TSR Example from the worst TSR adventure module(s) ever published

[Quasqueton]

Another encounter. The PCs are traveling east on this road. The boxed text is for the DM to read to the Players.

4. THE BRIGANDS

A group of seven men approaches. They are following the road east, and are making good time, neither tarrying nor running. Their faces are expressionless. One is dressed as a cleric of some sort, and another is dressed as a traveling drummer. The others could be peasants or serfs going from one location to another for the harvest season. Each carries some sort of weapon. It is plain that they are not soldiers by their haphazard way of walking. They do not seem to be joking loudly or singing as they advance.

The party encounters seven brigands. One is the leader (Fighter; AC 5; MV 6' per round; HD 3; hp 13; % in Lair 20%; #AT 1; Dmg 1-6 Sword +1; SA Sword +1; SD Standard), of the other six brigands (Fighters; AC 7; MV 6' per round; HD 1-6; hp 10 each; % In Lair 20%; #AT 1; Dmg 1-6 [sword]; SA None; SD Standard). The brigands look like rough men and carry weapons that pilgrims or wayfarers would not.

The brigands charge when they are 25 feet from the party of adventurers. They are all armed with swords. Roll 1d6. On 1-3 the brigands surprise, on 3-4 there is no surprise, and on 5-6 the party surprises. The brigands will fight until they are all dead, or until the party has been killed. If a brigand is captured, he will offer to lead the party to his hide-out (Area 2A Map) if they spare his life. He will not volunteer any more information about the hideout, but will not lie if asked a direct question about it.

The numerical "typos" in this are not mine.

Quasqueton

 

[Slobber Monster]

See - this is why the old modules were great. You have to use your own imagination to make them not completely suck!

 

[Quasqueton]

There are many examples of good and great old modules. Even some prior to 1984 (when this was published). This one, though, . . . loss of intelligence from reading it.

Quasqueton

 

[Simplicity]

Hahahahah! That second one kills me!

A group of men head by. They are not tarrying or running. Nor are they singing. They don't seem to be making apple pies. As far as you can tell, they're not talking about sports. They neither have sombreros nor stilts. These men are not acrobats. They have no expression as they don't dally to the west.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

There are many examples of good and great old modules. Even some prior to 1984 (when this was published). This one, though, . . . loss of intelligence from reading it.

Ah ... Vacuous Grimoire, eh?

 

[Quasqueton]

Ah ... Vacuous Grimoire, eh?

Oooh. I might have to place a VG in my campaign, and when a PC reads it, I'll hand him or her this adventure module as a prop.

Quasqueton

 

[Quasqueton]

More madness.

The PCs are staying overnight at an inn along the Wilderness Road. The inn is owned and operated by a halfling thief named Bolo ("He has turned honest, and would not think of stealing from or cheating a guest.")

The inn rooms ("rooms 4, 5, and 6 are available" -- but there is no room 5 on the inn map) are about 15'x15' with "two beds sit across from the door, their headboards against the outer walls." "Between the beds is a shuttered window." There are no secret doors noted on the map.

8. ROBBED

The tavern closes at 10 p.m. Bolo sends all the customers off to their rooms. The lights go out, and the tavern becomes still.

An attempt to rob the party will occur during the night whether any of the party is on watch or not. Any party member on watch has to save vs. Sleep directed at him. If he is successful, the spell will be cast on each party member coming on watch until one is successfully put to sleep. At that time, four wererats (AC 6; MV 12"; HD 3+1; hp 16 each; #AT 1; Dmg 1-8 [sword]; SA Surprise on 1-4; SD Hit only by silver or +1 or better magic weapons) enter the room and rob the party.

The party members should each roll 1d6. Anyone rolling a 1 awakens, and knows he is being robbed. He may pretend he is asleep or call for help. If he calls out, the wererats flee through a secret door located directly across from the hall door. This door stays hidden unless the party sees the rats exit. They may try to locate the door on a normal search.

When the party finds the door, they may wish to pursue the wererats. They may check for the door several times if they wish. If they do not find the door or if none of the party awakens while the wererats are robbing them, they find large rat-like tracks on the floor. Bolo will realize they belong to the wererats staying at the inn.

The wererats are armed with swords. A clever gang, they have been staying at the inn off and on for three months. They rent room #8, and use that as their base of operations. They have disguised their activities so well Bolo hasn't discovered the connection between when they stay and when the robberies occur. The wererats always seem to have plenty of money to pay for their lodging, however.

This encounter was the last by the module for our group. Our 4-PC, 3rd-level party (with no silver or magic weapons other than a dagger) was attacked by 4 wererats in the inn (using secret doors that the room description contradicts where they could be, and that the thief innkeeper didn't know about). Where did the sleep spell come from? There's not even a magic-user mentioned in the encounter.

The next morning we were all pissed off. The innkeeper knows there are wererats living in the inn? "...they find large rat-like tracks on the floor. Bolo will realize they belong to the wererats staying at the inn." Hello!? Wererats are evil monsters.

We accused the innkeeper of being in with the wererats, and we attacked him. The DM called the game at that point, and we, as a group, just dropped this adventure completely. We even dropped the PCs and just started anew.

Quasqueton

 

[Orius]

Roll 1d6. On 1-3 the brigands surprise, on 3-4 there is no surprise, and on 5-6 the party surprises.

So...what happens when you roll a 3?

And people wonder why WotC doesn't publish modules.

Seriously though, both of these encounters are lame. I wouldn't want to be in a game with the nymph and woodcutter. I'm playing D&D, not some stupid romance novel or a soap opera. Not to mention that the writer saw fit to call out that there were no secret compartments or treasure to be looted. Man, those 1e PCs took everything that was not nailed down!

The bandits...that looks like something I'd do on a slow night of gaming when I was bored and wanted to run a fight. Otherwise, it's just a lame and pointless encounter.

 

[sad_genius]

Hahahahah! That second one kills me!

A group of men head by. They are not tarrying or running. Nor are they singing. They don't seem to be making apple pies. As far as you can tell, they're not talking about sports. They neither have sombreros nor stilts. These men are not acrobats. They have no expression as they don't dally to the west.

Fantastic. Forgive the cliche, but, well, LOL.

 

[Orius]

Another thing I don't get about the brigands: why the hell are they wandering around like idiots instead of hiding under cover for an ambush? Man, Vacuous Grimiore is right.