Unfortunately, this is not on my list of games to rate as I would give it a 5 out of 5. I love the whimsical but deadly nature of the story: Unicorns need help. The side quests and different plot hooks are the kind of thing a GM needs, especially if there isn't enough prep time. I like the map too! I will definitely be using this when I start running my Shadowdark Mystara game with my son. Excellent work!
Well...I wrote this with OSR mentality in mind: Experimentation. The noose radiates magic. She appears as a woman with a broken neck. When they walk by the tree, they hear the sounds of a swinging gibbet. The noose is also found right in front of her inner sanctum. So...it isn't going to be easy to make the connection, but I think the clues are there, if a bit subtle.
As far as XP, that's up to you man! You're the GM. Would I give some XP for not really defeating her but keeping her at bay for a year (or however long)...maybe? I've been known to be stingy. lol.
As far as the narration in the beginning, that's again up to you. I figure if they PCs question the people of Ashtonshire, they will learn all of the information. If you want to drop it in front of the players for the purpose of a one-shot, go for it. I do that sometimes just to cut to the chase and get to the action.
If you did a short film, or animation, that would be awesome. I have a fledgling YT Channel that I would love to put it on as a sort of marketing thing. If that is okay with you, of course. DM if you'd like to hashout the details.
I will see what I can do. The map program I use isn't the best as "saved" material doesn't really save. lol. What I can do is try manipulating the maps with GIMP. Give me a few days as I am currently returning from a gaming convention.
Great dungeon crawl. It has a classic feel to it with puzzles and traps galore! I have to say, the graveyard map/tombstone name generator is pretty cool.
Very smart conversion. You packed a lot into 8 pages. I could see this expanded into a full historical supplement with some Lovecraftian-esque dungeon delving into the Amazon Jungle or in the wilds of Africa or Southeast Asia.
I was thinking that the downtime activities list provided in the main book is a bit sparse. I like this a lot. I think it is a good idea to have a bonus tied to how much a player is willing to spend. Nicely done!
This is a great adventure. I don't want to give anything away, but I like the slow decline and descent for such a cheap price! I will be adding this to my list of adventures to run.
The adventuring life is behind the halfling and now it is time to rest and reflect on his or her adventures. Perhaps the halfling will write a book? "To there and back again" has a nice ring to it...
