Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden REVIEW (D&D 5E) 

Casually shows the most beautiful alternate cover I have ever seen "Nothing too spectacular here."

Really excited to see and hear more about your campaign! :)

The thing about Cold-Hearted Killer is that the players aren't necessarily supposed to fight the killer at level 1. To me the entire point of both the starting quests is mostly just to get the players wandering between the towns and investigating as an excuse to introduce other quests and mysteries. It's very possibly that by the time the players confront the killer they'll already be level 2.

8:18 Bryn Shander is described in more detail in storm king's thunder (page 38) , maybe that's why

Here’s my plan for if and when I run this. I’m gonna bring my characters into Icewind Dale by having them be adventurers who have been hired to escort a supply caravan through the spine of the world mountains. At the end, an avalanche will hit, taking out part of the caravan and closing off their way back. Now the only way they can get out of Icewind Dale is to wait for winter’s end. Or bring winter to an end themselves. I also plan to have the NPC who initiates the final quest be more present as well as the Duragar be a more constant threat.

Come on who else is a huge fan of Drizzt and the Crystal shard novel? Homeland and Crystal shard are the best d&d novels ever!

Looks like the best 5e adventure yet after reading through it. Played Strahd, Dragon Heist, Mad Mage and I'm just about to wrap up descent into Avernus and they all had parts that I didn't like and had to tweak to make it work, Icewind looks good to go straight from the book.

Just a note : « Rime » and « Rhyme » are two different things. One refers to the accumulation of ice crystals, and one is the way words sounds.

Easy DM Tip re Towns Encounters and Locatioans: You can always move encounters and key locations to the other towns by simply changing names, flavor, the mugiffin involved and further expand them as needed.

I love that you are running it! I would prefer more players but I’ll watch it any way. I’m an excited to see you DM an official adventure

Icewind Dale is what got me into D&D. This is awesome

after buying the book, i'm glad i own Storm kings thunder and the sword coast adventurers guide. both of those books will help to flesh out the north a little more. love your Channel

I love the idea of a isolated dark winter land. It just looks so cool in my head.

One thing I recommend about cold-hearted killer is to run the quest but let players fight the killer after they are level 3, when you feel they are ready or as end chapter fight.

Thanks for reviewing it so fast!

Can’t wait to watch the live stream Nate!

Just purchased icewind dale trilogy bc of your video Nate. Thanks for the the background on this one. Working on Strahd now but frostmaiden high on list for next adventure. Your DM tips and videos are top notch man, thanks for posting!

I agree with you about the horror. I think the creators didn't push as hard as they did with Curse of Strahd, but the horror is more manifested in the desperation of the region. It's less "supernatural" horror than it is "life was already hard, but lately, it's become CRIPPLINGLY hard" horror. there's a lot of potential to play with, with that theme, and I think that's what the creators were aiming for. "Loose end" horror. What are desperate people REALLY capable of?

Fun Fact: "Rime" is a real word, and in the context it's used in the title of this game, it's a pun. Rime is frost which forms by mist or fog touching an object and the water droplets instantly freezing into ice on contact. The usual method for frost to form is by water condensing into dew on an object and then freezing into ice later as the temperature drops.

I am currently running Storm Kings Thunder for my group and I bought this book. It is an amazing source book for that module as well. I plan to run this some day. I have 2 groups. One is doing Storm Kings Thunder and one is a homebrew Theros Campaign. If I had Time I would start a 3rd group but alas I do not have that much time.

I'm running this now, I tied the early quests to food, making food a rarity in a frozen waste isn't that much of a stretch. It does mean you have to dangle starvation over your players heads, but makes it quite a nice reward.

Another great video Nate. That sounds like it will be alot of fun to play.

Thanks for the effective review. There’s potential for you to make a video where you take the «problems» in the book, break them down and suggest solutions/alternative ways of doing it without losing lore you are intended to learn. I’ve got the book coming in the mail, and would like to run it in a few months, maybe when the snow comes (we’re in Norway so thematically it would be similar but without the monsters). I subscribed to the stream, looking forward to it. If I could be so rude as to make just one suggestion for the stream, its to make sure with your players that they dont talk (too much) at the same time. I’m saying this because ive watched several streams where the audio gear and production is limited to one microphone, and the one thing that always gets me to just close the video is when people get all excited and talk at the same time - its natural and it happens but as a viewer the audio just turns to mush and noise and you cant hear anything.

