Running Published Adventures (Episode 99)

On the Shoulders of Dwarves

A quick disclaimer: Eran LOVES running published modules, Uri… no so much. Also, we are talking about published adventures, not published campaigns. There are some differences that we won’t get into. ## Picking an adventure (03:57) Use the fact that other people read it: - You can read ratings, reviews and comments. This will help you pick a good adventure. - Some excellent sources might be: [DrivethruRPG.com](https://www.drivethrurpg.com?affiliate_id=29668), [RPG.net](https://www.rpg.net/) or [EN World](https://www.enworld.org/). ## Getting to know the adventure (09:27) - Read the whole thing. Most adventures have a plot summary at the beginning. - Imaging yourself inside the adventure, try to understand the impression it should have on the characters. Uri suggests doing a “[table read](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Read-through)”. - Before every session read the parts you are expecting to run. Estimate the time it might take to run the adventure, divide it into segments based on your expected duration. A lot of adventures might already be segmented. ## Connect the adventure with your party and campaign (16:17) - Connect the adventure to your campaign (if applicable). Consider both the lead-in and the lead-out. Many adventures have “adventure hooks” set up in order to help the GM to incorporate the adventures into their own campaign. - Connect to your campaign by changing and adding components based on your campaign.e.g. Switch some NPCs with known NPCs from your setting. Use R&R rename and reskin to save time and effort. - Connect the plot to the PCs, modify NPCs and situations to give the players and characters what they’re looking for. ## Accessibility of information (24:24) - Work beforehand, to have everything as you’re used to - Post-it notes and bookmarks - Two places: two screens, a screen and a tablet, a screen and a book. - Find a method that works for you. I use a single spreadsheet for everything, with tabs, and a single Keep note, with lines. - Delegate rules to players Important note: Use what works for you. ## Recommendations (29:19) - Into the Wilds - [Forge of Fury](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/213809/The-Forge-of-Fury-CRD?affiliate_id=29668) - Lost Mine of Phandelver - The Portal Under the Stars - [Parnast series, Storm King’s Thunder](https://www.dmsguild.com/product/230535/DDAL05-Storm-Kings-Thunder-BUNDLE?src=newest&filters=0_45549_0_0_0_0_0_0) - Palace in the wastes - [City of the Spider Queen](http://drivethrurpg.com/product/25111/City-of-the-Spider-Queen-35?affiliate_id=29668) - [Crystal Heart: Exotic ingredients](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/302049/Exotic-Ingredients--A-Crystal-Heart-Oneshot?affiliate_id=29668) # Summary (37:22)[Parnast series, Storm King’s Thunder](https://www.dmsguild.com/product/230535/DDAL05-Storm-Kings-Thunder-BUNDLE?src=newest&filters=0_45549_0_0_0_0_0_0?affiliate_id=29668) Reading published adventures is useful even if you're not planning to run it. * * * # Taking the load off (08:59) Our published adventures: - [Eran](https://www.dmsguild.com/browse.php?author=Eran%20Aviram) - - [One Last Tribute](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/303016/One-Last-Tribute?affiliate_id=29668) - [Shed Not a Tear, oh Princess](https://www.dmsguild.com/product/307765/Shed-Not-a-Tear-oh-Princess?affiliate_id=29668) - [Uri](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/15789/Uri-Lifshitz?affiliate_id=29668) - - [Escaping Thalamus Lab](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/294848/Escaping-Thalamuss-Lab?affiliate_id=29668) - [Rolling with Laughter](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/306078/Rolling-With-Laughter?affiliate_id=29668)