D&D 5E Call of the Netherdeep Previews

Other than some announcements about delays, the buzz around Call of the Netherdeep, the latest Critical Role underwater-themed hardcover from WotC, has been a little muted. But there have been some previews which have snuck online, including Shaggy from Scooby Doo, and Yoda! These previews center around the adventuring rivals which feature in the game. Call of the Netherdeep launches next month in Europe, and next week in North America.

"Take a dive into the new dynamic character building for Rival NPCs in Call of the Netherdeep. Watch as both the leader Ayo Jabe and her party change and adapt to every crucial moment in your campaign."

Meet Irvan Wastewalker: a man who isn't afraid to take a hit, but is constantly beating himself up.

This humble goblin cleric is willing to follow his friends into the most perilous situations.

Take a dive into the new dynamic character building for Rival NPCs in Call of the Netherdeep. Watch as both the leader Ayo Jabe and her party change and adapt to every crucial moment in your campaign.

A beautiful mind combined with a keen sense of surroundings and a 12-foot stature. The ogre mercenary Maggie will be a fierce rival to your party in Critical Role: Call of the Netherdeep.

A couple of monsters found their way over to ComicBook.com, too!

 

[Redthistle]

I am never sure if these Critical Role books are serious or comedy.

Sometimes, I wonder if I'll die laughing, so I see your point.

 

[ECMO3]

Poor dermot, his multiattck encompasses one melee and one ranged attack. That is a bit cumbersome.

No, just make the spell attack with disadvantage, and do it first because it includes a blinded condition with no save which will give you advantage with your warhammer.

 

[ECMO3]

Is this a nautical or underwater campaign?

 

[Parmandur]

Is this a nautical or underwater campaign?

Yes, not to start, but much of the action is in the deep sea, on the floor of the Ocean.

 

[Hexmage-EN]

Is this a nautical or underwater campaign?

The last bit of the adventure takes place underwater in the titular Netherdeep. Not sure how much sailing is involved, if any.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I think it's more underwater than nautical.

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

I think it's more underwater than nautical.

Yep. Ghosts of Saltmarsh is more nautical (although it does have an adventure in an underwater Sahuagin castle), and this adventure has been stated to focus more on underwater overall.

 

[Marc Radle]

I saw it mentioned somewhere else that class is only shown in NPC statblocks for spellcasters for whatever reason, so presumably he's more of a fighter-type.

Really? Why is that?

 

[Veltharis ap Rylix]

Really? Why is that?

Just something I saw in a comment somewhere - Facebook or Reddit maybe...

Ultimately, though, I think it's probably for the DM's benefit. For fighter types, basically everything you need to know is in the statblock (What weapons do they use? Do they have Sneak Attack? Etc.), but for casters you basically get little more than a spell list, primary casting ability score, and save DC.

While it's possible to infer the class from that, stating it explicitly gives the DM a quick and easy indication of how the NPC's magic functions in a way that a raw spell list doesn't (Do they have a spellbook? Strum on a lute? Pull out a holy symbol?), while also giving you an idea of what class to look at if you're wanting to do some customization (swap out spells, create a higher CR version, etc.).

 

[Parmandur]

I think it's more underwater than nautical.

Yeah, not much nautical material it appears.

7 Modules connected in a linear railroad (apparently moreover than any WotC Afventure since Tyranny of Dragons):

- A low level intro in a (non-evil) Goblinoid fishing village where the players are involved in a local sporting event that leads to a Dungeon Crawl

- A "Call to Adventure" road trip with caravan encounters and ao on

- A good Drow military outpost built on a Hellmouth (Abyssmouth, technically, I suppose) that provides a fruitful Dungeon environment

- political shenanigans in a desert oasis city

- a Drowned City, a megadungeon beneath the desert city

- The Netherdeep itself, seems to be a bottom of the ocean hexcrawl

- Final superdungeon in the deepest, netheriest parts of the Netherdeep