Just ordered it off Amazon. Should be here tomorrow. Can't wait to delve into the story

Woohoo! I’m so excited to get my hands on the book

Illumination In normal (non-blizzard) conditions, twilight extends from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Icewind Dale is otherwise dark until aurora or the full moon appears in the night sky.

Looking forward to getting the book. But the price is twice of regular adventure book in my country

I was waiting for this, thanks!

I have watched more than one review of this product and yours is the most informative and useful! Thank you! Yes, I subbed to your new play channel 😁 A comment on the early quests and motivation - I think it is suggested at least some of the PCs be native to the Ten Towns, i.e. local heroes. 😉

Really good video! I already received my copy looking forward to run it, thanks!

It’s be great to see some videos on drawing like dungeon floors and ship decks and drawing more playable areas, instead of using a massive dry erase mat I tend to use A3 paper and draw out my floors on those so that they are re usable and I can remember them so it would be great to see ideas on other playable areas. :)

Thrilled to see u play this

Good review man, Its the first time I watch a review of you. I have been playing 3 years DND now and dm myself 2 campaigns (one homebrew one Dungeon of the Mad Mage) I feel really enthusiastic about this adventure. I do have couple of things to ask you/mention: 1. The adventure should be played in total with a lvl 1 charachters, do you also see possibilities to start the adventure with my homebrew group which just hit lvl 7? Maybe starting around the Stronghold of the Deurgar? 2. How about the player size. would you recommend a specific group size to play with? normally its about 4 players right? 3. Do you know if any online tabletop versions (also as a resource DND beyond) will feature any pieces of material we can utilize online? Like ROLL 20 maps for instance? Thanks Keep it up!

Just started reading R A Salvatore's drizzy books, including the crystal shard, so this is convenient.

Very helpful. Thanks! I like it more than I would have thought. Will buy the book. I don't usually like 5e D&D campaign books. The only one I have and used is Saltmarsh.

To me being old school a campaign was the setting in which all the adventures took place . Every world setting for AD&D 1st and 2nd edition was called " world name campaign setting " these books are just very long adventures based in a campaign world which once the adventure is finished it's time to move to another world setting adventure . Long gone are the days of single module adventures that don't need to be tied into a major adventure because now every adventure is super long single shot world setting adventures

island of solstice is a freaking snowflake!!!! how cool (pun intended) 16:50

Pumped for the livestream

Been waiting on this review

Storm King's Thunder has a lot of useful information about Bryn Shandor, including all interesting/needed locations, NPCs, quests, side-quests, and a giant attack.

Let's be serious here, who on earth pronounces it "oh-reel". Sounds like the start of "Ode to a Fishing Rod" or something. OAR-il it is! 😀Or I suppose potentially OW-ril if you're of a Tolkienish persuasion 😁 Anyway - thanks Nate, great review as always. I do like the sandbox element with the vast variety of adventures to choose from - almost moving more towards the Adventure Kit idea.

I'm so behind. I didn't know a new book was released. *Facepalm* Awesome review as always. Thanks, brother!

yeah the starting quest with the serial killer kinda confused me as well. i assume its a quest to get the party to explore the other towns and take other quests and they arent supposed to actually fight him til level 3

Can you post what the publication date, ISBN, and publisher are? I am trying to ask a library to get the book, but I need to put those in the form.

I'm also a huge fan of the Icewind Dale trilogy! From your review it seems like it might be a little painful to run, but I guess I have too try xd. How's your game been running?

I'm eager to watch your live stream starting 10/5, I will be observing how you run it, I've been reading this book as well (got it this past weekend) I like it a whole lot. I haven't locked in when I'll start my game (I told my players when my last game ended in August "I don't know if I'll run another campaign this year") but now I'm considering a start of this in November possibly.

