Official Tomb of Horrors 3.5 conversion (merged)

[Bladesong]

Though I cannot say this is absolutely true without performing extensive research, I would say that the "love-hate" relationship would probably be divided by problem solvers-hack and slashers. Originally in the 70's I was one of two players who attempted this module with a DM. I ran a magic user and a thief and the other player ran a cleric; we had 4 warrior-type henchmen. Our player's levels were one or two higher than recommended by the module. Not only did we survive, but so did all of our henchmen which were several levels below those recommeded by the module. There were a couple of very close calls of course, but we were mostly intact. That player and I used to love the "thinking" modules (our belief was that any moron could hack and slash) and thought it was great. I have run it as a DM 3 times, prior to 3e and all three groups which were about 99% hack and slashers leaned more toward hating the module. All things considered I would like to try this new conversion to see what happens and I hope that more classics get released just like this!

 

[Mouseferatu]

Though I cannot say this is absolutely true without performing extensive research, I would say that the "love-hate" relationship would probably be divided by problem solvers-hack and slashers.

Whereas my experience shows this not to be true at all. In the two groups of which I am currently a part, one has zero hack-and-slash players, and the other has a minority of them. Of the only two players in those groups who particularly like ToH, one is very H/S, and the other is moderately H/S.

 

[Greg K]

They should have written the conversion for 21st level characters.

I am glad that they didn't, because they would have used the Epic Rules (blech!)

 

[Bladesong]

Whereas my experience shows this not to be true at all. In the two groups of which I am currently a part, one has zero hack-and-slash players, and the other has a minority of them. Of the only two players in those groups who particularly like ToH, one is very H/S, and the other is moderately H/S.

Interesting. Just goes to show you never truly know about people. My experience was 2 non-hackers who loved it and 22 hackers who hated it. Interesting indeed.

 

[Mouseferatu]

Interesting. Just goes to show you never truly know about people. My experience was 2 non-hackers who loved it and 22 hackers who hated it. Interesting indeed.

It may, at least in part, have to do with the fact that many of the gamers I know who aren't hack-and-slash players also dislike dungeon crawls in general.

 

[Crothian]

I am glad that they didn't, because they would have used the Epic Rules (blech!)

The epic rules are not that different.

But really,m if they made it much higher level I think the high level spells would really give the PCs a big advantage in this type of dungeon. It would have to change a lot to contend with epic level characters.

 

[Greg K]

I'm just pissed that they chose to give saving throws to stuff that originally had no save. The above example is just one of many instances where they chose to do this. We can't make it hard on th poor pcs, now. Bah. May as well call it the "Tomb of moderately scary stuff."

I don't mind them giving a save throw to the things that did not have a save, I just think the DCs for those original no saves should be higher so that even a character with a good save progression, a 20 stat, and a say a +2 saving throw bonus from a magic item would require a natural 20 on the roll! (hey, I said they should get a chance to save, I didn't say the chance to save should be decent)

 

[EditorBFG]

I wonder if this means we'll be seeing others?

If we do, I think the responses on the "what was your first module?" thread are an adequate demonstration that the one to convert would be Keep on the Borderlands. Based on nostalgia factor alone, I think that they could sell it, rather than just put it up as a free download, and do very well. A 1st level d20 module with that much depth and continuing utility? I'd buy it tomorrow.

 

[Crothian]

If we do, I think the responses on the "what was your first module?" thread are an adequate demonstration that the one to convert would be Keep on the Borderlands. Based on nostalgia factor alone, I think that they could sell it, rather than just put it up as a free download, and do very well. A 1st level d20 module with that much depth and continuing utility? I'd buy it tomorrow.

The converted it in the late days of second edition and that was pretty popular; so I imaine they could do the same with third eidtion. Heckj, even the hackmaster version is relaly cool though I have no idea if it was popular.

 

[Wraith Form]

The Tomb isn't quite a "screw the players" module, compared to the unofficial entries of the time, and that's even more an indication of the shift in player culture. Rest of post snipped to save space ** SNIP**

Amen, Henry. That's always been my perception of the situation since I first perused the module way-back-when.