''Scourge of the Slave Lords'' (A1–4) is an
adventure module
An adventure is a playable scenario in a tabletop role-playing game. These can be constructed by gamemasters for their players, and are also released by game publishers as pre-made adventure modules. Different types of designs exist, including l ...
for the ''
Dungeons & Dragons
''Dungeons & Dragons'' (commonly abbreviated as ''D&D'' or ''DnD'') is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game (RPG) originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. The game was first published in 1974 by TSR (company)#Tactical Studies Rules ...
'' fantasy
role-playing game
A role-playing game (sometimes spelled roleplaying game, RPG) is a game in which players assume the roles of player character, characters in a fictional Setting (narrative), setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within ...
, published by
TSR, Inc.
TSR, Inc. was an American game publishing company, best known as the original publisher of ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D''). Its earliest incarnation, Tactical Studies Rules, was founded in October 1973 by Gary Gygax and Don Kaye. Gygax had bee ...
in 1986. It combines the contents of four earlier modules, all set in the
World of Greyhawk
Greyhawk, also known as the World of Greyhawk, is a fictional world designed as a campaign setting for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy roleplaying game. Although not the first campaign world developed for ''Dungeons & Dragons''— Dave Arnes ...
campaign setting and intended for use with ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' first edition rules.
''Scourge of the Slave Lords'' was ranked the 20th greatest Dungeons & Dragons adventure of all time by ''
Dungeon
A dungeon is a room or cell in which prisoners are held, especially underground. Dungeons are generally associated with medieval castles, though their association with torture probably belongs more to the Renaissance period. An oubliette (from ...
'' magazine in 2004.
Overview
The original series consisted of four modules:
* A1 ''Slave Pits of the Undercity''
* A2 ''Secret of the Slavers Stockade''
* A3 ''Assault on the Aerie of the Slave Lords''
* A4 ''In the Dungeons of the Slave Lords''
Each module is a self-contained adventure that leads into the next in the series. The series is intended for use in the World of
Greyhawk
Greyhawk, also known as the World of Greyhawk, is a fictional world designed as a campaign setting for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy roleplaying game. Although not the first campaign world developed for ''Dungeons & Dragons''—Dave Arneson ...
, but can be imported to any campaign setting. The modules are set in the
Pomarj
Greyhawk, also known as the World of Greyhawk, is a fictional world designed as a campaign setting for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy roleplaying game. Although not the first campaign world developed for ''Dungeons & Dragons''— Dave Arneso ...
.
According to ''
From the Ashes'', this adventure took place in Highport and Drachensgrabs.
Component modules
A1 ''Slave Pits of the Undercity''
''Slave Pits of the Undercity'' was published by TSR in 1980 as a 24-page booklet, and was written by
David Cook David Cook may refer to:
Entertainment
* David Cook (game designer) (active since 1980s), American game designer for TSR
* David Cook (singer) (born 1982), winner of the seventh season of ''American Idol''
* David Cook (writer) (1940–2015), Briti ...
.
The cover artwork by
Jeff Dee
Jeff Dee is an American artist and game designer. He was the youngest artist in the history of pioneering role-playing game company TSR when he began his work at the age of eighteen. He also designed the ''Villains and Vigilantes'' superhero gam ...
features an illustration of two
aspis
An aspis ( grc, ἀσπίς, plural ''aspides'', ), or porpax shield, sometimes mistakenly referred to as a hoplon ( el, ὅπλον) (a term actually referring to the whole equipment of a hoplite), was the heavy wooden shield used by the infa ...
fighting a party of adventurers (including a bearded female dwarf).
The interior art was done by Dee,
David S. LaForce
David "Diesel" S. LaForce is an American artist best known for his artwork in early ''Dungeons & Dragons'' adventures published by TSR, as well as for his creative cartography. His artwork appeared in many significant TSR products produced from 1 ...
