RPG Retro Review: D1-2 Descent into the Depths of the Earth
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- Опубліковано 3 кві 2016
- Back again, this time with an indepth look at the classic adventure module D1-2 Descent into the Depths of the Earth. Lots of old school goodness here! Check it out!
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I think we tend to forget that gygax meant for high level chars to have followers. In that edition a 9th level fighter may have up to like a dozen henchmen following him, with highest being like a 7th level fighter.
Now extrapolate that with a group of players 6 deep….that’s a party of close to 40 people
Henchmen and Hirelings.... People just don't realize how undersized the modern D&D party is.
@@swirvinbirds1971 just look at some of the modules, like hill giant steading, it’s got like 40 hill giants in it, lol.
You’d have to have more than 6 peeps
I just made a WIS check, and so I think that the Kuo-Toans god's name, Blidoolpoolp, isn't supposed to be pronounced like a name but said as a sound effect for bubbles underwater.
Absolutely! The human tongue is simply not equipped to pronounce such a name which is meant to be spoken underwater, by a water dwelling race.
Correct
We run these with an adaptation for 5e and although we were overlevel compared to the original, huge fights breaking out resulting in mass and wholesale slaughter were the high points of both the caves and the shrine! The amount of firestorms, fireballs and general shenanigans by the casters gave us all a number of very fullfilling sessions!
I miss the gritty older style dungeons and dragons, the new one is too bright and almost marvel like. Just looking at the old book covers for dragon lance as a example, so nice.
Another idea, which struck as SO rude. "Yes, we're surface people. We need to trade to trade about a years' worth of pearls, for equivalent goodies." Koa-Toans: "Pearls? A dozen months' worth? < shock > Drool."
I'm sorry I discovered these videos so late.
When I was a teenager I spent hours building extra areas for that hexagonal map... We played some of them and the players were happy with the whole thing. TSR changed after that though, they seemed to abandon Greyhawk and branch out in all sorts of directions.
As you surely know D3 had its own monochrome publication as well.
Such a shame, too. As someone who has only played modern DND settings, I look back at Greyhawk as a major lost opportunity. I find Faerun lacking in terms of any realism. The Sword Coast seems to be the default setting for DND these days, and it is just awful. It makes no sense. You have 1 major city, and a smaller city, but there are vast lands with a few villages that seemingly have no rulership beyond like, a local lord or mayor.
The writers were literally too lazy to even name the days of the week. They just called everything "tendays" and named the months... wtf? How are people supposed to schedule anything that way?!
These videos are always a pleasure to watch and it's so awesome how in depth your analysis of the individual elements is. Even though I have never played the mods it gives me a great deal of insight into the origins of the game. I hope this series keeps coming along, keep up the great work cap'n
I have always loved the Drow series of adventures in 1st Edition. They were new, dangerous, and had an air of "Oh crap, we are in trouble" whenever they made an appearance. My players are working their way through Against The Giants (Yawning Portal) and I plan to modify D1-2 and D3 for 5th Edition so they can continue on as they were meant to. Love these old school module reviews! Keep up the good work. I await your next video.
Excellent review Capt! I always get excited to see your retro reviews and looking forward to The Vault and Demon web pit. Thanks for all the hard work that you put into your videos. Always a blast to watch : D
What a great review! And I love your tips for running it, as well as adding history and your feelings about the product itself. Many of us already know about these things and it really sucks when folks who talk about them don't interject their personal experiences or feelings and just state the obvious. I think that we can all learn a lot from you! You've got a great formula. BTW, I also love it when you try to get your mouth around those impossible to pronounce words that D&D likes to throw at us. Keep up the great work and can't wait for your next review!
Somehow this module series was absent from my digital collection. Thanks for bringing it to my attention, the issue has been rectified. Great video, keep it up!
Ya, my party killed / destroyed the Lich. And that surprise treasure was good laugh! It didn't tickle my Cleric in the party one bit...
Great reviews from the past couple weeks man! I see the Queen and her people's vault in the future to complete this amazing supermodule.
Really enjoy these video analysis/reviews, Capt!
Ah, the good old days. Yes, the Caverns/Warrens are far too overpopulated. I thought that from when I first got it in the 70's. Also, the same with the important details hidden in the text of D2. The best way to play the Shrine, is to NOT fight, but instead play it as a powerful party on important business dealings. And huckster your way through it.
Just waiting on my G1-3, D1-2, D3, Q1 to arrive as POD!
POD is wonderful. Allowing these classic modules to be rediscovered once more. Hope your group has fun!
Looking forward to seeing more of your videos!
Really liking the music to your videos.
SUPER review and video! I like what you had to say about depopulating that cavern portion. I once designed a simple low-level module involving a pyramid with 3 levels. The hardest part was designing the population and ecology. What could live in areas and not have to run into each other constantly?...respect each other's boundaries?...be able to co-exist? In other words, find that what-makes-sense line that some modules don't have.
The good news is that all DMs need to do is to activate DM rule #1 and any module can be modified to work better and to work better for the group's PCs. Lots of DM satisfaction comes from these things. I played this module in the early 80s and it was very tough.
another great retro video! I'm a huge fan.
