DND Archive
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![Village Backdrop: Gull’s Roost (5e) This installment of RSP’s Village Backdrop-series is 13 pages long, 1 page front cover, 2 pages of advertisement, 1 page editorial/ToC, 1 page SRD and 1 page back cover, leaving us with 7 pages of content, so let’s take a look at the settlement! Gull’s Roost is a safe place where law abides –PCs are bound to be impressed by the beautiful village: Originally created as a summer resort for nobles to escape (akin to how e.g. the Viennese used to in real life) the summer’s stifling heat. Coated with mother-of-pearl and lavishly-painted, Gull’s Roost was doomed – it lured less than desirable entities, and a fort was erected to combat pirates and worse […]](http://nerdtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/238913-115x115.jpg "Village Backdrop: Gull’s Roost (5e)")
Village Backdrop: Gull’s Roost (5e)
Posted on August 19, 2019 | No CommentsVillage Backdrop: Gull’s Roost (5e) This installment of RSP’s Village Backdrop-series is 13 pages long, 1 page front cover, 2 pages of advertisement, 1 page editorial/ToC, 1 page SRD and 1 page back cover, leaving us with 7 pages of content, so let’s take a look at the settlement! Gull’s Roost is a safe place where law abides –PCs are bound to be impressed by the beautiful village: Originally created as a summer resort for nobles to escape (akin to how e.g. the Viennese used to in real life) the summer’s stifling heat. Coated with mother-of-pearl and lavishly-painted, Gull’s Roost was doomed – it lured less than desirable entities, and a fort was erected to combat pirates and worse […] -
![Villages of Ashlar (5e) This massive compilation of the villages situated in the Duchy of Ashlar clocks in at 71 pages, 1 page front cover, 2 pages of advertisement, 1 page editorial, 1 page ToC, 1 page SRD, 1 page back cover, leaving us with 64 pages of content, so let’s take a look! Okay, in case you were wondering: the Duchy of Ashlar is the region that features Raging Swan Press’ Gloamhold dungeon, as well as several important locations – like the phenomenal city of Languard with its intricately detailed and amazing quarters, fully detailed in the City Backdrop and the associated Languard Locations-pdfs. The slightly smaller towns Dunstone and Dulwich, both featured in their Town Backdrops, can […]](http://nerdtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/248092-115x115.jpg "Villages of Ashlar (5e)")
Villages of Ashlar (5e)
Posted on August 15, 2019 | No CommentsVillages of Ashlar (5e) This massive compilation of the villages situated in the Duchy of Ashlar clocks in at 71 pages, 1 page front cover, 2 pages of advertisement, 1 page editorial, 1 page ToC, 1 page SRD, 1 page back cover, leaving us with 64 pages of content, so let’s take a look! Okay, in case you were wondering: the Duchy of Ashlar is the region that features Raging Swan Press’ Gloamhold dungeon, as well as several important locations – like the phenomenal city of Languard with its intricately detailed and amazing quarters, fully detailed in the City Backdrop and the associated Languard Locations-pdfs. The slightly smaller towns Dunstone and Dulwich, both featured in their Town Backdrops, can […] -
![Village Backdrop: Underdell (5e) This installment of RSP’s Village Backdrop-series is 13 pages long, 1 page front cover, 2 pages of advertisement, 1 page editorial/ToC, 1 page SRD and 1 page back cover, leaving us with 7 pages of content, so let’s take a look at the settlement! Situated near the Salt Mire, the halfling village of Underdell, has been seriously impacted by the plague that ravaged Ashford (a classic Village Backdrop!); while paranoia ran rampant, an evil halfling bandit named Vihtori has seized both the day and control. Now, fear is the defining characteristic of this place. This village, if you’ve been following Raging Swan Press’ releases, is thus one of the places situated in the Duchy of […]](http://nerdtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/241830-115x115.jpg "Village Backdrop: Underdell (5e)")
Village Backdrop: Underdell (5e)
Posted on August 14, 2019 | No CommentsVillage Backdrop: Underdell (5e) This installment of RSP’s Village Backdrop-series is 13 pages long, 1 page front cover, 2 pages of advertisement, 1 page editorial/ToC, 1 page SRD and 1 page back cover, leaving us with 7 pages of content, so let’s take a look at the settlement! Situated near the Salt Mire, the halfling village of Underdell, has been seriously impacted by the plague that ravaged Ashford (a classic Village Backdrop!); while paranoia ran rampant, an evil halfling bandit named Vihtori has seized both the day and control. Now, fear is the defining characteristic of this place. This village, if you’ve been following Raging Swan Press’ releases, is thus one of the places situated in the Duchy of […] -
![Village Backdrop: Laewas (5e) This installment of RSP’s Village Backdrop-series is 13 pages long, 1 page front cover, 2 pages of advertisement, 1 page editorial/ToC, 1 page SRD and 1 page back cover, leaving us with 7 pages of content, so let’s take a look at the settlement! Laewas, at first glance, looks like your run-of-the-mill farmer’s village – a bit ramshackle and decayed, maybe, but nothing special. At first glance. Village life continues – wives walk the streets, carpenters work, parents shepherd their playing children. The inhabitants laugh and gossip in the sun. There is a single elf, and some halflings roam the streets. The usual information provided does enhance this sense of normalcy – the dressing […]](http://nerdtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/236414-115x115.jpg "Village Backdrop: Laewas (5e)")
