After killing the flameskulls who came up from the first vault through the hole in the floor, one of my players decided to go down there. I worded the dark gift of Fekre just as the good book says: the gift is the power to spread disease.The Rogue wanted no part of it, but asked if anyone else would be interested, and the Sorcerer was. Oh no, I thought. An 8th-level Sorcerer with very good Charisma saving throws. He began accepting dark gifts as if they were candy from strangers. Eventually, he inevitably failed his saving throw. I allowed him to keep his now evil character, with yellow eyes, sagging face, and revolting smell, and to his credit, he played the change so well that the party decided to kill his character later that very session. Luckily, the player in question thought it would be a tragic, but very fitting end to his character, and the event was such a powerful roleplay moment for everyone around the table that I decided to let it be the 9th-level milestone when the session was over.
I'm running Amber Temple next week and really hoping at least one of my players bite on one of these dark gifts. They can be a bunch of weenies sometimes, like when they noped away from Stella's door as soon as they heard her meowing from the other side lol
I return to your videos over and over again. I have ADHD, so having this to refresh my knowledge of the book before a meet has been worth more than you know. Thanks for such a great guide series.
I absolutely adore those Nothics. X33d is essentially the retcon room in my campaigns. A friend of mine that I was DM-ing was playing a female Tabaxi that was based on his Skyrim character. So knowing him, I had a Nothic walk up to his character and go "Ah, you have slept with so many Orcs that you wander to this day how you haven't become pregnant." Half the people playing fell to the floor laughing while the other half took 2d6 psychic damage IRL. Considering none of them knew what Nothics did, that opening line instantly set the mood. And it only got worse from there xd
They can always get dentures meanwhile if they loose their teeth. That and the climbing gift offer the biggest reward with the less inconvenient boon (given that you grow that eye on your chest rather than your forehead, and even if you grow it there or anywhere visible, you can always wrap a piece of cloth around it. Cheap price to pay for that gift).
When I played this dungeon, I took the flight dark gift, & continued playing this character with flight even after the curse of strahd campaign. No regrets whatsoever! My DM let me essentially boil bones into bone wine that I could just sip on
I think I'm going to have the dark gifts displayed in an image like you suggested, but also have the flaw for them at the end of the vision so that they can see what it might do to them. And if they are toting around that lich then he might explain that each gift has its own duration and not no more than that. I can't wait to get into this place!
My Amber Temple session is tomorrow! I've decided that I'm not going to tell them that they have a limit use of them, but that they can feel the power getting weaker the more they use it so that they know it will disappear at some point. I'm going to type out a detailed vision for each one and hand it out as they touch it. I can't wait!
Wow. If anyone doesn't understand the reference. One of the dark powers is the source of the teeth of dahlver-nar. An artifact that has incredible powers to be spread between a large group.
Scary stuff Very sadistic Gives the DM a lot of things to consider Nearing the end of the campaign huh? I think only death House and castle raven loft are left in terms of location
Wait... Can you stack dark gifts... Shoot. I'm halfway threugh the temple and I've said it's one only. Idk if I should retcon causing I'm trying to do CoS RAW. Seems op tho
I will not tell then the number of charges, o intend to ask then to maar every use of the spell, so they know that there is a consequence of using this power, put when they use it all, I would allow the user to go back to the vestige, get the power back, but but worsening the flaw, and increase the CD of the charisma check by 3 points for every refill
I'm running this as a part of an on going campaign. Changing it to suit my world. I will be removing probably a quarter to half of these vestiges as the party are 5 x level 8 and have alot of the game left to go. The main boss being loki, corrupted the temple guardians over time and now has tricked them into coming here, to rescue heimdalr and to tempt them with the gifts/kill them outright. I've also removed the slaad and 1 flame skull from each location. May reduce the spec/ghast encounters to. Will have to work on the fly. But I fear they could easily be killed in here. I plan to make the gifts remaining last the durations as written but the consequence will also vanish. I don't like the idea of permanently altering the pcs characters in this way, but allowing a power creep with the disadvantage, then when the gift is gone the vestiges hold on them feigns also. They will not know this however. I expect alot of freaking out. But my group is aligned lawful and good, with one slightly leaning toward chaotic. (Long story - dual body occupants) so I'm not sure they will take any. But I will be removing/altering some of the more OP ones to suit our game. I don't want level 8-9 players running round with ridiculous abilities or consequences they will come to hate. Hopefully this way it'll be a bit of fun for the group while they have the vestiges powers(if taken) I'll be using ur vision idea but they will not see the consequence, as the party at this point will know that this place and its contents contain dark magics and with dark magics come consequences.
