Post by j on Jun 24, 2015 1:01:48 GMT
My take on D&D 5e Starter Box adventure, Lost Mine of Phandelver. I have to transport everything, so I try to make things as light as possible. I also wanted to follow DM Scotty's method as much as possible.
Goblin Ambush - 4 Intrepid Adventurers on their way to deliver a wagon load of goods to Phandalin. I tend to reuse a lot of items, and these items get used. I will re-create the Goblin Trail to Cragmaw Cave using the rocks, boulders, and foliage piles. The dead horses were particularly gruesome. The wagon fit 4 PCs, the goods, and a giant mastiff mount.
Cragmaw Entrance - the 4 PCs made navigated the trail to find that it led to a craggy cave entrance and small creek that slowly flowed out.
Cragmaw Cavern - After laying waste to the outside menace, the PCs made their way inside. Watch out for slippery rocks and algae.
Now they head into the Kennel to deal with the wolves tied down to a stalagmite.
After the wolves, the PCs turn around and follow the water deeper inside. Watch out for the goblin on the bridge.
Past the bridge and around to the Water Traps and more goblins.
Time to fight the leader Klarg the Bugbear and his per Ripper.
Back to the rickety bridge to awaiting goblins on the other side. Better be careful, it looks like a poorly built bridge.
More goblins on the other side, and we see the human prisoner hanging from the huge stalagmite.
The whole thing.
Now that Klarg and his men are defeated, time to head to Phandalin.
Phandalin - This is approximately a 10:1 scale map (using Monopoly Houses). I do this so we a central map, give dimension and space, and players have fun marking the areas. If I know I will not reuse this map down the road, I will just rip of the houses for another project. To represent figures, we just use colored map pins (red are always the bad guys). To mark locations, I print labels and wrap them on toothpicks. Then players can poke into the foam and "plant a flag".
Looks like the Redbrand Ruffians (red pins) are moving in on the PCs (other colors). For grid movement, we do have much smaller sticks, toothpicks in fact.
There is a fight brewing just outside the inn. The Redbrands have some guys positioned on the roof of the inn. Since this an important fight, I broke out some rooftops and set a scene as if we zoomed in on the map.
Inside the Inn, a battle is continuing. Customers are held up in a corner.
Redbrand Hideout - The PCs find out the Redbrand Ruffians are held up in the old manor on the hill. Supposedly there is a very large cellar basement area they have moved into.
After defeating Glasstaff and the Redbrands, the PCs head to the ruined town of Thundertree. It was destroyed by a volcano eruption, and some say weird vegetation creatures roam there, as well as a green dragon.
Thundertree - This map is a 2:1 map where 1" is 10 feet. We use map pins again for placement and movement. Also, since this is scaled down, I don't need a big dragon and can use a littler one.
In Thundertree, they learn the location of the Cragmaw Castle and immediately make their way there.
Cragmaw Castle - This setup is a foam base, with individual foam tiles. I really wanted fog-of-war for this battle.
Knock, knock...
This is about 7 pieces in...
Ack! Owlbear!
Goblin Ambush - 4 Intrepid Adventurers on their way to deliver a wagon load of goods to Phandalin. I tend to reuse a lot of items, and these items get used. I will re-create the Goblin Trail to Cragmaw Cave using the rocks, boulders, and foliage piles. The dead horses were particularly gruesome. The wagon fit 4 PCs, the goods, and a giant mastiff mount.
Cragmaw Entrance - the 4 PCs made navigated the trail to find that it led to a craggy cave entrance and small creek that slowly flowed out.
Cragmaw Cavern - After laying waste to the outside menace, the PCs made their way inside. Watch out for slippery rocks and algae.
Now they head into the Kennel to deal with the wolves tied down to a stalagmite.
After the wolves, the PCs turn around and follow the water deeper inside. Watch out for the goblin on the bridge.
Past the bridge and around to the Water Traps and more goblins.
Time to fight the leader Klarg the Bugbear and his per Ripper.
Back to the rickety bridge to awaiting goblins on the other side. Better be careful, it looks like a poorly built bridge.
More goblins on the other side, and we see the human prisoner hanging from the huge stalagmite.
The whole thing.
Now that Klarg and his men are defeated, time to head to Phandalin.
Phandalin - This is approximately a 10:1 scale map (using Monopoly Houses). I do this so we a central map, give dimension and space, and players have fun marking the areas. If I know I will not reuse this map down the road, I will just rip of the houses for another project. To represent figures, we just use colored map pins (red are always the bad guys). To mark locations, I print labels and wrap them on toothpicks. Then players can poke into the foam and "plant a flag".
Looks like the Redbrand Ruffians (red pins) are moving in on the PCs (other colors). For grid movement, we do have much smaller sticks, toothpicks in fact.
There is a fight brewing just outside the inn. The Redbrands have some guys positioned on the roof of the inn. Since this an important fight, I broke out some rooftops and set a scene as if we zoomed in on the map.
Inside the Inn, a battle is continuing. Customers are held up in a corner.
Redbrand Hideout - The PCs find out the Redbrand Ruffians are held up in the old manor on the hill. Supposedly there is a very large cellar basement area they have moved into.
After defeating Glasstaff and the Redbrands, the PCs head to the ruined town of Thundertree. It was destroyed by a volcano eruption, and some say weird vegetation creatures roam there, as well as a green dragon.
Thundertree - This map is a 2:1 map where 1" is 10 feet. We use map pins again for placement and movement. Also, since this is scaled down, I don't need a big dragon and can use a littler one.
In Thundertree, they learn the location of the Cragmaw Castle and immediately make their way there.
Cragmaw Castle - This setup is a foam base, with individual foam tiles. I really wanted fog-of-war for this battle.
Knock, knock...
This is about 7 pieces in...
Ack! Owlbear!
The amount of awesomeness in this crafting is mind blowing! Great job! The mini maps are an amazing idea.
that ist me smiling on the ground. I freakin' love it! You rock, Sir!
Cheers!
Cheers!