D&D 5E "Big Summer Adventure" Drow related? Announcement imminent?

[Enevhar Aldarion]

Q1 is a Level 10-14 module, and the levels from older Editions translate to 5E pretty well, so a Level 10-15 Asventure would make sense.

WotC does not publish big hardcover adventures that do not start between level 1 and 5, so I would expect another book that has filler stuff at the beginning, to get characters to level 5-6, and then the real adventure starts and maybe runs to level 14-15. WotC keeps saying that high level-only stuff will not sell enough for them to publish it.

 

[Parmandur]

WotC does not publish big hardcover adventures that do not start between level 1 and 5, so I would expect another book that has filler stuff at the beginning, to get characters to level 5-6, and then the real adventure starts and maybe runs to level 14-15. WotC keeps saying that high level-only stuff will not sell enough for them to publish it.

Well, they have done several, actually (notably Princes of the Apocalypse, Curse of Strahd, and Dungeon of the Mad Mage). But, yeah, that is what I meant.

 

[Enevhar Aldarion]

Well, they have done several, actually (notably Princes of the Apocalypse, Curse of Strahd, and Dungeon of the Mad Mage). But, yeah, that is what I meant.

Right, but none that are only high level play starting at 10+. Didn't all the early hardcover adventures go from 1-20? Or at least closer to 20 than 14 or 15? I don't own any of them, so I can't just grab them and look.

 

[Parmandur]

Right, but none that are only high level play starting at 10+. Didn't all the early hardcover adventures go from 1-20? Or at least closer to 20 than 14 or 15? I don't own any of them, so I can't just grab them and look.

I was not at all suggesting an Advenstarting st Level 10, I was citing precedent for facing Lolth in her home in the Abyss well below Level 20.

 

[Parmandur]

Right, but none that are only high level play starting at 10+. Didn't all the early hardcover adventures go from 1-20? Or at least closer to 20 than 14 or 15? I don't own any of them, so I can't just grab them and look.

And, they were 1-15. Dungeon of the Mad Mage is the only official material above Level 15 in seven years, for a number of reasons (mainly that almost all DMs who go above that like to make their own stuff tailored for their players specific characters).

 

[Paul Farquhar]

The level curve in 1st edition was very different. Anything over level 9 was considered very high level, but (apart from Magic Users) the power progression levelled off, so, in terms of what they can do, a 5e 15th level character (say) is more powerful than a 1st edition 15th level (non-MU) character.

Which is the issue with high level content for 5e - it's very hard to design. It's hard for DMs (i.e. me) and it's hard for WotC. It may be wishful thinking on my part that WotC may tackle it now, but the involvement of (high level superhero) Drizzt and the possibility that the new adventure is a sequel it Out of the Abyss gives me some reason to hope.

As for WotC's high level record, Rise of Tiamat is 8-15, Dungeon of the Mad Mage is 5-20, and Candlekeep Mysteries goes up to level 16.

 

[Parmandur]

The level curve in 1st edition was very different. Anything over level 9 was considered very high level, but (apart from Magic Users) the power progression levelled off, so, in terms of what they can do, a 5e 15th level character (say) is more powerful than a 1st edition 15th level (non-MU) character.

Which is the issue with high level content for 5e - it's very hard to design. It's hard for DMs (i.e. me) and it's hard for WotC. It may be wishful thinking on my part that WotC may tackle it now, but the involvement of (high level superhero) Drizzt and the possibility that the new adventure is a sequel it Out of the Abyss gives me some reason to hope.

As for WotC's high level record, Rise of Tiamat is 8-15, Dungeon of the Mad Mage is 5-20, and Candlekeep Mysteries goes up to level 16.

Forgot about the last Candlekeep chapter.

You might be disappointed, because Drizz't isn't actually high level in game terms last I checked.

 

[Urriak Uruk]

Forgot about the last Candlekeep chapter.

You might be disappointed, because Drizz't isn't actually high level in game terms last I checked.

Just for curiosity's sake:

Tyranny of Dragons: 1-16
Princes of the Apocalypse: 1-15 (including introduction)
Curse of Strahd: 1-10 (including Death House)
Out of the Abyss: 1-15
Tales from the Yawning Portal: 1-11 (Tomb of Horrors does not get a recommended level beyond "high")
Storm King's Thunder: 1-13 (including introduction)
Tomb of Annihilation: 1-11
Dragon Heist and Dungeon of the Made Mage: 1-20
Ghosts of Saltmarsh: 1-12
Descent into Avernus: 1-13
Rime of the Frostmaiden: 1-12
Candlekeep Mysteries: 1-16

So on average, they always start at level 20 (on their own, by providing an introductory adventure, or having a partner book), and the average ending level is... 13.6. Rounding, 14.

EDIT: Forgot two adventures. Average almost the same, 13.66.

 

[Parmandur]

Just for curiosity's sake:

Tyranny of Dragons: 1-16
Princes of the Apocalypse: 1-15 (including introduction)
Curse of Strahd: 1-10 (including Death House)
Out of the Abyss: 1-15
Tales from the Yawning Portal: 1-11 (Tomb of Horrors does not get a recommended level beyond "high")
Storm King's Thunder: 1-13 (including introduction)
Tomb of Annihilation: 1-11
Dragon Heist and Dungeon of the Made Mage: 1-20
Descent into Avernus: 1-13
Rime of the Frostmaiden: 1-12

So on average, they always start at level 20 (on their own, by providing an introductory adventure, or having a partner book), and the average ending level is... 13.6. Rounding, 14.

Don't forget

Ghosts of Saltmarsh: 1-12
Candlekeep Myateries: 1-16

I'd be cautious about overgwnralizimg the average, as it looks different if you look at just Advebtures published since 2016 for instance: only Dungeon of the Mad Mage and Candleskeep are over that average in the past 5 years, and I do recall Perkins commenting that 15 was generally on the high side in terms of market demand, which is why they shifter focus a little bit downwards.

 

[Enevhar Aldarion]

Just for curiosity's sake:

Tyranny of Dragons: 1-16
Princes of the Apocalypse: 1-15 (including introduction)
Curse of Strahd: 1-10 (including Death House)
Out of the Abyss: 1-15
Tales from the Yawning Portal: 1-11 (Tomb of Horrors does not get a recommended level beyond "high")
Storm King's Thunder: 1-13 (including introduction)
Tomb of Annihilation: 1-11
Dragon Heist and Dungeon of the Made Mage: 1-20
Descent into Avernus: 1-13
Rime of the Frostmaiden: 1-12

Follow that up with the as-close-to-official-as-you-will-get DMs Guild Adept releases that follow on some of those to provide content up to level 20.