D&D 4E Converting classic D&D encounters to 4E

[Shiv]

Hey all,

I have several players in my bi-monthly game that have been playing D&D FOREVER, and they've recently expressed an interest in seeing me incorporate some of the classic encounters from old modules into my game.

Problem is, I haven't really played any of those old modules (I've been playing since 1990). They've suggested a couple ideas, but I'd like to surprise them.

So, I turn to all of you. Do you have any favorite, classic encounters that you think might be fun to see translated into 4E? I'm looking for interesting/evocative classic encounters, not entire modules, since I'm still going to stick with my personal campaign stories. I'd just like to find a few classic encounters that I could weave into my game.

Any suggestions?

 

[eriktheguy]

If you could get your hands on the map and audio CD from the 2nd edition starter pack, that would be pretty awesome.
The CD has audio commentary from the PCs for when they arrive in each room, and helps to describe the rooms. It even does enemy voices and cheesy sound effects. The gridded maps of the dungeons are also useful. The audio-track covers sneaking into an old castle to kill an ogre and his minions, and getting stuck in a haunted house for a night.
I think this is it
Introduction to Advanced Dungeons & Dragons large core box set (AD&D 2nd) TSR1135 - Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition - Dungeons & Dragons - Dungeons and Dragons RPGs
Anyways, If you pulled out a cool 2nd ed map of the dungeon and played the audio CD, you would definitely surprise them.

 

[the-golem]

The problem with that, is that school D&D didn't really do solo encounters. Most of the highly popular adventures are rather intense, and involved.

Really though, with 4E, you could just grab an adventure, choose the choosiest bits, and twist it to your stories.

As one of their last dead-tree pusblished issues, either Dungeon or Dragon had a list of the "30 best adventures" covering all versions of D&D. You might check that out.

 

[DayTripper]

All time classic adventures/encounters:

- I6 Ravenloft
- S4 Caverns of Tsojcanth
- S1 Tomb of Horrors

If you can do a decent conversion of any of these, I think your old school friends will be blown away. They might be slightly dead too after any of these adventures as they were all pretty leathal IIRC, but they all provided fun ways to die , not very 4e though, killing PCs.

I'm currently running U1-3 in a reverse situation, i.e. I've been playing D&D for way too long whereas my players have not. I've a thread running hereabouts:

Using 1e adventures in a new 4th edition campaign.html

 

[renau1g]

One thing about Tomb of Horrors is that traps are much, much different in 4e, maybe you can wait a couple months for the adventure to be released in all its 4e glory? TOH had from what I've heard, a lot of "gotcha" DM moments that didn't allow PC's much, if any, chance for countermeasures.