Is Against the Cult of the Reptile God a well-designed adventure module?

[Uder]

It's a well-designed adventure, although if the players treat the naga as a all-or-nothing final fight they'll die. They need to hit and run, wound it, poison it, trick it. Leads to some really thoughful play.

 

[Melan]

If anything, it is a good example of post-Gygax 1st edition AD&D design (although it was released before his departure, I think). Less improbability and weirdness, more "standard" fantasy. Like some others, I consider it a bit bland... but that may just be my personal taste. There is very little unexpected about the adventure - it is a mystery, but a pretty predictable mystery. Moreover, I don't think it is a very well designed beginner's module - for reasons already mentioned. It is not a really bad module either - but I wouldn't call it an example of outstanding design.

 

[PhantomNarrator]

Tons of fun!

I've run this one over and over, it's perhaps my favorite introductory module. The BBEG is very tough for the projected party level, but makes for a very memorable and challenging climax.

It's got everything - intrigue, mystery, cultists, exploration, wilderness travel and a dungeon to wrap it all up. I rate it right up there with some of the best. Very, very satisfying.

 

[el-remmen]

As for party level, I will agree it was better off run for the higher spectrum in the range suggested.

I ran it for 2nd and 3rd level characters.

 

[Vegepygmy]

Unlike most of the others who have posted, I find Ramne to be one of the best things about this module. Usually, the problem with an NPC like this is that he overshadows the PCs, undermining the sweetness of their ultimate victory. But with Ramne, getting him to the final fight alive and in one piece is the whole challenge! Thus, I don't agree with those who feel that Ramne's (indispensible) assistance renders the PCs any less heroic.

As a general rule, one should not design an adventure for PCs that requires them to be assisted by an NPC. For me, Ramne is the exception that proves the rule.

Reptile God is definitely one of the all-time best-designed AD&D modules. No doubt about it.

 

[el-remmen]

I guess I didn't run it how the adventure describes.

Ramne didn't come with the party but lent them a couple of scrolls that helped.

 

[Hussar]

I thought this was an excellent module.

When I first played it, it was as a player. I thought the themes - the obvious Lovecraft inspiration - were rather well done. If you run the town right, it comes off as a really, really scary place. The townfolk are all acting weird, people are disappearing. This is stock horror movie stuff.

We brought Ramne with us, but, IIRC the final battle didn't feel like it was Ramne's win. He may have softened up the naga, but, he certainly didn't finish it off. Besides, the fight with the cleric and his pet wight was a bloody exciting event.

From a design point of view, we have an entire town, complete with lots of NPC's, none of which are so high level that they stick out (cough Homlet cough).

Orlane works as a base for campaigns very well, meaning that you can extend the life of the module far beyond the initial adventure.

I think it's pretty well done.

 

[heirodule]

I voted no, because of the rules violation in the spells available to the priests.

Spoiler: the Naga is not actually a god, so the priests that have converted to her cult should only get 1st and 2nd level spells under 1e rules

It bugged me.

 

[Numion]

As a general rule, one should not design an adventure for PCs that requires them to be assisted by an NPC. For me, Ramne is the exception that proves the rule.

Just a pointless fact of the day:

"Exception proves the rule" has changed meaning from the original. In older english 'prove' meant testing. Like in 'proving grounds' today. The real saying should be "Exception tests the rule". Frankly, exception proves the rules makes no sense at all. In science it usually disproves a theory.

I know, not helpful at all for this discussion

 

[Joshua Randall]

As Sherlock Holmes said, "Exceptions disprove the rule."