Need advice: Greyhawk modules for the budding novice. - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Need advice: Greyhawk modules for the budding novice.

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
May 23, 2004 18:02:42 Hello, all. I need some advice on good 1st level Greyhawk modules. The group I'm going to run already knows Keep on the Borderlands, so that's out (wasn't exactly Greyhawk, per se, but you know what I mean). Anyway, I was thinking about doing the Cauldron series, but I'd like more feedback before deciding what to start them on.

Also, any other modules you could recommend would be great. It doesn't have to be Greyhawk, but easily converted.

Thanks!!
#2
zombiegleemax
May 23, 2004 20:04:25 I suppose it depends upon where you place the keep and what you are looking to offer your players.

I've played and run Temple of elemental evil (T1-4) and it was great fun as it gives the players a base to explore that is out of the way enough to allow some freedom but still gives access to large cities nearby for re-supply and research, it is also a large scale campaign scenario that the DM can use as the foundation for a bigger story.

The Slavers A-series & GDQ-giants series are normally suggeted follow ons from the temple, it will need some tweaking IMO to avoid it being a little too forced IMO, or there is the Return to the temple as a future that the campaign plotline can work towards if you're happy writing the several years between the two plotlines.

To be honest I think I've suggested the most obvious one but hopefully it's something to think about.
#3
grodog
May 23, 2004 22:32:20 In addition to T1, I've always been fond of the following low-level/starter adventures:

B1 In Search of the Unknown
L1 The Secret of Bone Hill
N1 Against the Cult of the Repile God
N5 Under Illefarn (very adaptable to Greyhawk)
U1 The Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh
#4
zombiegleemax
May 23, 2004 22:47:07 Thanks, guys, these look great. I think I still have a few of the originals lying around somehwere, as well. Do any of you know where I might track down 3e conversions for these modules??
#5
Argon
May 23, 2004 23:33:40 For the most part look for area's close to your characters current location. What are their goals? Why did they choose the path of adventurer's instead of something much more secure?

Sometimes you can find the answers to your own questions if you follow these guidelines. Also what is the level of your party? Where is their greatest advantage and where is their greatest weakness?
#6
zombiegleemax
May 24, 2004 14:39:53 I think there are some conversions for 1st edition modules at ENworld, but I wouldn't know where to begin looking for them. I tried once before and came up empty. Anyone?
#7
max_writer
May 24, 2004 15:21:29 I believe its at:

http://www.enworld.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Downloads&file=index&req=viewsdownload&sid=4

I think I got that off these boards some time ago and tucked it away. However, I couldn't make the downloads work. Hope you have better luck.
#8
grodog
May 24, 2004 20:43:44 You might try here:
http://www.enworld.org/forums/local_links.php?action=links&catid=16
#9
Monteblanco
May 25, 2004 7:48:28 I strongly recommend T1-4 The Temple of Elemental Evil, which has a very strong start and keeps at least good to the end. T1 The Village of Hommlet is probably the best published first level adventure I've played. Another suggestion is the U1-3 The Saltmarsh series. It may not be as good as the Temple series' peaks, but I think it is better overall.
#10
zombiegleemax
May 25, 2004 10:08:50 The U1-U3 series is very good, but both U2 and U3 takes some good creative DMing to make the enemy strongholds come alive. U1 is a much easier to run and a very good 1st level adventure.
#11
lincoln_hills
May 25, 2004 12:21:26 In spite of having the hands-down DUMBEST module name among the 1st-edition modules, I must admit that U1 is an excellent module for newcomers. (B3 worked very well too, but it was not set in Greyhawk...)

There weren't that many adventures for '1st to 3rd level' characters released in the Greyhawk setting... Gary & his posse seemed to enjoy levels 5-12 best. If I really were stringing together a series of 1st-edition modules into a campaign, I'd probably start with U1, then switch gears - focusing on the smuggler connection rather than the lizardmen - and give the party some "sea travel" side adventures, in order to get them to the area of Highport for module A1.

T1 isn't a bad module, mind you, but I found it far less engaging than Saltmarsh.
#12
faraer
May 25, 2004 13:32:52 I'm looking forward to Paul Stormberg's completion of the original DMG's Sample Dungeon, scheduled for the next Oerth Journal. Apart from that and B2 and T1, there are no Gygaxian low- to mid-level scenarios until you get to S4, except "Jolly Jongleurs" (published in Destination Games' Uninvited Guests). The new Lejendary Adventure primer set, Living the Lejend, or Zagyg's Castle: Yggsburgh may have sections suitable for low-level adventuring.
#13
grodog
May 25, 2004 15:16:20
Originally posted by Faraer I'm looking forward to Paul Stormberg's completion of the original DMG's Sample Dungeon, scheduled for the next Oerth Journal.

I hadn't heard that Paul was building that in an adventure too. I'll be curious to see how he tackles it vs. how Jonathan Tweet did back in Dungeon 84.

