Peril in Pinebrook: Free Introductory DnD Adventure (First Look)
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Wizards of the Coast releases new introductory adventure for first-time players
Let’s face it: learning Dungeons & Dragons can sometimes be a little overwhelming for younger players or adults without any previous experience in the world of tabletop RPGs. It’s an issue that Wizards of the Coast has been addressing for some time now, including a focus on bringing DnD resources to educators and creating a number of adventures designed for newbies, most notably Lost Mine of Phandelver and Dragons of Stormwreck Isle, both of which were included in versions of the D&D starter sets.
Now, Wizards of the Coast is continuing that trend with Peril in Pinebrook, a new introductory DnD adventure that’s currently available for free on the official DnD website.
So is this adventure likely going to snag some new recruits? Below we take a closer look at what’s included.
What’s included in Peril in Pinebrook?
Available in PDF format, Peril in Pinebrook comes in at 21 pages in length (excluding the cover), with the content geared towards players who are completely new to DnD fifth edition. The first five pages cover the basics of the game, with a set of streamlined rules that offer pretty much everything a new Dungeon Master or player might need to get started.
The adventure also includes:
- Four pre-made characters: Consisting of a dwarf fighter, halfling rogue, elf wizard and human cleric, each of which is featured on a simplified, half-page sized character sheet, which are easy-to-use and perfect for new or younger players.
- Player reference sheet: A two-page document with common terms and tips geared towards new players.
- Appendix of draconic terms: A glossary of common words and their draconic variants.
- New Monsters: There are two new monsters introduced in the adventure, although as with other elements, they have simplified stat blocks.
What’s the adventure like?
The adventure itself takes about 60 to 90 minutes to play and is designed for Level 1 characters, making it an amazing option as a one shot for new players. The story takes place in the Forgotten Realms in the village of Pinebrook, a rustic settlement located in the north of the Sword Coast near the Spine of the World, the mountainous region most famous from the Drizzt Do’urden novels.
Players take on the role of one of the local villagers who are tasked with patrolling the nearby wilds to ensure that it remains safe for the many miners and loggers who operate in the area. It’s a task that could be particularly challenging given that there are rumors of a silver dragon nesting in the mountains. The players soon encounter a baby silver dragon and must return it to its mother, while braving monsters and obstacles along the way.
One amazing thing the adventure does is break out exactly how long it will take to play each encounter. For example, the introduction is estimated to take about 10 minutes to set the stage and explain how the encounters should be played.
The adventure also does a fantastic job of explaining exactly what’s required from both players and Dungeon Masters in each encounter, with plenty of advice, tips and suggestions for how to handle various scenarios and rules. In short, it’s one of the best introductory adventures Wizards of the Coast has ever released, and is a perfect way to learn the basics on both sides of the DMs screen.
Who worked on the Peril in Pinebrook adventure?
The adventure is written by award-winning TTRPG designer Shawn Merwin, who previously spent time working with Wizards of the Coast as one of the Global Administrators of the Living Forgotten Realms campaign before taking on a role as the Executive Lead Designer for Ghostfire Gaming. Notably, longtime Wizards of the Coast designer Dan Dillon also lent a hand fleshing out the materials.
The adventure also features a stunning cover illustration from artist Katerina Ladon along with some impressive interior work from artists Emily Fiegenschuh, Jim Nelson and Eva Widermann. It goes without saying that the writing, design and artwork is all top notch and easily on par with any paid product Wizards of the Coast has released in recent years.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a great introductory adventure to get new players interested in DnD, then you’d be hard pressed to find a better option than Peril in Pinewood. With its simplified rules, solid design and smartly written adventure, it’s a fantastic first step into epic adventure.
You can currently download the PDF for free on the official DnD website.
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Ollie Delano is a Staff Writer who lives in Chicago, Illinois where he majored in Journalism at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. He’s been playing Dungeons & Dragons for over 10 years and currently plays in a weekly game group where he rolls way too many natural 1s and chugs way too much Mountain Dew. His favorite D&D campaign setting is Eberron and his favorite character to play was a Tiefling rogue named Draxiss who enjoys both literal and figurative backstabbing.
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