D&D 5E RoT: Xonthal's Tower - More Hedge Maze Options?

[pukunui]

Hi all,

My PCs are currently working their way through the hedge maze surrounding Xonthal's Tower in The Rise of Tiamat. They've made it to the fourth sundial, and we've played through four of the six areas presented in the module. The ones they haven't encountered yet are the carnivorous garden and the gorgon maze. The garden doesn't look too difficult, whereas the gorgon maze seems fairly boring. I'm inclined to skip it.

The text states: "If the characters make the wrong choice more than six times, you can reuse areas, create new ones of your own, or let the characters wander down a path much longer than usual before encountering the sundial again."

The first and third options don't sound all that fun to me. So I am wondering if anyone bothered to make up any additional encounters in the maze. If so, would you be willing to share them here?

Thanks in advance!

Regards,
Jonathan

 

[robus]

We're also in the maze - but just did the Chuul pool and now they're back at the first sundial (at night).

Not sure if they'll figure it out soon - but if they don't I'll also be interested in some options.

 

[pukunui]

I can't remember the exact sequence of events from last session, but I do know they chose the wrong path at least once with the first sundial, and possibly even twice with the second one, but they got the right path with the third sundial on the first try. They're completely stumped by the swirling shadows on the fourth one, though. They seem to think they have to go down each of the eight paths and collect a gem to put on the sundial or something.


I also goofed up and thought it was meant to take 2d6 minutes, rather than rounds, to get between areas, and I also rolled for every transition, instead of just the ones between sundials. The sun was setting when they entered the maze, but it's now dark. I think, should they make it through to the tower, that I'll revert to sunset and say that there was some weird time distortion effect going on.

 

[Ezequielramone]

Oh man. I ran that and have another group about to start RoT. I remember that the last dial was difficult to my players.
They were really pissed because they couldn't figure out how to advance. And then the half orc, who has an internal fight against the "grummsh call" said: I want to jump over the thing, put my pants down and pee on the damn thing. I couldn't believe it. That is exactly what his character would do, who was almost all the time in calm and exploded from time to time.
It was super fun.

Anyway. I just ordered "book of lairs" from kobold press, maybe you can adapt an encounter. There were many books of lairs in 2e. You can take interesting encounters from any module. Just look for those with a small puzzle.

 

[Ezequielramone]

http://www.drivethrurpg.com/m/product/202858
This guy has two guides. You can adapt his puzzles

 

[pukunui]

http://www.drivethrurpg.com/m/product/202858
This guy has two guides. You can adapt his puzzles

That link doesn't work for me. Just takes me to the front page. No matter. We're out of the maze now. They figured out the last two sundials pretty quickly, and they went into the tower, got the key quickly, and are now exploring the dungeon.

 

[Eltab]

If I ever get together with my old group and resume RoT, I will put a Creature From the Black Lagoon (a.k.a. Shambling Mound) in Xonthal's 'carnivorous garden'. As a homage to the one that jumped us on our way to the 'swamp castle'.
My paladin and the Cleric's player both have reasons to want revenge for that encounter.

Edit: I finally remembered the name of the monster that almost drowned / suffocated both of us. It DID eat our Lizardfolk guide.

 

[pukunui]

If I ever get together with my old group and resume RoT, I will put a Creature From the Black Lagoon in Xonthal's 'carnivorous garden'. As a homage to the one that jumped us on our way to the 'swamp castle'.
My paladin and the Cleric's player both have reasons to want revenge for that encounter.

Sounds like a good plan. The carnivorous garden proved to be incredibly anticlimactic for my group. Since the plants have no movement, the players positioned their PCs just outside of reach and kited the nearest flower then used the wizard's mage hand to acquire the pearl. Yawn!

 

[robus]

Sounds like a good plan. The carnivorous garden proved to be incredibly anticlimactic for my group. Since the plants have no movement, the players positioned their PCs just outside of reach and kited the nearest flower then used the wizard's mage hand to acquire the pearl. Yawn!

Good to know. Day of the Triffids it is then!