I love this module

[foster1941]

I think it's probably become my #1 all-time favorite. I like the way in so few pages (32, but that includes 2 pp of reprinted charts from the rulebook, a blank page for NPC stats, a blank piece of grid-paper, those instructions on mapping buildings in the keep, the glossary of terms -- the actual "module" content is only, what, 22 pp?) EGG provides all the essentials of a D&D campaign in microcosm -- the home base including NPCs to interact with, the wilderness including various potential side-plots and red herrings, and the 'living dungeon' which isn't just the 'once and out' setup of the tournament-derived modules -- the characters are expected to return to the caves again and again, and to find them different each time as the monsters react and adapt to the PCs' actions. This module is really the perfect training tool for a novice DM, and after he's done with it he should be ready to set up his own 'full' town, 'full' wilderness, and 'full' living dungeon.

Unfortunately, I've never had a really satisfying experience playing it. When I first played it with a friend as 9-year-olds we cheated horribly -- it became little more than an exercise in writing down treasure. A couple years later (when I was about 12, in jr. high) I tried 2 or 3 different times to run it with a new group of players but they were always spectacular failures -- I remember the group attacking the guards at the keep and getting wiped out, I remember the group wandering aimlessly through the wilderness never finding any of the encounter areas, and I remember several groups getting wiped out at the very first cave (the kobolds). No one ever made it even close to the Shrine of Evil Chaos, which is a shame since that's one of my favorite set-pieces in all of module-dom.

[Scott]

It's not my #1, but I definately consider as one of the best all-time.
Scott

[Falconer]

This is the first module I ran, and I'm currently running it again for the newer players (meeting occasionally while the main campaign is still meeting regularly). To me it is THE best module of all time, hands down. There are so many options for the players and for the DM, so that almost anything can happen, but the complete framework is there. The level of detail is perfect. Every time I've run it it has been more interesting and completely unexpected things occurred.

To finish it took something like eight months, originally. There were a few TPKs. The players really had to learn tactics and how to use their heads and all their resources. It must have seemed to the players like the hugest dungeon ever. But each session they would only be able to tackle one cave, and only part of that, as after a few feet something interesting happens. Not to mention the stuff you can do outside the caves.

I recently tried it with a mixed-alignment party, which was interesting but perhaps too interesting. An all-evil party would have worked better. The Keep is set up to be stormed. The Caves are set up to fight amongst each other. Maybe later on down the road I'll try this with characters who have all gone through it the normal way already. Though my current plot is already "twisted" a little by having an evil NPC (former PC) take over the keep... We'll see how it goes, but either way I'm sure it'll be fun. :-) Regards.

[GRWelsh]

I have run it and played in it several times over the years. It's one of my favorites, too -- but I think it's more about nostalgia than anything else. This module is hard. It almost seems made for a different era... if you adjudicate it correctly, there are going to be a lot of deaths. Beginners and young players just tend to charge in, not use any tricks or tactics. They also tend to trust 'friendly' npc's way too much -- I've had players get angry when they were betrayed by an npc. Once established as 'friendly' they tend to no longer consider the possibility of betrayal (they should, but they don't).

This module always makes me think of the seasoned players of Lake Geneva, nine or ten of them around a big gaming table, their miniatures -- including a small army of "men-at-arms" -- getting knocked over one after another.

I've had players roll up character after character, often with the same name with a Roman numeral II after it (or some slight variation of spelling) where brothers, cousins, nephews and so on would show up and take possession of their dead relative's magic items and treasure. Sometimes I'd have parties with names like Glorfindel II, Merlan son of Merlin, etc. The most memorable game was when a magic-user returned to the keep when he was higher level. He flew around, used a ring of invisibility, and set off fireballs and cloudkills all over the place, just killing indiscriminately and setting off the alarms. I played it out fairly. The Keep forces, as written, just weren't enough to stop him. It was only after he got bored of the slaughter that he eventurally departed. You see, months earlier, his party had cleared out the Shrine of Evil Chaos, and he was the one who took the tainted relics.

[Axe Mental]

T. Foster, I'm getting ready to start this module this weekend so I'm glad you think so highly of it ;D(unless I survive my suicide run in white plume ) ). So, I didn't read your thread, didn't want to ruin the surprise. Anyhow, I'll let you know what happens (assuming we actually get to play).

