Editorial Note
So many published D&D adventures. Which ones to choose?
This post is brought to us by a guest author Logan Wood from hobbyinspired.com. We’ve teamed up to provide you with an article that we hope can help you find the next adventure module that you’ll enjoy running in your game. We’ll highlight some of the best linear vs. sandbox adventures and even the ones that are the best for beginners. We’ve got affiliate links throughout so if you’d like to support us, feel free to click on through for your purchase if you’re picking a module up.
Contents (Jump to your favorite)
Sandbox Adventures
Some players or DMs like more freedom and time when running their adventures. I am definitely someone that loves the freedom that the sandbox provides. You can take your time and not be bound by a linear storyline.
Sandbox-style adventures include
- Curse of Strahd
- Storm King’s Thunder
- Out of the Abyss
- Princes of the Apocalypse
- Rise of Tiamat
One thing to keep in mind is that none of these adventures are really recommended for unexperienced DMs. This doesn’t mean that an inexperienced DM will not be able to pull them off but that it will be very tough and most likely the game will not reach its maximum potential.
My Favorites – Storm King’s Thunder and Curse of Strahd
Storm Kings Thunder
Storm Kings Thunder is the biggest sandbox there is. At least that’s how I see it. The amount of content in this book is so vast that it is almost impossible to cover everything in one game. The story sets the players to fight the berserk giant lords over the Sword Coast and this adventure has the Nordic flavor to it.
Curse of Strahd
Curse of Strahd is like a gothic horror story. Nothing that fits in the classic fantasy D&D setting that you would usually expect. This is one of the reasons why I love it and another one is that since it is a sandbox you get to do your thing in this new world of Barovia.
The story of this module is very simple. You are to defeat the Strahd and liberate the people from his evil. However to do that you will have to go through a lot of difficulties and in a sandbox manner. Meaning that players get to take their time and do not have to go with a linear path.
Linear Adventures
Advantage of linear plots is that there is less work for the DM but you are more limited when you are running them.
Hoard of the Dragon Queen
Hoard of the Dragon Queen is a great example of the linear storyline but since this is a two parts adventure you should keep in mind that its sequel the Rise of Tiamat is a sandbox adventure. These two are a great combination if you wish to experience both worlds.
Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Ghosts of Saltmarsh interestingly can also be used as an example of the linear adventure(s). This book is actually a set of 7 adventures which can be played in a straightforward linear path which is recommended for newbies. Cloud 9 has an entire article written on the Ghosts of Saltmarsh,
Newbie Friendly Adventures
If you are new to the D&D world or if you haven’t been a DM yet then this section is mostly for you, but you should read about other adventures below too because it is good to know everything that’s on the table.
The Lost Mine of Phandelver (D&D Starter Kit)
You have probably heard this a thousand times: “You should run The Lost Mine of Phandelver (LMoP) for your first DM experience” and this is mostly true.
The Lost Mine of Phandelver is as straightforward as it gets because it is designed to offer the classical dungeons and dragons experience and not to be too demanding on the DM. This is why it is included in the starter set.
However, the LMoP has gotten itself some competition. The Waterdeep Dragon Heist is also a beginner-friendly adventure which I really like. It is a breath of fresh air when it comes to the newbie-friendly storylines.
The Waterdeep Dragon Heist
The Waterdeep Dragon Heist (WDH) offers some very interesting features which can spice up the gameplay such as four different villains and each for the specific season of the year. It also has a storyline which offers more opportunity for roleplaying if that is something you are particularly fond of.
Going with the LMoP or the WDH is your best bet if you are looking for something beginner-friendly for your first adventure.
Additional Adventures
The following are adventures, as well as more detail on the above adventures are covered in Logan’s full article.
- Tomb of Annihilation
- Hoard of the Dragon Queen
- Rise of Tiamat
- Tales of Yawning Portal
About Logan Wood
Aside from writing guides for fellow D&D geeks, Logan is a huge Rubix cube enthusiast and passionate cook in the kitchen! Check out his work at www.hobbyinspired.com
Amazon Pricing
Here’s the latest Amazon pricing on the above-mentioned adventures.