History YMMV / BaldursGateDescentIntoAvernus

* FanDislikedExplanation: [[FriendlyNeighborhoodVampire Jander Sunstar]], once a [[EnsembleDarkhorse well-regarded deep cut character with a devoted fanbase]] from the ''{{TabletopGame/Ravenloft}}'' campaign setting, makes a cameo in ''TabletopGame/BaldursGateDescentIntoAvernus''... in Hell, crucified and tortured for eternity, having been responsible for BigBad Zariel's damnation due to a sudden act of [[DirtyCoward total cowardice as rank as it is ill-explained]], then committing SuicideBySunlight. Neither his fans nor the writer of his novels were amused with this anti-fanservice, not least because this ''also'' represents a fairly-harsh {{Retcon}}. [[labelnote:Explanation]]He'd previously had nothing to do with Zariel, who had quite successfully damned herself eons before his time.[[/labelnote]]

* {{Railroading}}: One of the most common criticisms of the Baldur's Gate section. While this might be something to watch out for in any pre-written adventure, the ''book itself'' states that [[ButThouMust being drafted by the Flaming Fists in Baldur's Gate is unavoidable]], even saying that the captain in charge can [[KillerGM kill player characters on the spot for refusing]]. The rest of the module is better about this, but the railroading aspect is an issue for many players.
* SlowPacedBeginning: The most common criticism of the module. The first chapter is supposed to get players from level one to five and help setup the story. For some reason though, the story of the first chapter feels very disconnected from the rest of the module; the Cultists of the Dead Three feel out of place and have no bearing on the plot except for the antagonist of the sections goal of weakening the Flaming Fists, the Vamthampurs are only loosely connected to the Elturel stuff, the Shield of the Hidden Lord feels like a weak inclusion due to the players having no way to do anything about it except take it along with them to Avernus if they want, and the big reveal of the Infernal Puzzle Box feels useless because the game railroads the players into not being able to open it. The only major things to take away from this section is that Thavius Kreeg is in Baldur's Gate. The difficulty of the early game also means players can often struggle to get past it, slowing it down even more. Some DM's have outright decided to skip the section entirely and just start players off at level 5 so they can jump into Avernus sooner.
* ThatOneBoss: The Death's Head of Bhaal, who serves as the final boss of the Dead Three base under the Spa. Not only does he have just shy of 80 HP, but he can multi-attack, has +5 Str and Dex, magic resistance, a free NoSell he can use on any damage up to three times a day, an aura around him that makes people weak to piercing damage, ''and'' he has a stun he can use that, while having a relatively low DC to make, can be used as many times as he wants. All of this is a single enemy encountered at level 2, and at the end of a relatively tough dungeon that players have to go through. He can easily kill a party even if they are careful. A good number of DM's outright nerf him because of how frankly BS he is at that level, and even if the players are level 3 when they fight him, he still has so much raw power that he can practically one-hit kill anyone.
* ThatOneLevel: The Elturel section of the module is one of the most grueling parts of the entire module. Not only are you now in Avernus, but the amount of enemies you fight jumps considerably, ranging from lower level fiends to a few BossInMookClothing encounters, all while the city is filled with hazards and people needing help. It's easy for players to get exhausted before they can arrive at their destination, which itself has several reasonably difficult encounters as well. Mind you, players are generally around level 5, so they still are on the weaker end.

* {{Railroading}}: One of the most common criticisms of the Baldur's Gate section. While this might be something to watch out for in any pre-written adventure, the ''book itself'' states that being drafted by the Flaming Fists in Baldur's Gate is unavoidable, even saying that the captain in charge can [[KillerGM kill player characters on the spot for refusing]]. The rest of the module is better about this, but the railroading aspect is an issue for many players.

* AuthorsSavingThrow: The below retcon of Jander Sunstar was retconned again by ''Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft''. In it, a failed attempt to cure himself of vampirism instead created numerous clones of himself scattered across the planes, each believing they are the real one.

* FanDislikedExplanation: [[FriendlyNeighborhoodVampire Jander Sunstar]], once a [[EnsembleDarkhorse well-regarded deep cut character with a devoted fanbase]] from the ''{{TabletopGame/Ravenloft}}'' campaign setting, makes a cameo in ''TabletopGame/BaldursGateDescentIntoAvernus''... in Hell, crucified and tortured for eternity, having been responsible for BigBad Zariel's damnation due to a sudden act of [[DirtyCoward total cowardice as rank as it is ill-explained]], then committing SuicideBySunlight. Neither his fans nor the writer of his novels were amused with this anti-fanservice, not least because this ''also'' represents a fairly-harsh {{Retcon}}. (He'd previously had nothing to do with Zariel, who had quite successfully damned herself eons before his time.)

