Hey all,

I have recently got a HUGE (and I mean it) bunch of TSR PDFs of the BECMI D&D. With the rule books came an enormous lot of modules. I'm delighted.

Question is, for those who are knowledgeable on the old modules: I have all the modules, B1 to B12. Several of this are generic, while others are linked to the official D&D world (Karameikos, mostly). Also, I have a compilation of the modules B1 to B9 called In Search of Adventure. This compilation is supposed to be a rewriting of all the 9 modules so they create a coherent framework for a campaign, and also it ties all of them to Karameikos. In case I decided to run a campaign using the B modules, what would be better? Run the modules one by one, or just run In Search of Adventure?

It seems that the compilationleaves a bit of material out of each module to make them fit better. Thus, I can't decide.

Help me make a good decision!

I don't have the compilation, but I had to wonder how a party can go through nine level 1-3 adventures, that take several sessions each, and still be level 3 by the end.

My advice on B modules is to just go with B10. It's basically a campaign for level 1-5. And it's a great dungeon. After that you could tailor B1 to a level 5 PCs, or go right into one of the X-series dungeons.

In Search of Adventure was a compilation made after the fact with a sort of narrative thread grafted on to tie them all together.  They weren't written as a continuing story.

There's also stuff missing from B1-9 that's in the stand alone adventures.  In B5 the entire surface of the Hill is missing - which is one of my favourite parts of any of the old modules.

Use the standalones rather than the B1-9 compilation, too.  The compilers cut a lot out of the originals (no keep in Keep on the Borderlands, just the Map from B1, etc.).

Quote from: Imperator;301221Hey all,

I have recently got a HUGE (and I mean it) bunch of TSR PDFs of the BECMI D&D. With the rule books came an enormous lot of modules. I'm delighted.

Question is, for those who are knowledgeable on the old modules: I have all the modules, B1 to B12. Several of this are generic, while others are linked to the official D&D world (Karameikos, mostly). Also, I have a compilation of the modules B1 to B9 called In Search of Adventure. This compilation is supposed to be a rewriting of all the 9 modules so they create a coherent framework for a campaign, and also it ties all of them to Karameikos. In case I decided to run a campaign using the B modules, what would be better? Run the modules one by one, or just run In Search of Adventure?

It seems that the compilationleaves a bit of material out of each module to make them fit better. Thus, I can't decide.

Help me make a good decision!

Assuming the same group of characters, you'll only get through 2 or 3 of them before the characters outlevel them.

In Search of Adventure doesn't really string the modules together very well.  I'd recommend pulling a Carl Macek.

In other words, look over all the modules.  Find what you like.  Then try to retrofit some kind of framework around it.  That's all that In Search of Adventure really did, because NONE of these adventures are supposed to be run as a sequel to another.  Most of them are intended to advance a party from 1st to 3rd level in one module so they can get down to REAL adventuring in the X modules.

I've always been fond of Palace of the Silver Princess, although it's a pretty random one.  Historically I've used Keep on the Borderlands as an emergency lair generator.  

I played Journey to the Rock once.  I think it was one of the silliest modules I've ever played.  Although, I think it could be made more interesting if you  add and really play up the idea that the patron Wizard is a prankster intentionally screwing with the PCs' heads.

I'd use the original modules and build the campaign organically, through actual play, from there rather than just run In Search of Adventure, since the latter is a compilation that often eliminates some elements from the original modules, and not always for the better.

Wow, amazing! Thanks for the quick responses!

Yes, my main concern is how quickly the PCs will outlevel the modules. PC progression seems to be quite slow, though, and I remember having to play for a really long time to reach Expert level (but I was 9, so don't trust me on that).

I will probably follow your advice and do one of these things:

a) Run B10 and forget about that. Haffrung's advice is really sound and B10 seems more coherent. Thing is, I would really like to run B2
b) Use the ideas of In Search of Adventure to graft together the modules B1-B9, but using the stuff of the standalone adventures.
c) Send everything to fucking hell, get a map of Karameikos and just create this enormous sandbox and let them go wherever the fuck they want.

