I haven't got any modules in my RPG catalogue for a variety of reasons, except for a couple starter ones. I have always found them pretty limiting for slotting into an existing campaign/too railroady/wrong system. So in the end over the years I have been heavily into D.I.Y world creation/etc.
So I am beginning to wonder what I have been missing all these years. Especially now I am time poor and trying to run campaigns and some days I would like to just slot a module in to save me thinking and doing prep work.
So what are some good modules for any flavour of D&D (currently running AD&D 1e and RMSS) for slotting into an existing campaign? I am under the assumption now that I have just picked poorly in the past, and I am looking for good examples that I can buy.
How ingrained are stats in a module? Has anyone had any good successes with quick conversion of from a D&D module to another system and vice versa? My system of choice is typically Rolemaster but I have no qualms about doing conversions as long as it is just monster stats or just replacing a D&D bandit stat block with a RM bandit stat block.
I think I am asking for a bunch of modules that cover about a hex in size that aren't campaign wrecking in scope that can be slotted in and out of any generally fairly generic fantasy RPG (since that is what I generally own and run) with relative ease.
So please, hook me up with some good suggestions or a pointer to the better review sites.
Quote from: tellius;632221I haven't got any modules in my RPG catalogue for a variety of reasons, except for a couple starter ones. I have always found them pretty limiting for slotting into an existing campaign/too railroady/wrong system. So in the end over the years I have been heavily into D.I.Y world creation/etc.
So I am beginning to wonder what I have been missing all these years. Especially now I am time poor and trying to run campaigns and some days I would like to just slot a module in to save me thinking and doing prep work.
So what are some good modules for any flavour of D&D (currently running AD&D 1e and RMSS) for slotting into an existing campaign? I am under the assumption now that I have just picked poorly in the past, and I am looking for good examples that I can buy.
How ingrained are stats in a module? Has anyone had any good successes with quick conversion of from a D&D module to another system and vice versa? My system of choice is typically Rolemaster but I have no qualms about doing conversions as long as it is just monster stats or just replacing a D&D bandit stat block with a RM bandit stat block.
I think I am asking for a bunch of modules that cover about a hex in size that aren't campaign wrecking in scope that can be slotted in and out of any generally fairly generic fantasy RPG (since that is what I generally own and run) with relative ease.
So please, hook me up with some good suggestions or a pointer to the better review sites.
The Purple Worm Graveyard
No Dignity in Death: The Three Brides (LOTFP)
Dwellers of the Forbidden City (AD&D)
Apple Lane (Runequest)
Anything by Gabor Lux/Melan
10 Foot Pole is the best review site
Sweet I will check those out when I get home.
Quote from: Planet Algol;632231Anything by Gabor Lux/Melan
Pardon my ignorance, but is this referring to actual modules or the reviews that Melan does on the site here?
Quote from: tellius;632307Sweet I will check those out when I get home.
Pardon my ignorance, but is this referring to actual modules or the reviews that Melan does on the site here?
I'm pretty sure that Algol is referring to Melan's (Gabor's) published content. Here's a link to his list.
Fomalhaut Archivum Resources (http://fomalhaut.lfg.hu/category/english/resources/)
Quote from: tellius;632221(currently running AD&D 1e and RMSS)
Very cool to have these both going.
Kuroth: That list is woefully incomplete, but although I have meant to, I haven't written a full ludography yet.
tellius: I have already sent you some suggestions via PM for stuff done by others. My modules tend to be on the exotic side so they may not be what you are looking for in a mediaeval fantasy campaign, but here are some you may find useful:
- The Barbarian King: Mountain valley haunted by the memories of a long-forgotten barbarian tribe. Has a rather dark and desolate atmosphere. Wilderness and dungeon, levels 4-6. Published in Fight On! #11
- Slaughter in the Salt Pits: Village ruled by an evil cleric, who keeps the local population working in the nearby salt mines. This was specifically an exercise to write a generic fantasy module. Village, dungeon, keep, levels 4-6. Published in Fight On! #13
- Strabonus: Small but complex dungeon featuring the burial complex of an ancient warlord, the upper levels currently occupied by a gnoll tribe, and the lower reaches populated by undead. Levels 4-6. Available on my site (http://fomalhaut.lfg.hu/2010/03/07/strabonus/).
- Temple of the Sea Demon: Kind of an edge case since it's on the strange side, but it could fit somewhere even in a normalish campaign. Temple dedicated to the demonic aspects of the sea, and protected by a combination of human and supernatural forces. Levels 3-5. Published in Fight On! #6
Quote from: Planet Algol;63223110 Foot Pole is the best review site
Your check is in the mail.
Thanks again guys (and double thanks to Melan). For the record Melan, my tastes tend towards the very exotic, but the players not so much at times :)
Time to get a reading. I am sure I will have more questions as time goes on. Also added 10footpole.org to my reading list so a good day in all.
Quote from: Melan;632536Kuroth: That list is woefully incomplete, but although I have meant to, I haven't written a full ludography yet.
Best one I had about. ha Always good to see your suggestions Melan.
Quote from: Planet Algol;63223110 Foot Pole is the best review site
Honestly, I pretty much get a copy of whatever 10' pole tells me to. I have yet to be disappointed.
Quote from: Kuroth;632317I'm pretty sure that Algol is referring to Melan's (Gabor's) published content. Here's a link to his list.
Fomalhaut Archivum Resources (http://fomalhaut.lfg.hu/category/english/resources/)
I consider Gabor Lux (Melan) to be best adventure author I have encountered in the OSR. His work is ingenious and wildly creative. He gets "weird fantasy" in a way that I have not seen since the original pulp authors.
But he's Hungarian and probably eats babies with a sprinkling of paprika.
Demonspore (swords & wizardry)
Mesopotamia (3E) take the locations and place them in your hexes
Temple of the Frog - the one in the 70s OD&D Blackmoor supplement
What level are you running it?
I would recommend "Where the fallen Jarls sleep"... or "Blood Moon Rising" is quite good if you want something lower-level that isn't just a dungeon crawl.
RPGPundit
The Fane of St. Toad
Quote from: RPGPundit;633327What level are you running it?
I would recommend "Where the fallen Jarls sleep"... or "Blood Moon Rising" is quite good if you want something lower-level that isn't just a dungeon crawl.
RPGPundit
AD&D 1e game sits around 3rd to 5th level. Rolemaster is at about 5th level, but I am pretty flexible when it comes to increasing\decreasing encounters to match Rolemaster needs.
Thanks for the recommends, I'll grab them as well.
Quote from: Planet Algol;633382The Fane of St. Toad
That's a good one! Although this is what happened when I ran it:
Spoiler
Gwyddion exited the temple of Uthummaos and shared the information - save the last part - with his friends. Giving up on raiding the temple of Shodoggua, we all went back to the tomb of Darz Ennon. The first really interesting thing we found inside was a shrine of the frog-god Tsathoggus with some nice-looking loot guarded only by what we assumed was a winged frog statue that would animate. At this point, Zaxtaros spoke up. "You know, we probably don't want to loot this shrine." A storm exploded. Zaxtaros was - up to this point, secretly - a follower of Tshatoggus, fine. But this is the third evil temple or shrine the party's not supposed to loot because it would hurt some party member's religious sensibilities, within this single session!? This was terrible.
...so all that effort with Darz Ennon and his mummified frog guardians went to waste. :(