D&D 5E The Return of Tyranny of Dragons: First Impressions

Gamers don't usually ask for a revision to an existing adventure unless it's to adapt it to a new edition, yet that's exactly why Wizards of the Coast produced the new edition of Tyranny of Dragons. Fans online have been asking for an updated edition for some time. The fact that Tiamat and the Cult of the Dragon, especially one very prominent Tiamat follower, factors into the newest adventure, Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus, probably helped.

Tyranny of Dragons contains a revised versions of the previously released adventure books Hoard of the Dragon Queen and Rise of Tiamat, packaged with extra material, errata and a brand new cover by Hydro74 that gorgeously displays the five heads of Tiamat. While our accompanying image shows off the cover accurately you really have to see it in person to get the full effect of the metallic inks, especially the metallic red artwork contrasted with the black matte background. Unlike Hydro74's cover for Xanathar's Guide to Everything the matte portion is not a soft touch black cover they use on limited editions but it still looks terrific..

Reissuing Tyranny of Dragons in its combined form is not an insult to the original version or, in my opinion, a cash grab. Hoard of the Dragon Queen was produced by Kobold Press, but the team had the disadvantage of creating the adventure while the rules for 5th Edition were still being finalized, and the book was released with before the 5th Edition Monster Manual was released so it was designed to work with the Basic Rules that were online at that time and monsters in the appendix. Logistically, it made sense – give players a chance to start immediately with a new adventure. I don't envy Wolfgang Baur, Steve Winter and their team putting together an epic adventure without a finalized rule set for most of the development time.

As the first official 5th Edition adventure, Tyranny of Dragons, the official name of the two adventures when taken as a whole, is as epic as they come. WotC clearly wanted to kick off with a bang, and Kobold Press delivered. New leadership in the Cult of the Dragon has shifted its focus from undead dragons to plotting to free the dragon goddess Tiamat from her prison in Avernus and acquire a hoard of gold to welcome her return to Faerun (she is greedy, and dragons love a hoard). The plot takes the players through large chunks of the continent as the Red Wizards of Thay scheme with the cult to free Tiamat and a separate conspiracy seeks to shape the world in its image. From Baldur's Gate and Waterdeep to the Sea of Moving Ice and much more, Tyranny of Dragons provides an overview of the world that worked well for new and lapsed players as well as to introduce Faerun to the new edition.

Baur and the Kobold Press team also deftly worked in not just an introduction to factions but weaved them well into the plot as information sources, support and potential thorns in the characters' side, depending upon what the players decide to do. Within the story opportunities arise for rival sides like the Harpers and Zhentarim (as well as groups like the Lords Alliance who frequently disagree with both of those) to work together against a common enemy – but that doesn't mean it will smooth sailing.

The original Hoard of the Dragon Queen and Rise of Tiamat are fan favorites for a reason. It's a rollicking good adventure whether you're completely new to D&D (and role-playing in general) or just new to 5th Edition. Starting at 1st level and taking the players to 15th level before the final confrontation in the Well of Dragons, it gives players a chance to sink their teeth into the adventure, and they can fail. The final battle isn't hopeless, but victory is far from assured.

I do wish that in revising HotDQ and RoT to unify Tyranny of Dragons that they had adopted some of the conventions the more recent D&D adventures have added. Clearly defined adventure trees, dramatis personae, pronunciation guides, etc. are small things individually but make life much easier for busy DMs.

The concept art is a lovely addition. Unfortunately Tyranny of Dragons does not follow the convention of the more recent D&D adventures where the artist's name is listed on the page seam so you can tell who did what illustration. Still, in addition to the original art, ToD contains epic new images, details on the dragon masks, the cult's decorative regalia, etc. I especially like the sketches for the types of chromatic dragons with details next to them as if a zoologist was taking notes.

If you don't already own HotDQ and RoT, and are interested in the plot, purchasing Tyranny of Dragons is a no-brainer. You'll be getting a proven, popular adventure in a spiffy new edition with a gorgeous new cover and additional art.

If you do already HotDQ and RoT, purchasing Tyranny of Dragons is more of a judgment call, especially depending upon your budget. While it does incorporate the errata to fix prior mistakes and omission, that and the supplemental material for Rise of Tiamat are still available online so purchasing the new version isn't necessary. If you're a completest, then buying it is an easy choice.

Original edition or revised, Tyranny of Dragons is a terrific adventure. It definitely set a high bar for launching the 5th Edition D&D adventures and well worth a look if you haven't already played it.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

It was Hazirawn. It's been a few years since I played it, but I seem to recall one of the party fighters got it around level 6. And it seemed odd to me that a level 6 PC was doing 8d6+12 (40 avg) points of damage each round without action surge, when the other fighter types were still at 2d8+8 (16 avg) points. (assuming each increased str to 18 by that point). Even the dragonborn barbarian was still doing 2d12+8 (21 avg) with her greataxe. I'm not aware of any other magic item in the whole campaign that essentially doubled your damage output, and you got that sword early on.

