Birthright - Warlock of the Stonecrowns

I am not sure if it is clear in the picture but this is one of those modules that I bought in  the secondary market that are still in the shrink wrap. Since I bought it after I had stopped  playing Birthright I have not been able to bring myself to open it. As a result I am not going  to bring any level of in depth insight out about this module.

The premise sounds like something that would work well for the setting. I used a similar idea  back in the early days of my Dm'ing. I want to say that it was planned out but back then I  would start a party going somewhere and then start to improv as needed. It involved Lolth and  the Codex of the Infinite Planes. She was using it to seal off the flow of magic to the various  planes of the multiverse in retaliation for her plans being thwarted in the GDQ series.

I think this is the last of the Birthright items I will have to talk about for a period of  time. I still have some others but they have not been cataloged yet.


Published: 1995
Pages: 64

From the Back of the Book:

High in the Stonecrown Mountains, a new source of dark magic stirs, wakes, and spreads its  wings to shroud the land in shadows. The Warlock of the Stonecrowns, an awnshegh regent who is  as evil as he is powerful, is draining other regents' sources of magical power, choking on  their ability to cast the most powerful form of magic of all--realm magic!

If that isn't enough, the Warlock threatens to close the only pass connecting the trade-kingdom  of Cariele to the rest of Anuire. An army of orogs and ogres is gathering to the Warlock's  banner: Are your heroes equal to the challenge of the twisted magic of the Warlock of the  Stonecrowns?

This open-ended, "adjustable" BIRTHRIGHT adventure is suitable for use with either mid-level  (4-6) or high-level (7-10) player characters. You must have a copy of the AD&D games rules and  the BIRTHRIGHT campaign setting to play.

B12 Queen's Harvest

I wish I had a scan of King's Festival to post before this one but I inventoried it back in the day using a digital camera before I figured out scans would be better and most of those images are fairly bad. These are two modules I have never had the chance to play but I have been told by a number of people that they are both excellent additions to the B module line.


Published : 1989
Pages: 32

From the publisher:

"The wizard Kavorquian is dead. But certain items belonging to his adopted son were in the wizard's keeping at the time of his demise. Now someone must venture into the silent vaults of Kavorquian's stronghold and recover the missing property.

Queen's Harvest picks up its story where B11, King's Festival, left off. It can be played as a sequel to that adventure or as a complete adventure in itself. It is tailored for beginning Dungeon masters and players and contains helpful hints on adenturing and the land of Karameikos. The story develops simply, but ultimately leads the player characters into the nether reaches of Penhaligon's politics to confront Ilyana Penhaligon, mad pretender to the throne!"

B10 - Night's Dark Terror

B10 is a module that I am not sure why it is in the B line and not the X line. I guess the intent is to give players something that they can cross over with. I am just of the opinion that if it is a B module it should really be a module designed for the levels the set was written for.

The module is rare enough that I did not get it when it originally came out and I when I did get around to buying it I paid more for it than I should have had to. The module is not bad from what I can tell it is just something that is priced based on rarity rather than value. I am sure the Australian copy of G1 that sold for a hundred plus dollars a few months ago is just as good as an American monochrome copy of but the prices are a little different.

I would say buy the module if you can get it for a fair price but don't over pay like I did. In the end it is a module that was well worth the cover price but not what one would have to pay for it today.


Published: 1986
Pages: 64

From the publisher:

"Barely one day's march from Kelven, the uncharted tracts of the Dymrak forest conceal horrors enough to freeze the blood of civilized folk. Those who have ventured there tell how death comes quick to the unwary - for the woods at niht are far worse than any dungeon.

But you are adventurers, veterans of many battles, and the call of the wild is strong. Will you answer the call, or are you afraid of the dark terrors of the night?

This campaign adventure is for characters just beginning Expert play (levels 2-4) and hurls them into the exciting outdoor world which awaits in the Expert rulebook.

With a 64-page booklet, 2 double-panel covers, a double-sided fold-out mapsheet and 120 die-cut counters, this super module provides all you need for epic wilderness and dungeon adventuring. Journey across the Grand Duchy of Karameikos in a desperate race against time and the forces of evil."

B9 Castle Caldwell and Beyond

I am a big fan of the B line of modules. I have been fairly vocal about that in a recent post and I think my comments on the previous entries have put that forward. There is almost always one that does not live up to the others though. I am here to say that B9 Castle Caldwell and Beyond is the culprit in the B series.

The module is not patently bad and it does serve a purpose though not what it was meant for perhaps. It is merely not up to the level of the previous eight modules. Even B8 (Journey to the Rock) which I have expressed some concerns about runs laps about this baby. There are a number of reasons why this is the weakest offering in the line and then some that can make more useful than others. These reasons are often one and the same.

The module is actually more than a single scenario. It is actually five individual scenarios that are in some cases linked together better than others. The first two of these are tied together fairly well and I would suggest playing them apart from the others. The remaining three can be tied to the first two but the hold is tenuous at best.

One of the most glaring issues for me is the cartography in the module. There are many modules where the maps alone are worth the price of the module. That is a phrase that will never be sued about Castle Caldwell. The maps are so bad that there is a blog out there where the castle map was redrawn so that the author thought it was usable. I can't recall the blog but the map redo was actually really well done. The other issue I have is the actual material. There are DM blocks here and the same phrase is often repeated. Ever wonder how many times you could tell players "There is a sword hanging on a rack on the wall" before they revolted....this module will allow you that opportunity.

The module as a said though does have a role in life other than to be the whipping post of the B series. Judges Guild released a number of products early on that were mini-adventures. This was later perhaps brought to perfection by TSR in the Lairs products. This module if taken as a fledgling attempt at this by TSR is in that situation use and that is how I would suggest it be used.

I would be negligent if I did not make a final note or two on the module, which I do suggest owning, before I close up this post. The first is the cover art. I know there have been negative comments made on this but I like Caldwell art and this is one of the pieces I remember most from all of them. This means i most likely did not date enough in high school but that aside I like the art and it invokes a definite "Creature from the Black Lagoon" feel. The other is the name of the author. I never for the longest time saw Harry Nuckols as "Harry Knuckles" and so never saw that as a detractor. In the end it is funny but not high on the professionalism ladder. For the record the actual author is a Mr. Ron Charulsky according to a post by Frank Metzner.

　

Published: 1985
Pages: 32

From the publisher:

"Five exciting short adventures to make your Basic campaign come alive!

The Clearing of Castle Caldwell - A local merchant has recently purchased a small castle...but when he tried to move in, he discovered that the castle was already inhabited!

Dungeons of Terror - A strange trapdoor in the floor of Castle Caldwell leads to a terrifying challenge!

The Abduction of Princess Sylvia - On the eve of her wedding, the beautiful princess has been kidnapped! Can you save her in time?

The Great Escape - Imprisoned in an enemy fortress, without armor or weapons, your situation seems hopeless. yet there may be a way to freedom...

The Sanctuary of Elwyn the Ardent - A mystical chime of great power has been stolen - but by whom? In the wrong hands, the chime can cause untold harm! But can you find and defeat this mysterious and powerful creature?"

B5 Horror on the Hill

The Horror on the Hill is a module I have used a few times for starting groups at  first level. I prefer some other modules more but this is one that allows for a lot of  adventure in one small package. I have often though of locating the Keep from B2 here  and mashing the two up losing or changing the Caves of Chaos.

