Hi folks, some spoilers below if you are running descent into avernus. This is for DMs
Be warned
Be warned
Be warned
Be warned
Be warned
Ok enough warning lets goooo.
I am currently doing the descent into avernus campaign. Its book is like its theme of heaven and hell, both awesome ánd hot garbage. There is so much goodness there: going to hell, the redemption story, the blood war, zariel, mad max style vehicle warfare(!) at the same time it is messy and convoluted.
Firstly, and many have pointed this out: you dont actually descend to avernus with elturel. I want to change that and write a 30 days of night like prelude of vampires attacking the city and the characters having to defend the city. Furthermore the only way for them to defend the city is to call on zariel to blaze away the demons with holy light, which requires opening the hell gate where zariel is stationed. Of course the people of elturel and the players dont know zariel is fallen. This actually makes the players complicit in dragging elturel te hell, making them much more invested.
Secondly in hell, weirdly, there seems a double of everything.
There are the two angels zariel and the companion. Why not combine them?
There are two giant deities: the titan and kostchchie
There are two red night hags (!)
There are two wizards towers (ok on is on the material plane but still)
And two demon princes with kind if the same portfolio yeenoghu (slaughter) and baphomet (brutality).
Oh and the shield of the hidden lord is a weird add on, nit really written into it.
Things are about to change in hell. Would you be intereseted, what would you like to see changed?