Shattered Gates of Slaughterguard

[Quasqueton]

I wanted to pick up one of the latest D&D adventure modules just to see how they were designed and looking currently. (I haven't bought a WotC module since the original series and RttToEE.) I don't usually use adventure modules for anything other than idea starters (and maybe the map with my own monsters).

SGoS is completely different than I expected. I sat a bit stunned when I first opened it and started looking through it. "What the heck?" I thought. One encounter per page or per 2-page spread?

Is this how WotC is laying out D&D adventure modules now, or was this a one time experiment? Is this layout helpful and useful?

Quasqueton

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

It does appear to be the trend in WOTC layouts (though not all modules have had it -- see Red Hand of Doom, which has a traditional layout).

I have mixed feelings about the layout. I haven't run a module with the new layout, yet. It appears to be more useful in play, but you're also paying a bit more for less actual adventure content. I've personally never had a problem with "traditional" adventure layouts, but I can see how new DMs might find it easier to learn/use.

 

[Jeremy757]

Is this how WotC is laying out D&D adventure modules now, or was this a one time experiment? Is this layout helpful and useful?

I think that Slaughterguard and Howling Hordes are aimed at beginning DMs. I actually ran Howling Hordes, though I modified it extensivly for my campaign, and thought the one encounter per page was interesting. It definately made finding the encounter and information you wanted a lot easier. Though in the case of some of the encounters they could have used a smaller font and went with 2 encounters per page and still be just as effective.

 

[Shadowslayer]

I ran Howling Horde last weekend. I like the format. It emphasizes the tactical aspect of each encounter, which seems to be something they're leaning towards doing. I'm not much of a tactician, my 9 year old niece can beat me soundly at chess, so I'm happy to have the "here's-how-to-get-the-most-bang-for-your-CR" help.

Unfortunately, Howling Horde is such a rock bottom basic 1st level module that tactics consist of either "they shoot and move" or "they try to get a flank", so the format isn't really necessary...sorta like a 32 page book on how to make Kraft Dinner. Its in the higher level adventures, like Exp to Ravenloft, where opponents have lots of funky abilities, that the format really shines.

Anyway, my guess is that guys who like the tactical aspext of the game will like the format. Those who either A: see the tactical end as the antithesis of what they're doing, or B: are so set in their ways that a new format doesn't appeal, won't like it.

I found it useful. Then I tend to look at it as how much fun and usefulness I get for the money I paid, rather than page count. Yeah there's less "adventure" per page, but I also know I got a rollicking good little dungeon bash...and a solid 6 hour evening of entertainment for my 10 or so bucks. So, I'm happy.

 

[mearls]

We're definitely paying attention to feedback on the new encounter format. I've used it myself (I'm running parts of SGoS), and I think it has a lot of strengths. However, it obviously comes at a cost of space.

The niftiest thing for me is the reduction in prep time. I read SGoS on the plane ride home after visiting relatives over Christmas. Since then, I've run about half of it and have never had to prep again. With the layout, it's easy to remember what's going on in each room. Even with one sequence where monsters were running from room to room, alerting each other, it took only a quick page flip to look at the map and remember how the room worked.

I also find it makes running the session faster. I can set up tiles and draw on my flip mat a lot faster with a larger scale map in the module.

The challenge lies in making sure that people feel like they're getting a page or two worth of adventure out of each encounter. I'd also like to see a format for roleplay encounters, something that lays out NPCs, their characteristics, and their goals in an easy to read format.

Anyway, this is still a work in progress. We've been paying close attention to discussions about the format and looking at ways to improve it and improve the contents of our adventures.

 

[rowport]

Hey, Mearls!

I am using the new format for the first time running Expedition to Castle Ravenloft. It is *great* IMO. Having all the 'story' and plot points in one place, and then encounters in another, makes the module immensely easy to run, and yet its complexity would completely daunt me with a traditional format. For example, I wanted to run Gygax's Necropolis (a similar level adventure, of comparable length) but found that I could not do it, as it was just too complex and would have required tremendous effort on my part to plan out encounter details. I like that WOTC is now doing that 'for me', and thereby dramatically reducing my prep time. In no way do I feel 'cheated' by 'less adventure' because of the format-- to me, it is more important that I can run it easily to avoid it just sitting on my shelf after one reading!

That said, I can see how a DM used to running his or her own campaign might not like the format. If you do not mind (or enjoy) investing the prep time into drawing maps, formatting NPCs stats, etc. then you might feel like the new format is not telling you anything you do not already know. For me, I would rather invest that time planning funny accents, or finding good background music, or whatever to add to environment, trusting that the module will tell me the tactical details that I need. So, I guess it just depends on how you like to prepare your game, really.

EDIT: As much as I like the new format, the editing errors in EtCR do bug me..! And, it oddly does not seem to have an ending! There is no addtional text between the last room with Strahd and the beginning of the encounter pages. Odd!

 

[RichGreen]

EDIT: As much as I like the new format, the editing errors in EtCR do bug me..! And, it oddly does not seem to have an ending! There is no addtional text between the last room with Strahd and the beginning of the encounter pages. Odd!

I have EtCR too and liked the encounter format although haven't run the adventure yet. I couldn't find an ending either so I'm glad I'm not the only one.

Cheers


Richard

 

[Ranes]

Having picked up Shattered Gates last week, my only issue with it is aesthetic. With tactics body text, read-aloud body text, stat-block body text and room features body text, that's four fonts to a spread (or sometimes a single page), sometimes with different point sizes, and it looks ugly - even more so when you count all the header and sub-header fonts.

I have to agree that the format is functionally very good. It doesn't just help beginner DMs, it helps those who are pressed for time. I also agree about the format making it easy to remember encounter details. And, of course, these things are more important than aesthetic concerns. I'm looking forward to running it.

 

[Shadowslayer]

We're definitely paying attention to feedback on the new encounter format.

Well, while we've got you here then.

My compliments have been noted earlier in the thread. My one complaint, with regards to Howling Horde, was the readability of the room/tactical section of the module. It was awful. The whole thing looked like a bad photocopy, and it was very difficult to read. I thought at first that I might've just gotten a lemon, but other guys have been saying this too.

I'm guessing they're trying to foil the practice of scanning, and I don't blame them. But the blotchy dark grey background really made this work suffer.

It works much better in color a la Ravenloft. I hope they can find a good middle ground for black and white releases.

Otherwise, keep up the good work!

Cheers.

 

[Nikosandros]

I have EtCR too and liked the encounter format although haven't run the adventure yet. I couldn't find an ending either so I'm glad I'm not the only one.

I posted about this issue a few days ago... sadly, there's no ending in the book.