H1 ''Bloodstone Pass'' is an adventure

module Module, modular and modularity may refer to the concept of modularity. They may also refer to: Computing and engineering * Modular design, the engineering discipline of designing complex devices using separately designed sub-components * Mo ...

for the first edition of the ''

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Several different editions of the '' Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D'') fantasy role-playing game have been produced since 1974. The current publisher of ''D&D'', Wizards of the Coast, produces new materials only for the most current edition of the ...

'' (''D&D'') fantasy role-playing game. It was written by

Douglas Niles Douglas Niles (born December 1, 1954, in Brookfield, Wisconsin) is a fantasy author and game designer. Niles was one of the creators of the Dragonlance world and the author of the first three Forgotten Realms novels, the ''Star Frontiers'' space ...

and Michael Dobson and 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 1985. While it contained some traditional ''D&D'' elements, the main portion of the module was a series of mass battles using the ''D&D''

Battlesystem ''Battlesystem'' is a tabletop miniature wargame designed as a supplement for use with the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' role-playing game. The original ''Battlesystem'' was printed as a boxed set in 1985 for use with the first edition ''AD&D'' rules. F ...

Plot summary

''Bloodstone Pass'' is an adventure with both a role-playing scenario and

combat, in which the town of Bloodstone Pass hires the player characters to organize a defense against an army of evil humanoid monsters. The army also included human renegades led by a powerful

assassin Assassination is the murder of a prominent or important person, such as a head of state, head of government, politician, world leader, member of a royal family or CEO. The murder of a celebrity, activist, or artist, though they may not have a ...

. The module's action focuses on leading the armies rather than having the battle occur in the background while the players adventure to find a

MacGuffin In fiction, a MacGuffin (sometimes McGuffin) is an object, device, or event that is necessary to the plot and the motivation of the characters, but insignificant, unimportant, or irrelevant in itself. The term was originated by Angus MacPhail for ...

Publication history

''Bloodstone Pass'' was originally the working name of what became the first edition of Battlesystem. However, it was felt that the name did not convey the feeling of the system. After the developers had settled on the name Battlesystem, they used the "Bloodstone Pass" name for the first Battlesystem game accessory. ''Bloodstone Pass'' was written by

and Michael Dobson and published by

, in 1985 as a boxed set. The set included a 32-page scenario booklet, a 24-page unit roster, a model-building instruction booklet, 12 cardstock building sheets for constructing a fold-together cardboard village and miniature figures, and 104 cardboard counters. Cover art was 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 ...

. Originally intended as a stand-alone module, it later became the first part of the four-part Bloodstone Pass Saga. The saga is known as the H series and includes ''Bloodstone Pass'' (H1), '' The Mines of Bloodstone'' (H2), '' The Bloodstone Wars'' (H3), and '' The Throne of Bloodstone'' (H4). When ''The Bloodstone Wars'' was published, the original generic setting of ''Bloodstone Pass'' was

retconned Retroactive continuity, or retcon for short, is a literary device in which established diegetic facts in the plot of a fictional work (those established through the narrative itself) are adjusted, ignored, supplemented, or contradicted by a subse ...

into the

Forgotten Realms ''Forgotten Realms'' is a campaign setting for the '' Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D'') fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as ...

campaign setting. Module FR9, ''

The Bloodstone Lands ''The Bloodstone Lands'' is a module for the ''Forgotten Realms'' campaign setting for the 2nd edition of ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons''. It is also known by its product code FR9. Contents The book primarily details the two states of Vaasa and ...

'', describes the area of the Forgotten Realms where the Bloodstone Pass Saga occurs. In this module's version of history the events of H series modules have run their course with the pregenerated PCs.

Reception

Ken Rolston Ken Rolston is an American computer game and 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 the staff of computer games company B ...

reviewed ''Bloodstone Pass'' for '' Dragon'' magazine #135 (July 1988). He called it a "real nice package" but noted that, because it was designed for use with Battlesystem, "the buildings are not even close to 25mm scale". Rich Baker, one of the designers of the 2006 module '' Red Hand of Doom'', compared that adventure to ''Bloodstone Pass'', saying they provide similar challenges to players.

Notes

References

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External links