Apart from that and B2 and T1, there are no Gygaxian low- to mid-level scenarios until you get to S4, except "Jolly Jongleurs" (published in Destination Games' Uninvited Guests). The new Lejendary Adventure primer set, Living the Lejend, or Zagyg's Castle: Yggsburgh may have sections suitable for low-level adventuring.

And that makes perfect sense, given that the Castle served as the primary adventuring environ for so long! :D
#14
faraer
May 25, 2004 15:48:51 Looks like Paul's Sample Dungeon was submitted for the next OJ but not necessarily scheduled, mea culpa. I dare say it isn't a monastery of fighting-monks; I liked parts of what Jonathan Tweet did, but he needlessly made the setup something that Gary *certainly* didn't intend.

It's funny the way the Gygax and Kuntz modules cluster around 10th-12th level: there's just a few and then wham, a dozen or so.
#15
protonik_dup
May 25, 2004 22:43:10 A lot of the old modules are OOP and expensive to get off of Ebay and while available as ESDs through RPGnow and SVgames, printer ink can be a lot of money even if B&W is all you use... trust me, I learned the hard way.

At any rate, yeah, T1-4 is awesome and Queen of the Spiders is one of the best campaigns ever published because while they continue from one to the other (GDQ) they take place in varying environments and that really helps in keeping the campaign from getting flacid, but no they aren't 1st level sooooo moving on in the same topic, I am not sure of this 100% but I believe GDQ is useable as a sequel to T1-4.

For 1st level adventure set in Greyhawk though, Necromancer games can't be beat. Their modules all possess that Greyhawk feel and while not overtly in Greyhawk, provide enough clues that you could easily place them in the World of Greyhawk with a few name changes. Crucible of Freya comes pretty close to T1 as far as versatility etc goes and Tomb of Abysthor is just as good. I don't have a lot of their modules, though they are my favorite D20 company this side of Green Ronin.

I like the Sunless Citadel, ran it three times myself and the module is pretty easy to locate in the area of Greyhawk/Veluna etc. region and lead in Return to The Temple of Elemental Evil (a great module in my book) and if yo follow it with the rest of the Adventure Path it is great as well.

You can't be Dungeon Magazine for good scenarios for Greyhawk as the majority of them focus on Greyhawk and even more so in future issues of the magazine.

