About This ContentA D&D fifth edition adventure for characters of 1st through 3rd level. This adventure was written by R. Salvatore, James Wyatt and Jeffrey Ludwig.Legacy of the Crystal Shard presents Icewind Dale in the time of the Sundering, a period that will define the future of the Forgotten Realms.

• Dnd Sundering Adventures

'Legacy of the Crystal Shard' is a Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game adventure that can be played using the rules for 3rd Edition (v.3.5), 4th Edition, and the D&D Next playtest.The people of Icewind Dale have long stood against the perils of the North. For most of these folk, the events that shook the region a hundred years ago are now distant memories. But what was defeated was not destroyed, and the sinister influence of the Crystal Shard, Crenshinibon, has now wormed its way into the very land of Icewind Dale. As evil forces converge on Ten Towns, the people of the North face their greatest trial yet. Fortunately, they won’t have to face it alone.' Legacy of the Crystal Shard' allows characters to continue to participate in important events connected to the Sundering and glimpse the future of the Forgotten Realms.Components:. 64-page setting book describing Icewind Dale and its inhabitants.

THE LEGEND OF DRIZZT. The Crystal Shard. Streams of Silver. The Halfling's Gem. Starless Night. Siege of Darkness. Spell Card Generator. This document converts Legacy of the Crystal Shard from D&D Next to 5e. You will need a copy of the adventure, Player's Handbook, Monster Manual, and Dungeon Master's Guide. Most creatures other than named NPCs are included by reference from the Monster Manual. This product is part of a bundle. Complete the set and save on all bundled products you don't already own and all future additions to the bundle.

32-page adventure book describing major plots and encounters. Four-panel, deluxe DM screen with maps and information for the Dungeon MasterProduct AvailabilityDiscontinuedThis product has been discontinued by the manufacturer or is no longer being carried by our distributor.Are there errors or omissions in this product information? Got corrections?

Let us know at.WOCA45380000See Also:. /(113).

/ / /(2). /(1,394). /(12,517). The books are sub par compared to what you get with an AP in quality as far as materials. The paper is thinner and prone to ripping and creases.

The binding is stapled. The quality of writing to me is not nearly as good as an AP as it seems all over the place. There are NO ENCOUNTER maps what so ever.

While having the maps on the GM screen are nice, they are not for an individual encounter which sucks in my opinion. It is one of the many many reasons I buy an AP is for the maps in them. The adventure does not tie together very well.

It jumps alot and does not explain where some of the encounters should take place. While this is a sandbox style of adventure it just seems to be all over the place.

With very little in the way of timing or if the players do 'A' then 'B' has already happened, Or should happen next. If 'B' happens then 'F should be encountered at 'J', or something along those lines.As far as the rules systems involved, While the adventure is written generically, If they want to use the 5E rules (Which they do) then all players should have access to them. But since the Beta version is no longer available then technically they can't use them unless they thought ahead of time to save them or get them from another player or the GM.The GM screen is a decent equability but they could have done so much more then what they did. It has a few tables on it and a few city maps and pictures of some of the important NPC's and such but it just seems 'blah' to me as I was expecting some more meat with it then what was included. That and the lack of encounter maps does not seem to give us the buyer much in the way of support. I really liked this adventure and the background material in the 'Campaign Guide' 64 page book. Of course it drew from a lot of R.A.

Salvatore's Drizzt novels. I think he all but created Icewind Dale, and Ten Towns.

(Yes, yes it is Ed Greenwood's sandbox, but Salvatore got to play in it).:)Anyway, I feel like the 'Sundering' Forgotten Realms event is shaping up nicely and I for one am anxious to see what happens.If I had one complaint it would be. If using the v.3.5 stats. The gargantuan skeletal dragon 'Icingdeath' shouldn't be a mere 6HD (true he'd be an extreme challenge for a party of 3rd level characters) but making him so 'unrealistic' at 6HD seems to cheapen his 'legacy'. His 4e stat block is better (although he's 'only' large in that case).

