MMO players can be a creative bunch when we put our minds to it, and we

know exactly what we like. Combine these two factors together with the

ability to create our own entertainment and you have the potential for

something amazing. That's exactly what we get with Neverwinter's Foundry -

boatloads of potential, and some talented individuals using that potential

to create some amazing stuff.

As we discovered with our previous Foundry article, the toolset comes

with some limitations - we can't duplicate the boss fight mechanic, we

can't add merchants to our modules, etc. But clever designers work with

and/or around these limitations , making clever use of simpler mechanics

to help weave interesting stories and challenging content.

Some of the best of these adventures get featured, and can be run to

complete daily missions for Astral Diamonds. Visit Rhix, the kobold

merchant at the DD corner of the Seven Suns Market in Protector's Enclave,

to pick up the Daily Foundry mission, and then hit up the job board across

the street. Eligible missions have a green note in the quest description;

missions without this note will not advance the quest and don't count

towards the daily mission.

But don't worry, there are loads to choose from. Here are a few top-rated

favorites worth checking out.

I Am Slayer





by izatar

4/5 stars, 60,378 reviews

"It starts out as just another day in the Blacklake district when

circumstances careen out of control! By the time the day is over, you will

be etched into Blacklake legend and renowned as the Slayer!"

I was initially drawn to this one by the name - I'm a big Slayer fan, and

was saddened by the untimely passing of Jeff Hanneman. But this adventure

isn't about the greatest metal band ever. It's about a bad trip from funky

volcanic sludge fumes, resulting in a wonky twist at the end. Bringing

down the flying ship is probably my favorite part. This quest is not

eligible for the Daily Foundry mission, but it's worth checking out all

anyway.

The Secret of Blacklake





by Lancekepner

4/5 stars, 38,747 reviews

"After the terrible events of the cataclysm, Blacklake has become a

sludge infested cesspool. But buried deep in the murky waters lies a dark

secret.

"Brave adventurers are needed to raise an entire estate from the murky

depths of Blacklake. But is your contact telling you the whole truth?

"What Sinister plot may be unraveling before your very eyes?

"The answers and more await discovery in THE SECRET OF BLACKLAKE."

Cryptic held a contest, challenging players to create adventures based

around the Blacklake district. The Secret of Blacklake took third place.

This one seems fairly straightforward, but there are some interesting RP

elements that took some squirrely Foundry magic to cobble together.

There's a dangerous game of Three Vase Monte in one house, where picking

the wrong vase spawns in a group of hungry undead. The ending is pretty

cool, too - if the Foundry supported the boss-fight-style zoom-in

cinematic, it would be amazing.

This quest is eligible for the Daily Foundry mission.

A Kidnapping in Blacklake





by Winin

4/5 stars, 21,445 reviews

"You've accepted a job from a mysterious patron, because you are always

interested in a chance for coin and adventure. But when helping a

Neverwinter Guardsman with a simple Nasher-orchestrated kidnapping turns

complicated, will you be able to stop the greater threat?

"A courier just handed you a note about the job offer. You are to meet

your contact down by the market in Protector's Enclave."

Another entry in the Blacklake contest, the interesting aspect of this

quest is the "Accolades" - lore items you can find in each of the maps

with a little puzzle-solving or careful exploring. I personally found the

jump puzzle on the pillars in the sewer room to be more work than it was

worth - the jumps are widely spaced and you have to hit them exactly or

you fall and have to start over, and there's almost no reward in terms of

XP. But some players will enjoy the challenge and the bragging rights.

This quest is eligible for the Daily Foundry mission.

From the Shadows





by TiLT42

4.5/5 stars, 28,660 reviews

"An ambitious merchant tries to do his part to rebuild Neverwinter, but

in the process discovers something that should have remained hidden. Now

the fate of the entire Sword Coast hangs in the balance as an ancient,

powerful force stirs from its slumber.

"From the Shadows is a campaign heavy on story and challenge. It gives

players many opportunities to roleplay their characters. This is no

ordinary D&D campaign filled with paper-thin villains and flawless

heroes, Instead prepare to face complex enemies you might sympathize with,

and allies you might loathe. "

This is actually a campaign - a thematically-linked set of quests that

can be done in series or individually. Currently, there are two quests in

this campaign, one of which counts for the Daily Foundry mission and one

which doesn't.

The first quest, "Act 1: A Hidden Blade" seems to have been written with

a Trickster Rogue in mind. There are loads of opportunities for theft and

larceny and the use of rogue-related skills. It also serves as an

introduction to the campaign's important characters.

Act 2 continues the story, sending the player to an orc-infested haunted

mansion in the Tower district. This one seems to be somewhat more balanced

for all the classes, not just the Trickster Rogue, and features an

entertaining zombie apocalypse near the end.

Visitors from the Underdark





by encaitar29

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4.5/5 stars, 10,994 reviews

"Young elvish nobleman, Lord Gwendylor Ebonrend goes missing. And not

just him but all of his house members. Lord Neverember sends you his

request to investigate this matter, as he suspects treason. But maybe

there is more than meets the eye in this case, and a far more sinister

plot is behind the recent events in the Ebonrend Manor. The future of

whole Neverwinter is in your hands..."

The author intends this to be the first act in a multi-quest campaign. It

features some intense battles against Drow forces, and some clever use of

quest items and visual effects at the end. I found the fights quite

challenging on my Trickster Rogue, but the story is entertaining and full

of crazy twists. This quest is eligible for the Daily Foundry mission.

Bloody Pit: Unchained v 3.4

by volcxxx

4/5 stars, 2,112 reviews

"In Vellosk, the Pit Master leads profitable pit fights. Travel to Pit

and challenge mighty gladiators and bloody beasts on the sands of the

Arena! Be ready to rescue slave girls and destroy slave trade market in

Neverwinter!"

This quest has undergone several changes since the first time I tried it

during a beta weekend. The original version was very clearly "inspired by"

the Spartacus series on Starz, with many of the gladiators bearing names

of characters from that show. The author has removed these

copyright-infringing details, which apparently hasn't stopped people from

trying to get it removed from the Foundry. Despite these troubles, this

quest gets consistently good ratings and is eligible for the Daily Foundry

mission.

Of course, there are a great many more player-made missions. This is just

skimming the top of the list - more are being made every day, and these

new missions are in need of reviews. Explore the ever-growing list, and

don't forget to leave a tip!

Have a favorite Foundry mission? Let us know in the comments!