Identifying "old school" adventure modules

[Gentlegamer]

Heh, anyone who thinks that Mr. Gygax was afraid to use boxed text, should take a look at Isle of the Ape. Now THERE'S boxed text.

The core of Isle of the Ape is clearly "old school," (it being based on a portion of the original Greyhawk campaign in 1976), but its presentation for publication in 1985 has "new school" elements, such as the extensive boxed text (as well a plot with some scripted events).

 

[Bullgrit]

The core of Isle of the Ape is clearly "old school,"

Can you enumerate the "old school" elements/aspects of IotA?

Bullgrit

 

[Grimstaff]

Surprised to see not so many votes for Dungeonland, seeing as it was a level of Gygax's original Greyhawk Megadungeon.

 

[haakon1]

If he pulled out Sunless Citadel I wouldn't think that or tell him he was wrong. Because he wouldn't be wrong. It's just a sign that the meanings of terms can be wildly divergent depending on who you're talking to. The internet D&D community means something by 'old school' but I don't expect the real people I game with, who are mostly disconnected from message boards, to use the term in the same way.

I think Sunless Citadel is old school. As are "Forge of Fury" and "The Standing Stones", among other 3e adventures.

 

[Philotomy Jurament]

I think Sunless Citadel is old school.

Restrictive map design, though. (I don't think all old school modules had good map design, but the kind of map design I prefer tended to be more common in older stuff.)

 

[Bullgrit]

Restrictive map design, though. (I don't think all old school modules had good map design, but the kind of map design I prefer tended to be more common in older stuff.)

These dungeons were all pretty much linear to the McGuffin(s):
White Plume Mountain (92%)
Tomb of Horrors (98%)
Hidden Shrine of Tomoachan (76%)
Ghost Tower of Inverness (78%)


But these had more meandering labrynths:
Pharoah (28%)
Ravenloft (30%)
Beyond the Crystal Cave (25%)

How much "old school weight" does less restrictive map design have?

Bullgrit

 

[Ariosto]

The Dungeonland modules are among my favorites!

One "old school" assumption is that of an underworld in which anything might be found.

Also notable is the assumption that players will use familiarity with the Alice stories not only to appreciate the twists but as an aid in finding their way through the weird world.

 

[Philotomy Jurament]

How much "old school weight" does less restrictive map design have?

I don't know. I wouldn't say "old school" requires a less restrictive map; I just prefer the exploratory play-style that a less restrictive map with more choices offers, and I see the kind of map that I like more often with older stuff.

There are numerous examples of restrictive or linear modules from the old days, too (especially the modules that started life as tournament adventures). They're typically not my favorites.

 

[Hussar]

Actually, PJ, I'm not sure if you can really say that. I mean, I've collected a fair number of 3e adventures, from Dungeon, and various other places and there's a lot of adventures out there with less restrictive maps.

Heck, the World's Largest Dungeon is about as unrestrictive as you can get.

I'm not really sure if you can point to a period where maps get more or less restrictive. Heck, DL 1, the first Dragonlance module, much maligned for its railroading plot, has one of the least restrictive (and very pretty) dungeon crawl maps you can find.

I wonder if its simply a case of numbers. Up to 1982, 1983, you don't have all that many modules. Compared to the absolute explosion of modules afterwards. I mean, heck, just in Dungeon, you have hundreds and hundreds of 3e modules, never minding any of the 3rd party stuff.

 

[Philotomy Jurament]

Actually, PJ, I'm not sure if you can really say that. I mean, I've collected a fair number of 3e adventures, from Dungeon, and various other places and there's a lot of adventures out there with less restrictive maps.

Fair enough. My exposure to 3e adventures is admittedly limited, compared to the older stuff.