,
Jim Roslof
James Paul Roslof (November 21, 1946March 19, 2011) was an American artist who produced cover art and interior illustrations of fantasy role-playing games published by TSR, Inc. during the "golden age" of ''Dungeons & Dragons''. As Art Director a ...
, and
Bill Willingham
William Willingham (born 1956) is an American writer and artist of comics, known for his work on the series ''Elementals (Comico Comics), Elementals'' and ''Fables (comics), Fables''.
Career
William Willingham was born in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. ...
.
As the first module in the series, ''Slave Pits of the Undercity'' was the first TSR publication to introduce players in the ''Greyhawk'' setting to the
Slave Lords
Greyhawk, also known as the World of Greyhawk, is a fictional world designed as a campaign setting for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy roleplaying game. Although not the first campaign world developed for ''Dungeons & Dragons''— Dave Arneso ...
and their operations in the central and southwestern
Flanaess
Greyhawk, also known as the World of Greyhawk, is a fictional world designed as a campaign setting for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy roleplaying game. Although not the first campaign world developed for ''Dungeons & Dragons''—Dave Arneson ...
. The module has been described as the first in a series of medium-level scenarios that provide the
player character
A player character (also known as a playable character or PC) is a fictional character in a video game or tabletop role-playing game whose actions are controlled by a player rather than the rules of the game. The characters that are not control ...
s with a mission to track down marauding coastal raiders.
preview
Synopsis
The events of the adventure are set in 580
CY, following four years of raids by slavers on the coastal population along the
Sea of Gearnat
The sea, connected as the world ocean or simply the ocean, is the body of water, body of saline water, salty water that covers approximately 71% of the Earth's surface. The word sea is also used to denote List of seas, second-order sections of ...
from
Onnwal to the
Wild Coast. Local lords, finally tired of the situation, hire a band of adventurers to attack the slavers in their home. The adventure begins in the
Pomarj
Greyhawk, also known as the World of Greyhawk, is a fictional world designed as a campaign setting for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy roleplaying game. Although not the first campaign world developed for ''Dungeons & Dragons''— Dave Arneso ...
city of
Highport at a ruined temple which serves as a headquarters for the slavers.
The module takes the group through the temple and into the sewers below where giant insect-like creatures make their lair along with the slave lords.
As the adventurers progress on their mission to break up the band of slavers, they battle orcs and the insects in the sewers of the slavers' conquered city.
Eventually the group reaches the prisoners and their captors, and finds a map showing the route of the caravans. Following this map leads the group to the second module, ''Secret of the Slavers Stockade''.
A2 ''Secret of the Slavers Stockade''
''Secrets of the Slavers Stockade'' was published by TSR in 1981 as a 32-page booklet with an outer folder, and was written by
Harold Johnson and
Tom Moldvay
Thomas Steven Moldvay (Nov. 5, 1948 – March 9, 2007) was an American game designer and author, best known for his work on early materials for the fantasy role-playing game ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (D&D).
Career
During the 1970s while a stude ...
.
The cover artwork by Jim Roslof features a drawing of two
hobgoblins
A hobgoblin is a household spirit, typically appearing in folklore, once considered helpful, but which since the spread of Christianity has often been considered mischievous. William Shakespeare, Shakespeare identifies the character of Puck (A Mi ...
, one of which is a sergeant with a leashed boggle, and a party of adventurers. The interior art was done by Roslof, Dee, Willingham, and
Erol Otus
Erol Otus is an American artist and game designer, known internationally for his contributions to the fantasy role-playing game (RPG) genre, especially early in the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' franchise. He is also known for his artwork on the multiple ...
. The scenario leads to a lost fortress where slaves are being kept and fattened.
Synopsis
The previous adventure ends with the capture of a map to a fortress citadel in the hills, used by the slavers as a waypoint on their route.
The A2 module gives the
Dungeon Master the option to run an overland adventure of 110 miles (177 kilometers) through the
Drachensgrab Hills to reach the fort shown on the map, or simply start the adventure with the party overlooking the fort itself. The object of the module is to enter the fort through stealthy means and slowly eliminate the slavers before a general alarm can be raised.
