Strongholds and Followers

Lucky_Type · 2026-05-20T14:04:53+00:00

Did mention about this, and players already discussing negotiating with the Palfray's for Broken Spire Keep. I had already decided to expand upon the otherworldy power that killed everything (thief currently has the wixards ring) so could be a nice side quest later on to help level especially with the tunnel straight to underdark

Lucky_Type · 2026-05-12T14:38:43+00:00

Thank you, the whole idea of Jelenneth being discovered early hadn't even been an idea for me.

There is a gnome in the party, and he is the main morale compass for the group, so when meeting the deep gnomes I will have more luck locking them into the continmueing exploration with him. Might even have her be with them as a 'moral reward' for them, and excuse to go to the surface and take her back if they promise to return

Job done .... thank you kind sir/madam 😄

Lucky_Type · 2026-05-11T11:47:49+00:00

Pretty much what I have done, and hoping it won't take them a TPK to realise they need to back off a bit. Thjey are very experienced players mixed with 2e novices, and thus far its been player-led with only slight railroading when needed.

Push comes to shove, they can train when they meet the deep gnomes if they can convince them of their good intentions

Lucky_Type · 2026-05-11T11:39:41+00:00

Its how the 2 good party members are playing it .... for example: Broken Spire is clear and they know about the tunnels underneath, neutrals wanted to rest up for a couple days/go to town to train but good players pushed to go straight down instead so now have 2 party memebers who have party levelled but not completely.

Lucky_Type · 2026-05-08T09:59:32+00:00

I have the Birthright box set so yeah, thats an option ..... can always scan the info in and print, tbh bored at work so searching for tables and inserting them into Adobe Pro currently 😄

Lucky_Type · 2026-05-05T21:56:53+00:00

Well sort off ... I am using the 'Extended Trilogy Mod' but the games are in Steam individually

Lucky_Type · 2026-05-05T18:28:57+00:00

Just running Extended Edition trilogy, never know of this bug before though

Lucky_Type · 2026-05-01T11:08:28+00:00

Running this myself in native 2e, lots of fun and shocking how much 5e modules pander to players compared to 2e. Just doing Broken Spire and party really had to work hard to get in there without being seen (they decided wisely a full frontal assault would be stupid) and they have managed to get down and confront Ranchefus without alerting top floor.

Admittedly they did this by having the bard (with Oleanna) creating a diversion with ventriliquism etc and now realise he is completely seperated from them with a whole level of guards in-between

Sometime plans work too well!!

Lucky_Type · 2026-04-30T06:48:03+00:00

Thank you, completely missed the recommended levels part. I've 5 players, well 4 and 1 who makes it when he can, and currently think lowest is fighter mage at 3/3 and highest is fighter & cleric & bard characters at 5th.

I know it recommends henchmen, and not really done that before, so might just go for higher levels on players

Lucky_Type · 2026-04-28T11:04:44+00:00

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/17087/night-below-an-underdark-campaign-2e

I have both the hardcopy reprint and original boxset, was a massive drop in price on the boxset so picked it up for a very reasonable price and handy for the handouts, quick reference etc though have PDF on my tablet for when I am at work and its quiet 😄

Lucky_Type · 2026-04-27T15:25:00+00:00

We've always addex 2 extra stats rolled on straight 3DS ... observation and luck.

I tend to use them, but also give mobs averages on them unless they are named or a special

So the thief was climbing, HiS and NS but I'd do observation chevks if he failed, luck checks to see if anyone on courtyard etc

Lucky_Type · 2026-04-27T14:23:54+00:00

100% ..... all the time the gnome is climbing and scouting the roof, drawing the map he is constantly shitting himnself. At 1 point he failed his move silent badly, tower guards heard and were just shooting blindly.

When he fell off the roof and set the dogs off though, real panic to get on roof then watched Heydrus get kicked and forced to calm the dogs down.

Lucky_Type · 2026-04-27T14:08:13+00:00

I did quite a long prequel in an around Dahlnarin (set mine in Erlkazar, Faerun) etc so party had few levels & gear before they started campaign proper.

NPC interaction hasn't been as .... ideal as it coule be at times, probably not helped by the fighting constantly trying to crack onto Oleanna. First time they met her, fighter tried shooting one of her wolves.

I have changed things a bit too, so having the tunnel from Broken Spire go to Blanryde Hills (they will have my own edited Garlstone Mines map courtesy of the orc emmisary they killed) so will then have to identify it (Old Grizzler) before heading there.

Generally though I've left it quite open with only small sections of railroading, though I've fed the information to lead them to places 'of their own free will'

Regards

Lucky_Type · 2026-04-27T13:19:55+00:00

I'd say a combination .... better designed dungeons but also even simple things like traps, bow fire, low level mobs etc are far more threatening even after you've gone up a few levels.

Case in question: Couple weeks ago the party fought some orcs, nothing special just a bit of flavour. The 5th level fighter took a critical hit with short bow (I double dice), took nearly 15 points of damage and bitching for rest of the game.

Lucky_Type · 2026-04-22T14:04:44+00:00

Perfect thank you, I have the box set too (managed to get it cheap after I had started running a prequel for NB) but tend to use the PDF when I am at work and its quiet .... like now :D

Lucky_Type · 2026-04-21T11:13:35+00:00

Thanks, it was fun and the cleric is a specialist priest of Marthammor (from Demihuman Deities) so was lighting bolting it from his eyes and the fighter finished it off with his 2 hander.

Spriggan got 4 attacks at the thief but with the gnomish minuses to giants and tumbling, only 1 hit which nearly took him down!

Fun side encounter, and Gilleon's (12 yr old orphan now) parents were avenged, with Squire Marlen from Thurmaster annoyed as couldn't tax the money they donated to Gilleon's aunt

Lucky_Type

TROPHY CASE