r/DragonOfIcespirePeak

I'm going to be DMing this campaign for my group soon with all three story expansions. We have only done a short starter campaign before this one. I asked the group what kinds of things they would like to see more of in this next campaign and several of them have expressed interest in having puzzles included.

There aren't really any puzzles in the module, as written. Do any of you know of a puzzle that fits well into one of the locations or quests in the campaign? Maybe just a puzzle that fits the region that I could use as a random encounter? Or a good riddle for one of the NPCs to challenge them with?

Im thinking Gnomengarde, with all the contraptions, could be a good place to put one. Maybe a puzzle to solve how to rid Axeholm of the banshee for good. Possibly a puzzle to solve in the adventurers' sepulcher at Dragon Barrow to obtain the lute of illusions and the necklace of fireballs. The temple of Abbathor at the dwarven excavation could be a good place for a greed themed puzzle.

Whatever you have would be appreciated! I'll also comment below if I think of any or find good ones elsewhere, that way others looking to do the same will have this as a resource.

Hi!

I'm DMing a crossover campaign of LMoP and DoIP and my party is going to fight Cryovein next session. I'm going to play a heavily homebrewed version of the Leilon trilogy and I feel that it lacks a lot of depth and some adventures are too too weak (Leilon point over all).

I started to figure out how to make it deeper and I just read Gosths of Saltmarsh and I think it can be really well included in the story.

Most important I think that the ruinstone is just a weak mcGuffin: so I was thinking of using the slyflourish version of Tammeraut's Fate so that the ruinstone is in reality in the Abyss and is a key that locks Tharizdun in his cage or otherwise it can be the focus he uses with his freed eye to cast destruction on the material plane.

Someone DMed something similar? Any tips or ideas?

Thank you in advance!

Here are some ways I am customizing my campaign to make it better for my players (at least I hope these will)…

The hook - one of my players inherits a house and mining rights in Phandalin.  I believe this will get my players more invested in preserving the town.

1. The player inherits the house from an uncle killed by an orc while mining.  This hopefully will convey the danger of the “stirred up” orcs due to being misplaced by Cryovain.
2. Harbin Wester tricks the characters (hopefully) into signing a contract for a deed transfer fee but then gives them quests to make the gold to pay it off.  The quests are originally designed to bolster the town against the threat of the orcs (while lining Harbin's pockets with more gold).  For example, convince the two dwarfs to return to operate the smithey for creating weapons.
3. Harbin is accessible to the party vs. hidden behind a locked door.  He does have a very large body guard however…
4. After the first few quests, Cryovain flies into town and drops a huge cauldron.  He demands that the town fill the cauldron with gold / treasure by the next full moon.  I believe this will open up multiple choices for the party:
   1. Raise the gold to pay off Cryovain through mining and exploration.  This could set off a nice confrontation with Harbin as to how much gold he has.
   2. Setup a trap for Cryovain once he returns (and the party has grown stronger)
   3. Attempt to find Cryovain’s lair and surprise him there
   4. Attempt to flee the town
   5. Work out a deal with Cryovain to get vengeance on the frost giants that originally imprisoned him in exchange for sparing the town.

 My group just arrived at Phandalin so I’m looking forward to running this adventure!

I'm currently running ToA for my group of players; I hate it. I hate almost everything about it. I didn't really see it as fun or interesting until I started running it. But I LOVE being a DM. I really want to run DoIP, but I don't know how to communicate to my players that I want to switch, and I don't know what to do about their level and magic items. But I LOVE their lore for their characters, and it feels so fun to run for them. I don't like ToA, and it makes me disinterested in doing it all. So how do I tell them that I want to switch but keep their characters?