Top 30 modules of all time - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Top 30 modules of all time

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Aug 31, 2004 5:35:24 Guys,
Dungeon #116 will have a list of the top 30 modules of all time. It will be voted on by a panel of "celebrity judges". So, it got me thinking, what would
be my top ten. So, in no particular order:

1. Keep on the Borderlands
2. Isle of Dread
3. Lost City
4. Veiled Society
5. Against the Giants
6. Descent into the Depths of the Earth
7. Queen if the Demonweb Pits
8. Tomb of Horrors (I still have nightmares of elephants on rolling logs)
9. Night Below Campaign
10. Storm Riders trilogy

Anybody else have some favourites?
#2
kheldren
Aug 31, 2004 11:39:08 This is off-topic - yes some are Mystara modules but others are most definitely not.

Please can a Wizo move this to a more appropriate forum.

Thank-you.
#3
zombiegleemax
Sep 01, 2004 20:22:39 Okay, how about this; which Mystaran modules will make the list?
#4
spellweaver
Sep 02, 2004 4:59:26 Well, I'd say the following modules are definetly among the greatest I have ever played:

1) Crown of Ancient Glory

2) Five Coins for a Kingdom

3) Twillight Calling

4) Talons of Night

5) Palace of the Silver Princess

6) Rahasia (I think it is called)

7) Temple of Evil

8) Red Arrow, Black Shield

9) The Tree of Life

10) Master of the Desert Nomads

:-) Jesper

P.S. My harddisc broke down two weeks ago and I lost every damn thing I have written for RPG's since 1990. No backup except what is scattered around the internet. Let that be a lesson, everyone: always have a backup on a seperate disc.
#5
havard
Sep 02, 2004 5:22:08
P.S. My harddisc broke down two weeks ago and I lost every damn thing I have written for RPG's since 1990. No backup except what is scattered around the internet. Let that be a lesson, everyone: always have a backup on a seperate disc.

Oh no Jesper, that is terrible

My favorite Mystara modules

1) B10 Dark Night's Terrror

2) DA 1 Adventures in Blackmoor

3) CM? Test of the Warlords

4) Red Arrow, Black Shield

5) X? Saga of the Shadowlord

7) HWA1-3 The Blood Brethren Trilogy

8) CM7 Quest for the Tree of Life (not that good, but it details the Sylvan Realm)

Håvard
#6
kheldren
Sep 02, 2004 5:58:03 I definitely go with:
CM1 Test of the Warlords
X1 The Isle of Dread
M5 Five Coins for a Kingdom (or is this M4)
X13 Saga of the Shadowlord

What else?
CM4 Earthshaker is an absolute classic, just for the setting.
B? Horror on the Hill is pretty good
M1 Into the Maelstrom
and I think CM? The Tree of Life also deserves mention.

(And I think I agree with B5 & B6 - well Rahasia and Palace of the Silver Princess too.)
#7
zombiegleemax
Sep 02, 2004 7:30:15 I'll add "Arena of Thyatis" to the list. I know it's not a "classic" - but I have good memories of it.

And Spellweaver,

I'm sorry to hear...
At least you've got all those long posts you put here. At least they were saved! It was a good idea to post them.
#8
zombiegleemax
Sep 02, 2004 17:00:36 How could I have forgotten Test of the Warlords and Earthshaker?!
There's also Death's Ride and Sabre River. That whole CM series was
golden.
#9
zombiegleemax
Sep 02, 2004 17:56:51
Okay, how about this; which Mystaran modules will make the list?

There are indeed Known World modules on the list that Erik has compiled. He even asked me which Known World/Mystara adventures need to be on that list, and those I mentioned all made it on (actually, they were on the list before he asked me, but as the resident Paizo Known World fan, he wanted to make sure I felt the world was represented well). Rest assured, Mystara is represented. :D
#10
zombiegleemax
Sep 02, 2004 18:33:48 It's nice to see the Known World finally get some long overdue recognition.
#11
zombiegleemax
Sep 04, 2004 13:46:41 What is this!?

No Wrath of the Immortals?
That has to my favorite.

1)Wrath of the Immortals
2)B2 The Keep on the Borderlands
3)M2 Vengeance of Alphaks
4)X1 The Isle of Dread
5)X4 Master of the Desert Nomads
6)M3 Twilight Calling
7)DA2 Temple of the Frog
8)CM1 Test of the Warlords
9)B10 Night's Dark Terror
10)B4 The Lost City

I liked these so much that when I switched to MERP, I used some of these adventures in Middle Earth. Of course they were slightly altered, but my players loved them.
#12
zombiegleemax
Sep 04, 2004 14:10:49
What is this!?

