Glasstaff (Lost Mine of Phandelver DM Guide)

[@HowtoRPG]

Lost Mine of Phandelver Dungeon Master Guide & Tutorial. The Lighthall Platform is now offering free online live classes for Dungeon Masters that I will be facilitating in one week. The student sign-up is free and the link is below, www.lighthall.co/class/d336b3e7-aac8-4070-b57f-a5f421cc793a

[@mynameismarkchun]

I made Glasstaff a doppelganger for my campaign with the real Iarno being kept captive. I used more doppelgangers within the storyline so they weren't just a monster they faced at the end. This way with certain npcs being replaced it helps set in some paranoia and conspiracy. It also helped explain Iano's sudden change in morality. The rat familiar gave me an idea to give Nezz a black widow familiar that he uses to spy on the group.

[@HowtoRPG]

Thanks for sharing your experience and thoughts :)

[@alarin612]

The doppelgangers are a great tool for this kind of thing. I had Iarno acting normal in town and wear a mask when acting as Glasstaff, so it was a secret identity. I had the doppelgangers look like one or the other one occasion to reinforce the deceit, kind of like Martian Mamhunter pretending to be Superman.

[@mikeyb6859]

When my PCs captured Glasstaff he was brought to the town hall to be held for trial. It was then that I decided to make Harbin Wester be in league with him so that when the PCs left the town for Cragmaw castle Wester released Glasstaff under the guise of being overpowered while questioning him. Glasstaff joined the fray at Wave Echo Cave but I had him escape with the admonition to the PCs that he "...would see their destruction!". He is now the recurring BBEG who continually tries to plot his revenge upon them and I figure they will encounter him several times in different plots and locations throughout the campaign.

[@HowtoRPG]

Wow. You made Glasstaff very important.

[@mikeyb6859]

How to D&D Yeah, I just kind of decided to give him a “revenge on the party” kind of vibe, and as they have become more famous the more he burns for it. It’s been kind of fun trying to come up with ideas for him to set up an organization primarily designed to try to stop the PCs. He has been getting more powerful as the PCs have advanced, and of course he is becoming twisted with his desire for revenge. I haven’t decided how it will end up but I’m thinking he will try to get in league with some high demon lords to be able to exact his final revenge. He has already successfully infiltrated their group by having a doppelgänger become a t rusted confidant and follower.

[@jamessteckel5379]

He's the Monarch to your team venture

[@MsMotherWolf]

Having run Lost Mine of Phandelver a few different times. I've usually had group kill Glasstaff and he got away once. You definitely want to pay attention to his magic item, Staff of Defense that he's got. Just him holding it, it gives a plus to AC, then he can cast Mage Armor and Sheild with it and that changes everything about this character when you're told to use stats for an Evil Mage. I've gone and created my own stats for Glasstaff and that changes everything for how an encounter can go with him once combat starts.

[@HowtoRPG]

Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@KurikuShoTto]

Thank you so much for the video series. Finally assembled a party for me to DM for the first time and this series is giving me so much more understanding of all the NPC and their relations with each other

[@HowtoRPG]

You are most welcome Henry. Happy gaming.

[@aaroncreech4116]

I've started DMing LMoP for a group of new players recently and my fiancee (who has played the campaign before) asked if her wizard could be Glasstaff's old apprentice. Using her spy background she has been keeping an eye on him over the years, until recently. So she used Gundren's escort to go investigate his last known whereabouts.

[@HowtoRPG]

Very nice buy-in.

[@alarin612]

That's really cool! Solid example of positive metagaming.

[@AleksandrStrizhevskiy]

Obviously anyone can run it however they like. But in the module it does state explicitly that Sildar was given an assignment to find out what happened to Iarno Albeck. So Sildar would definitely know of the wizard and any info in his Lord's Alliance dossier, which he should receive if looking for him. Similarly Iarno would be aware that a new Lord's Alliance representative was sent into town to replace him, and Irano would do everything he can to find out more about him. So they should know about each other's official details. (But Sildar is not aware that Iarno is dirty and thought he was kidnapped or killed).

