Hey guys, I was going to run TOA for my group but I think it is a bit too much on the preparation side for me right now. I run a business and have 3 kids... What is the most linear/east to run of the publications? Hoard of the Dragon Queen? Dungeon of the Mad Mage?
I’m running ToA and I’d say your assessment that it requires a lot of prep is right.
I didn’t feel either Lost mines of Phandelver or HotDQ required much prep, particularly if you leverage some of the online resources that help clean up the modules. I found Sly Flourish’s suggestions quite useful.
Phandelver is easiest by intent. I am inclined to think Tomb is pretty low on the prep end due to the extensive time between each set piece. theres plenty of random encounter filler to give you prep time, but the last sectons are hefty.
It depends on what you consider prep. Dragon Heist I found in my run of it to be immensely heavy with prep due to the sheer scale of canon lore they give, on top of like 50 named NPCs involved in the plot. That prep was 95% studying and every game was a test to see which faction I failed to consider.
Storm King strikes me as the most intensive for set up time. It gives a perfect storm of too much player freedom and tons of specific details.
Mad Mage is insane amounts of set up, but limited necessary studying. If you theater of the mind it, it may actually be the most accessible to just walking into with no prep. Its a dungeon. Context exists for most stuff you find if you study and prep, but if not, it probably doesn't hurt too much.
Strahd may not be too bad to set up. You get time before the castle, and most of the module is pretty straight forward. Find McGuffin then kill baddie.
Hey guys, I was going to run TOA for my group but I think it is a bit too much on the preparation side for me right now. I run a business and have 3 kids... What is the most linear/east to run of the publications? Hoard of the Dragon Queen? Dungeon of the Mad Mage?
Thanks guys!
I’m running ToA and I’d say your assessment that it requires a lot of prep is right.
I didn’t feel either Lost mines of Phandelver or HotDQ required much prep, particularly if you leverage some of the online resources that help clean up the modules. I found Sly Flourish’s suggestions quite useful.
https://slyflourish.com/greenest_in_flames.html
Thank you Greg! LMOP was pretty easy. If HoTDQ is similar I can deal with that.
Phandelver is easiest by intent. I am inclined to think Tomb is pretty low on the prep end due to the extensive time between each set piece. theres plenty of random encounter filler to give you prep time, but the last sectons are hefty.
It depends on what you consider prep. Dragon Heist I found in my run of it to be immensely heavy with prep due to the sheer scale of canon lore they give, on top of like 50 named NPCs involved in the plot. That prep was 95% studying and every game was a test to see which faction I failed to consider.
Storm King strikes me as the most intensive for set up time. It gives a perfect storm of too much player freedom and tons of specific details.
Mad Mage is insane amounts of set up, but limited necessary studying. If you theater of the mind it, it may actually be the most accessible to just walking into with no prep. Its a dungeon. Context exists for most stuff you find if you study and prep, but if not, it probably doesn't hurt too much.
Strahd may not be too bad to set up. You get time before the castle, and most of the module is pretty straight forward. Find McGuffin then kill baddie.