The adventure has some outdoor aspects which can be role played more than some of the  encounters provided in the fist three of the B modules. These can be played seriously  or with a little bit of whimsy depending on the group you are playing with. Once the  players get to the meet of the module there is a sizable dungeon for them to make  their way through.

The ecology of any dungeon is a hard thing to allow for. The one here is a little  better than some of the others in early modules but it still has some concerns. This  module does have a ending that the players will appreciate though. Nothing like living  up to ones name sake in my mind.

Overall I think this is a module that it would not hurt one to spend money on. There  are much worse ways to spend ones money. I think if I were to ever sue it again I  would make it more of a mash up with B2 as I mentioned earlier. I can actually see a  situation where I might take B1, B2 and B4 and make them all part of the same starting  area though it would take some beefing up of some of the material as the party would  be too high by the time the third adventure was used.


Published: 1983
Pages: 32

Description:

The end of the road. A lonely fort stands on the banks of a mighty river. It is here  the hardy bands of adventurers gather to plan their conquests of The Hill, the hulking  mass that looms over this tiny settlement.

The Hill is filled with monsters, they say, and an evil witch makes her home there.  Still, no visitor to The Hill has ever returned to prove the rumors true or false. The  thrill of discovery is too great to pass up, and only the river stands in the way. The  adventurers' boat is waiting!

This module is designed for use with the D&D Basic Rules. A trip through the  wilderness begins a unique challenge for the novice player and Dungeon Master.

Included in the module are:
11 maps
3 new monsters
a complete set of prerolled characters.

B4 - The Lost City

Yesterday I wrote about B2 the #7 module in Dungeons all time list. Today I will write  a little bit about #28 which is B4 The Lost City. I will also try to not go off on  tangents and slander anyone's reviews or their life's work. I said try so lets see how  that works out for me.

The Lost City is written by Tom Moldvay and I think most everyone will recognize the  name and as a result what they have contributed to the game. I remember reading a Blog  some time ago where the author of the blog was going to sue this as the basis for a  sandbox campaign. This module more than any of the other B series would be suited for  this purpose though B7 could be used as the foundation for a campaign as well with  very little work.

This is a module where actually only a portion of the entire area is written out in  any detail. The reminder has suggestions and broad strokes laid out but the specifics  are left to the discretion of the DM. The module also featured information on how the  DM might get the characters to interact with the NPC and suggestions on how that might  work out. All of these make it very well suited as the foundation for a campaign where  the DM can place their take on it.

There will be those that will suggest that I am partial to the older material. To  argue with that assumption would be sill as I will go on record that in this case  older is better. I think technology improves with time but as far as gaming material  is concerned once you get into the later 80's and early 90's I think things had gone  down hill. If you don't own this module pick it up I will think that those who are  disappointed in the investment will be few and far between.

Published: 1982
Pages: 32

From the cover:

Lost in the desert! The only hope for survival lies in a ruined city rising out of the  sands. Food, water, and wealth await heroic adventurers inside an ancient pyramid  ruled by a strange race of masked beings.

The module includes a cover folder with maps, and a descriptive booklet with a ready- made adventure for the DUNGEONS & DRAGONS Basic game. It also includes enough  information to continue the adventure beyond level 3, using the DUNGEONS & DRAGONS  Expert game rules.

B2 - The Keep on the Borderlands

There is not much more that I could add to what has already been said about the #7  ranked module of all time. I am actually more of a fan of B1 In Search of the Unknown  more than I am of B2. Please don't get me wrong but I like the good old fashioned  dungeon crawl factor of it. That and it has some things that became "standards" in  dungeon design. But I digress.

There have been incredibly more pages written about "The Keep" than there are to "The Keep". If you  factor out the useful DM material and resources this is further exaggerated. There are innumerable detractors of the module and it does have some issues. The ecology of the area is  about as impracticable as it could be without being a zoo. Still that is the way it was  some 32 years ago. Anyone who hates on the module really needs to learn to respect what has come before and appreciate the classics that laid the groundwork in a fledgling industry.

It was pointed out the review I mention below may have been meant as comedy. If so I misunderstood. I apologize if that is the case but I still hold true to the other comments about the newer stuff not holding up and the sue of the phrase Pirates of the Coast. Teach me to not look at Tags won't it!

I want to point on in the review here Mike Mearls told us in no uncertain terms how bad it was. I quote him as saying "It really is too late to warn you about this one, isn't it?" and "If you paid for it, you got ripped off". Not railing against 3e or 4e or whatever the next edition whose sole purpose is to bleed money off of people is but pointing out that this module will have more staying power than anything produced by Pirates of the Coast.


The other review on that site is a little more kind but wants to make fun of something Gary Gygax wrote. I have copied that below here but want to point out that James Landy gave much better reviews to a number of Pirates of the Coast and 3e modules that are really pretty bad. But below is what Gary Gygax with all his pretensions (his words) wrote...thank you for inspiring Gary rather than directing:

"You are not entering this world in the usual manner, for you are setting forth to be a Dungeon Master. Certainly there are stout fighters, mighty magic-users, wily thieves, and courageous clerics who will make their mark in the magical lands of D&D adventure. You however, are above even the greatest of these, for as DM you are to become the Shaper of the Cosmos. It is you who will give form and content to the all the universe. You will breathe life into the stillness, giving meaning and purpose to all the actions which are to follow."

I have no qualms saying that this is a module that everyone should own. Not only  because it is a worth owning and being run through or running by all at least once in  a gamers life but because it is a piece of history. I feel certain that in 2033 there  will not be one 3.x module that is considered in such regard as this one. If there is  please let me know so I can but it now.

Published: 1980
Pages: 28

Excerpt from the adventure:

Background

The Realms of mankind is narrow and constricted. Always the forces of Chaos press upon  its borders, seeking to enslave its populace, rape its riches, and steal its  treasures. If it were not for a stout few, many in the Realm would indeed fall prey to  the evil which surrounds them. Yet, there are always certain exceptional and brave  members of humanity, as well as similar individuals among its allies - dwarves, elves,  and halflings - who rise above the common level and join battle to stave off the  darkness which would otherwise overwhelm the land. Bold adventurers from the Realm set  off to the Borderlands to seek their fortune. (...)

You are indeed members of that exceptional class, adventurers who have journeyed to  the Keep on the Borderlands in search of fame and fortune.

A Distant Echo - Viking Games

I know I have mentioned many times that I have material that I am not too familiar with and even that I am not sure how I came to posses it. To date this may be the biggest mystery yet. Most often it is something I bought and never had a chance to use. I am a bit of a hoarder when it comes to RPG materials perhaps.

Most often times I recall buying the item though because I don't buy just to buy 99% percent of the time or better I would say.This book though is a complete mystery to me. I even recall when I scanned it thinking to myself "Where did this come from?" Most often strange buys will be the $1 or $2 Half Price Books variety and I bought it just to see what it had idea wise. This is lacking the price tag I see all too often.

When I buy from eBay most often it is a more directed buy though. I am usually on a kick to try and finish off material in a particular system or on a topic such as magic items. This does not fall into that category that I can recall. My best guess is that a number of years ago I bought a fairly substantial bulk lot of Guido-the-Gypsy on eBay. It showed some older Traveller material and a few other items so I bought it. It had a mixed bag of goods but was a good purchase. I suspect this came in that lot.

As far as "A Distant Echo" by Viking Games. I have nothing to say except what I was able to find on RPG Geek. From what I was able to find out this was the only module offering from Viking Games and the only material specific to their world Axander. They only had one other product from what I could tell and it was a monster manual type offering. If anyone has any insight into this I would love to hear about it.

