tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post7638402642637496053..comments2024-03-18T20:22:06.331-04:00Comments on GROGNARDIA: Retrospective: Horror on the HillJames Maliszewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-14851158489940801032012-11-15T23:01:08.949-05:002012-11-15T23:01:08.949-05:00I could never stand Niles. He was marginally bette...I could never stand Niles. He was marginally better as a mod designer than a novelist, though.Larry Richardsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-10398438770709042782012-11-09T17:39:33.933-05:002012-11-09T17:39:33.933-05:00This was also the first module I ran, after the in...This was also the first module I ran, after the intro adventure in Mentzer Basic, before getting more into designing my own. B5 definitely had its influence. And since the red box had no module, B5 was a fortunate pick. I never have played Keep on the Borderlands...Michael Scrivenhttp://www.facebook.com/michael.scriven.376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-52605133510317620722012-11-09T16:07:30.031-05:002012-11-09T16:07:30.031-05:00My players found it pretty horrific!My players found it pretty horrific!simontmnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-2092962726980280502012-11-09T16:06:16.864-05:002012-11-09T16:06:16.864-05:00This module is absolutely brutal - did anyone actu...This module is absolutely brutal - did anyone actually run it successfully with 1st level B/X or BECMI PCs? I ran it in 3e/BX mash-up rules (3e for PCs, B/X for monsters) back in 2008 and it still nearly TPK'd a 1st-3rd level 3e party. I'd think 4th level B/X PCs would be about right?simontmnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-86614251475753137572012-11-08T20:11:37.094-05:002012-11-08T20:11:37.094-05:00Also, awesome titleAlso, awesome titleDonald MacPhailnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-82057398061837368532012-11-08T18:32:24.206-05:002012-11-08T18:32:24.206-05:00I think the lack of variety has to do with trying ...I think the lack of variety has to do with trying to make the module more "realistic". And it leaves more space to further flesh out the fewer monsters, which seems to be normal for a time were sandboxes weren't all that common anymore.<br /><br />And although the cover picture is very small, I do like it. Seeing adventurers in armor that actually looks like armor is rarer then one might think, especially today...doreshnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-36773675447533441582012-11-08T18:28:12.174-05:002012-11-08T18:28:12.174-05:00It's great to use if the DM want's to exp...It's great to use if the DM want's to expand B1, but the title always irked me as it seemed if you were going use the word horror for a module, the place really should be horrific ( i.e Tomb of Horrors).ironfacenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-61902588739657147622012-11-08T18:27:48.579-05:002012-11-08T18:27:48.579-05:00I'm currently running this mod in our campaign...I'm currently running this mod in our campaign. I've never run it before but always liked elements of it. The players have just fallen down into the pit an are now trapped along with a bugbear captive. It's been pretty fun to run thus far and riff off of. I will be changing the kobolds to stronger lizardmen and am looking forward to the "exit chamber"!Bliss Infinitenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-58462964962592410932012-11-08T18:27:47.146-05:002012-11-08T18:27:47.146-05:00My favorite thing about this module is the writing...My favorite thing about this module is the writing. I had never played this one as a kid but we played it a few years ago in our B/X campaign and had a blast. I have to say that it is well written and that the sandbox has a nice continuity to it. Some of Nile's descriptions are both evocative and hilarious at the same time (like the description of the lake being calm and placid (meaning there is usually something nasty living below) and the field where we always ended up fighting the hobgoblins as being peaceful and serene or whatever. Despite the fact that the dungeon becomes a railroad at one point, it was a fun railroad nevertheless, full of story - the trapped barbarians, the maze and the final encounter to get out which included quite a lot of build up.Dannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-87202923353747375372012-11-08T18:23:47.232-05:002012-11-08T18:23:47.232-05:00Sure, but the term isn't that young, either. I...Sure, but the term isn't that young, either. I'm just saying, the concept goes way back and is native to published D&D. We had dragons at the end of our dungeons long before we had an ape at the top of the screen throwing barrels.Peter V. Dell'Ortonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-17498074612863780492012-11-08T18:22:06.866-05:002012-11-08T18:22:06.866-05:00I suspect it's more the term "end boss&qu...I suspect it's more the term "end boss" James dislikes, as an intrusion from video games,Kelvin Greenhttp://profiles.google.com/thekelvingreennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-31744796580046119362012-11-08T18:22:04.239-05:002012-11-08T18:22:04.239-05:00This is the module I starting playing D&D with...This is the module I starting playing D&D with and it's still one of my favourites. :)Stuart Robertsonhttp://profiles.google.com/designmemenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-58709860540921541602012-11-08T18:22:02.910-05:002012-11-08T18:22:02.910-05:00You've convinced me to find and read B5.
And ...You've convinced me to find and read B5.<br /><br />And don't worry about the boss monster. 1st edition AD&D monsters are full of level bosses and end bosses - just offhand, S1, S2, and S3 have them. S4 has a big basically pre-ordained end fight. Q1 builds up to one that is well-storied in my gaming career, for that matter. Nevermind all those competition modules which all have some kind of end scene built in . . .Peter V. Dell'Ortonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-31691500800546446922012-11-08T18:21:49.966-05:002012-11-08T18:21:49.966-05:00I have been meaning to write a review of the simil...I have been meaning to write a review of the similarities and differences to Horror on the Hill and Keep of the Borderlands. They both have their good points. I ran Horror on the Hill more than Caves of Chaos, but then my D&D heyday was the mid 80s. I recently made a 3D map of the hill.<br /><br />http://randomwizard.blogspot.com/2012/10/horror-on-hill-map-in-3d.htmlRandom Wizardnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-22670007352778193442012-11-08T18:21:47.175-05:002012-11-08T18:21:47.175-05:00I really really like HotH both as a player and as ...I really really like HotH both as a player and as a DM. It has enough variety to keep things interesting and yet is fairly well defined within the structure of the upper levels, catacomb maze and then the dragon at the end. The differences are clearly defined and the players know that they are moving from the 'easier' monsters to the not so easy. It also offers loads of scope for a DM to introduce other things in and around the Hill.<br /><br /><br />It is one of my favourite low level modules.Damiannoreply@blogger.com