Eventually the group of adventurers makes their way through the fort, avoiding hobgoblin patrols, and reaches a dungeon area. After exploring the dungeons, the players eventually learn that this fort is not the headquarters of the Slave Lords. In fact, the real stronghold of the Slave Lords is located somewhere in the Drachensgrab Hills. This revelation leads the adventurers to the third installment in the series.
A3 ''Assault on the Aerie of the Slave Lords''
''Assault on the Aerie of the Slave Lords'' was published by TSR in 1981 as a 32-page booklet with an outer folder, and was written by Allen Hammack.
The cover artwork by Jeff Dee features a drawing of five of the nine ''Slave Lords''. These five are Nerelas the assassin, Mordrammo the priest, Feetla the master buccaneer, Ajakstu the
magic
Magic or Magick most commonly refers to:
* Magic (supernatural), beliefs and actions employed to influence supernatural beings and forces
* Ceremonial magic, encompasses a wide variety of rituals of magic
* Magical thinking, the belief that unrela ...
-user, and Brother Milerjoi the monk. The interior art was done by Dee, LaForce, Otus, Roslof, and Willingham. This scenario continues the characters' search for the slavers deep under the Drachensgrab Mountains.
Synopsis
The first part of the module consists of a dangerous
labyrinth
In Greek mythology, the Labyrinth (, ) was an elaborate, confusing structure designed and built by the legendary artificer Daedalus for King Minos of Crete at Knossos. Its function was to hold the Minotaur, the monster eventually killed by the ...
.
This portion of the adventure is meant to be finished within three hours, in tournament mode. It is a trap-filled, monster-heavy section used to lure the group into a secret tunnel leading to the hidden city of
Suderham.
In the second part of the adventure, the group discovers the haven of the Slave Lords, a town on an island in a volcanic crater.
This new setting, the city of Suderham, offers the players an opportunity to test their
roleplaying
Role-playing or roleplaying is the changing of one's behaviour to assume a role, either unconsciously to fill a social role, or consciously to act out an adopted role. While the ''Oxford English Dictionary'' offers a definition of role-playing as ...
skills rather than primarily focusing on combat or stealth.
The module provides a number of
non-player character
A non-player character (NPC), or non-playable character, is any character in a game that is not controlled by a player. The term originated in traditional tabletop role-playing games where it applies to characters controlled by the gamemaster o ...
s in the city with whom the players can interact and exchange information. To complete the module, the group must find one of several secret entrances to the catacombs beneath the city where the final part of the adventure plays out.
The third section of the adventure moves at a rapid pace in tournament mode, and each room encountered in the level is filled with dangerous creatures. In the final room of the section, the players are captured as a set-up for ''In the Dungeons of the Slave Lords''. If this section is played outside of a tournament, however, it is possible for the players to defeat the slavers and exit the area victorious.
A4 ''In the Dungeons of the Slave Lords''
''In the Dungeons of the Slave Lords'', the final module in the series, was published by TSR in 1981 as a 32-page booklet with an outer folder, and was written by
Lawrence Schick
Lawrence Schick is a game designer and writer associated with role-playing games.
Early life and education
Schick attended Kent State University
Kent State University (KSU) is a public research university in Kent, Ohio. The university al ...
.
The cover artwork by Erol Otus features a drawing of a group of
myconid
This is the list of ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 2nd edition monsters, an important element of that role-playing game. This list only includes monsters from official ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 2nd Edition supplements published by TSR, I ...
(fungus men) fighting a party of adventurers. The interior art was done by Otus, Roslof, Willingham,
Steve Sullivan,
David C. Sutherland III
David C. Sutherland III (April 4, 1949"United States Social Security Death Index," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JT69-9Y8 : accessed 12 Feb 2013), David C Sutherland, 6 June 2005; citing U.S. Social Security Administra ...