@@NoFunAllowed I'm a new DM 4 sessions in. My players were not ment to be here yet but I'm sure you know what players do to ur plans. And I'm trying to keep the game world as sandbox as possible using free roll 20 😅 These videos have helped me loads to get my head around the amber temple and adjust to what I need/want for the players. They want LOOT! Of course 😏 only so many times I can say magic items (especially weapons are rare 😅) so they get what they want. It fits my game nicely and I get to watch them have fun with the challenge and twists. Neways I'm waffling, just wanted to say thanks for the video 👍 really good to see and get some ideas/options to run it not at level 10 and not in strahd game.
I highly enjoy these videos, what I don't enjoy is how WOTC doesn't take an hour and a half and make extra spell lists for the sorcerer subclasses other than in TCOE of course...
After killing the flameskulls who came up from the first vault through the hole in the floor, one of my players decided to go down there. I worded the dark gift of Fekre just as the good book says: the gift is the power to spread disease.The Rogue wanted no part of it, but asked if anyone else would be interested, and the Sorcerer was. Oh no, I thought. An 8th-level Sorcerer with very good Charisma saving throws. He began accepting dark gifts as if they were candy from strangers. Eventually, he inevitably failed his saving throw. I allowed him to keep his now evil character, with yellow eyes, sagging face, and revolting smell, and to his credit, he played the change so well that the party decided to kill his character later that very session. Luckily, the player in question thought it would be a tragic, but very fitting end to his character, and the event was such a powerful roleplay moment for everyone around the table that I decided to let it be the 9th-level milestone when the session was over.
haha awesome stuff
I'm running Amber Temple next week and really hoping at least one of my players bite on one of these dark gifts. They can be a bunch of weenies sometimes, like when they noped away from Stella's door as soon as they heard her meowing from the other side lol
I return to your videos over and over again. I have ADHD, so having this to refresh my knowledge of the book before a meet has been worth more than you know. Thanks for such a great guide series.
thank you!
I absolutely adore those Nothics. X33d is essentially the retcon room in my campaigns.
A friend of mine that I was DM-ing was playing a female Tabaxi that was based on his Skyrim character. So knowing him, I had a Nothic walk up to his character and go "Ah, you have slept with so many Orcs that you wander to this day how you haven't become pregnant."
Half the people playing fell to the floor laughing while the other half took 2d6 psychic damage IRL. Considering none of them knew what Nothics did, that opening line instantly set the mood. And it only got worse from there xd
18:30 oh, we already know where you can find edible bones…all ground up…
haha oof
Bahaha ohhhhh nooooooooo
I'm not sure how these videos only have 200 something likes on them. So well done! Thank you!
thank you so much!
They can always get dentures meanwhile if they loose their teeth. That and the climbing gift offer the biggest reward with the less inconvenient boon (given that you grow that eye on your chest rather than your forehead, and even if you grow it there or anywhere visible, you can always wrap a piece of cloth around it. Cheap price to pay for that gift).
There's always some work around to be had!
Not with the shit-stench though 😂
When I played this dungeon, I took the flight dark gift, & continued playing this character with flight even after the curse of strahd campaign. No regrets whatsoever! My DM let me essentially boil bones into bone wine that I could just sip on
plus you could patent "Bone Wine" haha
@@NoFunAllowed I know man it could be the next big thing in the Alex Jones store next to the super male vitality lol
I think I'm going to have the dark gifts displayed in an image like you suggested, but also have the flaw for them at the end of the vision so that they can see what it might do to them. And if they are toting around that lich then he might explain that each gift has its own duration and not no more than that. I can't wait to get into this place!
