Shattered Gates of Slaughterguard

[RFisher]

I think it is great that they are trying new directions in adventure format! That's something that could get me excited about new products again. Heck, I just might delay my next indie or out-of-print purchase to check this out.

The important thing is that they don't start to think they need to find a one-size-fits-all format. We need different formats & styles for different tastes. WotC needs names for the different formats & styles so that people can put names to what they like & look for those terms on the back cover or in the online description.

 

[Shadowslayer]

The important thing is that they don't start to think they need to find a one-size-fits-all format. We need different formats & styles for different tastes. WotC needs names for the different formats & styles so that people can put names to what they like & look for those terms on the back cover or in the online description.

I disagree. (with the last statement mostly) The cost of this would way outweigh the benefits. Creating what could effectively be considered different "brands" of adventures would only serve to split the community...sort of like what happened with 2e and its settings.

Trying to suit myraid tastes is pretty much a lost cause anyway. Personally, I think they'd benefit long term by actually stating what the D&D play experience is intended to be. In other word, have them say "play it however you want, its your game now, but this is the playstyle we've designed for"

Its pretty obvious already, But it'd be nice if they actually came out and said it.

 

[DM_Jeff]

I have used the new format and I like it. Mr. Mearls is right, there's soemthing about getting a 'close up' of a room, it's inhabitants and contents that helps you put it in prespective with the rooms around it, making the session easier to prep for and easier to remember details.

I have no issues with the space used becasue I consider it well spent.

-DM Jeff

 

[Olaf the Stout]

Olaf, I think you meant SotHH. SGoS is colour.

D'oh!

Yes, you are correct Ranes. I was talking about SotHH, not SGoS.

Olaf the Stout

 

[Olaf the Stout]

One thing I'd like is a list of suggested D&D minis that could be used for the adventure. (I was excited to get the howler I needed in the last box of Blood War minis I bought.) I've gotten lists off the Wizards boards, but it would be handy to have them there. Using the maug mini made me very happy as well.

I would like them to do this too. I have seen them suggest minis in a couple of WotC adventures but I can't remember what one (Sons of Gruumsh?). Unfortunately a lot of the minis that they suggested were from the earlier sets like Harbringer and Dragoneye. This was not really that helpful for someone like me who had only just started collecting as all the early minis are quite expensive now. If it was Sons of Gruumsh then the minis may have been suggested because there were only a few minis sets released at that time. I'm not too sure.

Olaf the Stout

 

[Festivus]

I like the encounter format. For folks like myself with two kids and a wife all competing for my time, anything that saves me prep time is welcome. As others have said, Expedition to Castle Ravenloft really shows off this encounter format... it's an entertaining read and I find myself remembering with much more clarity the encounters than just reading text, flipping to a map and then back to text.

My beefs are (as long as Mearls is reading):

1. Shattered Gates of Slaughtergard breaks things up into wafer thin booklets... for the money I want a dang hard bound book. I am quite abusive to books, and slaughtergard isn't going to live long compared to Ravenloft.... yet the costs were only slightly lower. I look forward to the future expedition books, I don't know if I will run them but if it's a hardcover I buy it just for the reading pleasure if nothing else. If it's another like slaughtergard I will likely pass on it.

2. Scourge of the Howling Horde has issues with the clarity of the informational text boxes. I have griped about this before... it should have been a full color book or drop the shading.

3. Tactical maps at odd angles makes no real sense to me. Print them in a standard location on the two page spread so I will always know where to look (upper right for example). Printing then at a quirky 45 degree angle only serves to confuse me.

 

[Festivus]

I would like them to do this too. I have seen them suggest minis in a couple of WotC adventures but I can't remember what one (Sons of Gruumsh?). Unfortunately a lot of the minis that they suggested were from the earlier sets like Harbringer and Dragoneye. This was not really that helpful for someone like me who had only just started collecting as all the early minis are quite expensive now. If it was Sons of Gruumsh then the minis may have been suggested because there were only a few minis sets released at that time. I'm not too sure.

Olaf the Stout

I think they should offer to sell sets of minis that go along with the adventure. Running Expedition to Castle Ravenloft, here is the DM Miniatures kit, complete with everything you need to run the game, just $49.95.

I'd buy something like that in a heartbeat.

 

[Olaf the Stout]

I think they should offer to sell sets of minis that go along with the adventure. Running Expedition to Castle Ravenloft, here is the DM Miniatures kit, complete with everything you need to run the game, just $49.95.

I'd buy something like that in a heartbeat.

Yes, you might, but how many would. I suspect that a lot of people would already have half of the required minis so buying them again in a set would not be good value to them. Plus, once you start having a lot of these sets you start getting into distribution issues. It's a good idea in theory but I don't think that WotC will ever do it.

Olaf the Stout

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

I don't need mini sets (though that would be a nice touch), but I don't like the trend of pulling the majority of monsters from recent minis sets. Slaughtergarde & Scourge both seems to have an almost too-wide selection of monsters. Some variety is nice, but the monsters should have some coherent theme, and not seem like they were chosen to make you buy more minis. My perception, anyway -- its a minor gripe. For the most part, the adventures have been worth the cost of admission, and I'll continue buying. Barrow of the Forgotten King is already on its way.

Frankly, I prefer buying adventures to any other WotC product.

 

[bento]

I think they should offer to sell sets of minis that go along with the adventure. Running Expedition to Castle Ravenloft, here is the DM Miniatures kit, complete with everything you need to run the game, just $49.95.

I'd buy something like that in a heartbeat.

I'd go for this with the Fantastic Locations series. I just got Dragondown Grotto and there's several encounters that use minis that have alread been released. Blackscale Lizardfolk, Meepo the Dragonlord, and of course the wizard on the Black Dragon (final encounter of the adventure). I'd easily pay $40 - 50 for adventure + maps + minis!