Rate S1: The Tomb of Horrors (corrected poll options)

[Henry]

WHY IS IT POPULAR?

That's the question that people are better off asking.

Could it be influenced by nostaliga? That could play a part.
Could it be a status symbol? Like an "I survived the TOH" T-shirt, or an "I sacrificed 43 character sheets to the Tomb!" T-shirt.
Could it be the sadistic factor that all humans share? That part that makes us slow down and gawk at train wrecks, or insist our friends taste something that is the worst thing we've ever tasted? Possibly.
Could it be a Massively complex dungeon trap, that requires a good bit of caution, cunning, and a bit of luck to survive? This could influence it, too.

I feel like it is a combination of all these things. One thing I rarely see in a discussion of the ToH are these words: "I can take it or leave it; it was all right." There were a few "4" through "6" responses, so I wonder what those people felt?

I gave it a 7/10, myself, because:

Is "tough for a DM to run" a feature of straight 10-outta-10, i.e., perfect, module?

 

[Henry]

A supplemental thought occured while writing the other post

To Abraxas, regarding the "death slime": It occurred to me that Gary was not averse to altering the module for creative players. In one convention story, he tells that one DM came to him during a tournament and said that the PCs defeated Acererak by
[sblock]putting the crown on his skull and touching the scepter to it with the "wrong" end. Gary told him he considered it quite clever, and would award the victory, if it were him, despite that a demi-lich can only be affected by a few pre-set things.[/sblock]

 

[Numion]

A supplemental thought occured while writing the other post

To Abraxas, regarding the "death slime": It occurred to me that Gary was not averse to altering the module for creative players. In one convention story, he tells that one DM came to him during a tournament and said that the PCs defeated Acererak by

Still, your bragging rights for ToH have been revoked, for playing under a wuss DM

As for Gary saying what he said, regarding creative players .. yes, it makes perfect sense. everything can not be spelled out, because no adventure ever survives contact with PCs fully intact. And thats why the adventure is lacking IMO- why write in the exact opposite, nullifying each and every possible action? "Covered characters are turned to green slime and gone, with no recourse possible due to the amount of slime."?

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Yep, of course we are all liars...oh Intellectually Dishonest I mean.

For the record, Flexor is referring to my post here: http://www.enworld.org/showpost.php?p=2535420&postcount=1402 , wherein I assert that there's a possibility that those trumpeting the possibility of making it through the Tomb without any PC deaths at all might be playing some word games. They might not be - but from my understanding of previous editions' play styles, I'm willing to wager that they are.

Just keeping you "honest," Flexor.

 

[Quasqueton]

I can honestly say that I never lost any PCs in the ToH. I can also say that in my DMing "career", I've never had any PCs die in the ToH.

This, apparently by definition, makes me an exceptional Player and DM. I'm proud of myself.

Quasqueton

 

[Crothian]

I can honestly say that I never lost any PCs in the ToH. I can also say that in my DMing "career", I've never had any PCs die in the ToH.

This, apparently by definition, makes me an exceptional Player and DM. I'm proud of myself.

Quasqueton

so you've never played it and never ran it?

with this disucssion I need to run this for my new group. I'm sure they'll be by to thank you all at some point

 

[Quasqueton]

so you've never played it and never ran it?

<gasp; clutch pearls> Are you calling me a liar? ;-)

This is an example of "intellectual dishonesty" that Patryn of Elvenshae was talking about.

Quasqueton

 

[frankthedm]

Great modual for those who don't think players are entitled to win just because they bought a PHB.

If you are a fan of wotc's "cater to the lowest common denominator to get more players regardless of thier quality [and to get more books sold]" then you will hate it.

 

[lukelightning]

I see it as punishing players who create characters that aren't totally focused on dungeoneering.

Great modual for those who don't think players are entitled to win just because they bought a PHB.

If you are a fan of wotc's "cater to the lowest common denominator to get more players regardles of thier quality [and to get more books sold]" then you will hate it.

 

[Crothian]

that's a very different point of view.....