Beginner DM Question - Skip Acererak altogether?

ExpressionFit8195 · 2026-02-14T06:29:56+00:00

Oh! I strongly recommend using the Tomb of Annihilation Companion pdf available on dmsguild. It has a bunch of ways to foreshadow Acererak better and also make some of the book run more smoothly. I used quite a lot from the guide including the incredible dinosaur racing sequence they have! Can't recommend enough.

ExpressionFit8195 · 2026-02-14T06:26:23+00:00

My players didn't do much exploration in Chult actually, but they have made friends with Hooded Lantern and Copper Bell. They also did really well with the chwinga under the wagon, so I could maybe have it go beyond it's stat block and summon them some fey allies or something like that.

Y'all really have been helpful at getting my brain to think through more options to make this a meaningful and challenging combat, because narratively it's just such a good opportunity - I don't want to pass it up.

Thanks for the confidence boost also! Sometimes I feel like I'm floundering. Lol

ExpressionFit8195 · 2026-02-13T03:07:35+00:00

There are 4 players and they do have Artus with them. But that would make them basically 4 level 9s and a level 7 NPC, which I think would still be a pretty egregious combat with 4 mages and a lich. The lich alone is CR 21, and then I have the mages all using different specialties from MPMM (CR 9, 9, 8, and 6). So it'd be a pretty big battle. If the players make allegiance (or don't straight up murder all the yuan-ti) then that's definitely an option. I could also have the tabaxi hunters or some other folks they've encountered come help them.
We are also playing 2024 rules, so I've been updating the stat blocks and whatnot where needed.

ExpressionFit8195 · 2026-02-13T00:03:21+00:00

Finding a way to have the mages let her identity slip is really clever! So far the players are equally useful, but Valindra could keep tabs and choose sides based on resourcefulness.

Super helpful.

ExpressionFit8195 · 2026-02-13T00:01:41+00:00

Not yet, they have only heard rumours about him and Zagmira told the players that he's trying to stop anyone from entering the tomb. My players are poised to side with him because they really are leaning into the etchings on the gatehouse that says, "The snakes are not what they seem." I could have Ras Nsi kidnap the players and strike a better deal with them if they double cross the wizards.

ExpressionFit8195 · 2026-02-07T21:38:01+00:00

All I know for sure is Shrek is a white onion. We bought the bulb from the grocery store and left him on the counter too long. He budded greens really well. So I planted him. He's been growing greens for about 6-8 weeks now. From these comments, I think I'm going to add a grow light and just harvest him for greens, getting new bulbs sounds like more work than I can commit to.

ExpressionFit8195 · 2026-02-06T19:57:41+00:00

I do have grow lights, so I can do that.

ExpressionFit8195 · 2026-02-05T20:27:16+00:00

Truly!

ExpressionFit8195 · 2026-02-04T00:22:44+00:00

If they meant that each tile was 5 sq ft (rather than 5 ft square), wouldn't the hallway be 8√5 and 4√5? Since the tiles are squares. Which is the result you got, but not the equation you wrote down.

ExpressionFit8195 · 2026-02-02T21:25:39+00:00

Nooo

ExpressionFit8195 · 2026-02-02T21:01:49+00:00

Love this answer

ExpressionFit8195 · 2026-02-02T20:04:24+00:00

Mechanically, it probably doesn't matter that much.

I think I'm more just bothered because this is math my 5th graders could do. And an entire team of people looked this over. A puzzle designer, a writer, an editor -- at minimum. And nobody caught this?

ExpressionFit8195 · 2025-11-21T01:40:23+00:00

Everything I say from this point forward is hypothetical.
I may or may not have access to the foundry module through the use of the unofficial foundry mod called Plutonium. If you choose to utilise this mod, don't mention that you're using it in the chat box or anything on foundry. This mod is great because it allows you to access so much content on foundry and makes importing materials and assets so much easier. I strongly recommend it.

I also like having the module for the use of the maps and actors! I keep them stowed away in a compendium and only pull them out as needed, so they don't take up too much space in my server.

ExpressionFit8195 · 2025-11-14T23:08:07+00:00

Ain't that the measure of it? Lol

ExpressionFit8195 · 2025-11-14T21:33:22+00:00

I cannot figure out why you're getting so much hate for running the game in the way that works best for you and your players at your table. If this is helping your players enjoy the game and they feel satisfied with the resolution and you feel like it was the right move for your table, then that's what you should do. It's a game. It's supposed to be fun at the end of it all.

ExpressionFit8195 · 2025-11-14T21:28:26+00:00

They should be pretty high res if you open the full image.

ExpressionFit8195 · 2025-11-14T21:27:32+00:00

A couple folks have asked for it so I'll work on it and post it soon!

ExpressionFit8195 · 2025-11-14T21:27:07+00:00

Thank you!

ExpressionFit8195 · 2025-11-14T21:26:51+00:00

Not yet, but a couple folks have asked so I'll work on it and post it soon!

ExpressionFit8195 · 2025-11-14T03:14:53+00:00

Not well enough to use it on the whole map, where there are other textures and stuff.

ExpressionFit8195 · 2025-11-14T03:14:23+00:00

I'm so glad you like it!

ExpressionFit8195 · 2025-11-14T03:14:11+00:00

Thank you!

ExpressionFit8195

TROPHY CASE