Village Backdrop: Laewas (5e)
Posted on August 13, 2019 | No CommentsVillage Backdrop: Laewas (5e) This installment of RSP’s Village Backdrop-series is 13 pages long, 1 page front cover, 2 pages of advertisement, 1 page editorial/ToC, 1 page SRD and 1 page back cover, leaving us with 7 pages of content, so let’s take a look at the settlement! Laewas, at first glance, looks like your run-of-the-mill farmer’s village – a bit ramshackle and decayed, maybe, but nothing special. At first glance. Village life continues – wives walk the streets, carpenters work, parents shepherd their playing children. The inhabitants laugh and gossip in the sun. There is a single elf, and some halflings roam the streets. The usual information provided does enhance this sense of normalcy – the dressing […] -
![Lands of Lunacy Setting Guide (5e) This supplement clocks in at roughly 32 pages, 1 page front cover, 1 page editorial, 1 page ToC, 1 page mission statement, 1 page back cover. It also features a brief etymology of the word “lunacy” on one otherwise mostly blank page, one that blends the real and fantastic in a pretty smart manner. As a whole, we thus have approximately 27 pages of content. If the title wasn’t ample clue, this supplement does deal with madness to a degree and starts with a proper disclaimer. Personally, I consider it laudable, yet also a bit sad that nowadays, our elfgame-supplements, particularly ones like this, need such a disclaimer. To contextualize this: The supplement is […]](http://nerdtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/201822-115x115.jpg "Lands of Lunacy Setting Guide (5e)")
Lands of Lunacy Setting Guide (5e)
Posted on August 7, 2019 | No CommentsLands of Lunacy Setting Guide (5e) This supplement clocks in at roughly 32 pages, 1 page front cover, 1 page editorial, 1 page ToC, 1 page mission statement, 1 page back cover. It also features a brief etymology of the word “lunacy” on one otherwise mostly blank page, one that blends the real and fantastic in a pretty smart manner. As a whole, we thus have approximately 27 pages of content. If the title wasn’t ample clue, this supplement does deal with madness to a degree and starts with a proper disclaimer. Personally, I consider it laudable, yet also a bit sad that nowadays, our elfgame-supplements, particularly ones like this, need such a disclaimer. To contextualize this: The supplement is […] -
![Village Backdrop: Edgewood 2.0 (5e) This installment of RSP’s Village Backdrop-series is 13 pages long, 1 page front cover, 1 page advertisement, 1 page editorial/ToC, 1 page SRD and 1 page back cover, leaving us with 8 pages of content, one of which is a pretty epic b/w-map of mythic Gloamhold and surrounding area, so let’s take a look at the settlement Edgewood can pretty much be a somewhat isolated town, though not excessively so; it lies at the edge of the Shadetimber woods, and it is subject to woes. Founded roughly a hundred years ago, it wasn’t affected by major upheavals since its founding, but in spite of this, the town hasn’t seen much population growth since the […]](http://nerdtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/281721-115x115.jpg "Village Backdrop: Edgewood 2.0 (5e)")
Village Backdrop: Edgewood 2.0 (5e)
Posted on August 6, 2019 | No CommentsVillage Backdrop: Edgewood 2.0 (5e) This installment of RSP’s Village Backdrop-series is 13 pages long, 1 page front cover, 1 page advertisement, 1 page editorial/ToC, 1 page SRD and 1 page back cover, leaving us with 8 pages of content, one of which is a pretty epic b/w-map of mythic Gloamhold and surrounding area, so let’s take a look at the settlement Edgewood can pretty much be a somewhat isolated town, though not excessively so; it lies at the edge of the Shadetimber woods, and it is subject to woes. Founded roughly a hundred years ago, it wasn’t affected by major upheavals since its founding, but in spite of this, the town hasn’t seen much population growth since the […] -
![The Fall of Mith: Mithos Manor (revised edition) (5e) The revised edition of the first module in the Fall of Mith-series clocks in at 72 pages, 1 page front cover, 2 pages of editorial, 1 page ToC, leaving us with 68 pages of content, so let’s take a look! Yes, before you ask – this is the start of an planned series, but for once, I wouldn’t advise in favor of waiting until the entire series is released, for the book utilizes a pretty clever suggested hook (which you should employ) that allows it to be seamlessly slotted into pretty much any setting or ongoing series of adventures you choose/currently play. The module is also entirely self-contained. This […]](http://nerdtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/272028-115x115.png "The Fall of Mith: Mithos Manor (revised edition) (5e)")
The Fall of Mith: Mithos Manor (revised edition) (5e)
