the_swiss_abyss
2018-11-01, 10:51 PM
This is a question for any DM's who are running Waterdeep: Dragon Heist and are nearing the end.
Do you think there are going to be any headaches or repercussions for allowing the characters to level past LVL 5 once the Mad Mage book comes out in November?
I'll be running for a friend group of 4 PC's and don't mind going off book a little bit but want to try to run it true to the source material. WotC provides a table on pg 14 that gives approximate levels for the chapters; but the thing that strikes me as odd is the Final chapter for each of the possible scenarios states "5th or higher level". Do you think a level 6 or 7 party will make the transition into the Mad Mage more challenging?
If I use the adventure progress instead of exp. leveling, it may be better, but knowing my playgroup I can anticipate still reaching for higher levels.
-Spoilers ahead for all PC's-
Here is how I see it playing out:
Chapter 1: Pretty railroaded; no issues here, Lvl 2 at the end of this
Chapter 2: Here is where I see it going to pieces: my players are pretty happy with open sandbox campaigns. I can see them each going No drow in the party so no Bregan D'Aerthe I dont think. One player is a Firbolg Rogue, who has a history of RP'ing treehuggers, so I know she will want to join the Emerald Enclave. Our Human Wizard is a 20 year vet to DnD and will definitely take up the offer of The Blackstaff for Force Grey. The other two are a Human Ranger and Triton Fighter (who thinks all non-tritons need his protection) so they will likely take up arms with the Lords Alliance or Order of the Gauntlet if given the chance! at least 3 different ways. I foresee there being enough RP around these quests and Volo's gifting of the Trollskull Manor that it would be difficult to not bump them to Lvl 3 at the "end" of this- even if some of these are continuous things.
Chapter 3: At this point, this party will most likely investigate themselves calling for a level up to level 4. But then if they go ahead with the Factionmissions, they will likely earn level 5 around here.
Chapter 4: So this "choose your own adventure" will likely go down by the book, and then that would mean level 6, if they live...
Final Chapter: I'm leaning toward Hell of a Summer, with the Cassalanters as the main villains for this chapter. So if they manage to thwart the antagonist here, that would put them at level 6; with the real possibility of the party having developed a beef with another one of the NPC's who have their own chapters.
Thoughts?
Do you think there are going to be any headaches or repercussions for allowing the characters to level past LVL 5 once the Mad Mage book comes out in November?
I'll be running for a friend group of 4 PC's and don't mind going off book a little bit but want to try to run it true to the source material. WotC provides a table on pg 14 that gives approximate levels for the chapters; but the thing that strikes me as odd is the Final chapter for each of the possible scenarios states "5th or higher level". Do you think a level 6 or 7 party will make the transition into the Mad Mage more challenging?
If I use the adventure progress instead of exp. leveling, it may be better, but knowing my playgroup I can anticipate still reaching for higher levels.
-Spoilers ahead for all PC's-
Here is how I see it playing out:
Chapter 1: Pretty railroaded; no issues here, Lvl 2 at the end of this
Chapter 2: Here is where I see it going to pieces: my players are pretty happy with open sandbox campaigns. I can see them each going No drow in the party so no Bregan D'Aerthe I dont think. One player is a Firbolg Rogue, who has a history of RP'ing treehuggers, so I know she will want to join the Emerald Enclave. Our Human Wizard is a 20 year vet to DnD and will definitely take up the offer of The Blackstaff for Force Grey. The other two are a Human Ranger and Triton Fighter (who thinks all non-tritons need his protection) so they will likely take up arms with the Lords Alliance or Order of the Gauntlet if given the chance! at least 3 different ways. I foresee there being enough RP around these quests and Volo's gifting of the Trollskull Manor that it would be difficult to not bump them to Lvl 3 at the "end" of this- even if some of these are continuous things.
Chapter 3: At this point, this party will most likely investigate themselves calling for a level up to level 4. But then if they go ahead with the Factionmissions, they will likely earn level 5 around here.
Chapter 4: So this "choose your own adventure" will likely go down by the book, and then that would mean level 6, if they live...
Final Chapter: I'm leaning toward Hell of a Summer, with the Cassalanters as the main villains for this chapter. So if they manage to thwart the antagonist here, that would put them at level 6; with the real possibility of the party having developed a beef with another one of the NPC's who have their own chapters.
Thoughts?