tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post1855748196963889230..comments2024-03-28T12:41:02.947-04:00Comments on GROGNARDIA: Retrospective: Midnight on Dagger AlleyJames Maliszewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-83030384125538122852022-03-09T16:01:31.455-05:002022-03-09T16:01:31.455-05:00Rather than the solo modules, I wish that TSR had ...Rather than the solo modules, I wish that TSR had published more polished guide to generating solo random dungeons. I like playing 4 Against Darkness but it is bit limited (but easily modified) and think that the random dungeons in the DMG are clunky to use on the hoof.Jacob72https://www.blogger.com/profile/17268402292420473229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-58736767945297831192022-03-09T14:43:50.532-05:002022-03-09T14:43:50.532-05:00There's a more recent addition to this genre i...There's a more recent addition to this genre in the form of Legendary Kingdoms by Spidermin Games. My son and I have played it (and vol 2) and have really enjoyed it. <br /><br />It's basically a choose your own adventure with dice rolling for combat and skill trials - kind of like those old D&D CYOA by Steve Jackson games back in the day.. <br />https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/316365/The-Valley-of-Bones Brucehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10981761529213609475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-51839282687081613222022-03-09T09:15:21.301-05:002022-03-09T09:15:21.301-05:00I bought this when it came out but I don't thi...I bought this when it came out but I don't think I ever played it. I was not running D&D at the time and I guess I figured it would be fun to have when I couldn't get together with my group for whatever we were playing. <br /><br />Thanks to many regrettable purchases in 83-84, TSR had totally gone off the rails as far as I was concerned, and I could "no longer take them seriously" as a game company. LOL @ mystupidyoungerself. MODA may have been the last product I purchased from them until 1986 when a chance encounter in a Toys R Us shopping for a Bday present had me leave with a copy of Unearthed Arcana and Adventures in Blackmoor- both bought on name recognition only, and also highly regrettable purchases.<br /><br />Back to MODA- I'm sure that TSR was trying it's hardest to differentiate it's solo adventures from the Tunnels & Trolls and Fighting Fantasy products that were so well regarded by fans. Using "gimmicks" like the magic viewer, and "yes & no"* pens was a poor way to go about it though.<br /><br /><br />* How I loved those old "Yes & No" invisible ink game books.JEFFBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08862106711059104379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-25951043752598994302022-03-09T04:49:13.210-05:002022-03-09T04:49:13.210-05:00My dad had this, I think its the only adventure he...My dad had this, I think its the only adventure he had. I recently borrowed it and played around with it just walking around getting into trouble. It was pretty fun.<br /><br />I feel like it could be the base for something bigger, especially now with computers that could handle all the DM stuff, since it's limited to bringing up prompts basically ( plus it's easier to drip feed information than with the magic eye viewer that's for sure). doccarnbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13406919373469437352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-50249888607067450152022-03-09T02:59:00.296-05:002022-03-09T02:59:00.296-05:00120 entries does seem a bit anaemic; the FF books ...120 entries does seem a bit anaemic; the FF books had 400 as standard, sometimes going higher.thekelvingreenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01928260185408072124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-65845414096893336772022-03-09T02:58:32.458-05:002022-03-09T02:58:32.458-05:00I actually used this module relatively recently fo...I actually used this module relatively recently for a 5E group I was running, making it a small settlement stranded in the mists of Ravenloft. My group had a ton of fun using the magic viewer to navigate!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12412478269742817273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-22458669042499418092022-03-09T02:07:38.033-05:002022-03-09T02:07:38.033-05:00Ah, yes, I remember TSR's attempts at solo adv...Ah, yes, I remember TSR's attempts at solo adventures--the invisible ink modules, <i>Blizzard Pass</i>, and <i>Maze of the Riddling Minotaur</i> weren't terrible, but was the concern of player cheating so great that they had to go to the lengths of making the entries invisible? Was that the point? It didn't make sense. Needless to say, the obvious thing happened to me, and as I reached the last of the entries in <i>Blizzard Pass</i>, the ultimate conclusion, the resolution where I stick it to the bad guy, the culmination of my efforts, IT happened. The bloody pen ran out of ink! <br /><br />I had to wait 15 years for the internet to be invented before I was able to read the last of the adventure and finish the game. My enthusiasm for such had dampened by then. <br /><br /><i>Maze of the Riddling Minotaur</i> came with an invisible ink pen as fat as your arm, so I guess the word got out to TSR that the skinny pens in BP didn't do the trick. <br /><br />Then, I remember <i>Ghost of Lion Castle</i>, an uninspired effort that totally failed, but at least it had no invisible entries needing an ink pen to read. <br /><br />Next, along came <i>Lathan's Gold</i>. Tedious and bland, nothing original at all there, with charts to consult. Charts for a solo? Charts? C'mon, man! <br /><br />And this brings me to <i>Midnight on Dagger Alley</i>, with its secret entries revealed by gazing through red tape, or as they called it, the "Magic Viewer." Here then is my comprehensive review of MoDA ... "Total and complete RUBBISH," the worst of a bad lot. <br /><br />When it comes to these solo adventures, two series come to mind that nailed it, got it right from the start. <i>Fighting Fantasy</i> and the first five books in Joe Dever's <i>Lone Wolf</i> series. Both were fantastic! <br /><br />And I'll conclude with a word to anyone, an individual or a massive corporation, that wants to publish solo-player gamebooks. You don't need invisible ink pens. You don't need magic red tape. You don't need charts, and tables and the table-flipping and chart consulting that comes with it. You don't need to direct players to an appendix in the back of the book. All you need is one simple thing and that mysterious thing that seems to elude many is ... <br /><br />GREAT WRITING!!!!! See Fighting Fantasy. See Lone Wolf. radnoffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11006466605445207729noreply@blogger.com