phandelver and below: the shattered obelisk pdf
Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk is an expanded version of the beloved Lost Mine of Phandelver, offering a high-fantasy adventure from levels 1 to 12.
Set in the Forgotten Realms, it introduces the Underdark and horror elements, with mysterious Black Obelisks central to the story. Perfect for new and veteran players alike.
1.1 Overview of the Adventure
Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk expands the classic Lost Mine of Phandelver into a comprehensive campaign, guiding players from level 1 to 12. Set in the Forgotten Realms, it begins in Phandalin, where heroes uncover threats lurking beneath the town. The adventure introduces the Underdark, mysterious Black Obelisks, and horror elements, blending high-fantasy with eerie mysteries, making it ideal for both new and veteran players.
1.2 Background and Significance in D&D 5e
Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk is an updated and expanded version of the Lost Mine of Phandelver, a classic adventure from the 2014 Starter Set. This new iteration builds on the original’s success, offering a deeper, more immersive experience. It serves as a foundational campaign for D&D 5e, introducing players to the Forgotten Realms and its rich lore, while providing a structured narrative for DMs to guide their parties from level 1 to 12.
The Evolution from Lost Mine of Phandelver
Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk expands the original Lost Mine of Phandelver, enhancing the story, characters, and world while maintaining its beloved core elements for a broader campaign experience.
2.1 Expansion of the Original Adventure
Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk expands the original Lost Mine of Phandelver adventure, retaining its core story while adding significant new content. The adventure grows from 64 pages to 220, introducing four new chapters and expanded appendices.
It builds on the original’s success, enhancing the narrative with deeper lore, new locations, and higher-level challenges, ensuring a seamless transition for players continuing from the original campaign.
2.2 Transition from Level 1-5 to 1-12
Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk extends the original adventure’s level range from 1-5 to 1-12, offering a comprehensive campaign experience. The expanded content introduces new challenges, deeper story arcs, and higher-level encounters, allowing players to grow their characters seamlessly within the same narrative framework.
This transition ensures a longer, more immersive journey, appealing to both new players and seasoned adventurers seeking extended storytelling and gameplay.
Key Features and Enhancements
Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk introduces the Underdark, horror elements, and mysterious Black Obelisks, enhancing the original adventure with deeper lore and expanded gameplay.
The adventure introduces the Underdark, a vast subterranean realm, adding depth to the story and gameplay. Players explore mysterious locations, encounter strange creatures, and face eerie environments, enhancing the horror elements and providing a fresh layer of complexity to the campaign.
3.2 Incorporation of Horror Elements
The adventure weaves in horror elements through eerie environments, mysterious mutations, and sinister beings. The Underdark’s dark atmosphere and the Far Realm’s influence create a chilling narrative. Players face mind-flayers and other terrifying foes, with the Black Obelisks’ dark magic threatening sanity and reality, adding a layer of psychological tension to the gameplay and story.
3.3 The Role of the Black Obelisks
The Black Obelisks are central to the adventure, tied to the Far Realm’s dark power. These ancient artifacts, shattered and scattered, are sought by mind-flayers to harness reality-warping energy. Their presence corrupts the environment, causing mutations and madness, driving the plot’s urgency. The obelisks’ restoration threatens to unleash horrors, making them a pivotal element in the adventure’s climax and the heroes’ ultimate challenge.
Chapters and Storyline Overview
Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk expands the original 4-chapter adventure into 8 chapters, guiding players from levels 1 to 12. The story begins in Phandalin, introducing threats like goblins and the Redbrands, before delving into darker depths involving the Underdark, Black Obelisks, and a climactic battle to prevent a catastrophic invasion from the Far Realm.
4.1 Structure and Breakdown of Chapters
Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk is structured into eight chapters, expanding the original four from Lost Mine of Phandelver. The first four chapters introduce Phandalin, goblin threats, and the Redbrands, while new chapters delve into the Underdark, mysterious Black Obelisks, and a climactic battle to stop an invasion from the Far Realm, adding depth and horror elements to the adventure.
4.2 New Content Beyond the Original Campaign
Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk expands the original campaign with four new chapters, introducing locations like ancient dwarven temples and haunted crypts. New antagonists, such as the Illithids and mind flayers, deepen the horror elements. The adventure also explores the Underdark and the Far Realm, adding fresh encounters and lore while maintaining connections to the original story for a seamless continuation.
The Role of the Black Obelisks
The Black Obelisks, ancient artifacts tied to the Far Realm, play a central role in Phandelver and Below, driving the narrative’s dark, supernatural elements.
5.1 Lore and History of the Obelisks
The Black Obelisks, first introduced in Out of the Abyss, are ancient relics tied to the Far Realm, a dimension of madness. Their origins trace back to the Netheril Empire, where they were crafted to harness dark power. Later, Vecna exploited their magic, and they resurfaced in Rime of the Frostmaiden, altering time and reality. In Phandelver and Below, the obelisks serve as keys to unleashing the Far Realm’s horrors.