Haven't glimpsed his D&D next stats yet.When I get around to running this, I think I'll 'connect' Murder in Baldur's Gate and Legacy of the Crystal Shard (and likely the 3rd part of this, 'Scourge of the Sword Coast'. Just a shame that one was PDF only). But, I bought it from DrivethruRPG.Like I said in 'Murder in Baldur's Gate' if you like (or LOVE) the Forgotten Realms, I recommend this adventure, I think it has potential.Dean. Goldomark wrote: 32$ for that!?

Why is that surprising? You get 96 pages of material - the same as a $23 Pathfinder adventure path book - plus a four-panel DM screen (which typically run between $10-20 if purchased individually). In other words, it costs pretty much exactly what you might expect it to cost.It is an expensive product. You compare this to one of the adventure path books. It is not NEARLY the quality of the adventure path books. For one the AP's are full color inside with pages that are of high quality and stock. The binding on the AP's is glued and not stapled and the AP's are 12 bucks cheaper and come with a PDF if you so want them.

A PDF that can have the images extracted from them.The screen that comes with it looks nice but it lacks in utility for the GM. It has a picture of the city and environs that is not as good as it could be with a fairly detailed legend but in tiny print.

It has no tables or anything like that.The last thing is that this series was designed for Dungeons and Dragons Encounters. Being it was designed for D&D Encounters which is organized play makes this an expensive design. It means the GM's that are volunteers in the past and now, have to PAY for the adventure instead of the many years of having WotC give them to us for free. Paizo has Pathfinder Society scenarios that are pay to play. But that has been from the beginning and if you have a game event PFS (Pathfinder Society) provides them for free if you have 4 or more tables. Plus you can extract the images from the PDF's of them.So to me this adventure is very very disappointing!!

I can not understand what WotC was thinking when they went this way. Organized play should not have something like this.

Sandbox adventures really do not fit well with organized play. It is hard for people to go from one table to the next if the table they were at last week is full this week. Only to find out they are at a different point in the adventure and have to be filled in as to how that table got there. It is way to confusing!!!So long story short. This is NOT worth the money!!

I have said as much on the WotC web site as well. Goldomark wrote: 32$ for that!? Why is that surprising? You get 96 pages of material - the same as a $23 Pathfinder adventure path book - plus a four-panel DM screen (which typically run between $10-20 if purchased individually).

In other words, it costs pretty much exactly what you might expect it to cost.It is an expensive product. You compare this to one of the adventure path books. It is not NEARLY the quality of the adventure path books. For one the AP's are full color inside with pages that are of high quality and stock. The binding on the AP's is glued and not stapled and the AP's are 12 bucks cheaper and come with a PDF if you so want them. A PDF that can have the images extracted from them.The screen that comes with it looks nice but it lacks in utility for the GM. It has a picture of the city and environs that is not as good as it could be with a fairly detailed legend but in tiny print.

It has no tables or anything like that.The last thing is that this series was designed for Dungeons and Dragons Encounters. Being it was designed for D&D Encounters which is organized play makes this an expensive design.

It means the GM's that are volunteers in the past and now, have to PAY for the adventure instead of the many years of having WotC give them to us for free. Paizo has Pathfinder Society scenarios that are pay to play. But that has been from the beginning and if you have a game event PFS (Pathfinder Society) provides them for free if you have 4 or more tables. Plus you can extract the images from the PDF's of them.So to me this adventure is very very disappointing!! I can not understand what WotC was thinking when they went this way.

Organized play should not have something like this. Sandbox adventures really do not fit well with organized play.

It is hard for people to go from one table to the next if the table they were at last week is full this week. Only to find out they are at a different point in the adventure and have to be.Larger, more successful publishers of RPG products usually charge more per page than smaller ones. Like it or not, WotC is still the big beast in RPG-ville. For a vast majority of the population, 'tabletop RPGs' is a longer way of saying 'D&D.' WotC can afford to charge a lot more for their products than Paizo, so they do. And Paizo can charge more than even smaller game companies, and so they do.Keep in mind, also, this is (I think?) 96 pages not counting stat-blocks, which take up a lot of space in a typical published adventure. And you are getting three sets of stat-blocks, one for each edition.

