D&D 5E (2014) Previews of Rime of the Frostmaiden

IGN has posted a preview of Rime of the Frostmaiden, including some preview pages (I've put one below). They will also be posting more previews tomorrow!

Exclusive: Get An Early Look Inside D&D's Rime of the Frostmaiden - IGN

We've got an exclusive early look at pages from D&D's newest adventure, Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden.

www.ign.com

 

[RogueRonin]

Flip-through of the entire book:
(EDIT: Evil moose at 9:50)

 

[HawaiiSteveO]

Fingers really crossed that the book is well organized, as well as easy to read and play without a lot of DM prep.

I don't have all the adventures, but see each release is slightly better than the one before it in this regard. Still, the extra page count on this one could be awesome or just pages of filler... maybe it's just me

Still, pretty pumped to see book and really curious as this appears to have a different vibe!

 

[Parmandur]

I'm not familiar with it, can you give a brief outline of how it works?

I do "pacing XP". Basically, how fast do I want the group to level up? Say it's once ever 5 session. Divide the amount of XP by 5, and voila! Faffing about, not much done session? Give less. Big session where major goal was accomplished? give more. I can't be bothered to do anything more complicated than that, I have better things to do with my time as a GM.

How does this work again?

Every encounter (with a particular emphasis on numbered rooms in a dungeon, but not exclusive: a shopping trip or meetup at the inn could be an encounter, negotiating with the Duke could be an encounter, etc.) is worth 0-4 XP, at DM discretion. Doesn't matter what happens: combat, social engagement, trap, puzzle poking a wall with ten foot poles for fifteen minutes, etc. It's worth 0-4 XP: The average is assumed to be 2, and the book recommends basing the judgement on the difficulty of what was accomplished. The amount is determined by DM adjudication, of whatever standard seems to apply. They get through the trap in a businesslike manner, 1 XP. If the party does something off the wall and so amazing people are snorting Mountain Dew and high giving each other, maybe 4 XP. The XP doesn't come from particular activity, but from playing the game, and incentives engagement with what will make for cool moments rather than maximizing combat kills or loot.

The big question for 5E adaption would be the math: max level in DCC is 10, which is 1090 XP.

 

[SuperTD]

I don't have all the adventures, but see each release is slightly better than the one before it in this regard. Still, the extra page count on this one could be awesome or just pages of filler... maybe it's just me

It has over 40 pages of monsters, which is likely where the extra pages come from.

 

[Zaukrie]

I will be buying this......it just looks great. Not the alternate cover, as usual, I don't like those (Tasha's being an exception).

 

[Delazar]

do my eyes lie? I saw a MAGEN among the monsters!

only ever saw one in Castle Amber...

 

[NotAYakk]

IGN has posted a preview of Rime of the Frostmaiden, including some preview pages (I've put one below). They will also be posting more previews tomorrow!

View attachment 125498

Exclusive: Get An Early Look Inside D&D's Rime of the Frostmaiden - IGN

We've got an exclusive early look at pages from D&D's newest adventure, Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden.

www.ign.com

Ok, this looks like a really solid pseudo-west marches sandbox.

Lots of adventure hooks, both geographical and not. Lots of places. Non-linear travel grid.

I presume after the early parts there will be funnels (multiple ways to get hints into the "main path(s)")?

 

[stadi]

I'm not a fan of how this starts. I like more "solid" hooks. These seem to be optional for the players. Why are they even there? That could already part of the hook. These starting adventures are like the heroes are sitting in a pub and someone is complaining that some iron is missing. Ok? Let's have another beer and that was it. These reek of being side-quests.

 

[Reynard]

Ok, this looks like a really solid pseudo-west marches sandbox.

It's just a sandbox. Unless I am mistaken, "West Marches" is just a style of play that decouples the game from the iea that the PCs must always be together doing the same thing.

 

[Reynard]

I'm not a fan of how this starts. I like more "solid" hooks. These seem to be optional for the players. Why are they even there? That could already part of the hook. These starting adventures are like the heroes are sitting in a pub and someone is complaining that some iron is missing. Ok? Let's have another beer and that was it. These reek of being side-quests.

Well, it's better than "You are bullied into becoming cops."