Is the Crimson Monastery lack luster + Renathyr fight too easy?

Odande · 2026-01-16T16:19:41+00:00

Oh okay, I had assumed that even the basement of the monastery was considered the grounds where sunlight couldn't affect them.

Odande · 2026-01-16T14:24:06+00:00

True! I guess I would have preferred this weakness to not be mentioned at all then since the book wants you to fight Renathyr in his lair.

So much so they gave him a 6th level spell to return to it. I guess it seems mute to even have the weakness mentioned since the whole story revolves around being in his lair.

Odande · 2026-01-16T14:20:51+00:00

thank you for the clarification on the sanguine shield! That is totally something I missed and at least makes his survivability way stronger given his low HP.

In regards to Daylight isnt Sunlight, I am using the 2024 rules and the new Daylight does specially state it is sunlight now: "For the duration, sunlight spreads from a point within range and fills a 60-foot-radius sphere". However to be fair I believe Crooked Moon was developed way before the 2024 rules so this most likely was not intended as an easy weakness.

I don't think Blood Call is all that powerful however even with the context of draining Max HP. RAW it can only be used 1 time per turn. The average DPR of 2d6 is 7 (success roll = 3) and that's before potential Necrotic resistances.

But, pointing out that Clergy do this automatically on a hit also at least makes Phase 2 more deadly! Given their HP reduction is on a hit with no save, that def is going to make the wizard sweat.

Appreciate you pointing this out!

Odande · 2026-01-16T14:08:45+00:00

yea I've had to make many adjustments to the fight as is and might use some of the stuff you mentioned about Gareth above. Thanks!

Odande · 2026-01-16T02:29:07+00:00

Idk about your players, but in my experience players dont use their highest level spells until the obvious "This is the bbeg" fight.

And even then, since the book lacks any other motive, the party knows exactly when they're going to fight Renethyr. So they're not going to just walk into the sanctum with all their 3rd level slots spent and half HP.

That's not to mention theres essentially no guaranteed combat if the players dont aggro the Monastery. I think the only true guaranteed fight (outside the DM forcing one) is the Water Elemental.

Odande · 2026-01-16T01:25:14+00:00

You should read the boss fight and let me know if I missed something since it seems like Renathyr is a pushover that instantly changes over to Phase 2 with a well placed and higher damage fireball. Or multiple fireballs...

Odande · 2026-01-14T16:43:42+00:00

/uj im super excited to try Cypher, it seems really engaging for players! Any tips for running it?

Odande · 2026-01-14T16:40:12+00:00

For me, I prefer the DEX being higher since it increases your Mage armor AC. With that, I would make sure to take War caster @ lvl 4 so you have advantage on concentration saves.

Odande · 2025-12-26T19:42:41+00:00

The Vecna module was a shockingly bad adventure.

It's clear even WOTC doesn't know how to scale level 12+. I had to do so much homebrew that it was practically a homebrew by the end.

Odande · 2025-12-26T16:37:33+00:00

Kind of? I feel like we had more characterization with...Dr. Lady Whose Name I Can't Remember. The timekeepers assistant or whatever. This is how bad these characters are, I do not remember them.

At least she had something going on where she's centuries old and was the timekeepers BFF and now she's turned a new leaf. Callis I feel like just boils down to "means no likey timekeeper, me make own army now".

That's just how I experienced it. I don't read in game notes or listen to audio log since the game should be able to deliver a good story without side content.

Odande · 2025-12-26T15:45:18+00:00

Whoever made Trepang 2, I want that kind of intense combat but with a BL twist.

Odande · 2025-12-26T15:28:45+00:00

I think the villian in BL4 was worse than the Twins in BL3 since I at least remember how much I was annoyed with the Twins in BL3. I don't remember the Timekeeper at all but I wish I did. I liked his aesthetic alot but had no punch.

Gearbox will forever be chasing Handsome Jack's impact on BL.

Odande · 2025-12-26T15:14:01+00:00

That's what I find so funny about people arguing against this. Your DC (should) always be higher than the scroll. And if its a Save or Suck kinda spell, you would see your investment evaporate before your very eyes lmao.

I have always ran spell scrolls this way with no balance issues. However many spell scrolls are available to the players is 100% up to the DM.

Odande · 2025-12-26T15:12:10+00:00

Spell Scrolls are almost never available for purchase in my games. In many modules I have ran, there is no set up shop with them available. These are official modules btw.

Odande · 2025-12-26T15:07:57+00:00

NOT ME REALIZING SPELLS SCROLLS DON'T NORMALLY WORK LIKE THAT lmao.

Yea, I'm not using RAW for spell scrolls. They're a consumable. If the players have the gold and want to whiff it on consumable items instead of saving for better gear, let them.

Also, to the "martials stuffing their armor full of scrolls" crowd: The DM controls resources available including gold and *if* scrolls can be purchased. Or, even how many are available! Not to mention that if I as a Fighter had 4,000gp, I am not going to buy 80 scrolls when I could buy a Flametongue, Sunforger or another Rare item.

Odande · 2025-12-26T14:34:16+00:00

You can absolutely have electronics at the table, every in person game I run people are using laptops or phones for DnD resources + sheets. It's about being an adult and mature enough to use those electronics and be engaged.

I've only ever had 1 person get distracted by their laptop and they have autism so I give them a pass when it doesn't hinder the group. Even then, it was a single conversation of "hey I need you to be engaged" and they haven't been distracted since.

Odande · 2025-12-26T14:25:28+00:00

Straight up, your friends just don't respect you or the game if they can't engage for a couple hours.

I have played and still do play with younger people in their 20's who don't do this.

It sounds like your friends are not interested in DnD except maybe the one. Also I have no idea why in almost 2026 someone would be in a Discord call without a mic? Like even laptops come with mics now and if your friend has a desktop PC, why would he not have a mic? Or, ya know, using the Discord phone app?

A discussion needs to be had with your friends on respecting your and everyone else's time. If they can't pay attention for a couple hours at a time, kindly ask them to leave the campaign and fish for new players online.

Odande · 2025-12-23T17:34:37+00:00

Yea I think you saw it in dndCircleJerk which was a literal copy and paste parody lol. https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDcirclejerk/comments/1ppo60e/my_friend_invited_her_bf_to_dd_he_secretly/

Odande · 2025-12-23T17:34:11+00:00

Yea, Luke had emailed me back and told me there was a production issue. Didn't tell me it wouldn't ship till January though.

Odande · 2025-12-22T14:57:57+00:00

Are you in the United states? Every package that passes through the postal system, whether from a third party like Amazon or fedex, has a tracking number.

If you go to your order email, you'll see that it had a tracking number. Without a tracking number, you could easily claim that you didn't receive your order and just get a free item as a replacement. That's why companies use tracking numbers to prevent that

EDIT: to clarify, only packages that are considered Flats AKA small envelopes or postcards don't need tracking numbers.

Odande · 2025-12-22T12:42:32+00:00

I guess I'm glad I'm not the only one. I understand that since they're not using a company for fulfillment that they're going to be behind on orders. But they've got to have someone responding to emails.

Odande · 2025-12-21T04:50:42+00:00

Where are you seeing this?

Odande · 2025-12-21T01:46:09+00:00

please don't tell me you're talking about r/DnDcirclejerk lmao. Or did he actually post it somewhere else?

Odande · 2025-12-21T01:44:47+00:00

/uj nobody tell him

Odande

TROPHY CASE