, and
Jean Wells
Oeva Jean Wells Koebernick (July 25, 1955 – January 25, 2012) was an American writer, artist, and editor in the field of role-playing games. She was the first female game designer to be hired by TSR, Inc. Her career at TSR stalled after sh ...
.
Synopsis
The A3 module finishes with the
player character
A player character (also known as a playable character or PC) is a fictional character in a video game or tabletop role-playing game whose actions are controlled by a player rather than the rules of the game. The characters that are not control ...
s as captives of the Slave Lords, and they begin module A4 in the same condition. The module starts with the party trapped, without any gear, deep beneath a volcanic island.
The Slave Lords have captured them, and have left them in this dark cave system to die when a volcanic eruption destroys the entire island.
Through a series of incidents they quickly find themselves free but completely bereft of equipment and spells.
The final scenario plays out as a massive earthquake threatens to bring down the tunnels around the group, and they must exit the caverns within four hours or perish in the ensuing collapse. The labyrinth is a difficult test for characters without equipment and spells, and challenges the players' wits and role-playing ability rather than focusing on traditional combat.
Once the players emerge from the caverns, they face the final test of escaping the island itself, which can be accomplished by attacking the surviving Slave Lords, escaping via a different boat, or possibly by swimming.
Pre-generated characters
Because the original modules were run as a tournament event, the compilation includes nine pre-generated
characters
Character or Characters may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Literature
* ''Character'' (novel), a 1936 Dutch novel by Ferdinand Bordewijk
* ''Characters'' (Theophrastus), a classical Greek set of character sketches attributed to The ...
for use in tournament mode. They are Elwita (dwarf fighter), Ogre (human fighter), Freda (human ranger), Karraway (human cleric), Blodgett (halfling thief), Dread Delgath (human
magic-user), Phanstern (human illusionist), Eljayess (half-elf cleric/fighter), and Kayen Telva (elf fighter/magic-user). Each of these characters has a standard list of equipment and prepared spells so that tournament players can begin the game with very little preparation.
Scoring
Due to their design for use at
Gen Con
Gen Con is the largest tabletop game convention in North America by both attendance and number of events. It features traditional pen-and-paper, board, and card games, including role-playing games, miniatures wargames, live action role-playing ...
XIII, each ''A'' series module includes a scoring scheme. This scheme essentially takes the number of surviving characters and gives them points for visiting the largest number of areas described in the adventure. Each area contains additional points available for gain or loss based on specific actions by the players.
Publication history
The A series of modules was created for tournament use at Gen Con XIII in 1980, as the ''AD&D'' Open Tournament.
The first two modules, and the first part of the third module serves as the tournament's first round, while the second part of the third module was the semifinal and the fourth module was the final round.
The modules were then expanded and published to facilitate campaign play; the original areas from the tournament are clearly marked on the maps and in the related text, and a scoring system is included for those interested in recreating the competition.
''Slave Pits of the Undercity'', for example, contains both characters that had been tested in tournament play and a tournament scoring system.
The first module was published in 1980, and the other three were published in 1981.
The omnibus A1–4 ''supermodule'' was published in 1986 as a 128-page book with a sixteen-page map booklet and a cover by
Jeff Easley
Jeff Easley (born 1954) is an oil painter who creates fantasy artwork for role-playing games, comics, and magazines, as well as non-fantasy commercial art.
Early life
Easley was born in Nicholasville, Kentucky in 1954. He spent time drawing as ...
, and was slightly revised for play by higher level characters in order for it to be used as a continuation adventure for
campaign
Campaign or The Campaign may refer to:
Types of campaigns
* Campaign, in agriculture, the period during which sugar beets are harvested and processed
*Advertising campaign, a series of advertisement messages that share a single idea and theme
* Bl ...
s beginning with supermodule T1–4 ''
The Temple of Elemental Evil
''The Temple of Elemental Evil'' is an adventure module for the fantasy role-playing game ''Dungeons & Dragons'', set in the game's ''World of Greyhawk'' campaign setting. The module was published by TSR, Inc. in 1985 for the first edition ' ...