No Wrath of the Immortals?
That has to my favorite.

Well, I guess people didn't mention it because it is more an epic campaign than a "module".
I actually wish there were more such epic campaigns in Mystara, Dragonlance-like. I know that there something anti-epic in Mystara, with its "no-clear-cut-good-vs.-evil" idea (which I like), but still...

(Sorry. I've just finished the fifth Harry Potter and I'm yearning for an epos...)
#13
zombiegleemax
Sep 05, 2004 11:41:06 Yes I you are right. It is an epic campaign. But the adventures that are in it are awesome. Oh well. :D
#14
havard
Sep 07, 2004 9:14:10
What is this!?
No Wrath of the Immortals?
That has to my favorite.

I decided not to include WotI, not because of its scale, but because I have alot of issues with it. On the one hand I think it has alot of great ideas, but it is also quite flawed. In addition, the fact that it changed Mystara, AND every product produced after it referred to those changes makes my feelings about it mixed. Not saying I hate it, just havent decided what to think of it.

I suspect that had Aaron Allston been allowed to include all the stuff he wanted to include, making it go throigh 10 years instead of 7 (or so rumor has it), or even better had Allston been allowed to use his very first plan which was to make it into a novel trilogy rather than an adventure, I suspect I will have liked it alot more.

As it is now, it left alot of questions unanswered. Some of them were answered in later products, but since Mystara was cancelled, many were also left in the open.

I wish we could get Aaron over here to tell us all about it, but AFAIK he has shown no interest in Mystara since he stopped working on it.

Håvard
#15
zombiegleemax
Sep 07, 2004 22:05:34 My vote goes to Nights Dark Terror, my all time favorite. It was the first module I saw that had so many options and side encounters to go with the main story.
#16
zombiegleemax
Sep 08, 2004 15:22:32 Mystara related modules that should be on the list:

B1 In Search of the Unknown
B2 Keep on the Borderlands
B4 The Lost City
B5 Horror on the Hill
B7 Rahasia
B10 Night's Dark Terror
X1 Isle of Dread
X2 Castle Amber
X4 Master of the Desert Nomads
X5 Temple of Death

Off topic, but, oh well.. the remaining twenty...

C1 Lost Shrine of Tomoachan
D1, 2, 3 Drow series
G1, 2, 3 Giant series
I1 Dwellers of the Forbidden City
I 3, 4, 5 Desert of Desolation series
I6 Ravenloft (which I can't stand, but it should be here for historical reasons)
S1 Tomb of Horror
S3 Expedition to Barrier Peaks
S4/WG4 Tsojcanth/Tharizdun
T1/T1-4 Hommlet/Temple of Elemental Evil
Paul Jaquay's two Judges Guild adventures - Caverns of Thracia and Dark Tower

R.A.
#17
eric_anondson
Sep 27, 2004 20:56:53
Rest assured, Mystara is represented. :D

Seeing the list now I am convinced that it is underrepresented. Many of the "Known World" mods that are there are arguably generic and were tacked into the Known World much later.

Seeing that Ruins of Undermountain is on the list, Wrath of the Immortals should have been on the list. WotI is as much an adventure as Ruins of Undermountain. WotI ought to have been included not because of it's playability or fun-factor, but for sheer scope and scale.

B10 Nights Dark Terror is one of the all-time best mods. I say this as someone who came to Mystara only recently, and played in all the AD&D worlds for decades before then. Hearing so much about B10 by those who had played/run/owned it got me to finally track it down. Hoo boy! It really is that fine, only seeing it will get one to believe.

Seriously, I am bothered that too many folks who contributed their top ten lists that were compiled to make the Dungeon Top 30 list had never seen a Known World adventure published after the Expert Set saw print. Ah well, nothing to get wound up about, but knowing how much greatness has been overlooked makes me grumpy. Here's to hoping they research the old stuff better next time! ;)

Regards,
Eric Anondson (<-- A Greyhawk, Mystara, and Dark Sun fan)
#18
npc_dave
Sep 28, 2004 3:10:24 I think part of the reason the list is under-represented is that they collected a top 10 list from each contributor list to make a top 30 list. If they had gotten a top 30 list from everyone, it would have been less skewed.

