[RPG]: Rescue at Rivenroar, reviewed by Baz King (4/4)

[RPGnet Reviews]

http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/14/14317.phtml

Baz Stevens's Summary:

This is really good stuff. A far better first foray into 4e than Keep on the Shadowfell provides. Iconic monsters, though not kobolds or orcs for once, in iconic situations, with a healthy dose of personality on top. It's left me wanting more. Looking forward to the next chapter.

Go to the full review for more information.

[The Illustrious Number 6]

Thanks for the review!

I took a look at this module when it was released. At the time I was DMing Red Hand of Doom, and my group was planning to switch to 4E after we'd complete it, so this seemed like the perfect module to start with.

Sadly, for some unfathomable reason, Dave Noonan and/or WotC decided to change pretty much everying about Brindol except the map. All the prominent NPCs are gone without explanation, all the bars and taverns are replaced, the stores are completely different, etc. It's the campaign equivalent of Highlander II!

I really don't understand why the module on the one hand is clearly intended as a sequel to RHoD, while on the other hand, they change the setting so much that it's almost unrecognizable. Definitely a mark against it, though you'll never know it if you're not familiar with RHoD.

[olshanski]

Thank you for the review.

I would prefer if you had fewer asides in your review. I don't know if it was intentional and making fun of the adventure for beating around the bush, but the review kept interrupting itself, and the constant interruptions made it harder to enjoy.

Examples:
Never mind, let's see what your party will be up against. But first, let's see what your players know.

Don't get carried away though, the adventure hasn't started yet.

Again, we still haven't started. We get to see the treasure sytem first.


Instead of telling me what you intend to tell me at a later time. Just give me the review.

[The Mighty Sprout]

Asides are very much a matter of taste. I enjoyed your review and the diversions didn't worry me at all. I'm just grateful that some kind soul is planning on reviewing the whole of the Scales of War adventure path. I'm keen to see your views on whether the rest matches or exceeds your enjoyment of Rescue at Rivenroar. Any thoughts on how soon you're planning on reviewing the rest of Scales of War - bearing in mind that the path hasn't even finished yet?!

[Baz King]

Originally Posted by The Mighty Sprout

Asides are very much a matter of taste. I enjoyed your review and the diversions didn't worry me at all. I'm just grateful that some kind soul is planning on reviewing the whole of the Scales of War adventure path. I'm keen to see your views on whether the rest matches or exceeds your enjoyment of Rescue at Rivenroar. Any thoughts on how soon you're planning on reviewing the rest of Scales of War - bearing in mind that the path hasn't even finished yet?!

Thanks for the kind words. (As an aside, I like asides, makes it more coversational, y'know?).

I've got the first three reviews 'in the system' now and I'm writing the 4th right now.

[Baz King]

Originally Posted by olshanski

Thank you for the review.

I would prefer if you had fewer asides in your review. I don't know if it was intentional and making fun of the adventure for beating around the bush, but the review kept interrupting itself, and the constant interruptions made it harder to enjoy.

Examples:
Never mind, let's see what your party will be up against. But first, let's see what your players know.

Don't get carried away though, the adventure hasn't started yet.

Again, we still haven't started. We get to see the treasure sytem first.


Instead of telling me what you intend to tell me at a later time. Just give me the review.

That's good feedback, thanks.

Let me know if you like the next installment more.

[capnzapp]

Ah, I was wondering why the read-along thread had dried up!

[capnzapp]

Originally Posted by The Illustrious Number 6

Sadly, for some unfathomable reason, Dave Noonan and/or WotC decided to change pretty much everying about Brindol except the map. All the prominent NPCs are gone without explanation, all the bars and taverns are replaced, the stores are completely different, etc. It's the campaign equivalent of Highlander II!

I really don't understand why the module on the one hand is clearly intended as a sequel to RHoD, while on the other hand, they change the setting so much that it's almost unrecognizable. Definitely a mark against it, though you'll never know it if you're not familiar with RHoD.

As far as I can understand, they even reversed the flow of the river... Complete botch-up.

If you haven't run RHoD, the adventure path is fine, I guess. But if you have, be prepared to check every little detail, because the SoW designer's haven't paid a rat's ass to ensure consistency.

(Not only do the SoW break consistency with RHOD's Elsir Vale; if you took RHOD's advice for setting that module in the Forgotten Realms (a common choice I imagine) you should also know that that part of the world has been blasted into oblivion. In other words, FR DMs are double screwed over. Good job, WotC...

My best advice is to simply not run it as a successor module at all. Unless I'm mistaken this plot thread is completely abandoned anyway in the rest of the series. By ditching the Red Hand angle all problems go away, and apparently nothing important is lost.

[Baz King]

Originally Posted by capnzapp

Ah, I was wondering why the read-along thread had dried up!

Its not dried up. Its not even on hold! The nature of the material means that there will be periods of time where there's not much coming from me. I tend to do a complete read through, then go back and tackle it section by section. I then wait for responses and comments, as these often inform the way I approach later installments. It was never going to be as frequently updated as other Let's Reads, whose subjects are in smaller chunks.

What you see here is a compiled review, errata'ed and occasionally revised. Its also submitted in batches of 3 complete reviews.

The Let's Read will continue, think of it as an open playtest!