Mini-Dungeon Collection #077: Maw of the Dark Tide (5E) PDF

This pdf clocks in at 2 pages and is a 5E-mini-dungeon. This means we get 2 pages content, including a solid map and all item/monster-stats hyperlinked and thus, absent from the pdf, with only deviations from the statblocks being noted for the GM. Oh, and the series now comes in an archive that also contains...*drumroll* a .jpg-version of the map, in both GM and player-friendly versions!

Since this product line's goal is providing short diversions, side-quest dungeons etc., I will not expect mind-shattering revelations, massive plots or particularly smart or detailed depictions, instead tackling the line for what it is, a helpful tool in the GM’s arsenal. Got that? Great!

This being an adventure-review, the following contains SPOILERS. Potential players may wish to jump to the conclusion.

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Strange, tattooed cultists assault a monastery, bring destruction and once more retreat to their floating isle, surrounded by a moat of negative energy containing slime. The slime causes “negative energy damage”, which does not exist in 5e. The temple of the dark monks btw. contains two truly magic items, making the attack on the fortress more hazardous than the hazards and lethal foes would make it.

Conclusion:

Editing and formatting are very good, I noticed no significant glitches. Layout adheres to a beautiful 2-column full-color standard and the pdf comes sans bookmarks, but needs none at this length. Cartography is full color and nice. Huge plus: We get a GM AND a Player-version of the area in which this takes place, providing full VTT-friendly compatibility.

The PFRPG-version of this adventure is pretty epic, requiring some serious work. In the 5e-version, the conversion team of Kyle Crider and Chris Harris has elected to go a more mid-level approach, level 6 - 8, to be precise. Unfortunately, this does mean that the module loses the over-the-topness that made the original high-level module amazing. In 5e, it is more subdued, and frankly, significantly less interesting. My final verdict will clock in at 3.5 stars, rounded up due to in dubio pro reo.

Endzeitgeist out.