One thing about Reidoth I found odd is that he warns the players of the danger in Thundertree, including Venomfang, and tells them to leave before they get themselves killed. BUT, it also says that he'll guide them to Wave Echo Cave (WEC) if they drive off Venomfang. Wouldn't that be sending the players to their death by his own logic? So which is it, should the players stay and drive off Venomfang, risking a likely TPK, or should they leave for their own safety?
Personally, I think the Reidoth would be way more likely to team up with the players to help drive off Venomfang, and if successful, he'll lead them to WEC to return the favor. Reidoth doesn't want to KILL Venomfang - that would upset the natural balance, from his perspective. He knows that a green dragon will run away if it thinks it will die.
This opens some fun possibilities in building out Reidoth's stat card and allowing him to shapeshift in to a bear or something (whichever miniatures you have...).
Also, I think the Blights were put there BY Reidoth to guard his building at Thundertree when he's not there, and there should be 2-4 Blights surrounding his building as well. (obviously these are a variation on Blights, more like Dryads from Games Workshop) As the characters approach his building, he'll come out and immediately call off the Blights if there's a combat happening, and then he'll apologize for any combats with the Blights. After the players speak with Reidoth, all the blights at Thundertree will not attack for the rest of the adventure, but will fight back if attacked. Reidoth asks the players to not engage with the Blights because they're his guards.
If the players decide to fight Venomfang with Reidoth's help, it's conceivable some of the Blights will join the battle under Reidoth's command, which I think would make for a much more interesting tactical battle. Venomfang could wipe out 3-4 Blights with his breath at the beginning of the battle, which should quickly show new players the lethality of a dragon's breath (be sure to say aloud how much damage each Blight took from the breath).
Also, I think Reidoth is a much bigger part of the Phandelver adventure than the book gives him credit for (yes I know this was done for brevity's sake). I think he's fairly high level, at least 5th, maybe going as high as 15th. He's taken it upon himself to watch over Phandelin and WEC to "preserve the natural order" per the Emerald Enclave's directive. He doesn't mind Nezznar controlling WEC, as long as it doesn't get out of hand, like if Nezznar raised an army or something. In the same way, Reidoth also doesn't mind Venomfang having influence on Phandelin and WEC, he just doesn't want the dragon residing at Thundertree, and he also knows the cultists will leave if Venomfang leaves.
It might be fun if Reidoth is a recurring NPC in the Phandelver and Icespire Peak adventures. He could swoop in and save them if they're about to be TPK'd and stuff like that.
Anyways, I hope this is of use to someone, cheers!
I think Venomfang is similarly underdeveloped - for the sake of a coherent product.
In my three runs of Phandelver, the characters fought the dragon once and surrendered to its demands twice (Reidoth died both times). Venomfang then became their patron and had them slowly "bring proper order" to the region. It made for a nice twist. Yes, bring Phandelver to order. Yes, get the Cragmaw goblins to surrender, flee, or die. Yes, explore the WEC... there might be a hoard in there!
You've made a great study on Reidoth. Thank you :)
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One thing about Reidoth I found odd is that he warns the players of the danger in Thundertree, including Venomfang, and tells them to leave before they get themselves killed.
BUT, it also says that he'll guide them to Wave Echo Cave (WEC) if they drive off Venomfang. Wouldn't that be sending the players to their death by his own logic? So which is it, should the players stay and drive off Venomfang, risking a likely TPK, or should they leave for their own safety?
Personally, I think the Reidoth would be way more likely to team up with the players to help drive off Venomfang, and if successful, he'll lead them to WEC to return the favor. Reidoth doesn't want to KILL Venomfang - that would upset the natural balance, from his perspective. He knows that a green dragon will run away if it thinks it will die.
This opens some fun possibilities in building out Reidoth's stat card and allowing him to shapeshift in to a bear or something (whichever miniatures you have...).
Also, I think the Blights were put there BY Reidoth to guard his building at Thundertree when he's not there, and there should be 2-4 Blights surrounding his building as well. (obviously these are a variation on Blights, more like Dryads from Games Workshop) As the characters approach his building, he'll come out and immediately call off the Blights if there's a combat happening, and then he'll apologize for any combats with the Blights. After the players speak with Reidoth, all the blights at Thundertree will not attack for the rest of the adventure, but will fight back if attacked. Reidoth asks the players to not engage with the Blights because they're his guards.
If the players decide to fight Venomfang with Reidoth's help, it's conceivable some of the Blights will join the battle under Reidoth's command, which I think would make for a much more interesting tactical battle. Venomfang could wipe out 3-4 Blights with his breath at the beginning of the battle, which should quickly show new players the lethality of a dragon's breath (be sure to say aloud how much damage each Blight took from the breath).
Also, I think Reidoth is a much bigger part of the Phandelver adventure than the book gives him credit for (yes I know this was done for brevity's sake). I think he's fairly high level, at least 5th, maybe going as high as 15th. He's taken it upon himself to watch over Phandelin and WEC to "preserve the natural order" per the Emerald Enclave's directive. He doesn't mind Nezznar controlling WEC, as long as it doesn't get out of hand, like if Nezznar raised an army or something. In the same way, Reidoth also doesn't mind Venomfang having influence on Phandelin and WEC, he just doesn't want the dragon residing at Thundertree, and he also knows the cultists will leave if Venomfang leaves.
It might be fun if Reidoth is a recurring NPC in the Phandelver and Icespire Peak adventures. He could swoop in and save them if they're about to be TPK'd and stuff like that.
Anyways, I hope this is of use to someone, cheers!
I just found this and I wanted to let you know I think its brilliant.
I think Venomfang is similarly underdeveloped - for the sake of a coherent product.
In my three runs of Phandelver, the characters fought the dragon once and surrendered to its demands twice (Reidoth died both times). Venomfang then became their patron and had them slowly "bring proper order" to the region. It made for a nice twist. Yes, bring Phandelver to order. Yes, get the Cragmaw goblins to surrender, flee, or die. Yes, explore the WEC... there might be a hoard in there!
You've made a great study on Reidoth. Thank you :)