''.
The overall campaign could then be continued into the GDQ1–7 supermodule ''
Queen of the Spiders
''Queen of the Spiders'' is an adventure module for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game. It was published by TSR, Inc. in 1986 and is a compilation of seven previous related modules, often referred to as a "supermodule." Togeth ...
''.
Design contributors to the revision (including the original module designers) were
David Cook David Cook may refer to:
Entertainment
* David Cook (game designer) (active since 1980s), American game designer for TSR
* David Cook (singer) (born 1982), winner of the seventh season of ''American Idol''
* David Cook (writer) (1940–2015), Briti ...
, Allen Hammack,
Harold Johnson,
Tom Moldvay
Thomas Steven Moldvay (Nov. 5, 1948 – March 9, 2007) was an American game designer and author, best known for his work on early materials for the fantasy role-playing game ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (D&D).
Career
During the 1970s while a stude ...
,
Lawrence Schick
Lawrence Schick is a game designer and writer associated with role-playing games.
Early life and education
Schick attended Kent State University
Kent State University (KSU) is a public research university in Kent, Ohio. The university al ...
, and Edward Carmien.
Cook did the revision, and editing was by Johnson,
Jon Pickens
Jon Pickens is an American game designer and editor who has worked on numerous products for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game from TSR and later Wizards of the Coast.
Early life and education
Jon Pickens was born in Mishawak ...
, Brian Pitzer, Edward G. Sollers,
Stephen D. Sullivan
Stephen D. Sullivan is an American author and artist.
Career
Sullivan taught a course in ''Dungeons & Dragons'' at MIT the first of its kind in the country. Sullivan worked for TSR as a writer and artist. Sullivan joined CEO John Rickets, Ma ...
, and
Steve Winter
Steve Winter (born December 8, 1957) is an American game designer who worked on numerous products for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game, which was originally published by TSR and later Wizards of the Coast.
Early life
Winter ...
.
In 2000,
Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast LLC (often referred to as WotC or simply Wizards) is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and List of science fiction themes, science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for ga ...
released ''
Slavers'', a sequel adventure for
2nd edition ''AD&D'' rules. The sequel is also set in ''Greyhawk'', and takes place ten years after the conclusion of the events in A1–4.
In 2002,
Kenzer and Company
Kenzer & Company (KenzerCo) is a Waukegan, Illinois based publisher of comic books, role-playing games, board games, card games, and miniature games.
They are known for the ''Kingdoms of Kalamar'' campaign setting and for their own ''HackMaster ...
published a ''
HackMaster
HackMaster is a fantasy role-playing game produced by Kenzer & Company. It began as a fictional game, a parody of ''Dungeons & Dragons'' played by the characters of the ''Knights of the Dinner Table'' comic strip by Jolly R. Blackburn. The ...
'' module based on ''Scourge of the Slave Lords'', named ''Smackdown the Slavers''.
All four modules of the A-series were included as part of the ''Against the Slave Lords'' hardcover collection, released on June 18, 2013. Also included is an all-new fifth adventure -- ''A0: Danger at Darkshelf Quarry''. The hardcover includes a foreword written by each of the four surviving designers of the original modules. David Cook writes: "In the early days of TSR, we were still feeling things out, learning what we could and couldn't do. It was in a previous GEN CON Game Fair that we had heard murmurs that the ''AD&D'' tournament needed some work. We hadn't realized until then how much the tournament could be, should be, a showcase event. The players who came to Wisconsin deserved a deliberately crafted experience, something that could show TSR and ''AD&D'' in the best possible way."
Harold Johnson writes: "Our goal was to provide a model for a new type of adventure that encouraged DMs to use strategy to challenge the players to think. Up to this point, adventures presented monsters that attacked and fought to the death. We wanted to show that even weak monsters could be dangerous when played intelligently."
