Customer Reviews

Heart of Nightfang Spire (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.0 Fantasy Roleplaying Adventure, 10th Level)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I will admit up front that I am a big fan of Bruce Cordell: compared to the majority of writers working in the fantasy RPG field today, I've always found his work top-notch.
That said, it's not much of a surprise that I'm giving "Heart of Nightfang Spire" such a glowing review. For what it sets out to accomplish -- presenting a challenging and dangerous dungeon crawl for higher level characters -- it admirably succeeds. If you're not interested in running a dungeon crawl, you should avoid this one. On the other hand, if your PC party is getting a little cocky, you'll find that running them through this one may bring them down a notch or two.
The module is well laid-out, with a nicely designed dungeon, easy to read maps and text, a nice method of elaborating on the story, and some of the most imaginative monsters to have been put out in a 3rd Edition book (and what's most amazing about that is that the monsters are constructed out of elements all present in the Monster Manual). A gibbering mouther vampire, a half-dragon flesh golem, a wight assassin, a very powerful version of a stone golem...this is the kind of imaginative splendor I like to see in a module.
Be warned that this is a dangerous adventure. Similar to Bruce Cordell's other adventures, the DM is likely to kill off a couple of PCs with this one, whether intentionally or not, so the DM may want to take extra care with the encounters here (unless you're not worried about killing off PCs, such as is the case with myself). If your PCs have had an easy ride thusfar in your campaign, this may be the adventure they need to play -- just to jolt them back to the realization that their career choice really is a dangerous one.
All in all, "Heart of Nightfang Spire" is a superior dungeon crawl, superior in practically every way to most of the other D20 modules on the shelves right now. Dark, dreary and dangerous -- if that's not your bag, then stay away, but if you like throwing a little bit of frightening, imaginative, well-conceived and exciting danger towards your PCs, there's no better dungeon crawl on the market.

First, let me say that I do like this adventure even if I don't seem to be too enthusiastic about it. I just can't help thinking that this series (the Adventure Path) is just too dungeon oriented. Most of the series has been great, but it can't help but seem redundant at this point.

Okay, now that I've said my peace, please know that I really did like "Heart of Nightfang Spire" just as much as I've liked the others in the series. I loved the plot (which is starting to tie into the other adventures and actually answered a question I had about the ending of the "Sunless Citadel"). I liked the villian. I loved the fact that Cordell answered some of the questions that popped into my mind because I knew the adventure was planned for those of higher levels... Questions like, "What if my group can teleport or use dimension door?" The maps were clear and easy to read.

Many of the problems that I have with "Heart of Nightfang Spire" are problems that I have had with the rest of the Adventure Path series. I do feel that the whole series is a bit overpriced and the Heart of Nightfang Spire is no exception. The treasure received seems a little less compared to most of the other published adventures by WoTC. The descriptive text of certain rooms is overly repetitive. (It's quite obvious that the cut and past function was used even in rooms with different keys.)

Overall, I still give this adventure two thumb's up, because it's fun and the plot is good, but I'm really hoping that future adventures in this series are outside of a dungeon. Purchase this knowing that you'll get a good, solid, if not highly original, adventure.

This adventure is one of the most difficult published adventures I have played in the DandD/D20 system. But, Oh is it worth the effort,from great original NPC's to an exotic local full of things that go bump in the night this adventure keeps you on your toes. The intelligent monsters in this tower are some of the most well thought out advasaries I have encountered and the consant threat of being over-run by specters, shadows and vapire spawn simply adds to the action. The descriptive text is nicely done and go's a long way towards creating the proper gothic atmosphere. All in all a fun time for those who are brave enough to take on intelligent advasaries and reap the rewards. And remeber the old maxim - "Where one cleric is good, Two-Better" hope this helps. Jake (JK)

On the face this may seem like any other dungeon crawl, but the deeper you dig into the content, the more you see that is not true.