[@HowtoRPG]

I did not go into the relationship between Sildar and Iarno in detail, because there is no indication that they know each other. Yes, Sildar would have some imperfect information on Iarno which was discussed in the Sildar video. Iarno would not necessarily know that Sildar was coming to Phandalin, because he's had no contact with the lords alliance for a while. My point was that they are not necessarily friends, or that they even met each other or know that much about each other. Remember the Lords Alliance missed the ball in checking out Iarno for his assignment.

[@jameslangham9854]

IN the adventure Sildar describes Iarno as "a short, dark-bearded human wizard in his thirties."

[@HowtoRPG]

Iarno can be what you want.

[@alarin612]

Has anyone else ever run Iarno as though he's leading a double life? Upstanding, helpful wizard by day, with a secret alter ego as Glasstaff running the Redbrands? I had good results with this, especially with the doppelgangers.

[@HowtoRPG]

Sounds fun. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@jamessteckel5379]

Great guide. Showdown in the hideout this weekend, there's a lot of great ideas in here, especially to make it so my party doesn't just one-round good ol glassstaff

[@HowtoRPG]

Glad you liked it James.

[@wh3nderson95]

I made Glass Staff a Yuan-Ti Pureblood. As he wanted to keep Phandalin weak until other Purebloods arrive to take over the town.

[@HowtoRPG]

That is an interesting twist, I like it. Thanks for sharing your experience and story.

[@mikesands4681]

Finally been waiting months for this one

[@HowtoRPG]

It took a while.

[@bmthehunter]

The back entrance has the alarm spell cast on it.

[@Joseph-uu4zu]

Another great video. My party hopes to defeat glasstaff today!

[@HowtoRPG]

Thank you. Fingers crossed!

[@avalugg5482]

In my party i’m a player by the way I played a wizard and we had a little wizard flight and I won I felt so proud of myself that was probably more of the most memorable encounters in phandelver

[@dylancampbell9631]

Given Iarno 2 poltergeist body guards. The Skeleton guards in the crypt indicates that he has some necromancy ability, so I extrapolated on that. My players are a party of 5 lvl 3’s and they are quite strong, so wanted to give Iarno a fighting chance. Poltergeists are invisible, so I will have them be hidden at first. Iarno will try to talk the party into joining him. He is likely to fail at this, at which point the Poltegeists attack. Surprise! Also, if I have over estimated how strong the party is and they are pretty battered by the time the get to Iarno, I can only release one poltergeist or none, and the players will be none the wiser as they are invisible.

[@HowtoRPG]

Thanks for sharing your experience and thoughts.

[@dylancampbell9631]

@@HowtoRPG as an update, they destroyed glasstaff and the poltergeists, and recruited Droop, who is now the chamberlain for their home base at Tresandar Manor

[@HowtoRPG]

@@dylancampbell9631 lol. Sounds familiar.

[@liambiggins4263]

It played out as you said, my players went though the carp tunnel, bargained with the Nothic, then surprised Gladstaff and subdued him in first round before he got an attack. He surrendered at 3 HP. It all seemed too easy. Because they didn’t bind or gag him and just led him into the lab, I’m going to use the rat familiar (seeing though his eyes) then cast misty step and dash action to flee.

[@HowtoRPG]

Thanks for sharing your experience and thoughts. That seems like a gift from your players.

[@TedDrawsDungeons]

Great explanation! Well done!

[@HowtoRPG]

Thank you, was a little nerve racking.

[@PMMagro]

More good stuff! I don't like the redbrands, they do not fit in so well. Glass staff does though. The redbrands should either drive the players out of town , make them join the gang or simply kill/capture them. As soon as they seem dangerous, active etc. Just letting nosy armed strangers talking about the dwarfs, how they killed goblins and helped a prisoner etc come and go and get more help is ...weird. Me I'll probably have to change them. Freedom to explore and go lvl up is crusial to the players. Probably Glass Staff want's to just observe them and recruit (if sucessfull) first?

[@HowtoRPG]

Thanks. That is an option.

[@sebastianotomasso2098]

thanks man

[@HowtoRPG]

@@sebastianotomasso2098 You are very welcome.

