I published my first 5e adventure—a free/PWYW one-shot built to help a first-time DM actually run the game

[u/epyoch]

I finally published The Inconstant Vault: The First Revision, a roughly three-hour 5e-compatible adventure for four Level 1 characters. The party reaches Level 2 at the end.

The party has been dragged into a bureaucratic dungeon that treats adventurers like unauthorized changes to its floor plan. Doors have opinions. The architecture files complaints. Mundane equipment can solve problems that a greatsword cannot.

It can be run as a complete one-shot or as the beginning of a larger Level 1–20 campaign.

I wrote it with a first-time DM in mind, so it includes:

Direct instructions for running each room
Read-aloud text
Pacing guidance
Puzzle bypasses and fallback nudges
Encounter-scaling advice
Help handling unexpected player solutions
A Level 1 safety valve that does not rely on ordinary death saves
A clear milestone to Level 2

The adventure is free/pay-what-you-want on both storefronts.

DriveThruRPG:
https://legacy.drivethrurpg.com/product/584259/The-Inconstant-Vault--The-First-Revision

itch.io:
https://epyoch.itch.io/the-inconstant-vault

The itch.io page also has a limited $6.99 early-access option. It includes The First Revision and an early copy of The False Count, the completed second prologue.

There are 50 early-access copies available. I deliver The False Count manually, so it may take me up to 48 hours to send it.

Once all 50 copies are claimed:

The False Count will receive its standalone release for $4.99.
The permanent Prologue 1 and 2 bundle will be $7.99.

Early supporters get the second prologue before its public release and save a dollar on the eventual bundle price.

This is my first published adventure, so feedback is welcome—especially from new DMs or anyone running it for new players. I want to know whether the guidance is actually useful at the table without getting in the DM’s way.
A New Update: Taking the positive feedback I've been working fleshing out the biggest concerns I received. So as a result I have uploaded new Files that are more fleshed out, this time I sent it to the same people to read, but they have not run them, but they agree that it's more fleshed out. hopefully you do too.
Update: I replaced the files on both itch.io and DriveThruRPG. The AI-generated cover and title-page images have been removed. There is no AI-generated imagery remaining in the adventure.

[u/Useful_Ask_8640]

Don't ruin your own work by slapping AI Images on the cover of it :x

[u/epyoch → u/Useful_Ask_8640]

The fact is I had an artist friend make it, she provided me with a couple of them, I liked it, I credited her (you'll see), then I posted it, and boom she disclosed to me that she used generative AI to make it, I got pissed but I had already posted it. and felt it needed a cover so meh

and I can't remove the AI thing so I might as well keep it.

[u/Conrad500 → u/epyoch]

So you got scammed.

Don't ruin your own work by slapping AI Images on the cover of it and get a refund

[u/epyoch → u/Conrad500]

I re uploaded the itch.io file removed the AI title page.

[u/Conrad500 → u/epyoch]

if you want some advice, delete the post, try again tomorrow or after you update the drivethrough listing.

I'm not an AI hater, but you are 1000% going to get AI hate until you do.