I recently ran Life'z Bazaar and found it hard to get my characters interested in it, even though the adventure turned out well in the end, they really don't know the fundementals of investigating and dungeoncrawling, so fast tracking through that adventure became somewhat of a nescessity.
I've decided to put in a few changes to Drakthars Way, just thought you guys might be interested in hearing about it. (Minor the changes may be though)
The adveturers elected to stay in the Tavern where the Last Laugh thieves guild runs (though of course they don't know this), which makes it easier for me. On the 3rdish night of the goblin raids Trogdor (Fighter) should be meeting with the Captain of the Guard. While that is happening Cannox (Cleric of Nerull) will be awoken with Jill on top of him with a dagger at his neck, and a thieves guild wizard pointing a wand at his temple. This helps with the tension I set with her and Cannox in the first meeting. She will ask him to find out what happened to a shipment of poisons through the underground passages, she suspects it might have something to do with the goblins coming up from one of the possible entrances of the passage. She also suspects someone has been influencing Drakthar to take a hold of the passageway in some way or another. (I'm assuming Drakthar has been there for a while and has been known to the Thieves Guild)
I was also thinking of giving the 3rd player, Switch the Rogue a Dream about a swarm of rats crawling all over him, biting his face, stomach, well everywhere. If he goes to attack them in the dream his Rapier is silver and the Rats scurry off, but if he doesn't act the Rats drain his blood. At the end of an action he will wake up sweaty and fatigued.
So yeah..and i've also gotten rid of a lot of the rooms in the Dungeondelve. The empty ones, some of the stores, etc etc - because it needs to run a lot smoother.
Anyway, what do you guys think?
Cool idea! I especially like the scene of Jil and the wizard interrogating your PCs. That will certainly raise the tension among your players. If dungeoncrawling is not your style, then by all means cut it down. My PCs went through Jzadirune very quickly due to them taking a clockwork route through the dungeon, bypassing the skulks entirely. Even though they missed about 2/3 of the dungeon, they still got to where they needed to go. All in all, just do what you think your group will enjoy most. It seems that you have a very cinematic and imaginative campaign going on, so don't feel the need to go by the book if you have a better idea.
Sounds like your changes will definitely get your players more connected. Nice planning!
...in the dream his Rapier is silver...
Don't forget, vampires have DR 10/magic AND silver. So you might want that silver blade in the dream to glow a bit. ;-)