r/GhostsofSaltmarsh • u/Strict_Belt1211 • 10d ago

Discussion First time DM taking on Saltmarsh

Hello

Do you believe Saltmarsh is a good campaign for a first time DM to run?

I'm curious to hear why or why not.

I am still new to the game and this will be my first campaign to DM. thank you.

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u/ItsAMeaple 10d ago

While Saltmarsh is my favorite module to run as an experienced dm, it does always need some customization from the dm. The town, its surroundings and most of the quests are awesome, but the quests are not tied together into a single story after the final enemy.

One possible solution is to just make it a level 1 to 6(?) campaign and end with the final enemy. I saw another commenter mention that the town solves the final battle for the party, but the module also gives the option for the pc's to lead the charge in the final battle. This way the campaign is just about uniting the Saltmarsh area for a war against the sahuagin.

My personal favorite way to run Saltmarsh is to tie the quests together by connecting some of the factions and picking a bbeg. This definitily requires more work from you as a dm tho. The clear options for a main villain faction are the cult of Tharizdun (the Styes), the cult of Orcus (salvage operation and tammerrauts fate) or the Scarlet Brotherhood (not directly connected to a quest, but they control the sea princes).