My game group has been playing a series of pretty serious, grim & gritty, life-still-sucks-even-if-we-win campaigns for a while. I'm looking to change the mood, and do something lighter-- more beer & pretzels.
If anyone has any recommendations for a pre-written/published/etc... starting level adventure. I'm thinking about a dungeon crawl, but will take anything.
And those ended with life-sucks-even-when-you-win? Hmm...
Sunless Citadel is a fun dungeon crawl. Pretty linear, low-level, and there are no far-reaching consequences.
The problem with low-level campaigns is that the goal is for them to continue being played. So, for the most part, there are going to be a couple grim things at the end to keep you hooked into future stuff.
Have you considered higher-level games? Any reason you're married to starting level?
My group had lots of fun with Ghosts of Saltmarsh. We don't like to bog down our games with lots of combat and it turned out pretty well, also there are a couple of adventures in there you could play as standalones. We decided to move on after the main story line was done, but our DM said we could have played around with the intrigue in the town. If your group is okay with some one-shots check out Tales from the Yawning Portal. Tomb of Horrors and White Plume Mountin are "fun-house" dungeons. Basically they're just crazy/silly and every room is full different and unique obstacles.
Dungeon of the Mad Mage is a pure dungeon-crawl with a "fun house" style dungeon, might be just the thing. Keep in mind it starts at 5th level, but with experienced players that should be okay.
No, I mis-spoke. Those did not end with " life-sucks-even-when-you-win." Those were a great time. Everything we've done lately has been grim and gritty.
I'm not married to low level at all. Just thinking that because we're starting anew.
We've been playing together for a long time, and have played many of the modules you are suggesting. All of them are great suggestions. I'm not in a position, time-wise- to write my own right now.
Please keep the suggestions coming. You all are definitely in the same frame of mind as I am.
Dragon heist has a nice and fun vibe to it. Also I could remind you that it falls on you and your group the set the ambiance of the story. Even a more serious story could be interpreted with a lighter attitude and twist. I'd recommend listening to Adam Koebel to inspire yourself. He usually takes a more comedic or light approach to his storytelling and just runs with it.
Push comes to shove, you could do a couple of lvl 20 one-shots. Usually when my group irl gets burned out from stuff like what you're talking about, a two or three session, level 20 campaign is good for them. Could also make it so that if you give out any super cool stuff, that their regular characters get some kind of influence of that super cool stuff.
If you are looking along the lines of a one shot, or short game AND you like "Rick and Morty" then The Rick and Morty lost dungeon of Rickedness was pretty good comedy. https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/ddvram
It went from level 1-3 and when I ran it took about 5 hrs. It's a straight dungeon crawl and spoof.
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"An' things ha' come to a pretty pass, ye ken, if people are going to leave stuff like that aroound where innocent people could accidentally smash the door doon and lever the bars aside and take the big chain off'f the cupboard and pick the lock and drink it!"
No, I mis-spoke. Those did not end with " life-sucks-even-when-you-win." Those were a great time. Everything we've done lately has been grim and gritty.
I'm not married to low level at all. Just thinking that because we're starting anew.
We've been playing together for a long time, and have played many of the modules you are suggesting. All of them are great suggestions. I'm not in a position, time-wise- to write my own right now.
Please keep the suggestions coming. You all are definitely in the same frame of mind as I am.
So Curse of Strahd is off the table? :P
I agree with Dungeon of the Mad Mage. It's a little wild and involved, but it's good fun. If your players are really, REALLY competent, there's a surprising amount of goofiness in Tomb of Annihilation, but it's a meat grinder - When I played through, we averaged a fatality per session, and it ended in a full-party wipe before we even got to the Tomb itself.
Anything from Yawning Portal is... pretty good. Not extraordinary, but pretty good.
My game group has been playing a series of pretty serious, grim & gritty, life-still-sucks-even-if-we-win campaigns for a while. I'm looking to change the mood, and do something lighter-- more beer & pretzels.
If anyone has any recommendations for a pre-written/published/etc... starting level adventure. I'm thinking about a dungeon crawl, but will take anything.
Thanks!
I would suggest Lost Laboratory of Kwalish. It's a classic madhouse dungeon, but with a 5e level of lethality. Which is to say very little unless you try.
Storm King's Thunder serves as a GREAT foundation for an open world sandbox campaign. Admittedly, if you don't fill in the world a bit the module can feel a little empty but you can throw in homebrewed adventures / character backstory quests wherever you want.
