A review copy of “The Mechanical Mirage” was provided by the publisher. Find more DMs Guild Reviews on my website and YouTube channel.
Support my work by using my affiliate links and pledging via Patreon.
Designed by: Marina Kunz, Florence Mauli, Kai Müri, Sven Puister
The Mechanical Mirage is a 3rd level adventure set in a desert region of the Forgotten Realms known as the Shaar Desolation. The party is hired to investigate a mysterious fortress that appears in the desert, shimmering like a mirage.
The well-organized, beautifully constructed 50-page book is enhanced with original artwork, multiple appendices of information, and a 3D printable mini for the epic boss battle.
The adventure centers around a wizard’s lair dungeon crawl, but also features plenty to do beforehand, as the dungeon doesn’t appear until Chapter Four.
The players arrive in the city of Ormpur in Chapter One. On the one hand it’s nice to get a new city to explore in a relatively small adventure, but on the other hand, we’re not given much to do.
The initial quest is given in the Adventure Hook section, before the actual adventure takes place, denying the players the opportunity to ask follow-up questions or negotiate a deal.
The one encounter of note is an attack by local bandits, whose leader shows up later exploring the dungeon.
In Chapter Two the party venture out into the dangerous desert.
Multiple nomad factions make their home here, as well as a lamia who leads a pack of jackalweres, and a newly arrived blue dragon looking to start his own following. There’s an excellent mix of environmental hazards, random monsters, and social encounters.
In the third chapter the party makes it to the friendliest nomad camp faction, where they can learn more about the location of the lotus-shaped, teleporting fortress from a kobold, and play a dice minigame with the locals.
Chapter Four is where the real adventure lies, the intricate lair of the order-obsessed wizard Bariba.
Bariba loved the Plane of Order, Mechanus, and those adorably weird modrons so much that they designed their own super-modron. In a classic Frankenstein’s Monster twist, the Nihidrone killed its creator after they misplaced a single book, and now rule the lair in their absence.
The fortress’ invisibility component had recently become damaged, allowing it to be visible for the first time. Its teleportation is done at a set schedule, allowing the players to discover the fortress and make their way inside, from the top down.
The fortress isn’t sitting idly by waiting for adventurers to come and plunder it. Random creatures such as carrion crawlers have made their way inside, as well as the bandit leader’s forces, which could make for a tense social encounter.
To descend to each level, the party must solve various puzzles and challenges. Fans of puzzle-focused dungeon crawls with semi-deadly traps will find a lot to love/hate among the spike pits and acid tubes.
The final level features the boss Nihidrone and its large construct-mech suit. The memorable (and hilariously talkative) boss can activate wind-fans to blow players off the platform and into the lower levels, and alter gravity to slow down incoming threats.
For all the amazing accompanying artwork and DM-goodies, it’s crushingly disappointing that the dungeon maps don’t have any color. An annoying disadvantage in an otherwise stellar adventure that makes great use of its modron and desert themes.
Pros:
- Set in the Forgotten Realms, but far from the Sword Coast.
- Interesting wizard lair dungeon with plenty of clever puzzles and traps.
- Professional layout and design, with gorgeous original artwork and handouts.
- DM Advice, NPC cards, and a 3D printable boss mini!
Cons:
- Glosses over the in-game quest introduction.
- Dungeon maps lack color.
The Verdict: A rarely-used Forgotten Realms region, a clever dungeon design, and AAA artwork and presentation make A Mechanical Mirage an impressive adventure.
A review copy of “The Mechanical Mirage” was provided by the publisher. Find more DMs Guild Reviews on my website and YouTube channel.
Support my work by using my affiliate links and pledging via Patreon.
RogueWatson 