Expedition to the Barrier Peaks Stories.

[Scott]

Here you go GT.
I've had this adventure for almost 25 years, and I've never had the chance to run it.
I was ready to run it a few months ago, but just before we started, an encounter with some level draining undead that surprised the party from the rear forced me to change plans.
Scott

[GT]

Thanks Scott! Of course, the Beagle (aka: City Of The Gods) was the first "Crashed Starship" adventure in D&D/AD&D; but S3 has always been my favorite due to the detail put into it. You can discern the touches of both Gary and Rob in the module--I love the "contained" aspect of the adventure that is quite similar to The Garden Of The Plantmaster. Rob and I discussed some time ago trying to do an eventual expansion of the module, as some obvious loose strings were left. For example, I created a " Drive Level" which is below the lowest level detailed in the module. Here-in are the engines which allowed the ship to land on the surface of Greyhawk, as well as power sources, life support, and some assorted tech goodies. In keeping with the non-functioning of higher level tech on Oerth, I ruled that a special field around the ship (and the Beagle up in Blackmoor) allows the devices to function in close proximity to the vessels, but that the deities suppress such items elsewhere. I also incorporated random cargo lists and an explanation of how the robotics maintain the ecosystem in the garden area. Finally, I detailed a few more critters for the adventure and decided that there were a few additional robots stashed away in the Drive level to assist the 48 functional and non-functional robots already listed. (And a few more androids as well...) Perhaps when Rob is finished with about a score of other projects, we'll get together and hammer something out for the public. ^__^

[GT]

WHAT?!? Nobody else has anything to say about this module?? Why, I'm affronted and taken aback! ^__^

[Axe Mental]

Well, I was really disappointed when I saw it had a crashed space ship, robots, laser type weapons, so we never played it. I've considered running it without all the spaceship stuff changing it over into something else, but haven't figured out how. Fantasy and science fiction just shouldn't mix IMO when they both are in pure form, its sticking ice cream in your pasta, individually there both great, mixed together and what do you have. Now, if it was a "Glory Road" kind of world from the get go, well that would be different and cool, but bringing them together....it just seems stupid or at least outlandish. Wasn't there a robot monk thing? Why not just make a module about the Robinsons landing in Greyhawk, and Dr. Smith trying to trade William for a wand of lighting....danger danger....I just don't see it.

BUt thats just me. And I have completely changed my opinion on this kind of thing before.

[Scott]

I've never played, or DMed this module, so no stories. I have owned it for decades now, and the next time I get a party in the level range, I will run it. I have read through it several times, and it does make a great read.
Scott

[GT]

The really fun part, Axe m'lad, is trying to explain tech devices found to Greyhawk-dwellers who have never seen the like before. You can't just say: "You found a laser pistol" because they wouldn't know what that is. And there are real fun flow-charts in the back of the module which simulate the PCs' ignorance and let them know that although there are possible advantages to be gained, there are definite dangers involved with "toying with tech". And some of the critters/plants therein are quite cool as well! It's just a good sabatical from what the players are used to... and, as noted above, I didn't allow the tech to work beyond a certain radius from the ship--will of the Deities and all that! Well, maybe Murlynd could make it work... ^__^

[GT]

The funniest story I have from this module is when four of my longest-run PC's went in. One was the Bard, Woodstock, and another was an elven Fighter-MU named Yokon. Yokon had found one of the powered armor suits and managed to figure out most of the functions. Woodstock was apparently somewhat envious of the armor and being chaotic decided to play various pranks on Yokon. They were in the open area in the center of the ship and Yokon was searching for Woodstock to get even with him. Woodstock was hovering (ring?) directly overhead of Yokon and silently laughing. Yokon suddenly announced that he was activating the levitation function of the suit to get a better view...He rammed directly up into a stunned Woodstock, and thinking that he had hit something else he de-activated and they both came crashing down about ten feet to the ground while the other two PC's (who were staying out of the feud) watched in mixed dismay and humor. Needless to say, the racket drew a couple of critters to investigate! ^__^

[geneweigel]

I just came across this today and I just remembered something that the thing on the cover has nothing to do with the adventure.

We had played through the whole thing and then the cover had that thing that looked like the "dust digger" creature from "Pharaoh" that was later included in MMII. I forget who said it but one of us said where was the "dust digger" that was on the cover?

Then somebody else said where was that helmet and laser pistol at?

Since the original convention version of Pharaoh came out the same year (1980) I wonder if Otus got the idea from Pharaoh? Or vise versa?

You know what? Come to think of it, I'm not even sure if the "dust digger" is in Pharaoh or it appeared later in one of the sequel adventures (Oasis of the White Palm and Lost Tomb of Martek).

[GT]

In our expansion, the cover critter and ray gun are detailed, as well as the critter seen surfacing in the lake in the interior color artwork. Just one of the multiple projects in Rob's "to be gotten to" pile. After Maure, Castle Zagyg and Dark Druids... ^__^