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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jfdlsjfd" data-source="post: 8499719" data-attributes="member: 42856">Keeping to Strix for the time being, as I prefer to assess it as a whole, given the recurring problems in part 1 and 2, to see how to proceed from there and try do devise solutions.Part 3 is 3rd year, with not-Yule Ball as the main event. PCs are enlisted in the organization committee. The vignette structures is kept, the examns no longer comes with lore bits (too bad, but it aknowledges their lack of usefulness):<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A cocktail, which turns bad ;</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A duel (heavily-handed, and why wouldn't sane students complain at the administration building about being bullied?) which turns bad ;</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">two supply trips for the organization committee (one of which is my favourite vignette due to the random encounter table) ;</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The ball itself ;</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A confrontation with a possessed dean ;</li> </ul>At least they identify, at the end of the adventure, the BBEG. I think this "clue" structure work in novel but not so much in TTRPG. Characters in a novel makes everything clear and click together at the exact appropriate time because they are written to do so. In a RPG, I feel the characters won't let it go: they realize that something is amiss and might want to investigate much earlier than 3rd year... they have the means, security on campus is lax (it's a wonder they only have a few fatalities each year*) and they don't seem to be overseen that much... The vignette structure fits characters with very few independant will and probably will fail if played as is with my group. I feel that a modicum of proactivity will unravel the structure, unless the GM is determined to end their investigation with a frustrating dead-end.* Potential student at Strix's story: "I was leaving magical writings and symbols and I had the time to buy a sandwich because the next lesson was from 10am to 2pm, but I met two bulettes along the way... that's why I am now one of the numerous Strixhaven ghosts".And after that... recess. Despite knowing the possession source, where this artifact was uncovered... heroes would certainly hurry there, not take a summer break.Part 4 is a little different in structure. The characters are requested to assist the university in eliminating the BBEG. Which is fine, as they are level 8 at this point and their command of 3rd and (mid-adventure) 4th level spells equals or outmatch the faculty.At this point, the place where the villain is suspected to be active is... the Detention bog. Where students are sent for detention. Because (a) detention is a thing in universities? (b) there is no better place for detention than a place where terrorist activities are organized, among explosive crates (yes).In an interesting plot point, everyone will die for good reasons if not-Voldemort (the BBEG) can complete his ritual. Characters are informed that "the factulty have agreed that stopping the BBEG is the highest priority". Oh, really?The adventures ends with an extended dungeon, as the characters attempt to stop not-Voldemort before is ritual is completed. Note that despite their declaration, the faculty won't act. Unless I missed it, the reason why the university's masters are unable to stop the villain, mentionned in the opening blurb, is never given. I'd expect, given the ritual will end up in total eradication of everyone on campus, that the founders dragons would at least take a passing interest (they might if the ritual is completed) in their school not being destroyed.If anything the overall pacing, compared to the outline of Strength of Thousands, which was too quick, is too slow. I feel the entire adventure could be resolved over trimesters, not years, each time and culminate in the PCs being enrolled as part-time staff helpers in the finale.Now back to the Maagambya (crossing fingers its rather good start will continue)...I liked the villain's plot, but the lack of reaction is strange. It fits teenage stories very well where adults are <a href="https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AdultsAreUseless" target="_blank">incompetent by default</a> but rather strange in a multi-world leading university where they shoud be able to deal with things like that. I understand players buy-in will make that less jarring in play, but it will be noticed at some point.I feel, after reading the whole piece, that it's a subpar adventure. We had much better products released recently, and this one feels unpolished. There are a few good things in the book to be salvaged, but I am not sure it would be fun to run as is. It might feel a giant railroad or a series of interconnected scenes the characters are drawn into episodically. Also, occuring over a long time, resource conservation isn't a thing, so... going for long-rest based resources is probably the best choice for this campaign.And I have my answer that working seems to be a losing proposition everytime, while never in the adventure is adventuring competing with studies, so doing your regular study time (no cramming) is probably the safest and best way to proceed with studies. [Note that if you totally devote 0% of your time to study, you'll still graduate with honors, the only thing missed will be the opportunity to get student dice from extracurricular activities.</blockquote>

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