POLL: Greatest "Golden Era" Module for D&D.

[Celebrim]

So this is much harder than I thought. For now, I am landing on these-

B4- the lost city. This is the perfect introductory adventure. Not as iconic as Keep, but better in every way.
I3- a module that is so good and so different that I can still remember buying it and reading it while the Thompson Twins played on a radio in the background.
S3- like peanut butter and chocolate, sci-fi and fantasy go together perfectly in this module.
WG4- Thar. Iz. Dun.
X2- perhaps my all-time favorite adventure, ever. It has everything, including a weird Lovecraftian basement interlude.

Good choices.

I seem to be the other "I3" voter in the poll. I also voted as you did for X2, though I don't like it as much as you do, I do see it as an early predecessor and template for the sort of modules I do like. I nearly voted for WG4 but didn't because it would only be for the atmospherics in the second section, and I admire B4.

I think the only one here I disagree with you over is S3 - I think S1 is the superior adventure in the S series, and that was one of my 5 votes.

I3 is the sharp dividing line between the very simplistic dungeon crawl scenarios of the "A" series, "G" series, B2 and so forth (that I don't like), and the more complex story based dungeons seen in UK1, I6, etc. (that I do like).

I voted U1 as a prototype of that "story based dungeon" and still an excellent starter scenario. It's let down in my esteem though by the lack of really good guidance on how to follow up on it.

I also voted L1 as an excellent starter scenario, and because I have a good deal of admiration for the follow up: L2: "The Assassin's Knot".

 

[Gradine]

Pool of Radiance?

You mean the PC game? Pool of Radiance was the first Gold Box game.

Fun fact: there was an adventure module that came out around the same time that's basically what Pool of Radiance is based on: FRC1 Ruins of Adventure, but both of these came out a good five years after the end of this list.

 

[CleverNickName]

With your very strict selection criteria, I was only able to vote for "The Isle of Dread" and "The Keep on the Borderlands." Both of them are just so iconic.

 

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[CleverNickName]

I had trouble keeping it to 5, myself.

I played a lot of published modules, but most of them weren't on this list (Rahasia, Saga of the Shadow Lord, Master of the Desert Nomads (and Temple of Death), Test of the Warlords...) I've only played 2 from this list, however.

 

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[jayoungr]

I'm curious why you chose 1982 as the cutoff date? Not disputing your choice; I just want to know the logic behind it.

 

[CleverNickName]

This should given you a good excuse to go back and re-visit some classics.

The thought has occurred to me. I think my next long-term 5E D&D campaign will be in Norwold.