Reading Time: 6 minutes
Ever since a brief interlude in Hoard of the Dragon Queen
Then, earlier this year, WotC released Waterdeep Dragon Heist
Set almost entirely in Undermountain, the subterranean dungeon complex created by Halaster Blackcloak, this new campaign comes straight out of left field and at first glance seems quite different from WotC’s other 5th edition releases. But that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
While not a direct sequel, this adventure follows Waterdeep: Dragon Heist, even coming with the same title prefix, therefore it makes sense to employ the same criteria of five simple questions to see if Dungeon of the Mad Mage lives up to the hype. Those questions are:
Naturally, this article will contain spoilers.
Note: Click here to see what I thought of WotC’s previous 5th Edition offerings,Tomb of Annihilation and Dragon Heist.
Essentially this is an exploration-based campaign, so if that’s not your thing, look away now. In all there are an astonishing 23 separate dungeon levels to explore in this adventure, and that is ultimately the crux of the story. Any adventurer worth their salt who enters the Yawning Portal Tavern and doesn’t want to immediately descend into the dungeon of myth and legend really does need to go home and re-think their life.
That being said, there are other story elements at play, and it isn’t just a big dungeon delve. There is plenty for players to get their teeth into; there’s a number of interesting story hooks and NPC quests that all provide more than enough reason for players to return to the dungeon.
Each level of Undermountain has its own faction and politics to contend with. Will the adventurers join forces with ex-apprentice Jhesiyra Kestellharp to defeat Halaster? Will they Let themselves be possessed by the ghosts of adventurers long past to help defeat an undead beholder? Will they get embroiled in the never-ending conflict between vying Gith factions? Or will they just run through Undermountain and kill everything without forethought or prejudice?
Whether your group includes players who focus on roleplay or combat, Dungeon of the Mad Mage has enough of both to satisfy most parties. It is at times both fun and funny, and there will be plenty of those classic moments that your players will remember forever, “Hey, do you remember that time I got polymorphed into a Gelatinous Cube and we fought a mindflayer pirate captain who couldn’t stop singing sea shanties?”
Warning: If you are a new DM do not pick this as your first campaign. This adventure expects a lot from its dungeon masters, and includes almost every additional rule and sidebar from the Dungeon Master’s Guide, as well as a few extras of its own thrown in for good measure. What’s more, Dungeon of the Mad Mage includes no read-aloud text boxes, there are no baroque room descriptions or NPC speeches, and no color maps included, so for new DMs this is not an easy-to-run, by-the-book adventure.
However, for a DM who knows what they’re doing, this campaign is very well put together. All of the chapters are given the same layout and format and the black and white maps all follow a consistent and easy to follow formula. Seasoned DMs who know where to look, will not struggle with running the majority of Dungeon of the Mad Mage thanks to its easy layout and intuitive flow. Although you will definitely need the <a href="http://Monster Manual
The sheer fun of it all. With 23 unique levels to play through, each one with its one theme, monsters, politics and dangers, no two sessions in this adventure with ever be the same.
As well as that, there’s the ever present Halaster Blackcloak who’s essence permeates Undermountain in the most surprising, unexpected and at times joyous ways. His presence in particular can be felt on level 15, The Obstacle Course, where Halaster’s disembodied voice magically chimes in with sarcastic play-by-play commentary of events.
Finally, if you play Dungeon of the Mad Mage to its conclusion, your PCs actually have the chance of reaching level 20. This is a first for a WotC official releases in 5th edition and I know there are players out there desperate for the opportunity to test out their high level Barbarians, Wizards and Rogues on some official content.
Like hundreds of adventurers before them, it would be quite easy for your players to simply get lost down in the never-ending dungeon, forget why they’re there and give it up all together. I fear there may be a danger of dungeon-delving fatigue for any players or even DMs who aren’t truly serious about exploring the whole thing.
There’s just so much to do and no real overarching narrative that strings it all together, aside from searching for fame, glory and legend. Which for some may well be enough, but unlike many of the campaigns that precede it, Dungeon of the Mad Mage has no world-ending consequences if the heroes decide to go home. There’s no ticking clock to stop giants or dragons taking over the world, and no sense of dread or horror if things go wrong. Perhaps that’s up to the DM to inject? A good Dungeon Master will look through this tome and be whetting their lips at all the possibilities, but for someone less seasoned or new to it all, it could all just get a little overwhelming.
All of it. This book is both massive dungeon delve and treasure trove of inspiration. Each of the 23 levels could represent a whole dungeon in any other campaign, and there is nothing stopping you cutting and pasting them straight into your next homebrew adventure.
That aside, there are two additional locations that you could build a whole campaign around: Skullport the shadowy, cutthroat reflection of Waterdeep, a city beneath the City of Splendors where Duergar, Bugbears, Wereats and Flameskulls vie for supremacy; and Stardock, the asteroid that orbits Toril (the planet where the Forgotten Realms is based), filled with Gith and Red Dragons. There’s also new magical items such as the Dodecahedron of Doom, and 12 monsters stat blocks not featured in the Monster Manual (including one for Halaster Blackcloak, the mad mage himself).
Following on from Waterdeep: Dragon Heist, released earlier in the year, Dungeon of the Mad Mage
Disclaimer: Geekdad received a copy of this book for review purposes.
Click through to read all of “Delve Deep into the Ultimate D&D Mega-Dungeon with Dungeon of the Mad Mage” at GeekDad.If you value content from GeekDad, please support us via Patreon or use this link to shop at Amazon. Thanks!
This post was last modified on November 26, 2018 8:10 am
April is International Guitar Month! Let's send off the month with some amazing feats (and…
GeekMom Elizabeth explores if Woobles kits really can teach you to crochet.
There are hundreds if not thousands of different types of video game controllers on the…
Other paranormal investigators have attempted to exorcise this haunted manor but failed—will you solve the…
Concerts and music festivals aren't always accessible—or affordable—so turn the opportunity to watch via streaming…
Zoe Saldana is a mom like us, working to teach her sons empathy through gaming…