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Waterdeep: Dragon Heist is one of the most unique modules you can play in aDungeons & Dragonscampaign. Set in the fantastical city of Waterdeep, this campaign sees players pursue a mythical treasure hoard called the Vault of Dragons that is fabled to be hidden somewhere in the city, with all manner of antagonists trying to find the gold for themselves.
One of the most interesting parts of Waterdeep is that the module can be played in different seasons. This not only changes the atmosphere but also several gameplay mechanics throughout the module. Here’s a breakdown of how the different seasons work in Waterdeep: Dragon Heist.
How Seasons Work
When you select a season to play inas a Dungeon Master during your adventure through Waterdeep,you alter two elements of the gameplay:
The most important element that shifts with each season isthe module’s antagonist.
There are four different antagonistsin pursuit of the treasure hidden in Waterdeep, each with their own personality, goals, and plot hook elements for players to enjoy.
To craft an excellent sense of atmosphere,make sure you tailor your visual description to the season you’re playing in.
For example, make sure topoint out to players that many roofs are lined with snow and ice during winter, or slick with rain in the spring.
Special Events & Holidays
Gladiatorial Tournaments, Trolltide
Waterdavian springs are often cold and wet;torrential downpours tend to flood the city at times, and fog can often settle over the harbor. However,as summer draws near, the weather tends to improve, giving way to merriment and joy throughout the populace.
Xanathar the Beholder is a megalomaniacal leader of a crime syndicate in Waterdeepwho wants to secure the cache of dragons at any cost. Xanathar runs his operation from a dungeon underneath Skullport.
It is possible that players may never reach Xanathar’s lair, but, they can do so inthe secondary module for Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage.
The spring adventure is characterized by madness, which has consumed Xanathar’s mind. The beholder trusts no one after having a valuable artifact stolen from it.
This adventure is zany, and a bit madcap, but explores themes of betrayal and paranoia.
Founder’s Day, Day of the Damned
Summers in Waterdeep are wonderfully comfortable, and the city often bursts to life during this period. However, sometimes, insufferable hot spells can consume the city.
Victoro and Ammalia Cassalanter, who serve as the antagonists for this version of the module,have made an occult deal with Asmodeus, Lord of the Nine Hells.
They have traded the souls of their eldest childrenin return for material wealth.
However, now, if they wish to avoid having to turn their youngest children’s souls over to Asmodeus,they must slake his bloodlust with a ritual sacrifice and gold, meaning they’ll need to find the Vault of Dragons in Waterdeep pronto to avoid Asmodeus' wrath.
If the Cassalanters do obtain the gold they seek,they will host a grand gala on Founders' Day, which the party can infiltrate to thwart their ultimate plot.
This module is characterized by themes of nobility, the value of human beings over material wealth, and the pitfalls of desire.
This storyline is considerably dark, given the nature of the Cassalanters' bargain.
The Dragon Zelifarn, Day of Wonders Parade
Autumn is the season of harvestin Waterdeep. Largebounties of food pour into the cityduring this time, which will need to be stocked to prevent Waterdavians from starving during the unforgiving winter.
Autumn’s antagonist is Jarlaxle Baenre, a member of a shady mercantile group whoseeks membership in the Lords' Allianceto gain power and influence.
He plans to use the gold from the Vault of Dragons to bargain his way into the Allianceand oust Dagult Neverember from the group.
Jarlaxle is cunning and shrewd,and rarely uses direct force against the players.
Players can run into him several times before their ultimate confrontation,making this adventure extremely rewarding in terms of roleplay.
The fall version of the module is colored by themes of political intrigue, moral ambiguity, and maritime espionage. This version ofWaterdeep: Dragon Heist is equal parts urban caperand macabre carnival, making it incredibly fun to play close to Halloween.
Magical Duplicates, Deadwinter Day Feast
Last but not least,winter is incredibly cold and unforgivingin Waterdeep. Snow tends to amass itself in every nook and cranny of the city.Few citizens ever leave the safety of the cityduring this time.
The wizard Manshoon serves as the antagonist for this season, who desires nothing more than torule Waterdeep as a mad tyrant, and eventually, the entire Sword Coast.
However, in order to do so,he must find the Vault of Dragons to bribe and influence key noblesto support his claim to the throne.
Waterdeep is a very low-combat module, even in the winter.Head-on combatwith Manshoon isn’t likely to go well for the characters, so they’ll want to use their wiles to thwart him rather than brute force.
However,Manshoon has many enemies in Waterdeep, which players can use to their advantage to defeat him.The winter module is characterized by themes of good versus evil, how power thrives in darkness, and classic epic fantasy.
Due to its wizardry motifs, the winter version of Waterdeep: Dragon Heist is very well-suited to lead directly into its companion adventure.