Posted on August 5, 2019 | No CommentsThe Fall of Mith: Mithos Manor (revised edition) (5e) The revised edition of the first module in the Fall of Mith-series clocks in at 72 pages, 1 page front cover, 2 pages of editorial, 1 page ToC, leaving us with 68 pages of content, so let’s take a look! Yes, before you ask – this is the start of an planned series, but for once, I wouldn’t advise in favor of waiting until the entire series is released, for the book utilizes a pretty clever suggested hook (which you should employ) that allows it to be seamlessly slotted into pretty much any setting or ongoing series of adventures you choose/currently play. The module is also entirely self-contained. This […] -
![Mortzengersturm, the Mad Manticore of the Prismatic Peak (5e) This module clocks in at 38 pages, 1 page page front cover, 1 page editorial, 1 page back cover, leaving us with 35 pages of content, so let’s take a look So, did the cover remind you of old Tex Avery cartoons or old-school loony toons that were fun and not necessarily politically correct? Well, then you’ve nailed the aesthetics of this adventure. The art by Jeff Call is nigh perfect for the novel and interesting take herein that consciously draws upon quite a few nostalgic components – Mortzengersturm does look a bit like a lion king-usurper planning on establishing a 1000-year reich of hyena. (As an aside – the […]](http://nerdtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/209712-115x115.jpg "Mortzengersturm, the Mad Manticore of the Prismatic Peak (5e)")
Mortzengersturm, the Mad Manticore of the Prismatic Peak (5e)
Posted on July 30, 2019 | No CommentsMortzengersturm, the Mad Manticore of the Prismatic Peak (5e) This module clocks in at 38 pages, 1 page page front cover, 1 page editorial, 1 page back cover, leaving us with 35 pages of content, so let’s take a look So, did the cover remind you of old Tex Avery cartoons or old-school loony toons that were fun and not necessarily politically correct? Well, then you’ve nailed the aesthetics of this adventure. The art by Jeff Call is nigh perfect for the novel and interesting take herein that consciously draws upon quite a few nostalgic components – Mortzengersturm does look a bit like a lion king-usurper planning on establishing a 1000-year reich of hyena. (As an aside – the […] -
![Village Backdrop: Lanthorn 2.0 (5e) This return to and expansion of an installment from Raging Swan Press’ Village Backdrop-series is 17 pages long, 1 page front cover, 2 pages of advertisement, 1 page editorial/ToC, 1 page SRD and 1 page back cover, leaving us with 11 pages of content, so let’s take a look at the settlement! Lanthorn is a peculiar settlement – named for the magical lanterns set atop its gates, the perpetually-shrouded village is situated under a massive overhang in Kuldor Pass, where winters are long and cruel and summers but brief. Heavily defended and fortified, the settlement controls traffic through the pass and represents a gateway to the untamed wilderness beyond. Governed by a conclave of […]](http://nerdtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/249361-115x115.jpg "Village Backdrop: Lanthorn 2.0 (5e)")
Village Backdrop: Lanthorn 2.0 (5e)
Posted on July 22, 2019 | No CommentsVillage Backdrop: Lanthorn 2.0 (5e) This return to and expansion of an installment from Raging Swan Press’ Village Backdrop-series is 17 pages long, 1 page front cover, 2 pages of advertisement, 1 page editorial/ToC, 1 page SRD and 1 page back cover, leaving us with 11 pages of content, so let’s take a look at the settlement! Lanthorn is a peculiar settlement – named for the magical lanterns set atop its gates, the perpetually-shrouded village is situated under a massive overhang in Kuldor Pass, where winters are long and cruel and summers but brief. Heavily defended and fortified, the settlement controls traffic through the pass and represents a gateway to the untamed wilderness beyond. Governed by a conclave of […] -
![Verdant Bonds (5e) This interlude for 5e covers 2 pages, and is intended for level 1 – 3 characters, though I’d personally recommend it for level 2 characters at the highest – level 3 characters will curbstomp through this one. The little adventure does feature read-aloud text for most locales, and also has an okay full-color map. No unlabeled, player-friendly version is provided for VTT or printing out. The map has no scale noted. As always when I review mini-modules, it should be noted that I rate them for what they are – brief sidetreks. I don’t expect epic stories from them. All righty, in order to discuss the adventure, I need to go into SPOILERS. Potential players […]](http://nerdtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/222234-115x115.jpg "Verdant Bonds (5e)")
Verdant Bonds (5e)
Posted on July 19, 2019 | No CommentsVerdant Bonds (5e) This interlude for 5e covers 2 pages, and is intended for level 1 – 3 characters, though I’d personally recommend it for level 2 characters at the highest – level 3 characters will curbstomp through this one. The little adventure does feature read-aloud text for most locales, and also has an okay full-color map. No unlabeled, player-friendly version is provided for VTT or printing out. The map has no scale noted. As always when I review mini-modules, it should be noted that I rate them for what they are – brief sidetreks. I don’t expect epic stories from them. All righty, in order to discuss the adventure, I need to go into SPOILERS. Potential players […] -
