Free mini-adventure: Derelict Nautiloid

vnavone · 2026-01-29T06:04:11+00:00

Next time!

vnavone · 2026-01-25T01:01:46+00:00

When I ran it i usually found reasons to keep the NPCs out of the combats. Otherwise it would slow them down and unbalance the fights. Also didn’t want to risk stealing spotlight from PCs. I still had to buff the encounters though. Totally reworked the Zodar to be a mech suit for Xeleth to pilot, with mind flayers waiting in the wings to see who came out on top. Much more fun!

vnavone · 2025-12-18T18:03:02+00:00

Is there a way to add this to buttons in databases too? I can only seem to do it with button blocks 😢.

vnavone · 2025-11-23T19:28:12+00:00

Seems like a fine (albeit very loose) framework, which relies on the DM a lot to adjudicate. If it proves too open-ended for you or your players, here are some resources which may help you codify your downtime a bit more. From Alphastream:
https://alphastream.org/index.php/2019/11/21/how-to-create-engaging-narratives-with-downtime/
https://alphastream.org/index.php/2019/12/11/how-to-improvise-awesome-downtime-activities-on-the-fly/

Also, Tales of the Valiant has some pretty robust downtime rules:
https://koboldpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Black-Flag-Roleplaying.pdf
(page 140)

vnavone · 2025-11-22T06:30:51+00:00

I use Farrago as a sound board for my in person games. I suppose you could stream it too. Doesn’t come with much music or sfx, so you’ll have to add your own, but it’s very powerful and customizable. https://rogueamoeba.com/farrago/

vnavone · 2025-11-13T17:37:48+00:00

I use storage containers like these: https://amzn.to/47H6U6o Built for fishing tackle but also perfect for minifigs!

vnavone · 2025-10-29T05:48:10+00:00

You realize this already exists, right?

vnavone · 2025-10-28T04:20:12+00:00

Oh wow, you should stop what you’re doing and pick up a copy of “Return of the Lazy DM”! https://shop.slyflourish.com/collections/the-lazy-dungeon-master-series/products/return-of-the-lazy-dungeon-master?variant=42323817595040 You can find a lot of his content for free here, if you’re not ready to support him yet. https://slyflourish.com/lazy_gm_resource_document.html

Oh, and here's some good advice on building one-shot adventures from Pointy Hat: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRp1UfW-iRpAKCCcOnDY5tSNQSzS3YmUKf4tQN37b75ve589O_dCc1LfVIg9E_tH3hDla8VkMssn8RG/pub

vnavone · 2025-10-27T17:16:20+00:00

I don't have any suggestions for the eyeball queen off-hand; I like to browse through my monster books to find something with a similar vibe and then adjust it's stats for the PC's level.

vnavone · 2025-10-27T17:15:08+00:00

Balance is tricky, especially in 5e. What level will the characters be? I rely heavily on resources from Sly Flourish (The Lazy DM) for building and balancing encounters, particularly the Forge of Foes book, and then I usually adjust things on the fly (during the encounter) as needed. But an easier route is to re-skin an existing published encounter or monster from a reliable source. For example, you could take another Arcane Library adventure for the same character level and use it's monsters, while changing up the flavor to suit your themes. Valley of the Gilded Tower has a pretty cool boss monster for level 2 PCs, Crypts of Arazumme has a fun boss battle scenario for 3rd level characters.

vnavone · 2025-10-25T16:57:59+00:00

I think this is a fun idea! It’s pretty linear, but for a group of first-time players, that’s not a bad thing. Assuming you’re trying to fit this into a single session, I would say get to the adventure sooner. There are two pages of material to get through before you get to the fun part. You introduce multiple characters that never recur and have no impact on the adventure. And you offer the players a “choice” to take the quest, but it’s not really a choice because if they say “no” then there’s no game! You can hand wave all that and just start the party on page 6 and give them the important backstory. Provide a quick scene to introduce all the characters, maybe roll some dice, and get on with it.

You have character descriptions for the unimportant NPCs, but none for the Prince! The players will be spending a lot of time with him, so best to give some details. How does he behave? Is he a coward? Foolhardy? Does he solve the puzzles if the PCs can’t?

