DM Discussion thread: The Occupation of Szith Morcane

[Tyranthraxus]

Hi,

This is a DM discussion thread for the Occupation of Szith Morcane 3-03. Please add any information/feedback you want to give to other DM's for this scenario (ie if a V strong encounter is too deadly etc).

If you are a player you should not be here.

Matthew

 

[Tyranthraxus]

Note that both the Derro Savant (reference pg 14) and the Glabrezu (reference pg 19) are not found within the monster stats at the end of the scenario.

The Glabrezu can be located on page 58 of the MM, the Derro savant is apparently located in the Hardback of Out of the Abyss. You may wish to photocopy the particular page for use whilst running Occupation.

The Balgura (reference page 28) is not used in the Scenario.

Drow Elite Warriors refer to Drow Veterans.

 

[Z. H. Darkstar]

Good to know about those missing stat blocks, as I'm about to start this on Thursday. Any advice on where a good midway point would be, as I run the Expeditions as two-session adventures in a two hour block? I generally aim to stop after Part 2, but I would like some feedback as to how long each part has taken to run.

 

[Pjack]

I've run it once, and it was a lot of fun. My advice (spoilers):

1. Read it, read the errata, then re-read it. The backstory is complicated enough that it took a while to get my head around it, and there's a number of things that need errata (from minor typos to major elements).

2. I had a particularly weak party. When it looked like the hezrou was going to cream them, I gave them a chance to run away and sneak back again later. I also made the drow slaves/prisoners more useful than they're written. And finally, once the PCs freed the archmage, he was able to contribute to the fight. (There's no stats for him, but I figure that even a high-level wizard who's out of spells could benefit from "Arcane Recovery" and get a couple of lightning bolts back.)

If you're running it as a two-parter, I guess I'd end Part I just as the party enters the portal to Szith Morcane (cliffhanger!), and pick up Part II in Szith Morcane itself.

 

[Tyranthraxus]

Do you think there is any chance of the actual PDF getting the updates? Ive noticed the FAQ now is getting really really big, which I dont think is a particuarly good thing.

If only to correct the spelling mistakes and typo errors on the front pages. We are gonna have characters die because of an error one day (not every DM knows about the FAQ, just like not every DM visits here OR has facebook access or wants facebook access)

 

[skerritthegreen]

Do you think there is any chance of the actual PDF getting the updates?

There is nothing I can tell you about that at this time. I know the Admins have asked for it (we don't do layout or PDFing, that is done by WOTC) and we are told it is a possibility but new content is prioritized over editing old content. We remain hopeful that at some point we'll get the option of doing it. Until that time, I encourage DMs to consult the errata document we maintain.

 

[Ainulindalion]

Drow Elite Warriors are not Drow Veterans, unless that was a simple mistake in editing. There is a 'Drow Elite Warrior' in the Drow entry in the MM, on pg 127.

So its stat block is also potentially missing from the module.

 

[Steve_MND]

Until that time, I encourage DMs to consult the errata document we maintain.

Which errata document is that one again?

 

[skerritthegreen]

Which errata document is that one again?

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1g6wYyw972Thm0J2_wvOTDcdzmE02VLW6vfz7ttNIH_A/edit?usp=sharing

Its not always perfect as its a public document and some folks make incorrect assumptions when they post suggestions, but the staff goes through every few days and prunes those out.

 

[Z. H. Darkstar]

What's a half-cake???