After picking up D0 at free rpg day, I was expecting greatness with D1 and I wasn't disappointed. The main goal and its impacts on the local community really holds together and makes the setting feel more "real." The first big enounter is also very, very good. One of the best, if not the best, low level encounter I've seen. Only one negative, there is one creature/being on the first level that I thought was overpowered for a 2nd level party that was probably already a little roughed up. I haven't run it yet, but I'm expecting it will kill off half the party at least. Having to beat that encounter to complete the module will be tough. I like having an encounter that is above the party's ability to force the players to think and realize that not every encounter has to be fought, but this one has to be fought. I'll be interested in seeing more reviews after people have run the module.
After D0 and D1, I was looking forward to D2. The title hinted at cursed swords and a fight with a deadly magic user. What I got was a module that was built around a collection of dangerous trap rooms that have little rhyme or reason. The basic premise for the module, the swords, is great, the lead-in and early set-up is also very good and sets the mood for what could be a great module. Once I got to the main location, I found myself skimming through the room descriptions. The whole location is trap, over the top trap, trap. The module fortunately ends well with the final encounter, two interesting monsters, and two magic items. This module could have been much better if the traps were cut in half or by two thirds and the encounters tied more to the seven deadly sins. Unfortunately, even with the quality of the art, the opening and the new material at the end, this module only works it way up to 3 stars.
I recently purchased most of the gamemastery modules (D1, D2, W1) and the initial pathfinder book. After reading through the modules, W1 stands head and shoulders above the others. The basic concepts of the module, the timeline, the relative freeform nature of the encounters/goals, and the chance to establish a stronghold were outstanding. In some ways it reminded me of an old Wolfgang Bauer modue, the Gryphon's Legacy. Other positive aspects of the module were the cover art and art in general, simple/not overdone traps that really fit the setting, and the the whole rose concept. I'm definately looking forward to the next books in the W series.
Kane