![Menace in Ravenreach (5e) The 5e version of Menace in Ravenreach clocks in at 30 pages, 1 page front cover, 1 page editorial, 1 page ToC, 1 page SRD, 1 page back cover, leaving us with 25 pages of content, so let’s take a look! This review was moved up in my reviewing queue at the request of my patreon supporters. Okay, so first things first – while this module is part of a two-part mini-series (the second part of which is “Mystery in Ravenrock”, named after the fortification), this very much works smoothly as a stand-alone scenario. Nominally intended for characters level 4th to 7th, I’d suggest in favor of sticking to the lower level range if […]](http://nerdtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Meanace-at-Ravenreach-5E-cover-115x115.jpg "Menace in Ravenreach (5e)")
Menace in Ravenreach (5e)
Posted on June 13, 2019 | No CommentsMenace in Ravenreach (5e) The 5e version of Menace in Ravenreach clocks in at 30 pages, 1 page front cover, 1 page editorial, 1 page ToC, 1 page SRD, 1 page back cover, leaving us with 25 pages of content, so let’s take a look! This review was moved up in my reviewing queue at the request of my patreon supporters. Okay, so first things first – while this module is part of a two-part mini-series (the second part of which is “Mystery in Ravenrock”, named after the fortification), this very much works smoothly as a stand-alone scenario. Nominally intended for characters level 4th to 7th, I’d suggest in favor of sticking to the lower level range if […] -
![Village Backdrop: Aubade 2.0 (5e) This 2.0 installment of RSP’s Village Backdrop is 13 pages long, 1 page front cover, 2 pages of advertisement, 1 page editorial/ToC, 1 page SRD and 1 page back cover, leaving us with 7 pages of content, so let’s take a look at the settlement So, 2.0. Why? Well, for one, even a cursory glance shows you that the layout has been modernized, and for the first time, this is available in a 5e-iteration, with the pdf making proper use of the sample statblocks presented in the Monster Manual and tweaking them in a sensible manner, combining e.g. the stats of a monster with the spellcasting ability of a sample NPC. Like all […]](http://nerdtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/268815-115x115.jpg "Village Backdrop: Aubade 2.0 (5e)")
Village Backdrop: Aubade 2.0 (5e)
Posted on June 4, 2019 | No CommentsVillage Backdrop: Aubade 2.0 (5e) This 2.0 installment of RSP’s Village Backdrop is 13 pages long, 1 page front cover, 2 pages of advertisement, 1 page editorial/ToC, 1 page SRD and 1 page back cover, leaving us with 7 pages of content, so let’s take a look at the settlement So, 2.0. Why? Well, for one, even a cursory glance shows you that the layout has been modernized, and for the first time, this is available in a 5e-iteration, with the pdf making proper use of the sample statblocks presented in the Monster Manual and tweaking them in a sensible manner, combining e.g. the stats of a monster with the spellcasting ability of a sample NPC. Like all […] -
![On February 2nd, 2019, my youngest daughter, Harper, was diagnosed with leukemia. The next few days were hard. Then on the 4th, while sitting in bed, Kelly from Child Services came in with a gift card from Friends of Kids with Cancer. Harper immediately perked up, and within 15 minutes she’d sent me out of the hospital to spend that money!! Friends of Kids with Cancer gave us our first good day. And our story is not unique. Three months later, that good day has turned to good weeks, good months, Harp is in remission, and will be on maintenance treatments soon! Friends of Kids with Cancer has been with us every step of the way, and we want to […]](http://nerdtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Halfpage-Grace-sketch-115x115.png "Harper’s Tale: Dungeons and Dragons Adventures to Benefit Friends of Kids with Cancer")
Harper’s Tale: Dungeons and Dragons Adventures to Benefit Friends of Kids with Cancer
Posted on June 3, 2019 | No CommentsOn February 2nd, 2019, my youngest daughter, Harper, was diagnosed with leukemia. The next few days were hard. Then on the 4th, while sitting in bed, Kelly from Child Services came in with a gift card from Friends of Kids with Cancer. Harper immediately perked up, and within 15 minutes she’d sent me out of the hospital to spend that money!! Friends of Kids with Cancer gave us our first good day. And our story is not unique. Three months later, that good day has turned to good weeks, good months, Harp is in remission, and will be on maintenance treatments soon! Friends of Kids with Cancer has been with us every step of the way, and we want to […] -
![What Lies Beyond Reason Campaign Guide II (5e) The second campaign guide for the unique What Lies Beyond Reason AP clocks in at 45 pages, 1 page front cover, 1 page editorial, 1 page Kickstarter-backer-thanks, 1 page ToC, 1 page SRD, 1 page back cover, leaving us with 39 pages of content, so let’s take a look! This review was moved up in my reviewing queue as a prioritized review at the request of my patreon supporters. All right, this campaign guide begins with a recap of the story so far, before taking a look at a central component of the AP as a whole: The mysteries at the heart of the rather intricately-constructed plot of the series. […]](http://nerdtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/274515-115x115.jpg "What Lies Beyond Reason Campaign Guide II (5e)")