Allen Hammack writes: "Some people have asked about names in the modules. Yes, I have fun with words. Combining Latin and Greek, pulling player and character names from my campaign, and twisting the results so they sounded right when I heard them—all were in the bag of tricks. "Suderham," for example, combined elements that to me meant "south home" (a nod to my Alabama roots), and was also a tip of the hat to my artist friend, the late, great Dave Sutherland. 'Ayares the Cutpurse' reflected my long-standing annoyance with the Internal Revenue Service."
Lawrence Schick writes that he was inspired by an idea from Harold Johnson: "In his campaign one night, Harold had our characters get captured, whereupon he took away all our stuff and threw us in a dungeon. The challenge: escape without relying on all our carefully hoarded adventuring gear. Were our characters people with skills and brains, or were they really just lists of equipment?"
The original TSR product codes for modules A1, A2, A3 and A4 are 9039, 9040, 9041, and 9042 respectively.
Reception
Elisabeth Barrington reviewed ''Slave Pits of the Undercity'' in 1981, in ''
The Space Gamer
''The Space Gamer'' was a magazine dedicated to the subject of science fiction and fantasy board games and tabletop role-playing games. It quickly grew in importance and was an important and influential magazine in its subject matter from the la ...
'' No. 35.
She felt that the art was neat and organized, and on par with other art from TSR, although she felt that the maps required thorough study before play, as they are slightly too small for quick reference. Barrington felt that the module would not require much re-working, stating that it is "Recommended as is for ''AD&D'' enthusiasts."
Anders Swenson reviewed ''Slave Pits of the Undercity'' for ''
Different Worlds
''Different Worlds'' was an American role-playing games magazine published from 1979 to 1987.
Scope
''Different Worlds'' published support articles, scenarios, and variants for various role-playing games including ''Dungeons & Dragons'', ''Ru ...
'' magazine and stated that "''Slave Pits of the Undercity'' is a reasonable adventure. If you like to purchase published modules for your campaign, you will probably find that the quality of this adventure compensates for its relative brevity, considering the price."
Lawrence Schick
Lawrence Schick is a game designer and writer associated with role-playing games.
Early life and education
Schick attended Kent State University
Kent State University (KSU) is a public research university in Kent, Ohio. The university al ...
, in his 1991 book ''Heroic Worlds'' notes that ''Slave Pits of the Undercity'' has "Some ingenious situations."
''Dungeon Master for Dummies'' lists ''Slave Pits of the Undercity'' as one of the ten best classic adventures.
According to Lev Lafayette of
RPGNet
RPGnet is a role-playing game website. It includes sections on wargaming, wargames, tabletop games and video games, as well as columns on gaming topics.
RPGnet was founded in 1996 by Emma and Sandy Antunes, Shawn Althouse ( etrigan) and Brian Dav ...
, ''Slave Pits of the Undercity'' is a fairly good
dungeon crawl
A dungeon crawl is a type of scenario in fantasy role-playing games in which heroes navigate a labyrinth environment (a "dungeon"), battling various monsters, avoiding traps, solving puzzles, and looting any treasure they may find. Video games an ...
. It has problems, such as a too-small font and underdeveloped storyline. On the other hand, Lafayette felt that its difficulty was appropriate for characters level 4–7, and that the tournament scoring system worked well.
Lafayette called ''Secret of the Slavers Stockade'' "the low point of the four A series modules". Although he liked that it had forty pages, he also felt the artwork was sparse, and that the module was overly difficult for its intended character levels.
''Secret of the Slavers' Stockade'' was reviewed in ''
Different Worlds
''Different Worlds'' was an American role-playing games magazine published from 1979 to 1987.
Scope
''Different Worlds'' published support articles, scenarios, and variants for various role-playing games including ''Dungeons & Dragons'', ''Ru ...
