Night Below AD&D 2e Session 2: Milborne, DM Prep & Using a Print-on-Demand Copy

Using a Print-on-Demand Copy for Play

I bought the Night Below boxed set quite a while ago. As a collector—and since my copy is in very good condition—I prefer not to use it at the table. To avoid wear and tear, I picked up a print-on-demand (POD) version from dmsguild.com

I got it on sale for $25.99, and the delivery was surprisingly fast—it arrived in just over a week.

Quality and Practical Use

The book itself is of solid quality. The paper is fairly thick, the print is clear, and the color contrast is good. I chose the hardcover version so it can handle regular use during sessions.

One of the biggest advantages of using a POD copy is that I can freely mark it up—highlight, annotate, and add notes—without worrying about damaging a collectible item. For me, that alone makes it worth it.

After flipping through it extensively during preparation, it’s holding up well with no visible signs of wear so far.

Night Below POD - my notes

Limitations of the POD Version

There is one downside to be aware of.

All maps and handouts are printed directly in the book, often across pages and on both sides. This means you can’t easily cut them out or hand them to players as physical props.

For me, this isn’t a dealbreaker—but it does mean you’ll need alternative solutions if you want to use handouts at the table (printing separately, using digital versions, etc.).

Final Thoughts

For actual gameplay, the POD version is a practical and durable alternative to the original boxed set. It lets you fully engage with the material as a working tool, while keeping your collector’s copy safe.

For anyone planning to run Night Below, I would definitely recommend this approach.

My box collection

What Happened at the Table

The Road to Milborne

On the final stretch toward Milborne, I added a small encounter of my own. The party met two fur hunters one day before reaching the village. It was a short and simple interaction—just a bit of conversation about hunting and where each group was headed.

The purpose of this was subtle but important.

I wanted to normalize encounters on the road so the players wouldn’t immediately become suspicious when they reached the setup for the first planned encounter in Evils of Haranshire: “Capture Them Alive!”

The First Planned Encounter

The encounter was run as written in the module.

The party was caught off guard, and the fact that the attack came both from outside and inside created a fresh challenge. In a system where attacks often come from a single direction, this added a nice tactical twist.

Even with four characters and one NPC (Nyssa), the fight was dangerous. One character went down before the group managed to defeat the attackers, and they captured one of them alive.

Overall, I found the encounter clean, well-structured, and easy to run directly from the book.

My notes before session 2 - mostly short overview of names and places

Player Decisions & Surprises

Consequences of Open Dice

I roll all dice in the open.

This keeps me honest as a Dungeon Master and ensures that the consequences feel real and shared at the table. But it also means things can turn quickly.

Bilfiis was severely wounded during the encounter and had to be carried into Milborne. The players chose to keep one of the attackers alive, which opens up opportunities for information and future developments.

Lessons Learned (DM Reflection)

Preparation Gaps in Milborne

When the party arrived in Milborne, I quickly realized that I wasn’t as well prepared as I should have been.

I struggled with NPC names and roles, and I wasn’t fully confident in how the village functioned. This led to some hesitation at the table, which is something I want to avoid.

This is a clear takeaway for me:

Know your key NPCs
Understand their roles
Be ready to present the location smoothly

I took this directly into my preparation for the next session.

What Happened at the Table (continued)

Splitting the Party in Milborne

Once in Milborne, the group split up.

Two of the characters took the captured attacker to Garyld, while Beryglus (the thief) brought the injured Bilfiis to the temple.

Adapting the Temple of Chauntea

I modified the temple to better fit the Forgotten Realms and the Western Heartlands.

The temple of Chauntea is a small but beautiful place, centered around agriculture and growth, with a well-kept garden that reflects the goddess’s domain.

There, they met a young priest named Samheis, who helped heal Bilfiis.

Consequences & Forward Impact

Introducing Unease in Haranshire

I made an additional change to the module here.

To establish early that something is wrong in Haranshire, I introduced a small but important detail: the old priest, Wilth, has mysteriously disappeared some time ago.

The current priest—his former acolyte—is now struggling with the responsibility. He is uncertain, overwhelmed, and clearly not comfortable in his role.

This adds:

A sense of unease
A hint that something larger is happening
Another thread the players can choose to follow

Session End

This is where we ended the session.

The party has reached Milborne, one member is recovering from near death, they have a prisoner to question, and the first signs of deeper trouble in Haranshire are beginning to surface.

The real campaign is about to begin.

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