What Lies Beyond Reason Campaign Guide II (5e)
Posted on June 3, 2019 | No CommentsWhat Lies Beyond Reason Campaign Guide II (5e) The second campaign guide for the unique What Lies Beyond Reason AP clocks in at 45 pages, 1 page front cover, 1 page editorial, 1 page Kickstarter-backer-thanks, 1 page ToC, 1 page SRD, 1 page back cover, leaving us with 39 pages of content, so let’s take a look! This review was moved up in my reviewing queue as a prioritized review at the request of my patreon supporters. All right, this campaign guide begins with a recap of the story so far, before taking a look at a central component of the AP as a whole: The mysteries at the heart of the rather intricately-constructed plot of the series. […] -
![Keeping It Classy: The Barbarian (5e) This class-centric supplement clocks in at 40 pages, 1 page front cover, 1 page inside of front cover, 2 pages of editorial, 1 page ToC, 1 page inside of back cover, 1 page back cover, leaving us with 33 pages of content, so let’s take a look! This review was moved up in my reviewing queue as a prioritized review at the request of my patreons. All right, after a brief introduction, we dive right into new primal paths – 15 to be precise. Discussing all of them in detail would bloat this review beyond any usefulness, so I’ll keep it short and to the point. I assume that you know when […]](http://nerdtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/275287-115x115.jpg "Keeping It Classy: The Barbarian (5e)")
Keeping It Classy: The Barbarian (5e)
Posted on May 30, 2019 | No CommentsKeeping It Classy: The Barbarian (5e) This class-centric supplement clocks in at 40 pages, 1 page front cover, 1 page inside of front cover, 2 pages of editorial, 1 page ToC, 1 page inside of back cover, 1 page back cover, leaving us with 33 pages of content, so let’s take a look! This review was moved up in my reviewing queue as a prioritized review at the request of my patreons. All right, after a brief introduction, we dive right into new primal paths – 15 to be precise. Discussing all of them in detail would bloat this review beyond any usefulness, so I’ll keep it short and to the point. I assume that you know when […] -
![The Secrets of the Twisting Colossus (5e) This module clocks in at 39 pages, 1 page front cover, 1 page editorial, 1 page ToC, leaving us with 36 pages of content. The module does come, however, with a bonus-pdf that contains no less than 17 pages of handouts, which is pretty amazing as far as I’m concerned. This review was moved up in my reviewing queue at the request of my patreon supporters. Okay, so the first thing you need to know about here, would be the exemplary handout-array provided. I genuinely did not expect to see this level of support – the module comes with an extra pdf that contains no less than 16 pages! Some of […]](http://nerdtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/263189-115x115.jpg "The Secrets of the Twisting Colossus (5e)")
The Secrets of the Twisting Colossus (5e)
Posted on May 28, 2019 | No CommentsThe Secrets of the Twisting Colossus (5e) This module clocks in at 39 pages, 1 page front cover, 1 page editorial, 1 page ToC, leaving us with 36 pages of content. The module does come, however, with a bonus-pdf that contains no less than 17 pages of handouts, which is pretty amazing as far as I’m concerned. This review was moved up in my reviewing queue at the request of my patreon supporters. Okay, so the first thing you need to know about here, would be the exemplary handout-array provided. I genuinely did not expect to see this level of support – the module comes with an extra pdf that contains no less than 16 pages! Some of […] -
![Places of Power: Dead Man’s Run (5e) This installment of the Places of Power-series clocks in at 13 pages, 1 page front cover, 2 pages of advertisement, 1 page editorial/ToC, 1 page SRD, 1 page back cover, leaving us with 7 pages of content, so let’s take a look! The location known as “Dead Man’s Run” is something refreshingly different, as far as I’m concerned – this stretch of land is situated on the border between two kingdoms; per default, that would be an elven kingdom and a human one, but it’d be rather easy to change the kingdoms to different races, should your game require that. From initial hostilities and border skirmishes, a truce sprang – one that […]](http://nerdtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/226633-115x115.jpg "Places of Power: Dead Man’s Run (5e)")
Places of Power: Dead Man’s Run (5e)
Posted on May 22, 2019 | No CommentsPlaces of Power: Dead Man’s Run (5e) This installment of the Places of Power-series clocks in at 13 pages, 1 page front cover, 2 pages of advertisement, 1 page editorial/ToC, 1 page SRD, 1 page back cover, leaving us with 7 pages of content, so let’s take a look! The location known as “Dead Man’s Run” is something refreshingly different, as far as I’m concerned – this stretch of land is situated on the border between two kingdoms; per default, that would be an elven kingdom and a human one, but it’d be rather easy to change the kingdoms to different races, should your game require that. From initial hostilities and border skirmishes, a truce sprang – one that […] -
