If you so choose, you can also have your players affected by these changes enacted by the Far Realm mind flayers. The same transformations happening to the NPCs can happen to your players. Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk is a DnD campaign designed for four to six players. Players begin a familiar dungeon-crawling adventure at level one, and they’ll face a crisis of unexpected scale (and weirdness)by the time they reach level 12. With a clear link to the famous Dungeons & Dragons villain Vecna, the obelisks and their role in a new DnD multiverse become clearer. Players can read the updated dossier on Vecna on D&D Beyond, which explains that Vecna has often traveled between worlds or realms. Indeed, in the D&D Direct showcase, WotC announced that Vecna would get his own book in 2024. Discover what lurks below in this high-fantasy adventure that begins with the familiar story of Lost Mine of Phandelver and then delves into the perilous Underdark. From the press event alone, it’s not clear how extensive the changes to NPCs are. Only one example was shown – new art reveals that Phandalin’s DnD Druid, Reidoth, is now a woman.

Because these adventures are continuations in each chapter, it's better to take certain elements, ideas, and story beats and use them in your campaign. This means looking into some of the following: Behind The Scenes Action Alternatively, for someone who loved The Lost Mines of Phandelver and wants to own it in its most complete form, this is your book. It certainly has a "special edition" vibe about it in the same way you might get excited for the anniversary LP of an album you already own. The removal of that beginner-oriented text however means that a new player wanting to get into Dungeons & Dragons without other experienced players they're likely going to want to continue using The Lost Mines of Phandelver, especially as it's free through D&DBeyond. Although Wizards of the Coast are keeping things a surprise for us, it's clear that something terrible is going on underground. This "something" involves corrupting magic coming from the depths, that seeps upwards. Because it's strongest at source, it's there that It not only mutates monsters, but also corrupts players thanks to an optional "corruption" mechanic that is featured in the book. This mechanic is largely flavour but it adds immersion, bringing the existential threat directly to the players directly in an unavoidable way.The Cragmaw goblins, antagonists though they may be, act as rather notable NPCs as a group! In addition to being the catalysts for adventure, they too have a fair bit of interesting knowledge. Besides providing more immediately relevant information—the location of Sildar, for example—an interrogated goblin might reveal information that enables easier exploration of Cragmaw Castle (in chapter 3), or that hints of grander events to come in later chapters. You'll need to let your players know and decide whether they're comfortable with the body horror mentioned in this adventure. While it's not extended to grotesque situations for the most part, you can still adjust it as you see fit to work at your table. Retains the beloved Lost Mine of Phandelver quests that unfold into a brand-new adventure with classic D&D themes and a tinge of horror Players who continue on through The Shattered Obelisk also get to face off against the idea of otherworldly threats that recent games and entertainment like Baldur's Gate 3 and Stranger Things have continued to bring to the public psyche. Should I Buy Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk?

If you're a DM who is looking to start with a new group that includes brand new players, and somehow no one has managed to play or read this adventure it's well worth this being your next adventure. Just as a yearning to help dear Gundren makes for powerful motivation at the adventure’s start, painting Phandalin as a town worth fighting for will cement your players’ desire to defend it—especially important in later chapters, when aberrant forces begin to warp the settlement. While the mining town and its inhabitants are greatly expounded on in the second chapter of the adventure, consider breathing life into the road to Phandalin, raising expectations for a vibrant, safe haven. Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Japan, Macao, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, United States, Uruguay, Vietnam It goes without saying that Phandelver and Below has appeal for fans of the original starter set. This is a chance to relive what might have been your first-ever D&D adventure, after all. Many of the tweaks are cosmetic or focus on moving Phandelver on from its starter set status, removing the more obvious DM advice –but the heart of the campaign remains.For many trying out Dungeons & Dragons for the first time with 5th edition, or coming from previous editions, chances are you started in the same place: Phandalin. The Lost Mines of Phandelver was for so long the 5e starting adventure, but now with our hands on Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obeliskwhat are our thoughts on this new adventure? The adventure continues to focus on Phandalin and its surrounding areas, but as new dungeons are explored and leads are followed up on, the adventure shifts into creepier territory. Take time to learn exactly what an obelisk is and its purpose. Not only are they central to this adventure, but they can be used to completely change the trajectory of this adventure or your own custom homebrew adventures. NPCs with adorable, horrifying, or hor-dorable traits make a mundane place feel memorable. Story-driven mechanics give combat encounters a new spin. And the second half of the story is tied together neatly with mechanics that prove the severity of the situation to your players – and adjust the difficulty of the final fight depending on their actions earlier on. The most important NPC your players will meet, however,may be the one they become inexplicably attached to. Whether a sudden fondness for a goblin they meet on the road, or an unexpected interaction with one of Phandalin’s residents on their early journey into town, consider being prepared to elevate any NPC’s role to compensate for player interest. Perhaps the once-nameless farmer they bumped into outside of the Stonehill Inn takes the place of another townie in events to unfold. When supernatural forces later begin to warp Phandalin and its inhabitants, your party's favorite friend will be first on their mind! Was It Fate? Planting Seeds for Future Leads Artist: Ned Rogers