A Review of the Role Playing Game Supplement Vathak 5e Adventures – A Dark and Stormy Blight

Vathak 5e Adventures – A Dark and Stormy Blight by Ismael Alvarez is a role playing game supplement published by Fat Goblin Games for use with Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition. As such, it is covered by the Open Game License and some parts are considered to be Open Game Content as a result. This is an adventure for 2nd to 5th level characters.

The supplement is available as a 13-page PDF from DriveThruRPG for $3.99 but was purchased at a reduced price as part of a special bundle. Two pages are the front and rear covers and one the front matter.

Adventure Background explains that the coastal town of Valencourt is threatened by a storm and is under an oppressive regime. It gives an overview of what happens during the adventure.

Adventure Location gives some brief details on Valencourt.

Adventure Hooks has a number of ways of getting the characters involved. A sidebar gives some details on the Shadows over Vathak setting.

Running this Adventure and Abbreviations explains what’s needed and how material is laid out.

Beginning the Adventure has the characters taking shelter from the storm, with two possible people inviting them into a shelter. They are asked to investigate the recent murder of someone, which involves them heading to a library and finding evidence of a conspiracy.

Appendix has a new magic item and a new monster.

Vathak 5e Adventures – A Dark and Stormy Blight in Review

The PDF lacks bookmarks and, though short, has enough sections that these would have been appreciated. Navigation could be better. The text maintains a two-column format and appeared to be free of errors. There are a number of colour illustrations, including custom. Presentation is decent.

This is a pretty brief adventure and is primarily investigative in nature, though there is some combat. It doesn’t appear to be that heavily tied to the setting, though a similar city where there are people standing against oppression would really be needed for the adventure to make sense as is, and on its own the adventure does feel incomplete. Vathak 5e Adventures – A Dark and Stormy Blight can be found by clicking here.