![Places of Power: Dreamden (5e) This installment of the Places of Power-series clocks in at 13 pages, 1 page front cover, 2 pages of advertisement, 1 page editorial/ToC, 1 page SRD, 1 page back cover, leaving us with 7 pages of content, so let’s take a look! So, Dreamden is a rustic resort situated at the border of a vast desert; usually sporting a population that slightly exceeds the 100, but subject to obvious fluctuations, it is an opportunity for the rich and decadent to get away from the hustle and bustle of city-life. PCs doing their legwork, as always, can very much unearth some intriguing tidbits about the place – for example, that a gigantic demon was slain […]](http://nerdtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/237052-115x115.jpg "Places of Power: Dreamden (5e)")
Places of Power: Dreamden (5e)
Posted on May 17, 2019 | No CommentsPlaces of Power: Dreamden (5e) This installment of the Places of Power-series clocks in at 13 pages, 1 page front cover, 2 pages of advertisement, 1 page editorial/ToC, 1 page SRD, 1 page back cover, leaving us with 7 pages of content, so let’s take a look! So, Dreamden is a rustic resort situated at the border of a vast desert; usually sporting a population that slightly exceeds the 100, but subject to obvious fluctuations, it is an opportunity for the rich and decadent to get away from the hustle and bustle of city-life. PCs doing their legwork, as always, can very much unearth some intriguing tidbits about the place – for example, that a gigantic demon was slain […] -
![Death on Doom’s Reach – Shroud of Orcus I (5e) This module clocks in at 30 pages, 1 page front cover, 1 page editorial, 1 page ToC, leaving us with 27 pages of content, so let’s take a look! This review was moved up in my reviewing queue as a prioritized review at the request of my patreons. All right, so this is an adventure for the highest echelons – level 17-20, to be precise, with 4-5 characters being the intended group-size. It also is Part I of the “Shroud of Orcus”-series. The module is set in Baldur’s Gate, in the Forgotten Realms. The surrounding area is depicted in an aesthetically-pleasing full-color hex-map, and the cartography of the […]](http://nerdtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/271460-115x115.jpg "Death on Doom’s Reach – Shroud of Orcus I (5e)")
Death on Doom’s Reach – Shroud of Orcus I (5e)
Posted on May 2, 2019 | No CommentsDeath on Doom’s Reach – Shroud of Orcus I (5e) This module clocks in at 30 pages, 1 page front cover, 1 page editorial, 1 page ToC, leaving us with 27 pages of content, so let’s take a look! This review was moved up in my reviewing queue as a prioritized review at the request of my patreons. All right, so this is an adventure for the highest echelons – level 17-20, to be precise, with 4-5 characters being the intended group-size. It also is Part I of the “Shroud of Orcus”-series. The module is set in Baldur’s Gate, in the Forgotten Realms. The surrounding area is depicted in an aesthetically-pleasing full-color hex-map, and the cartography of the […] -
![Crypt on Keeper Hill (5e) This mini-adventure for 5e clocks in at 2 pages and is intended as a brief interlude. It is intended for 3rd level characters, and the two pages are pretty much chock-full with text. The adventure sports two sections of read-aloud text – one for the introductory angle, and one for the boss-section, and we do get a small colored map, but no player-friendly version for VTT-use/printing out. As always for mini-adventures, I do not expect an epic story from this and will rate it for what it is. Monster stats are obviously not included on the two pages. All right, in order to discuss the content within, I need to go into SPOILERS. […]](http://nerdtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/235857-115x115.jpg "Crypt on Keeper Hill (5e)")
Crypt on Keeper Hill (5e)
Posted on May 2, 2019 | No CommentsCrypt on Keeper Hill (5e) This mini-adventure for 5e clocks in at 2 pages and is intended as a brief interlude. It is intended for 3rd level characters, and the two pages are pretty much chock-full with text. The adventure sports two sections of read-aloud text – one for the introductory angle, and one for the boss-section, and we do get a small colored map, but no player-friendly version for VTT-use/printing out. As always for mini-adventures, I do not expect an epic story from this and will rate it for what it is. Monster stats are obviously not included on the two pages. All right, in order to discuss the content within, I need to go into SPOILERS. […] -
![D&D Announces Acquisitions Incorporated, a Book Providing the Flavor of Acq Inc within the Forgotten Realms No, it’s not a joke. Dungeons & Dragons is publishing a book made in partnership with Penny Arcade that provides a way to jump into the comedic fantasy superhero D&D live-play you’ve seen on the stages of PAX for a decade. Fans will be able to live out their fantasy of climbing the corporate ladder of the most notorious retrieval agency in the Forgotten Realms—Acquisitions Incorporated. Join CEO Omin Dran, Jim Darkmagic, Môrgæn, and the chandelier-riding Viari around the table as a lowly intern or a freshly-minted franchisee with the new Acquisitions Incorporated sourcebook coming from Dungeons & Dragons on June 18! “To tons of people […]](http://nerdtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/DD_AcqInc-115x115.jpg "D&D Announces Acquisitions Incorporated, a Book Providing the Flavor of Acq Inc within the Forgotten Realms")