Published: 2001
Pages: 32

From the back of the book:

One Sword, One Word, One Way

Twin cities, two nations, vying for regional power have encountered a rise of goblin tribes and raids to their national coffers. After a brutal encounter, player characters are drawn into national intrigue, which must be handled quickly or else the region will fall to the hands of the goblins.

The first question that needs answering is: who is supplying the enemy with its quality weaponry?

On the Wrong Side of Loyalty

Designed as the first in a series of adventures detailing the Axandar world a the brink of chaos and war, this d20 system adventure is for characters of beginning levels. Referees will be able to start new campaigns, or add exciting new dimensions to their current campaigns.

Arcana Unearthed - Plague of Dreams

This is the first adventure in the Diamond Throne setting which is the default setting for Arcana Unearthed. Since I am not much of a D20 or 3.x player this is something that I have not had a chance to play in or run anyone through. It is most likely that I never will use it as is but I will be more than happy to mine it for ideas and from what I have seen the material is good.

By now many people who happen upon this may have played it but in the off chance that there are some who see this who might yet play in it I will refrain from talking too much about the specifics of the module. The adventure is a standard enough fair and should run first level characters to third level or so depending on how things go for them. The adventure uses the town of Gahanis as the backdrop for the adventure and this would be a fine base of operations for a few more adventures after this one.

The module itself is broken down into an introductions, six chapters that make up the meat of the module and then two appendixes. The first is one that has stat blocks and consolidated information for the DM and the other is the legal information connected with the OGL. The module does include a number of new (at that time) monsters and magic items.

The layout of the module is done well enough though I found the text a little too small and tight for my aging eyes. There are also some places where the page backgrounds caused problems reading the text. The art in the module is used in a quantity that is not too overpowering. The quality ranges from better than average to quite good in my opinion but your mileage may vary. To me perhaps the best part of the module is the cartography. The maps in the module are all well done and should be easy for the DM to read and use.


Published: 2003
Pages: 64

From the back cover:

"It seems simple enough.

Enter the abandoned fortress, track down the bandit spies, retrieve the treasure and collect the reward. But this simple task is only the first piece in a complicated puzzle, the first step in an adventure filled with intrigue and betrayal, where answers fade faster than ancient memories.

As the larger picture comes into focus, the heroes realize that a more complex mystery is at hand, focused on far more than some stolen treasure. When allies become enemies and simple assignments become epic struggles, the characters will have to tread carefully as they navigate between deadly bandits and dangerous outcasts. Will the heroes act as unwitting pawns in this contest of wills, or will they succeed despite the odds and prevent the plague of dreams?"

An adventure for four 1st level PCs.

Al-Qadim Reunion, Inner Demons

This is a module I have never had the opportunity to run or lay through. I t was  apparently initially a three part GenCon tournament module. I will not give too  much away but the premise makes it easy to see it as a three part tournament  module. I am not sure how this would play out in a normal campaign type of  situation. I really see this being better served as a one shot adventure perhaps  to introduce the setting.

Published: 1998
Pages: 32

From the back cover:

Once, the Tribe of Altair roamed the sands, free as the great eagle on the wind.  Now, caged by an evil mage, these desert riders yearn for their lost freedom.  But Fate takes a hand as a noble djinn seeks to fulfill an ancient wish....

In this unusual three-part scenario, players first take the roles of the men of  the tribe, who stage a revolt after being enslaved in the Pit of the Laughing  Efreeti and then try to battle their way to freedom. In the second part, the PCs  are the women of the tribe, who must escape the evil flame mage's harem and use  all their wits to win free of a strange city. Finally, the children of the tribe  have to slip away from an evil temple before they can be sacrificed, which calls  for them to embark on a magic carpet ride that promises to be the adventure of  their lifetimes.

An AL-QADIM adventure for up to six characters.



Spell:

Inner Demons

Level: Fourth
Range: 9"
Duration: Instantaneous
Area of Effect: 1 Target/ 2 Levels
Components: V,S
Casting Time: 6 Segments
Saving Throw: None

When this spell is cast the magic user will cause each target to be confronted  with their "inner demons". These will take the form of some monster feared by  the target or lacking knowledge of that a monstrosity apparently from the lower  planes.

There is in reality no physical manifestation. The entity and the combat all  take place in the mind of the victim. Since the manifestation is taking the form  of something feared by the victim all attack and saving throw rolls will be made  at -2. The attacker will have the exact same stats as the target and access to  only the exact same spell, abilities or equipment though these will appear to be  in other forms perhaps. It is important to note that none of what happens in  this combat as far as damage or any spell/equipment use is real.

The outcome of the inner battle will determine the effect of the spell. If the  target defeats the inner demon then they will receive a boon of +2 to all attack  rolls and saving throws for the duration of the encounter with the caster. If  they fail to defeat the inner demons then they will receive a -2 and will have  their hit point total lowered by 25%. It is important to note that this spell  will affect an individual who has had it cast on them before regardless of the  previous outcome. They will simply be battling other inner demons.

Disclaimer: The spells that you will see, for how ever long the write ups last,  were all written up or conceived of back in the 80's so the terminology may not  appropriate for anything other than 1e and depending on how well I did back then  it may be slightly off for that as well. If there is any duplication of spells  that exist now it is most likely I wrote mine first :) Please feel free to  comment on them but try not to be too hard on me. If anyone wishes to use these  in anything they print please let me know in advance and all I ask is proper  credit.

All the King's Men, Rightful Owner

All the King's Men is a murder mystery. Many times these types of modules are  written for lower level characters. This module is written for characters of  seventh to ninth level which opens up the material that can be included.

The premise is pretty straight forward. The acting troupe known as The King's  Men are accused of murdering the archbishop who is well known for his dislike of  actors. The setting is very much a fantasy London and the them of the module is  Shakespearean even to the point that the theater when the performances occur are  the Orb Theater.

The module is written so as to be very non linear even presenting the DM with  two different hooks that can be used to pull the characters into the story.  After these all of the other events (called episodes) can be run in whatever  order the players end up getting to them.

The module has enough combat to make it something that won't bore the players  who like to roll dice. The real charm of the module is the level of role playing  that will be required to make it work. The module is stocked with well written  NPCs that will test the ability of the DM to role play. The story itself is well  done with a plot rich in twists and turns that will make the detective portion  fun as well. The module is also ripe with puns that will be painful to those who  do not like a bad one.

I think the fact that the module is written for higher level characters and is  written in such a way that it is generic enough to let it drop into most any  campaign is a huger set of selling points for the module. By the time characters  reach the levels the module are for they will most likely be thinking about  settling down. What a great means on introduction for a possible kingdom for  them to become involved in.

Published: 2002
Pages: 48

From the back cover:

Alas,poor Yorrick!

Filled with bizarre characters, twisted plots, and a macabre sense of humor, All  the King's Men takes the PCs on a wild romp through the dark underbelly of  Hamdon, a fantasy version of renaissance London. When the archbishop turns up  dead at the production of the latest play, the acting troupe known as The King's  Men is accused of murder. It's up to the PCs to track down the killer and prove  the actors' innocence. But not everything is as it seems in the world of acts  and actors.



Spell:

Rightful Owner

Level: Fourth
Range: Touch
Duration: Special
Area of Effect: One Item
Components: V,S
Casting Time: 2 Rounds
Saving Throw: None

By means of this spell the magic user will cause any item to return to its  rightful owner. The spell will require that the item be accompanied to make this  possible though.

