Also just wanted to say, this is exactly the kind of module content I want. DMs going over the content of a module and saying what they like/dislike/their experiences is great when prepping campaigns. Great vid!

This is an excellent video. I appreciate that you did not waste any time and communicated what was important.

Coming in late, but I really appreciate this content. I've only been DMing for about a year and some change now. I'm still getting my legs, so to speak. This was a great video.

Loved the Information matrix table! Wish every module came with something like that, that's awesome

This is excellent work. I listen to module reviews all the time and this one is really one of the best. I hope your channel really gets some traction in the D&D community because I think a lot of DMs would appreciate your content. Thank you! With that said, I love this module. The only disappointment is how little Blasingdell is flushed out, especially given its importance to the story. For this reason, I personally built a story around town and region to add a little more flavor. The adventurers have come to the area seeking the infamous Durgedden weapons. What they find is a town under siege by frequently raiding orcs. Not only are these raids leaving the region pillaged, but the townspeople are disappearing. The local dignitary, Errol Faringray was recently killed during one of these raids while returning from a visit to a farm outside of town and the local mayor has disappeared. EF's daughter, Lady Faringray sends for help from her Uncle, Lord Ferringray. He arrives and establishes himself as the leader, but the raids and disappearances continue. The adventurers learn about this problem and find themselves in the middle of the mystery. The captured orc appears to be the key and the group is allowed to negotiate to talk with him. The orc gives little information and later one evening escapes from the prison. The group staying at the local tavern is fast asleep due to a sleeping potion that was put in their drinks by the tavern cook and one of the adventurers goes missing. It appears as though orc raiders have taken the person and so the group is convinced to track the orc raiders to Khundrakar to find their friend. Lord Faringray actually never made it to Blasingdell. He was killed on the way and a doppelganger has taken his place. Additionally, the tavern cook has also been killed and replaced by a doppelganger. There is a clue near the road to Khundrakar if the party is able to discover it, a carriage with the Lord's initials is found with 3 people inside, all of them beheaded and their corpse eaten. To add flavor, I added a mind flayer to the mix. The orcs and Troglodytes offer nice padding for the rogue mind flayer. In exchange, the orcs get to secure the first level as their Khundrakar, the doppelgangers get bodies to feed on, and the mind flayer gets a healthy serving of brains. To protect the back is a the dragon. As for the Duergars...they have been promised the stronghold and the treasure as well as protection while they try to rediscover the forging techniques of Durgedden. Of course, all of them are lying to each other. The Deurgars and the mind flayer stay out of the cursed section of the Foundry, although the mind flayer is interested in trying to clear that area at some point. This allows the Succubus, who wants to rid the level of the mind flayer to try and seduce the party by offering her help. Through her they learn of the Durgedden lore and if they are not careful, manipulated to their death. Ultimately, the mind flayer recognizes the danger of the group and if close to death will flee to another plane. The two prisoners I replaced with the missing party member and the mayor. The mayor is a also a doppelganger sent to spy and manipulate the party. If they detect him, he will disappear. Another element is that I added a scene where they see Lady Faringray taken into the forge through the Glitterhamme. She, of course is a doppelganger. In section 23, I added dwarven skeletons. If the group has a durgedden weapon, the apparent leader will ask for it by holding his hand out. If they don't have it, he will demand it be found or the group will perish. The weapon they are looking for is in the sinkhole, in the flooded storeroom. Here, I put a dwarven skeleton holding the cherished weapon. When the group enters, however, they are attacked by gelatinous cube, who quickly absorbs the water and grows to an enourmous size. To add a little excitement in area 25, I homebrewed a school of "Obsidian Archer Fish." Archer fish are able to shoot at food and have them drop in the water to eat. My version are larger and more dangerous. They are also capable of using their fins to walk on land and devour their prey....so don't get too close to the water. Last, but not least, to get out of the dungeon requires the epic battle with the dragon, which I left as is...because fighting a dragon is cool enough, especially one that swims. Anyhow, I added a lot of other little details here and there, but that is my take. Thanks again for the video!!!

Thanks for making this video. It was great to watch, as I am preparing to run this for my group soon.

Thank you for this video! My friends and I are playing through The Yawning Portal book and just finished The Sunless Citadel. I am supposed to switch into the DM role for the first time and run this module, so I can not express how much this helped me get a better grasp of what lies ahead.

Excellent video. Gonna be running this with a group soon and the suggestions you made are really helpful

Your videos are the best! More in-depth and informed than anything else I can find on youtube. I have Tales from the Yawning Portal, but never played the originals, so I've been watching your videos to prep.

only 5 mins into this video and it's already very helpful. I've been looking for videos like this for too long!

This was a great in depth recap. Definitely helped me out to run my party through the module.

The information matrix was so helpful, thank you so much for making this video man!

Super helpful! Thanks for putting this together

Excellent video. Will help me run this module immensely.

Great job. I'll narrate this adventure on Monday ;)

I'm about to take my group through this dungeon, with some added hooks relating to a brewing war between Duergar and Mirabar prompting a search for Durgedden's forge. This was super useful as far as places to focus on when exploring. Thank you very much!