Sounds like one of the better books to come out. Good review

There's some other cool threats in here like a demilich too... Skips over demilich without elaborating REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Noiceee review! Makes me feel a little bad to think that as a 3.5 GM using open world system with sandbox, i may be a little nemesis with my players..

I think the miniature prepainted set is great for this one....

Enjoy your take. Subbed to your live channel and will check it out. Just picked up the book yesterday. Thanks!

So as a fan of Baldurs gate 1 & 2 and and overall just fantasy in general, will watching the live stream show me everything I need to know to start playing D&D on my own? I loved the darkness off the balder gate games I’m sure the books are just as great

First things first, great review! Its really nice to see a review go in depth like this. Both giving praise where its due and critique where needed. The alternate cover art is absolutely STUNNING! The only pre-written module I've ran before this was Storm King's Thunder and Curse of Strahd. Those 2 books and this book are rather solid. I have no other experiences with pre-written but I am afraid that I don't understand the hate these pre-written books garner. (I mean this in a general sense, you were very fair with it! Just a passing thought I had pop-up.) Im sure to a significantly more seasoned DM and group, homebrew will always be better, I just don't think its THAT fair to compare the 2 types under that school of thought.. Unless I'm missing something, that is. I am sure there are real stinkers out there but, these modules can be really nice and to do a lot of the work for "The Busy DM, for them. Seriously though, great review! I really enjoyed the video! You sir, have earned a subscriber :)

Hi, that was a great review . Which video/article of yours does one need to watch in order to understand *how to use* it in order to prepare an adventure based on this book? How does someone use these publications to play with friends?

Nice video :) I agree with a lot of what you said.

That's sad considering they were really pushing all the Horror aspects of this book after it was first announced.

You may have missed the point of the starting quest. Its purpose is to route you around the various cities. To give you a reason to go to the next city. Once there, ask questions due a side quest, then continue on. You should not meet up with the killer until characters are level 3.

Can you make a video about guide character Fighter of the D&D im a n Noob about the D&D

would this be a ok adventure for newer players? the've played a bit with me before like lost mines, and a bit of strahd.

Curious how this compares to the Crystal Shard D&D Next adventure they released before 5E came out. Seems like you could dovetail them together perhaps? Or perhaps Rime of the Frostmaiden makes it a bit redundant?

Hey, fan of your videos but I am currently swamped with general work and other things related to quarantine. Because of this I have very little time to watch the livestream or even VODs of it. I was wondering if you were planning on doing a “reflection” type video on how the campaign went and what you took away from running it. I would really appreciate it!

I'd like to be able to share the artwork frim the book digitally with my players. Do you know of a way to do that?

Does anyone have an active link to the wasd20 discord? The one in the description is expired

It's Chris Perkins!

Haven't read the book yet, but given your review, would it be possible to just straight up start players at level 4 and dive straight into chapter 3, or is that leaving too much out?

How to solo it? Because I might have to do a Wednesday every month and I want more of dnd. I also want to note playing 2 hours a day --what would be up to "48" and hours" would be 88 hours

Hey is there a chapter on creating the characters ? I'd like to introduce myself and friends to paper rpgs !

I'm considering it just to steal some of the odds and ends from it and incorporating it into my own world. Do you think its good for that? Asking anyone 😊.

Well, my players are side quest wh*res so it is going to be "fun" to run all 24 quests in chapters 1 and 2. My fault probably for telling them that there was that many. How was I supposed to know that their reaction would be "cool let's do them all!". :-:

Could you put the streams up on RU-vid after they're over?

Hey ASWD20! I'm asking for this book for Christmas and I want to know, do I need the Players Handbook to run the adventure?

I've been doing a bit of research as I'm very likely gonna be the new full time DM at my table, what book suggestion would there be for someone like me who's new to this specific role. There seems to be wildly varying opinions amongst the books which is making it difficult to choose and most of those videos are dated 1 or 2 years back and don't include books such as this one. The vaguely recurring lines I hear are that Strahd, Waterdeep and Tomb are fun for players and hard for new DMs (I was hoping this book would bridge the gap), and that the 2 "sure new DM run these" with Lost Mines and Icepeak are either the one I'm currently playing as a player, or in the latter's case, has been read by half my group already so I see little point if it's only new for me the DM... Oh and to apparently REALLY avoid Hoard of the Dragon Queen.

