OSR Barrowmaze (Introductory Module?)

[jdrakeh]

I'm planning on running a Barrowmaze campaign next year using either my own Six-Hack or Swords & Wizardry. Do any of you have a suggestion for a good module to use as a lead in to the larger Barrowmaze campaign?

 

[Gus L]

Barrowmaze is okay. It's the best of the Gillespie mega-dungeons but suffers a bit from its undead theming because most encounters are rather one (combat) dimensional. That's too be expected from a large number of classic undead. I guess it depends on what kind of play style you want to introduce? I personally like Arden Vul or even Stonehell a lot more for a very classic mega dungeon experience, but Barrowmaze is not terrible by any means.

I'd think you can lead in pretty easily directly to Barrowmaze. If not I'd say somethin undead themed - some sort of thing that might lead them to the barrows or give the party keys to some of them?

 

[Voadam]

The old Necromancer games intro modules, a free one and Curse of Feyja are for level one I believe and involve Orcus so you might be able to tie them in to part of the Barrowmaze elements instead of their lead off to Rappan Athuk.

Some of the bonus RappanAthuk material could be similarly used.

 

[Caveman]

The standard introduction is for the party to poke around the barrowmounds up top. It can get pretty harrowing up there with wandering monsters.
My suggestion for barrowmaze is to do a little development on the factions yourself so that you can use them well when they appear. You might introduce some Orcus cultists in the first session.

 

[AlexofBarbaria]

The first adventure of the Northlands Saga would fit in very well as a Barrowmaze prequel. The party passes through a creepy moor full of barrows while tracking a witch. Make that the barrowmoor and the party can return and explore further later.

 

[colombus1592]

I imagined my players brought there as a part of a state-sponsored program to "recolonize" the area, knowing nothing of Barrowmaze itself. The cleric would be there to replace the former one, who disappeared because it annoyed some of the local cults, the fighter to contribute to the local militia, etc. Then I would throw them some rumors and have them involved with the land and the barrow.

 

[Caveman]

I like that! I think emphasizing the cults, some sense of their actions and then discovering the rivarly between them is the way to make it sing.