tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post4206505512618406488..comments2024-03-29T00:32:33.920-04:00Comments on GROGNARDIA: Retrospective: Temple of DeathJames Maliszewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-22433029926754820332011-06-11T14:21:58.622-04:002011-06-11T14:21:58.622-04:00I ran it as the capstone to my Willow Vale "B...I ran it as the capstone to my Willow Vale "BX meets 3.5" mash-up campaign, and ended up somewhat disappointed. I ran it as written, and an encounter in the forest with the Master's flying ship short-circuited the adventure - as written it took the PCs straight to him; they proceeded to slay him (twice) in short order; job done.Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01173759805310975320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-87626768167975918062011-05-25T18:08:18.509-04:002011-05-25T18:08:18.509-04:00I always preferred the old-old school AD&D (ba...I always preferred the old-old school AD&D (back when the TSR logo was the little wizard guy).<br /><br />I did, however, really like the Desert of Desolation from the newer era of TSR games. Very well written and original for the time (focusing on Egyptian adventuring as opposed to the standard/traditional European setting). I ran the dungeons, almost unaltered, in my campaign and really appreciated the alien feel to them (especially to the 'European' PCs who didn't know the customs, language, or culture of these lands). Made for some great RP.<br /><br />An aside: Of course, the low point of that era were the Conan and Red Sonja modules (with Ah-nahld on the cover). Should have been coded "T" series because they were total turds.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08863118245243138750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-24164107954303780742011-05-25T17:09:36.781-04:002011-05-25T17:09:36.781-04:00X4 and X5 are some of the better modules from that...X4 and X5 are some of the better modules from that period. To me, they are especially interesting for their exoticism and imaginative adventure hooks (the Great Pass is probably the high point in that respect). They have obvious structural flaws, particularly in being railroady as written, but that is fairly easily remedied. The imaginative content is what matters, and as Anthony wrote, it is excellent raw material.<br /><br />Concerning the issue of pulp fantasy in early D&D, Desert Nomads and Temple of Death are both good contenders. In other modules, like Dwellers of the Forbidden City or even The Lost City, the sword&sorcery elements are often diluted or just one ingredient in the mixture. These two are more faithful to the genre (although not as much as some Judges Guild supplements).<br /><br />I did not notice the Khomeini connection before this post called my attention to it, but then I did not grow up in the 1980s USA where he was an iconic figure. Which is just as well: Hosadus works well as an antagonist without knowing he owes something to Khomeini, although, of course, being aware of the association can grant a DM better understanding to run him.<br /><br />Also, I wholeheartedly support social and political satire in gaming, as long as it is not done cheaply.Melanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07165894144553629675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-26706106584945628132011-05-25T17:05:23.681-04:002011-05-25T17:05:23.681-04:00I got these both when they were brand new, from KB...I got these both when they were brand new, from KB Toys of all places--in a mall that had an actual gaming store...anyway, I always found them so evocative and expansive. Pretty classic, though Cook does do more than a little hand-holding throughout.<br /><br />While the Master and Hule are pretty clearly modeled on Khomeini-era Iran, between the art in this module (as well as the then-recent release of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom) it always had more an Ancient India vibe to me. Today, my interpretation(since I'm actually gearing up to run both of these) is that it's totally Mughal Empiresque in terms of appearance (and the Abbey in X4 comes across as Nepalese more than anything).<br /><br />This is the music I plan to use when they first catch sight of the Temple itself:<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp72Q3i33A0&t=3m20sJaysonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03652611193354218021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-76437026723593623902011-05-25T13:56:17.455-04:002011-05-25T13:56:17.455-04:00I agree with some of the other posters. X10 is my ...I agree with some of the other posters. X10 is my favorite of the X series and almost a campaign in itself if the timeline was expanded.<br /><br />We played through it once many, many years ago and everyone involved had a great time.Obirihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13423387256920495798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-81111445512864784542011-05-25T12:39:07.508-04:002011-05-25T12:39:07.508-04:00Coincidentally, I've just reread this, and it ...Coincidentally, I've just reread this, and it didn't hold up as well as I recalled it. There were a couple of moments when the "guiding hand of God" (aka the DM) bugged me, and the clues leading the players to the temple felt awfully heavy-handed. Most of the individual encounters in the tunnels were great, and I thought the town had quite a bit of promise. I was less pleased with the Temple, itself, mostly because it was another example of the Big Bad Guy sitting at the end of the habitrail waiting for the hamsters ...er... PCs to find him. (But that's a common problem in dungeon modules.)<br /><br />Still, I like it better than X4, and I think the pair put together make great raw material for a GM to work into a proper campaign.Anthonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01254215329246851683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-91641602469325877252011-05-25T12:36:34.138-04:002011-05-25T12:36:34.138-04:00"Hule itself has always read to me like a fan..."Hule itself has always read to me like a fantasy version of Khomeini's Iran, with the Master substituting for the Ayatollah."<br /><br />In module X10 (one of my all-time favories; I think it surpasses X4+X5 by a good margin, partly due to openness of the conclusion), there's an illustration of the Master with his face revealed that is an absolute carbon-copy of the Ayatollah Khomeini. I still find it quite jarring (I can't think of another time D&D art made a direct reference to a modern political figure).<br /><br />"It's a common problem in the D&D line: religion is treated as a potential source of controversy, so it's generally ignored, despite the presence of clerics."<br /><br />Agreed.Deltahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00705402326320853684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-72021304738167007572011-05-25T12:10:00.464-04:002011-05-25T12:10:00.464-04:00X4 and X5 are among my favourite D&D modules, ...X4 and X5 are among my favourite D&D modules, although I too would not run them today without reworking them quite a bit.<br /><br />Regarding:<br />"<i>I think there's enough good about it that I retain a fondness for modules X4 and X5, the last Expert-level modules for which I can say that without significant qualifications</i>"<br /><br />I'd be curious to know your opinion of X8, 'Drums on Fire Island' (I think it's very good) or X10, 'Red Arrow, Black Shield', which is a sequel to X4 and X5. (I'm not sure what I think of X10 myself, having only looked at it a few times.)Akrasiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08734103159691571156noreply@blogger.com