The upcoming Dungeons & Dragons adventure book Keys from the Golden Vault consists of a series of 13 unconnected heists, but clever DMs can tie them together into a unified campaign. Each individual chapter will be a fully realized one-shot campaign, including unique settings, detailed NPCs, and multiple suggested strategies for pulling off the heist. Keys from the Golden Vault will have players solving a murder on an interdimensional train, dodging booby traps in the vault of a notorious thief, and disguising themselves to infiltrate an opulent ball.
The one-shot quests contained in Keys from the Golden Vault are so varied that it can be difficult to decide which heist to play first in the DnD anthology. The heists are organized by level from 1 to 11, giving a sense of progression if players want to take the same characters through the entire series. However, it'll require a little more creativity to tie the disparate Keys from the Golden Vault together into a single, connected campaign.
D&D DMs Can Give Quest-Giving NPCs Hidden Motives In Keys From The Golden Vault
Each heist in the new anthology begins with players receiving a physical key, containing a mission briefing, from a clandestine group in the business of contracting thieves: the Golden Vault. DnD player characters likely won't know much about the shadowy organization at first, as they use their wits and some sneaky spells in Keys from the Golden Vault heists. Their Golden Vault contacts may remain tight-lipped. To link the heists, DMs can hint at a wider conspiracy, causing players to wonder whose pockets they're lining and why. As they complete the standalone heists, players may find themselves unraveling a larger mystery, and at the end, a corrupt Golden Vault leader could prove a satisfying final boss.
Break Up The Repetition With Some D&D One-Shots That Aren't Part Of Keys From The Golden Vault
While each Keys from the Golden Vault quest has its own unique identity, playing 13 heist missions back-to-back could get old quickly. DMs who want to turn this adventure book into an interconnected campaign may want to space these out with some unrelated one-shots, and maybe even add some more combat-focused DnD sessions. DMs can draw from the wealth of other published DnD materials, or flex their creative muscles to create character-specific side quests that allow players to develop their ragtag band of thieves. Whatever they choose, Keys from the Golden Vault leaves plenty of room for players and DMs alike to get a little inventive.
Keys from the Golden Vault will be released on February 21, 2023, though the adventure book is already available in early access through D&D Beyond. Its flexibility as a series of one-shots that can be played individually or combined into a long-term campaign will likely make it a popular expansion for Dungeons & Dragons.
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