I’m currently reading Quests from the Infinite Staircase, the next Dungeons and Dragons book to be released by Wizards of the Coast. And I know it’s early days yet, but I think I’ve found my perfect starter adventure for One DnD. When the new rulebooks drop, I’ll take them for a test spin by running the anthology’s second adventure, When a Star Falls.
In case you haven’t memorized this year’s DnD release schedule, Quests from the Infinite Staircase is set to release on July 16. It features six standalone adventures, each adapted from an old-school adventure and designed to play out over three or four sessions. The anthology will be available a whole two months before the ‘One DnD’ Player’s Handbook, but a recent press event confirmed that Infinite Staircase is very much designed with the new rules in mind.
When a Star Falls takes place between levels four to six, and this alone is a major selling point for my debut One DnD game. The DnD classes all get their subclass picks at level three, and most builds have hit their stride somewhere around level five. Playing from level four to six is the sweet spot where I can figure out what these new character options have to offer.
With all the features of a typical D&D adventure, When a Star Falls has enough variety to let me experiment with all manner of mechanics. Players are tasked with tracking down a fallen star, which will help protect a book with prophetic powers from a group of devious sages. A unique opening hook and a clear goal kick the adventure off, and a sandbox-style map gives players a feeling of agency.
As well as elements of investigation (where is that pesky star, anyway?), the adventure features sections that prioritize roleplay and non-violent solutions. There are also plenty of combat encounters and dungeon crawls. Other parts can be handled with either method of problem-solving, allowing you to choose between stealth and brute strength.
Heck, there’s even a dragon in one of these dungeons. Strong writing keeps these classic D&D trappings from feeling stale. Without giving too many details, the memorable moments you might discover include charming animal encounters, unexpected traps, unfriendly zombies, and a literal coup.
Reviving an old adventure always serves nostalgia, and When a Star Falls clearly aims to celebrate what D&D was. Now, it’s a stepping stone for what Dungeons and Dragons will become – and it’ll help me figure out how I feel about it.
I’m still reading and playtesting, so my Quests from the Infinite Staircase review isn’t quite ready yet. Until it is, you can read about my experiences playing one of its other adventures – The Lost City.
Source: Wargamer
