CydKnight
Explorer
I've bought and have been reading through Out of the Abyss now for about a week. It will be the next major campaign for my group and all are very excited to tackle what seems like an epic adventure.
As this will be only my 2nd campaign ever as a DM after LMoP, I was hoping to get some input from those that have already run this campaign. It seems a bit more complex than LMoP and a good bit larger, which is great, but it also seems to leave be a lot more open to interpretation for the DM.
Should this campaign be run linearly in line with Chapter progression? It seems as though the characters could very conceivably choose to go wherever they want at times and end up completely off script so to speak. My biggest concern would be them entering an area(s) that have creature encounters that are too far above their level but I suppose this can be adjusted to suit need. Secondarily I would be concerned that if they got too far away from book chapter progression they might miss a vital piece of information or item required to move past a certain point but I suppose we could just move this to a place that suits the needs of the time as well?
Also, I have heard and read a lot of mixed feedback in the way the adventure can begin in the Drow prison. Many people seem to resist this beginning believing it too challenging for 1st or even 2nd level characters but after reading Chapter 1 a few times now, it seems as though it is challenging but not too challenging. It also seems as if it sets the tone for the rest of what appears to also be quite a challenging adventure. I am curious to hear what other DMs have done with the opening of this adventure and whether it should be altered in any way?
The last question would be what the ideal PC count should be. It seems like things will run faster and possibly smoother with 4 but are combat encounters too deadly without adjusting the monster's lethalness?
As this will be only my 2nd campaign ever as a DM after LMoP, I was hoping to get some input from those that have already run this campaign. It seems a bit more complex than LMoP and a good bit larger, which is great, but it also seems to leave be a lot more open to interpretation for the DM.
Should this campaign be run linearly in line with Chapter progression? It seems as though the characters could very conceivably choose to go wherever they want at times and end up completely off script so to speak. My biggest concern would be them entering an area(s) that have creature encounters that are too far above their level but I suppose this can be adjusted to suit need. Secondarily I would be concerned that if they got too far away from book chapter progression they might miss a vital piece of information or item required to move past a certain point but I suppose we could just move this to a place that suits the needs of the time as well?
Also, I have heard and read a lot of mixed feedback in the way the adventure can begin in the Drow prison. Many people seem to resist this beginning believing it too challenging for 1st or even 2nd level characters but after reading Chapter 1 a few times now, it seems as though it is challenging but not too challenging. It also seems as if it sets the tone for the rest of what appears to also be quite a challenging adventure. I am curious to hear what other DMs have done with the opening of this adventure and whether it should be altered in any way?
The last question would be what the ideal PC count should be. It seems like things will run faster and possibly smoother with 4 but are combat encounters too deadly without adjusting the monster's lethalness?