Yeah, level 6 might be possible, depending on the party and previous adventures. Its indeed a powerful item, but because it was written before the release of the full rules, it lacks some of the ''properties'' of other sentient items. It should have ''mental stats'' like regular characters. It should also try to control the player wielding it, with a DC of 12+Charisma mod each dawn, charming it and forcing its agenda on it, which in the case of Hazirawn would be advancing the agenda of the Cult. So yeah, you would have a PC that deals a boat load of damage, but is at risk of changing to the enemy camp at each dawn!

And indeed, there's no other magic item to this magnitude in the whole campaign (appart from the dragon masks). I think its also one of the most powerful weapon released in an official adventure.

 

[Hurin70]

Its a bestseller. Argue about quality all you want, but it is objectively one of the most successful dnd adventures, ever.

It is badly reviewed. Argue about sales all you want (especially since for long this was literally the only WotC adventure purchasable for 5e), but it is objectively the worst reviewed 5e DnD adventure ever.

big sigh A word can be grammatically singular while referencing multiple things. In such a case, it will sometimes be correct to use plural pronouns to refer to the thing to which the word refers.

big sigh Then try getting the phrase 'Each arguments you make' past an editor, and see how that goes.

 

[Sacrosanct]

I think the sales of HotDQ have a lot to do with it being the first campaign for 5e, rather than a sign of quality.

 

[Hurin70]

For future reference:

each

1. All; every; qualifying a singular noun, indicating all examples of the thing so named seen as individual or separate items (compare every). quotations ▼
   make sure you wash each bowl well; the sun comes up each morning and sets each night
2. Every one; every thing.
   I'm going to give each of you a chance to win.
3. For one; per.
   The apples cost 50 cents each.

Usage notes

• (all, every): The phrase beginning with each identifies a set of items wherein the words following each identify the individual elements by their shared characteristics. The phrase is grammatically singular in number, so if the phrase is the subject of a sentence, its verb is conjugated into a third-person singular form. Similarly, any pronouns that refer to the noun phrase are singular: Each candidate has 49 votes. Each voter must decide for herself.

each - Wiktionary, the free dictionary

en.wiktionary.org

 

[dave2008]

Yeah, level 6 might be possible, depending on the party and previous adventures. Its indeed a powerful item, but because it was written before the release of the full rules, it lacks some of the ''properties'' of other sentient items. It should have ''mental stats'' like regular characters. It should also try to control the player wielding it, with a DC of 12+Charisma mod each dawn, charming it and forcing its agenda on it, which in the case of Hazirawn would be advancing the agenda of the Cult. So yeah, you would have a PC that deals a boat load of damage, but is at risk of changing to the enemy camp at each dawn!

And indeed, there's no other magic item to this magnitude in the whole campaign (appart from the dragon masks). I think its also one of the most powerful weapon released in an official adventure.

Does anyone know if this was updated in ToD?

 

[Sacrosanct]

Does anyone know if this was updated in ToD?

That was my question, yes

 

[doctorbadwolf]

It is badly reviewed. Argue about sales all you want (especially since for long this was literally the only WotC adventure purchasable for 5e), but it is objectively the worst reviewed 5e DnD adventure ever.

It's got mixed reviews. That isn't the same thing as [poorly] reviewed. What actually measures the majority opinion is continued sales and how many people continue to want it and play it now that there are a dozen other adventures they could be buying and running.

big sigh

Then try getting the phrase 'Each arguments you make' past an editor, and see how that goes.

You've experienced a comprehension error. Perhaps try reading my post again.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

I think the sales of HotDQ have a lot to do with it being the first campaign for 5e, rather than a sign of quality.

Oh yeah? The...continued sales?

The sales and hype for the re-release? Those are a result of it being the first campaign for 5e?

Suuuure.

I'll never understand why some folks have such a hard time accepting that their view of something isn't in the majority.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

Does anyone know if this was updated in ToD?

That was my question, yes

No, sadly. There's not much change beyond the first levels and the whole assassin at the inn thing errata'ed before.
But I can say that having read both book before, the simple fact that this is now one single book with all the relevant informations in the same place makes the campaign more...cohesive? Complete? I cant find the right word, but it feels less of a long series of unrelated modules and more progressive steps toward the epic ending. Anyway, in my opinion.

 

[Sacrosanct]

Oh yeah? The...continued sales?

The sales and hype for the re-release? Those are a result of it being the first campaign for 5e?

Suuuure.

I'll never understand why some folks have such a hard time accepting that their view of something isn't in the majority.

Just my view? There's a poll on the front page that's been up for 2 weeks about the best 5e adventure. People got to choose up to 3 options. Just now, today, this campaign finally got one vote. One. Not even a top vote, but in the top 3. One out of 74 voters (not total votes).

So maybe, just maybe, my view that the popularity could be due to other things other than being a good adventure isn't so much the minority. I know ENWorld doesn't represent all gamers, but you'd think if it was good it would have more than just 1 person.