D&D General Hold Back the Dead - Free Digital D&D Adventure Coming 4th Feb

D&D Beyond's marketplace features a page for an upcoming digital adventure called Hold Back The Dead. The adventure will be free for registered users of DDB, and will be available from February 4th

Deep in the Western Heartlands, an evil Red Wizard conspires to overtake the land. Face hordes of deadly monsters and defend a mighty fortress from ruin in this challenging, single-session adventure.

Hold Back the Dead is a FREE digital adventure that is compatible with the 2024 Core Rulebooks. It contains a fortress map for Dungeon Masters and unlocks player-friendly maps, character tokens, and creature tokens for the D&D BEYOND Maps tool.

Registered users can claim their FREE copy of this digital adventure soon!

 

[Azzy]

It might be a free prelude to a later adventure and will be announced along with hype for what it connects to on Feb. 4.

Ah, that makes sense.

 

[Clint_L]

A free one shot with integrated DDB maps is fantastic for my needs!

 

[Echohawk]

It's also possible it was delayed, or is is the mystery October book.

We can rule out the latter possibility, because we know there isn't going to be a campaign book in 2025.

I'll gi one further, I bet this is straight yo going to be in the FR DM book, too, and this is a preview.

This is possible. However, the only time previously that D&D Beyond has released part of an upcoming book as a preview was Descent into the Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth and that was clearly presented as a(n abridged) preview, which Hold Back the Dead isn't, as least not on the product page in the marketplace.

 

[Distracted DM]

I wonder why it's a pre-order. Why announce before it's ready for public consumption?

It's already released to some folk as part of the Monster Manual release celebration- a promotional thing. They've done the same for the other free adventures that released for books, like the Tsojcanth level for Staircase and the Uni adventure for the PHB24.

It's for level 4 characters. It's an interesting take on an adventure? Defend a keep from undead, protect some assets, etc. It feels like a video game? That's not necessarily a bad thing, it seems like it would fit right in with those 4e "Encounters" organized mini-ventures. I certainly enjoy those "defend the fort" missions in games. It has

Spoiler

a little twist which is appreciated to keep it fresh.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

There is a bunch of creature traits in the DMG that could be put on an NPC to represent them being of a certain species or grouping.

 

[Echohawk]

It's already released to some folk as part of the Monster Manual release celebration- a promotional thing. They've done the same for the other free adventures that released for books, like the Tsojcanth level for Staircase and the Uni adventure for the PHB24.

Oh! I didn't realize that this was that promotional adventure. That's good to know.

It's for level 4 characters. It's an interesting take on an adventure? Defend a keep from undead, protect some assets, etc. It feels like a video game? That's not necessarily a bad thing, it seems like it would fit right in with those 4e "Encounters" organized mini-ventures. I certainly enjoy those "defend the fort" missions in games. It has

Spoiler

a little twist which is appreciated to keep it fresh.

Are you perhaps thinking of the Lair Assault series? D&D Encounters were closer to traditional long-form adventures, although each installment was split into a bunch of smaller sessions. It is a pity that the Lair Assault content was never added to DMsGuild, because it probably means that content is largely lost to the general public.

 

[Parmandur]

This is possible. However, the only time previously that D&D Beyond has released part of an upcoming book as a preview was Descent into the Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth and that was clearly presented as a(n abridged) preview, which Hold Back the Dead isn't, as least not on the product page in the marketplace.

Fair: however, givenwhat we know of the upcoming FR books, I put the odds of there nit being a "fight the Red Wizards of Thsy" campaign outline at least around 0%.

 

[Queer Venger]

shut up and take my.... Oh its free!!!

Hey, is that Szass Tam on the cover??

 

[Starmaster]

I hope this is not the remains of what was to become the Red Wizards adventure path book. I was really looking forward to getting that adventure in hardcover!

I certainly enjoy those "defend the fort" missions in games.

If you like that sort mission (as do I), I very much recommend the underrated 1e module UK3: The Gauntlet. I've always thought this was an incredible "defend the fort" adventure that works on so many levels. The strategy for defense is entirely up to the PCs and there are some interesting side stories going on at the same time.

 

[Nikosandros]

I just pre ordered it for 0$

Nice, but I feel that they should provide a little discount to those who pre-order and shell out the zero dollars in advance.