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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Andorax" data-source="post: 2009423" data-attributes="member: 7669">First, I will preface by saying that I'm not going to go into the plotline much, nor descriptions of the adventure track, the plot, the artwork, and so forth.  If this were one of the first few reviews, I would assuredly do so.  However, that ground has already been well covered by those who DID post the first few reviews.From back in 2nd edition, there were two different versions of adventures, the regular "thin" module, for a fairly small price and good for a level or two, and the occasional "book" module, of which Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil is not only an example, but also a heir.  The original Temple of Elemental Evil was not only a book module, it was the first in a set of three, a full campaign of epic proportions with links to carry it on into Scourge of the Slavelord and Queen of Spiders for a grand, 15 module tour of Greyhawk in all it's glory.While I will openly admit that I am not as knowledgable about Greyhawk, the specifics of it's history and traditions, as some who have reviewed this adventure, I will say that Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil captures that same Epic feel.  There are two definitions of Campaigns commonly in use.  One is the ongoing adventures of a coherent group of adventures from low level to high, with replacement characters coming in as others fall.  In this sense, Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil is superb.  True to it's back cover, it will take 4th level PCs and transform them (or the survivors, anyways) into 14th level adventurers who have had a dramatic effect on the world around them.The other definition of a campaign is one that presents a consistant, ongoing world.  One that persists from adventuring group to adventuring group, through several runs of PCs from 1st on up only to start again.  Taking years to evolve, such a campaign is a work of art, but it's a work of art based on a mountain of assumptions and events that have already taken place one particular way or another.  In this sort of setting, Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil cannot possably hope to be a "perfect fit", as events have already taken place in a different manner.  As with any "return" adventure, Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil must of necessity be based on it's own set of assumptions.  This NPC died in this manner, that one escaped, etc.  If you've run the Temple of Elemental Evil, and intend for this adventure to treat your own run through that one as "canon", then it won't match up, and it will take some legwork to untangle it.  If you've run Temple of Elemental Evil in the distant past, and gone on to other things...if your experience is left for just what it is, an enjoyable experience, then Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil has some phenominal nostalga value and will strike all the right cords with your gamers.Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil had the advantage of being one of the first-to-market "major" adventures of 3rd edition.  However, now that we're well past it's original publication, it's still the only epic adventure (no, not Epic...epic in scale.  It's for 4th to 14th) I've seen well worth this sort of price.  Don't pick it up to be part of your campaign...pick it up for it to BE your campaign, and don't be surprised to get a good, solid year of gaming out of it.  For that kind of story, it's well worth the price.Yes, it does have flaws.  It suffers somewhat from being a showcase of the Monstrous Manual (if you count that a flaw).  It has a number of minor mechanical errors (as does anything of this size).  Still, with all it's faults, I find it to be the best 3E adventure on the market today, long after it's initial publication.  Thus the 5/5 rating.And besides, where else will you find an adventure with it's own support board?  www.montecook.com, in their message board section, has an entire forum dedicated to Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil.  If these reviews haven't answered all your questions, come visit and ask around...the DMs there will be glad to answer them for you.  As with any review, I'd love to see you, the DM, make an informed decision about this product.  If you've picked it up already, then come visit.  We'd love to have more DMs to swap stories, tactics, and ideas with.  We've also put together a FAQ and Errata for it.</blockquote>

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