A Review of the Role Playing Game Supplement A Haunting at Hibb’s Vale

A Haunting at Hibb’s Vale by Mike Hibbert is a role playing game supplement published by Wizards of the Coast through the DMs Guild Community Content Programme for use with Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition.

The supplement is available from DMs Guild as a 14-page PDF for $0.69 but was obtained at a reduced price thanks to a special offer. One page is the front cover, one the front matter and one the Table of Contents.

Before You Begin explains that the adventure is suitable for four characters of fifth level, and there are suggestions on increasing or decreasing the balance.

About the Adventure explains that Hibb’s Vale is a town nestled in the mountains at the river delta where the mountain runoff starts to become a river, not a stream (incidentally, this is not what a river delta is). Recently, the town has been troubled by reports from the port that it is haunted, resulting in no-one wanting to work there in the evening or overnight. This is followed by what is really going on at the port.

About the Setting states the adventure can be set in any world in a hilly setting. It also explains that there is an optional rule allowed, one which, if a player says they know someone or have an item, they can explain how.

NPCs gives details on the major NPCs for the adventure.

The Set Up has the characters at a tavern. After hearing some stories, they get told the one about the ghostly apparition at the port. The characters can ask about this, with some responses given for specific NPCs. They may then proceed to the dock and work out what is really going on.

The Goblin Hideout details a goblin lair in detail; the primary combat encounters of the adventure.

Following this are details on dealing with those others who were conspiring in what was going on, and possible opportunities for further adventures.

Maps has a side-on colour map of Hibb’s Vale, deliberately left without numbers, and a simpler one of the goblin cave.

Stats has stats for the various beings encountered.

Notes & Acknowledgements finishes off the supplement.

A Haunting at Hibb’s Vale in Review

The PDF lacks bookmarks and, though short, has enough different sections that they would have been useful. The Table of Contents covers the major and minor sections and is hyperlinked. Navigation is adequate. The text maintains a two-column format and a number of minor, mostly grammatical, errors were noticed. Bar the maps, there’s a single illustration. Presentation is adequate.

This adventure should be simple enough to drop in anywhere; with a few tweaks, a different town could be used and, frankly, it doesn’t even need to be in the mountains. At its current price, it’s not a bad adventure and there are places it could be developed more. A Haunting at Hibb’s Vale can be found by clicking here.