Jason
#16
zombiegleemax
May 26, 2004 3:53:29 The one page flip cards from the City of Greyhawk and From the Ashes Boxed sets are ok. You can string three or four of them toghether and move your party to third level fairly quickly. They have both low-level rural and urban adventures, so you can get a feel for what a new group likes better, without having to commit to one or the other, which is what I liked best about them.
But, they will probably be very hard to get a hold of.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax May 23, 2004 18:02:42	Hello, all. I need some advice on good 1st level Greyhawk modules. The group I'm going to run already knows Keep on the Borderlands, so that's out (wasn't exactly Greyhawk, per se, but you know what I mean). Anyway, I was thinking about doing the Cauldron series, but I'd like more feedback before deciding what to start them on. Also, any other modules you could recommend would be great. It doesn't have to be Greyhawk, but easily converted. Thanks!!
#2 zombiegleemax May 23, 2004 20:04:25	I suppose it depends upon where you place the keep and what you are looking to offer your players. I've played and run Temple of elemental evil (T1-4) and it was great fun as it gives the players a base to explore that is out of the way enough to allow some freedom but still gives access to large cities nearby for re-supply and research, it is also a large scale campaign scenario that the DM can use as the foundation for a bigger story. The Slavers A-series & GDQ-giants series are normally suggeted follow ons from the temple, it will need some tweaking IMO to avoid it being a little too forced IMO, or there is the Return to the temple as a future that the campaign plotline can work towards if you're happy writing the several years between the two plotlines. To be honest I think I've suggested the most obvious one but hopefully it's something to think about.
#3 grodog May 23, 2004 22:32:20	In addition to T1, I've always been fond of the following low-level/starter adventures: B1 In Search of the Unknown L1 The Secret of Bone Hill N1 Against the Cult of the Repile God N5 Under Illefarn (very adaptable to Greyhawk) U1 The Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh
#4 zombiegleemax May 23, 2004 22:47:07	Thanks, guys, these look great. I think I still have a few of the originals lying around somehwere, as well. Do any of you know where I might track down 3e conversions for these modules??
#5 Argon May 23, 2004 23:33:40	For the most part look for area's close to your characters current location. What are their goals? Why did they choose the path of adventurer's instead of something much more secure? Sometimes you can find the answers to your own questions if you follow these guidelines. Also what is the level of your party? Where is their greatest advantage and where is their greatest weakness?
#6 zombiegleemax May 24, 2004 14:39:53	I think there are some conversions for 1st edition modules at ENworld, but I wouldn't know where to begin looking for them. I tried once before and came up empty. Anyone?
#7 max_writer May 24, 2004 15:21:29	I believe its at: http://www.enworld.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Downloads&file=index&req=viewsdownload&sid=4 I think I got that off these boards some time ago and tucked it away. However, I couldn't make the downloads work. Hope you have better luck.
#8 grodog May 24, 2004 20:43:44	You might try here: http://www.enworld.org/forums/local_links.php?action=links&catid=16
#9 Monteblanco May 25, 2004 7:48:28	I strongly recommend T1-4 The Temple of Elemental Evil, which has a very strong start and keeps at least good to the end. T1 The Village of Hommlet is probably the best published first level adventure I've played. Another suggestion is the U1-3 The Saltmarsh series. It may not be as good as the Temple series' peaks, but I think it is better overall.
#10 zombiegleemax May 25, 2004 10:08:50	The U1-U3 series is very good, but both U2 and U3 takes some good creative DMing to make the enemy strongholds come alive. U1 is a much easier to run and a very good 1st level adventure.
#11 lincoln_hills May 25, 2004 12:21:26	In spite of having the hands-down DUMBEST module name among the 1st-edition modules, I must admit that U1 is an excellent module for newcomers. (B3 worked very well too, but it was not set in Greyhawk...) There weren't that many adventures for '1st to 3rd level' characters released in the Greyhawk setting... Gary & his posse seemed to enjoy levels 5-12 best. If I really were stringing together a series of 1st-edition modules into a campaign, I'd probably start with U1, then switch gears - focusing on the smuggler connection rather than the lizardmen - and give the party some "sea travel" side adventures, in order to get them to the area of Highport for module A1. T1 isn't a bad module, mind you, but I found it far less engaging than Saltmarsh.
#12 faraer May 25, 2004 13:32:52	I'm looking forward to Paul Stormberg's completion of the original DMG's Sample Dungeon, scheduled for the next Oerth Journal. Apart from that and B2 and T1, there are no Gygaxian low- to mid-level scenarios until you get to S4, except "Jolly Jongleurs" (published in Destination Games' Uninvited Guests). The new Lejendary Adventure primer set, Living the Lejend, or Zagyg's Castle: Yggsburgh may have sections suitable for low-level adventuring.
#13 grodog May 25, 2004 15:16:20	Originally posted by Faraer *I'm looking forward to Paul Stormberg's completion of the original DMG's Sample Dungeon, scheduled for the next Oerth Journal.* I hadn't heard that Paul was building that in an adventure too. I'll be curious to see how he tackles it vs. how Jonathan Tweet did back in Dungeon 84. Apart from that and B2 and T1, there are no Gygaxian low- to mid-level scenarios until you get to S4, except "Jolly Jongleurs" (published in Destination Games' Uninvited Guests). The new Lejendary Adventure primer set, Living the Lejend, or Zagyg's Castle: Yggsburgh may have sections suitable for low-level adventuring. And that makes perfect sense, given that the Castle served as the primary adventuring environ for so long! :D
#14 faraer May 25, 2004 15:48:51	Looks like Paul's Sample Dungeon was submitted for the next OJ but not necessarily scheduled, mea culpa. I dare say it isn't a monastery of fighting-monks; I liked parts of what Jonathan Tweet did, but he needlessly made the setup something that Gary certainly didn't intend. It's funny the way the Gygax and Kuntz modules cluster around 10th-12th level: there's just a few and then wham, a dozen or so.
#15 protonik_dup May 25, 2004 22:43:10	A lot of the old modules are OOP and expensive to get off of Ebay and while available as ESDs through RPGnow and SVgames, printer ink can be a lot of money even if B&W is all you use... trust me, I learned the hard way. At any rate, yeah, T1-4 is awesome and Queen of the Spiders is one of the best campaigns ever published because while they continue from one to the other (GDQ) they take place in varying environments and that really helps in keeping the campaign from getting flacid, but no they aren't 1st level sooooo moving on in the same topic, I am not sure of this 100% but I believe GDQ is useable as a sequel to T1-4. For 1st level adventure set in Greyhawk though, Necromancer games can't be beat. Their modules all possess that Greyhawk feel and while not overtly in Greyhawk, provide enough clues that you could easily place them in the World of Greyhawk with a few name changes. Crucible of Freya comes pretty close to T1 as far as versatility etc goes and Tomb of Abysthor is just as good. I don't have a lot of their modules, though they are my favorite D20 company this side of Green Ronin. I like the Sunless Citadel, ran it three times myself and the module is pretty easy to locate in the area of Greyhawk/Veluna etc. region and lead in Return to The Temple of Elemental Evil (a great module in my book) and if yo follow it with the rest of the Adventure Path it is great as well. You can't be Dungeon Magazine for good scenarios for Greyhawk as the majority of them focus on Greyhawk and even more so in future issues of the magazine. Jason
#16 zombiegleemax May 26, 2004 3:53:29	The one page flip cards from the City of Greyhawk and From the Ashes Boxed sets are ok. You can string three or four of them toghether and move your party to third level fairly quickly. They have both low-level rural and urban adventures, so you can get a feel for what a new group likes better, without having to commit to one or the other, which is what I liked best about them. But, they will probably be very hard to get a hold of.