Free Keep on the Shadowfell at Wizards.com

[hvg3akaek]

So WotC still thinks that a L+5 encounter is appropriate for the 3rd encounter that a new player is going to experience? Um? It looks like it WAS made a little easier, but it's still L+5...

How is it easier? The only changes I can see is the dragonshields being replaced with Denwardens. Which looks to be *harder*...

Their attacks are now 1d8+3 instead of 1d6+3. They are still at +7. Despite their strength dropping by one, and exchanging a sword for a spear... (I'd have thought it should be +6, 1d8+2?)

And the mark effect now also has a free-basic-melee attack assigned to it.


I can't see any other significant changes to it?

 

[Grydan]

Irontooth's Dual Axe must be against separate targets.

There's no actual mechanical change there, at least in my copy. The only difference is now the power mentions Irontooth (rather redundantly, in my opinion).

Original: Make a basic attack against two adjacent creatures.

Revised: Irontooth makes a basic attack against two adjacent creatures.

Non-mechanically, Irontooth was originally described as "wielding a battleaxe in two hands", described in the treasure section as having one axe, and depicted in the art as having one axe. Now he's described as holding a battleaxe in each hand, and his equipment (now moved to the appropriate place in his stat-block, rather than in the treasure) includes two axes.

Given that I picked up the Snig the Axe mini to represent him, I'll be using the single-axe version, though probably with the lowered defenses of the revised version.

 

[GuJiaXian]

Has anyone bookmarked the new pdf? I'm currently running KotS and this revised version is great, but I'd love to be able to navigate the file a little more easily.

 

[OchreJelly]

I haven't looked at it yet, but what's the deal with the new apparition? I like the idea that they include the villain more earlier in the adventure, even if it's just an apparition. Does it change that encounters tactics / story elements much?

 

[timbannock]

I think this is really really great, and a really smart thing for Wizards to do.

Now a group can sit down and play through an entire adventure, about 24 hours worth of gaming content, for free. They get PCs, they get a stripped down set of rules. They get an excellent adventure. I think this is the new Redbox as far as I'm concerned. I like this a lot better than the basic set (though it does come with minis and dice and all of that).

I think they'd be smart to build KOTS into the new redbox, redoing the starter set around it.

I couldn't agree more. This is what the introductory for D&D should be...an obviously improved version of KOTS with the "expanded Quickstart Rules". Throw in the correct poster maps/dungeon tiles, key minis (PCs plus the major baddies), some dice, and you're good to go.

Tack on the Savage Worlds customizable GM screen and it's perfect ;-P

Seriously, though, this is what was lacking when 4e launched. They need to make the links to this permanent, right on the homepage, and easy to find. It's brilliant.

 

[jbear]

I think WotC has been making steady and constant improvements to the game, and amending mistakes. I think they are listening to fans and reacting accordingly.

I bought a paper copy of the adventure as well. I don't mind that it is now free. Actually I have just started using it for a second group I have started so I appreciate any amendments, especially the inclusion of some skill challenges.

I think this type of reaction to their war on pirating is smart, nothing to lose and everything to gain. It also bodes well that the people at the helm are thinking, reacting, adjusting and expanding the game. Positive stuff.

 

[Scribble]

I bought a paper copy, but it got destroyed by a water leak. So now I have KoTS again.

 

[Nail]

A free pdf - for WotC - of KotS is cool! I own the paper copy (with bad ink, remember?). Having a pdf is a good thing. I'll look through it this evening.

 

[allenw]

Is KotS really runnable without the fold-out maps, or at least some depiction of them? As I recall, the main adventure book has some close-ups showing monster starting locations, but it's gonna be hard and frustrating for a newbie to run the very first encounter without a map showing the whole encounter area.

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

I think this is awesome, and it's just a shame my group and I have already finished KotS!

Still, if I ever move house or get a new group, I'd be happy to run it again.