D&D General Actual Play: Heroes of the Borderlands Starter Set

[David Howery]

Yes, although presented very differently, with lots of player handouts, cards for abilities, spells, equipment, etc.

wow, that is rather neat looking. It's kinda amusing that B2, in spite of all the criticism about the problem of 'so many critters in such a small space', has been revamped quite a few times. Did it get updated for 3E and/or 4E?

 

[pukunui]

OK, so the adventure includes not one but two abandoned wagon encounters. There's the one that Pral and his gang looted on the wilderness trail, and there's the one that Oleira is expecting that's running late because its driver got eaten by a stowaway ooze. The latter has some quirks.

I found a third one! The Random Tamarack Stand Encounters table includes an abandoned wagon with a mimic pretending to be a crate.

Anyway, I am just about as ready as I can be. I've got my opening encounter prepped, and I've read through both the Wilderness and Keep booklets.

I've also prepared an index card for each player so they can write down their PC's name, age, height, weight and any other characteristics.

I am looking forward to getting the show on the road this afternoon! I hope the girls will enjoy themselves enough to want to make it a regular thing.

 

[David Howery]

just for the heck of it, ordered this and got it yesterday. The maps are neat, the Keep is much better detailed, and the wilderness encounters about the same. But my first thought on reading through the Caves was.... 'Man, they really nerfed these down." I mean, the bugbears and gnolls went from a dozen or so each to... 3 or 4? The two orc clans are gone, replaced with some completely different things. I did like the explanation behind 'why are all these assorted critters living all in a rather tiny area?"....

 

[Zardnaar]

just for the heck of it, ordered this and got it yesterday. The maps are neat, the Keep is much better detailed, and the wilderness encounters about the same. But my first thought on reading through the Caves was.... 'Man, they really nerfed these down." I mean, the bugbears and gnolls went from a dozen or so each to... 3 or 4? The two orc clans are gone, replaced with some completely different things. I did like the explanation behind 'why are all these assorted critters living all in a rather tiny area?"....

Modern D&D doesnt do mobs well.

Goblins may be OP.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

just for the heck of it, ordered this and got it yesterday. The maps are neat, the Keep is much better detailed, and the wilderness encounters about the same. But my first thought on reading through the Caves was.... 'Man, they really nerfed these down." I mean, the bugbears and gnolls went from a dozen or so each to... 3 or 4? The two orc clans are gone, replaced with some completely different things. I did like the explanation behind 'why are all these assorted critters living all in a rather tiny area?"....

5E monsters are way beefier than BD&D ones, so the threat is still legit for people who go in guns blazing. (I almost TPKed my first party that I ran through it, after all.)

 

[David Howery]

5E monsters are way beefier than BD&D ones, so the threat is still legit for people who go in guns blazing. (I almost TPKed my first party that I ran through it, after all.)

okay, I'll take your word for it, as I have nil experience with 5e. It is a neat set, though, the maps are great.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

okay, I'll take your word for it, as I have nil experience with 5e. It is a neat set, though, the maps are great.

Yeah, the physical elements are top notch.