I watch this video yesterday before dming this module. Help me understand what was going on clearer then from just reading the module alone. My players had a lot of fun.

Threw this into my game as a bit of a break from a the ‘main plot’ and didn’t realise how big it is. This video has definitely helped me understand it better so really appreciate it. It’s clear, you explain your choices well and made me feel easier about running it this week. I need to scale it up a bit I feel though! Thanks for the video.

This really helped as a new dm running adventures is intimidating but your vids really help make things clear for specific things that I have trouble with ty for this amazing content

Some really great insights! Thanks for posting this vid!

Excelente video, muchas gracias

Great commentary; thanks! I'm about to run this module, so this type of video help me understand faster what fun (or troubles?) I'm getting into. ;-)

Great insight!

Awesome video. Thanks!

This is *EXACTLY* the kind of video I’ve been looking for! I use modules a lot for DMing and it’s sometimes difficult to find time to read the entire things from start to finish and retain everything. This video makes it really easy. I really hope you make more content just like this.

This was really helpful! Thank you!

Would love to see some more walk thrus.....Possibly Dung of the Mad Mage

Awesome content, thank you for your time! Liked and subscribed :)

Seems to me the best way to utilize the succubus is to have her enter the dungeon with the party as an npc guide. Having her play as an archeologist who needs protection exploring the dungeon. Giving her time to get to know the party, tell the story of the dungeon as it is explored; rather than all at once (when you find her in a hidden room).

Great video! Really glad i found your channel! I wish there were more videos like this really looking into modules and actually helping dms prep for them. I'm now looking forward to going through your back catalogue! Just a note for your issue with the roper getting shot up by ranged attackers stepping out, shooting and getting back out of sight - couldn't the roper just ready an action to make a grab on anyone who steps into view?

My preference changes daily . . . but now I would say I watch up to 1h 30min long videos, longer than that is nope. under 50min is preferece. 15min to 30min is about average what I watch. IF you do cut it in pieces "next, previous and first episode" should be FIRST thing in description and at the end . . . reason why you add it to description is that is one of the easiest way to know you are going for the next part . . . Ofc I commen this before watching this ^_^ I has Dyslexia so I'm looking for anything that makes me read less . . . started reading Tales from the yawning portal book I own it took me to read 6 pages 2 hours

Thanks!

i decided to have the dragon attack the nearby town were the party start start from. only for about 3-5 turns, killing civilians, do maybe one or to attacks twoards the player's if they gets in its way, before flying back twoards the mountain with it's newfound loot. they were level 3, and i did nerf his breathattack just a little for one attack that was aimed twoards a player. did spice things up, and gives them an idea of what kind of dangers that might just appear, aswell as giving the an appertunity to ask around for information about black dragons, maybe find a way to deal with it or perhaps get one or two potion of acid resistance.

Thanks for the great tips, especially about Idalla. You said that you dropped your players from the rope bridge into the chasm to start the adventure. That sounds cool, but how did you keep them from dying form the fall?

I really enjoy your advice and experience. Thank you. Question: What are your thoughts on d6 initiative rolls? Roll every round for initiative. 1-3 monsters go first, 4-6 the players go first.

Thank you for all the tips ! I noticed you get dry mouth mid video. You should remember to hydrate ! Get a bottle next to you when you record cause you'll need to drink, especially when you talk uninterrupted for 30 mins

Can't Stomp this enough. Perfect format. I am wanting to make this content myself, what program did you use to screen share and produce?

About that armour in room 25 of the Glitterhame...It was placed there when I bought the Roll20 module but there is absolutely no mention of it in the book or even the Roll20 text description of this "room". I think it was misplaced ..

Really enjoyed the video. The book says it's for 4 players and I'm running for 5. Would you recommend modifying any of the encounters for this?

It is a little disappointing from a dwarven treasure point of view. This one reminds me a little of Caverns of Thracia or Dark Tower as a sandbox dungeon, just not as big. Nice Review. Always Love a Dragon. Its in the name . Swimming.

I killed a character while DMing this adventure using Nightscale, but the cleric just brought her back to life.

Did you actually play Arundil as an NPC? I've got the Roll 20 Forge as well as the hard copy and there's no token for him or character sheet. The text says that he still haunts the Foundry as a ghost - would think he'd be included. Seems like a great opportunity to RP, etc. and give context/history. Great vid - getting ready to run this in a week.

Would you recommend this as a follow-up to the Lost Mines of Phandelver ? If so, how would your link it (I'm thinking "treasure map") to LMOP and how would you adjust the monsters to accomodate a Level 5 party (5 members)? What other module (Roll20) might best fit as a follow on......in your opinion ?

Where do you put the players after they fall?

I found it funny that the party split on their own and half found the succubus...and the rogue found her kiss haha XD The artificer was on edge the entire time but the rogue saw Big Boobies...almost killed the artificer that way. I find because of Fizban's that the dragon's magic is keeping alive the undead here, defeat her first and they all just drop uwu Thanks for the review, it was helpful!

I don't think you mentioned the troglodytes at all. Should I pull them from the module? Part of me feels like orcs, trogs, and duergar are a lot of humanoid-type things to fight, and I don't see that the trogs are adding much .

You threw your players down the shaft. So you killed them 😂