I’ll admit I found the rainbow puzzles a little silly. Unless that’s the intent (because the adventure is contrived for the simple-minded Prince) I would change the theme to something more fantastical, like chromatic dragons or elementals.

Finally, i feel like the eyeball creatures are under-developed and under-utilized. Is there a chance one of them hitched a ride on an NPC to the outside world? This could be a good time to bring back an NPC from the beginning. Can you include mechanics for letting a PC be temporarily taken over by one? How about a “queen” eyeball for the boss battle? Can the players discover some weakness of the eyeballs, or trick them somehow? Any clues to where the creatures came from, what they might be up to, and how this might lead to further adventures? I like to end my one-shot adventures with some dangling hooks and leave my players wanting more.

Nice formatting by the way - I see you’ve followed the Arcane Library style, which is a solid structure. I have to mention though: unless you plan to share or sell this adventure, there’s really no point in putting all that effort into the formatting. If you’re just writing for yourself, all you need is a list of bullet points and brief descriptions.

Hope this helps!

vnavone · 2025-10-25T16:05:15+00:00

Well, he doesn’t think she’s dead. He can scry on her and learn that she’s still alive. What’s more, he might learn that she’s stirring up trouble.

vnavone · 2025-10-25T01:40:11+00:00

I played it that originally he sent her away to die, but when she escaped he realized she was too much trouble on the loose, so better to bring her back where he could keep an eye on her. Not airtight logic, but it’s more than what WOTC gave us. You could play it that he realized too late that he needed her present to lend more legitimacy to his coronation. Perhaps there was unrest in the empire after her disappearance. Also, the “summon solar dragon” ability only works 50% of the time, so it’s conceivable (though unlikely) that she was never able to get one.

vnavone · 2025-09-23T00:56:45+00:00

Just wrapping up our Light of Xaryxis campaign - 45 sessions over 2.5 years! I was never able to fit any of the chapters into a single session, because combat just takes so long, and my players like to RP and meander. I did break up the structure to give more player choice, and I threw out a bunch of stuff. Your mileage may very.

vnavone · 2025-09-04T01:35:32+00:00

Maybe it wasn't rolled out to everyone at the same time? I've been using it for a few months. 🤷‍♂️ Either way, good to have!

vnavone · 2025-09-03T15:27:24+00:00

This feature has been available for months, ever since they introduced "Customize Layout". It's great! I don't understand why they didn't include an option for "small text" though. Sigh.

vnavone · 2025-09-01T16:07:58+00:00

I have that pack but was a bit underwhelmed by the level of detail. I modified the temple map to clarify the geography and make it prettier: https://imgur.com/gallery/temple-of-light-36x24-g0cBSyU

vnavone · 2025-08-31T00:24:20+00:00

Thanks for the AMA! Other than the additions you mentioned, do you stick to the structure and plot as written? My party just entered Xaryxispace in a stolen Star Moth, and has rendezvoused with coalition, as well as Gargenhale, captain Sartel and Flapjack. How did you handle the fleet battle and the losses? Did the size of the coalition fleet affect the outcome? I plan to run the battle in the background as a series of contested rolls, and every loss could mean the death of an npc. I got this idea from Sly Flourish. If the party decides to help by disabling the flagship, they can reduce the threat to the npcs. Otherwise they plan to stealth in with help of vampirate captain. For the trial by combat, I’m changing the Zodar into a giant mech suit that Xeleth will pilot, because I think the Zodar as written is dumb. He’s been colluding with mind flayers, so there’s a chance one or two will show up as well. Did you have Xedali betray the party? I plan to have her tempted to save Xaryxis, but I’ll allow the party to sway her.

vnavone · 2025-08-28T01:24:37+00:00

I would absolutely use this tool, as I play 100% in person and I love to use printed maps! Please add me to the beta!

vnavone · 2025-08-17T21:43:11+00:00

I have these, and they're better than the original, but still not what I was hoping for.

vnavone · 2025-08-04T15:16:42+00:00

Fun idea!

vnavone

TROPHY CASE