My Amber Temple session is tomorrow! I've decided that I'm not going to tell them that they have a limit use of them, but that they can feel the power getting weaker the more they use it so that they know it will disappear at some point. I'm going to type out a detailed vision for each one and hand it out as they touch it. I can't wait!
Wow. If anyone doesn't understand the reference. One of the dark powers is the source of the teeth of dahlver-nar. An artifact that has incredible powers to be spread between a large group.
Very good man, Following your logic and this module is awesome!
Thanks!
thank you and no problem!
15:35 Maybe the Abbott came to the amber temple? This power seems way too close to the Abbott's.
You can definitly spin it as that! otherwise you can just have the deva aspect be the source of power!
Scary stuff
Very sadistic
Gives the DM a lot of things to consider
Nearing the end of the campaign huh?
I think only death House and castle raven loft are left in terms of location
yup! but castle Ravenloft is going to be the biggest series yet!
No teeth no verbal magic.one of the wizard got rekt and proceed to suicide rush into an elf for the 3rd form
mama mia haha
Love your work.
Thank you!
Wait... Can you stack dark gifts... Shoot. I'm halfway threugh the temple and I've said it's one only. Idk if I should retcon causing I'm trying to do CoS RAW. Seems op tho
Raw you can stack them, but the more power they draw upon, the more corrupted they become!
I will not tell then the number of charges, o intend to ask then to maar every use of the spell, so they know that there is a consequence of using this power, put when they use it all, I would allow the user to go back to the vestige, get the power back, but but worsening the flaw, and increase the CD of the charisma check by 3 points for every refill
power at a price haha!
Thank you that is great!
thank you!
I'm running this as a part of an on going campaign. Changing it to suit my world.
I will be removing probably a quarter to half of these vestiges as the party are 5 x level 8 and have alot of the game left to go. The main boss being loki, corrupted the temple guardians over time and now has tricked them into coming here, to rescue heimdalr and to tempt them with the gifts/kill them outright. I've also removed the slaad and 1 flame skull from each location. May reduce the spec/ghast encounters to. Will have to work on the fly. But I fear they could easily be killed in here.
I plan to make the gifts remaining last the durations as written but the consequence will also vanish. I don't like the idea of permanently altering the pcs characters in this way, but allowing a power creep with the disadvantage, then when the gift is gone the vestiges hold on them feigns also. They will not know this however. I expect alot of freaking out. But my group is aligned lawful and good, with one slightly leaning toward chaotic. (Long story - dual body occupants) so I'm not sure they will take any. But I will be removing/altering some of the more OP ones to suit our game. I don't want level 8-9 players running round with ridiculous abilities or consequences they will come to hate. Hopefully this way it'll be a bit of fun for the group while they have the vestiges powers(if taken)
I'll be using ur vision idea but they will not see the consequence, as the party at this point will know that this place and its contents contain dark magics and with dark magics come consequences.
heck yeah! awesome stuff!
@@NoFunAllowed I'm a new DM 4 sessions in. My players were not ment to be here yet but I'm sure you know what players do to ur plans. And I'm trying to keep the game world as sandbox as possible using free roll 20 😅 These videos have helped me loads to get my head around the amber temple and adjust to what I need/want for the players. They want LOOT! Of course 😏 only so many times I can say magic items (especially weapons are rare 😅) so they get what they want. It fits my game nicely and I get to watch them have fun with the challenge and twists. Neways I'm waffling, just wanted to say thanks for the video 👍 really good to see and get some ideas/options to run it not at level 10 and not in strahd game.
@@martinholden6214 thank you and no problem!
Great content
thank you! more coming soon!
Go ahead
So many of the gifts are temporary, but they don't make it clear whether the downsides are permanent. I think that is implied, but it seems mean.
dark powers are mean haha
I highly enjoy these videos, what I don't enjoy is how WOTC doesn't take an hour and a half and make extra spell lists for the sorcerer subclasses other than in TCOE of course...
not every class gets the same amount of love sadly!
@@NoFunAllowed But I do....