When the spell is cast the item that the spell is cast on will become invisible  and levitate. It will then begin to head in the direction of it's rightful  owner. The caster will need to follow the item once this begins. At no point in  time can the item be out of line of sight of the caster. Once the item is within  hte line of sight of its owner it will become visible again.

The item will continue to be invisible and levitate as long as it is in line of  sight and making some progress towards the owner. If there is ever a period of  time where caster falters in their attempt to return the item then it will  immediately return back to its point of origin and the spell is broken. For this  to occur then the caster will have had to have spent more than ten turns doing  something not related to or a result of trying to get the item to the owner.  Time spent resting overnight will not count as time not progressing.

Disclaimer: The spells that you will see, for how ever long the write ups last,  were all written up or conceived of back in the 80's so the terminology may not  appropriate for anything other than 1e and depending on how well I did back then  it may be slightly off for that as well. If there is any duplication of spells  that exist now it is most likely I wrote mine first :) Please feel free to  comment on them but try not to be too hard on me. If anyone wishes to use these  in anything they print please let me know in advance and all I ask is proper  credit.

Alice Through the Mirrorshades, Chaotic Arcana

Paranoia is one of the games I have always liked from the moment I played it. I  have said before it takes a special group of players to have any sort of fun  with it. Given the very idea that all of the players have their own agenda in  addition to the overall agenda of the adventure can make for a stressful  situation if there are any underlying animosities in the group.

Alice Through the Mirrorshades is the first in a trilogy of modules that take  place after the Iceman Returneth. The module plays off the results of that  module and tries to remedy the situation. The premise is that a group of  troubleshooters will be sent back in time to makes changes in history to prevent  the crash.

This module has often been spoken ill of for some reason in may reviews I have  seen in the past. I myself don't find it to be a bad idea and if you are playing  Paranoia you should have come to expect silly by now. We have a module that  mashes up Alice in Wonderland with 12 Monkeys though it was published long  before 12 Monkeys. I have to wonder if the author of the module had seen Le Jetee?

The module is also one that allows for crossover with Cyberpunk characters since  there is an element of time travel involved. There are NPCs for that system  included if the GM does not have the game and the module includes advice on how  to translate the systems for characters.

I would say that if you can handle your adventures light of heart and a little  silly then this would work for you. If you are not a fan of silly then why are  you playing Paranoia anyway? This is for the second edition of Paranoia but I  think players of any edition would appreciate it. Why is there no Paranoia love  in the OSR?

Published: 1989
Pages: 40

From the back cover:

Help us, Troubleshooters... You're our only hope!

The Computer has crashed ... and that puts a lot of High Programmers out of  work. Rather than stand for the ignominy of the welfare lines (not to mention to  avoid a chainsaw haircut at the hands of disgruntled Infrareds), the High  Programmers conceive a desperate plan: retroactively prevent the crash by  traveling back in time to execute the man responsible. The success of the plan  hinges on a squad of six crack Troubleshooters - the Vulture Warriors of  Dimension X.

Which only goes to show how desperate the High Programmers really are. 



Spell:

Chaotic Arcana

Level: Fifth
Range: None
Duration: Instantaneous
Area of Effect: Caster
Components: V
Casting Time: One Segment
Saving Throw: None

When this spell is cast the magic user is able to reset the number of spells  that they can cast for the day. The spell is random in nature and the power does  come with a cost in the way of spells.

When this spell is cast the magic user loses all of the remaining spells that  they have memorized and will have them replaced with all new ones. The spell  replaces can replenish all off available spell slots though more often than not  this will not be the case.

The spells that replace the forgotten ones will be chosen totally at random from  the spells that the caster knows for each of the levels that have spells  replenished. The caster will in no way be able to determine what spells are used.  There can be no duplication of spells though so they won't get five Find  Familiars but they won't get five Magic Missiles either.

The spell has a 25% percent chance to restore all of the spells just as if the  caster had just fully memorized their allotment for the day. There are other  possible outcomes as well though. The chart for this is as follows based on the  roll of a d4:

1 - Cater gains their full compliment of spells for each level
2 - Caster gains no first level spells
3 - Caster gains no spells of the highest level they know
4 - Caster Gains one less spell than normal for each level

Disclaimer: The spells that you will see, for how ever long the write ups last,  were all written up or conceived of back in the 80's so the terminology may not  appropriate for anything other than 1e and depending on how well I did back then  it may be slightly off for that as well. If there is any duplication of spells  that exist now it is most likely I wrote mine first :) Please feel free to  comment on them but try not to be too hard on me. If anyone wishes to use these  in anything they print please let me know in advance and all I ask is proper  credit.

King of Spring - Agone, Protect the Dead

Some time ago I wrote about Agone which is a game I am fascinated with but have  never had a chance to give a full run through for any period of time. The King  of Spring is the first adventure released for it (at least here in the United  States). The system refers to them as dramas and given the higher level of role  playing involved I think it deserves that label.

Though it is treated as an adventure the drama in my opinion would be better  served as a drawn out story arc with other events placed between the three acts  that make up the drama. This is not required but I think it would make the  adventure play better. Using it as written though possible makes it seems a  little rushed and perhaps contrived.

It is a drama that grows as it progresses starting out as a simple mystery to solve and growing into something much larger and more sinister eventually  threatening the realms of the adventurers. The drama starts with the characters  being asked to help the Baron of a neighboring realm stave off a curse that has  plagued his family for over seven hundred years. I wont go into it much further  than that except to say it becomes much more than that.

The cover of Agone is one of the first reason I ever picked up the game to see  what it was all about. The cover to the King of Spring picks up right where the  cover of the core rulebook left off. I wish more modules and games went with  this type and level of art in their products. The interior art and layout though  spartan is well done and has an overall appeal using if not the same page  framing as the rulebook one that is very close.

The adventure is again one that is more roleplaying than combat though it is not  without that. In the end it might take a special group to appreciate Agone in general and King of Spring specifically. If the group is looking for a dungeon  crawl this won't be for them. If the players want a game steeped in drama and  political intrigue with a number of mysteries to solve...and oh yeah combat in a  level that might be realistic then this is for them. The game and the module can  be picked up very reasonably so I think it is worth giving it a try.


Published: 2001
Pages: 64

From the back cover:

With the coming of winter, all doors and shutters in Gloomwind are locked tight.  The inhabitants live along with their fear, as their baron suffers from his  curse. The pall of death has fallen upon the Barony of Melif once again...

With the coming of winter, seasonlings of Spring and Summer are weakened by the  bitter cold of the Draaken Mountains. Yet, war is imminent. The Decans have awoken ancient enmities.

With the coming of winter, the eminences grise ensconce themselves in safe  hiding places and exchange dark secrets. They plot the destiny of Harmundia and  its rulers. Perhaps, they may discover a Sentence from the immortal Janus to  restore peace to the land.

The King of Spring is a ready-to-play Drama for a Troupe of four to six  Inspired.

As the Troupe goes to the assistance of the Baron of Melif, the Inspired have  many strange encounters and attract the attention of unexpected enemies to their  Domain. War is at the gates. The Legions of the Seasons begin to confront one  another openly, and to target the members of the Troupe.

What did the Inspired do?
Are they victims of someone's sinister machinations?
Or of destiny itself?
How can they overcome their unknown enemy?




Spell:

Protect the Dead

Level: Third
Range: 6"
Duration: 2 Rounds/Level
Area of Effect: 6" Radius
Components: V,S
Casting Time: 2 Segments
Saving Throw: None

When this spell is cast the magic user causes a sphere of protection to appear  that will partially shield any undead in its area of effect from harm. It will  also make the undead more effective in combat at the same time.

