Dragon of Icespire Peak

This campaign wasn't the first D&D game I played, but it was my first that I GM'ed. I don't have many positive memories about this campaign, but it was certainly a great learning experience.

Cover art for Dragon of Icespire Peak. Credits to Wizards of the Coast.

DoIP Gist

Dragon of Icespire Peak is a D&D 5th edition adventure where players undertake quests in the region of Icespire Peak. Tasked with dealing with the dragon Cryovain, they face various challenges, battle monsters, and explore dungeons. The adventure provides a mix of combat, exploration, and role-playing, making it suitable for beginner players. With a job board offering quests and the freedom to shape their journey, it serves as an introduction to D&D mechanics and prepares players for further adventures.

How I Ran the Module

Since I started off as a player, I really wanted my character to continue along with the game. One experienced player warned against me, saying that DM PCs are often overpowered or put in the spotlight too much. Because of that comment, I proceeded to make my character act as an NPC rather than my own PC, letting the other players dictate how they wanted him to act during battle and stuff. By the time Tasha's Cauldron of Everything came out, I realized that I was essentially letting the players control him as if he's a sidekick.

Commentary

I think this module was extremely well written. It was super easy to pick up on GMing when we switched GMs in the middle of the campaign. The plot line is simple enough that no one questioned why we were doing things. It's a great introduction to D&D for both players and first time GMs.

However, I don't think this starter adventure doesn't connect well to the trilogy that comes after. This adventure focuses on Phandalin as it's base, while the trilogy is set in Leilon. I would have enjoyed exploring Neverwinter or Leilon in a new starter adventure, since Lost Mine of Phandelver is set in Phandalin.

What I Learned

There is so much that I learned, that it's difficult to list it all. It's also been so long ago that I can't quite recall small details very well. The one thing I can remember for sure is that I really dislike backseat GMing. One of the players was a forever GM who always complained how they never get to play as a player because they're the only one who knows how to GM. When I stepped up to GM, they tried to control how I should run each session. From "correct roleplaying" to criticizing my lack of knowledge of the rules, I felt awful. I'm sure that their intentions were good, but it wasn't helpful to me.