AoTNG - D&D campaign

Adventures of the Nerdy Gamers

Dungeons and Dragons

Prior to Covid, a few of us had been trying to meet up semi-regularly to play different board games. With the various lockdowns, we moved that online, mostly via Tabletopia. But then we tried out Blackstone Fortress, with me setting up a camera and moving the pieces while everyone else chose what their characters did. Then, it hit me. We should obviously play D&D. 

I know that there are online tools for D&D, but I have a tonne of miniatures and all the books - it made no sense for me to re-buy all these books digitally. Besides, I like using models, and I figured that with the right setup it could be awesome. And allow us to continue in-person when restrictions allowed. 

I had four friends that I was pretty sure would be up for playing the game, plus Heather was very keen - she's become quite a keen D&D player! I've written about our various characters in different campaigns we've played HERE

So, I decided to run The Lost Mine of Phandelver, but with a few additions of my own. It's kept us going for the last 12 months and been really successful. I never really intended to write it up to quite this extent, but one thing led to another and it's ended up being quite a huge narrative... each session is linked below, read on if you want to see how the party's adventures have taken shape! 

 

The Party

Artist's impression of the party and their puppeteer!

A few of the players were new to D&D while some had played before, so I helped out with character creation. Playing remotely, I supplied the models for everyone to use - most of them I had already but there were a couple of new additions that I painted up to suit the character choices. 

Barendil

An elf ranger, skilled with a bow, from a clan of dragon hunters who were all but wiped out many years ago. Wise but possessing a wrathful temper when provoked, Barendil is accompanied by a falcon named Perry who acts as his eyes and ears from the sky. 

Kisandra Starlight

A half-elf sorceress and her pet pseudodragon, Aster. She was an orphan, raised by the scholarly old wizard Bran Hornraven who accompanied the party on their first quest from Chestnut Hollow. 

Buck Norris

Affable and fond of an ale or three, Friar Buck is a human cleric dedicated to Kord who, after finding his faith lacking, has found new purpose within this group. 

Guillerme Don d'Lyonne

Coming from a posh family where he was the unloved son, Guillerme likely took the paladin's path to try and prove something to his father. He longs for the day when he can return home, triumphant, to a hero's welcome. 

Nobby Nobbs

The original Nobby Nobbs model, before his upgrade!

Nobby Nobbs was a watchman in the city of Ankh Morpork on the Discworld, a flat world sitting on the back of four elephants who themselves stand on top of a giant star turtle... If his smell doesn't drive you away, his fanciful tales about where he came from and how he fell through a portal in a library to arrive on the Sword Coast likely will. Persevering through these rambling fever dreams would likely lead to Nobby proudly showing off his certificate that 'proves' he is human. How a rogue with his predilection for thieving ever came to be a watchman in any city, no matter what animals it is built on top of, remains a mystery. 

The Lost Mine of Phandelver

I figured that running the starter campaign, The Lost Mine of Phandelver, would be a good way to reduce my workload on the planning front, and it seemed like a really well-written adventure. I was right that it's a good adventure, but it didn't save me a whole lot of time! There are more gaps and things to improvise than I was expecting - I should have read it more carefully in the first place!! 😅 

I wrote a one-off initial session to see how well the concept would work and to gauge interest, so when that went well we segued into the main campaign. 

Session 1 - 29 November 2020

Introduction to D&D, the party meet at the Golden Hind Tavern in Chestnut Hollow and agree to investigate strange goings-on in a nearby dwarf mine.

Session 2 - 13 December 2020

Kisandra Starlight replaces Bran Hornraven in the party, and they agree to help the farmhands of White Willow Farm before beginning their journey to Phandalin. A discovery on the road sends them searching in the forest where they discover a goblin-infested cave.

Session 3 - 20 December 2020

After rescuing Sildar Halwinter from the goblins, they complete their journey to Phandalin and begin exploring the town. Some parts of the town prove to be be rougher than others.  

Session 4 - 27 December 2020

A mysterious letter arrives that calls the adventurers back to White Willow Farm where a portal transports them to a strange, snow-covered Christmas Realm.

Session 5 - 10 January 2021

Head out from Phandalin to find a banshee living in the ruins of Coneyberry, before entering Tresander Manor to find out who has been terrorising the town. 

Session 6 - 24 January 2021

The party continue searching through Tresander Manor.

Session 7 - 07 February 2021

They head out onto the road from Phandalin and find that the surrounding area is not so safe.

Session 8 - 21 February 2021

After receiving some helpful tips from the townsfolk of Phandalin, the party visits Old Owl Well and Wyvern Tor.

Session 9 - 07 March 2021

They travel north on the High Road to the ruined town of Thundertree, in the outskirts of Neverwinter Wood.

Session 10 - 21 March 2021

Continue their adventure in Thundertree, encountering a blue dragon named Stormfang. 

Session 11 - 04 April 2021

More enemies to fight in Thundertree.

Session 12 - 18 April 2021

Further fighting in Thundertree before meeting the druid, Brida Elmgrove.

Session 13 - 02 May 2021

The day of reckoning; the party's biggest battle to date occurs in Thundertree. 

Session 14 - 16 May 2021

Final clearing up of Thundertree and preparing for the return to Phandalin. They discover the location of Cragmaw Castle. 

Session 15 - 31 May 2021

The return journey to Phandalin isn't as safe as they expected. Once they get there, they have plenty to report and shopping to do, as well as commissions for items to be crafted for them.

Session 16 - 27 June 2021

Friar Buck opens up about his past while Guillerme receives word from home. The party travels to Cragmaw Castle, deep in Neverwinter Wood.  

Session 17 - 18 July 2021

Exploration of Cragmaw Castle. Gundren Rockseeker is saved from imprisonment by the goblins. 

Session 18 - 25 July 2021

Cragmaw Castle is cleansed and the party returns Gundren to Phandalin, triumphant.

Session 19 - 08 August 2021

The party travel to a hidden crypt on orders from Daran Edermath, encountering an old enemy within.

Session 20 - 22 August 2021

After retrieving a valuable artifact from the crypt, the party is at odds with Daran. They resolve their differences and head to Wave Echo Cave, the main objective of their adventure.

Session 21 - 05 September 2021

Sildar and Gundren are waiting for the party outside the secret entrance to Wave Echo Cave. The party enters the min cautiously and quickly finds that it is much bigger than they initially thought.

Session 22 - 26 September 2021

Exploring the mine, the adventurers stumble upon the Black Spider, a nefarious drow who has been impeding them at every turn. He manages to escape their ambush. 

Session 23 - 03 October 2021

It's a race against time to find and open the Forge of Spells so the adventurers push themselves onwards until they meet a foe that is far stronger than they expected. 

Session 24 - 17 October 2021

The adventurers need to rest and recuperate before continuing their quest. They explore the rest of the mine and discover the location of the Forge of Spells, managing to open the door just in time. But what will they find within? 

Session 25 - 14 November 2021

After almost an entire year of adventuring, the party has reached the final confrontation... will they succeed in their quest or fall at the final hurdle? 

Session 26 - 28 November 2021

After almost an entire year of adventuring, the party didn't quite complete the final confrontation during Session 25... this is the thrilling conclusion to the adventure!  

Epilogue

The standing of the party and the region around Phandalin at the end of this adventure. Will they be called on again in the future? What will they do until then? 

Summary of the adventurer's progress