So there is actually a lot more content than a Paizo AP. Combined with the brand recognition WotC has, it really isn't that expensive for what it is. Quote: The screen that comes with it looks nice but it lacks in utility for the GM. It has a picture of the city and environs that is not as good as it could be with a fairly detailed legend but in tiny print. It has no tables or anything like that.The pictures of the Dale and cities are on the player-facing side. Did you even bother to look at the other side?

The DM's side has an area map, random encounter tables, treasure tables, weather tables, travel time tables, naming tables, and so on. It's chock full of tables.What is doesn't have is rules tables, because the adventure is designed to be played in any of three different systems. So, instead, all of the tables are setting-based. Quote: Paizo has Pathfinder Society scenarios that are pay to play. But that has been from the beginning and if you have a game event PFS (Pathfinder Society) provides them for free if you have 4 or more tables. Plus you can extract the images from the PDF's of them.Legacy of the Crystal Shard is designed for 12 sessions of play. Purchasing 12 sessions worth of Pathfinder Society PDFs would run you $48, and you wouldn't get the screen or physical copies of any of the material.So please, let's not pretend that this is somehow beyond the pale for tabletop RPG organized play.

Quote: Paizo has Pathfinder Society scenarios that are pay to play. But that has been from the beginning and if you have a game event PFS (Pathfinder Society) provides them for free if you have 4 or more tables. Plus you can extract the images from the PDF's of them.Legacy of the Crystal Shard is designed for 12 sessions of play. Purchasing 12 sessions worth of Pathfinder Society PDFs would run you $48, and you wouldn't get the screen or physical copies of any of the material.So please, let's not pretend that this is somehow beyond the pale for tabletop RPG organized play.Did you READ my post at all?? TriOmegaZero wrote: Onward Edition Warriors! I don't really think anyone is edition warring, especially since we're talking about a product that is compatible with every edition published since 2003.It is a decent scenario for a generic one.

It has no stat blocks in it until you download them off of their site. Of which you can't get the 5E rules for now until they release them.

It has no maps in it, again a missed opportunity. So technically it is compatible with every single edition if you use your own stat blocks as there are none in the adventure itself. So saying it is compatible with every single edition since 2003 is a not necessarily a good thing nor bad, it just an add-on.

If it was in print and not something I had to spend even more money to print out. Then I would say it is worth it. But it isn't.You are getting three sets of stat blocks, and they don't count against the 96 page limit. So there is actually more content in it than a Paizo AP. 137ben wrote: You are getting three sets of stat blocks, and they don't count against the 96 page limit. So there is actually more content in it than a Paizo AP.0 sets of maps.

Comparing this adventure to an AP is like comparing a tomato to an apple. They are the same color at least.

Technically they are both a fruit. But that is where it ends.I own this product. I own the first one, I own the latest one 'Scourge of the Sword Coast'. I think that WotC is just coasting on it's own laurels with these products. Where D&D Encounters used to be free, come with maps and such and be the same for each and every table week to week for organized play, makes this so confusing for people that some in to the store to play this and expect to be able to play at a different table if the one they usually play in is full. If they play at a different table then they are not going to be at the same place their previous table was at.

This to me makes little sense for organized play. I am not sure what WotC is thinking of.But as a stand alone product this is not bad for a generic and D&D compatible adventure and this is what it 'feels' like to me. Quote: Comparing this adventure to an AP is like comparing a tomato to an apple. They are the same color at least. Technically they are both a fruit. But that is where it ends.Bull. Both are 96-page products (the D&D adventure is actually more than that, but we'll ignore that for the sake of comparison), both are designed to be compatible with the same - or roughly the same - rules system, both are adventures, both contain a substantial page count dedicated to setting information, both are physical product releases, both are priced comparably once you factor the DM screen in - the list of similarities goes on.This was obviously designed as a stand-alone product that was adapted for use in Encounters, but what the hell does that matter here?

