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While there’s no official record of her death, I’ve always assumed that Auglathla’s sorrow-bound existence as Agatha the Banshee predates the founding of Conyberry in 1351 DR. Since the events of Lost Mine of Phandelver take place in 1491 DR, it’s entirely possible she’s been haunting the woods around the village for two centuries or…
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I realize that in my previous thoughts, I pitched Falcon the Hunter as this Phandalin-adjacent local hero. But the more I sit with it, the more I’m convinced: This Falcon guy has a screw loose – though you’d never know it until you get to his home. I’m actually impressed with Falcon’s Hunting Lodge. It…
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In yesterday’s thoughts, I wondered aloud who Phandalin’s local hero would be. If you’re familiar with online forums like r/lostminesofphandalin where novice Dungeon Masters look for advice on how to run Lost Mine of Phandelver, you know that player characters are often not the heroes. Left to their own devices in a fantasy roleplay world…
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This morning, I came across Red Harvald in my Bluesky feed. According to the Forgotten Realms wiki, in the early 14th century DR, Harvald was a hero, adventurer, and resident of Glen, a village in Mistledale of the Dalelands. “A local hero, he had a reputation as a tough, but good man.“ He wasn’t a…
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If you hang around the Lost Mines of Phandelver subreddit long enough (r/lostminesofphandelver), you’re bound to come across the following advice from veteran Dungeon Masters: “Use the premade characters that come with the adventure. Each premade character has a plot hook in their background that ties nicely into the adventure.” Of course, most players will…
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The presence of the Redbrand ruffians in Phandalin should carry real weight at your table. They are not disposable mooks meant to be cut down and forgotten on the way to a side quest. Driving them out should feel less like clearing a dungeon and more like breaking the grip of a gang that has…
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One thing I’ve seen Dungeon Masters tie themselves in knots over while running Lost Mine of Phandelver is what to do when a low-level party opts for the Thundertree quest. The presence of Venomfang, a young green dragon, creates a sense that a TPK is inevitable. I’m here to tell you it’s not. Venomfang is…
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From the introduction of Lost Mine of Phandelver: “Known roads may be well traveled, but they aren’t necessarily safe. Fell magic, deadly monsters, and cruel local rulers are all perils that you face when you travel in the Forgotten Realms. Even farms and freeholds within a day’s walk of a city can fall prey to…
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In Phandalin and Below:The Shattered Obelisk, the peril of the Dendrar family shifts from the threat of human trafficking (as described in the original Lost Mine of Phandelver adventure) to a scenario where the family is held hostage for a ransom. “The three human commoners imprisoned here are Mirna Dendrar and her teenage children, thirteen-year-old Nars and…
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Let’s look at the Gnomengarde Wild Magic Effects table, as it appears in Dragon of Icespire Peak: Now, let’s do the math. When rolling a 1-6, there is a 30% chance nothing will happen. Nada. Zip. Zero. In an area suffused with wild magic – where something wild, wacky, or disastrous could happen the moment a spellcaster utters “obla di obla da”…