While in the area of effect any undead will have any damage done to them reduced  by one point per every die that is rolled. In addition they will receive a +2 to  any saving throw that they are required to make. If there are attempts to turn  the undead by a cleric that roll will be made at a -4 and the undead can not be  destroyed while under the spells effect. In addition to the protection the  undead will get a +1 added to all to hit and damage rolls and any saves from  special attacks by the undead will be made at a -2.

Disclaimer: The spells that you will see, for how ever long the write ups last,  were all written up or conceived of back in the 80's so the terminology may not  appropriate for anything other than 1e and depending on how well I did back then  it may be slightly off for that as well. If there is any duplication of spells  that exist now it is most likely I wrote mine first :) Please feel free to  comment on them but try not to be too hard on me. If anyone wishes to use these  in anything they print please let me know in advance and all I ask is proper  credit.

Liberation of Geoff, Know Age & Origin

Against the Giants - Liberation of Geoff is one of the 25th Anniversary module  that were released by TSR back in 1999. This one unlike White Plume and Keep  include versions of the original modules that inspired them. They are not the  exact originals but versions that have been modified to be compatible with the  2e game. I would have thought it better to have included exact reprints but one  takes what they can get. The original modules are classics and I won't discuss  too much of them as I would prefer to write about the originals when the time  comes.

The second half of the module is the "Liberation of Geoff" portion of the title.  The premise is that the land of Geoff, located east of the Crystalmist  Mountains, has been occupied by giants and their allies for eight years. It  falls upon the player characters to help defeat the giants and surprise,  surprise liberate Geoff. This section of the module has some good information in  it and makes for a good adventure. The problem that it is not nearly the  adventure that the first half of the book is.

There are no less than 16 towns and/or forts described in the second half of the  module. These could be used even if the module is not played so it provides  information that can be used outside the module which is always nice. The module  provides the DM with three new magic items and a new monster the Horag which is  the result of the union of a hill giant and an ogre. The module includes a  section on giant names which can be used outside the module as well.

In the end this module si a good one to have. I am not sure I would ever use the  second half but the module is one that is worth running. Add to that you have  some version of the three giant modules helps make this something to own. There  are other modules I would seek out first and I would not pay a huge amount of  money for this but if you can find a reasonably priced copy you should pick it  up.


Published: 1999
Pages: 96

From the back cover:

"A decade ago, the land of Geoff was overrun by a horde of giants, ogres, and  evil humanoids, its people either slain, enslaved, or driven into exile. Now at  last the tide has turned. The time to free the people of Geoff from their  servitude to the giantish tyrants has come! But don't forget to watch your step  when you confront the true masters behind the giant clans!

Contains the full text of three classic adventures by Gary Gygax:

    G1 Steading of the Hill Giant Chief
    G2 The Glacial Rift of the Frost Giant Jarl
    G3 Hall of the Fire Giant King

Details eighteen new encounter sites in the war-torn land of Geoff, linked  together to form a grand campaign.

Provides dozens of hours of gameplay as the heroes struggle to free an entire country from the grasp of giant overlords."



Spell:

Know Age & Origin

Level: Third
Range: Touch
Duration: Permanent
Area of Effect: One Item
Components: V,S
Casting Time: 6 Turns
Saving Throw: None

By means of this spell the magic user is able to determine the age and point of  origin/creation for any item. This spell will not provide nearly the information  level of a Legend Lore spell but will give the caster something to start with.

The spell will provide the caster with the age in years of the item. This spell  can be used on remains and it will provide the age of birth for the former  being. The spell will also provide an approximate point of origin for the target  of the spell. It will allow the caster to know where the spell was created or  the person born.

The casting of this spell requires that the caster be in physical contact with  the target of the spell. This may in some cases cause the caster to suffer  effects from the target. There is also a connection made between the caster and  the item. There is a percentage chance equal to the xp value of the item in  thousands (1,000 = 1%) that the interest in the item by the caster will be  noticed by someone or something from the items past. If the item remains in the  caster possession this will become a cumulative chance per week of possession.

Disclaimer: The spells that you will see, for how ever long the write ups last,  were all written up or conceived of back in the 80's so the terminology may not  appropriate for anything other than 1e and depending on how well I did back then  it may be slightly off for that as well. If there is any duplication of spells  that exist now it is most likely I wrote mine first :) Please feel free to  comment on them but try not to be too hard on me. If anyone wishes to use these  in anything they print please let me know in advance and all I ask is proper  credit.

Pool of Radiance: Attack on Myth Drannor, Swap Coins

Pool of Radiance: Attack on Myth Drannor is a module that I guess  I have been mistaken about for a long period of time. I knew that  there was a Pool of Radiance computer game and I always assumed  that the computer game was a derivative of the module. In getting  ready to write this I have found out the opposite was true.

I have not had a chance to play this module. It was a very early  3e module or perhaps the very first 3e module. I know it was  released in 2000 and was being written during the same time as  the rules were being written. The Wizards web site discusses this  and has corrections and errata for the module. My experience with  3e is very limited having become engrossed in the cult of  Everquest two weeks after release in 1999 and Magic the Gathering  before that.

The reviews I have been able to find have been fairly kind to the  module. There have been some that have not been nice though. The  major concern that I have been able to find and can see from the  module as I have read it is the very linear nature of the module.  It expects players to go from A to B to C and does not allow for  much variation. Being based off of a computer game this makes  sense.

Other concerns have been with the rationals for becoming involved  in the module being either very weak or even a little contrived.  I do not hold much stock or concern with that. A DM should be  able to tie a module into whatever else they have going on in  their campaign. If they can't find a way to this then simply  don't use the module.

Looking beyond all of the negatives above from what I have seen I  like the module. It brings to mind the line about having "3rd  edition rules, First edition feel" from Necromancer Games. This  module feels like a second edition TSR module which is not a bad  thing in my world. I prefer First edition but Second edition is  not bad.Not long after this I am certain this was lost as modules  designed under the new rules and not adapted lost that.

I am mixed about suggesting that someone buy this. There are  items that could be borrowed and used outside the module so it is  most likely worth it. The fact that it is basically based off of  a computer game scares me since I have not actually ran it. Take  a look at it if you have a chance and if on the fence flip a coin  is what I would say. If anyone has experience with it please feel  free to chime in.

Published: 2000
Pages: 96



From the back of the module:

"Evil Reigns in the Elven Ruins

Where elves once built the shining city of Myth Drannor, demons  and devils now prowl in search of prey. Ancient evil slumbers  beneath mossy stones, waiting for those foolish enough to venture  within its grasp. Bold swordsmen, stealthy rogues, and skillful  wizards have all met their end within the walls of Myth Drannor.  But the lure of the city's magical treasures still draws heroes  and villains alike to tempt death - or worse.

Drawn by the dream of limitless magical power, the Cult of the  Dragon has carved out a secret stronghold in the heart of the  ruins. Using the power of a corrupted pool of radiance, the  Cultists stand poised to attain their goal of subjugating all of  Faerûn.

Unless a group of brave heroes can stop them first....

This adventure can be played as a stand-alone or as a tie-in with  Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor computer game."


Spell:

Swap Coins

Level: Zero
Range: 9"
Duration: Permanent
Area of Effect: 20 Coins + 20/Level
Components: V,S,M
Casting Time: 2 Segments
Saving Throw: Special

Through the use of this spell the magic user is able to become a petty thief of sorts. It allows them to swap coins in their possession out with those of another.

