Review of the Dungeons & Dragons Module: Dragons of Stormwreck Isle
Background
Dragons of Stormwreck Isle is the most recent starter set for Dungeons & Dragons, designed as an accessible adventure for new players and Dungeon Masters (DMs). The adventure takes place on Stormwreck Isle, a mysterious island shaped by ancient conflicts between Chromatic and Metallic Dragons. This adventure provides an introduction to the world of D&D through adventurous exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving.
What’s There to Experience?
Players begin their journey through Stormwreck Isle to visit Dragon’s Rest, a temple dedicated to Bahamut and inhabited by friendly kobolds. They soon discover that a young bronze dragon wyrmling, who protects the temple, has gone missing. The adventure consists of two major side quests: solving a toxic gas problem in a Myconid cave and breaking an undead curse on a shipwreck. The final scenario includes an epic battle against a blue dragon wyrmling who wants to sacrifice the bronze dragon wyrmling in an evil ritual.
Tips for Dungeon Masters
Spoilers ahead!
- When following the scenario, Tarak has the potential to become hostile towards the party if they press too hard about the tattoo on his neck. Since he’s the quest giver for the “seagrove cave” quest, don’t take this too far!
- Use Tarak as a way to distribute potions depending on the party composition. This helps compensate for any potential lack of healing.
- The Compass Rose is the easiest quest to start with at level 1.
- Seagrove cave: each “Violet fungi” has the potential to deal 40 damage on its turn. They’re glass cannons, but if they act before the party despite their negative initiative modifier, this could cause problems.
Ratings
Exploration: 7/10
The module offers diverse paths and optional encounters, giving players freedom of choice. The limited geographical scope of the island makes navigation easier, but the discovery of the adventure’s hidden parts could use more challenge.
Roleplay Opportunities: 6/10
While there are interesting moments for roleplay, such as interactions with the kobolds and Myconids, the adventure’s central hub feels somewhat limited, and some NPCs lack memorable depth.
Combat: 8/10
Battles are well-balanced for newcomers, with varied enemies including zombies and dragon wyrmlings. The module avoids beginner clichés like orcs and goblins, introducing challenging elements such as Myconids and Harpies.
Puzzles: 5/10
The puzzles in the adventure are fairly simple and sometimes require direct guidance from the DM to lead players to the solution. There’s definitely room for more complex and challenging puzzles.
Conclusion
Dragons of Stormwreck Isle is a solid choice for new players and DMs. The adventure offers a compact and easy-to-follow structure, ideal as a beginner campaign. While it doesn’t have the depth of Lost Mines of Phandelver, it provides a fresh perspective with a focus on simplicity and accessibility.