Whizbang Dustyboots
Gnometown Hero
Even though WG4 is not without its issues, to put it mildly, DAMN, it has amazing atmosphere. It was the first D&D module to really ooze menace, IMO.
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NOW LIVE! Into the Woods--new character species, eerie monsters, and haunting villains to populate the woodlands of your D&D games.
Lost Caverns of Tsojanth...
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grodog
Hero
Thanks Robert. I haven't yet delved into any other module with the same obsessive level of detail as S4 (with the possible exception of Castle Greyhawk itself, I suppose). If you're looking for some good analysis/expansion on WG4 Forgotten Temple of Tharizdun, check out Scottz's Cold Text Files @ Cold Text Files: WG4-1: A Suspicious Introduction.
I agree, and the dungeon levels are much more "perforated" than they would appear to be at first glance---there are numerous ways in and out of the levels in addition to the main entrances.
*nods* If you're so inclined, you can definitely push the ecology further, given what Gary provided. You can also go the other direction, and play up the planar portal side of things, which would increase the randomicity.
Absolutely: the module's good, but not phenomenal (but it is also one of the few wilderness expeditions published by TSR, too). The Greyhawk background and the new monsters and treasures were the stand out features for me.
If you're a fan of the sleeping Drelnza, you may want to see the original @ http://tomeoftreasures.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=13766
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TarionzCousin
Second Most Angelic Devil Ever
I never purposefully tried to kill characters, but I remember that in this module I killed more PC's than any other ones. Bodaks + Behirs + Drowning = 50% survival rate, IIRC.
Of course, the players whose characters drowned were razzed by the players whose characters died by bodak or behir.
Of course, the players whose characters drowned were razzed by the players whose characters died by bodak or behir.
Bullgrit
Adventurer
You know, sitting here thinking about it, I agree. It would be interesting to go through it in detail and figure out exactly why. That feeling would be good to duplicate.Whizbang Dustyboots said:
It doesn't have many illustrations. Even the cover is simple. That's what, a grell, done impressionist style?
Bullgrit
grodog
Hero
Well, for one thing WG4 is not over-engineered/over-designed: IIRC, Gary wrote it in ~2-3 weeks, and it was illustrated and mapped and edited in another ~2-3 weeks, and was sent to press thereafter. TSR was having challenges getting books out the door via their product developments process/cycle, so Gary brought in Eric Nelson Shook to do the maps, and his mom Karen provided the cover art (and perhaps interior too??).
What WG4 has going for it is a great central concept: the Forgotten Temple of Tharizdun. Once you get down to the final sepulchre, Gygax's prose moves to the astounding (possibly the best he's ever written in an adventure) and you really get the feeling of the immense significance of what the place is you've found.
This works so well due to the contrast with what is above: it's a deserted temple. The upper levels are home to a band of humanoids and giants, which are who you've come to slay (due to their depredations of the gnomes). So, you expect that. Delving deeper, you find the rooms that alert you to the fact it's a temple, and a few odd monsters that have made their homes there, but it's not overpopulated with such - it's a strange, empty place, with a few clues as to the original faith of the builders.
And then the finale.
Forgotten Temple isn't overengineered. It doesn't outstay its welcome, and it's one of my favourite adventures written by Gary.
Cheers!
This works so well due to the contrast with what is above: it's a deserted temple. The upper levels are home to a band of humanoids and giants, which are who you've come to slay (due to their depredations of the gnomes). So, you expect that. Delving deeper, you find the rooms that alert you to the fact it's a temple, and a few odd monsters that have made their homes there, but it's not overpopulated with such - it's a strange, empty place, with a few clues as to the original faith of the builders.
And then the finale.
Forgotten Temple isn't overengineered. It doesn't outstay its welcome, and it's one of my favourite adventures written by Gary.
Cheers!
Celebrim
Legend
I own WG4 thanks to a copy I picked up in a used book store some years back, and I agree that it reads very well, but having never played it (or even heard of it) back in my 1e days I'm very curious how it actually played. Like, for example, how many groups ultimately TPKed by
? Did you have problems with groups not finding or figuring out the purpose of
?
staying too long in the black cyst
the Wailer for Tharizdun
grodog
Hero
I've run WG4 at least three times, and in the first two, I
. The third time, I
(and, coincidentally, the players didn't have a very high opinion of the module as a result---"sort of like a knocked-off, lamer version of the Giants modules, eh?" 
).
helped PCs find the entrances that lead to the Black Cyst
didn't provide hints, and they never found it
).
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