For this spell to work the target will have to have at least as many coins as the the caster is trying to swap them out for. If the target does not then the spell will fizzle and nothing will happen. The spell must also always use all the same type of coins on both sides of the swap.

There is a progression of coins in the casting of this spell. The progression goes as follows Slugs > Copper > Silver > Gold > Platinum. There is something in the nature of the magic that will not allow the spell to work on Electrum. The progression is important in that as long as the caster is only stepping up one then there is no save. If more than one step is being made then there is a save and for each jump over the first one then there is a +1 to the save. For example silver to Gold is no save. Copper to Gold gets a save and Copper to Platinum gets a +1 to the save.

The material component of this spell is a blank slug coin made of iron or other base metal of no real value. The slug is consumed by the spell when cast. There is only one slug used regardless of the number of coins being swapped.

Disclaimer: The spells that you will see, for how ever long the  write ups last, were all written up or conceived of back in the  80's so the terminology may not appropriate for anything other  than 1e and depending on how well I did back then it may be  slightly off for that as well. If there is any duplication of  spells that exist now it is most likely I wrote mine first :)  Please feel free to comment on them but try not to be too hard on  me. If anyone wishes to use these in anything they print please  let me know in advance and all I ask is proper credit.

Mad Monkey vs The Dragon Claw, Know Wealth

Mad Monkey vs the Dragon Claw - OA5 is a module that was available online for a period of time  through the TSR web site. Like all the other links to the free  material this one no longer works. If anyone knows if there is  still a valid link to the site and the module it would be great  to hear about it.

As I said before I have not had a chance to play or run too much  in the Oriental Adventure line. I have not had a chance to run  any of the retail modules at all and would really like to some  day if given the chance. From what I can tell they are all well  done modules and all have received better than average reviews.

I do not want to give too much of the module away but this is  most definitely one that I would enjoy running as a DM. I would  also most likely enjoy it as a player. I have used similar plot  tools in adventures I have designed. I am not saying that this is  any way unique though. Just that sometimes things are not what  they seem.

The module is one that can be played at the beginning as a very  light hearted adventure that end up growing into much more than  it started as. Depending on the play style of the group and the  DM this module should be good for two to four sessions. If there  is no side treks and the sessions go smooth two would not be a  problem. I think the module could actually be expanded and turned  into a pseudo campaign that could go for even more than four.

If you want to run something in the OA line this would be a good  module to use. If you can find a link to the free version the  price is most definitely right.

Published: 1988
Pages: 56

From the back of the book:

Kara-Tur The Eastern Realms

The followers of the many gods of Kara-Tur have always fought, to  prove the superiority of their martial discipline and the greater  wisdom of their deities. The strict hierarchy of the gods is now  threatened by the sudden prominence of the followers of the  Dragon Claw, a new and deadly school of martial arts that  threatens to destroy all other schools. The players, recruited by  a mysterious old monk with a bizarre fighting style, must find  out what's behind the emergence of the Dragon claw and put a stop  to it.

Mad Monkey vs the Dragon Claw will take the players across the  entire country of T'u Lung, from the mouth of the great river  Fenghsintzu to its headwaters, where they must deal with the  legendary Cult of the Black Leopard-all in the name of the Mad  Monkey.

Mad Monkey vs the Dragon Claw is a scenario for the ORIENTAL  ADVENTURES supplement for the AD&D game. It is set in KARA-TUR,  the oriental world in the Forgotten Realms. Mad Monkey vs the  Dragon Claw is designed for five to eight characters of Levels 6 -9.


Spell:

Know Wealth

Level: Second
Range: 9"
Duration: 2 Turns + 2 Turns/Level
Area of Effect: Caster
Components: V,S
Casting Time: 5 Segments
Saving Throw: None

When this spell is cast the magic user is granted an extra  sensory ability to know the value of items that an individual  has one them. The ability allows for both cursory and in depth  knowledge.

The caster will know after looking at some more for more than a  few segments the approximate value of coins, gems and jewelery  that the individual has on them. If the caster spends a full  round in deep concentration on an individual them more knowledge  will be gleaned. The caster will know the approximate value of  any magical items on them as well.

The spell does not allow the caster to know the exact break down  of any coins, gem or jewelry but an approximate total value. The  value will be plus or minus 1% for every point of intelligence  the caster has less than 24. The same will be true for magical  items. The caster will not know the exact items or their  individual values but an overall value.

Disclaimer: The spells that you will see, for how ever long the  write ups last, were all written up or conceived of back in the  80's so the terminology may not appropriate for anything other  than 1e and depending on how well I did back then it may be  slightly off for that as well. If there is any duplication of  spells that exist now it is most likely I wrote mine first :)  Please feel free to comment on them but try not to be too hard on  me. If anyone wishes to use these in anything they print please  let me know in advance and all I ask is proper credit.

I11 Needle, Painful Enchantment

Needle is an adventure that people seem to love or hate with  little room in the middle. I am not sure why this is but I never  hear it is OK all that often. People talk about how much they  like it or how much they hate it when I bring it up. I am one of  the people who are in the middle on it though.

I like the module as a whole and generally like anything that Mr.  Mentzer does. The module started as a GenCon tournament module  with three rounds. This may be part of the reason some dislike  it as tournament modules by design can be a little railroad'ish. I rarely keep a module as designed so this is not something that  bothers me.

The fact that it was a three part tournament module makes it easy  to break into sections. This allows the module to be run amongst  other items if the DM wants to. There are specific easy breaking  points in play that will allow the DM to even end the module if  the players end up not liking it. The three parts are different  enough in scope and feel that this may cause some concern for  players and the DM though.

The plot of the module is not in and of itself all that unique  but combined with the setting, the details and some of the locals  the module is different. This may be something that will put off  some players and some DMs. I can understand this in a way asn I  am going to have a spoiler moment here. I loved S3 to no end. The  idea was great and I love the idea of finding technology in small doses. I do not like it as much as it has been used. I can see  how this might put some off.

My only other complaint about the module is the names that were  assigned to the pregenerated characters. I know this is a minor  item but in my opinion it detracts from the module and makes it  seem less serious. This also extends to a few of the NPCs used in  the module. Nothing against the state but I am not sure Montana  is an appropriate name for a fantasy character. If there is some  other ise of that name other than a state I will retract this  concern.

In the end the module has enough to offer that I think it is  worth picking up. At one time it was available for free as a  download on the TSR then WotC site. Any links to it that I have  found recently do not work. If anyone knows of a good link to it  still they might want to share it. Even if you can't get it for  free it usually not cost prohibitive to buy it still.

Published: 1987
Pages: 48

From the back cover:

"The king's notice asked for adventurers to undertake a mission  to a far land. It was marked with the rune for "high danger, high  reward" so of course you volunteered.

The king has heard of a great obelisk that towers over a ruined  city in a far country. He wants to know more about the obelisk  and its strange powers. Your job is to find the obelisk and bring  back a report to the king. The mission seems absurdly  easy...until you reach the jungle.

Don't think the king is through with you if you get back to the  capital city alive. You haven't seen the last of that jungle yet.  Is a share in the spoils of an ancient civilization worth the  risk?

Don't forget to pack you bug repellent!

An adventure for 6-8 Characters, Levels 8-10"


Spell:

Painful Enchantment

Level: Seventh
Range: Touch
Duration: Permanent
Area of Effect: One Weapon
Components: V,S,M
Casting Time: 1 Round
Saving Throw: None

By means of this spell the magic user is able to create a  permanent magic weapon in a very short period of time. This  ability is done at a painful personal cost to the caster though.