Hello All,
My game group has been playing a series of pretty serious, grim & gritty, life-still-sucks-even-if-we-win campaigns for a while. I'm looking to change the mood, and do something lighter-- more beer & pretzels.
If anyone has any recommendations for a pre-written/published/etc... starting level adventure. I'm thinking about a dungeon crawl, but will take anything.
Thanks!
Are you looking for pre-fab? Phandelver and Dragonheist are classics for level one.
Yes, looking for pre-fab.
We've run through those already-- unfortunately‽
And those ended with life-sucks-even-when-you-win? Hmm...
Sunless Citadel is a fun dungeon crawl. Pretty linear, low-level, and there are no far-reaching consequences.
The problem with low-level campaigns is that the goal is for them to continue being played. So, for the most part, there are going to be a couple grim things at the end to keep you hooked into future stuff.
Have you considered higher-level games? Any reason you're married to starting level?
My group had lots of fun with Ghosts of Saltmarsh. We don't like to bog down our games with lots of combat and it turned out pretty well, also there are a couple of adventures in there you could play as standalones. We decided to move on after the main story line was done, but our DM said we could have played around with the intrigue in the town. If your group is okay with some one-shots check out Tales from the Yawning Portal. Tomb of Horrors and White Plume Mountin are "fun-house" dungeons. Basically they're just crazy/silly and every room is full different and unique obstacles.
Keep your friends close, and enemies closer.
Dungeon of the Mad Mage is a pure dungeon-crawl with a "fun house" style dungeon, might be just the thing. Keep in mind it starts at 5th level, but with experienced players that should be okay.
Wizard (Gandalf) of the Tolkien Club
No, I mis-spoke. Those did not end with " life-sucks-even-when-you-win." Those were a great time. Everything we've done lately has been grim and gritty.
I'm not married to low level at all. Just thinking that because we're starting anew.
We've been playing together for a long time, and have played many of the modules you are suggesting. All of them are great suggestions. I'm not in a position, time-wise- to write my own right now.
Please keep the suggestions coming. You all are definitely in the same frame of mind as I am.
Dragon heist has a nice and fun vibe to it. Also I could remind you that it falls on you and your group the set the ambiance of the story. Even a more serious story could be interpreted with a lighter attitude and twist. I'd recommend listening to Adam Koebel to inspire yourself. He usually takes a more comedic or light approach to his storytelling and just runs with it.
I mean, it's not a happy go lucky pre-fab, but my group is really enjoying Descent into Avernus.
Push comes to shove, you could do a couple of lvl 20 one-shots. Usually when my group irl gets burned out from stuff like what you're talking about, a two or three session, level 20 campaign is good for them. Could also make it so that if you give out any super cool stuff, that their regular characters get some kind of influence of that super cool stuff.
You can go on DMs Guild and find a ton of 5e conversions from old modules. The old A-Series is always a good time (Slave Lords campaign).
If you are looking along the lines of a one shot, or short game AND you like "Rick and Morty" then The Rick and Morty lost dungeon of Rickedness was pretty good comedy. https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/ddvram
It went from level 1-3 and when I ran it took about 5 hrs. It's a straight dungeon crawl and spoof.
"An' things ha' come to a pretty pass, ye ken, if people are going to leave stuff like that aroound where innocent people could accidentally smash the door doon and lever the bars aside and take the big chain off'f the cupboard and pick the lock and drink it!"
So Curse of Strahd is off the table? :P
I agree with Dungeon of the Mad Mage. It's a little wild and involved, but it's good fun. If your players are really, REALLY competent, there's a surprising amount of goofiness in Tomb of Annihilation, but it's a meat grinder - When I played through, we averaged a fatality per session, and it ended in a full-party wipe before we even got to the Tomb itself.
Anything from Yawning Portal is... pretty good. Not extraordinary, but pretty good.
I would suggest Lost Laboratory of Kwalish. It's a classic madhouse dungeon, but with a 5e level of lethality. Which is to say very little unless you try.
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Storm King's Thunder serves as a GREAT foundation for an open world sandbox campaign. Admittedly, if you don't fill in the world a bit the module can feel a little empty but you can throw in homebrewed adventures / character backstory quests wherever you want.
Thanks for the great advice and suggestions everyone!
After some studying, I'm thinking The Mad Mage.