Scions of Elemental Evil Released on D&D Beyond

D&D Beyond has released the new short adventure Scions of Elemental Evil ahead of its exclusive stores and convention organized play release. This week, Wizards of the Coast released the short adventure, which is set in the Greyhawk region and pits players against the Elemental Evil fanatic Ulsedra Vox. The adventure is made for up to six Level 4 adventurers with the D&D cartoon cast (plus new character Niko) provided as pregenerated characters. Amanda Hamon is credited as the lead designer while Will Doyle is credited as a designer on the adventure.

Notably, Scions of Elemental Evil uses the 2024 rule set and contains several magic items from the 2024 Dungeon Master's Guide. It also contains updated statblocks for several monsters, including the incubus and succubus demons. Notably, an incubus can shapeshift into a succubus and vice versa once per long rest, with each statblock containing different abilities and access to different spells. The succubus has access to an 8th level Dominate Person spell at will, while the incubus has access to a Nightmare bonus action that renders a creature with 20 or less HP unconscious on a failed saving throw.

The adventure will be available to play at organized play events at stores and conventions from October 29th to November 25th.

 

[TiQuinn]

Would it kill them to come up with a fresh new idea? They just keep rehashing old stuff and treading the same ground. How many times are they going to go back to the Elemental Evil, Tomb of Horrors (or insert old adventure title) before the well runs dry? Even AC/DC are shaking their head.

The Wild Beyond The Witchlight was pretty original. So was Rime of the Frostmaiden. Dungeon of the Mad Mage really fleshed out Undermountain with lots of new material. They do a decent job interspersing new stuff with old.

 

[Charlaquin]

I truly hope so. Between that and making the succubi and incubi different creatures, it'd be a nice return to form.

Aren’t demons supposed to be chaotic evil? Inccubus/succubus don’t really strike me as chaotic…

 

[dave2008]

Aren’t demons supposed to be chaotic evil? Inccubus/succubus don’t really strike me as chaotic…

That was why 4e made them devils and 5e just made them fiends.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Huh. How are some people seeing it already?

Stores with WPN accounts get codes to access it now so that our DMs can start prepping game days. We had them a week ahead, on the 22nd, but accessing them has been tricky (there is no obvious place to put in the code).

I just managed to get into it today, for example. I am a little disappointed that the pregens are still the cartoon characters. I don't dislike them, I just don't think that very many people get the nostalgia. When I ran the PHB game day, not a single player knew who they were.

It would also help if they had half decent character sheet organization for new players (they are terrible in that regard).

 

[MonsterEnvy]

Aren’t demons supposed to be chaotic evil? Inccubus/succubus don’t really strike me as chaotic…

They are simply neutral evil fiends that work for all sides in their current 5e lore.

 

[Charlaquin]

That was why 4e made them devils and 5e just made them fiends.

They are simply neutral evil fiends that work for all sides in their current 5e lore.

Right, but I was responding to someone who said they hoped they’ll be demons again in 2024

 

[Alzrius]

Aren’t demons supposed to be chaotic evil? Inccubus/succubus don’t really strike me as chaotic…

Really? They strike me as being very chaotic in their evil.

 

[Charlaquin]

Really? They strike me as being very chaotic in their evil.

To quote the book, “Chaotic Evil creatures act with arbitrary violence, spurred by their hatred or bloodlust.” Doesn’t sound like the incubus/succubus MO to me. “Neutral Evil is the alignment of those who are untroubled by the harm they cause as they pursue their desires” sounds closer to the mark.

D&D demons are generally all about wanton destruction. Incubi and succubi are long-term schemers. I get not classifying them as devils since they’re not inclined towards hierarchies and contracts and such, but they certainly don’t seem like demons.

 

[Alzrius]

To quote the book, “Chaotic Evil creatures act with arbitrary violence, spurred by their hatred or bloodlust.” Doesn’t sound like the incubus/succubus MO to me.

I disagree, that sounds entirely like the succubus/incubus to me. It's just that they put a sexualized spin on their violence/bloodlust.

Incubi and succubi are long-term schemers.

They're really not.

 

[Charlaquin]

I disagree, that sounds entirely like the succubus/incubus to me. It's just that they put a sexualized spin on their violence/bloodlust.

They’re certainly sexually violent, but that violent isn’t random or destructive. They’re all about corrupting mortals and creating new (fiendish) life.

They're really not.

I mean, they need to at least be able to plan 9 months in advance. Seems pretty long-term to me.