D&D 5E (2014) What is your favorite encounter site or dungeon from an official module?

[GuyBoy]

So many memorable encounters mentioned above.
I always liked the dungeons beneath the Steading of the Hill Giant Chief. It included rebellious orcs, prisoners to free, a fire giant “guest worker”, hints at Eclavdra’s role and, best of all, a truly scary lost chapel to a truly dark deity, Tharizdun.
What more could a DM want?

 

[Reynard]

I don’t know if I have a true favorite, but I’m fond of Castle Amber for being so creative and bizarre. It’s very fun with the right group.

I also like the entrance level of the Temple of Elemental Evil, probably due in part to the evocative artwork on the cover.

Actually, amending my previous post… I do kind of have a favorite: the Ruins of Phlan, as depicted in the old Pool of Radiance and Ruins of Adventure, the module based on it. I think it’s a great campaign for beginners, and I’ve run it 4 times over the years, in 3 different editions of D&D and 1 very home brewed version of Stormbringer.

It starts simple fighting kobolds and goblins, but builds intrigue quickly. The players can feel like heroes as they reclaim districts in the ruins as they go, and each district has a very distinct feel.

So many memorable encounters mentioned above.
I always liked the dungeons beneath the Steading of the Hill Giant Chief. It included rebellious orcs, prisoners to free, a fire giant “guest worker”, hints at Eclavdra’s role and, best of all, a truly scary lost chapel to a truly dark deity, Tharizdun.
What more could a DM want?

 

[jayoungr]

I have a fondness for Xonthal's Tower in Rise of Tiamat. They handled the maze in a way that appeals to me, as a series of encounters to be solved.

 

[ECMO3]

Eh probably the flying castle in Tyranny of Dragons.

 

[Burnside]

• Redbrand Hideout in Lost Mine of Phandelver
• Death House in Curse of Strahd
• Nangalore in Tomb of Annihilation
• Kolat Towers in Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
• Grand Cemetery in Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus
• Jarlmoot, Lost Spire of Netheril, and Ythryn in Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
• Fistandia's Mansion in The Joy of Extradimensional Spaces (Candlekeep Mysteries)
• Ghalasine in Heart of Ashes (Keys from the Golden Vault)
• Haskasori in Dragons of the Sandstone City (Dragon Delves)

 

[Zardnaar]

Eh probably the flying castle in Tyranny of Dragons.

Forgot that. Scribbles notes.

 

[Charlaquin]

There’s a lot to like about 5e adventures, but generally I don’t think adventure location design is one of their stronger points. A lot of the best ones are from anthology books like Tales from the Yawning Portal that update dungeons from past editions. If those are on the table, my vote is for Forge of Fury. If we want to stick to things that were originally published for 5e… maybe the tomb of annihilation?

 

[Zardnaar]

There’s a lot to like about 5e adventures, but generally I don’t think adventure location design is one of their stronger points. A lot of the best ones are from anthology books like Tales from the Yawning Portal that update dungeons from past editions. If those are on the table, my vote is for Forge of Fury. If we want to stick to things that were originally published for 5e… maybe the tomb of annihilation?

Alot of the locations are fine imho. 5E adventures aren't the strong point.

Forge of Fury and Tomb of Annihilation have been mentioned a few times here.

PotA had some good ones along with Icewind Dale and Tyranny of Dragons. Theyre not very good adventures however.

The anthologies including new material are better imho.

I suspect they went for big ideas AP style like Paizo but lacked the skill to seal thd deal. Paizo quality went down over time as well.

Problem seem to be trying to mass produce them every year in a single product.

 

[Charlaquin]

Alot of the locations are fine imho.

They’re fine, yes. But just fine. None of them really stand out as great.

5E adventures aren't the strong point.

Forge of Fury and Tomb of Annihilation have been mentioned a few times here.

PotA had sone goid ones along with Icewibd Dale and Tyranny of Dragons. Theyre not very good adventures however.

The anthologies including new material are better imho.

Most 5e adventures have cool ideas but pretty significant structural issues. They’re good sources of ideas, not good for running out of the box, because without extra work to fix the structures holding up the encounters and locations, they end up very underwhelming. That’s why the anthologies tend to be better, because if you have to rebuild the structure anyway, better to fill page count with more encounters and locations than connective tissue that will just get re-written.

 

[Zardnaar]

They’re fine, yes. But just fine. None of them really stand out as great.

Most 5e adventures have cool ideas but pretty significant structural issues. They’re good sources of ideas, not good for running out of the box, because without extra work to fix the structures holding up the encounters and locations, they end up very underwhelming. That’s why the anthologies tend to be better, because if you have to rebuild the structure anyway, better to fill page count with more encounters and locations than connective tissue that will just get re-written.

Yeah agree with all of that. I think writing shorter adventures is just easier. The anthologies also cherry picked good adventures from previous editions.

I'm not expecting Forest Oracle in any of them. A few were buried in Dungeon magazine as well which was always kinda niche.