Converted D1 Descent into the Depths of the Earth

[diaglo]

hiya,

if you read the story hour in my sig, you will see my party is about to go underground.

unfortunately, we are not.... very good at it. so i'm looking for some advice. but i also don't want any spoilers. pleazzzee.

there are some of the stats for the pcs in the character link my sig.

basically halfling ranger 5/ rogue 4 (me)

gnome sorc 9 (JoeBlank)

kobold (formerly elf) bard 9 (biorph)

elf druid 9 (arielslover)

half human ranger 9 (howandwhy99)

and human ft/cl/sorc/bard/wiz/... i have no idea cuz he changes his feats, classes, and focus more than he does his underwear... prestige class of Lathander.. i think favored soul. roughly 10th lvl total



DM: Olgar Shiverstone

 

[the Jester]

Rope. Lots of rope.

Light sources, including ones you can shoot (i.e. arrows soaked in pitch) for when your foes are out of sight- remember, your light makes you a beacon attracting monsters!

Provisions- make sure you have tons of 'em.

Hire a guide...

 

[Davelozzi]

but i also don't want any spoilers. pleazzzee.

huh? Is this the real Diaglo? An avowed old schooler like yourself is not already familiar with the details of the classic module D1 Descent into the Depths of the Earth?

Consider me shocked, to say the least.

At any rate, the jester's advice is good.

 

[francisca]

huh? Is this the real Diaglo? An avowed old schooler like yourself is not already familiar with the details of the classic module D1 Descent into the Depths of the Earth?

Consider me shocked, to say the least.

At any rate, the jester's advice is good.

1E AD&D must be too "New School" for him.

 

[biorph]

Hey the rest of you may not be ready but my character was REBORN ready for this sort of thing.

 

[diaglo]

huh? Is this the real Diaglo? An avowed old schooler like yourself is not already familiar with the details of the classic module D1 Descent into the Depths of the Earth?

Consider me shocked, to say the least.

At any rate, the jester's advice is good.

the converted spoilers i mean. as you will note...many of the players are regulars on ENWurld.


edit: yes, i refereed this one years ago too. but not all of the current group has been thru it. Olgar is adjusting the encounters and stuff for the old veterans.

 

[billd91]

huh? Is this the real Diaglo? An avowed old schooler like yourself is not already familiar with the details of the classic module D1 Descent into the Depths of the Earth?

Consider me shocked, to say the least.

At any rate, the jester's advice is good.

I'm a little surprised as well. Gosh, I ran this mod back in middle school (for a bunch of high schoolers, actually) many years ago. I don't know that many people who have gamed that long without at least reading it over.
Anyway, my advice.... without spoilers.

Keeping a low profile is a good thing. The environment is hostile, but not ridiculously so. Encounters can be avoidable in larger chambers or tunnels with a little sneaking and hiding. But you're also a stranger in a strange land and too much adventurer-looter mentality is likely to get you killed.
I don't have much experience with Drow yet in 3E so I don't have a feel for just how magic resistant they tend to be. In 1st edition, they were frustratingly resistant. Fighters become a very useful commodity.
Keep your eyes on the prize. The underdark is a big place with lots of potentially side-tracking opportunities for adventure. It's also a good way to get overextended and get yourselves killed.

 

[diaglo]

Hire a guide...

my cousine Pepto would be great.

 

[Sir Whiskers]

Light sources, including ones you can shoot (i.e. arrows soaked in pitch) for when your foes are out of sight- remember, your light makes you a beacon attracting monsters!

If the sorcerer doesn't already know darkvision, consider getting as many scrolls (or a wand) of it that you can. While you probably won't use the spell on everyone every day, it can be useful when you're trying to infiltrate an area, or to place on your guard when resting.

Along the lines of the arrows with pitch, consider (if you have the spell) continual flame on small stones/coins. Kept in a dark leather pouch, they should shed no light. When needed, pull one out and throw it where needed. Also, cast the spell on the end of a rope, then lower the rope down shafts and the like to see what's below.

 

[diaglo]

sully our sorc lacks the necessary spells for underdark exploration. that's why i said we weren't really prepared.

and our cleric is very afraid of the dark

only the kobold and the half human are really up for it. the ranger has elf as his favored enemy and the kobold has darkvision.

i do have a bag of holding with some goodies. a week's worth of rations for the party, 200' of silk rope, 4 potions of darkvision, 3 potions alter self, and 20 sunrods.

and the druid has 3 headbands to turn elves into drow as a disguise. it works on the half human too. i tried it.