How (Often) Do You Use Modules? Revised!

[Cthulhu's Librarian]

I really like reading and using modules. I don't always have time to come up with everything on my own, so I tweak modules to fit my campaign and where they PCs want to go with their adventuring. Sometimes I just use bits and pieces, sometimes I use entire adventures. It all depends what the players want to do, and how much time I have to play around with elements of the module.

 

[MonsterMash]

I use modules, but always need to do a bit of customisation and I do enjoy writing my own when I have time, so mix of both really. I'll also take elements from published stuff and put it into my own adventures (only for my own use so no copyright or IP issues!)

 

[Stormborn]

The few times I have run a module I have felt like I couldn't get as good a handle on it as a adventure I made myself. I don't seem to be able to get a feel for most of them. Having said that, I have been really reading Dungeon more latley, and am starting to get a better sense of how that would work. In my earlier day of gaming i just could never pull it off so have primarilly used modules for ideas, maps, and various bit but never the actual adventure.

 

[TerraDave]

I love a good module, and try to make heavy use of them to save time...in part because of RL and in part because of my compulsive desire to do "big picture" work on the campaign world (sig)

One reason I don't buy more is I just don't need to. The one we are finishing went for four sessions and two levels, and it will got to five and (just) three with the web enhancement. And this was on the shorter side...big 1st ed mods (Tsojcanth, Ravelonft) could go for something like 6-8 sessions, and the mega modules that are now out for much, much longer.

Speaking of which, I am now faced with adopting a long mod. It is work, but not as much as coming up with everything whole cloth.

 

[The Shaman]

Wow! The results surprised me - I had no idea so many GMs use modules with such frequency.

The last time I ran a module was the G-series some twenty-five or so years ago. At this point I don't even read modules.

 

[Alhazred]

I prefer to write my own adventures, although I shamelessly plunder modules (and campaign settings and source material, etc) for ideas, NPCs, maps and so on. If I really like a module, I will incorporate it into my homebrew setting with the expectation that I'll eventually run it .

As for mega-adventures (adventures which span several sessions and levels), I generally run them as one-shot mini-campaigns. I'm currently running Return to the Tomb of Horrors, modified for 3.5 (with considerable help from the Enworld conversion library!).

 

[demiurge1138]

I'm a bit surprised by these results. I expected more of a leaning towards the middle, with people using modules equally or less than their own stuff. I guess I must just have a lot more free time, then.

And yeah, I do find it strange that "there's no market" for modules. It's sitting right here! Akrasia's logic about why they're not a priority is (sadly) sound, though.

Demiurge out.

 

[scythians rage]

i use modules all the time now, mainly out of necessity. i just don't have time to create the home brew anymore. im currently preparing to run the crypt of the devil lich from goodman games. if anyone has ran this, i could use some input.

 

[MoogleEmpMog]

Does anyone else find it weird that supposedly there's no market for modules and they don't sell well but that the majority (at the time of my posting) of responders to this poll predominately use modules over thier own adventures (myself included)??? :\

Even beyond the player/GM divide, Enworld is a haven for GMs who have full-time jobs and often other hobbies, but nonetheless feel the need to stat out every NPC and plan their adventures ahead. It's just like when Planescape tops the Forgotten Realms in an ENWorld poll - the Realms obviously boast a vastly greater following in the general populace, but, at least among active participants (rather than the presumably much greater number of lurkers), ENWorlders differ.

For my part, I have no use for modules. The only thing they've ever given me is a dollop of inspiration; I find that setting books, electronic games, films and fiction do that as well or better.

 

[MacMathan]

I find modules and Dungeon to be quite useful. I may modify somewhat but I also enjoy running the big bads like Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil etc pretty much straight up.

I think one of the recent issues of KoDT hit it on the head when they talked about "shared experiences" and how they have grown more rare now days. I love talking to people about how their trip through the adventure path went etc.

Just look at the "share your experiences w/ module X" threads that pop up. It is mostly older 1st edition stuff but it is still a nice common ground.