Starting Anew...

We're still underway in Storm King's Thunder, but even that adventure is finally edging toward the end game section. With the new module in hand, it's time to start developing a new storyline. The options are numerous, and that poses a problem.

I think, in the end, we will have multiple games running, which will ease the anxiety, but deciding where to start is intimidating. Even now, I'm waffling between an option centered on a dragon, and one with Tabaxi. I think the latter will make for a fun romp through the jungle, and there are obvious connections with the mini adventure we've run already with these characters. It is definitely an adventure course we'll run. I'm just not sure whether I should run it, or leave it for Stephen to run.

We've been interested in a dragon quest, and there is an option that will lead that direction. That could be fun. My concern is that the dragon element is removed from the start of the quest, and would require a lot of work to build up an adventure to that point. That is too much like what Storm King' Thunder provided - which was a major flaw in that adventure. You buy these things looking for something to run, and not to create the encounters yourself. If that is what you need to do, there's no reason to use the module.

I think Tomb of Annihilation will offer better options for developing the adventure, but it feels important not to overlap routes either. The two options I've considered seem to lead in the same direction, which means either duplicating encounter areas, pushing elements around on the map, or finding another way to push the two paths apart.

At least the actual map of the jungle interior is unknown. This allows for leeway in playing it out. One possibility is that the guides themselves, separate from their destinations, only know limited paths through the jungle. Maybe they prefer travel by water, or have an aversion to water. Maybe they have been taught to avoid certain areas... there are a number of options.

I think I need to actually study the guides themselves first, and use their attributes to decide how to advance this.