Hoard of the Dragon Queen
Errata and Clarifications
version 1.1 (11 September 2015)
This fan-created documentdescribes known errata for the
Hoard of the Dragon Queen adventure published by Wizards
of the Coast and Kobold Press for fifth-edition Dungeons &
Dragons.
These clarifications and recommended corrections are not
in any way official. I’m publishing them in the hope of helping
DMs who are confused by the adventure, but with any luck,
Wizards of the Coast will release their own official errata
document and render this one obsolete.
Format
Each entry below includes a section title and page-number
reference, followed a description of a change to make in that
section’s text or map, followed by a shaded box containing an
explanation of the change and a source link (in most cases).
Suggested revisions to the printed text show original text in
red and corrected or added text in green.
Notes on Sources
The great majority of these entries come from corrections
and clarifications offered by Hoard of the Dragon Queen
co-designer Steve Winter (plus one correction made by
cartographer Jared Blando); these are fairly authoritative.
Other entries report findings by members of the online D&D
player community and are credited as such.
Entries without listed sources are my own personal
suggestions and very definitely not authoritative!
Spoiler Warning!
This document contains spoilers for the Hoard of the Dragon
Queen adventure. Please do not read this document if you
intend to play through the adventure.
Prefatory material
The Sword Coast (map)
Replace Silvermoon with Silverymoon.
Explanation: Typo on the original map: the city’s canonical
name is “Silverymoon.”
Source: Jared Blando, correction made on digital version of
the map.
Replace Iriabor with Iriaebor.
Explanation: Typo.
Source: Jonathan L (pukunui81), RPGGeek forum post.
Episode 1: Greenest in Flames
Dragon Attack page 9
In the first paragraph, replace Its chief contribution with His
chief contribution and replace its fight, and it isn’t keen with
his fight, and he isn’t keen. Alternately, replace he and his in
later paragraphs with it and its (or change all references to she
and her, if preferred).
Explanation: Brings the first paragraph into consistency with
the rest of the text, which describes Lennithon using “he” and
“his”.
Greenest (map) page 10
Area 3 on the map is the Temple to Chauntea mentioned in
the “Sanctuary” mission on p. 11. Area 4 on the map is the mill
mentioned in the “Save the Mill” mission on p. 10.
Explanation: These two area markings on the map are not
described in the Chapter 1 text.
Source: Steve Winter, Wizards Community Forum post.
Episode 2: Raiders’ Camp
Rearguard page 15
In the second paragraph, replace one guard with one veteran.
In the seventh paragraph, replace guard decides with veteran
decides.
page 4
Explanation: The challenge ratings for the guard and veteran
NPCs changed repeatedly during development; as a result, the
rearguard force is less dangerous than the designers intended.
Source: Steve Winter, Wizards Community Forum post.
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Hoard of the Dragon Queen: Errata and Clarifications v1.1
General Features pages 16–17
In the last paragraph, on p. 17, replace The large ten with The large
tent.
Explanation: Typo.
In the same paragraph, add Azbara Jos to the list of characters
housed in the large tent (area 2).
Explanation: Azbara Jos is supposed to be present in the
camp, according to Steve Winter, but he does not appear in the
text for this chapter.
Source: Steve Winter, Wizards Community Forum post.
In the same paragraph, replace four guards with four veterans.
Explanation: As noted above in the entry for p. 15, the
challenge ratings for the guard and veteran NPCs fluctuated
during development, with the result that the tent ended up
being too weakly-defended. According to Steve Winter, “The
bodyguards outside Rezmir’s tent . . . are meant to be impossible
for PCs to overpower.”
Source: Steve Winter, Wizards Community Forum post.
Episode 3: Dragon Hatchery
Area 10A. Black Dragon Eggs page 26
Note that the roper in this room is an unusual specimen which
has somehow magically gained the ability to speak.
Explanation: The third paragraph notes that the roper is “not
averse to talking,” but the roper stat block (Hoard of the Dragon
Queen Online Supplement, p. 15, or Monster Manual, p. 261) makes
it clear that ropers cannot speak or understand any language.
Ropers could speak in D&D 3rd edition, the v.3.5 revision, and
4th Edition, but the rules-design team changed them back to
being non-speaking monsters as in first- and second-edition
AD&D. Presumably the adventure designers were not aware of
this change when they created this encounter.
A roper is a very deadly opponent for a 3rd-level party; the
solution offered here enables the DM to run the encounter as
written so that the player characters have an opportunity to
avoid combat by negotiating.