Did you know it's pronounced 'Oh-Reel'? hehe >:) awesome vid and review, cheers!

Can you make a review About the curse of Strahd?

you stated this would not be a good book for a new DM to start with. Do you have a recommendation for a new DM?

Drizzt Do'Urden approves.

Wait, the Rime is a rhyme? I guess this horror-survival adventure also comes with wordplay. :P

Wish there was more in the way of content for the ten towns. seems a bit vague/undetailed (Edit: maybe more there than i thought, seems to take up a significant part of the book. whoops) and with the quests having no real line between them and requiring the party to take them for flimsy reasons, it could have the same issue the Princes Of The Apocalypse campaign has: A lack of character incentive.

Anyone else wondering when he would actually turn the page?

Hey I would reslly like to watch the livestream but on my time zone and with university and all it’s kind of impossible. Are you gonna upload a video of the stream so ppl can watch it later?? And one more thing I love your content and your vids!!! Cheers!!

Im a player and also not looking for major spoilers but an article title I saw mentioned what seemed like PC shapeshifters. Is there a plot point, background or racial option in this book that opens you up to being a shapeshifter or being cursed into being one kind of a thing? I know this may be tough to answer while keeping spoilers to a minimum but I was curious. We have generally kept shapeshifter races away from players unless plot has allowed it. If plot allows it, Im hoping to aim that way. I would love to be a reluctant shifter in hiding.

"I just don't really wanna put my level 1 party up against a challenge rating 3 foe." _flashes back to running Waterdeep: Dragon Heist and stressing out about its early CR 2-4 enemies only for my 4-player party to utterly curbstomp the intellect devourer and the Drow gunslinger_

So, I’m a relatively new DM, and my party is about to wrap up Dragon Heist and I’m in the market for another module to run to continue the campaign. Now, the obvious answer would be to run Dungeon of the Mad Mage, but I’m not too crazy about running a dungeon crawl, and I think it’s actually supposed to take them all the way to 20th Level, and I don’t want the whole rest of the game to be a dungeon crawl, you know? Anyway, I’m very interested in this Icewind Dale module, and I just wanted to know if it would be possible to start the adventure at Level 5, so my players can keep playing their characters from Dragon Heist.

Hi Nate, are you going to review Curse of Strahd? Or did I miss it? Really want to hear your thought before picking the book up.

What would you recommend for a beginner?

This is giving me serious Atmora vibes Might adapt it for Nords of Atmora campaign

You know you should have a game 100% horror and tension. Humor is super important, cause if you're stressed all the time you get bored of that.

I don't understand why everyone keeps getting this wrong... The cold hearted killer quest IS NOT MEANT TO BE DONE AT LEVEL 1. The quest itself has the part travel between towns. On the way they will get each town they visits rumor quest. They level up after completing one of these, and then again at 3. They should not be rushing through each town to kill Sephek.

have you reviewed dungeon draft yet? It is by far the best battle mp creating/generating software ever created. Please review it if you have not already.

I don't know why, but I was expecting something along the lines of 30 Days of night and/or Midsommar.

the starting quests i see more as an overarching thing, something to get them to go from town to town, my groups chasing the cold hearted killer, but to get to where he is they have a few towns to head through., and shit costs money, so now they're taking on jobs from towns to basically make ends meat. I'm not going to let them face him till they're at least lv 2 or 3.

This is so cool

Well that ended

Auril seems really underpowered to me. Idk, no magic items in the party and we killed her at level 5 due to the dm rolling her as a random encounter.

I was super excited to play Rime of the Frostmaiden, but beyond the first two chapters I was quite dissapointed in it. Shame that horror element that they kept citing never made it to the book

Hi

Yay!

What does it's special disclaimer say?

"a coat of paint..." That's what happens when you ditch encumbrance, weather, exposure, disease, and basic logistics 3 versions back because some people considered accounting for anything not combat related "boring" and "not gameplay."

Hey!