While re-learning DND 5e (I haven't played since AD&D 1st) my gaming group will probably finish up Stormwreck Island this weekend. I was thinking about getting the new Phandelver Shattered Obelisk module as that takes them from level 1 to 12.
However, the characters are already level 3. They've also got a pretty good grasp on the rules and have been taking good advantage of when to use their skills most effectively so they were doing a little bit of steamrolling on that module's Optional Encounters.
I'm fine with that, I think it's good for them to be strategic and use all the toys they're given, even though those poor kobolds and fume drakes were just getting dominated even after I upped the difficulty as per the module's suggestion. I suspect they'll probably demolish the blue dragon if they choose to engage it as well, which I am fine with.
So, next I'd love to buy and play the new Phandelver module with them. However, they're already level 3 characters, and I don't want to "skip ahead" to the level 3 content in that module and miss out on the first story stuff. But, I also think it'll be a bit of a waste of time for them to steamroll through the Level 1 and Level 2 content of that module. Note that I don't own the module yet so I'm not entirely sure what is in store.
But, if the module is paced anything like Stormwreck Island, the first two milestone areas are probably going to be a piece of cake for my adventurers. Sure I can just throw in more mobs but that feels like giving them busywork while I try to waste their spell points and resources.
I also don't want to buy the module and then think, they're going to waste hours doing the first 2 areas just so we have the exposition done.. which may turn them off from the whole adventure.
Any thoughts? Should I just let them steamroll the first two areas? Anyone else been in this position?
I've not played DoSI. However, you could just let them go through the early levels of Shattered Obelisk at L3. It'll be easy, but just don't progress them and it'll be fine. It's only a few quests (probably three? I haven't look at Shattered Obelisk yet, just played the original LMoP, but with the original it was done on XP, but almost everything is done on Milestone instead now, and usually you get to L2 after the first quest, then L3 after two more quests, for a total if 3 quests to get to L3), so inform the players that they'll probably breeze through the first few quests and then they'll have to work for it.
I'd also offer them the choice to either reset their character (start at L1) or to start a new character. That might solve your problem for you, and they get to do what they want to do.
Unfortunately, official adventures are rarely designed to stack, so if you have one, it'll rarely lead onto another adventure (there are exceptions, some by design, others by sheer coincidence - for example, Light of Xaryxes starts at L4 which would be perfect for your group - but I'm not sure of how good it is, so I can't recommend it, the accompanying books were a letdown).
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
Ah, that is different from the old first edition AD&D where you could buy a variety of modules for a variety of different levels and group numbers. Looking through the 5e modules, it doesn't seem like you can jump around as easily because of the level overlaps like I'm seeing after finishing Stormwreck.
I do like how the new Phandelver module takes them all the way to level 12, so even tho it's pricey I think the sheer amount of hours we'll get into it, will be worth it. I will probably just let them steamroll the first few quests and not award them the milestones. Maybe throw in a few more mobs, or fudge a couple of die rolls on my end to keep them on their toes. Stormwreck has been fun, but I know they'll probably try to reason with the dragon only for a little bit, and then end up just blasting it because they've figured out some potent combos. A blessed protection shield warrior with a dual wield sneak attack assassin rogue has been pretty crazy for them, so if they get lucky with initiative they're probably going to burn poor Sparkrender down in a hurry.
There are some adventures that you can fudge. Rime of the Frostmaiden and Storm King's Thunder have intro sections that you can skip/enter part way through, and take them to L11 and 13 respectively. Dungeon of the Mad Mage starts at L5. The Wild Beyond the Witchlight apparently has a skippable section too. Dragon of Icespire Peak is quite capable of taking characters mid-story - if you get the Beyond Icespire Peak Trilogy as well, that goes up to L13.
That said, if Shattered Obelisk has tickled your fancy, go for it. It's not a game-breaker by any means.From what I've seen (from playing modules ported from older editions to 5e), one of the big changes was the "big narrative". In older editions, the adventures were short, a couple of levels, but numerous (or not really narrative based, so you could skip parts). 5e has much more emphasis on the bigger narrative that takes a dozen levels, give or take, to tell. That means there are fewer, less modular adventures that makes it harder to take a character from one story to the next.
