This is the mystery module that we managed to run and succeed at . I have a lot of fond memories for this one and work it into my campaigns if I can. It was fun , interesting and deadly. Plenty of opportunities for useful character interaction as well as combat and puzzles. I try to run this as a level 2-5 module with PC's who have already been run through an introductory ( Into the Unknown, Keep on the Borderlands, Horror on the Hill, Palace of the Silver Princess. Trial by Fire ) module which gives them a few magic items and a couple of levels which makes them better suited to deal with the formidable Big Bad in this one. I upgrade the monsters a little and have the aging NPC Wizard be blind as well, using his weasel familiar to see. This helps minimize his effect on the game. I also allow the characters to go up a level in this module before they enter the last dungeon. I like your hook and use a friend NPC from their first adventure to lead the PC's to this community on the way to their "real" adventure. The friend's mother reports their friend is missing and suggests there is something wrong in the town of Orlane to get the investigation started We had multiple successes with this one which match the multiple failures we experienced with the other big mystery module of the time The Assassin's Knot.
My son is running an Old School 1st ed session with his friends; this is the module they will be using. As an N series (Novice) it provides many tips for the newish DM and lays out the strategies used by the main characters. Another excellent video. Thank you.
I love these videos, and I love 1st & 2nd editions of this game. I just wished more people played them around me. Great Review as always, and keep up the good work!
Thanks for this review. My son and I have been dipping our toes into rainy day ttrpg playing, and I'm considering getting this to adapt and run a version using Tiny Dungeon 2e or Advanced Tiny Dungeon, which I already have the books for.
my gf bought me this book for christmas and this has been a great video to help introduce me to running to module as will the rest of your videos for next retro modules i get!
Quick uploads! Really nice to see you covering N1 as I was actually planning on using it soon myself as part of my upcoming sandbox campaign. I was planning on chasing the bad guys to yuan-ti and making N1 to I1 inspired hidden yuan-ti city. Btw would you happen to have any (prefebly not so well known) modules that you would recommend to be thrown to sandbox world to save some time by having some of the dungeons be premade?
This is the third review of this module that I have come across this week including Matt Colville. I'm going to need to seriously consider running this in the near future.
It was the first module that I played in as a kid and have run it several times myself as an adult. This still is my favorite campaign. It has everything I love about dnd; mystery, conspiracy, role-playing, combat, with a dungeon crawl finale with a cool boss fight. Its awesome.
Oh. I remember this one, this is the village my party used as it’s home base before moving onto hommlet and the rest. They then returned and conquered the village as their own fiefdom. I placed it immediately north of the great swamp, which they eventually also conquered and used the indigenous lizard men and such as their military. Ahh the rushmoor swamp that’s what I get for typing before watching the entire video
"They then returned and conquered the village as their own fiefdom. " Oh, seriously? On who's authority? Only a high ranking religious leader or "name" level NPC can authorise that kinda b/s...
My second favorite AD&D investigation module. (The first being L2: The Assassin's Knot) This one is a real joy to run, with an exciting fight with the Naga. Once again, you're always providing top tier commentary about these.
Good to see you back Capt, and an unexpected treat- one of the first scenarios I ever ran back in 1983. Looking forward to hearing your ideas and opinions on it with my partner in crime who played through it all those 35 years ago!!! Keep 'em coming, sir. 'Masks' anytime soon? 😁😁
another great video! the information is so nostalgic, that I can't help but dig this gem back out ill be placing this in my current campaign. with some new plot twists of course. all the best strength clarity & insparation
Great! I was thinking of getting it for my newest AD&D campaign for beginning players (and DM for that matter). Thanks to this review, I will order it since it looks simple enough for me. Thanks alot Capt!
Yeah, I did the review of In Search of Adventure and of course that module is included in the compilation, so I think that will go into the 'to do' pile.
Great review Cap! Your AD&D modules are the best of your content. This is one of my favourite modules, ran it for 5e last year, Explicita Defilus is one of the great nasties of D&D! What music did you use at the start after the usual catchy intro music?
Loved what you said about Orland role playing. Haven't had much luck with that having 1st and 2nd level characters playing. It takes time for good role players to emerge. Played this 3 times with different groups and struggled each time.
One of my favs. I often use it as a starter module for my own campaigns. I can largely agree on it's weak points and i often do some modifications to the module to fit my setting or the experience level of the players. Like i often replace the naga with a medusa or yuan-ti spellcaster type of villain to adjust for the new systems we're usings (3.5 or 5e)
