CONTENTS 4 FIST OF MOURNING By Robert J. Schwalb 62 DEPTHS OF MADNESS A Scales of War Adventure Path By Robert J. Schwalb adventure. This short adventure The Madness trilogy continues with bridges the gap between the heroic “Depths of Madness.” After saving the and paragon tiers of play for your town of Wellspring, the heroes find Scales of War campaign if your PCs that their efforts have not stopped the aren’t quite 11th level. The Cult of assault on the town. A new threat has Exquisite Agony—a cabal of insane emerged, seeking to capitalize on the devotees of the Far Realms—has ON THE COVER re-emergence of the Tear of Ioun. The Illustration by Wayne Reynolds grown in power recently, spurred heroes must seize the Tear and defeat on by a local sect popping up almost this threat, or the entire region could overnight in Overlook. Now the cult is looking to expand its sphere 3 EDITORIAL be swallowed by chaos. An adventure of influence, using the recent chaos in the city as a springboard for for 11th-level PCs. their own agenda. An adventure for 10th-level PCs. 103 RULING SKILL CHALLENGES By Mike Mearls Mike continues to educate on the 27 WINTER OF THE WITCH Sample file nature of skill challenges, with By Stephen Radney-MacFarland unique applications and examples. In this epic adventure, the Winter Witch—a 106 SAVE MY GAME legendary archfey—has launched a campaign By Stephen Radney-MacFarland to send eternal winter cascading over large A DM’s best friend? Stephen portions of the world. After a summons to Radney-MacFarland, back with Winterhaven, the characters find a land more advice and letters from the locked in ice, and an old ally in need of aid. mailbag. A trek to find a artifact known as the Sun’s Sliver ensues, the only force potent enough 109 DUNGEONCRAFT to defeat the Winter Witch and banish her By James Wyatt from the mortal world once more. An adventure James discusses the latest changes for 22nd-level PCs. to his fledgling campaign. DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, DUNGEON, DRAGON, d20, d20 System, Wizards of the Coast, all other Wizards of the Coast prod- uct names, and their respective logos are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast, LLC, in the U.S.A. and other countries. TM This material is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or artwork contained herein is prohibited without the express written permission of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. This product is a work of fiction. Any similarity to actual people, organizations, places, or events is purely coincidental. Printed in the U.S.A. ©2008 Wizards of the Coast, LLC. No portion of this work may be reproduced in any form without written permission. For more DUNGEONS & DRAGONS articles, adventures, and information, visit www.wizards.com/dnd TM EDITORIAL 162 DUNGEON January 2009 Don’t Let the XP Editor-in-Chief Chris Youngs Grind You Down Senior Art Director Jon Schindehette Web Specialist Chris Sims If you watched the news the week before Christmas, you occasion, it can interfere with the story you’re trying might have seen weather reports about snowstorms in the to tell. I know there have been times in each of my Web Production Bart Carroll, Steve Winter Pacific Northwest. I know, I know—up here, we tend to freak campaigns, past and present, when my characters Contributing Authors Stephen Radney-MacFarland, out over the least amount of the white stuff, but this was have advanced more quickly than I expected, and I’ve Mike Mearls, Robert J. Schwalb, pretty genuine… at least for a city that boasts a fleet of only needed to tweak encounters on the fly to make them James Wyatt thirty plows. So the office was closed for a few days due to challenging enough. That can be a headache. I’ve terrible road conditions, and while I sat home and watched likewise had experiences where groups have missed Developers Stephen Radney-MacFarland, the snow pile up, I got to thinking about snow days past. encounters, often due to smart play, so they haven’t advanced as quickly as I thought they would, forcing Peter Schaefer, Rodney Thompson I brought this up when we got back to the office, and me to alter encounters in the other direction. Editors Miranda Horner, Gary Sarli Bart mentioned an all-D&D marathon during a snow This isn’t a big deal in the grand scheme of things, week in his youth. What a blast! When they played— but I love that D&D is a flexible enough game that Cover Artist Wayne Reynolds stopping only for food and the occasional nap—they with the right group, you can just alter the XP