4th Ed Classic Adventures - Was there any?

[Tim Williamson]

In 30 years time, when I'm in the retirement home looking back at all the different DnD games I’ve played, I probably won’t remember the all the different rule changes and editions. What I will remember will be the classic adventures and settings.

Each edition throws up some classics. For Basic/Expert there was B2 -The Keep on the Borderlands and X1 - Isle of Dread.

For first edition we have: D2 – Descent into the Depths of the Earch, G3 – Hall of the Fire Giant King, S1 – Tome of Horrors to name a few

Second edition was more about settings – Planescape, Birthright

Third edition gave us the – Eberron, Red Hand of Doom and Adventure paths (Shackled City, Age of Worms).

What will 4th edition be remembered for? Certain adventure will be converted and re-played in every edition. Has 4th edition been around long enough to produce any original classics?

We enjoyed H2 – Thunderspire Labyrinth, and P2 – Demon Queen’s Enclave looks good (not played it yet), but I’m not sure they are classics.

[Steve Geddes]

In my mind a classic adventure is more related to when I played it. The D series was a classic adventure to me - because it was the first I ever bought and read.

Red Hand of Doom is one of my all time favourite adventures - but it will never be a classic to me, since I'd read about fifty modules by the time I discovered it.

In terms of a 'popular and fondly remembered' definition, I think the answer is no. (I think Gardmore Abbey could have been, if it had come out sooner). The Scales of War adventure path might qualify, I suppose. Despite a few flaws, most people who have played it seem to be positive.

[Jezred]

I thought H-1, Keep on the Shadowfell, was particularly well done. It had decent hooks and story for a 1st-3rd adventure.

H-2, Thunderspire Labyrinth, was okay. The first half was pretty good, but the second half seemed a bit... I don't know how to describe it, but it didn't feel like a classic adventure at some point. Maybe it was too far-fetched even for a fantasy world?

If there is a classic adventure for 4E, KotS gets my vote.

[Tim Williamson]

I agree with Steve, that when you play an adventure has a lot to do with how you remember it.

The D series are classics to me because they introduced the under-dark to me. H-1, Keep on the Shadowfell, isn’t on my classic list because it’s another introductory adventure (a good one may be, but not a classic to me). Other people will see H-1 as a classic in twenty years time because it was the first adventure they played.

Obviously, everyone’s classic list is different, but the true classics will be those few modules that are repeatedly included.

May be there isn’t any true classics for 4th Ed. May be that was part of its problem? Or may be Gardmore Abbey (I’ve not played it yet) will be one. Some of the last 3.5 modules released were the best – I think Red Hand of Doom was released after the 4th announcement was made (I’d have to check that).

[Scott Betts]

Tim Williamson wrote:

I think Red Hand of Doom was released after the 4th announcement was made (I’d have to check that).

Nope, RHoD was out way before 4e was announced.

EDIT: In fact, according to its Wikipedia page, RHoD was the first 3.5 adventure WotC published.

[Tim Williamson]

My mistake – we certainly played it after the announcement, because the first half hour of the game was always taken up with discussing 4th rumours instead of playing the game!

[Cintra Bristol]

A couple of the Encounters seasons might qualify. The "Keep on the Borderlands" adventure - where the PCs are suddenly betrayed by their patron - was quite memorable. Some of our players still make b*%~$y comments about Benwick. The current season, Beyond the Crystal Cave, has had some wonderful moments dealing with bizarre fey and complicated NPC interactions.

[deinol]

Not official adventures, but all of the 4E adventures from Open Design are awesome. Wrath of the River King really sold me on the potential for 4E. Of course, it is a collector's item now, but Lost City is an excellent sandbox style adventure that should be available.