D&D 5E (2024) Hellfire Club Starter Set

[Charlaquin]

How “Stranger Things-y” are the adventurers? Like, are they referential to the point of being distracting, or do they seem like they could slot into a non-Stranger Things related setting pretty easily? Somewhere in-between?

 

[Henadic Theologian]

The Roll20 "Unboxing" video of this product.

 

[Aellic Mornbringer]

I would say you could slot the adventures into a non-Stranger Things related setting without batting an eye. They are very nominally placed in "Greyhawkins" so you have to change the name of a town or two. And some of the monsters are designed after some of the creatures in the show but that doesn't tie you to the show either. The references in the first three modules are very light, and slightly eye-rolling for the fourth but not to the point that you can't re-purpose it.

Spoiler: First module influence

The mini-dungeon has a material plane side to it and a twisted mirror flipside.

Spoiler: Second module inspiration

The dungeon resembles the underground tunnels that feature in season 2 of ST.

Spoiler: Third module inspiration

The monster threat is very loosely based on the disseminated monster threat in season 3. IMO I think this aspect of the module could be enhanced to include the "from many, one" threat. There is also a picture of a pair of NPCs that is an in-joke to the show but doesn't impact anything.

Spoiler: Fourth module inspiration

The main NPC is a reskin of one of the show's popular characters and the conceit is you're invited to a combat tourney that can result in you joining some club, I believe it's called the "Non-heaven flame Club". There may be other references in this one, I haven't read it near as thoroughly as the others.

 

[bedir than]

Welcome to the Hellfire Club sees the return of D&D (the GAME) to Target

Wizards of the Coast Stranger Things: Welcome to the Hellfire Club

Read reviews and buy Wizards of the Coast Stranger Things: Welcome to the Hellfire Club at Target. Choose from contactless Same Day Delivery, Drive Up and more.

www.target.com

Walmart is only shipping it for other sellers

 

[Zardnaar]

I think culturally, much of the US at least is in the process of a shift in what words are taboo. People are much more comfortable with their kids hearing and using “swear words” than they were even when I was a kid, and my generation’s parents were much more lax about such language than their parents had been. On the other hand, a lot of terms that were considered kind of rude but far from unacceptable when I was a kid are considered slurs now. And I know if I had kids of my own I’d be much more ok with them “dropping f-bombs” than I would with r-bombs, or… the other f-bomb. Both of which were very common when I was growing up.

Yup swearing started agc10 or so here in 80s. Parents gave up policing it early 90s age 12/13.
F bombs barely offensive now, C word has positive connotations depending on how you use it.

 

[Charlaquin]

C word has positive connotations depending on how you use it.

That one is very dependent on where you live. My understanding is that in Australia it’s pretty socially acceptable, whereas in the US, it’s… still considered highly inappropriate by most, but not as much so as it used to be.

 

[Umbran]

People are much more comfortable with their kids hearing and using “swear words” than they were even when I was a kid, and my generation’s parents were much more lax about such language than their parents had been.

Well, a PG-13 movie can have one f-bomb in it.

And, on Stranger Things, Dustin has quite the potty mouth. He's dropping the other allowed words on a pretty regular basis. So... having the set match the language fans are used to seems reasonable.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

Well, a PG-13 movie can have one f-bomb in it.

And, on Stranger Things, Dustin has quite the potty mouth. He's dropping the other allowed words on a pretty regular basis. So... having the set match the language fans are used to seems reasonable.

That is so utterly arbitrary, it could just as easily have 2 F bombs, no real effect either way.

 

[DEFCON 1]

That is so utterly arbitrary...

Welcome to the Motion Picture Association of America.

 

[Clint_L]

Well, a PG-13 movie can have one f-bomb in it.

Yes, and only if used in a non-sexual context (i.e. “f- you!”).

And, on Stranger Things, Dustin has quite the potty mouth. He's dropping the other allowed words on a pretty regular basis. So... having the set match the language fans are used to seems reasonable.

I have starter set (digital version). It’s tamer than ST, for sure, which actually makes it feel a bit cringier.