Option c is the winning one these days. Problem is finding the time to also start this game, with 3 games already up and running. Fuck.

Quote from: Imperator;301243Option c is the winning one these days. Problem is finding the time to also start this game, with 3 games already up and running. Fuck.

I wish I had your problems...then again, prepping and running 1 game in between all the other stuff going on is more than enough for me at this point.

Quote from: Imperator;301243...
a) Run B10 and forget about that. Haffrung's advice is really sound and B10 seems more coherent. Thing is, I would really like to run B2
...

B10 is probably my favourite module of all time.  However, I would not start a new party with B10.  PCs should be at least second level, otherwise expect a TPK.

Starting with B2 and following up with B10 would be a good way to go!

Quote from: Imperator;301243...
b) Use the ideas of In Search of Adventure to graft together the modules B1-B9, but using the stuff of the standalone adventures.
c) Send everything to fucking hell, get a map of Karameikos and just create this enormous sandbox and let them go wherever the fuck they want.
...

B1-9 is actually designed as a quasi-sandbox setting.  There are three different 'paths' that the PCs are free to choose from (and some variation with each 'path').  

B1-9 assumes that PCs will actually only play 2 or so adventures (trimmed down B modules) before proceeding to the conclusion ('The Veiled Society', originally B6 iirc).

Quote from: KenHR;301248I wish I had your problems...then again, prepping and running 1 game in between all the other stuff going on is more than enough for me at this point.

Oh, don't get me wrong. I don't get so much gaming over the week I wish I would.

I have two alternating games on Sundays. One week we're playing RQ Vikings, the other we play Esoterrorists. But we only do one of those.

From time to time (every 3-4 weeks) my other crew manages to scheule a Friday for a historical RQ campaign, but that's sparse. And sometimes my g/f and me play some one-on-one, usually James Bond 007. So, most weeks it's one game for me, maybe two.

Quote from: Akrasia;301299B10 is probably my favourite module of all time.  However, I would not start a new party with B10.  PCs should be at least second level, otherwise expect a TPK.

Starting with B2 and following up with B10 would be a good way to go!

Quote from: Akrasia;301303B1-9 is actually designed as a quasi-sandbox setting.  There are three different 'paths' that the PCs are free to choose from (and some variation with each 'path').  

B1-9 assumes that PCs will actually only play 2 or so adventures (trimmed down B modules) before proceeding to the conclusion ('The Veiled Society', originally B6 iirc).

Yeah, excellent advice. But, from what I'm reading, it would better serve my purposes to just use the Karameikos map in B1-B9 to locate the different modules, start the PCs at Threshold, and let them run amok as they please. Then, I would keep B10 for the moment they reach level 3 and arready to jump to Expert goodness.

Quote from: Imperator;301483Yeah, excellent advice. But, from what I'm reading, it would better serve my purposes to just use the Karameikos map in B1-B9 to locate the different modules, start the PCs at Threshold, and let them run amok as they please. Then, I would keep B10 for the moment they reach level 3 and arready to jump to Expert goodness.

That sounds awesome.

Quote from: KenHR;301228Use the standalones rather than the B1-9 compilation, too.  The compilers cut a lot out of the originals (no keep in Keep on the Borderlands, just the Map from B1, etc.).

I concur

In with another "use the modules, not the compilation" vote here.

There's so much good stuff in B1 and B2 that got cut out for that weird supermodule...

Quote from: Benoist;373253That sounds awesome.

Thank you.

As I said before, things have changed a bit. I'm not using Mystara for this concrete game, because I wanted to capture the feel of an implicit setting more than a explicit one.

So, as these days my missus is playing heavily TES IV: Oblivion and the game box brings a beautiful map of the imperial province where the game is set, I decided I would set the Keep on the frontier, near a place called The Black Marsh, because it sounds quite metal. I'm NOT setting the game in Oblivion's world, I'm just using the map, and mining this beauty for pictures of places, NPCs and the like.

I'll save using Mystara for other campaign. I have all the Gazeteers, after all