D&D 5E Justin Alexander's review of Shattered Obelisk is pretty scathing

[Parmandur]

Nah, he definitely does. You might disagree that the things he points out are problems, but he is making factually accurate (if perhaps overstated) points.

"Overstated" to the point of misinformation: he claims there are unkeyed dungeons. There are not. I am willing to charitably grant that he didn't understand what he read and went off half-cocjed, but he has, in an aggressive and toxic manner, doubled down on it. I think it is important people to understand that he us making wild, cartoonish "overstatements."

 

[Parmandur]

You know, if you are giving B- to the worst adventure WotC has produced in 5e... you may be more generous/forgiving than many others. I've only seen a portion of the WotC's released adventures (a campaign takes me 1-2 years to run, what's the point of buying all of them?), and from that subset, B- would not by my floor... but perhaps that's just me?

Yes, WotC consistently puts out highly playable product. I said worst in the 20', bit I could point you worse campaigns from the Teens: Hoard of the Dragon Queen and Waterdeep. Dragon Heist were the worst, but...they went well in actual play, so I'd give then a passing C+

 

[Parmandur]

Yeah, I don't know about an F. The first part of the adventure is a stone classic, and his criticisms of the changes are pretty nit-picky - I've hardly noticed them. The presentation is top tier, as always. Can't comment on the remainder of the story, which is not likely to be to my taste, but there's no way this is an F.

I'm a teacher. An F is without redeeming features.

That's all I'm saying: it's an OK book, not perfect or above criticisms. But without redeeming qualities? The workmanlike dungeons all seem usable in play

 

[Parmandur]

The first part is obviously excellent, but I’m not sure this book deserves credit for it, since it’s 99% just a reprint. It should be evaluated on the new content, and on the changes it made to the old content, which it sounds like are very minor, but mostly either neutral or for the worse.

F is probably still much too harsh from what I’m hearing, but just saying, the reprinted material shouldn’t really be a factor in the assessment.

Don't take anyone's word for it: with the library, it is free to read and short enough to digest and judge as any D&D book.

 

[Parmandur]

wow, the worst adventure of the last 3 or 4 years, and it gets a B-, very charitable... I am starting to feel like you and Justin agree, you just express it very differently

They are on a roll. The next worst in my view is Candlekeep Mysteries, and that is not bad.

 

[Parmandur]

Well, they still exist, for now!

https://www.twitch.tv/search?term=mike%20mearls%20happy%20fun%20hour&type=videos

You are going to have to manually copy/paste that link, the auto-imbed is breaking it.

Video is on private

 

[Leatherhead]

Video is on private

The imbedding is broken, so I edited the post. It should link to a bunch of videos, not just one.

But it should show up if you copy/paste the link. Works in an incognito tab at least.

 

[Parmandur]

The imbedding is broken, so I edited the post. It should link to a bunch of videos, not just one.

But it should show up if you copy/paste the link. Works in an incognito tab at least.

Oh, wow, theybare not gone! Right on.

 

[Charlaquin]

Don't take anyone's word for it: with the library, it is free to read and short enough to digest and judge as any D&D book.

I’m already planning to get the book, only reason I haven’t yet I’d because there’s a good chance someone in my family will get it for me for Christmas.

 

[Parmandur]

I’m already planning to get the book, only reason I haven’t yet I’d because there’s a good chance someone in my family will get it for me for Christmas.

Fair.