I ran several homebrew campaigns but never a module and i am not sure how to run Icewindale, any of you can give me some tips?
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Born under the watch of something from the furthest corners of the far realms.... It knows all.... it sees all... and it asks: "What is it that you want to see?"... and my answer is... ALL"
You will have to empathize on the horror a lot if you want this to be a horror campaign, some ways you could is to play upon how the population in the ten towns has declined and there are empty houses, your party could wander into one of these houses and see a group of huddled people frozen to death. Music is also a good resource with setting the mood, and also description, you have to describe everything they hear, see and smell to really transport your players into Icewind dale. I really like this book, it has amazing ideas that I could really move around like the Id Ascendant, Jarlmoot and the dark duchess. Also, can you write in your first post that this thread includes spoilers for Icewind dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden.
This had several views but no comments, because no one knows what you need help for. You should be more specific what you need help in.
Sorry for the late reply, I wasn't sure what's the best method to prepare for a Module in general since i never done it before. (yea i just noticed that i wasn't clear in my question)
You will have to empathize on the horror a lot if you want this to be a horror campaign, some ways you could is to play upon how the population in the ten towns has declined and there are empty houses, your party could wander into one of these houses and see a group of huddled people frozen to death. Music is also a good resource with setting the mood, and also description, you have to describe everything they hear, see and smell to really transport your players into Icewind dale. I really like this book, it has amazing ideas that I could really move around like the Id Ascendant, Jarlmoot and the dark duchess. Also, can you write in your first post that this thread includes spoilers for Icewind dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden.
Which is why i order it! i love horror themed campaigns, however it seems some of my players didn't really like the dark oppressive atmosphere from Curse of Strahd so i might make it a little bit more light hearted.
I think it's too early to provide tips. Very few DMs have finished running it.
Yea, but i was hoping to see as well if there some legendary DM who already finished it could give me a tips or anyone would help me know how to prep properly for a module, like should i read the book entirely? chapter by chapter? etc...
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Born under the watch of something from the furthest corners of the far realms.... It knows all.... it sees all... and it asks: "What is it that you want to see?"... and my answer is... ALL"
Yea, but i was hoping to see as well if there some legendary DM who already finished it could give me a tips or anyone would help me know how to prep properly for a module, like should i read the book entirely? chapter by chapter? etc...
That depends on the DM. In my case I try to read all off the module(but I get impatient and read like half and run it right away, reading between sessions), and I prepare NPC Statblocks. As you DM you'll know if you're a "prepare everything and run it" type or "just do it and then figure out everything later" type.
In Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden, you should be careful in running it right away, so far I have seen some NPCs that might be important in later chapters. Btw I only read the first chapter so I'm prob not qualified. But the first chapter has "missions" that varies from 1st~3rd level missions, so you should be careful not to give a mission suitable for 3rd-level to 1st-levels. If you can't figure out what's suitable for 1st-level or 3rd-level just put it in the encounter builder. Hard difficulty is actually pretty easy in my opinion but that depends on the players. I even run "deadly" encounters and they turn out fine
One if the most interesting things in the module are secrets. As James Haeck or Todd Kreneck said, you shouldn't give "Drizzt Fan" to a serious player.
Horror should be handled well. Since you said your players don't like serious things, you might just make the whole campaign light and focused on fun rather than horror.
It's a great book. That being said it has some issues. I'm trying to figure out how to handle Chapters 3 and 4. I think the design of the encounter for Chapter 4 has been covered by a DnD Beyond article.
In my campagin, I've used the retired dwarven bounty hunter in the opening quest as a patron for the characters. It's allowed me to nudge them when they haven't known exactly what to do next without being too railroady.
Some of the encounters always end with a "after the party exits the (insert structure here), a (group/single monster(s)) appears and confronts the party." After you do that twice it just seems like a Power Rangers episode. Ha.
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I ran several homebrew campaigns but never a module and i am not sure how to run Icewindale, any of you can give me some tips?
Born under the watch of something from the furthest corners of the far realms.... It knows all.... it sees all... and it asks: "What is it that you want to see?"... and my answer is... ALL"
This had several views but no comments, because no one knows what you need help for. You should be more specific what you need help in.
You will have to empathize on the horror a lot if you want this to be a horror campaign, some ways you could is to play upon how the population in the ten towns has declined and there are empty houses, your party could wander into one of these houses and see a group of huddled people frozen to death. Music is also a good resource with setting the mood, and also description, you have to describe everything they hear, see and smell to really transport your players into Icewind dale. I really like this book, it has amazing ideas that I could really move around like the Id Ascendant, Jarlmoot and the dark duchess. Also, can you write in your first post that this thread includes spoilers for Icewind dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden.
"Life is not a problem to be solved but a reality to be experienced"- Soren Kierkgaard
I think it's too early to provide tips. Very few DMs have finished running it.
I got many of those ideas off reading the book
"Life is not a problem to be solved but a reality to be experienced"- Soren Kierkgaard
Sorry for the late reply, I wasn't sure what's the best method to prepare for a Module in general since i never done it before. (yea i just noticed that i wasn't clear in my question)
Which is why i order it! i love horror themed campaigns, however it seems some of my players didn't really like the dark oppressive atmosphere from Curse of Strahd so i might make it a little bit more light hearted.
Yea, but i was hoping to see as well if there some legendary DM who already finished it could give me a tips or anyone would help me know how to prep properly for a module, like should i read the book entirely? chapter by chapter? etc...
Born under the watch of something from the furthest corners of the far realms.... It knows all.... it sees all... and it asks: "What is it that you want to see?"... and my answer is... ALL"
That depends on the DM. In my case I try to read all off the module(but I get impatient and read like half and run it right away, reading between sessions), and I prepare NPC Statblocks. As you DM you'll know if you're a "prepare everything and run it" type or "just do it and then figure out everything later" type.
In Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden, you should be careful in running it right away, so far I have seen some NPCs that might be important in later chapters. Btw I only read the first chapter so I'm prob not qualified. But the first chapter has "missions" that varies from 1st~3rd level missions, so you should be careful not to give a mission suitable for 3rd-level to 1st-levels. If you can't figure out what's suitable for 1st-level or 3rd-level just put it in the encounter builder. Hard difficulty is actually pretty easy in my opinion but that depends on the players. I even run "deadly" encounters and they turn out fine
One if the most interesting things in the module are secrets. As James Haeck or Todd Kreneck said, you shouldn't give "Drizzt Fan" to a serious player.
Horror should be handled well. Since you said your players don't like serious things, you might just make the whole campaign light and focused on fun rather than horror.
It's a great book. That being said it has some issues. I'm trying to figure out how to handle Chapters 3 and 4. I think the design of the encounter for Chapter 4 has been covered by a DnD Beyond article.
In my campagin, I've used the retired dwarven bounty hunter in the opening quest as a patron for the characters. It's allowed me to nudge them when they haven't known exactly what to do next without being too railroady.
Some of the encounters always end with a "after the party exits the (insert structure here), a (group/single monster(s)) appears and confronts the party." After you do that twice it just seems like a Power Rangers episode. Ha.