Foundry Descent Into Avernus
For players and Dungeon Masters exploring the depths of hellish adventure in Baldur’s Gate: Descent Into Avernus, the integration with Foundry Virtual Tabletop opens up an entirely new dimension of immersion. Foundry’s robust tools, automation features, and customizable assets transform a campaign set in Avernus into a cinematic and interactive journey. Whether you’re navigating the flaming wastelands or engaging infernal warlords in desperate bargains, Foundry provides a seamless platform to bring the Descent Into Avernus module to life like never before.
Introduction to Descent Into Avernus
What Is Descent Into Avernus?
Baldur’s Gate: Descent Into Avernus is a campaign for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition that begins in the city of Baldur’s Gate and leads players into the first layer of the Nine Hells: Avernus. The adventure is rich in moral dilemmas, infernal contracts, and epic battles against devils and fallen angels. The story follows the fall of Elturel and the players’ quest to save it, ultimately placing them at the heart of a celestial and infernal conflict.
Why Foundry Is the Ideal Platform
Foundry Virtual Tabletop stands out due to its flexibility, dynamic lighting, macro scripting, and community module support. When running a complex campaign like Descent Into Avernus, which contains moral ambiguity, shifting allegiances, and multi-layered locations, these tools become essential in creating a responsive and visually captivating game session.
Setting Up Descent Into Avernus in Foundry
Importing the Adventure Module
If you’re using an official module for Foundry, importing it brings pre-built maps, journal entries, and token placements into your world. For Descent Into Avernus, this typically includes:
- Key locations such as Elturel, Avernus Wastes, and Fort Knucklebone
- NPC tokens with preconfigured stats and abilities
- Story entries organized by chapter
- Battle maps with dynamic lighting and walls
If you prefer manual setup, community-created content and maps can be added using third-party modules or personal customization.
Recommended Foundry Modules
To get the most out of Descent Into Avernus in Foundry, consider installing these helpful modules:
- Monk’s Enhanced Journal for organizing story content
- FXMaster to add infernal environmental effects like fire, smoke, or ash
- Combat Utility Belt to manage combat conditions and effects efficiently
- Token Attacher to link war machines or moving platforms with players
Key Locations and Encounters in Avernus
Elturel’s Fall
The descent begins with the fall of the holy city of Elturel into the hellish realm of Avernus. Foundry can visually depict this catastrophic event with animated skies, falling debris, and screaming NPCs. With dynamic lighting and sound integration, DMs can make players truly feel the chaos and despair of the opening scenes.
Traveling the Wastes
Exploring Avernus is not a traditional trek. The land constantly shifts, distances change, and infernal storms tear through the sky. Foundry’s hex-based exploration maps or distance randomizers can simulate the unstable terrain. Use fog of war and conditional visibility to heighten the sense of uncertainty and danger.
Infernal War Machines
One of the standout mechanics in Descent Into Avernus is the use of infernal war machines. Foundry enables interactive vehicle mechanics, allowing players to pilot war rigs through the wastelands, track fuel (soul coins), and engage in high-speed chases. Implement macros or module support for vehicle initiative and actions to streamline the process.
Fort Knucklebone and Mad Maggie
Fort Knucklebone, the scrapyard headquarters of Mad Maggie, is a narrative hub filled with eccentric NPCs and weird machinery. Foundry lets DMs build this map with cluttered junk, strange magical effects, and moving parts. Interactive elements like buttons, levers, and doors can be placed to trigger dialog, traps, or mini-quests.
Zariel’s Domain
The climax of Descent Into Avernus brings players face-to-face with Zariel, the fallen angel who rules Avernus. With Foundry’s scene layering and atmospheric effects, the battlefield can glow with celestial light, roiling fire, or rivers of blood. This confrontation is not just a fight it’s a pivotal moment of redemption or damnation. Let the mood and visuals reflect that weight.
Combat, Dialogue, and Moral Choice
Combat in Avernus
Encounters in Avernus are brutal and chaotic. Use Foundry’s automation features to track conditions like frightened, charmed, and grappled, which are common in fiendish battles. Foundry allows for animated spell effects, health bars, and initiative trackers, speeding up gameplay without reducing immersion.
Dialog and Roleplay
With NPC journal linking, chat macros, and character portraits, Foundry enhances the roleplay experience. When players speak with devils or make deals with fiends, you can pull up infernal contracts or visual aids directly in the chat window. Decision points can be tied to handouts or rollable tables to simulate moral dilemmas and consequences.
Choices That Matter
Descent Into Avernus thrives on difficult choices. Will the party sacrifice innocents to gain power? Will they try to redeem Zariel or destroy her? Foundry’s scene tracking and conditional triggers let you reflect player choices in real time. For example, if the party redeems Zariel, the final map can change with angelic light and healing zones replacing infernal hazards.
Customization and Advanced Features
Dynamic Maps and Lighting
In Avernus, light is both rare and dangerous. Foundry’s dynamic lighting allows you to control exactly how much visibility the players have. Create pitch-black dungeons with glowing runes, or make burning landscapes that flicker with lava flows and collapsing terrain. Environmental storytelling becomes far more impactful when players can see the danger.
Sound Design and Immersion
Foundry supports ambient sound layering, enabling you to add screaming souls, infernal engines, or celestial choirs depending on the location. Use spatial sound effects to indicate proximity to hazards or NPCs. A simple drone in the background can make a wasteland scene feel unsettling and alien.
Token and Actor Management
Use actor templates for recurring devils or infernal creatures, saving time during setup. Foundry’s drag-and-drop system makes it easy to introduce surprise enemies or environmental hazards. Reusable actor sheets let you customize Zariel, Lulu, or Bel with unique stat blocks and animations for epic scenes.
Player Tips for Foundry in Avernus
- Keep your character sheets updated with infernal contracts, soul coins, and magical boons earned throughout the journey.
- Use journal notes to track moral decisions and consequences.
- Familiarize yourself with vehicle mechanics if your party uses war machines frequently.
- Discuss with your DM how far you’re willing to go morally Avernus will test your limits.
Running Descent Into Avernus in Foundry Virtual Tabletop is a transformative experience that elevates the campaign’s intensity, drama, and immersion. From the burning skies of Avernus to the haunting ruins of Elturel, every scene comes alive through interactive maps, powerful visuals, and dynamic storytelling tools. Foundry doesn’t just support the narrative it becomes a key part of it. Whether you are a veteran Dungeon Master or a new group stepping into hell for the first time, the combination of Foundry and Avernus ensures a campaign you’ll never forget.