In Need of Good Old-School Dungeon

DaveyB · Post by **DaveyB** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 12:06 am

Help! I've been scouring the web looking for a good old-school feeling dungeon for my players once I start my campaign-proper in a few weeks. My guys are old-school (I'm the youngin' of the group and the DM) and have played most of the classic D&D modules like Tomb of Horrors, Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth, many of the Letter series of modules, etc. So, once I start my campaign proper, I'm thinking of either using Upper Works (which I'm way behind on ordering!) by way of a stop-over at the Dark Chateau or some other good dungeon. (My guys aren't heavy on the role playing and are basically "Kill him, take the loot" types.)

Problem is, I'm younger and wasn't exposed to many of the things they've played, so I don't know all of the classic, killer dungeons that were released back then. I've looked at Upper Works and Rappan-Athuk so far, but I have a feeling there are more that I'm missing. Anyone care to give a list of some good dungeons? I may even convert Lure of the Liche Lord from Warhammer to D&D since I've been itching to run that too. All suggestions are welcome. Thanks!

DangerDwarf · Post by **DangerDwarf** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 12:10 am

Tomb of Abysthor by Necromancer Games, if you can find it. It is FRIGGIN awesome.

Geleg · Post by **Geleg** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 12:11 am

you might try Judges Guild's "Caverns of Thracia" (by the great Paul Jacquays). It's a large, but not mammoth, dungeon, with lots of interconnected levels, different themes on different levels (and sub levels) and a nice deepening mystery. There's a d20 version as well, but I like the original better. I'm betting it can be downloaded as a pdf, although I'm too lazy to figure out where.
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DaveyB · Post by **DaveyB** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 12:17 am

Awesome guys, thanks for the replies! Keep 'em comin'!

Barrataria · Post by **Barrataria** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 12:28 am

From Necromancer, try the free Wizard's Amulet mod. It leads to "Crucible of Freya", and then the aforementioned Tomb of Abysthor.

Goodman Games' "Into the Wilds" is a pretty good "Barjin and Blastum" mod too.
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Tadhg · Post by **Tadhg** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 12:33 am

I'll go ahead and recommend the Store Rooms - dungeon level 1 in CZ: The Upper Works.

Pure old school dungeon crawling goodness from Gary.

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Coleston the Cavalier · Thu Sep 25, 2008 12:46 am

DangerDwarf wrote:
Tomb of Abysthor by Necromancer Games, if you can find it. It is FRIGGIN awesome.

Ditto.
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Lord Dynel · Post by **Lord Dynel** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 12:58 am

I ran a particularly nasty dungeon a while back from Goodman, called The Transmuter's Last Touch. Nice little dungeon, with an interesting twist. Good one to have the players fear the kobolds!

voynich · Post by **voynich** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 1:14 am

you can also use the advanced dungeons and dragons dmg or sg1: engineering dungeons and make your own "old-school" dungeons. as many of them as you want.
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dutch206 · Post by **dutch206** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 12:05 pm

Go to Amazon and look for a TSR boxed set called "A Night Below". It's a second edition campaign that will take characters from level 1 all the way up to level 10.

Then again, that may not be the module for your particular group....It involves a crime scene investigation and some diplomatic skill. Try the TSR boxed set "Return to the Tomb of Horrors" for second edition. The Vast Swamp of Sunndi, Dessatyso, and the ruins of Moil should be enough to "geek out" any old-school gamer.
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Galadrin · Post by **Galadrin** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 12:14 pm

If you want an old-school type "killer dungeon", you might try "Crypt of the Devil Lich" by Goodman Games. It's d20 v3.5 but shouldn't be too hard to convert. The module is supposedly an homage to Tomb of Horrors.

Omote · Post by **Omote** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 2:27 pm

If you want OLD SCHOOL, go with:

1.) Castle Zagyg: Upper Works (TLG).

2.) Tomb of Abysthor (Necromancer Games)

3.) Forgotten Temple of Tharizdun (TSR)

All great, classic dungeon crawls each rom a different game system.

-O
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DaveyB · Post by **DaveyB** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 5:18 pm

Man, can't believe I forgot about some of these! Thanks for all the replies guys! Keep 'em coming if you feel so inclined!