This is a product page to purchase the product, something that you couldn't even do with Encounters products until recently (you had to be a registered storefront to receive a pack). And, since that Encounters season is now over, no one buying this product is going to be playing it in an official organized play capacity.So how about we stop judging the value of this product as an organized play vehicle, since exactly zero people wondering whether to buy it will be using it in that capacity (the product page doesn't even mention Encounters), and instead start discussing the actual merits of the product as adventure material? Because so far, of the nearly 20 posts in this thread discussing the product, only two have actually focused on the quality of the adventure. This product page does not talk about Encounters. But it is ALL over the WotC page about encounters. Even to the fact that they have a special page dedicated to the players reporting their events for it. So like it or not it IS a vehicle for organized play.

I do not like the fact that GM's have to buy the product to run this for encounters. This should be free. If you did not like the previous means of getting the adventures for Encounters might I suggest you actually GM one of them if they go back to that type of venue. Which they should instead of just playing? It was WotC that made it that way. Not the stores.And by the way.

I HAVE talked about the quality of this adventure several times and like it or not this very much HAS to do with D&D Encounters for me too as well. Which both are mentioned with me.So repeating some of what I said earlier with some more depth for you. I do not agree that this adventure is comparable with an AP in any way other then maybe a page number. The books are sub par compared to what you get with an AP in quality as far as materials. The paper is thinner and prone to ripping and creases. The binding is stapled. The quality of writing to me is not nearly as good as an AP as it seems all over the place.

There are NO ENCOUNTER maps what so ever. While having the maps on the GM screen are nice, they are not for an individual encounter which sucks in my opinion. It is one of the many many reasons I buy an AP is for the maps in them. The adventure does not tie together very well. It jumps alot and does not explain where some of the encounters should take place.

While this is a sandbox style of adventure it just seems to be all over the place. With very little in the way of timing or if the players do 'A' then 'B' has already happened, Or should happen next. If 'B' happens then 'F should be encountered at 'J', or something along those lines.As far as the rules systems involved, While the adventure is written generically, If they want to use the 5E rules (Which they do) then all players should have access to them. But since the Beta version is no longer available then technically they can't use them unless they thought ahead of time to save them or get them from another player or the GM.So in short, I have discussed this at length.

While you do not agree with me, I am hearing this from my local store, I am hearing this from the players involved in Encounters there and D&D players all over my area. I have been playing D&D since 1974 and still go to this day in playing. I do not like the way WotC is going with organized play and feel they are missing the mark. Organized play is a great vehicle for promoting their product and this is not a great promotion for them if they keep it up they are going to loose people.

They are going to loose stores wanting to run 'The Sundering' and even to carry their product. As they are burning bridges with the local store owners in general. To me that is sad.

Again this is what I am hearing from several local stores and the people that go to some of them. While I am NOT speaking for them.

I am just going by what I hear and my personal opinion. TritonOne wrote: I don't believe that it is unreasonable to have a collection plate and encourage players to contribute to reimburse the DM for the cost of the adventure. It's the polite thing to do.I think that it is unreasonable to take donations from the players, no one, not even the GM should have to pay for an adventure for Encounters. It has not been this way for years and now all of a sudden it is ok to charge us as a GM and or as you suggest as a player.

One has to ask why is it ok? Someone mentioned (in this thread) that WotC is a large company and because they are they can charge more for their products. I find it sad that this is the mentality that is being perpetrated in today's society and some people are buying it. TritonOne I am not saying this is you nor am I accusing anyone that they are wrong to think it, I just think that as a company WotC needs to be able to put this to rest. They are a large company and D&D Encounters is a media tool for them.

