Came home from my road trip and found my pre-ordered Slaver's Hardback had arrived.  This was the one with all four A1-A4 modules compiled into one hardback, plus the introductory A0 prequel module.

As far as book quality goes, it's good.  Just like the AD&D reprints.  All four of the orignal modules have original artwork and only minor formatting changes to make it fit the pages.  After each module are the maps for that module; they are not all located in the back in an appendix.

One interesting thing is that there are dozens of fan art illustrations at the back from the series.  It was sort of neat to see one and say, "I know that guy!"

I do wish they had something where if you bought the hardback, you could download pdfs of the maps.  Because the maps are in the book and can't be removed, it's a pain to keep flipping back and forth between a map and where you're at in the actual adventure.

Additionally, the back sleeve of the book says, "Compatible with D&D Next."  While the most recent playtest package has monster stats for the A0-A4 modules, there are no guidelines on how to handle certain situations like saving throws vs. poison or paralysis, converting magic items to be useable in Next, and converting spells that don't appear in Next.  For an experienced DM, it's not that hard to just come up with something, but for a newbie it might be challenging.

I haven't played A0 yet, so this is just my opinion on an intial review.

Curious to see what it looks like. I've just seen, last night, Unearthed Arcana and the earlier dungeon one (the one with Tomb of Horrors), for the first time.  They both looked great.

Though I haven't picked up the rulebooks (as my existing 1e and OSRIC books are fine), I did grab the S1-4 reprint and was impressed. I will likely pick this up too.

Any impressions on the A0 add on?

Quote from: Skywalker;665718Though I haven't picked up the rulebooks (as my existing 1e and OSRIC books are fine), I did grab the S1-4 reprint and was impressed. I will likely pick this up too.

Any impressions on the A0 add on?

I read through A0...it's okay. I'm not a huge fan of the A-series in the first place, so my opinion is probably skewed.

I haven't read A0 in detail but skimming through it reads a lot like a module written late in the life of first edition AD&D.

Yeah, A1-A4 are nice, but I don't see myself shelling out $40 for four modules I already own an a "Next Compatible" module that as estar says may be about the same speed as Puppets, Gargoyle or Castle Greyhawk.

Quote from: estar;665738I haven't read A0 in detail but skimming through it reads a lot like a module written late in the life of first edition AD&D.

Yeah, after reading A0, it's definitely got that 1980s AD&D module feel to it.

Quote from: thedungeondelver;665740Yeah, A1-A4 are nice, but I don't see myself shelling out $40 for four modules I already own an a "Next Compatible" module that as estar says may be about the same speed as Puppets, Gargoyle or Castle Greyhawk.

They said they are Next compatible only because in the playtest packet there are Next monster blocks.  A0 is a complete AD&D1e module, and is written that way.

Quote from: Sacrosanct;665755Yeah, after reading A0, it's definitely got that 1980s AD&D module feel to it.



They said they are Next compatible only because in the playtest packet there are Next monster blocks.  A0 is a complete AD&D1e module, and is written that way.

Okay, gotcha.

Quote from: thedungeondelver;665762Okay, gotcha.

Yeah it's a late first ed type module which adhered somewhat to the original tournament structure to ensure it'd fit with the other modules. Take that as you will.

Did A0 provide lower level versions of the series pregens? ( Freda, Elwitta, Blodgett & the gang)

That would be cool.

Quote from: Exploderwizard;665782Did A0 provide lower level versions of the series pregens? ( Freda, Elwitta, Blodgett & the gang)

That would be cool.

Nope.  Those Pregens were the same level all throughout the series, which I always thought was a bit odd, but they do not appear in A0.

Quote from: Benoist;665780Yeah it's a late first ed type module which adhered somewhat to the original tournament structure to ensure it'd fit with the other modules. Take that as you will.

That sounds awesome. I was worried it may stick out from the other 4.