Distilling ToA: What elements would you keep for a test game?
For context, I’m looking to run a one-shot before doing anything involved with the module. This one-shot is aimed to be a table chemistry test and sampling for all my players to see if they want to commit to the full campaign.
As I attempt to homebrew this, I am unsure what key details I should keep for my potential players. So to open the floor to discussion: if you took Tomb of Annihilation and juiced it, what would concentrate ToA be?
Do you go heavy on jungle and dinosaurs or undead and dungeons?
Is your test game an exploration game or a puzzle game?
Does it feel wacky and aim for the silly bits of Chult or does it feel deadly and aim for the seriousness of the Death Curse?
I don’t think there is a wrong answer, but I would like to add that I know about Cellar of Death and I am saving that for session 1 if my players are on board with playing the actual game.