Just ran this, thank you for making this video it was instrumental in my preparation
Glad I could help!
I bid on this module on Ebay today. Three hours left, so far I'm winning!
I enjoy your videos. Keep up the good work. If you could do more with the historical context and how these works influenced future work that would be great. But that might be tough, too. :-)
+John Smith I love the history of modules. The D&D Classics website (DriveThru, now Dungeon Masters Guild) not only sells PDF versions of modules, but they also research and write about the history of almost every D&D product dating back to the original box sets. I can sit for hours reading their write-ups. captcorajus does a great job too!
Really enjoy the reviews and this series (G1-3, D1-3, and the queen of the demon web pits) are my favourite of all the modules produced.
I would say that your point about depopulating the descent areas is spot on but I got rid of the Lich because it just seems silly that a genius or supra genius monster would be just hanging out in a cave complex like that - unless it’s the “down on it’s luck” sorry state lich. ;)
I'm glad to see more retro reviews.
I do have a few questions for you.
Have you ever read the Best of Dragon magazine books? If so, what did you think of them for AD&D?
This was the first module that I bought. So many memories.Over the years, I've always wondered why the madness of the Kuo-toa was so important. The madness is a great story element, but there was nothing tangible to make the players fear them or second guess their actions.
I'm doing a 3e conversion, and I'm planning on creating new abilities for the Kuo-toa madness. Imagine turning a slimy, dark corner in the shrine, ready to do battle with a statistically inferior school of fish men. As you raise your weapons, the Kuo-toa begin to tremble and bob up and down, eyes glazing over. They begin making strange humming and gulping sounds. Your mind fills with madness. "Who are these strange people around me!? Maybe I should hurt them. Maybe I should hurt myself…"
That and I plan on adding a mutagenic disease mechanic. Festering tentacles! I can't imagine a place that adventurers who are used to a straight up hack and slash will want to flee from faster.
I love your videos just like everyone else. Keep up the good work!
Outstanding series of reviews once again sir! Yes, it did indeed seem as though Gygax seeded the adventures with just enough info and backstory to ignite the DM's imagination and to inspire creativity. Gotta remember there was no internet, less access to video games, etc back then. So, the DM actually could invest leisure time in crafting his/her worlds. I know I personally got SO MUCH sandbox mileage out of G1-3 and D1-3 back in the day; using them in a series or as single starting points for many, many adventures. They continue to serve nobly. My current adventure has the players trapped underground in the wake of the volcanic eruption that takes place at the end of module a4 (we've been playing a loose adaptation of the slaver series for over a year now) and this has led them into confrontations with King Snuure's people...from there it will be Kua-Toa & ultimately Drow time. .But I digress... Again, thanks so much for such a wonderful series of reviews and old-school goodness. M.
+MARSHOMEWORLD Thanks a lot, and good stuff on your campaign!
Mars
Seems we think alike lol
+Sean Z indeed we do
6:40 - It's a toss up between this and Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth when it comes to this actually valid criticism of Gygax's adventures.
You gotta be CAREFUL in this module! Blib is the goddess of insanity! Keep a small stock of pearls, BEFORE you advance from D1.
Yep, you know it!!
Me and others might be interested in watching people play some of these old modules, maybe even if its just audio, Dunno if i that would have copyright troubles, I've seen bits of youtube videos of people playing a module, usually by some 'teleconferencing' method - dunno if it was illegal, though.
Looking forward to D3
Hey capt, have you read the "Hawk and Moor" books? and if so or if you plan to. could you do like a mega review of the cornucopia of information on those books. maybe a multi part review series.
From talking with Gygax on the original ENWorld back in the day, I think you give him more credit than he deserves to why the module wasn't fleshed out/lacked detail especially with the first modules. It was less about respect and more about him wanting to crank out fast dungeon crawls for the CONs which really didn't have time for Roleplay elements and his lack of really wanting his stuff out there. He had an almost duel personality when it game to 1E D&D stuff. Beyond that, great review.
Well, I may very well have, but, you know.... I have the master DM the benefit of the double. right? Lol
Could you elaborate on Gygax's dual personality?
Great stuff! Intro is dynamite
keep it up dude!
Do NOT mess with the statue of the sea mother - it would be bad!
"Blibbbbbb"
"doooooooolllll"
"poooooooolp. Uh oh-"
Capt. Corajus, have you any experience with Dragonlance? I'd love to see a review on the DL series of modules.
+James 0 I'm sorry to say, no, I never delved too deeply into DL. A DM friend of mine loved it, and I played in enough adventures to be familiar with the setting, but not at all as familiar with the history, and trivia like I am with the older modules.
What was your favorite campaign setting?
. YES..!!!!. loved this
My problem with this module has always been what is the motivation for the players and the module never gives you one. I had a group of players when confronted with a city full of weird fishmen, decided they just didn't want to bother with it at all.
Early modules were merely adventure locales presented for DMs to flesh out as desired.
The “motivations” to adventure there are the domain of the DM and the Players entirely, and by design.
In other words: this is a feature, not a bug!
What videos do you have coming up that we can look forward to?
