What adventure module defines D&D to you?

[Failed Saving Throw]

Isle of Dread and Rahasia.

 

[Snoweel]

Rahasia

Why does that name ring a bell...?

Edit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rahasia

Oh my God YES! I owned this but never ran it. Amazing read. How did it play out for you?

 

[Frylock]

S3

Expedition to the Barrier Peaks:

-- Thinking outside the box
-- Mixing two classic genres I loved as a kid
-- Not enough vegeopygmies to ruin it for me

I don't expect everyone to share my opinion, of course. This is simply the module that produced the most excitement for me when I got a hold of it.

 

[caudor]

While I like all the classics, two modules stand out to me:

Dark Tower (Judges Guild)

Treasure Hunt (a FR module)

In G-123 (Against the Giants) there is a B&W illustration of a giant about to smack an orc with a frying pan. That image alone defines D&D to me.

 

[avin]

Fool's Grove Delve.

/thread

(Never used a module for more than atmosphere inspiration)

 

[S. Baldrick]

The Red Hand of Doom.
Why? Because by the time you are done, the characters will have encountered nearly every type of Chromatic Dragon but one. It puts Dragons into a Dungeons and Dragons adventure.

 

[Frylock]

FGD = Perfection

Fool's Grove Delve.

/thread

(Never used a module for more than atmosphere inspiration)

I get your point, but FGD is a great answer. Sometimes I want to smack people in the head and yell, "It's just a game!" If you're playing the FGD, it's hard not to remember that fact.

 

[Blackbrrd]

The Red Hand of Doom.
Why? Because by the time you are done, the characters will have encountered nearly every type of Chromatic Dragon but one. It puts Dragons into a Dungeons and Dragons adventure.

I have to agree, especially since the module can be run with basically no alterations and actually make sense and engage my players.

We are off to make a deal with the Lich ho-ho,
We are off to make a deal with the Lich

Never thought my players would get that part, but they did, with absolutely no poking from my side. That was awesome!

I also made a prequel to the module that had an interesting episode with a barbarian carrying a halfling wizard on his back, up the chimney of a witch when the witch entered they were kind of stuck and a short time later both players shouted simulanously "We can fix that!" (getting an ogre head for her soup that the witch wanted).

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

B2, Keep on the Borderlands.

If you don't like that, then T1-4 Temple of Elemental Evil or X1 Isle of Dread.

These have in common:

(1) A starting town and base of operations
(2) Wilderness or overland areas to explore
(3) A dungeon that allows for multiple expeditions at increasing difficulty
(4) Some unique and memorable NPCs, encounters, and monsters
(5) A meta-plot, but one that is "soft" and allows the DM and players to develop their own motivations and story
(6) Non-linear structure, rendering player choices meaningful

The above list in my mind is what makes for a great introductory adventure module, and is a good model even for non-introductory adventures. Later edition adventures with similar structure include The Lost City of Barakus.

 

[Argyle King]

While it's not technically a D&D module, I think the adventure included in the Pathfinder Beginner's Box was good. It had enough detail to get things moving and enough bare bones background fluff to give a sense of why your characters were there, but it was still vague and open enough to lead to a group creating their own adventures... it also happened to be fun.

Red Hand of Doom is also one I would consider saying.

Another one of my favorites, and one that I only recently discovered is Ghost Tower of Inverness. The ending could use a bit of work, but -overall- I like that it made me think beyond the confines of my character sheet.

I recognize a lot of the names mentioned by other posters, but I haven't played very many official modules.