Moathouse Exterior Scouting & Potential Entry Points

[davegibsongreyhawkdm]

When PCs approach the moat house from Hommlet, have you assumed that the approaching track is elevated at a distance from the moat house to entitle PCs to view the moat house exterior picture in the module, or do you instead treat the module picture as for the DMs eyes only, unless PCs use magical or levitate/fly methods to scout an overhead view of the moat house? What other approaches have PCs taken during play to enter the moat house via other ways rather than the obvious path via the drawbridge? Have you had PCs scout the perimeter and possibly had a PC ranger or other character pick up on the stepping stone escape route that the black chamber brigands always watch? Have you had a party enter the moat house through the same route the giant snake got in from the moat? Have you had a party put a watch on the moat house for an extended time to see who might be coming and going?

[Scott]

I assume the picture is not meant to be a player handout, so the party should not see it at first.
The way I run it is that the moathouse is on a mound, surrounded by bog. Scouting the perimeter isn't really a smart option for the party. They would need to wade through waist to chest high muck/water with the possibility of falling into unseen deeper pools a constant threat, along with more giant frogs, poisonous snakes, etc.
If the party was persistent and searched far enough down the road I suppose I'd give them a chance of finding the path the brigands use to get in and out, or a path that leads to the secret entrance in the dungeon that Lareth and his troops use. I think the intent of the module was for the PCs to enter through the main gate.

[foster1941]

Every time I've run this adventure (and I've run it several times over the decades) the party has just gone in through the front gate without bothering to stake the place out or search for alternate entrances. Something that I'm in the minority (maybe completely alone?) in is that I've never had the giant frogs at area 1 attack a party that stays on the trail, though they probably would attack a group that waded into the marsh looking for alternate entrances. If a party wanted to, I'd allow them to climb up the rocks into the NW corner of the courtyard or areas 7 or 12, but the former two would require some wading in the stream (or perhaps use of a raft) and for the latter two scrambling up the rocks would certainly make enough noise to alert the inhabitants of those rooms. A ranger or barbarian who picks up the tracks of the brigands in the marsh would be able to spot their stepping-stone path across the stream; otherwise I'd probably have the players roll to spot a concealed door to notice it. But, like I said, no one's ever tried it.

[davegibsongreyhawkdm]

Since VOH key #33. OVERGROWN TRACK states "This leads off into the rugged hills and tangled scrub above the town. About two or three miles away there is a ruined moat house, a warning post of the destroyed Temple." - I have decided to let the PCs view the module moat house picture exterior, assuming that they have an elevated view of it as they approach due to a break in the scrub in the hills as they are approaching. This will help picture it in their imagination and set the tone for what they are getting into....

[geneweigel]

If you "Google" the terms "homlett" AND "moathouse" not only will get the image of the moathouse but you'll get the map and you'll even get the module as a downloadable "pdf" so there is literally no surprises here unless everyone is completely naive.

[davegibsongreyhawkdm]

Dec 23, 2017 19:09:01 GMT -5 geneweigel said:

If you "Google" the terms "homlett" AND "moathouse" not only will get the image of the moathouse but you'll get the map and you'll even get the module as a downloadable "pdf" so there is literally no surprises here unless everyone is completely naive.

Yes, but I instructed already that Internet searches are off limits, and they seem to be following that because otherwise they wouldn't have picked Zert to accompany to explore the moathouse!