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What is the sinister secret of Saltmarsh?

Started by Aglondir, August 06, 2020, 11:23:52 PM

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Aglondir

August 06, 2020, 11:23:52 PM
What's the big secret? And is the 5E book (Ghosts of Saltmarsh) worth purchasing?

MonsterSlayer

#1
August 07, 2020, 12:06:10 AM
Quote from: Aglondir;1143617What's the big secret? And is the 5E book (Ghosts of Saltmarsh) worth purchasing?


Spoilers Man! and yes.

David Johansen

#2
August 07, 2020, 01:05:26 AM
Well it was this sweet little cafe and bakery but unfortunately being a secret didn't help sales and it went under.  Saltmarsh's current best kept secret is the iron rations at Mike's Iron Rations.  They're actually chewable and digestible but they cost twice what other brands cost.
Fantasy Adventure Comic, games, and more http://www.uncouthsavage.com

HappyDaze

#3
August 07, 2020, 04:11:55 AM
It's a Scooby Doo adventure where you discover that the haunted house isn't haunted; it's a smugglers' hideout. Not really very sinister IMO.

FelixGamingX1

#4
August 07, 2020, 07:12:35 AM
The pc realizes it was all fucking fake. It was all smoke and mirrors. Do you understand?
American writer and programmer, since 2016.
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Melan

#5
August 07, 2020, 08:20:57 AM
Maybe the sinister secret was the adventures we had and the friends we made along the way.
Now with a Zine!
ⓘ This post is disputed by official sources

LiferGamer

#6
August 07, 2020, 09:05:23 AM
As much as I don't want to draw attention to it, the alternate cover pissed me off.
Your Forgotten Realms was my first The Last Jedi.

If the party is gonna die, they want to be riding and blasting/hacking away at a separate one of Tiamat's heads as she plummets towards earth with broken wings while Solars and Planars sing.

David Johansen

#7
August 07, 2020, 09:52:52 AM
Wasn't Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh roughly the same adventure as The Caves of Zenopus from Holmes Basic?  I recall liking the module because it detailed the city a bit and had a map.  It's a bit fuzzy but I think that's the one.
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oggsmash

#8
August 07, 2020, 10:19:42 AM
I can only speak for the original module from AD&D, and from the perspective of an 11 year old reading it (the guy who was our DM never ran it and I know why) is that the sinister secret is it is boring as all hell.   I am not saying there is no market for such a module, and it had some interesting NPCs (I remember a dude in the tavern with a hook and and either missing and eye or peg leg or some such) but wow, talk about freaking boring for a module.  I suspect I might appreciate it a good deal more as an adult, but I would have to read it again, and I have no idea how the 5th edition version is.

Ghostmaker

#9
August 07, 2020, 10:34:50 AM
The sinister secret was that the marsh was inside your house.

Greentongue

#10
August 07, 2020, 01:49:33 PM
Well, you don't have to get salty about them asking...

David Johansen

#11
August 07, 2020, 01:53:19 PM
The new book is a must if you want expanded naval combat and seafaring rules.
Fantasy Adventure Comic, games, and more http://www.uncouthsavage.com

Nephil

#12
August 07, 2020, 04:55:11 PM
The secret was it wasn't ghosts or goblins, just smugglers. And they would have gotten away with it if it weren't for...

Also, spoilers.

deadDMwalking

#13
August 07, 2020, 05:02:13 PM
Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh, module U1 for AD&D has the following text on the cover:

QuoteDesolate and abandonded, the evil alchemist's mansion stands alone on the cliff, looking out towards the sea.  Mysterious lights and ghostly hauntings have kept away the people of Saltmarsh, despite rumors of a fabulous forgotten treasure.  What is it's sinister secret?

The Module is composed of two parts - the first part has the players explore a haunted house (uncovering the first part of the secret) and the second has the players aboard a ship.  It should be clear that it isn't really the TOWN'S secret, but a secret of a nearby 'dungeon'.

Spoiler
The haunted house is actually being used by smugglers to avoid paying an excise tax on luxury goods.  In the second part of the adventure, the players learn that the smugglers have been supplying weapons to a tribe of Lizardmen, but not for what purpose.  That sets up the premise for the sequel, U2.
When I say objectively, I mean \'subjectively\'.  When I say literally, I mean \'figuratively\'.  
And when I say that you are a horse\'s ass, I mean that the objective truth is that you are a literal horse\'s ass.

There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all. - Peter Drucker

HappyDaze

#14
August 07, 2020, 05:18:04 PM
Quote from: Nephil;1143700The secret was it wasn't ghosts or goblins, just smugglers. And they would have gotten away with it if it weren't for...

Also, spoilers.

You stole my jokes.
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