By making it free for everyone then it promotes their product further and encourages people as a whole to buy their product to participate with books and such at a later time.Encounters is and always has been a gateway to D&D as a means if introducing the game to the masses and possibly making it so that they would want to continue to play the characters that they started in Encounters in their own home game, with books they are buying from WotC to do so. WotC no longer is doing that in many ways and missing out on huge opportunities to do so. People are starting to become bitter towards WotC and D&D in general with each set of D&D Encounters that come out. This to me is very sad and I am reading about their sales going down because of it.With the advent of D&D Next I am sure we will see a major spike in sales once again and maybe even garner the coveted #1 spot in overall RPG sales once again.

But how long until they drop to 2nd, 3rd or even 4th place again based on their customer service and lack there in that they have shown of late.Their own forums are rife with people that are upset with WotC as well. The fact that WotC does not come on to their own forums in threads there (other then blogs and such) shows they are not as caring as they could/should be.

This is my based on my own experience.It is something I would love to see change with them, but I will not hold my breath waiting for this. This is all based on my own experience and observances. One may not agree with me but it is what it is. I even see some of the same type of vitriol turned toward Paizo here as well.

But I also see everyone from the CEO's down to the shipping department on here speaking and chatting with us and answering questions. This goes a long way to perpetrate a great community and one that is encouraged to buy Paizo products because it is showing they actually care about what the customers say. WotC cares too. I know they do, but it just seems to not be seen as much as it could be in their customer service and the seeming lack of listening to what their customer base wants instead of just assuming it. TheMinstrelWyrm wrote:I really liked this adventure and the background material in the 'Campaign Guide' 64 page book. Of course it drew from a lot of R.A. Salvatore's Drizzt novels.

I think he all but created Icewind Dale, and Ten Towns. (Yes, yes it is Ed Greenwood's sandbox, but Salvatore got to play in it).:)Anyway, I feel like the 'Sundering' Forgotten Realms event is shaping up nicely and I for one am anxious to see what happens.If I had one complaint it would be. If using the v.3.5 stats. The gargantuan skeletal dragon 'Icingdeath' shouldn't be a mere 6HD (true he'd be an extreme challenge for a party of 3rd level characters) but making him so 'unrealistic' at 6HD seems to cheapen his 'legacy'.

His 4e stat block is better (although he's 'only' large in that case). Haven't glimpsed his D&D next stats yet.When I get around to running this, I think I'll 'connect' Murder in Baldur's Gate and Legacy of the Crystal Shard (and likely the 3rd part of this, 'Scourge of the Sword Coast'. Just a shame that one was PDF only). But, I bought it from DrivethruRPG.Like I said in 'Murder in Baldur's Gate' if you like (or LOVE) the Forgotten Realms, I recommend this adventure, I think it has potential.DeanAnd I also didn't pay nearly $32 for this either (like 'Murder in Baldur's Gate' I got it from BAM! Online and paid about $24 (got it at the same time as MiBG) had to pay sales tax but free shipping (in about 2-3 days).

So I am also really happy about that.Sorry for giving fuel for a vibrant disagreement, but Faerun has always been my favor Campaign Setting. Nice to see it coming back (and I'll admit I may not have given the 4E setting enough of a fair shot).:). Quote: TritonOne I am not saying this is you nor am I accusing anyone that they are wrong to think it, I just think that as a company WotC needs to be able to put this to rest. They are a large company and D&D Encounters is a media tool for them.

By making it free for everyone then it promotes their product further and encourages people as a whole to buy their product to participate with books and such at a later time.In theory. In practice, that may no longer be the case due to the shifting retail environment I described earlier. Quote: This goes a long way to perpetrate a great community and one that is encouraged to buy Paizo products because it is showing they actually care about what the customers say.

WotC cares too. I know they do, but it just seems to not be seen as much as it could be in their customer service and the seeming lack of listening to what their customer base wants instead of just assuming it.Assuming that a bunch of angry internet people on your forums is in any way representative of what your customer base wants is a terrible way to do business. They can draw your attention to issues, but they are not a representative sample.