For example, Keep on the Borderlands probably made it onto some top 10 lists because it deserves mention. But if you have 20 choices, it could sink into the teens because while it still deserves mention, other modules that now fit on the list go before it.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Aug 31, 2004 5:35:24	Guys, Dungeon #116 will have a list of the top 30 modules of all time. It will be voted on by a panel of "celebrity judges". So, it got me thinking, what would be my top ten. So, in no particular order: 1. Keep on the Borderlands 2. Isle of Dread 3. Lost City 4. Veiled Society 5. Against the Giants 6. Descent into the Depths of the Earth 7. Queen if the Demonweb Pits 8. Tomb of Horrors (I still have nightmares of elephants on rolling logs) 9. Night Below Campaign 10. Storm Riders trilogy Anybody else have some favourites?
#2 kheldren Aug 31, 2004 11:39:08	This is off-topic - yes some are Mystara modules but others are most definitely not. Please can a Wizo move this to a more appropriate forum. Thank-you.
#3 zombiegleemax Sep 01, 2004 20:22:39	Okay, how about this; which Mystaran modules will make the list?
#4 spellweaver Sep 02, 2004 4:59:26	Well, I'd say the following modules are definetly among the greatest I have ever played: 1) Crown of Ancient Glory 2) Five Coins for a Kingdom 3) Twillight Calling 4) Talons of Night 5) Palace of the Silver Princess 6) Rahasia (I think it is called) 7) Temple of Evil 8) Red Arrow, Black Shield 9) The Tree of Life 10) Master of the Desert Nomads :-) Jesper P.S. My harddisc broke down two weeks ago and I lost every damn thing I have written for RPG's since 1990. No backup except what is scattered around the internet. Let that be a lesson, everyone: always have a backup on a seperate disc.
#5 havard Sep 02, 2004 5:22:08	P.S. My harddisc broke down two weeks ago and I lost every damn thing I have written for RPG's since 1990. No backup except what is scattered around the internet. Let that be a lesson, everyone: always have a backup on a seperate disc. Oh no Jesper, that is terrible My favorite Mystara modules 1) B10 Dark Night's Terrror 2) DA 1 Adventures in Blackmoor 3) CM? Test of the Warlords 4) Red Arrow, Black Shield 5) X? Saga of the Shadowlord 7) HWA1-3 The Blood Brethren Trilogy 8) CM7 Quest for the Tree of Life (not that good, but it details the Sylvan Realm) Håvard
#6 kheldren Sep 02, 2004 5:58:03	I definitely go with: CM1 Test of the Warlords X1 The Isle of Dread M5 Five Coins for a Kingdom (or is this M4) X13 Saga of the Shadowlord What else? CM4 Earthshaker is an absolute classic, just for the setting. B? Horror on the Hill is pretty good M1 Into the Maelstrom and I think CM? The Tree of Life also deserves mention. (And I think I agree with B5 & B6 - well Rahasia and Palace of the Silver Princess too.)
#7 zombiegleemax Sep 02, 2004 7:30:15	I'll add "Arena of Thyatis" to the list. I know it's not a "classic" - but I have good memories of it. And Spellweaver, I'm sorry to hear... At least you've got all those long posts you put here. At least they were saved! It was a good idea to post them.
#8 zombiegleemax Sep 02, 2004 17:00:36	How could I have forgotten Test of the Warlords and Earthshaker?! There's also Death's Ride and Sabre River. That whole CM series was golden.
#9 zombiegleemax Sep 02, 2004 17:56:51	Okay, how about this; which Mystaran modules will make the list? There are indeed Known World modules on the list that Erik has compiled. He even asked me which Known World/Mystara adventures need to be on that list, and those I mentioned all made it on (actually, they were on the list before he asked me, but as the resident Paizo Known World fan, he wanted to make sure I felt the world was represented well). Rest assured, Mystara is represented. :D
#10 zombiegleemax Sep 02, 2004 18:33:48	It's nice to see the Known World finally get some long overdue recognition.
#11 zombiegleemax Sep 04, 2004 13:46:41	What is this!? No Wrath of the Immortals? That has to my favorite. 1)Wrath of the Immortals 2)B2 The Keep on the Borderlands 3)M2 Vengeance of Alphaks 4)X1 The Isle of Dread 5)X4 Master of the Desert Nomads 6)M3 Twilight Calling 7)DA2 Temple of the Frog 8)CM1 Test of the Warlords 9)B10 Night's Dark Terror 10)B4 The Lost City I liked these so much that when I switched to MERP, I used some of these adventures in Middle Earth. Of course they were slightly altered, but my players loved them.