Can you believe I never actually played this module. I must have been a deprived kid, I didn't pick this particular one up until a few years ago at a used comic book store.

[grodog]

Axe said:

Can you believe I never actually played this module. I must have been a deprived kid, I didn't pick this particular one up until a few years ago at a used comic book store.

Wow! That is amazing Axe Mental!! I don't think I've ever met a D&D player who started before 3e who hadn't played this adventure

[Axe Mental]

Yeah, pretty pathetic. Well...........we were always much more into designing and playing our own dungeons back then, hell that was half the fun for the DM. Infact we had an "attitude" about playing pre-made dungeons, as if that was a sign of an inferior DM....and Greyhawk....we wanted to play in our own generic fantasy world...after all the game was all about creativity to us. Then, by the time we realized how great these modules were we had missed 90% of them, they were out of print (or at least not carried by our local toy store Dunn Brothers). We did eventually pick up and play most of the classics at least once.

Yeah, this one slipped under the radar some how. The shame of it all.

[Axe Mental]

Does this module tie into another later module?

[foster1941]

Axe said:

Does this module tie into another later module?

No, it stands entirely alone as-written.

Good luck and have fun with this. It's about as Gygaxian and old-school as they come. And don't be fooled by its label as an "introductory module" (which is probably why you never picked it up back in the day) -- yes it's designed to teach new players and DMs the basics of the game, but it does so by being really tough. The fact that lots of "new school" players whine about how this module is "impossible" for beginning players/characters is, at least IMO, a big point in its favor.

[Scott]

Yeah, Gary doesn't pull any punches for the newbies (same for T1). This adventure leaves very little room for player misjudgment. You learn tactics fast, especially that running away is sometimes the best tactic, or you end up as the main course in some humanoids' feast.
Scott

[GeneNotLoggedIn]

Axe said:

Does this module tie into another later module?

Actually, it was adapted into this thing called B1-9 IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURE somewhat because it featured a revised and "KEEPless" version of CAVES OF CHAOS which took 7 guys (Dave "Zeb" Cook, Harold Johnson, Jon Pickens, Michael Price, Evan Robinson, Lawrence Schick and Stephen D. Sullivan, yes they all are credited as revising this section alone!) to remove the reference to the CAVE OF THE UNKNOWN in the BOULDER-FILLED PASSAGE but leave in references to the omitted Keep and its "guild" under the prisoners in TORTURE CHAMBER/PLAYROOM/FOOD STORAGE!

Doh!

My advice don't waste any time or energy on this "Zeb shit" compilation of bad basic and "expert" modules glorifying the post-Gygax "Zeb-iverse".

[dcas]

My radio must be broken. It can only play one song.

[Axe Mental]

Q: "My advice don't waste any time or energy on this "Zeb shit" compilation of bad basic and "expert" modules glorifying the post-Gygax "Zeb-iverse".

Yeah, I figured that.

[grodog]

Axe said:

Yeah, pretty pathetic.

Sorry AM, I hadn't meant to sound judgmental---I was just surprised

Well...........we were always much more into designing and playing our own dungeons back then, hell that was half the fun for the DM. Infact we had an "attitude" about playing pre-made dungeons, as if that was a sign of an inferior DM....and Greyhawk....we wanted to play in our own generic fantasy world...after all the game was all about creativity to us.

That makes perfect sense, in fact. That's the sign of an uber-grognard, in many ways, in fact---disdain for published modules, because such folks didn't need to be "spoon-fed" so-to-speak.

Then, by the time we realized how great these modules were we had missed 90% of them, they were out of print (or at least not carried by our local toy store Dunn Brothers). We did eventually pick up and play most of the classics at least once.

Yeah, this one slipped under the radar some how. The shame of it all.

Eh, but now you'll be able to play and enjoy it, right? All the better---you'll appreciate it all the more, like a good, aged wine

[Axe Mental]

Grodog: "Eh, but now you'll be able to play and enjoy it, right? All the better---you'll appreciate it all the more, like a good, aged wine "

well, only problem these days is I'm the freakin' aged wine...absolutely no time to play this weekend....man I wish I was in college again.

Nah, you didn't sound judgemental, it is pretty pathetic I've played alot of crappy 2E modules and have never taken the time to play Borderlands. Honestly, this module was burried in the closet and only recently unearthed.