Scott Betts,I could tell you that I worked for both TSR and then WotC when TSR was sold, in customer service for them. I worked for them for 9 years. I know about their customer service practices. The developers used to be all over the forums and at that time in the chat rooms as well. So while you might think that WotC has always had a bad report with their internet fan base, I disagree with you.

The community used to love them and that all changed when their CS reps started to quit with how WotC was treating them, which was not good.As far as You disagreeing with me, I fully expected that. I spoke from my own experiences from experience and my background.

Also from seeing what my local game stores sales are. If you think that the brick and mortar stores are failing I will respectively disagree. There are striving stores out there that sell more then just RPG's.I am not going to continue to debate with you though as all this is leading no where. You say that WotC will come back and that very well could be as they have not put out new product for a while.

But in all the years TSR and now WotC has been in business with D&D, it has never dropped below Number 1 in sales, ever until two and a half to three years ago now.While they might come back I do not think that they will stay. So I am done debating with you though as I have been nothing but respectful and I do not want to lose patience with you when I am sensing some vitriol in your typing. As I could be wrong, I am erring on the side of caution and dropping out of your debate. I left my review both in here and as a review on the WotC site and here on the review page. I will continue to enjoy Paizo's good customer service and stick with them and maybe even think about going back to WotC once again. But they will have to earn it from me once again. How to repair crack in wood door trim. Deanoth wrote: But in all the years TSR and now WotC has been in business with D&D, it has never dropped below Number 1 in sales, ever until two and a half to three years ago now.Except for when White Wolf was outselling them, right?

Scott,I do not want to get in to a debate with you on editions by one company over another and bringing it up saying Paizo has piggybacked on a company using their OGL and or such is tantamount to said edition wars.As far as customer service (and what I base most of Paizo's success on) is a lot in this industry. When a company is transparent in their business practices their fan base responds with their money. WotC has not been very transparent and that is one of my main complaints on their message boards. Not to mention a lot of others I have seen there. I have worked in their customer service and trust me it is not because I used to work there that I am seeing a lack of customer service. Just going to their web site one can see the anger and disappointment all over it by others.As far as the rest of your post, I have answered it already and will not go further in to that.

Again I have reviewed the product and it stands firm. I have also mentioned my reasoning here as well.

Encounters was their draw in 'The Sundering' to rebuild the Forgotten Realms. So it is very much relevant to D&D Encounters for that very reason. Whether you agree or not the fact remains the same. It is what WotC has decided. Slivan 'Sli' Simmeran wrote: I came here for feed back on The Crystal Shard and how it played for everyone else (encounters or not).

Looking forward to running the Sundering with PF rules which I feel will work seamlessly. Anyone wish to discuss that by any chance?Greetings Sli,I would enjoy that very much, however I am on my way to work and can't at this time.(FWIW I am running the Cormyr, Shadowdale, and Anauroch HC trilogy of v.3.5 Forgotten Realms adventures with PF rules and it seems to be working out just fine honestly).Maybe we can talk about this another time?Cheers!Dean. Its worth grabbing off amazon I think I paid 20 bucks for Murder in Baldurs Gate.

As stated above you can grab the stats off wizards website. You can easily convert these to PF by either subbing in the same monster or just converting the stat. I purchased the third one Scourge of the Sword Coast and it is only stated for DnDnext but it includes basic rules to play it in the Next format. Saying that it still doesn't look tough to convert. A lot of the monsters besides a few are already covered in the PF beastiery. Legacy is set up the same as Murder in Baldurs Gate with the stats downloadable form wizards. I really love the direction the art work is going compared to 4e, its seems more mature and less cartoonish.Edit; The third one (pdf only) doesn't include the really cool and nice looking DM screens and its laid out differently than the other two.

I like the two hard copies the best as far as the product goes but the third is still interesting. Scourge is also a first part to a two part adventure that hasn't released yet so keep that in mind.

Dnd Sundering Adventures

The first two can stand alone.