Banewarrens: Is it worth it?
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Wulf Ratbane
Adventurer
I am running it now (as the proving grounds for a playtest group of my own material).
And... I love it. It is extremely DM friendly (inasmuch as it's extremely PC unfriendly-- think mid-level tomb of horrors).
The dungeon portion of it is extremely... dungeon-ish. Lots of rooms full of monsters and traps.
However, Monte has cleverly addressed the rationale behind this dungeon, AND on top of that, he's added loads of excellent PLOT.
My players just did a commune spell, during which they asked, "How many different factions are trying to break into the Banewarrens?"
When the answer came back, "FIVE." they all said, "Wow. That's a lot for a DM to juggle..."
And yet the way the module is organized, it's actually very simple. The beginning of each chapter talks about what's currently going on and introduces a number of EVENT driven encounters, so the module (and the PLOT) has a life outside of just rooms of monsters and traps.
I don't think I can say enough good things about it, so I will stop now. I will just say that as a DM, I am very impressed with it.
Wulf
And... I love it. It is extremely DM friendly (inasmuch as it's extremely PC unfriendly-- think mid-level tomb of horrors).
The dungeon portion of it is extremely... dungeon-ish. Lots of rooms full of monsters and traps.
However, Monte has cleverly addressed the rationale behind this dungeon, AND on top of that, he's added loads of excellent PLOT.
My players just did a commune spell, during which they asked, "How many different factions are trying to break into the Banewarrens?"
When the answer came back, "FIVE." they all said, "Wow. That's a lot for a DM to juggle..."
And yet the way the module is organized, it's actually very simple. The beginning of each chapter talks about what's currently going on and introduces a number of EVENT driven encounters, so the module (and the PLOT) has a life outside of just rooms of monsters and traps.
I don't think I can say enough good things about it, so I will stop now. I will just say that as a DM, I am very impressed with it.
Wulf
JoeGKushner
Adventurer
I agree with Wulf that it's an excellent module. I'd get the print version if given a choice between the two. Don't get me wrong, the pdf file has a nice benefit in that there are several full pagei llustrations meant to be handed out ala old style modules but the book is massive and takes a while to print out if you want to do the both sides deal.
It's also a lot for a new GM. Lack of flowcharts is one thing that I think could've been addressed for 'em. Lots of stuff to keep track of.
Excellent module though. Be sure to read through it twice before running and make all notes and chances that are necessary to mesh it into your own campaign world.
It's also a lot for a new GM. Lack of flowcharts is one thing that I think could've been addressed for 'em. Lots of stuff to keep track of.
Excellent module though. Be sure to read through it twice before running and make all notes and chances that are necessary to mesh it into your own campaign world.
Graf
Explorer
good
1. the level of abstraction is nice. there is a lot given to the DM and a lot left to be filled in by your imagination.
2. the introduced monsters and creatures are -generally- creative. I personally find dungeons and deathtraps a bit boring and irritating. Which is why I bought the adventure in the first place (so I could have someone else make them up). It has lots of both.
3. its relatively new. so players are unlikely to have played through it.
4. despite my generally picky and disagreeable nature I find little to quibble with.
a. i'm not in love with the Inverted Pyramid and the Wizards vs. Clerics elments but the subplot performs its function well and should slide easily into most game worlds.
b. I think monsters-as-monks is overused. Especially when the monsters are chaotic and no mention is made of why these creatures (who don't seem pariticularly devote) would advance as monks except for making kick-ass monsters.
MC has done a good job of melding plot with open ended action (mostly through some neat slight of hand). it should provide a lot of fun.
2 general comments:
It takes a lot of preperation. most monster stats aren't located in the adventure so you need to read up on the creatures that are likely to appear in your monster manuel. Ideally you should print their stats from the SRD or copy them from the book copy machine) to keep the game flowing.
its a hard hard hard adventure. whle chapter 1 isn't bad my party is suffering through the first entry. they've been broken in on CR = party level +5 enconters (its a bad habit of mine) and BW is chewing them up something ferice. I wouldn't worry about giving them powerful 1 shot magic items or an extra level or two before sending them off.
check this board out for general DM oriented (read: massive spoilers) discussion of the nitty-gritty.
<http://pub58.ezboard.com/fokayyourturnfrm22>
I'm working on page by page edits for the Scarred Lands (behind in getting it up but that should be done in a few hours or so).
<http://pub58.ezboard.com/fokayyourturnfrm22.showMessage?topicID=95.topic>
1. the level of abstraction is nice. there is a lot given to the DM and a lot left to be filled in by your imagination.
2. the introduced monsters and creatures are -generally- creative. I personally find dungeons and deathtraps a bit boring and irritating. Which is why I bought the adventure in the first place (so I could have someone else make them up). It has lots of both.
3. its relatively new. so players are unlikely to have played through it.
4. despite my generally picky and disagreeable nature I find little to quibble with.
a. i'm not in love with the Inverted Pyramid and the Wizards vs. Clerics elments but the subplot performs its function well and should slide easily into most game worlds.
b. I think monsters-as-monks is overused. Especially when the monsters are chaotic and no mention is made of why these creatures (who don't seem pariticularly devote) would advance as monks except for making kick-ass monsters.
MC has done a good job of melding plot with open ended action (mostly through some neat slight of hand). it should provide a lot of fun.
2 general comments:
It takes a lot of preperation. most monster stats aren't located in the adventure so you need to read up on the creatures that are likely to appear in your monster manuel. Ideally you should print their stats from the SRD or copy them from the book copy machine) to keep the game flowing.
its a hard hard hard adventure. whle chapter 1 isn't bad my party is suffering through the first entry. they've been broken in on CR = party level +5 enconters (its a bad habit of mine) and BW is chewing them up something ferice. I wouldn't worry about giving them powerful 1 shot magic items or an extra level or two before sending them off.
check this board out for general DM oriented (read: massive spoilers) discussion of the nitty-gritty.
<http://pub58.ezboard.com/fokayyourturnfrm22>
I'm working on page by page edits for the Scarred Lands (behind in getting it up but that should be done in a few hours or so).
<http://pub58.ezboard.com/fokayyourturnfrm22.showMessage?topicID=95.topic>
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