Post by **Breakdaddy** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 5:38 pm

If Serleran hadnt thrown a fit and bailed he could talk to you about Engineering Dungeons, an excellent product that will provide endless old school dungeon adventures with not much work.

gideon_thorne · Post by **gideon_thorne** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 5:39 pm

Galadrin wrote:
If you want an old-school type "killer dungeon", you might try "Crypt of the Devil Lich" by Goodman Games. It's d20 v3.5 but shouldn't be too hard to convert. The module is supposedly an homage to Tomb of Horrors.

This is also still available, I think, as a "1E" conversion from Goodman.
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Post by **Breakdaddy** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 5:40 pm

Omote wrote:
3.) Forgotten Temple of Tharizdun (TSR)

-O

Oh, and this. Omote is silly and he's ignorant, but he's got guts and guts is enough.

/R Lee Ermey

Galadrin · Post by **Galadrin** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 5:49 pm

gideon_thorne wrote:
This is also still available, I think, as a "1E" conversion from Goodman.

Sadly, they never made a 1E version of it. It boggles the mind why they didn't, though.

dachda · Post by **dachda** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 5:50 pm

I think Goodman Games GG1: The Mysterious Tower qualifies as a nice old-style dungeon. And it is already converted to C&C, which may be a big advantage. My players had fun running thru it.
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gideon_thorne · Post by **gideon_thorne** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 6:14 pm

Galadrin wrote:
Sadly, they never made a 1E version of it. It boggles the mind why they didn't, though.

Meh. I was thinking of Iron Crypt of the Heretics. All these dungeon crawls look alike. ^_~`
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Omote · Post by **Omote** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 7:39 pm

Breakdaddy wrote:
Oh, and this. Omote is silly and he's ignorant, but he's got guts and guts is enough.

/R Lee Ermey

Maggot. "Were you born worthless, or did you have to work at it?" ~Sgt. Hartman

-O
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BLOOD AXE · Post by **BLOOD AXE** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 10:32 am

Dude! Pa here too. Where-abouts??

Near Allentown here, Slatington actually.

What level are you looking??

Luther · Post by **Luther** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 1:19 pm

Goodman Games has four modules for 1e, actually, that should be ideal for your purposes, as 1e material is dead easy to convert on the fly without writing down a single conversion note. In fact, they even provide a quick guide to doing so right here:
Converting Dungeon Crawl Classics to Castles and Crusades

I'd start with The Golden Auroch / Tower of the Black Pearl, two adventures for L1, move on to Saga of the Rat King (L1-4) and then finish it off with Saga of the Witch Queen (L4+). All of these are multiple adventure Modules, so they should keep you busy for quite some time. Plus, I doubt that your players have played these...

DaveyB · Post by **DaveyB** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 1:21 pm

@Blood Axe

Near Pittsburgh! Was looking at levels 2-4, possibly slightly higher.[/quote]

Joe · Post by **Joe** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 7:58 pm

Ohhh...well in that case try starting slow.

Maybe some soft handcuffs...and battery operated toys before you break into the iron maidens and torture racks.

Just remember to have a code word in case somemone get's freaked.

i prefer...STOP...your wand of Orcus is way too big!

I had a lot of success with the Crucible of Freya. Roleplaying with the npc's is fun for immersion. I still have Genevieve the Fair in my regular campaign. She is documenting the trials and feats of the heroes. you can still use it, just up the orcs numbers, and maybe make the evil cleric a higher level. I have ran 3 group thru it, and each one has done it differently.

A really fun 5th level advanture is Necromancers Curse of Listonshire. It was good for many days of roleplaying.

I used a pic of John Malcovich as thwe evil baron Kendrick. I gave him an iffeminate and conceited personality with a vice with girls and a fun white powder imported from the south.

Another good one is Mortality of the Green by TLG. I had a blast running Ian the npc gnome.
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Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 8:28 pm

I don't think its titled "Curse of Listonshire". I believe it was "Doom of Listonshire", and yes, it is a darn good adventure. Reminded me, very strongly, of several old school modules.
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Luther · Post by **Luther** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 11:37 pm

Joe wrote:
I used a pic of John Malcovich as thwe evil baron Kendrick. I gave him an iffeminate and conceited personality with a vice with girls and a fun white powder imported from the south.

I've got a better picture for you to use the next time: Bruce Payne as the lipsticked, leather clad strongman used by Jeremy Irons in that terrible D&D movie. Never in movie history was a heavy so effeminate without actually being a girl...