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A Deadly Jungle Adventure Comes to Digital Life

Deep in the jungles of Chult, something sinister is stealing the souls of the dead and causing those once returned to life to slowly waste away. 

This is the haunting premise of Tomb of Annihilation, one of D&D 5E's most ambitious adventures that combines pulp exploration, zombie dinosaurs, and a legendary dungeon crafted by the notorious arch-lich Acererak. 

Designed for characters level 1-11, this adventure pays homage to the infamous Tomb of Horrors while creating something entirely fresh - a deadly hex crawl through a richly detailed setting that culminates in one of the most devious dungeons ever published.

Want to dive into the jungles of Chult? Build unlimited 5E characters on Roll20, then explore our fully-equipped digital module. Get started playing Tomb of Annihilation now!

Chult: A Living, Breathing Setting

Tomb of Annihilation's greatest strength is its vibrant setting. 

The peninsula of Chult breaks free from standard fantasy tropes, offering a primordial land where dinosaurs roam ancient ruins, undead lurk in misty jungles, and a complex political landscape unfolds in the bustling port city of Port Nyanzaru. 

The seven merchant princes who rule the city provide immediate adventure hooks, while the sprawling jungle hex map creates a sandbox filled with memorable locations and encounters.

What sets this apart from other sandbox adventures is how it balances freedom with focus. While players can explore in any direction, the death curse creates an urgent throughline that helps prevent the narrative from becoming too scattered. 

Each major location - from the mysterious Heart of Ubtao floating above the canopy to the frost giant longship prowling the coast - feels purposeful rather than random, building toward the larger mystery at the heart of the adventure.

Structure and Flow

The adventure breaks naturally into distinct chapters that each offer different play experiences:

• Port Nyanzaru provides a vibrant home base filled with intrigue, dinosaur racing, and vital information gathering
• The jungle exploration phase combines hex crawling, resource management, and deadly encounters as parties navigate through dinosaur-filled wilderness
• The lost city of Omu presents a ruined cityscape where multiple factions vie for control
• The finale in the Tomb of the Nine Gods delivers an unforgiving dungeon crawl filled with diabolical traps and challenges

This variety helps prevent any single aspect from becoming stale, while the steady progression from relatively civilized areas to increasingly dangerous and mysterious locations creates a satisfying arc.

What Works Well

Tomb of Annihilation shines through its attention to detail and commitment to creating a living, breathing world. 

The NPCs are richly drawn.

From the merchant princes with their complex motivations to colorful guides like the wise-cracking Salida or the secretive weretiger Azaka Stormfang. 

The locations are unique and intriguing.

Each location tells its own story - the mysterious ruins of Camp Righteous, the floating palace known as the Heart of Ubtao, or the majestic cliffs of Firefinger. These aren't just waypoints on a map, but fully realized places with their own histories and secrets to uncover.

The rhythm feels right.

The adventure also succeeds in balancing serious threats with moments of levity. While the death curse creates an ominous backdrop, players might find themselves participating in dinosaur races, solving riddles with a mad monkey spirit, or negotiating peace between rival tribes of grung (poisonous frog-folk). 

This mixture prevents the adventure from becoming overwhelmingly grim while still maintaining stakes that feel appropriately epic.

Combat is fun – and often pushes you to the edge.

Combat encounters are similarly varied and creative. Beyond standard jungle creatures, parties might face undead tyrannosaurs, red wizards, frost giants, or yuan-ti cultists. 

Many locations offer environmental hazards or tactical considerations that make fights more interesting than simple slugfests. The final dungeon, in particular, presents some of the most devious and memorable challenges in any published 5E adventure.

Potential Pitfalls You Might Find Along the Way

The adventure's greatest strength - its open-ended nature - can also present significant challenges for DMs. 

The hex crawl structure requires careful tracking of resources, weather, and navigation, which can slow down play if not managed well. With dozens of possible locations to explore, DMs need to be prepared for players to go in unexpected directions while still maintaining the pressure of the death curse's ticking clock.

The difficulty level is also notably high compared to other published adventures. 

Even before reaching the notoriously lethal Tomb of the Nine Gods, parties face deadly threats from disease, dehydration, and powerful monsters. 

The adventure suggests using "meatgrinder mode" with even harder death saving throws, but even in standard mode, character death is a very real possibility. While this fits the pulp adventure inspiration, it may not suit all playing styles.

The mystery of the death curse and the location of its source can sometimes feel too nebulous.

Several key NPCs can point players in the right direction, but parties might still struggle to piece together the clues without some DM guidance. The middle section of the adventure requires a careful balance between letting players explore freely and keeping them moving toward crucial story beats.

Ready for A New Age of Digital Play?

Running Tomb of Annihilation on Roll20 transforms what could be an overwhelming campaign into a smoothly manageable digital experience. 

With over 35 battle maps featuring pre-configured dynamic lighting, DMs can focus on storytelling rather than technical setup. The module's careful attention to detail shines in how it handles both the sprawling jungle exploration and the intricate dungeon delves of later chapters.

Central to Roll20's implementation is its robust integration of character sheets and tokens. Over 275 pre-configured NPC sheets come complete with one-click rolls and token integration, making it simple to run complex encounters. Having instant access to every NPC's abilities and stats helps DMs maintain the adventure's quick pace without getting bogged down in rulebook references.

Digital Tools That Save Time

The VTT format particularly excels in managing the hex crawl exploration that forms the heart of the adventure. 

The digital hex map makes tracking progress intuitive, while integrated random encounter tables and weather systems can be rolled with a single click. For Plus and Pro subscribers, dynamic lighting brings the dense jungles and ancient ruins to life, adding an extra layer of immersion as parties explore treacherous territory.

The 190+ included art handouts help DMs set the scene effectively, whether showing players the majestic dinosaur races of Port Nyanzaru or the creepy ruins they discover deep in the jungle. Having these resources instantly available helps maintain the adventure's atmosphere without requiring extensive prep time searching for appropriate imagery.

The Final Verdict

Tomb of Annihilation stands as one of D&D 5E's most ambitious and rewarding adventures. 

While its high difficulty and sandbox structure may not suit every group, those willing to brave its challenges will find a richly detailed setting filled with unforgettable moments. 

The adventure successfully modernizes classic D&D elements - like deadly dungeons and hex crawling - while creating something that feels fresh and exciting. The mix of dinosaurs, zombies, and ancient mysteries creates a unique tone that sets it apart from standard fantasy fare.

Roll20's implementation makes an already strong adventure even more accessible. The comprehensive suite of digital tools, from pre-configured maps to integrated character sheets, significantly reduces prep time and technical overhead. At $24.99, the module represents solid value for DMs looking to run this campaign online – especially considering the hours of manual setup it saves.

This isn't an adventure for the faint of heart - both players and DMs need to be prepared for serious challenges and potential character death. But for groups seeking an epic expedition filled with both deadly dangers and incredible discoveries, Tomb of Annihilation delivers an experience that ranks among the best of what modern D&D has to offer.

Ready to begin your own expedition into Chult? Get Tomb of Annihilation on Roll20 now and receive everything you need to run this legendary campaign, including exclusive maps, Dynamic Lighting, and comprehensive NPC integration.