D&D Announces Acquisitions Incorporated, a Book Providing the Flavor of Acq Inc within the Forgotten Realms
Posted on April 3, 2019 | No CommentsD&D Announces Acquisitions Incorporated, a Book Providing the Flavor of Acq Inc within the Forgotten Realms No, it’s not a joke. Dungeons & Dragons is publishing a book made in partnership with Penny Arcade that provides a way to jump into the comedic fantasy superhero D&D live-play you’ve seen on the stages of PAX for a decade. Fans will be able to live out their fantasy of climbing the corporate ladder of the most notorious retrieval agency in the Forgotten Realms—Acquisitions Incorporated. Join CEO Omin Dran, Jim Darkmagic, Môrgæn, and the chandelier-riding Viari around the table as a lowly intern or a freshly-minted franchisee with the new Acquisitions Incorporated sourcebook coming from Dungeons & Dragons on June 18! “To tons of people […] -
![Legendary Beginnings: Crisis at Falling Springs Station This module clocks in at 56 pages, 1 page front cover, 1 page editorial, 2 pages SRD, 1 page ToC, 2 pages of introduction, 2 pages of advertisement, 1 page back cover, leaving us with 46 pages of content, so let’s take a look! First things first: While this is nominally written for Beginner’s Box-rules, it works perfectly fine with the full PFRPG-rules. As for the age-bracket this is intended for, I’d suggest a starting age of about 8+; depending on how sensitive kids are, it may or may not require older kids: Personally, I consider it to be a kid-friendly module, provided the kids liked e.g. Harry Potter or the Lord […]](http://nerdtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/216139-115x115.jpg "Legendary Beginnings: Crisis at Falling Springs Station")
Legendary Beginnings: Crisis at Falling Springs Station
Posted on April 3, 2019 | No CommentsLegendary Beginnings: Crisis at Falling Springs Station This module clocks in at 56 pages, 1 page front cover, 1 page editorial, 2 pages SRD, 1 page ToC, 2 pages of introduction, 2 pages of advertisement, 1 page back cover, leaving us with 46 pages of content, so let’s take a look! First things first: While this is nominally written for Beginner’s Box-rules, it works perfectly fine with the full PFRPG-rules. As for the age-bracket this is intended for, I’d suggest a starting age of about 8+; depending on how sensitive kids are, it may or may not require older kids: Personally, I consider it to be a kid-friendly module, provided the kids liked e.g. Harry Potter or the Lord […] -
![Imperiums Campaign Guide: Plight of the Tuatha (5e) Okay, so this massive supplement clocks in at 292 pages of content, not taking the editorial, etc. into account. I’ve had this book for a while, and it is, to make that clear from the get-go, an incredibly dense book – I have rewritten this review twice now, because I never was totally happy with how the review turned out; it either bloated or remained too superficial, so here goes – hope this iteration does provide the guidance you require. This review was moved up in my reviewing queue due to me receiving this book in print in exchange for a fair and unbiased review. So, first thing first – […]](http://nerdtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/248061-115x115.jpg "Imperiums Campaign Guide: Plight of the Tuatha (5e)")
Imperiums Campaign Guide: Plight of the Tuatha (5e)
Posted on March 29, 2019 | No CommentsImperiums Campaign Guide: Plight of the Tuatha (5e) Okay, so this massive supplement clocks in at 292 pages of content, not taking the editorial, etc. into account. I’ve had this book for a while, and it is, to make that clear from the get-go, an incredibly dense book – I have rewritten this review twice now, because I never was totally happy with how the review turned out; it either bloated or remained too superficial, so here goes – hope this iteration does provide the guidance you require. This review was moved up in my reviewing queue due to me receiving this book in print in exchange for a fair and unbiased review. So, first thing first – […] -
![The Festival of the Migrant (5e) This set-piece/encounter-area clocks in at 14 pages, 1 page front cover, leaving us with 13 pages of content, so let’s take a look! The festival of the migrant is an elven celebration, which is held at the border of elven lands to celebrate the migration of animals, being held for 3 weeks in the spring. A total of 9 sample NPCs are provided for the festival, all of which come in a fluff-only presentation. The nomenclature for them refers plants and plant-like things, with Princess Everbough being probably the least impressive example here. 3 hooks are provided. The pdf then proceeds to provide a variety of minigames, the first of which is […]](http://nerdtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/236780-115x115.png "The Festival of the Migrant (5e)")
The Festival of the Migrant (5e)