* Author'sSavingThrow: The below retcon of Jander Sunstar was retconned again by ''Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft''. In it, a failed attempt to cure himself of vampirism instead created numerous clones of himself scattered across the planes, each believing they are the real one.

* FanDislikedExplanation: [[FriendlyNeighborhoodVampire Jander Sunstar]], once a [[EnsembleDarkhorse well-regarded deep cut character with a devoted fanbase]] from the ''{{TabletopGame/Ravenloft}}'' campaign setting, makes a cameo in ''TabletopGame/BaldursGateDescentIntoAvernus''... in Hell, crucified and tortured for eternity, having been responsible for BigBad Zariel's damnation due to a sudden act of [[DirtyCoward total cowardice as rank as it is ill-explained]], then committing SuicideBySunlight. Neither his fans nor the writer of his novels were amused, not least because this ''also'' represents a fairly-harsh {{Retcon}}. (He'd previously had nothing to do with Zariel, who had quite successfully damned herself eons before his time.)

* SlowPacedBeginning: The most common criticism of the module. The first chapter is supposed to get players from level one to five and help setup the story. For some reason though, the story of the first chapter feels very disconnected from the rest of the module; the Cultists of Tiamat feel out of place and have no bearing on the plot except for the antagonist of the sections goal of weakening the Flaming Fists, the Vamthampurs are only loosely connected to the Elturel stuff, the Shield of the Hidden Lord feels like a weak inclusion due to the players having no way to do anything about it except take it along with them to Avernus if they want, and the big reveal of the Infernal Puzzle Box feels useless because the game railroads the players into not being able to open it. The only major things to take away from this section is that Thavius Kreeg is in Baldur's Gate. The difficulty of the early game also means players can often struggle to get past it, slowing it down even more. Some DM's have outright decided to skip the section entirely and just start players off at level 5 so they can jump into Avernus sooner.

* * ThatOneLevel: The Elturel section of the module is one of the most grueling parts of the entire module. Not only are you now in Avernus, but the amount of enemies you fight jumps considerably, ranging from lower level fiends to a few BossInMookClothing encounters, all while the city is filled with hazards and people needing help. It's easy for players to get exhausted before they can arrive at their destination, which itself has several reasonably difficult encounters as well. Mind you, players are generally around level 5, so they still are on the weaker end.

* {{Railroading}}: One of the most common criticisms of the Baldur's Gate section. While this might be something to watch out for in any pre-written adventure, the ''book itself'' states that being drafted by the Flaming Fists in Baldur's Gate is unavoidable, even saying that the captain in charge can [[KillerGM kill player characters on the spot for refusing.]]
* ThatOneBoss: The Death's Head of Bhaal, who serves as the final boss of the Dead Three base under the Spa. Not only does he have just shy of 80 HP, but he can multi-attack, has +5 Str and Dex, has magic resistance, a free NoSell he can use on any damage up to three times a day, an aura around him that makes people weak to piercing damage, ''and'' he has a stun he can use that, while having a relatively low DC to make, can be used as many times as he wants. All of this is a single enemy encountered at level 2, and at the end of a relatively tough dungeon that players have to go through. He can easily kill a party even if they are careful. A good number of DM's outright nerf him because of how frankly BS he is at that level, and even if the players are level 3 when they fight him, he still has so much raw power that he can practically one-hit kill anyone.

* ThatOneBoss: The Death's Head of Bhaal, who serves as the final boss of the Dead Three base under the Spa. Not only does he have just shy of 80 HP, but he can multi-attack, has +5 Str and Dex, has magic resistance, a free NoSell he can use on any damage up to three times a day, an aura around him that makes people weak to piercing damage, ''and'' he has a stun he can use that, while having a relatively low DC to make, can be used as many times as he wants. All of this is a single enemy encountered at level 2, and at the end of a relatively tough dungeon that players have to go through. He can easily kill a party even if they are careful. A good number of DMs outright nerf him because of how frankly BS he is at that level, and even if the players are level 3 when they fight him, he still has so much raw power that he can practically one-hit kill anyone.