DM Notes: U1 The Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh (Full)

These are my notes on a nice series AD&D module by Dave Brown and Don Turnbull. I provide what I think a DM should look for when getting ready to run this adventure.
If you'd like my notes on this adventure, you can request them at [e-mail]
If you like my work, be sure to check out my gaming website at artofthegenre.com
I do not own the rights to U1 The Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh, or the artwork, those are owned by Wizards of the Coast.

[@geofftottenperthcoys9944]

One of my favs of all time, JUST ordered my POD version.

[@torenatkinson5708]

0:30 cover art 1:50 the plot summary is at the end of the module - read that first 2:50 setting up the town of Saltmarsh 4:20 Part 1: the 'haunted' house 4:36 Part 2: The Sea Ghost ship ... what's being smuggled and to who? 6:00 The traitor in the town council 6:40 Ned the assassin 7:13 the dead man in the cellar 8:30 the smugglers, the illusionist, and the gnolls 9:00 does this module need more encounters to get the PCs to 2nd level? 10:15 the "ghost lights', The Sea Ghost, and the lizardmen threat and the link to the next module U2 12:12 Oceanus the sea elf

[@artofthegenre6087]

Thank you for this!

[@torenatkinson5708]

gonna run it soon @@artofthegenre6087

[@doug9964]

Thank you for the summary. This is my favorite module of all time

[@Jerry-tb8cb]

One of the highlights of this adventure is also the Pseudo Dragon that can become a sidekick of the heroes.

[@artofthegenre6087]

Agreed. I mention it in a video later in the series, but it can be fun, and who wouldn't want a Pseudo Dragon? :)

[@Leftylives]

I made it so the house is actually haunted and filled it with more undead on the first level. And the undead reanimate after 8 hours if they are killed. It makes it a bit of a harder setting.

[@mykediemart]

Excellent advice about reading the plot summary then the adventure.

[@artofthegenre6087]

Thanks, it's a HUGE benefit for the DM. Made it so much easier.

[@Aarongorn]

Thanks for doing this one! I actually have a group that needs to finish the last part of the U series (after a LONG time of not playing), so this is helping me refresh my memory about the storyline.

[@artofthegenre6087]

No problem, glad you enjoyed it and it helped!

[@ShePlaysIt]

I’m looking to run this adventure, and there’s something pretty drastic I want to change which is the motivations of the final “enemy”. I kind of want them to be a bit of a reoccurring antagonist thats sort of just out of reach of the party (sorta like Strahd). And their goal isn’t taking over the town, but outright annihilating it after the cruelties displayed when they tethered the mermaid to the stones for their fish bounties. Due to this, I want this to be an antagonist with a long lifespan that knew the mermaid, (potential mate or family), that aims to make the lives of the people of Saltmarsh miserable until they can fulfill their plan. I still have some fleshing out to do, but I think I’ll have a touch more fun with it, personally. And I think it might be easier to persuade others to their cause for injustices done in the past. I was surprised when I saw (well skimmed) not much was done with the standing stones. They felt more like a footnote that had a very good backstory.

[@artofthegenre6087]

This is a great idea. Really would like to hear how it works out

[@ShePlaysIt]

@@artofthegenre6087 it’ll be several months until I’m able to try it sadly (currently DMing Witchlight and Spelljammer, and being a PC in Curse of Strahd) but I hope to touch back with ya! :)

[@BrettSlocum]

Looking through The Ghost of Saltmarsh (5E), they really fleshed this whole thing out into a sandbox. The town is detailed and they added in some other locations and adventures. Easily minable for OSR campaigns (or do what I do and convert on the fly).

[@artofthegenre6087]

Very interesting on the Goodman Games edition in 5E. I wasn't aware they fleshed stuff out, as I just thought they changed the mechanics. VERY good information to know. I just download one sometime just so I have a good viewpoint of what they are doing.

[@BrettSlocum]

"Ghosts" is WotC not Goodman Games. It includes 7 previous adventures: U1-3, Salvage Operation (2005), Isle of the Abbey (1992), Tammeraut's Fate (2004), and The Styes (2005). They also added the Tower of Zenopus from Holmes Basic. They also connect it to Tales from the Yawning Portal so you have some dry adventures too. Ghosts covers levels 1-12.

[@artofthegenre6087]

@@BrettSlocum Holy crap, I wonder how they got the license for that!? Sounds pretty epic.

[@BrettSlocum]

The license for which? They own Zenopus. The rest were published in Dungeon magazine. I'm sure they asked everyone who wrote a Saltmarsh adventure for permission (and paid them) unless Dungeon bought the rights originally.

[@Madkingstow]

I renamed Oceanus on your behalf :)

[@Madkingstow]

Actually I changed them quite considerably. I made Oceanus a female sea elf named Oshela, Figured a nude female sea elf chained up on a pirate boat would spur their drive to be heroic, and it worked. After their experience with Ned, I figured another bound male prisoner would be treated with a great deal of suspicion.

[@artofthegenre6087]

Awesome to hear!

[@artofthegenre6087]

@@Madkingstow That makes a LOT of sense. I should have considered this.