Descent into Avernus is one of the more ambitious campaigns in the Dungeons & Dragons universe, offering players a journey from the city of Baldur’s Gate straight into the first layer of the Nine Hells. Despite its imaginative setting, thrilling infernal war machines, and morally complex choices, many Dungeon Masters and players alike have found the campaign uneven and in need of some fine-tuning. Fixing Descent into Avernus doesn’t mean rewriting the whole adventure, but rather enhancing what’s already there. With a few adjustments in pacing, tone, and character engagement, this campaign can truly shine as an epic tale of redemption, damnation, and high-stakes decisions.
Understanding the Challenges
Pacing Problems
One of the most common criticisms of Descent into Avernus is its pacing. The early chapters in Baldur’s Gate often feel disconnected from the hellish events that follow. Players may wonder why they are involved in certain quests and how these missions relate to the grander infernal plot. As a result, momentum can be lost before the story truly kicks off.
Player Motivation
For a story set in Hell, stakes should feel personal and gripping. Unfortunately, many player characters struggle to find motivation for why they should care about Elturel’s fall or the blood war between devils and demons. If the hooks aren’t strong from the beginning, players may become disengaged during crucial story moments.
Underdeveloped Antagonists
Zariel, the fallen angel and main antagonist, has an incredible backstory. However, much of that complexity is buried in optional material or only hinted at in the published adventure. For her to truly feel like a powerful and tragic villain, she needs more presence and development throughout the campaign.
Improving the Campaign’s Beginning
Make Baldur’s Gate Matter
Instead of treating Baldur’s Gate as a mere stepping stone, turn it into a living, breathing city with real consequences. Tie the events in the city directly to Avernus perhaps infernal cults are already active, or devilish influence is infecting the local government. Show that the city itself could be next after Elturel.
Strengthen Player Hooks
Give players personal connections to Elturel. Let them have family, mentors, or property lost in the city’s descent. Alternatively, create backstory ties to characters like Reya Mantlemorn or Gideon Lightward. These personal stakes increase urgency and emotional weight from the start.
Developing the Journey to Avernus
Make the Descent Memorable
The actual transition from the Material Plane to Avernus should feel monumental. Don’t let it happen too quickly. Include scenes of celestial or infernal visions, ritual preparation, or dangerous decisions that change the party forever. This helps emphasize that they are entering a place far beyond mortal comprehension.
Include Dreams and Portents
To foreshadow what lies ahead, introduce dreams or omens sent by Zariel, Lulu, or even enemy demons. These surreal moments can hint at moral dilemmas, battles to come, or memories from previous lives. It adds mystery and weight to the party’s descent.
Enhancing Avernus as a Setting
Focus on the Hellish Environment
Avernus is described as a wasteland filled with ash, blood rivers, and firestorms. Bring those environmental features to life. Create survival challenges: acid rain that erodes armor, infernal winds that scatter maps, and warped gravity that distorts the battlefield. Let the land itself be an antagonist.
Infernal War Machines Should Shine
These Mad Max-inspired vehicles are a standout feature of the campaign. Integrate them into more scenes beyond just combat. Include racing challenges, salvaging missions, or vehicular diplomacy. Let players customize their machines with upgrades, relics, or infernal enhancements.
Offer Meaningful Exploration
Encourage sandbox gameplay in Avernus. Populate the layer with strange locations: broken temples, devilish forges, and celestial wreckage. Each location should offer choices that influence the story or reflect the war between good and evil.
Bringing Characters to Life
Deepen Zariel’s Role
Introduce Zariel’s presence early, perhaps through whispers or visions. Allow her to observe or taunt the players. Drop lore about her fall from grace and her regret or rage. By the time players face her, they should feel like they know her not just as a boss, but as a character with a tragic arc.
Lulu as a Moral Compass
Lulu, the golden hollyphant companion, is a cute but powerful narrative tool. Use her as the emotional anchor of the story. She can react to the party’s choices, recall lost memories over time, or express moral conflict. When she regains her full power, it should feel like a payoff for both the party and the narrative.
Customize NPCs
Make NPCs more memorable by tying them to player backstories. A fallen paladin from a player’s order, a devil that once served a warlock PC, or a traitorous cleric who betrayed a player’s temple can all create dynamic moments and difficult decisions.
Fixing the Ending
Make Choices Matter
The final confrontation with Zariel should reflect all the party’s past actions. Did they bargain with devils? Did they redeem or destroy holy sites? These choices can change the tone and outcome of the finale.
Multiple Endings
Offer more than just a fight. Let players attempt to redeem Zariel, take her place, or even reshape Avernus. Maybe they rescue Elturel, but at what cost? Perhaps they bargain with another archdevil, altering the balance of power in Hell. Let their ending reflect the campaign’s moral complexity.
Post-Campaign Epilogue
Don’t let the story end with the final battle. Provide closure through an epilogue a glimpse of how Baldur’s Gate responds, what happens to Avernus, and how each character’s soul has been changed. Players remember the ending most of all, so make it count.
Optional Homebrew Adjustments
- Rework Soul Coins: Introduce side effects for overuse, or have them store memories of the souls inside.
- Expanded Blood War Encounters: Include massive-scale battles that force players to choose between factions or escape under pressure.
- Customized Devil Bargains: Let players craft their own infernal contracts, with unique boons and horrifying consequences.
Fixing Descent into Avernus doesn’t require a complete overhaul. It requires attention to the emotional core, consistent themes, and giving players the agency to shape their story. By connecting early story elements to infernal stakes, enhancing Avernus as a playable and terrifying world, and giving Zariel the complexity she deserves, this campaign can evolve from good to unforgettable. With just a few changes, Descent into Avernus can become the legendary journey through Hell that players will talk about for years.