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While re-learning DND 5e (I haven't played since AD&D 1st) my gaming group will probably finish up Stormwreck Island this weekend. I was thinking about getting the new Phandelver Shattered Obelisk module as that takes them from level 1 to 12.
However, the characters are already level 3. They've also got a pretty good grasp on the rules and have been taking good advantage of when to use their skills most effectively so they were doing a little bit of steamrolling on that module's Optional Encounters.
I'm fine with that, I think it's good for them to be strategic and use all the toys they're given, even though those poor kobolds and fume drakes were just getting dominated even after I upped the difficulty as per the module's suggestion. I suspect they'll probably demolish the blue dragon if they choose to engage it as well, which I am fine with.
So, next I'd love to buy and play the new Phandelver module with them. However, they're already level 3 characters, and I don't want to "skip ahead" to the level 3 content in that module and miss out on the first story stuff. But, I also think it'll be a bit of a waste of time for them to steamroll through the Level 1 and Level 2 content of that module. Note that I don't own the module yet so I'm not entirely sure what is in store.
But, if the module is paced anything like Stormwreck Island, the first two milestone areas are probably going to be a piece of cake for my adventurers. Sure I can just throw in more mobs but that feels like giving them busywork while I try to waste their spell points and resources.
I also don't want to buy the module and then think, they're going to waste hours doing the first 2 areas just so we have the exposition done.. which may turn them off from the whole adventure.
Any thoughts? Should I just let them steamroll the first two areas? Anyone else been in this position?
I've not played DoSI. However, you could just let them go through the early levels of Shattered Obelisk at L3. It'll be easy, but just don't progress them and it'll be fine. It's only a few quests (probably three? I haven't look at Shattered Obelisk yet, just played the original LMoP, but with the original it was done on XP, but almost everything is done on Milestone instead now, and usually you get to L2 after the first quest, then L3 after two more quests, for a total if 3 quests to get to L3), so inform the players that they'll probably breeze through the first few quests and then they'll have to work for it.
I'd also offer them the choice to either reset their character (start at L1) or to start a new character. That might solve your problem for you, and they get to do what they want to do.
Unfortunately, official adventures are rarely designed to stack, so if you have one, it'll rarely lead onto another adventure (there are exceptions, some by design, others by sheer coincidence - for example, Light of Xaryxes starts at L4 which would be perfect for your group - but I'm not sure of how good it is, so I can't recommend it, the accompanying books were a letdown).
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
Ah, that is different from the old first edition AD&D where you could buy a variety of modules for a variety of different levels and group numbers. Looking through the 5e modules, it doesn't seem like you can jump around as easily because of the level overlaps like I'm seeing after finishing Stormwreck.
I do like how the new Phandelver module takes them all the way to level 12, so even tho it's pricey I think the sheer amount of hours we'll get into it, will be worth it. I will probably just let them steamroll the first few quests and not award them the milestones. Maybe throw in a few more mobs, or fudge a couple of die rolls on my end to keep them on their toes. Stormwreck has been fun, but I know they'll probably try to reason with the dragon only for a little bit, and then end up just blasting it because they've figured out some potent combos. A blessed protection shield warrior with a dual wield sneak attack assassin rogue has been pretty crazy for them, so if they get lucky with initiative they're probably going to burn poor Sparkrender down in a hurry.
Thanks for the insight!
There are some adventures that you can fudge. Rime of the Frostmaiden and Storm King's Thunder have intro sections that you can skip/enter part way through, and take them to L11 and 13 respectively. Dungeon of the Mad Mage starts at L5. The Wild Beyond the Witchlight apparently has a skippable section too. Dragon of Icespire Peak is quite capable of taking characters mid-story - if you get the Beyond Icespire Peak Trilogy as well, that goes up to L13.
That said, if Shattered Obelisk has tickled your fancy, go for it. It's not a game-breaker by any means.From what I've seen (from playing modules ported from older editions to 5e), one of the big changes was the "big narrative". In older editions, the adventures were short, a couple of levels, but numerous (or not really narrative based, so you could skip parts). 5e has much more emphasis on the bigger narrative that takes a dozen levels, give or take, to tell. That means there are fewer, less modular adventures that makes it harder to take a character from one story to the next.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.