The Barkeep on the Borderlands: Old-School DnD Adventure Review 

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I just ordered this while waiting in line for the bathroom while doing a pub-crawl. 😂

I bought this in PDF four months ago and have been running this module since then (about 12 sessions). It's provided the basis for a lot of fun. But, the GM will have to put in some work. The city setting is lightly sketched, so if your players start interacting with the characters, the factions, shops - anything at all besides 12 bars - you will have to create it, so bring your own random charts of all that stuff. Details about the "major" (but still lightly-sketched) NPCs who do exist are often spread across random charts on more than one page, sometimes in an irritating way. ("On Day 4, the Medusa approaches the characters to ask..." Who is the Medusa again? Oh, she's in a random encounter in a bar 5 pages later.) The bars do not have physical descriptions - the most you get is one tiny exterior illustration - so you'll have to make all of that up as well. Some bars (of course!) are not as good as others. You will vibe with some that I didn't, but I do think it's lame that not one but two of the bars are based on sitcoms, both with randomly generated A and B plots and multiple unnamed characters with spare single-sentence descriptions interacting with each other - this is TOO MUCH for me to improv on the spot when my drunk band of murderhobos stumble in demanding entertainment (and not in a fun way). Finally, this is NOT a resource for bars you can just drop in to most campaigns - they will only suit silly, high-magic, ironic settings where your players are ready to enjoy the joke of a bar for old barbarians, a kobold beerhall, a karaoke bar with a phoenix, etc.

Now I''m worried this is going to raise expectations of pub crawls irl unreasonably high.

This looks like a lot of fun. It would be a great one-shot or a way to release tension in an otherwise serious and dark campaign.

Sweet! This makes it a trilogy. I really liked the 2nd ed Return to Kotb. A Silver anniversary mod

The illustrations, graphic design, and layout on this book really makes it 10x more interesting. 10/10. Absolutely gorgeous.

A friend of mine did art in this! Love this book, a ton of fun

The first pub crawl where you tap your beer with a ten foot pole before drinking it?

"A Pub Crawl" 😄😄😄😄👍

Honestly I want to use this to spice up a Strixhaven 5e game!

Wow, this is awesome! So much inspiration in there.

Beautiful illustrations. Seems like a fun adventure or inspiration source. I love the independent creations that arise from the OSR

I so want this book!

This is cute. As a practicing alcoholic, I would enjoy this, sadly, my entire party is a bunch of teetotalers. Oh well, maybe I can convince them that they can rp a pub crawl.

Purchased! Thanks for the great review.

This looks like a lot of fun. Definitely want it.

Awesome!

This seems like it would play very well with Gone Fishin', just slap the two modules together.

Great stuff friend 👏 👍

Thanks

Seems like this would work well with Knave (2E).

Not sure how to get in touch, but a quick comment: in your Knave 2e playtest, you've misspelled Dave Wesely's name in the opening section!

@questingbeast where can i please still order a copy of knave 2e ? 🙏❤️

Hey Ben! I was just hoping to aks you: when is the Knave 2e will be available for purchase for non backers? Thank you!

Really clever idea, and loads of humor. $25 for the print copy seems a bit steep, but looks like it could be a lot of fun for the right group.

Is it legal to sell homemade modules compatible with a licensed game like D&D?

How is it 'old school' again?

If you look at the print copy on the website it looks like it has glossy pages. Am I crazy?

I like the concept and the map but the rest is gonner

Wow. I hate everything about this. The concept, the art, the humor. God bless if you like it but it is not for me.

😑 P R O M O S M

Yikes. Not a fan of the art style.