Return to the Desert of Desolation

[Zamora]

Hi,

I played these modules back in the early 80s when they first came out and later ran the supermodule version which was loosely set in the Forgotten Realms. I enjoyed the modules enormously from both sides of the screen and would include them in my all-time Top 5. There is very little stuff about Mulhorand and the Imaskari in the supermodule -- the best place for info on the Imaskari Empire I can think of is the Horde boxed set.

Since the adventure is a combination of Egyptian-style ruins and Arabian influences, you could use both Necropolis and parts of Al-Qadim to expand the adventure into a full campaign.

Cheers


Richard

 

[Plane Sailing]

Copies sent.

Alex

 

[Dr Simon]

Setting the I3-5 series in a demiplane: Might work well, since there is a definite border to the wilderness maps. Later sections take place in smaller demi-planes too, so you would get this pocket-universe hopping thing going.

I've run I3 for 3e (actually for Arcana Unearthed, but near enough) and it was easy to convert (most of the monsters use straight 3E stats). There was a

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lurker above

that I missed out (stupid creature) and you'll need to do some conversion on the

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"pet fist" - basic Large Construct, really.

. The only other thing is that I ran it with a level 5 party. Some of the

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later encounters are CR11 or so

so you need to be careful.

I've not finished converting I4 yet (IMO, the best one - quite non-linear and a good mix of RPing, dungeon crawling and typical Tracy Hickman trap rooms. It's still looks quite easy to convert though.

I5 Tomb of Martek has some greast bits - I've always *loved* the Sea of Glass! - but it's a bit more linear, almost set up so that the PCs *will* complete the series no matter what they do. Still many good ideas in it though.

 

[diaglo]

i converted I3 and I4 to OD&D. and I5 too.

i've got my handscrawled notes at home in my 3 ring binder from back in the 80's.

we had a lot of fun with these modules.

 

[BlackMoria]

Can you email me a copy as well, Plane Sailing. Thanks. Email address below.

dshand AT ucn DOT ca

 

[Arnwyn]

I can't find a decent timeline detailing the Mulan-Imaskari stuff.

Yeah, there really isn't a decent one out there. You can parse together the region's history from FR6, Spellbound, Unapproachable East, and The Horde box set.

I thought the Raurin was the remains of the Imaskari empire and that the Mulan went west over the mountains. In Pharoh the players are kicked out of some county into the Raurin. and what they encounter would seem to me to be Mulhorand architechture.

Yes, you are correct - Raurin is the remains of the Imaskari Empire, and indeed, the Mulan went west. However, they still laid claim to virtually all of Raurin (as well as Murghom and the Plains of Purple Dust), and still settled in those regions. So, indeed, Mulhorandi architecture should be found throughout Raurin.

According to my supermodule compilation, the PCs leave the country of Dambrath (part of the Shining South), going northward through the mountains bordering southern Raurin and into Raurin itself.

So how long did the Mulhorandi control that part of the desert before giving it up?

Mulhorand still claims Raurin to this day (though full "control" was lost long, long ago) - the same as it is for Murghom, which is virtually independent.

And apparently that part of the desert was not a desert when the curse in Pharoh took effect. I just need to read up on things I guess.

Yeah, that part I'd have to read up on again as well. Right around the mountains (including the east side that borders Raurin) is not fully desert. IIRC from the maps, a lot of I3-5 takes place near there. But I'd need to remind myself.

 

[Plane Sailing]

Further copies sent.

Cheers

 

[Qualidar]

We ran this back in high school in the 80s. We had 3 alternating DMs, and each of us took one (I ran the middle one). It was awesome until we reached Martek, where my otherwise talented DM friend ran his first ever "store bought" module...not good. We just quit halfway through. Later, I asked him for the module to try again, but he threw it into the river in frustration!

Now that I've finally cycled out of those players, I think I want too run this to completion.

PlaneSailing, if it's not too much trouble could you send me a copy of the conversion as well? frank (dot) michienzi (at) comcast (dot) net.

Thanks!

~Qualidar~

 

[Psion]

Er, I never got my copy.

Try again at adkohler at yahoo dot com?

 

[Qualidar]

PlaneSailing, if it's not too much trouble could you send me a copy of the conversion as well? frank (dot) michienzi (at) comcast (dot) net.

Please?

~Qalidar~