I got home this evening and found something in my Inbox, the
introductory scenario of Hoard of the Dragon Queen, the first release in the
new D&D Adventurers League (the 5th edition equivalent of
organised play) for the Tyranny of Dragons storyline. I need to disclose that I have not paid for
the aforementioned product, although the question of whether I would have done
will be resolved by the end of this particular review. With it being prerelease, I can't show any of the interior pages, which is a shame, because it's really worth the look.
Weighing in at 37 pages long, it’s comparable in size to the Pathfinder
Organised Play modules/scenarios, and it’s designed for three to seven players,
with the optimum number being four.
There’s clear guidelines on how the program is going to work and links
in the document to the free rules online and the extended network that is now
in place for the Adventurers league.
So what about the product itself...?
First impressions are that a lot of work has gone into the artwork and
layout, there are a number of maps to cover the different encounters and then
an overall map of the Sword Coast that ranks as one of the better maps I’ve
seen in recent times. Each chapter is
prefaced by a full colour image that presents an idea of the events of the
chapter and interspersed throughout the book are other images, mostly of
characters that are encountered and creatures to be fought, all of it to a high
standard. It is noted that some of the artwork in the scenario can be found in
the starter set, but only two images, with the rest being original for the scenario.
The writing is crisp and clear, lots of explanation in there as to
options the characters have, possible difficulties the GM will have and
potential ways around both, which is very useful for those just starting out in
the game. In the opening writing, there
are guidelines on the different parts of the scenario, together with what can
be expected of the players in each one, a good touch for beginning GM’s.
The scenario itself presents in three sections, Greenest in Flames,
Raiders Camp, and Dragon Hatchery, with the characters starting on their way
past the town when a Blue Dragon and several members of the Cult of the Dragon
attack the town. From there, they have
to find out what caused this and finally track down and finish the threat to
the village. There’s a lot more to it
than that and the scenario has been designed with beginners in mind, so there
aren’t many complex issues to deal with, the rules required are easily to hand,
and there are no moments where the GM has to break plot to go and find a
reference. The primary differences
between this and the Pathfinder scenarios are the increase in artwork and the lack
of creature stats by the side of the encounters in this scenario.
The three parts to the scenario won’t take long to get through, but I’m
presuming that they’re being pitched at the same level as the Pathfinder
organised play which will give you a number of hours per product. In itself, this
whole scenario is only part one of three that are going to be released for this
storyline, all of which will be available at the same time as the players
handbook. There’s an indication at the
beginning of when the seasons will run from and to and the number of support
links within the document is massive. As
part of rolling out the new shiny, WoTC are giving this out for free to all
stores that stock D&D, together with a DM’s kit, faction folders, magic
item cards and the starter set itself.
Overall, very polished, very professional, and above all...
Fun...
It’s a very good start to the Adventurers league and something that is
certainly going to get some dice time here, so in the matter of did I have to
buy this?
No...
In the matter of would I buy this?
Absolutely...
