Wizards of the Coast has produced a Free D&D 4th ed module for Free RPG day, on Saturday June 21st. This is my review of the module.
Overall Grade B+, (design and layout A, fun
"You and your comrades must delve into the ruins beneath Talon Pass in search of a fable jade chalice. Not only is the chalice still guarded, but you aren't the only ones after it!
This Dungeons & Dragons adventure takes charactres from 2nd level to 3rd level. It contains five pregenerated characters so you can start playing right away...." [back cover blurb]
This is a 32 page adventure in B&w with a cardstock cover with maps inside and a full color cover. I'd have happily paid $10 for it, so getting it for free at Free RPG day is amazing. It's not perfect though.
The adventure starts with several optional adventure hooks and minor character hooks for the DM. The five pregenerated characters are the second level versions of the characters from 'Keep on the Shadowfell', with better gear and 2 magic items (1 L2, and 1 L1) each.
The DM instructions require the DM to select magic items for the treasure parcels in the adventure. The adventure includes a new magic item, the Talon Amulet, a L3 neck slot item that gives +1 to saves and a +1 item bonus to damage rolls when you have combat advantage and a daily power that lets you, as a minor action, deal 1d6 damage to anyone who hits you with a melee attack. The adventure includes brief guidelines for expanding the adventure or adjusting it based on group size.
This is a two level dungeon with eleven 'Rooms' and ten encounters.
There are 4 level 1, 3 level 2, 2 level 3 and 1 level 4 encounters in the adventure. The monsters include a good mix of undead (including a new Zombie, the pack zombie), orcs, kobalds, traps, constructs, animals, an imp, and - of course - a young Black Dragon (the level 4 encounter, but not the final fight). The maps are well laid out and the monster tactics are clearly described. The module includes some hidden treasures and secret doors, so the party will do well to search each room.
The dungeon is well written and clearly laid out. All the details of each room are clearly listed. It looks as if it would be fun to run or play in. It did not contain any encounters that made me go 'wow'.
Minor Problems
The skill calculations for the half-elf Cleric are still wrong, the Dwarf Fighters skills don't seem to take his armor check penalty into account, and the character art still doesn't accurately show their weapons and armor.
The adventure is stated to take characters from 2nd level to 3rd level, but even if they beat every monster in the dungeon a party of five will still be a few XP's shy of leveling up unless the DM uses one or more of the adventure hooks or minor character hooks. A DM who wants the party to level should plan on using Quest XP to get them over the top.
The description of each room includes the location where the treasure can be found. The module doesn't discuss the possibility that the monsters in the room might be using the magic items themselves. Maybe that's the way 4th edition is supposed to be, but if I'm going to be giving out (say) a suit of +1 Black Iron Plate Armor as the 4th level magic item the adventure is going to award then I'm going to have one of the monsters wearing it to fight them, not have it sitting on a shelf for the party to pick up after they kill the monsters.
The jade chalice you're looking for - It's worth 260 GP if you sell it, or to the patron who hires you.
For a list of stores participating in Free RPG day go to:
http://www.freerpgday.com/
and click on 'list of participating stores'
Most participating stores are in the USA. If there is no participating store in your area you may find it hard to get this module. I hope WOTC will make it available in another format.
WOTC also produced a nice Dungeon tile and a free Shadow miniature for Free RPG day. The adventure as written uses them both, so try to pick them up too if you can. Supplies are limited, so you may want to get to your local store early.
I work for one of the stores participating in Free RPG Day, BOSCO'S in Anchorage, Alaska, and this review is based on a copy we ordered to give away at Free RPG Day. Free RPG Day was created by Aldo at Impressions Marketing, who did a great job, and gave his blessings to this review. This is the second year of Free RPG Day and it is even better than last year. I look forward to next years offerings. Free RPG day includes lots of other great free games, so check out the nice products from the other companies too. - Peter
Overall Grade B+, (design and layout A, fun
"You and your comrades must delve into the ruins beneath Talon Pass in search of a fable jade chalice. Not only is the chalice still guarded, but you aren't the only ones after it!
This Dungeons & Dragons adventure takes charactres from 2nd level to 3rd level. It contains five pregenerated characters so you can start playing right away...." [back cover blurb]
This is a 32 page adventure in B&w with a cardstock cover with maps inside and a full color cover. I'd have happily paid $10 for it, so getting it for free at Free RPG day is amazing. It's not perfect though.
The adventure starts with several optional adventure hooks and minor character hooks for the DM. The five pregenerated characters are the second level versions of the characters from 'Keep on the Shadowfell', with better gear and 2 magic items (1 L2, and 1 L1) each.
The DM instructions require the DM to select magic items for the treasure parcels in the adventure. The adventure includes a new magic item, the Talon Amulet, a L3 neck slot item that gives +1 to saves and a +1 item bonus to damage rolls when you have combat advantage and a daily power that lets you, as a minor action, deal 1d6 damage to anyone who hits you with a melee attack. The adventure includes brief guidelines for expanding the adventure or adjusting it based on group size.
This is a two level dungeon with eleven 'Rooms' and ten encounters.
There are 4 level 1, 3 level 2, 2 level 3 and 1 level 4 encounters in the adventure. The monsters include a good mix of undead (including a new Zombie, the pack zombie), orcs, kobalds, traps, constructs, animals, an imp, and - of course - a young Black Dragon (the level 4 encounter, but not the final fight). The maps are well laid out and the monster tactics are clearly described. The module includes some hidden treasures and secret doors, so the party will do well to search each room.
The dungeon is well written and clearly laid out. All the details of each room are clearly listed. It looks as if it would be fun to run or play in. It did not contain any encounters that made me go 'wow'.
Minor Problems
The skill calculations for the half-elf Cleric are still wrong, the Dwarf Fighters skills don't seem to take his armor check penalty into account, and the character art still doesn't accurately show their weapons and armor.
The adventure is stated to take characters from 2nd level to 3rd level, but even if they beat every monster in the dungeon a party of five will still be a few XP's shy of leveling up unless the DM uses one or more of the adventure hooks or minor character hooks. A DM who wants the party to level should plan on using Quest XP to get them over the top.
The description of each room includes the location where the treasure can be found. The module doesn't discuss the possibility that the monsters in the room might be using the magic items themselves. Maybe that's the way 4th edition is supposed to be, but if I'm going to be giving out (say) a suit of +1 Black Iron Plate Armor as the 4th level magic item the adventure is going to award then I'm going to have one of the monsters wearing it to fight them, not have it sitting on a shelf for the party to pick up after they kill the monsters.
The jade chalice you're looking for - It's worth 260 GP if you sell it, or to the patron who hires you.
For a list of stores participating in Free RPG day go to:
http://www.freerpgday.com/
and click on 'list of participating stores'
Most participating stores are in the USA. If there is no participating store in your area you may find it hard to get this module. I hope WOTC will make it available in another format.
WOTC also produced a nice Dungeon tile and a free Shadow miniature for Free RPG day. The adventure as written uses them both, so try to pick them up too if you can. Supplies are limited, so you may want to get to your local store early.
I work for one of the stores participating in Free RPG Day, BOSCO'S in Anchorage, Alaska, and this review is based on a copy we ordered to give away at Free RPG Day. Free RPG Day was created by Aldo at Impressions Marketing, who did a great job, and gave his blessings to this review. This is the second year of Free RPG Day and it is even better than last year. I look forward to next years offerings. Free RPG day includes lots of other great free games, so check out the nice products from the other companies too. - Peter
