogue got away after some vaguely effective sniping and then undignified fleeing, the wizard escaped by misty step and then polymorphing into a giant eagle, who then carried off the barely alive dwarves fighter and the 0HP barbarian.

It all sounds pretty grim, but it was actually an awesome game session, both atmospheric, dramatic and terrifying in equal measures. It also reminded me that losing battles can be just as much fun as winning them.
Kudos to @TheSword , our brilliant DM

 

[W'rkncacnter]

We decided on a “reconnaissance in force”; big mistake!

i mean, sounds like the recon was a success to me. you learned how many enemies were inside, how capable they were, and you all got away alive (even if barely so). mission success and a week of R&R as far as i'm concerned.

 

[TheSword]

It was touch and go. The lord of feasts is a pretty darn good archer and can make two attacks that would have spelled doom! One reduces speed to 0 and the other paralyzes. Either would have seen the death of three of the four PCs but luck prevailed.

 

[Mannahnin]

Our group was higher level by the time we took on the Lord of the Feast at the cathedral, and managed to win, but it was a super nasty fight.

 

[Ancalagon]

Spoiler Alert;

Last weekend, we played a session of Drakkenheim where we got our butts comprehensively kicked, but it was an awesome game regardless.
Having assisted the Knights of the Flame in liberating one of the gates from the beastmen/gnolls, the party shadowed the fleeing survivors back to the Cathedral of St Vitruvio. We decided on a “reconnaissance in force”; big mistake!
Our level 7 quartet came up against the Lord of Feasts and associated minions and barely escaped a TPK. My rogue got away after some vaguely effective sniping and then undignified fleeing, the wizard escaped by misty step and then polymorphing into a giant eagle, who then carried off the barely alive dwarves fighter and the 0HP barbarian.

It all sounds pretty grim, but it was actually an awesome game session, both atmospheric, dramatic and terrifying in equal measures. It also reminded me that losing battles can be just as much fun as winning them.
Kudos to @TheSword , our brilliant DM

In my experience, a group that can retreat fast is a great idea in drakkenheim....

 

[GuyBoy]

In my experience, a group that can retreat fast is a great idea in drakkenheim....

Very true.
We already had experience of this, having skedaddled pretty rapidly from Executioner Square! It was exit, pursued by wraiths.
What made this one worse was that the others flew back towards Emberwood, utilising the giant eagle polymorph, leaving my poor rogue to sneak back to Temple Gate avoiding wandering monsters (in this case, 2 trolls!) all by herself. Luckily my stealth roll was very good, but there will be “conversations” next session!