Hey GreyWord!
A warm THANK YOU! - for DMing this one-shot. I really enjoy playing a high-level adventure!
PROs:
- I liked the idea of the adventure. It had a bit of everything. Social, bit of a skill challenge, puzzle and a nice 2 stages fight at the end.
- Really enjoy having a good battlemap which makes everything so much more clearer to me. (*/me is very bad at theater of the mind things*)
- Also the initative-order helped me a lot to grasp when it is my turn and when I had to wait. I also like the structured way, you format your DM posts. It is very clear to me, which is in game, what is OOC and what is just rules stuff.
- Thanks for our talk with the puzzle. It started to fell forced and not fun at all. We had a quick chat and then the adventure continued. Great solution!
- Starting the fight with illusions was a great move and bringing different kind of enemies into play, before presenting the lich was very thrilling to me.
NEUTRAL:
- I was very sceptical at the "one player after the other"-thing, like in a classic Pen&Paper fight/initative situation. Having to answer as quick as possible during the adventuring phase and then, have to wait for days during the fight felt very awkward to me.
On the other hand: at high level with lots of reactions and different interrupting powers it can get very messy, very quickly, when everybody is posting their turn all at once.
So I get your intention, and it worked out very nice and civilised without too much need for editing.
Still... I am not convinced that this is the way to go. But I don't have a better idea. ;)
Maybe try some kind of block initiative next time?
- Why did Bajaz came along? He didn't fell usefull, was always late or unhelpful. Besides of giving us the mission he just came along to die and make the puzzle harder. At least that is my impression. *wonders*
CONs:
- I didn't like that you roll our skill-checks for us. I love playing DnD and I love the moment I roll the dice. You took that from me without giving me something in trade for it.
- The solution to the encounter with the snakes felt awkward. Rebuilding the ship so that they can make sure we are not smuggling? Was not at all on my radar.
- A "big downer" (huge! ;) was the situation on the island for two reasons:
Forced to speak to the undead queen. Bajaz who was much better suited standing near by and hushing us forward, just felt wrong to me. Bhrok told him so unmistakenly.
&
When my "ranger-moment" arrived and I had tons of skills, powers, spells, utilities and so on to contribute and I thought of a (in my opinion) very cool plan to bring them into play, it all accumulated to: nothing.
Why let us try in the first place? Following tracks? Talking to animals? How many undead? What kind of creatures? What can we gain from this insight? NOTHING! It felt to me like a huge let down. An unnecessary one too.
Bhrok is a level 12 ranger. It would have been sooo easy to give him/me some information that would have been new to the party/the queen. It would have felt like a success and I would have been very happy & proud. But nothing. Just a great opportunity to shine got passed.
Conclusion:
I really enjoyed this high-level one-shot and would love to do something like this again. :) Bhrok felt great and the fight was thrilling. Maybe next time with a cool moment to shine outside of combat? Would be great! :D
Everybody else who read until here: THANKS for playing with me. It was great fun! Hope to do it again soon. :]
If someone wants to feedback me, please feel free to do so. *s*
