Goodman Games Latest News on Into The Borderlands

Goodman Games announced at GaryCon last year a license with Wizards of the Coast to publish 5^th Edition conversions of classic Dungeons & Dragons adventures, as well as reproductions of the original first edition versions. The first two adventures up for the 5^th Edition treatment are B1: In Search of the Unknown and B2: The Keep on the Borderlands. Today, Goodman Games have revealed the preliminary front cover design for Into The Borderlands as well as an interview with Chris Doyle, who converted both the adventures to 5^th Ed.

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Into the Borderlands is expected to be a 380 page hardcover. All the writing, editing and art are completed but Goodman want to add a few extra things before it goes off to print.

The hardcover includes:

· Restored scans of two complete printings of the original B1: In Search of the Unknown. Specifically, the second and sixth printings, one featuring the original monochrome cover and the other featuring the later color cover by Darlene.
· Three complete monster and treasure assortments for stocking the dungeons of In Search of the Unknown (which are “un-stocked” in the original 1E edition).
· Restored scans of two complete printings of the original B2: The Keep on the Borderlands. Specifically the second and fourth printings. These are distinguished the change in monster stats between the two printings (Dexterity scores were included in early printings). The later printing also features six interior illustrations that were not present in earlier printings.
· A complete, “pure” 5E conversion of In Search of the Unknown, including tables for stocking it with creatures.
· A separate chapter with a few new encounters for the Caverns of Quasqueton, all inspired by references in the original work.
· A complete, “pure” 5E conversion of The Keep on the Borderlands.
· A separate chapter with a few new encounters for The Keep on the Borderlands, all inspired by references in the original work.
· Appendices with 5E stats for newly introduced monsters, hirelings and followers, and magic items.
· A chapter of introductions and testimonials.

You can read the full interview with Chris Doyle on Goodman Games site.

 

[Rhianni32]

I am in the minority here but I think this sounds like a mess.

380 pages containing at 2 different printings of 1E and 3 sets of 1E monsters on top of 5ed conversion.
Just give me the 5ed conversion so it isn't some crazy $50+ book.

 

[Parmandur]

How the heck is the book 380 pages?

The original modules were 32 pages each, even allowing for the fact that they are reprinting the original modules (twice each), that only accounts for 128 pages. So there’s still 252 pages or 126 pages per module of additional content.

And why completely reprint the originals twice each in the book? That seems like a bit of overkill.

These are as much historical works as play aids: this seems very similar to what they have done with Judges Guild material.

Sent from my [device_name] using EN World mobile app

 

[DEFCON 1]

These are as much historical works as play aids: this seems very similar to what they have done with Judges Guild material.

Exactly. The double version scans of the modules probably do sound excessive... but I don't get the feeling they are doing this just so people can play the adventures... it's just as much for archival purposes. People buying them aren't buying them just to play them, the whole point is to have really good versions of classic D&D adventures to have in their collections. It's the same reason why WotC released the hardcover Dungeons of Dread book with S1-S4 in them. Did anyone who knew of those modules actually need copies of those modules? Were people buying that book because they had a desperate need to play White Plume Mountain in an edition that D&D wasn't even supporting at that point? No. People were buying them because it was a way of upgrading their collection of D&D material in nicer and more long-lasting formats.

This book seems much more like a coffee table book than it does an actual adventure path that we're meant to just play and then put away. So of course its going to be bigger, of course its going to cost more. And likewise... it's completely unnecessary if all you care about is just playing the Caves of Chaos in 5E. Because any one of us could just convert all the encounters ourselves in like a matter of 30 minutes.

If you're buying this book because you just want some Level 1 to Level 3 adventures to run... you're better off just going onto DMs Guild and buying a whole mess of them for the same price. But if you want to add to your D&D collection of material, then this book might have meaning for you.

 

[mach1.9pants]

I agree with DEFCON1, if you want to play 5E versions of classic modules, either DIY or get the Classic Modules Today conversions, I previously linked. But for me this will sit with pride of place on my shelf with things like Ptolus, War of the Burning Sky hardcover, Rappan Athuk in leather, etc. I'll read them but I doubt they'll see much use at the table, I print of portions of the PDF as required!

 

[LapBandit]

Will this have nice maps like the official adventures do? Perhaps by a nice artist like Schley or otherwise?

 

[Olaf the Stout]

These are as much historical works as play aids: this seems very similar to what they have done with Judges Guild material.

Sent from my [device_name] using EN World mobile app

Do they really need to include 2 slightly different reprints of each module though?

I don't know how the versions differ from each other, but I'd have though the differences wouldn't be so large that you need to include 2 versions of each.

 

[Azzy]

I'm surprised about all the people that new about this project are now being shocked and surprised that there are two versions of the modules included when it was announced that this was the case back when the product was announced.

This is a collectors item first and foremost. There are art and textual differences in the two different versions of the original edition modules. There will also be some navel gazing. Oh, and there will be some 5e conversions and some expansions.

Yes, this is not a product for everyone—but it should come as any surprise as these features were promised when the book was first announced.

 

[TheSwartz]

I'd love to see this.

 

[Volund]

I must have this. Kracky the Hooded One... Trebbelos, Boy Magician... Krago of the Mountains... I hope all the crazy named pregens make it to 5e.

 

[redrick]

If you're buying this book because you just want some Level 1 to Level 3 adventures to run... you're better off just going onto DMs Guild and buying a whole mess of them for the same price. But if you want to add to your D&D collection of material, then this book might have meaning for you.

Yep. My first introduction to a D&D campaign was buying a D&D boxset at a yard sale that included the DM's detailed notes for their campaign of Keep on the Borderlands. It really opened my mind to the full possibilities of D&D. The actual adventure itself wasn't included, so I look forward to a chance to own a print copy of the darn thing.

As far as playing B2 on the cheap, you can basically convert it on the fly. I think all of the monsters are in the Basic Rules PDF. It was the adventure I ran using 5e.