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Message: <blockquote data-quote="lightful" data-source="post: 849684" data-attributes="member: 10870">Group 1 judgmentThe Pyramid of JudgmentIt would be an easier read if it was mentioned that the entire pyramid has the Hall of Speech effect and is lit by Everburning torches. Repeating it in the description for every chamber is tedious.The Good:I found the whole Test of Integrity very interesting, especially the way it deals with the ethical aspect of animating the dead. The judge in the Test of Perseverance is also an intriguing bit of reverse psychology.The Bad:The owlbears are included only because they’re an ingredient. The laughter seems to be slightly forced as well, but not to badly. I can see some point to the manacles, but a stout rope would serve just as well; in fact the entire Test of Self-Control sequence seems artificial. The Ugly:I actually like the adventure (despite the authors misgivings). It could work nicely as either a side trek or the destination and the award at the very end is proper as well.Righteous IndignationYou know, I was actually considering using that as an ingredient ! The Good:The manacles aren’t terribly original, but they’re a well-used ingredient. What’s missing is the necromancers motive to steal them. I like the use of joyful laughter at the end (a kind of reward in it’s own right if it is portrayed correctly).The Bad:Why are the crocodiles attacking the PC’s, in pack formation no less ? The Ugly:I can’t help but feel that an over-reaching element that ties everything together is missing. All of the parts are there, but you ask yourself “why” to often. Something like…Five and twenty years ago an irredeemably evil witch was captured by the order in Anias. While the case against her was being put forth she used her foul powers to seduce one of her guards, Sovein Morgenis. In shame, Sovein left the order, the town and his own pregnant wife behind, disappearing for all time. Soon it was revealed that the witch had conceived and the order of Hieronieous was loth to execute the expecting mother. They commissioned the manacles to be created so they could safely bind her until she bore her child. The witch was executed, the child given to a foster family from which he ran off (this is obviously Iliesein- back for revenge against the order, more specifically his half-brother Alain and the manacles which bound his mother are an objective focus for him). This expains the theft, why the guard wasn’t killed, it gives Alain even more motive (to prove that there is no taint upon his family) and much more besides.Shadows of JusticeThe title is probably the weakest part of this adventure !The Good:Combining the judge and the paladin into one character is self-evident, but I really like Lethyeas. I like the Force manacles, confining him with rotting corpses so that he’d eat them and set himself up for ghast-hood is eeeeevil ! I love it !The Bad:The owlbear is, again, an encounter designed only so that the ingredient would be used. An ogre or (several bugbears !) would work just as well or better. The wizards name changes halfway, but that’s a minor point (more of a nitpick, not even a full quibble).The Ugly:This is, by far, the best entry in the competition to this point. The whole shadow plane double is ingenious, uses the ingredients well, and provides motive for all of the NPC’s.Ex-adventuring parties are always fun to mention, and they bring a great sense of realism to the PC’s (admit it – they do live strange lives, hearing that someone else did so as well helps).It’s interesting (to me anyways) that both of the entries to use optional ingredient did so very badly. However, that’s the only poor usage in Shadows of Justice (besides the title). So, the winner, by a landslide, is Destil. ajanders, with a solid entry is second, with mystraschosen (acknowledging his troubles) a distant third.</blockquote>

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