Posted on March 28, 2019 | No CommentsThe Festival of the Migrant (5e) This set-piece/encounter-area clocks in at 14 pages, 1 page front cover, leaving us with 13 pages of content, so let’s take a look! The festival of the migrant is an elven celebration, which is held at the border of elven lands to celebrate the migration of animals, being held for 3 weeks in the spring. A total of 9 sample NPCs are provided for the festival, all of which come in a fluff-only presentation. The nomenclature for them refers plants and plant-like things, with Princess Everbough being probably the least impressive example here. 3 hooks are provided. The pdf then proceeds to provide a variety of minigames, the first of which is […] -
![Preview: Winter’s Daughter (5e/OSR) NOTE: This is not a review in the traditional sense – it is a developer’s commentary, a preview of sorts. I try to be as SPOILER-free as possible below, but I do mention some themes and design paradigms employed. So, I worked on the latest Dolmenwood adventure, “Winter’s Daughter“ – an adventure, originally penned for the B/X-rules by Gavin Norman. In the original iteration, it clocks in at 24 pages, and I converted it to 5e, which extended the page-count to 36 pages. Why the page-count discrepancy? Well, let me explain! First of all, “Winter’s Daughter” is an introductory adventure for Dolmenwood, and as such, it does introduce players to several of the leitmotifs […]](http://nerdtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Winter_s_Daughter_Cover_470x-115x115.png "Preview: Winter’s Daughter (5e/OSR)")
Preview: Winter’s Daughter (5e/OSR)
Posted on March 22, 2019 | No CommentsPreview: Winter’s Daughter (5e/OSR) NOTE: This is not a review in the traditional sense – it is a developer’s commentary, a preview of sorts. I try to be as SPOILER-free as possible below, but I do mention some themes and design paradigms employed. So, I worked on the latest Dolmenwood adventure, “Winter’s Daughter“ – an adventure, originally penned for the B/X-rules by Gavin Norman. In the original iteration, it clocks in at 24 pages, and I converted it to 5e, which extended the page-count to 36 pages. Why the page-count discrepancy? Well, let me explain! First of all, “Winter’s Daughter” is an introductory adventure for Dolmenwood, and as such, it does introduce players to several of the leitmotifs […] -
![Cult of the Sleeping God (3.X) This brief pdf clocks in at 12 pages, 1 page front cover, 2 pages of SRD, leaving us with 9 pages of content, so let’s take a look! This little pdf provides the sketches of the village of Belfry Hollow, characterized by the eponymous belfry atop a massive hill within the darkened woods. The village comes with a nice, hand-drawn full-color map that includes scale and squares for reference, but which is only presented in a half-page size, which makes printing it out slightly less convenient than it should be. The material is intended to work as a kind of 1-session mini-module for 4 level 1 characters, though DCs and the like […]](http://nerdtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/210176-115x115.jpg "Cult of the Sleeping God (3.X)")
Cult of the Sleeping God (3.X)
Posted on February 27, 2019 | No CommentsCult of the Sleeping God (3.X) This brief pdf clocks in at 12 pages, 1 page front cover, 2 pages of SRD, leaving us with 9 pages of content, so let’s take a look! This little pdf provides the sketches of the village of Belfry Hollow, characterized by the eponymous belfry atop a massive hill within the darkened woods. The village comes with a nice, hand-drawn full-color map that includes scale and squares for reference, but which is only presented in a half-page size, which makes printing it out slightly less convenient than it should be. The material is intended to work as a kind of 1-session mini-module for 4 level 1 characters, though DCs and the like […] -
![The Rotating Labyrinth (3.X/almost system neutral/5e) EDIT: So, since I downloaded this pdf, there has been a 5e-version added. The review has been amended to include notes on the 5e-version as well. So, what is this? This could be used as a stand-alone dungeon-level, or as a slot-in to be included in another dungeon. The dungeon’s peculiarities include three items (that lack price/cost to create/etc.) that can help navigate the dungeon. In 5e, these lack scarcity-ratings. Similarly, there are a couple of items that don’t allow for bypassing, which can be a bit frustrating: E.g. a door may not, not even with a superb check and magic, be picked. As written, the pdf contains two statblocks, both […]](http://nerdtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/209116-115x115.jpg "The Rotating Labyrinth (3.X/almost system neutral/5e)")
The Rotating Labyrinth (3.X/almost system neutral/5e)
Posted on February 25, 2019 | No CommentsThe Rotating Labyrinth (3.X/almost system neutral/5e) EDIT: So, since I downloaded this pdf, there has been a 5e-version added. The review has been amended to include notes on the 5e-version as well. So, what is this? This could be used as a stand-alone dungeon-level, or as a slot-in to be included in another dungeon. The dungeon’s peculiarities include three items (that lack price/cost to create/etc.) that can help navigate the dungeon. In 5e, these lack scarcity-ratings. Similarly, there are a couple of items that don’t allow for bypassing, which can be a bit frustrating: E.g. a door may not, not even with a superb check and magic, be picked. As written, the pdf contains two statblocks, both […]
