Posted a new review this week on WotC's only Dark Sun Campaign Setting Module, Marauders of the Dune Sea, designed for 2nd Level adventurers. You can check out the in-depth review at the link below:
I've not played or run it but should not a product that was this lousy get an actual failing grade? Or maybe a D to indicate that it might be just passable?
I think of Cs as being 'meh', Noithing special but no real problems either. Here I get the impression that there where problems, often quite flaring ones and that the very best one can really do with this adventure is wait until your an experienced Athas DM and then mine it for any useful bits.
I've not played or run it but should not a product that was this lousy get an actual failing grade? Or maybe a D to indicate that it might be just passable?
I think of Cs as being 'meh', Noithing special but no real problems either. Here I get the impression that there where problems, often quite flaring ones and that the very best one can really do with this adventure is wait until your an experienced Athas DM and then mine it for any useful bits.
After reading a few of his reviews, I got the impression that he just doesn't want to write bad things about WotC, at least not in the statblock.
Marauders of the Dune Sea is not going to assist any Dungeon Master in learning how to do anything but write a bad Dark Sun adventure
That's a clear F for FAIL. But writing that would not net him anymore interviews with WotC staff, I guess ;)
It reads like an "F". But then, using a lame generic dungeon tile with water would be enough of an "F" for me, so I just might be a harsh person in general.
What particularly sad is to see the once-great module author Bruce R. Cordell fall so far. He not only hasn't written anything good in years, he's fallen so far as to be not unreasonably labeled an incompetent. How embarrassing for him.
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It reads like an "F". But then, using a lame generic dungeon tile with water would be enough of an "F" for me, so I just might be a harsh person in general.
What particularly sad is to see the once-great module author Bruce R. Cordell fall so far. He not only hasn't written anything good in years, he's fallen so far as to be not unreasonably labeled an incompetent. How embarrassing for him.
No, it definitely deserves an F. Sad way for them to kick off a product line, really.
-Vaz
WotC is pretty terrible at doing adventures and modules.
It reads like an "F". But then, using a lame generic dungeon tile with water would be enough of an "F" for me, so I just might be a harsh person in general.
It's barely a Dark Sun adventure. An F really would have been an appropriate grade.
What particularly sad is to see the once-great module author Bruce R. Cordell fall so far. He not only hasn't written anything good in years, he's fallen so far as to be not unreasonably labeled an incompetent. How embarrassing for him.
I have to agree with you.
It's hard to believe that the same guy who wrote Return to the Tomb of Horrors, Gates of Firestorm Peak and The Shattered Circle (a seriously underrated gem of an adventure) has been turning out the dreck he has since 3E. He's become the Ben Affleck of adventures: his name on the cover guarantees it's not going to be good (and his novel writing is even worse).
He really has lost his mojo. I hope someone has a good long chat with him.