Geek day....

Yesterday was geek day, and we finished The Speaker in Dreams. It was really the first time I had run through an organized event-based adventure, and it was an interesting experience. I didn't really have to railroad the players at all. Parts of it were a little less challenging than I expected, as the module is designed for four players, and our group has five.

I think the module was most useful to me in that it really showed how to design and run an event-based adventure, as opposed to site-based adventures like the standard dungeon crawl. It's an interesting change of pace, and I think it allows for a more complex storyline.

Third Edition D&D in general has been an interesting experience. A lot of the mechanics have taken some getting used to, especially after having played First and Second Edition for so many years before the release of Third Edition. In general, things are much more interdependent, and there aren't any "throw away" skills or attributes. The "pacing" seems to be better as well; challenge ratings and encounter levels make for more balanced and better paced game play. On the other hand, a lot of the changes have been a big adjustment. Initiative works so differently that at first combat moved more slowly, and saving throws have been an adjustment as well.

The next adventure will be The Standing Stone. I haven't look at it closely yet, which is just as well. I know some of my players read this blog, so I can't give away any secrets!