The magic user will be able to create a weapon up to +3 in nature.  They can also assign it other abilities based on spell that they  may have access to. All of these options will cost the caster in  some fashion.

The caster will permanently lose 2 hit points per plus that the  weapon is assigned. These hit points may be replaced as the  caster rises in level but nothing short of a Wish would replace  them and then at a cost of one Wish spell per two points. The  caster will also lose one point of constitution total with the  casting of this spell. This can be replaced though lesser means  than a Wish though.

If the caster wants to grant other abilities to the weapon then  they will need to base these off of spells that they have in  their repertoire though they do not need to be memorized. The  caster can put no more than three different abilities into the  weapon in this manner. Doing so is at great peril to the caster.
Each additional ability can be used once per day and the caster  has a 50% chance of losing one point of intelligence while  placing the spell ability. The caster can increase the number of  times per day (up to three) the ability can be used though this  will make the chances of losing a point of intelligence 100% and  then 200% (meaning they lose 2). Any points lost by the caster  are permanent and may not be restored short of a Wish spell.

Finally with this spell there is a 5% cumulative chance that the  soul/spirit of the caster will be pulled into the weapon. If this  occurs then the new weapon is treated as an intelligent weapon  with the intelligence and other attributes based on the caster's  information. Anyone possessed by the sword will be controlled to  find a means of releasing the caster. The DM will need to arrive  at some quest line to accomplish this as even a Wish spell will  not release the caster.

The material component of this spell is the weapon that will be  enchanted. There are no special requirement about the quality of  the weapon though. Any weapon can be enchanted regardless of  quality and type.

Disclaimer: The spells that you will see, for how ever long the  write ups last, were all written up or conceived of back in the  80's so the terminology may not appropriate for anything other  than 1e and depending on how well I did back then it may be  slightly off for that as well. If there is any duplication of  spells that exist now it is most likely I wrote mine first :)  Please feel free to comment on them but try not to be too hard on  me. If anyone wishes to use these in anything they print please  let me know in advance and all I ask is proper credit.

Ninja Wars, Faithful Guardian

When Oriental Adventures came out it was something that I took an  immediate like to. I think it was it's difference from the then  standard fantasy flavor. It was so different that it  reinvigorated by desire for the game and desire to play. Sadly  life situations at that time squashed that. Nothing bad just  friends moving away and me getting involved with a more rowdy  crowd.

I was only able to play a few sessions using the setting and by  the time I was back to a place where playing was something that I  had time to do and a group that was interested in playing  this  had faded from memory. I still have never been able to give the  setting the attention I wish I had been able to. I hope to some  day find a time to run an oriental based campaign.

I think that the oriental setting seems to support role playing  much more than what the traditional western setting does. I  attribute this to the nature of honor being important and there  being a strong need to adhere to protocol and appearance. I like  killing monsters and accumulating treasure as much as the next  gamer but it is role and not roll playing after all.

Ninja Wars is a module I really enjoy the idea behind. It  involves all the things that I think make up a good adventure.  There is a good mixture of opportunities to both role play both  combat problem solve. The module will also require the adventures  to figure out a fairly involved plot line for a module.

The module is 96 pages long but it concludes in just over the  first half of that. There are a fair number of plot hooks  included though the module calls them mini-adventures I think  they fall somewhere between both.

The module also includes a detailed section on the NPCs that the  layers might encounter in the adventure. The module goes into more  detail than a stat block and three or four sentences on then  important ones. It provides enough information that the DM will  ot have to wing many of the things that might normally have to  when the players ask questions.

The module also includes something that you normally will not  find in a module. It has a two page section on generating random  encounters. These are not encounters specific to the adventure  which makes it sort of different. The tables they provide though  general could be used as a template for almost any setting. I am  not going to say it is a great set of tables but it is passable.

The final section of the module is a series of I think five much  more detailed adventures. These again fall somewhere in between  what I would call a mini-adventure and something you would find  in a module. Some of them are more detailed than others and some  are better than others but it is still a nice inclusion.

In going over this module again I find myself wondering if this  was not something that ended up being cobbled together from a  number of different planned projects. The other option is that it  was a start of a another setting. It may just be me though. I  think this would be a great module for any DM to have and say buy  it if you can find it.


Published: 1990
Pages: 96

From the back cover:

"Behold The Shining Temple of Bishamon!

Located above the city of Aru on the island nation of Wa, this  shrine is the focus of a great pilgrimage. Every year, thousands  of people travel here to celebrate the Ceremony of the Three  Thousand Steps. For townsfolk and travelers alike, it is a time  of great celebrations and revelry.

For Benju Matsutomo, Daimyo of Aru, it is a time of worry and  concern. Something is wrong this year. A political rival has  hired a clan of ninja to disrupt the pilgrimage and disgrace  Matsutomo. But the daimyo has his own ninja, and just to be safe,  he decides to hire a party of adventurers to make sure everything  runs smoothly.

Of course, it doesn't...


Spell:

Faithful Guardian

Level: Fifth
Range: Touch
Duration: Permanent
Area of Effect: One Creature
Components: V,S
Casting Time: 6 Turns
Saving Throw: None

When this spell is cast the magic user is able to turn a  currently friendly animal into much more. The animal will become  an animal guardian of the casters tower, stronghold or base of  operations.

The spell will grant the animal an increased intelligence raising  it to that of an average human. The guardian will also have it's  hit points increased by the an amount equal to the caster  intelligence. The guardian is close to a familiar in what it does  but is less and more at the same time. It is possible for the  caster to have only one guardian at a time.

The guardian must stay at the caster's base of operations where  the spell must be cast. It is possible for them to go other  places but the effects of the spell will be canceled while they  are away. If the guardian is away from the location for more than  one day per point of intelligence the caster has the spell will be  broken. The caster must wait a period of time equal to their  level in months before the spell can be cast on a new guardian.

As long as the guardian is at the caster's base of operations  then it will have other abilities besides the increased  intelligence. While there is will not require food or water and  will have it's aging process halted at the point where the spell  was cast. It will also gain the ability to speak but only the  caster will understand it. The guardian will also gain the  ability to regenerate health at the rate on one hit point per  round.

The caster will have some options available to them as well. They will immediately know if the guardians life is in danger or if  they were to die. The caster will be able to contact the guardian  up to three times per day and ask for an update. The update can  be up to two rounds in duration. Finally once per day the caster  can connect with the guardian and see what they see and hear for  a period equal to their intelligence in rounds.

Disclaimer: The spells that you will see, for how ever long the  write ups last, were all written up or conceived of back in the  80's so the terminology may not appropriate for anything other  than 1e and depending on how well I did back then it may be  slightly off for that as well. If there is any duplication of  spells that exist now it is most likely I wrote mine first :)  Please feel free to comment on them but try not to be too hard on  me. If anyone wishes to use these in anything they print please  let me know in advance and all I ask is proper credit.

FMA2 Endless Armies, Focus Hatred

FMA2 Endless Armies is the set in the Maztica setting. This is a  setting I have written about before. The first time was for FMA1  Fires of Zatal and then for FMQ1 City of Gold. The FMA modules  are adventures while the other is a setting with some adventure  included.

It was said with FMA1 that this is a setting that I have a hard  time getting excited about. The Al-Qadim setting of Zakhara is  one that I find much more interesting and exciting. Maztica is  still a setting is different enough that it may cause players to  have renewed interest if theirs is waning. Both are outside the  norm of what most fantasy games are based on that they stand out.

