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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Bullgrit" data-source="post: 4887394" data-attributes="member: 31216">This "auto-capture" issue is a complicated one in the A series because there are two different situations between the megamodule and the indivdual modules, and people often don't realize there is a difference between them.In the megamodule, the party is auto-captured in the beginning, to start the adventure. This is the very definition of a railroad scenario -- there is nothing, no defense, no precaution, no fight, and no save the PCs can make to avoid getting captured in this beginning. The scenario is designed to auto-capture, and the author states so. But this exists only in the piece of turd that is the megamodule.In the individual modules, the fourth/last module in the series starts out with the party captured. This start assumes that the party is captured at the end of the third module. But the last encounter of the third module is not necessarily an auto-capture. The text explains a trap that can capture the PCs if the DM wants to end tournament style: PCs are walking down hallway to the Slavelords throne room. Behind them rises a wall to seal off their escape. In front of them, the Slavelord magic-user casts a wall of force. Then sleep gas is pumped into the corridor. This method is given as an option, and is given only a paragraph or two. (Also note that it is not really a truly inescapable trap, it's just not likely for PCs of levels 4-7 to have a way out.)But the text also says that you can have the adventure end with the PCs actually encountering and fighting the Slavelords (in which case, the Slavelord m-u has already expended his wall of force for the day, and so the SLs don't have an easy trap). This option is suggested as preferrable, and is given a great deal of text. The module even gives the full stats for the Slavelords, and their likely round-by-round tactics.In non-tournament play, a battle with the SLs is the way the module is written. Although, the level 4-7 PCs are unlikely to defeat the level 9-10 Slavelords in a stand-up fight, so death and/or capture is the likely result, even without using the tournament-play trap.Dead PCs will be raised (remember, in AD&D1 there wasn't an option for the subject of a raise to say "no") for torture and questioning. So the fourth module starts on the assumption that the PCs are captives in the Slavelords' dungeon. (The PCs find their stuff and gear at the end of the fourth module.)So, you see, the auto-capture issue is a complicated one in the A series. In the beginning of the megamodule there is absolutely a railroaded capture, by author's design and intent. (And it's completely unnecessary, too.) But the ending of the third module is not truly a railroad capture, (no more so than the minotaur in the Caves of Chaos is a railroad TPK), but I can see how some might argue it.When people talk about the auto-capture issue in the A series, the two versions (megamodule and individual modules) get mixed up, and that makes discussions confusing.Bullgrit</blockquote>

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