5E Mini-Dungeon: The World Forge (5e)

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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Still here?

All right!

Okay, this is something UTTERLY different from anything I’ve seen so far – this mini-dungeon could be used as a complex room of sorts, as a kind of exposition by doing, or as simply its stand-alone version – in effect, the dungeon represents an experiment, wherein the PCs create a miniature world according to the experiments of an extraplanar entity: The dungeon sports 5 elemental globes – Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Void, all associated with the respective, correct energy types. These are placed on an axis of good and evil, law and chaos. Ultimately, they thus create a miniature world – but also the instrument of the cataclysm of the world, which they then need to vanquish the fated destroyer of this world – and yes, the PCs are rewarded for smart observation of previously-created, failed worlds.

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.

Colin Stricklin’s world forge is a really evocative, cool little supplement – it can easily be plugged into pretty much any complex and provides a rewarding change of pace. What more can you ask of such a humble supplement? Chris Harris’ 5e-conversion is nice and translates the mini-dungeon in a concise manner to 5e. My final verdict will be 5 stars + seal of approval.

You can get this cool mini-dungeon here on OBS!

Endzeitgeist out.

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