Endless Armies is very much a tried and true adventure trope  though I use that word not in a bad way. Most adventures could be  described using that word. This is a module that if you changed  the just a few words with find and replace you could use is a  50's radioactive horror setting or in Call of Cthulhu. With that  being said it would be enjoyable in any of them.

The premise is that someone wants to bring forth a old forgotten  entity that will then provide them with power to rule over  peoples who have wronged or misjudged them. I won't go into too  much detail as there may be some that are inspired to run this or  have them run through it at some point. I am not sure that  writing much more would hurt though as the cover gives most of  the key plot points away.

The module provides us with the Bacar who serve as the minions in  the story. They are a race that could easily be exported out and  used in a setting even outside the Maztica line with very little  effort. I again can see them just as easily in another genre of  gaming as well though.

In the end this is a module that is worth picking up. The players  may very well figure out the plot line and be able to predict what  is going to happen well down the line. This is true with many  modules. The encounters are well done and a timeline for the end  is provided if that is needed. These are seen off and on in the  secondary market so I am not sure what the print run was like but  it may have been smaller than some other modules from that era.

Published: 1991
Pages: 32

From the back of the module:

Deep within the heart of the jungles of Far Payit is a city lost  to time and the modern people of Maztica. Long ago abandoned by  its people, it holds a deadly secret deep beneath its ruined  surface, a secret held safe by a tribe of inhuman guardians.
A secret that has remained inviolate until now.

A cleric of the church of Helm has disappeared. A piece of a map  to the lost city of Ixtzul has been found. Great armies of ants  perform deadly assassinations. And in the jungle, a new leader  has appeared, promising power to those who follow her into the  forbidden vale.

Now the heroes must follow as well, to uncloak the mystery and  prevent the unleashing of a deadly force on the surface world of  Maztica, a force that threatens both people of Payit and the  newcomers' civilization in Helmsport. Should the heroes fail to  defeat the endless armies of their foe, all in Maztica will  perish!


Spell:

Focus Hatred

Level: Fifth
Range: 9"
Duration: 1 Round + 2 Rounds/Level
Area of Effect: One Creature
Components: V,S
Casting Time: 4 Segments
Saving Throw: None

When this spell is cast the magic user will cause the target  creature to become the focus of anger for all they may be in  combat with. This will have the effect of making all involved  ignore all others to focus on the selected target.

In game terms this will mean that any opponents who are actively  involved in melee combat will be required to focus their attacks  on the target creature. When this spell goes into effect even  those actively engaged in combat with others will move to fight  the target of the spell.

If there are more opponents involved than can reach the target  they will try and force their way into range to attack the  target. If this occurs all trying to attack who are impacted by  others trying to get into attack them will have their attack  rolls modified by a -2.

It is possible for the caster to change the target of the spell  after it is cast. Doing so will cut the remaining time of the  spell in half though. The target of this spell must be a willing  target and trying to cast it on a non willing target will cause the  spell to fizzle. When the spell expires those affected will spend  one round regaining the command over their targeting and will not  be able to attack.

Disclaimer: The spells that you will see, for how ever long the  write ups last, were all written up or conceived of back in the  80's so the terminology may not appropriate for anything other  than 1e and depending on how well I did back then it may be  slightly off for that as well. If there is any duplication of  spells that exist now it is most likely I wrote mine first :)  Please feel free to comment on them but try not to be too hard on  me. If anyone wishes to use these in anything they print please  let me know in advance and all I ask is proper credit. 

The Land Beyond the Magic Mirror, Wild Magic 8

Let me start off by saying that I love the idea behind these  modules. The concept of converting a child's story into an  adventure was a good one. I fully enjoyed reading them and seeing  how the characters and events in the module were handled using  game mechanics.

On the flip side as much as I loved reading them and the idea  behind them they seem to be one of those great ideas on paper and  in planning but when done they don't live up to expectations. The  modules can be fun but would require the right group of players  in the right mindset. I am certain I would also never use this in  an existing ongoing campaign (though I do have an idea how that I  will mention at the end).

EX2 "The Land Beyond the Magic Mirror" is the companion piece to  Dungeonland. I found that Dungeonland had more of the material I  I liked though the inclusion of Humpty and the twins in this  module made it memorable as did the Jabberwock. For the record  though the Jabberwock deserved a better treatment.

The artwork was not as good in EX2 as it was in EX1. It is not  that the art is bad in anyway it is just that I liked the earlier  modules art better and there was more there. I am not certain but  that he did all of it but James Holloway did most of the art from  what I could tell. I like his art and as I said the art was good  it was just that EX1 had more and I liked it better.

The module is going to be one that will test the players. Just  because the theme is a child's tale the players might want to  take it as something they can walk through. Nothing would be  further from the truth. If they are not well seasoned players who  are familiar with running higher level characters they will most  certainly meet with characters dying unless the GM takes pity on  them.

As to my idea on how to use these modules. I was thinking of  using them as a "Dallas" or "Newhart" TV show situation. Where in  the end it was all a dream but used as a test. To make the  players even more uncomfortable I thought about making a  situation where they had to swap characters they played. This  would test them and make all of them uneasy. In the end the  possible benefactor who placed them there would allow them to  keep some magic item that they got from the adventure but in the  end none of it was real.

Published: 1983
Pages: 32

From the back cover:

Your adventures have taken you to strange places before, but in  the eyes of your experienced party, few of these places are as  unusual as the bizarre Land Beyond the Magic Mirror. Here the  delightful and the light-hearted often hide great challenges and  dangers; here you will journey through a landscape unique among  fantasy role-playing scenarios.

This module was first conceived by E. Gary Gygax as part of the  Greyhawk Castle dungeon complex and has been the source of  challenge and fun for many skilled players of the ADVANCED  DUNGEONS & DRAGONS(R) game. It is finally available to all  players and can be added to your existing campaign with ease.

The Land Beyond the Magic Mirror is designed so that it may be  used with its companion scenario, Dungeon Module EX1,  Dungeonland. Still, The Land Beyond the Magic Mirror may easily  be played on its own, and should offer hours of excitement in its  strange landscape!

 
Spell:

Wild Magic 8

Level: Ninth
Range: Special
Duration: Special
Area of Effect: Special
Components: Special
Casting Time: Special
Saving Throw: Special

With the casting of this spell the magic user is able to simulate  the casting of any eighth or lower level spell. The spell will  work best if it is a spell that the caster knows though this is  not a requirement.

When this spell is used the caster will be able to use any eighth  or lower level magic spell even it is is not one that they  memorized or even know. If they have it in their spellbook the  spell will go off without problem.

Spells that are not in their spellbook will be trickier. If they  have seen the spell cast there is a 50/50 chance that it will  work. If the spell fails then there is another 50/50 chance of  things happening. It is possible that the spell will just out and  out fail. The other is that it works but in reverse and in a  negative way for the caster, possibly even affecting them.

The caster can even use this to try and create some new magical  effect. The DM may choose not to allow this. If they do then they  will need to impose strict limits on its use.

Disclaimer: The spells that you will see, for how ever long the  write ups last, were all written up or conceived of back in the  80's so the terminology may not appropriate for anything other  than 1e and depending on how well I did back then it may be  slightly off for that as well. If there is any duplication of  spells that exist now it is most likely I wrote mine first :)  Please feel free to comment on them but try not to be too hard on  me. If anyone wishes to use these in anything they print please  let me know in advance and all I ask is proper credit.