D&D General Never seen this in a published module before. You?

[el-remmen]

Found this in one of my all-time favorite modules, but never really noticed or thought to much about it before, despite having run it more than once and read it many times. I just can't recall a published module suggesting the DM playtest an encounter before running it, using the PCs they plan to run it for? Anyone else ever seen something similar or other weird directions in a module?

 

[tetrasodium]

Found this in one of my all-time favorite modules, but never really noticed or thought to much about it before, despite having run it more than once and read it many times. I just can't recall a published module suggesting the DM playtest an encounter before running it, using the PCs they plan to run it for? Anyone else ever seen something similar or other weird directions in a module?

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You could probably test it by disguising it as some other encounter & just letting it zip along once you have a feel.
Edit don't think I've ever seen the suggestion though

 

[Morrus]

I've seen plenty of advice that designers playtest published modules, but not a published module advising the DM to playtest the encounter!

 

[Lanefan]

Huh. What module is this in?

 

[Raith5]

Is this in N1 The Cult of the reptile God (1e)?

 

[el-remmen]

Is this in N1 The Cult of the reptile God (1e)?

Yep!

 

[Alzrius]

Huh. What module is this in?

Turns out it's from N1 Against the Cult of the Reptile God (affiliate link).

EDIT: Ninja'd!

 

[el-remmen]

Huh. What module is this in?

See above.

 

[ccs]

Oh yeah. N1 is the only one I remember discussing actually playtesting things, but I've seen similar advice in various other 1e/Basic era modules. Advice on changing things up/down based on party strength, ideas on what to do if the party takes certain courses of action, a suggestion for how to link I6 & I10 together for an even harder challenge*....

*my favorite
Though I've always loved the designers discussion about how parties tend to operate in U2 in regards concerning the PCs slaughtering the lizardman colony.

 

[guachi]

I guess since it was an N series module that Douglas Niles was given direction to include advice for new DMs.