Dungeon 162 - Winter of the Witch

[occam]

I didn't really read the adventure, just the monster combos, but it seems really... random. Demons, and then undead, and then lots and lots of cold guys.

It does make sense in the adventure; Orcus is involved.

Also, this adventure has what, 5 solos in it? It looks like a real slog. The Desecration looks like the most boring, annoying solo I've seen thusfar.

Maybe so, but encountering the Desecration only happens if the PCs fail two fairly easy skill challenges in a row. And if they do that, according to the storyline, they'll almost certainly miss the big combat involving the sorrowsworn and the angel.

Koliada's statblock doesn't designate what happens when someone is incased in Koliada's Ice. Is it a save ends condition? Are they still restrained? Etc.

They don't explicitly say it, but from the examples of other frozen victims throughout the adventure, they're completely helpless. What I wish they had mentioned, though, was how to get someone out of that state? Can you thaw them out? How long does that take? It could've used some explanation.

 

[Mort]

I like the adventure overall but at least one thing I don't like (Spoilers (highlight to read) on the off chance people actualy don't know what to expect despite clicking the thread):

Spoiler

Why is the only way to get the sun's silver to kill Remliel? I mean here's the item with the one purpose of killing the Winter Witch and yet when the PCs tell its guardian (and his high insight score) that's what they need to do he won't give it to them? This should at least be a skill challenge to get the item and only upon failure should they have to kill him. I mean these are (usually) the good guys, right? Granted if the party can't kill Remliel they have zero chance against the BBEG (in the sense that she's much tougher than he is), but still seems pretty silly.

 

[occam]

I like the adventure overall but at least one thing I don't like

It's a test. If you can't

Spoiler

take out an angel, then you have no shot against an archfey. Eh... good enough for me. Gives you a reason to trash an angel.

 

[Mort]

It's a test. If you can't

Spoiler

take out an angel, then you have no shot against an archfey. Eh... good enough for me. Gives you a reason to trash an angel.

I get that it's a test - it says so explicitly. I just think it's kind of a dumb one.

 

[Dausuul]

Maybe so, but encountering the Desecration only happens if the PCs fail two fairly easy skill challenges in a row. And if they do that, according to the storyline, they'll almost certainly miss the big combat involving the sorrowsworn and the angel.

So, the players' punishment for rolling badly on the skill challenges is to endure an hour or so of mind-numbing tedium?

 

[occam]

So, the players' punishment for rolling badly on the skill challenges is to endure an hour or so of mind-numbing tedium?

I would say that most of the designers are still learning what the proper outcomes of failed skill challenges should be. Maybe they'll come up with some better ideas for DMG2.