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In reading through and preparing to run Waterdeep: Dragon Heist (looking at Xanathar, Spring variation) I was wondering about mechanisms/methods of gaining entrance to the Cellar Complex (the section starting on p. 83 of the adventure). I think I'm missing something simple.

The Spring subsection (p. 85) states that

you come down via the wig shop into B1; there is a walkway on B2, but no walkway on B3, plus the sewage is 3 ft deep.

Is the expectation that

PCs will wade through the sewage from B2 to B4 via B3,

or is there some other expected/standard method PCs would likely take?

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    \$\begingroup\$ Welcome to the rpg stack! I am almost sure this is a D&D 5e question, can you confirm (and add the dnd-5e tag if so)? \$\endgroup\$
    – Sdjz
    Commented Jun 12, 2019 at 12:01
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    \$\begingroup\$ @sdjz I am trying to figure out where to mark the spoilers for this published adventure. \$\endgroup\$
    – KorvinStarmast
    Commented Jun 12, 2019 at 12:09
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    \$\begingroup\$ @KorvinStarmast: I've attempted an initial pass at adding spoiler tags to the relevant parts; feel free to review them and edit it if you feel my spoiler tags don't make sense. \$\endgroup\$
    – V2Blast
    Commented Jun 12, 2019 at 21:23
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    \$\begingroup\$ @V2Blast Looks good to me, I had a notion to edit the title but decided that I needed to wait and think. So long as spoilers are addressed, I think we can feel confident in no complaints in re spoilers. \$\endgroup\$
    – KorvinStarmast
    Commented Jun 12, 2019 at 21:37

1 Answer 1

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You've read the map and notes right.

As you say...

The tunnel that branches towards B3 does not have a walkway. If you want to go that way, the sewage is 3' deep.

Your players may choose to just go for it. It's gross, but...

Not actually harmful unless they are in the sewage for a full minute.

Of course, your players may get creative and try to work out other ways to navigate the passage. Just to give a few examples based on stuff my players have pulled in the past... (Note: these will have to be adjudicated by you as to whether or not they will be feasible, since the campaign doesn't cover them)

"How rough are the walls? Can I climb horizontally across the wall to avoid going into the sewage?"
"I want to cobble together some basic stilts to walk through the sewage without going in."
"I bet the city workers have a way to get around here...like a very-narrow-raft. Let's see if we can borrow one!"

And so on.

So, yes...you have a correct understanding of how the space is laid out. So leave it up to your players to figure out how to traverse the space.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ Awesome answer! I'm definitely new here and that was really helpful! Thanks so much! \$\endgroup\$
    – ChrisHDog
    Commented Jun 12, 2019 at 13:07
  • \$\begingroup\$ Your last sentence is the only answer I was going to give, and I chose not to answer as we usually prefer more meat. Another +1 for the usual quality product from guildsbounty productions, LTD, LLC, INC, LMOP. \$\endgroup\$
    – KorvinStarmast
    Commented Jun 12, 2019 at 21:39
  • \$\begingroup\$ I agree that the last answer is the key - the DM’s role is to provide challenges, its the player’s role to find solutions (if they can) \$\endgroup\$
    – Dale M
    Commented Jun 13, 2019 at 2:09

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