[@borntodie297]

Glasstaf his staff is one hell of a thing, and the only reason I would not run him as an easy encounter alone. Look it up, this thing is a very rare magic item that requires attunement. Think about how insanely strong that is in the hands of soon to be level 3 characters (yes soon to be, I ditched exp in favor of milestones). Considering this item is as strong as it is, I would definitely argue its a major magic item to boot and by Xenethars guide that would mean this thing can land in their lap 2 entire tiers of play before suggested. That is huge, so a little bit of effort from the players end is certainly required if you ask me. Playing Iarno in such a way that they just are able to catch him and with it gain access to his staff as loot should not be a trivial thing in the least. However, do not take what I say here as a reason to keep it from the party when they put in the effort, that xenethars guide table should be used as a guideline, not a straightjacket.

[@HowtoRPG]

Yes, that staff is very powerful.

[@thenovicedm7966]

Which video do you have that speaks to DEAD PCs and options ?

[@HowtoRPG]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gmHUh3hql9yeqdU

[@HowtoRPG]

This is the link to the "Character Death in Lost Mine of Phandelver". I do have many videos on character death options and the topic in general.

[@blamp666]

I have no clue how to deal with Iarno combat, I am new to this and am playing with wife and 7 year old son... I am the only reading and doing all the work, been trying to be a DM and a player to help them out. They are very close to Iarno and am confused with so many things he can do as an evil mage and spells...

[@HowtoRPG]

Have Iarno cast Invisibility and escape. No more problems.

[@blamp666]

@@HowtoRPG No way! I am not taking an easy way... I have been plotting against my family! Muahahahaha

[@HowtoRPG]

@@blamp666 lol

[@ntarmstrong1]

The guide just says that if they enter through the lab, the rat will see them and he will flee. If the party takes the time to examine the room at all, Glasstaff will easily escape. Do you think having him escape is a good idea, or should I have him stick around? Seems kind of anti-climactic to have them get to the final boss room and he just bolted.

[@HowtoRPG]

Glasstaff is designed to be crushed and that is anti-climatic. You will need to adjust the story to make it more interesting. I provided a few options.

[@ntarmstrong1]

@@HowtoRPG Thanks for the feedback! I think I'll make him not flee and be harder to deal with so it will feel like a boss fight.

[@tiredjediknight3110]

Personally I think glasstaff attempting to escape is the common sense choice. Bearing in mind this is an intelligent, educated man. Your party reaching him means they’ve gotten through his men, the bugbears and most likely the nothic and they outnumber him. Why on earth would he stick around on what the hope he can take them down individually? Or they’d spare him? Nah.

[@phoenixdblack]

My players went through the secret tunnel and killed him instantly. That was.. something 😅

[@HowtoRPG]

Yep, that happens alot. lol

[@fhuber7507]

The party I am DMing for: Captured a Red Brand that was pick-pocketing in town. Interrogated him (Intimidation... easy success) Got the information about where the hideout was. Killed the Red Brand (Left it in an abandoned shack in town.... I let one building be abandoned because they asked for it.) Walked up the the main door of the Red Brand hideout. Knocked on the door Said they wanted to join (Persuasion... failed badly) I rolled an attitude check (1 being total fear, 20 being wildly aggressive anger vs the failed persuasion). 2 Door guard slammed the little window in the door shut, Party hears stuff being moved. The party just stood there as I described some stuff they heard and time passing. I made sure to say "X minutes have passed" and pause several times. They waited more than 30 minutes and were hearing nothing through the door any more. After about 15 minutes of silence, the party smelled smoke. The Red Brand, had decided to evacuate the hideout via the hidden tunnel, taking their captives and their best loot. They had left a trail of lamp oil and torched the hideout behind them. **************** I had decided hat the Red Brand were in fear that their hideout had been discovered and was about to be invaded by an overwhelming force. I had them relocate to some ruins I had added to the adventure, planning to leave a map showing their location in a future treasure pile. Known to exist by the Red Brands, Glass Staff and The Spider. These ruins were meant to be a link to expanding the campaign after the end of the Starter Set book. What harm can there be in letting the players find this early? Its supposed to be empty except for frescoes on the walls, to give a world's history lesson... and a pair of strange stacked skull statues the party is not going to know what to do with yet. No plan survives first contact with the PC party... They triggered the statues.

[@HowtoRPG]

Thanks for sharing your experience and thoughts.