Dungeon of the Mad Mage

Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage doesn’t have a singular story to tell. It’s a sandbox megadungeon filled with the pieces of a story that you get to put together in any way you want. If that sounds like too much, read on. It’s not as challenging as you think.

The Port of Shadow is a city of evil hidden beneath the streets of Waterdeep. Accessible only from deep below the earth, it may be your only “safe” haven while exploring the treacherous depths of Undermountain.

Undermountain is filled with ruthless enemies, and while they can all be fought, many can be reasoned with, distracted, or pacified. A manticore could be the first major gatekeeper your party faces in Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage. If you’re a Dungeon Master, do you know what makes a manticore tick?

If you’ve never played in a megadungeon campaign like Dungeon of the Mad Mage, you may be in for a rude awakening. Playing D&D in a purely dungeon-based setting is totally different from any other kind of campaign—here are some tips to help you survive this brand-new paradigm.

It’s the early release date for Dungeon of the Mad Mage! Undermountain is one of the largest dungeons in all of Faerûn, and adventurers deserve a fair warning before plumbing its treacherous depths. Durnan, a famed Undermountain explorer-turned-proprietor of the Yawning Portal, has these warnings for any who dare follow in his footsteps.

You have your gold and you’ve made yourself a cozy home in Waterdeep. Things sure are quiet around here, now that the Xanathar—or your villain of choice—has been defeated. What’s a group of adventurers to do?