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xmaxx
Acolyte
France
39 Posts |
 Posted - 24 Oct 2015 : 15:45:36
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I guess some of you have played/mastered the "Doom of Daggerdale".
I will run it in a few weeks and I had to make some adjustements to the story, as my players have already done the "Sword of the Dale"'s trilogy.
This was 9 months ago...
In my adapted story, Randal Morn, freed from a curse and assisted by my PCs, has managed to take back Dagger-falls, and he is now leading a guerilla warfare in the east of the Dale, where the Zhentarim resist, their armies sheltered in several bases.
Guthbert Golthammer is dead, and Randal has chosen a new constable, Tren. He has suspicions on this clever administrator. Is he a spy for the Zhentarim? No one knows...
Anyway, (spoiler alert), the Doom of Daggerdale is divided into two dungeons. In my reading of the adventure, I feel the PCs are 'pushed' to do the biggest first (they are hired to clean the crypt), which I find unbalanced, as the dwarven keep is easier, and then useless if the bad guy is beaten. This keep is only spoken about in a tavern, no real lead there...
What could I do to 'drive' my players to the dwarven keep FIRST?
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Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2449 Posts |
Posted - 25 Oct 2015 : 08:08:00
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I'm not sure about "driving" anyone; as a DM, I try to avoid forcing my players to do anything. just give them options.
I think the key is the tavern talk you disparage. In the original adventure, Tren wants the PC's to investigate the crypts because his own men got mauled. If the town is free, that would likely be openly talked about. Have the PC's hear people discussing all the horrible things that might be down there. If they try, they could probably find an actual survivor to talk to.
At the same time, rumors can start to spread about the Eyrie. Maybe a prospector was chased away by the beastmen. Maybe there was another rock fall, and someone swears that either it was done on purpose, or that it revealed something. If any of the PC's are dwarves, or have dwarven friends, then they can get more specific information, and might even be approached.
Rumors and tavern talk are a DM's best friend. Give your players options, let them choose where to go, and provide subtle (or sometimes not-so-subtle) hints about how dangerous each path is. |
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
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rangerstranger
Seeker
USA
54 Posts |
Posted - 25 Oct 2015 : 16:51:45
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I tried do just that when I ran this adventure a few months back. They still ended up going right into the crypt to figure out was in there. It's the only verified bit of information given really. Everything else to do with the Eryie was just pure speculation. I even tried having the townsfolk call the nightshades "Leaf Dwarfs" repeatedly. By calling them Leaf Dwarves I was hoping they would build a connection with the Dwarves of the Eryie.
They still went down into the temple first. In fact they never went to the Eryie. |
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Korginard
Learned Scribe
USA
126 Posts |
Posted - 26 Oct 2015 : 19:02:16
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How difficult would it be to add a Dwarf NPC who has some info on the Eryie and is looking to hire some non-Zhent mercenaries to investigate? I don't have imediate access or memory of the adventure, but perhaps one of the dwarves ancestors left a map, or some papers, or just a handed down story.
This is pushing as well, but pushing them in the direction you'd like them to follow. |
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Doom of Daggerdale help