2
Area 11. Frulam Mondath’s Chamber
 pages 26–27
Expand this area’s description to include a key to the chest in the
Dragon Shrine (area 9). The exact placement of this key is up to
the DM: suggestions include on the writing desk, in Mondath’s
trunk, or on Mondath’s person.
Explanation: The third paragraph on p. 25 notes that characters
can open the chest in area 9 with “the key from area 11,” but there
is no key included in the area 11 description as written.
Source: Steve Winter, Wizards Community Forum post.
Area 12. Guard Barracks page 27
In the first paragraph, replace At any given time, four of them
keep watch in area 1 and the others with They maintain a
two-person watch at the entrance (area 1); two dragonclaws
are currently on duty in that area, and the others and replace
the guards from area 1 with the dragonclaws from area 1.
Explanation: The text in this area is inconsistent with the
presence in area 1 of two dragonclaws (instead of the expected
four guards)
Source: Steve Winter, Wizards Community Forum post.
Rewards page 27
Delete the final For destroying or taking only two dragon eggs:
500 XP list entry.
Explanation: This entry is superfluous: taking two dragon eggs
is already worth 500 XP, as noted in the previous list entry.
Source: Steve Winter, Wizards Community Forum post.
Episode 4: On the Road
Trade Way Events (table) page 34
In entry 7, replace The Golden Hind with The Golden Stag. In
entry 8, replace High Holy Day with Payback.
Explanation: The Golden Hind event was renamed, and the
High Holy Day event replaced with the Payback event, late in
development; in both cases, the table was not updated with the
corrected event names.
Source: Steve Winter, Wizards Community Forum post.

No Room at the Inn (encounter) page 36
Replace the assassins with another NPC or creature type which
pose a more suitable challenge for 4th-level characters, such
as veterans, doppelgangers, werewolves, or (in Steve Winter’s
words) “any other creatures you like in the challenge 3–5 range .
. . give them potions of polymorph, hats of disguise, or some other
way to conceal their true identities until it’s time for them to
spring the surprise.”
Explanation: The challenge rating for the assassin NPC
increased significantly after this encounter was designed. As a
result, Steve Winter says this encounter ended up “way deadlier
than it ought to be.”
Source: Steve Winter, Wizards Community Forum post
(referencing earlier post with suggested correction).
Roadside Hospitality (encounter)
 page 36
In the last sentence, replace the other two flee with the other
one flees.
Explanation: The rest of the encounter description consistently
refers to a pair of doppelgangers rather than three; if one is
defeated, there’s only one left to flee.
Source: Ninja_Ferret, Wizards Community Forum post.
Episode 5: Construction Ahead
Waterdeep page 39
In the second paragraph, where the text says, “Azbara Jos
remains with the cultists during this time, and Jamna expresses
her desire to remain with them until they uncover the treasure’s
destination,” change them to the player characters.
Explanation: Changed for clarity. Because of the dangling
antecedent, this sentence makes it sound as though Jamna
wants to stay with the cultists (which doesn’t make sense,
since she and they are mutually hostile) until they discover the
treasure’s destination (which they presumably already know).
Area 4. Strong Room page 41
In the fourth paragraph, replace DC 15 Wisdom (Perception)
check with DC 10 Wisdom (Perception) check.
Explanation: Changed for consistency with the DC given in the
fourth paragraph of the Essential Ingredients sub-section on p. 40.
Source: Steve Winter, Wizards Community Forum post.
Hoard of the Dragon Queen: Errata and Clarifications v1.1
Carnath Roadhouse (map) page 41
The area at the upper left of level 1 should be a room with a
door, marked as area 7 (Ardred Briferhew’s Room).
Explanation: This area is described in the text but does not
appear on the map.
Source: Steve Winter, Wizards Community Forum post.
Also, the map appears to be missing a red door indicator in the
gap in the northern wall of the warehouse (area 3), just west of
the stairs to the upper level.
Explanation: The description for area 3 says there is a
warehouse door which is “latched but unlocked,” but this is not
reflected on the map.
Episode 6: Castle Naerytar
Castle Naerytar Ground Level (map)
 page 51
The moat (unmarked on the map) should be marked as area 5
(Moat). The main gate (marked as area 5 on the map) should be
marked as area 6 (Main Gate).
Explanation: The map’s markings do not match the area
descriptions in the text.
Source: Steve Winter, Wizards Community Forum post.
Area 1I. Lizardfolk Ready Room
 page 53
Replace twelve lizardfolk with twenty lizardfolk.