A truly unique collection of imaginative, intelligent foes keep the PC's hard pressed at every turn! The module will sorely test the limits of a 10th level party, but is feasible. If your players are prone to careless actions they won't make it to the final encounter.

This is one of the more impressive highlights of the initial WoTC line of adventures.

The reviews that peg this module as just another dungeon crawl are selling it short. Yes the entirety of the adventure happens in a ruined tower and the catacombs beneath, but it so much more than just that.

I imagine that just about any GM could run this adventure as a purely hack n' slash montyhaul style game. However, like each preceding adventure in this "Path" it continues to build on a intricate story with many different permutations. This adventure ties in to both the preceding "Sunless Citadel" and the final sequel "Bastion of Broken Souls". I would strongly disagree with the comment that this adventure is tying the "Adventure Path" series of modules into a dungeon based epic, especially given that the preceding two adventures "Speaker in Dreams" and "The Standing Stone" were based in a port town and a forest village respectively.

The author, Bruce Cordell, has done an excellent job playing around with monster sterotypes and templates to come up with some very interesting and creative variations. This module also harks back to the good (bad?) old days of Gary Gygax (RIP) and his tournament models which were designed to be completed in "bites". If a group can hack their way through this adventure without ever leaving the tower or the catacombs then the GM is simply not running it correctly. So the comment from another reviewer about it being too powerful for 10th level characters is correct in a certain context.

This is a solid module that continues to build the story, yet contains enough of its own sub-plots that the players will have to be really switched on to catch some of the references to the bigger story.

My advice to everyone, is simply don't play these adventures as stand alones (despite the advice to do just that on the back cover!). They must be played chronologically, although certainly not back to back.

Enjoy.

On the face this may seem like any other dungeon crawl, but the deeper you dig into the content, the more you see that is not true.

A truly unique collection of imaginative, intelligent foes keep the PC's hard pressed at every turn! The module will sorely test the limits of a 10th level party, but is feasible. If your players are prone to careless actions they won't make it to the final encounter.

This is one of the more impressive highlights of the initial WoTC line of adventures.

Bruce R. Cordell has long been one of my favorite writers when it comes to AD&D material. This module has everything it takes to create a terrifying/horrifying experience for your gaming group. The setting is appropriately desolate and foreboding, the overall theme of powerful undead is daunting, and the primary enemy is just flat out wicked.
I like to incorporate this into my Passage of Slerotin campaign, with this being located in a section of the Jotens (Greyhawk). I tie it in with the Night Below campaign as well. I like to use a "pursuit of the enemy" lead in, where the group is chasing some slavers from the Night Below setting, leading them here.This module provides access to a heretofore unexplored section of the Underdark (in my campaign anyway), that ultimately leads to a city of the dead. Anyway, i find other useful elements to this module which i love to use. In particular, i will generally allow a ranger or druid in the group end up with a few Girallons as followers/henchmen (i have also allowed a cleric and a mage to do so before). A particular sage they encounter also has the potential to be a henchman, if not at the least a potentially powerful ally (i give her two diviner levels to flesh her out a bit more).

Anyway, this is just an example of how you can utilize this module in your campaign, but it really allows for endless creativity on the DM's part.

Enjoy!

On the face this may seem like any other dungeon crawl, but the deeper you dig into the content, the more you see that is not true.

A truly unique collection of imaginative, intelligent foes keep the PC's hard pressed at every turn! The module will sorely test the limits of a 10th level party, but is feasible. If your players are prone to careless actions they won't make it to the final encounter.

This is one of the more impressive highlights of the initial WoTC line of adventures.

My friends and I started this adventure about six months ago and just got done with it about a month ago. First, the stuff in there is to powerful for 10th. lvl characters. I mean in one room you got 7 or 8 girallions which takes you down to about half your HP's and then you go to the next room and theres 6 more. I myself died many times in there luckly we had a cleric there with us. My advice is not to play this adventure have your DM make one up or something. Final word this adventure is the worst one of them all.