5.2 Impact on the Adventure’s Narrative
The Black Obelisks introduce cosmic horror, tying the adventure to the Far Realm’s dark influence. Their shattered remnants drive the mind flayers’ plot to harness reality-warping power, threatening Phandalin. This ancient mystery connects to prior campaigns, deepening the Forgotten Realms’ lore and elevating the stakes, making the obelisks a narrative cornerstone that binds horror and high fantasy seamlessly together.
Gameplay Mechanics and Innovations
Introduces sanity mechanics tied to the Far Realm’s horror, psionic elements, and Underdark environmental interactions, enhancing the adventure’s depth and player experience with unique challenges and encounters.
6.1 New Rules and Mechanics Introduced
The adventure introduces sanity mechanics tied to the Far Realm’s influence, affecting players’ mental states and behavior. New psionic rules and Underdark environmental interactions enhance gameplay depth, offering unique challenges and narrative opportunities for both players and DMs to explore.
6.2 Enhancements for DMs and Players
Phandelver and Below enhances gameplay with expanded NPC backstories, dynamic encounter balancing, and optional horror elements. Players benefit from new character hooks and plot choices, while DMs gain tools for managing sanity mechanics and Underdark-specific challenges, ensuring a richer, more immersive experience for all participants.
Digital Availability and Platforms
The PDF of Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk is available on platforms like D&D Beyond and Amazon, with early access granted to D&D Beyond bundle purchasers on September 5th, 2023.
7.1 Platforms Offering the PDF
The PDF of Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk is available on D&D Beyond and Amazon. Released on September 19, 2023, it offered early access to D&D Beyond bundle purchasers starting September 5th, 2023. This digital format provides instant access to the expanded campaign, featuring new chapters, horror elements, and the mysterious Black Obelisks, enhancing gameplay for players and Dungeon Masters with its rich content.
7.2 Benefits of Digital Access
Digital access to Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk offers instant availability, cross-device compatibility, and enhanced convenience. Players and DMs can easily search, bookmark, and reference content on the go. The PDF format also reduces the need for physical storage, making it environmentally friendly and portable. Additionally, platforms like D&D Beyond provide integrated tools, such as digital dice and character builders, enhancing the gameplay experience.
Community Reception and Reviews
Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk has received widespread acclaim for its engaging storyline, horror elements, and expanded content. Fans praise its accessibility for new players while offering depth for veterans, making it a standout adventure in D&D 5e.
8.1 Player and Critic Feedback
Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk has been praised by players and critics alike for its immersive storytelling and innovative horror elements. Many applaud its expansion of the original adventure, offering deeper lore and challenging encounters. Critics highlight its accessibility for new players while providing complexity for veterans. The inclusion of the Underdark and Black Obelisks has been particularly well-received, enhancing the adventure’s appeal.
8.2 Comparisons with the Original Adventure
While Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk builds on the foundation of Lost Mine of Phandelver, it significantly expands the scope and depth. The original adventure was a concise, beginner-friendly campaign, whereas the new version offers a more complex narrative, horror elements, and a deeper dive into the Underdark. Fans appreciate how it retains the charm of the original while introducing fresh challenges and lore.
Resources and Supplements
Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk offers official maps, DM resources, and digital tools to enhance gameplay. Additional supplements like battlemaps and NPC guides are available online for deeper immersion. The PDF version includes expanded content for both new and veteran players.
9.1 Additional Materials for Enhanced Play
The Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk PDF includes official maps, battlemaps, and expanded content for DMs, enhancing gameplay. Digital tools and art assets are available for Virtual Tabletops like Roll20. Additional resources such as set dressing and NPC guides help create immersive experiences. Players and DMs can also access supplementary materials like creature stats and adventure hooks to deepen their campaign. This ensures a comprehensive and engaging play experience for all.
9.2 Recommended Supplements and Tools
Enhance your Phandelver and Below experience with official resources like the D&D Beyond digital bundle, featuring maps and character builders. Community-created assets, such as fan-made battlemaps and NPCs, add depth. Digital tools like Roll20 and FoundryVTT streamline gameplay, while optional supplements like Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse provide additional creatures and lore to enrich your adventure.
Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk is a must-play adventure, blending classic charm with new horrors. Perfect for newcomers and veterans, it offers a memorable journey. Explore it!
10.1 Summary of the Adventure’s Value
Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk offers a comprehensive and engaging D&D experience, expanding from level 1 to 12. It seamlessly blends the original Lost Mine of Phandelver with new content, introducing the Underdark and horror elements. The adventure provides rich storytelling, diverse encounters, and deep lore, making it a valuable addition for both new and veteran players and Dungeon Masters.
10.2 Recommendations for Players and DMs
Players will benefit from engaging with the rich story, exploring the Underdark, and embracing the horror elements. DMs should leverage the expanded lore and new mechanics to create a immersive experience, ensuring a balanced mix of combat, exploration, and role-playing opportunities for a memorable campaign.