We received a copy of the D&D5e adventure Down The Garden Path by Matt Everson in order to write this review. It was sent to us by the art director Marco Bertini, who has already curated other works that we have analyzed, such as Realm Events, The Complete Hag, Volo’s Guide to Ghosts, Vault of Magic I e II and Acererak’s Guide to Lichdom. Down The Garden Path is a fifth level character adventure designed for the Forgotten Realms setting that can easily be inserted into any campaign. Yes, it is often said, but this time it is particularly true! Down the Garden Path is set in a legendary place that is a source of inspiration and knowledge and can very easily become the destination of any search for information.
The title is reminiscent of an old TSR UK module, Up The Garden Path, famous for being one of the rarest adventures. Only a few hundred copies were printed and sold in Great Britain alone. Currently, a copy of that module may be valued at thousands of euros!
The content Down The Garden Path (spoiler-free)
Having been created for Forgotten Realms, there are some parts written specifically for that setting to kick off the action in the famous city of Waterdeep. The author recommends using Down The Garden Path in succession after official modules like Waterdeep: Dragon Heist or Tales From The Yawning Portal. The adventure takes place in a sacred place, Shesh Ath Menatu, famous for being a great beacon of knowledge, positive energy and beauty. A dark threat lurks there and adventurers must demonstrate exploration, deductive and combat skills in order to triumph.
This adventure is divided into four parts. The first lays the foundation, securing access to the location and gaining first-hand knowledge of the facts. The second part then allows freer exploration and connects the the last two chapters of the story, two important locations that lead to the final challenge. Although the plot is quite linear it grants some choices and consequences that allow a little air in, lightening up the feeling of being driven down a canyon which may occur from time to time.
The product as a whole
Down The Garden Path is an absolutely beautifully crafted 50 page pdf, as you can see from the images in this review. The plot falls within the parameters of the classics of the genre, but does not have a “been there, done that” feeling. Interesting details are included to make the adventure intriguing and enjoyable. The environments are described in such a way that they involve the characters’ five senses. There is a nice puzzle to solve, even physically (I will explain in a moment), with two possible levels of difficulty based on how central you want the puzzle to be. The villain is interesting, not obvious and, however rigid he is in his position as an antagonist, he has depth. His nature helps create interesting dialogue and situations.
From a graphic and layout standpoint, it is good quality product. The layout is clear and professional, very close in essence to the official manuals. The original images are very beautiful. Instead the others, obtained through the Community Content Agreement for Dungeon Masters Guild, are sometimes a little out of focus but, on the other hand they were created for other works. They contribute to embellishing this publication very pleasantly, however.
Maps and handout
Down The Garden Path provides maps in digital format separate to the adventure. There are five maps, four of which have a grid overlaid for exploration and combat and one that provides a complete overview of the place. They are well made, rich in detail. They aren’t overly ambitious, artistically speaking, but are the classic work of a master who prepares an adventure well.
Very interesting and appreciable is the handout provided with the adventure. The image provided is key, and printing, cropping, and folding it transforms it into something with which players can enjoy physically interacting. It forms a square of paper that can be folded and folded, opened and closed, showing different faces each time. It is ingenious in its simplicity, satisfying and fun for the players, and shows great attention that has been lavished on it by the author in its making. Moreover it is even more admirable because the adventure contains a YouTube link to a video providing a very well-done tutorial on preparing the key for play.
Final considerations on Down The Garden Path
Overall this product leaves me with the impression of an adventure written with common sense and experience. It doesn’t really focus on originality, but that helps it fit into many campaigns with ease. There are many elements, however, that show great attention and organizational skills. The adventure took many months to write and that patience certainly paid off in terms of quality.
In my opinion, it is suitable for both beginners and experienced players, able to be fully exploited and also easily manipulated to adapt it to the needs of each Dungeon Master without distorting it.
Down The Garden Path is sold on DMSGuild at the price of $7,95.
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