'' magazine in November 1981. The reviewer complained that the module was poorly edited, and that it would have been easier to use with a roster of monsters provided. However, he said the module was "reasonably well done" overall, and a "good, workman-like" adventure. He praised the development of the antagonists and the care to characterize the reactions of the various monsters.
All four modules were reviewed by
in issue No. 33 of ''
White Dwarf
A white dwarf is a stellar core remnant composed mostly of electron-degenerate matter. A white dwarf is very dense: its mass is comparable to the Sun's, while its volume is comparable to the Earth's. A white dwarf's faint luminosity comes fro ...
'' magazine, who scored them 7 out of 10 as a whole, and reported A4 as the best adventure. He felt they were tough and held some surprises for players used to hack-and-slash dungeons. He also said
Dungeon Masters needed to be creative and adaptive in describing dungeon rooms and remember that the occupants were dynamic and reacted to characters. Bambra was very critical of the editing done on the modules and pointed out several mistakes, concluding that "these modules should never have been released with such errors".
Ken Rolston
Ken Rolston is an American computer game and role-playing game (pen and paper), role-playing game designer best known for his work with West End Games and on the computer game series ''The Elder Scrolls''. In February 2007, he elected to join th ...
reviewed ''Scourge of the Slavelords'' for ''
Dragon
A dragon is a reptilian legendary creature that appears in the folklore of many cultures worldwide. Beliefs about dragons vary considerably through regions, but dragons in western cultures since the High Middle Ages have often been depicted as ...
'' magazine #133 (May 1988).
Rolston felt that a lot of the new material added to develop the Slavelords campaign was "quite good, particularly the first two new chapters of campaign material which bring the characters up to the original A1-4 scenarios".
He noted that the scenarios from the four original tournament designs were mostly unchanged, and that the designs are "superior examples of their genre, though some are more suited to campaign play".
He concluded the review with an evaluation stating: "The quality of the new campaign material varies from excellent to acceptable, but at its best, it’s really satisfying. As a campaign pack, we’re talking a minimum of nine big gaming sessions (and probably more; if the DM develops the campaign outlines and additional encounters). It’s occasionally clumsy and unconvincing, but what it lacks in polish and refinement it makes up for in sheer mass, energy, and fiendishness."
''Scourge of the Slave Lords'' was ranked the 20th greatest ''Dungeons & Dragons'' adventure of all time by ''
Dungeon
A dungeon is a room or cell in which prisoners are held, especially underground. Dungeons are generally associated with medieval castles, though their association with torture probably belongs more to the Renaissance period. An oubliette (from ...
'' magazine in 2004.
Notes
References
*
Cook, David, Allen Hammack,
Harold Johnson,
Tom Moldvay
Thomas Steven Moldvay (Nov. 5, 1948 – March 9, 2007) was an American game designer and author, best known for his work on early materials for the fantasy role-playing game ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (D&D).
Career
During the 1970s while a stude ...
,
Lawrence Schick
Lawrence Schick is a game designer and writer associated with role-playing games.
Early life and education
Schick attended Kent State University
Kent State University (KSU) is a public research university in Kent, Ohio. The university al ...
, and Edward Carmien. ''Scourge of the Slave Lords'' (TSR, 1986), .
;Reviews:
* Assault on the Aerie of the Slave Lords: ''Different Worlds'' #17 (1981), ''Shadis'' #32 (1996)
* In the Dungeons of the Slave Lords: ''Different Worlds'' #17 (1981), ''Shadis'' #33 (1996)
External links
Aerie Seriesat Acaeum.com
at the TSR Archive
Slave Pits of the Undercityat the Pen & Paper RPG Database
Secret of the Slavers Stockadeat the Pen & Paper RPG Database
Assault on the Aerie of the Slave Lordsat the Pen & Paper RPG Database
In the Dungeons of the Slave Lordsat the Pen & Paper RPG Database
{{DEFAULTSORT:Scourge Of The Slave Lords
Greyhawk modules
Role-playing game supplements introduced in 1986