+James 0 Glad you are enjoying! Well, on the burner I have D3 Vault of the Drow, Q1 Queen of the Demonweb pits, a full 5E D&D review, and a classic call of Cthulhu review of masks of nyarlathotep
I love their goddess, looking back on it. I think they had the wrong idea. She's clearly grooving along to some seventies music. She has no idea they are worshipping her, no malice. She just wants to bop along to Abba.
Rathgar. Bad news for the next few days, you will be known as minion #4. Oh great adventurer are coming.
lol, that's hilarious!
When is the next video Capt? I have been waiting in anticipation. Oh and will you be seeing the guys from acquisitions inc this Sunday?
+Reagan L Smith come SOON. I got the first page of the script done today, and I've been making slides over the last week. Between Monday and Wednesday you should see the retro review on D3 out!!
What going on with Acquisitions Inc? I'm not aware. Fill me in! Sunday is the premier of Game of Thrones so... THAT'S what I'll be doing. lol.
captcorajus Sweet D3 can't wait. And I know how scripts are, I have been writing one for college this past week. Their tough. Anyway, Acquisitions inc are starting a new adventure this sunday. I think its curse of strahd.
Reagan L Smith Oh! Cool. I'm reading the 'death house' as I write this. Heard it was a meat grinder and wanted to check it out. I'll be sure to check it out on youtube. Thanks for the heads up!
captcorajus Cool and anyway can't wait for D3 and palace of the vampire queen.
Hey Cap'n, have you heard of Heroes Unlimited or Car Wars? I would love to see a video on those games!
Those are both great games. I'l see what I can do.
Love cars wars haven't played that game in 20 yrs
Party panicked, hung a sharp left and accidentally bypassed the Caverns via the unmapped zone. Most ot them made it out the web.
Missing your videos, man. Hope you're okay.
I'm fine, thank you for asking. Its been an exceptionally busy season this year for my Dee Jay business. I plan on releasing several videos very soon!
Do you think you will review Dungeonland some day?
I'll be honest, its not on my radar. I never played it, and as I've said to other commenters I tend to stick with those things that I'm really familiar with and have experience with, so I can speak with expertise.
I've just finished the narration for D3 Vault of the drow, and that should be out this week. Coming up, Q1 Queen of the Demonweb Pits, I've got a 5E review and Masks of Nyralathhotep.
Will you do a review on dungeon crawl classics? I think it may be the best retro ever...
One of the qualifiers for me to do a review is that I've had to have played it, or have some expertise in it, so that I can speak intelligently about it. I've only skimmed through the basics of the thing, and I've noticed it has gotten good reviews.
Unfortunately, I don't see how I would fit time to play it into my schedule. If I ever do, certainly I'll do a video on it!
Fair enough. Keep on gamin!
Where's the new videos? I'm itchin'! BTW I would LOOOOOOOVE a review on B1-9 - In Search of Adventure!!!!!!
Thanks! Glad you're looking forward to them! My paying job is as a dee jay. This is the busiest time of the year for me. As soon as I get the time, I will put out several at once. D3, Q1 and Masks of Narlyhotemp is what I've got in the cue.
Blib Dool Poolp
That's easy for you to say!
I always pronounced it "blib-dool-poop"
🤣🤣🤣
@@captcorajus I love your content btw. U should definitely be up there with like Ginny Di and these other really popular D&D content creators.
@@TheManyVoicesVA Awww, thanks man!
@@captcorajus maybe review some 5e modules to bring in new players to your channel :)
5:35 ... The left side of the map is a distortion of Western Europe.
Top-Left = Scandinavia
Left = Britain
Bottom-Left = Spain
1,000sth like! 😸
Eh, Descent is no more overpopulated than the caves in Keep On the Borderlands and most people regard that as a timeless classic. It's almost the same dungeon thematically, you'd have to deliberately pick fights with multiple sets of inhabitants at once to get overwhelmed. Most of them don't really want to cooperate with their neighbors, and some would probably be fine with helping slaughter them if they got in a tussle with a party of surface worlders who are just passing through. As for the Shrine, I will never understand why people struggle with saying Blibdoolpoolp. Blib-dool-poolp. No silent letters, only three syllables, no vowel sounds that don't appear in everyday English (eg "school"), you'd think even a dryskin could manage Her name properly. Makes my gills throb when people get that wrong. :)
Blip-dool-poop is the proper pronunciation. Koo-a-toe-a is the proper pronunciation. Sorry had to correct ya, one of my all time fave crawls over the years.
That's Blib-dool-poolp, as Her fishy faithful will attest. :)
I know it sounds mean but please get a pronunciation guide.
So you like the video?
@@captcorajus I love it, I have watched almost all your videos.
Gods! Southerland--DCS--was THE WORST of those old-school artists. Just goes to show how indie the game was back then that THAT guy kept getting Paid....
Sutherland was awesome. He deserved every penny. His work is ICONIC and much beloved. Your poor opinion won't find much traction here.
@@captcorajus See? I'm here getting ready to subscribe and YOU go and attack: "my poor opinion"? How about your poor Pronunciations? its like you record these while eating a bowl pudding. Buh-Bye: do not recommend channel