system Contributing Artists Dave Allsop, Drew Baker didn’t track XP. Their DM would just tell them to level to achieve the same ends. Maybe you increase or Erid Deschamps, Gonzalo Flores decrease XP values by 20% for a few weeks until the Izzy, Goran Josic, Howard Lyon PCs’ levels are back where you need them. Or maybe Raven Mimura, William O’Connor The results from last month’s question are in. As I, you just stop awarding XP for a few sessions until Ann Stokes, Amelia Stoner ahem, expected, Against the Giants beat the pants they’ve finished the adventure they’re on and are back Sam Wood , Ben Wootten off of Tomb of Horrors, 43% to 37%. Thanks to every- on track. (Warning! This approach could be hazard- one whoSample participated in the poll! file ous, and you might find your Mt. Dew spiked with Cartographers Jason A. Engle, Robert Lazzaretti Ex-lax or worse!) Sean Macdonald,Mike Schley Basically, XP shouldn’t be a DM’s enemy. Just be Publishing Production Specialists Angelika Lokotz, Erin Dorries, up after a significant period of adventuring had passed. sure to keep your group informed. If you’re going to Christopher Tardiff The players didn’t even want to bother tracking XP-- fudge the numbers or start dictating when characters that took away from the marathon session. And the DM level (after a set amount of real-world time, or after Web Development Mark A. Jindra then didn’t have to track numbers. When he was ready in-game way points), let your players know and they’ll D&D Creative Manager Christopher Perkins to up the challenges, he had the players take a few appreciate you for the heads up….. Or they’ll hate your minutes to level up their characters. The idea was that guts and you’ll find your favorite mini’s decapitated Executive Producer, when you’re running a D&D marathon, you don’t want head in your bed one morning. Regardless, the system D&D Insider Ken Troop to spend precious gaming time calculating XP. can handle this quick and easy change. I think this is brilliant! Don’t get me wrong: I don’t Heck, I’m sure I’m missing some other easy fixes. Director of RPG R&D Bill Slavicsek have a thing against XP. In 4th Edition, it’s easier than Has XP ever limited your game in some way or proved ever to calculate and dole out. For most campaigns, a liability? What’s your story? And how did you fix it? it’s an ideal way to track character progress through Send us your responses to [email protected]! Special Thanks the levels. Plus, that sense of anticipation as you creep toward your next level is great fun. Richard Baker, Greg Bilsland, Logan Bonner, Michele Carter, For most groups, XP serves as your barometer Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, Andy Collins, Bruce R. Cordell, Jeremy Crawford, Rob Heinsoo, Peter Lee, Julia Martin, Mike Mearls, for advancement—heck, for the entire campaign’s Kim Mohan, David Noonan, Stephen Radney-MacFarland, Peter progress! However, that means that for most DMs, on Schaefer, Stephen Schubert, Chris Sims, Rodney Thompson, Rob Watkins, James Wyatt Sample file by Robert J. Schwalb illustrations by Gonzalo Flores, Goran Josic, of Howard Lyon, and Anne Stokes Fist Mourning ✦ An adventure for 10th-level characters cartography by Mike Schley TM & © 2009 Wizards of the Coast LLC. All rights reserved. Januaryar y 20092009 | DUNGEONDUNGEON 162162 4 Fist of Mourning While lords and heroes alike look to the brimming war spilling across the lands, evil blossoms in places unexpected. With the realm, and possibly the world, teetering on destruction’s precipice, new factions rise to work their wickedness. One such menace is the Cult of Exquisite Agony, a disturbed cabal dedicated to perfect- ing mortal flesh by infusing it with the essence of chaos to make it more adaptable, stronger, faster, and better. Gathering in a fallen hero’s tomb high in the Stone- home Mountains, this cult commits horrific acts hidden from those who cannot comprehend their effort’s mag- nificent end. Though careful to avoid attention, success’s proximity has made them sloppy, and their deeds leave traces those with courage and resolve can follow. “Fist of Mourning” is a DUNGEONS & DRAGONS® adventure for five 10th-level characters. Although designed as a short scenario for adventuring parties participating in the “Scales of War” adventure path, you can adapt it for use in any mountainous region of any game world and for any campaign. Sample file BACKGROUND The Cult of Exquisite Agony blossomed and withered succumbed to insanity and malice, turning against while he consumed it. So he ate plenty and often.