#12 zombiegleemax Sep 04, 2004 14:10:49	What is this!? No Wrath of the Immortals? That has to my favorite. Well, I guess people didn't mention it because it is more an epic campaign than a "module". I actually wish there were more such epic campaigns in Mystara, Dragonlance-like. I know that there something anti-epic in Mystara, with its "no-clear-cut-good-vs.-evil" idea (which I like), but still... (Sorry. I've just finished the fifth Harry Potter and I'm yearning for an epos...)
#13 zombiegleemax Sep 05, 2004 11:41:06	Yes I you are right. It is an epic campaign. But the adventures that are in it are awesome. Oh well. :D
#14 havard Sep 07, 2004 9:14:10	What is this!? No Wrath of the Immortals? That has to my favorite. I decided not to include WotI, not because of its scale, but because I have alot of issues with it. On the one hand I think it has alot of great ideas, but it is also quite flawed. In addition, the fact that it changed Mystara, AND every product produced after it referred to those changes makes my feelings about it mixed. Not saying I hate it, just havent decided what to think of it. I suspect that had Aaron Allston been allowed to include all the stuff he wanted to include, making it go throigh 10 years instead of 7 (or so rumor has it), or even better had Allston been allowed to use his very first plan which was to make it into a novel trilogy rather than an adventure, I suspect I will have liked it alot more. As it is now, it left alot of questions unanswered. Some of them were answered in later products, but since Mystara was cancelled, many were also left in the open. I wish we could get Aaron over here to tell us all about it, but AFAIK he has shown no interest in Mystara since he stopped working on it. Håvard
#15 zombiegleemax Sep 07, 2004 22:05:34	My vote goes to Nights Dark Terror, my all time favorite. It was the first module I saw that had so many options and side encounters to go with the main story.
#16 zombiegleemax Sep 08, 2004 15:22:32	Mystara related modules that should be on the list: B1 In Search of the Unknown B2 Keep on the Borderlands B4 The Lost City B5 Horror on the Hill B7 Rahasia B10 Night's Dark Terror X1 Isle of Dread X2 Castle Amber X4 Master of the Desert Nomads X5 Temple of Death Off topic, but, oh well.. the remaining twenty... C1 Lost Shrine of Tomoachan D1, 2, 3 Drow series G1, 2, 3 Giant series I1 Dwellers of the Forbidden City I 3, 4, 5 Desert of Desolation series I6 Ravenloft (which I can't stand, but it should be here for historical reasons) S1 Tomb of Horror S3 Expedition to Barrier Peaks S4/WG4 Tsojcanth/Tharizdun T1/T1-4 Hommlet/Temple of Elemental Evil Paul Jaquay's two Judges Guild adventures - Caverns of Thracia and Dark Tower R.A.
#17 eric_anondson Sep 27, 2004 20:56:53	Rest assured, Mystara is represented. :D Seeing the list now I am convinced that it is underrepresented. Many of the "Known World" mods that are there are arguably generic and were tacked into the Known World much later. Seeing that Ruins of Undermountain is on the list, Wrath of the Immortals should have been on the list. WotI is as much an adventure as Ruins of Undermountain. WotI ought to have been included not because of it's playability or fun-factor, but for sheer scope and scale. B10 Nights Dark Terror is one of the all-time best mods. I say this as someone who came to Mystara only recently, and played in all the AD&D worlds for decades before then. Hearing so much about B10 by those who had played/run/owned it got me to finally track it down. Hoo boy! It really is that fine, only seeing it will get one to believe. Seriously, I am bothered that too many folks who contributed their top ten lists that were compiled to make the Dungeon Top 30 list had never seen a Known World adventure published after the Expert Set saw print. Ah well, nothing to get wound up about, but knowing how much greatness has been overlooked makes me grumpy. Here's to hoping they research the old stuff better next time! ;) Regards, Eric Anondson (<-- A Greyhawk, Mystara, and Dark Sun fan)
#18 npc_dave Sep 28, 2004 3:10:24	I think part of the reason the list is under-represented is that they collected a top 10 list from each contributor list to make a top 30 list. If they had gotten a top 30 list from everyone, it would have been less skewed. For example, Keep on the Borderlands probably made it onto some top 10 lists because it deserves mention. But if you have 20 choices, it could sink into the teens because while it still deserves mention, other modules that now fit on the list go before it.