Explanation: The area 1I text states that there are twelve
lizardfolk guards in the tower, but the figures for areas 1J and 1K
add up to twenty guards sleeping there at night.
Source: Steve Winter, Wizards Community Forum post.
Area 1V. West Guest Rooms page 54
Replace this entry’s title with 1V, 1W. West Guest Rooms.
Explanation: There is no description for area 1W as listed on
the map.
Source: Steve Winter, Wizards Community Forum post.
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Hoard of the Dragon Queen: Errata and Clarifications v1.1
Castle Naerytar Level 2 (map) page 55
Transpose key letters H and K to match the text in these areas’
descriptions.
Explanation: As noted in the area 2H description, the arsenal
(area 2H) is located above the forge (area 1H, as shown on the
map on p. 51).
Source: Steve Winter, Wizards Community Forum post.
Area 3E. Specters’ Sanctum page 57
Either replace six specters with three specters in the first
paragraph, or replace Three bodies with Six bodies in the
second paragraph.
Explanation: Steve Winter says there were originally supposed
to be three specters in this room: he says, “I recommend using as
many as you think will make a good fight for your characters, and
describ[ing] that number of dead bodies in the room.”
Source: Steve Winter, Wizards Community Forum post.
Castle Naerytar Dungeon (map) page 60
Use the text in preference to this map when determining the
relative elevation of encounter areas.
Explanation: The map’s depictions of stairs and cliff faces
are ambiguous, making it hard to tell at a glance that the stairs
from area 1 descend 5 feet to reach area 9, or that area 10 is lower
than area 9. The descriptions of these areas provide the relevant
elevation details.
Source: Steve Winter, Wizards Community Forum post.
Area 12. Pharblex’s Sanctum page 61
Add a fourth paragraph describing the contents of the chest
located in this area:
Pharblex retires to this chamber to study two spellbooks
that he stole from Dalmarror Borngray’s library (area 2N).
These are valuable arcane resources, and Borngray and Rezmir
would be furious if they learned the books were missing. One
belonged to a 7th-level wizard and contains spells up to level
4. The other was written by a 9th-level wizard and contains
spells up to level 5. Being arcane spells, the magic is beyond
Pharblex’s ability to learn or cast; his lust for power is great
enough to keep him puzzling over the text and hoping for a
breakthrough.
Explanation: This paragraph was lost during publication,
leaving no description of the chest’s contents.
Source: Steve Winter, Wizards Community Forum post.
4
Episode 7: Hunting Lodge
Hunting Lodge Ground Floor (map)
 page 66
The small room at the upper right of the lodge (east of area
13, north of area 14) should be marked as area 12 (Kobold
Servants).
Explanation: This area is described in the text but does not
appear on the map.
Source: Steve Winter, Wizards Community Forum post.
Hunting Lodge Upper Floor (map)
 page 70
The northernmost two rooms marked as area 18 should be
unmarked (and should be treated as empty bedrooms, since
there is no description for them). The southernmost room is
correctly marked as area 18.
Explanation: Talis presumably only needs one bedchamber;
I assume it’s the southernmost one because it’s the only one
depicted on the map with the “burgundy bedspread” noted in
the area 18 description.
Also, add a note that area 22 is on the roof directly above area 18.
Explanation: This area and its location are described in the text
but not marked on the map.
Episode 8: Castle in the Clouds
The Village of Parnast (map) page 73
Ignore the area 6 marking on the map.
Explanation: The text does not describe an area 6 in the
village. (There is an area 6 described in this chapter, but it’s part
of the castle, not the village.)
Source: mrsrockguru, Wizards Community Forum post.
Appendix C: Magic Items
Hazirawn page 94
In the summary line, replace requires attunement with allows
attunement.
Explanation: This change makes it clearer that Hazirawn
provides some of its benefits without requiring attunement, as
noted in its description.
Source: Bumamgar, Wizards Community Forum post.
 Hoard of the Dragon Queen: Errata and Clarifications v1.1

In the first paragraph, replace If you are attuned to Hazirawn with Wand of Winter page 94
If you are not attuned to Hazirawn.
In the summary line, add requires attunement.

Explanation: The word “not” was lost during publication,

Explanation: This change brings the summary line into
making it appear that Hazirawn offers fewer benefits once
conformity with the wand’s description, which states that “You
attuned.
must be attuned to the wand to use it.”
Source: Steve Winter, Wizards Community Forum post.
Source: Bumamgar, Wizards Community Forum post.